TheBuzz
TheBuzz
John Gray’s
universe expandsA new business venture for "Mars-Venus guy" Dr. John Gray was quietly launched in Hawaii this month.
It's his own show carried exclusively on the air by Clear Channel Communications' KHBZ AM 990 in Honolulu from 6 to 10 a.m. Monday to Friday.
The show is also streamed live on the Internet at MarsVenusRadio.net but it may become more widely available.
"We're talking to different parties about syndication," Gray said, explaining that the show wouldn't necessarily be syndicated through Clear Channel. "I am very happy working with them in Hawaii."
Gray met Clear Channel Hawaii General Manager Chuck Cotton at a reception in Honolulu and tried to convince him to put the already established Mars and Venus radio show, hosted by colleague Michael Najarian, on one of the seven stations he oversees.
"We want you," Cotton told Gray, who asked in response: "Are you offering me a job?"
Thinking maybe it was time to do radio, Gray told Cotton: "I'll do it."
Gray does the four-hour radio show from his office in Mill Valley, Calif., where he has a small practice, preferring now to do his counseling mostly on the air. The radio control room in Honolulu links up with Gray and with co-host Najarian in Arizona.
Asked about giving his counseling expertise away for free, Gray said "It's very exciting," and related stories of callers phoning back to report positive results.
Gray has scaled back traveling for his seminars, but has a piece of equipment, called a Matrix, that will enable him to do the show from anywhere.
Will he write more books?
"Not for awhile, this is too much fun."
KHON expands news
After "thinking about it for two years," as reported in this space in February, KHON TV Vice President and General Manager Bill Spellman yesterday announced the station will add a 5 p.m. weekday newscast as of July 1.Leslie Wilcox and Sports Director Ron Mizutani will anchor the show, leaving questions about what changes will come to the morning news, which she currently co-anchors with Kirk Matthews.
"We have not finalized the morning show yet," Spellman said.
Big stories will not be saved for unveiling at 6 p.m. by lead anchor Joe Moore, Spellman said. "We're not going to hold any news back," he said. "The whole team agrees, we present the news ... and don't manipulate the time we present it."
On the mainland newscasts are being canceled "and entire news divisions are being terminated," he said. "While others are shutting down we're gearing up."
Erika Engle is a reporter with the Star-Bulletin.
Call 529-4302, fax 529-4750 or write to Erika Engle,
Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., No. 7-210,
Honolulu, HI 96813. She can also be reached
at: eengle@starbulletin.com