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Thursday, March 14, 2013

Philly Radio: What’s Going On At WWIQ?

Where's Al?

UPDATE 03/18/2913:  An internal memo last Tuesday told iq staffers that Gardner had “decided to move on and weigh his options – perhaps hanging up his headphones altogether or at least finding a role that doesn’t require going to bed at 6 PM and getting up at 2 AM,.” What next? The memo says “we’re weighing our options for possible replacements for Al in the morning show,” and in the meantime, Michelle Murillo is co-hosting with Lionel, who has an expanded role in mornings for the moment while the station sorts out its future plans.



Earlier Posting....

Someone please ask Merlin's Randy Michaels: Where’s Al Gardner?

Morning show co-host Al Gardner is missing from the WWIQ 106.9 FM station website line-up.  Co-host Lionel is still there at the talk station, but a new addition seems to be Michelle Murillo from the news department.  No mention of Al Gardner, who came on board last April to launch IQ, with then co-host Larry Mendte.

Also, the 65-year-old Gardner has not been heard in days.

LISTEN-LINE: Click Here.

Michelle Murillo
In late 2011, Gardner left a cushy spot as morning host at WBT Charlotte to help Michaels’ launch IQ as VP of Programming and to do mornings.  "This is a pinch-me job," Gardner said at the time. "It couldn't be better." Gardner is a native of near-by Levittown.

Murillo was recruited Fall '11 by Merlin Media from Clear Channel's N/T WFLF in Orlando to join the company's start-up WRXP News format in NYC. When Merlin sold WRXP to CBS for $75 million last fall, Murrllo started voice tracking news for IQ.  Of course, she is now live in Philly and it looks like she's just been promoted.