KPCC adds 6 new shows to weeknight and weekend schedule

Southern California Public Radio (KPCC-FM 89.3) will add six shows to its weeknight and weekend lineups beginning July 1, aiming to introduce new voices and programming while adjusting to the departure of NPR's long-running "Talk of the Nation" call-in show.

NPR announced in March that "Talk of the Nation,"  hosted by Neal Conan, would cease broadcasting at the end of June. NPR will continue to produce "Science Friday," which airs Fridays from 9-11 p.m. on KPCC.

To replace "Talk of the Nation" on weeknights, KPCC will add a one-hour version of its popular morning news magazine, "Take Two," and another NPR interview show, "Tell Me More," hosted by Michel Martin.

The weekend schedule will expand with four other new shows. Among them are "Wits," a music, comedy and improvisation show broadcast from St. Paul, Minn., and hosted by John Moe, and Los Angeles-based Jesse Thorn's "Bullseye," an independently produced program that describes itself as exploring "what's good in popular culture."

"Our listeners are informed, challenged, and entertained through an enormous depth of programs that include our own and public radio-produced shows," said Russ Stanton, SCPR vice president for content. "Without significantly impacting our budget, we are pleased to be bringing this expanded programming to a public hungry for intelligent conversation on topics that range from pop culture to finance, politics, science, current affairs, business, technology, entertainment and the arts, and world, national and local news."

The six new shows and their time slots are:

• "Take Two," hosted by Alex Cohen and A Martinez, a one-hour version of KPCC's news magazine, will air Mondays through Thursdays at 8 p.m. The one-hour program will feature interviews and other material drawn from the regular morning news magazine, which airs weekdays at 9 a.m.
• "Tell Me More," hosted by award-winning journalist Michel Martin, will air Mondays through Thursdays at 9 p.m. The one-hour show takes a fresh approach to stories and issues that are often overlooked, but relevant to multicultural life in America.
• "TED Radio Hour," hosted by Guy Raz, airs Saturdays at 2 p.m. The one-hour program is built around the popular TED Talks series that focuses on new ideas, inventions, and ways to think and create in the fields of Technology, Entertainment and Design.
• "Bullseye," hosted by Jesse Thorn, airs Saturdays at 3 p.m. The one-hour program features interviews with entertainers and artists, and irreverent, original comedy.
• "Wits," hosted by John Moe, airs Saturdays at 8 p.m. The one-hour live show features comedy, music and conversations with actors, musicians, and other artists.
• "Ask Me Another," hosted by Ophira Eisenberg, airs Saturdays at 9 p.m. The program is a blend of brainteasers and local pub trivia spiced with comedy and music.

Here's a view of our current vs new schedule (Newly added shows appear in italics): 

Southern California Public Radio (SCPR) is a member-supported public media company that operates 89.3 KPCC-FM in Los Angeles and Orange County, 89.1 KUOR-FM in the Inland Empire and 90.3 KVLA-FM in the Coachella Valley, as well as KPCC.org and a growing number of digital services.

SCPR reaches the largest audience of any public radio service in Southern California, serving nearly 2 million people each month over the airwaves, via web, social media and mobile channels and through live events hosted in its Crawford Family Forum.