He’s no old dog but Steve Kelley is wondering if he can learn new tricks.
Kelley, the popular co-host of “Colorado’s Morning News” on KOA 850-AM, is making more than a leap of faith. He’s plunging off a cliff.
“My heart was absolutely torn,” said Kelley. “It’s so frightening. I spent 19 years at the top-dog radio station.”
After almost two decades of morning anchoring and zany stunts at KOA, Kelley is jumping to a visual version of daybreak news and chit-chat, “Good Day Colorado” at KDVR-Channel 31. The move was announced last Tuesday, but my columnar cohort Bill Husted jumped the gun, revealing the pending change the day before.
Kelley spent last week at Fox television school in New York City, learning interview techniques, writing and, one presumes, the secret Fox handshake. He also got to mingle with fellow Foxies Bill O’Reilly, Sean Hannity and Neil Covuto.
He’s expected to make his first “GDC” appearance on July 25. “If the rehearsals don’t go well, it could be 2007,” said Kelley, laughing weakly.
No one knew it at the time but Kelley auditioned for the job on the air in December as guest anchor for a day. Fox31 news director Bill Dallman, who chased Kelley for the better part of four years, is the same man who defied convention and moved Ron Zappolo from sports to news anchor. “We need to have people with strong ties to Denver and strong name recognition.”
He couldn’t find a better man to fit that bill than Kelley, but leaving KOA was a wrenching decision, Kelley said. “I don’t mean to sound like a suck-up (but) this is not the real corporate world. These are managers who can be defined as family in a business context. I love these people.”
Kris Olinger, Kelley’s boss at KOA, said Kelley’s last radio day will be July 22. The inevitable nationwide search is on for his replacement.
Dallman is unsure how it will shake out for Justin Farmer, who co-anchors “GDC” with Pamela Davis.
Will it work? Kelley, 48, thinks it will, but he’s not 100 percent sure. “I’m fully confident in myself,” he said. “Change is not something that anybody enjoys. You can try to beat the dog and see if he learns.”
Around the dial
“Wall Street Week,” on the air for 35 years, was dropped two weeks ago, a victim of pending cuts to the PBS budget. Its popularity waned after the toxic departure of host Louis Rukeyser. … Sam Hill, most recently in
Spokane, Wash., is the new midday host at KALC 105.9 (“Alice”). He’ll also be assistant program director/music director. … KMGH-Channel 7 now carrying “Good Morning America Weekend” at 6 a.m. Saturdays and Sundays. … Quotable: “I have a record of doing things unorthodox.” – Steve Kelley.
Dick Kreck’s column appears Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. He may be reached at 303-820-1456 or dkreck@denverpost.com.
