KIRO shakes up its evening schedule

Several weeks ago, we learned that 710 KIRO management had signed former National Public Radio reporter Luke Burbank to host a weekday night show, which is set to begin this evening. But today, Bonneville International (KIRO's owner) took the shakeup a step further by firing fill in host Frank Shiers:

Frank Shiers has been fired from KIRO (10 PM to 1 AM) ending a station old KIRO tradition of live and local radio in that slot. Shiers will continue doing weekend work on Bonneville music station KBSG. The syndicated Phil Hendrie Show will be carried live starting tonight-- he's been doing taped show on KTTH from 2-6 AM.

Burbank's show, Too Beautiful To Live, was going to cut an hour out of Frank's show, but now Frank's gone altogether - to be replaced by forgettable, syndicated filler content. Frank wasn't a great on-air personality, but at least he was live and local. We can only hope KIRO management comes to its senses and figures out something better for the late night time slot.

As for Too Beautiful To Live, Michael Hood at blatherWatch has published a thorough preview delving into what show will be like:

Although Burbank has worked in AM radio- KVI, and Metro Traffic, he's spent much of his career in public radio-- on Seattle's KUOW, and NPR. "I've always thought I was a little too interesting for public radio, and a little too smart for commercial radio," he says. "Now I have some people from commercial radio saying, 'we want to turn you loose at night to do whatever you want.' I've just been revelling in that."

TBTL will be very personal, according to Burbank. "We want to make the smartest, most esoteric show on commercial radio."

Burbank swears that TBTL isn't just about luring a younger audience. It's more about a sensibility than age. "You'll never hear me saying this is a show for young people. It's going to be for people who are awesome."

Too Beautiful To Live airs tonight beginning at 7 PM.