More Seacrest and short takes

 

Live in L.A.: We reported last week that Ryan Seacrest is leaving his co-hosting duties with Kelly Ripa on the syndicated “Live with Kelly and Ryan.” Seacrest also stated he’ll be returning to Los Angeles and continue his morning duties at KIIS-FM, while continuing his work with Dick Clark Productions (“Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve”) and his charitable foundation. He'll also continue hosting "American Idol" on ABC-TV. Seacrest said he first thought he’d be doing “Live” for three years when he came aboard in 2017, but signed a second three-year contract in 2020.

His return to Los Angeles has raised some questions. One is Seacrest’s announcement was a surprise to at least several at the iHeart headquarters in Burbank (“we had never heard about this”). A second question is where the KIIS-FM morning host will call his residence. Back in November, Seacrest sold his Beverly Hillshome for $51 million, far less than the original asking price of $80 million. He also is quoted as stating how much he enjoyed living in New York, though he is a renter there. Others claim Seacrest "hates living in New York City." His periodic absences caused some to worry about his health.

Seacrest Studios located at Children's Hospital, Orange County

Seacrest said he plans on opening “three more Ryan Seacrest Foundation Studios in pediatric hospitals across the country.” There’s been no official word on his last day on “Live,” though he hinted he’d be returning periodically as a guest host.

 

Hamilton healing: KLOS morning co-host Heidi Hamilton is recovering from partial knee replacement surgery. She recently departed her DISH Nation program last year, a 10-year gig co-hosted with Frank Kramer, and Chuey Martinez.

Hamilton has endured several health problems over the past few years. In 2020, she had spinal surgery to relieve sciatica in her back and legs, Hamilton later had parasitic tumors removed in 2021. Her wife Cris reported Hamilton was on a strong cocktail of drugs after surgery, but should have a “normal amount” of pain afterward.  Cris sent thanks to her social media followers “for caring about Heidi.”

 

Towering changes: RadioInsight.com is reporting Audacy has created “Audacy Altas, LLC.” In simplest terms, the new portfolio makes it easier to sell off some of their assets. For example, the “Radio.com” domain, now replaced by “Audacy.com,” is up for auction. One of the properties being placed in the portfolio is the tower site for alternative rock KROQ. The company may lease the property from whoever purchases the station’s Verdugo Hills property. There are a number of stations in smaller markets whose tower properties are being put up for sale by Audacy, resulting in some stations going dark. One notable station is conservative talker KDWN Las Vegas (K-Dawn 720), founded by A.J. Williams who also started KTYM and KTYM-FM (now KRCD), Inglewood. It's assumed this allows Audacy to raise some much needed cash. 

Re-Power(ing) mornings: Meruelo hip hop station Power 106 (KPWR) debuted a new morning showlast Thursday. The “Brown Bag Mornings” feature Letty Paniche (Martinez), “Rosecrans Vic” (Ulloa) and Daniel “DoKnow” Lopez. The trio has been hosting a podcast of the same name since 2021. 

This is the third time the morning show has changed within the last four years. Letty was co-host of “Big Boy’s Neighborhood” from 2011 to 2014, then known as Rikki Martinez. She spent two years doing evenings at Real 92.3 (KRRL) before returning to Power 106 in 2021. then co-hosted nights at iHeartMedia’s “Real 92.3” KRRL from 2015 to 2017 before returning to KPWR in November 2011. She most recently co-hosted mornings with Demi Lobo and King Cannon.

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