Posted by Bud on April 21, 2010 at 10:19:02:
From the Chicago Sun-Times:
WGCI show in a ratings groove
First year a success, but WGCI show cast works at staying relevant
Do they ever get run down? We wonder. Talking with them off-air, "Tony Sculfield & The Morning Riot" crew (Nina Chantele and Leon Rogers) at Clear Channel Radio Chicago's urban contemporary WGCI-FM (107.5) are nothing if not high energy. They've got an answer for any question you throw at them. And usually the response is delivered in a funny way -- which isn't too surprising, really. Sculfield and Rogers both work as professional comedians in their off hours, and Chantele apparently has learned a thing or two about stand-up by working with them.
All three hosts have every reason to be upbeat these days. One year after the "Tony Sculfield & the Morning Riot" show was introduced in morning drive on WGCI, the Sculfield gang has found its groove and made its mark in the Arbitron ratings. In the February ratings book, it was ranked fourth in the show's target demo: 18- to 34-year-olds. And in the key 25-to-54 demo that advertisers covet, Sculfield's morning drive show still performed well -- tied for ninth place.
When Clear Channel Radio programming honcho Tony Coles paired the three talents to replace "The Steve Harvey Show" after it moved to WVAZ-FM (102.7), he admitted he wasn't certain the trio would pan out. "On paper it looked good, but we had to find out if it would translate on air," Coles said.
It has.
And it's working so well because the three hosts know their precise roles. Sculfield is the ringleader. He sets the tone. And spontaneity is what he likes best.
"I like it when you never know what can happen next," said Sculfield, though he claims to stay up much of every night thinking about how he can make a show that is carefully thought out sound as spontaneous as possible.
Chantele is there to add the woman's perspective -- something she's got plenty of. "It's like a soap opera with Nina," Sculfield said.
"I can get very personal, especially when it comes to talking about my relationships," admitted Chantele, who has yet to find her perfect man. But not to worry. She's searching hard.
As for Rogers, well, he happily embraces the role of bad boy. He unabashedly compares himself to former Bulls player Dennis Rodman.
"I'm him without the dress," explained Rogers, who indicated Sculfield is usually more "subtle" than he tends to be on air. Or was Rogers just joking about that? Anyway, the two met when Rogers was called up on stage in 1995 at one of Sculfield's comedy shows.
"Leon looked just like Calvin in those McDonald's commercials back then," Sculfield said, referring to the young man promoted to manager in a popular 1992 TV spot that lives on on YouTube. They bonded and have been friends ever since.
Though the good chemistry of "Tony Sculfield and the Morning Riot" certainly helps the show click with listeners, Sculfield also said he and his team work hard to stay "relevant."
"It's easy to get complacent," Sculfield said.
And they want to stay connected to their fans. Every morning listeners can call in to talk about whatever is declared the big issue of the day. And each Wednesday, there's a relationships-focused segment, which gives Chantele an opportunity to share some tidbits from her storehouse of insights.
No matter what's going on during the show, though, and no matter their success in the Arbitron ratings books, Sculfield and his crew say they are always looking for ways to improve.
"We're never satisfied," Sculfield said.