KLOS-FM Fires Afternoon Hosts Kevin Ryder and Doug “Sluggo” Roberts

The “Kevin & Sluggo Show” was noticeably missing from KLOS-FM in Los Angeles on Friday afternoon, as hosts Kevin Ryder and Doug “Sluggo” Roberts were given their walking papers. The decision to eliminate afternoon drive at KLOS comes as owner Meruelo Media has made drastic cuts at several of its local radio stations, including KPWR-FM “Power 106,” KDAY-FM and KLLI-FM “Cali 93.9.”

Meruelo had eliminated all afternoon hosts at all four LA stations earlier this year, as well as some part-timers and off-air staffers. At KLOS this included afternoon jock Marci Wiser, who had been there since 2015. Also in February, Meruelo released Power 106 afternoon host DJ Felli Fel (real name James Andrew Corrine), who had been at that station since 2000.

Ryder revealed the news of his and Roberts’ departure via social media on Friday, noting that earlier that day KLOS strangely had a “Where’s Kevin?” had announced. marketing campaign with Honda… right before he let him go.

It has been rumored for some time that Meruelo is looking to sell the stations, just as it sold its ownership of the professional hockey team the Arizona Coyotes and recently sold its LA TV station KWHY-TV (Channel 22) to the Church of Scientology.

Ryder, who confirmed his and Roberts’ departure Varietysaid of KLOS: “I hope they sell it to someone who cares.”

Ryder and Roberts launched “Kevin & Sluggo” on KLOS in 2021, a year after KROQ owner Entercom shocked the radio biz by yanking Ryder’s morning show “Kevin in the Morning with Allie & Jensen” (the successor to the three-decade staple) . Kevin & Boon”).

Previously, Sluggo worked solo on the afternoon shift at KLOS after joining that station in the summer of 2019. (Roberts also continues to host shows on SiriusXM.)

The pairing of Ryder and Roberts had been a KROQ reunion of sorts, as Roberts had worked shifts at KROQ for decades (as “Doug the Slug,” “Sluggo,” and various variations of his character), while Ryder and Gene “Bean” Baxter joined KROQ. in the mornings of early 1990. “Kevin & Bean” eventually led the LA market at No. 1 for part of the 2000s, and the duo was inducted into both the NAB Hall of Fame and the Radio Hall of Fame.

Ryder has known Roberts for years, even before their time at KROQ. They both also worked at Phoenix’s top 40 KZZP (where Baxter and former KROQ program director Kevin Weatherly also worked) in the 1980s. At KZZP, Roberts led the board, while Ryder and Baxter hosted the “Saturday Night Party Patrol.”

When Ryder was hired, Otto Padron, president and CEO of Meruelo Media, had noted the company’s commitment to live and local cuisine: “We’re doubling down on ‘live and local’ with one of the very best in our business. ” he said at the time. “Bringing Kevin Ryder on board was a no-brainer because it’s the kind of bold and disruptive move that delivers compelling voices and relevant content to our highly deserving listeners.”

Disclaimer: This reporter was a regular guest on “Kevin & Sluggo” to discuss TV and was scheduled to appear on the show next Wednesday. Now it looks like he won’t be.