Chicago Radio: WTMZ Rebrands Morning Show

WTMX 101.9 FM host Eric Ferguson avoided saying his former co-host’s name Wednesday as he announced his morning show will be called “Eric in the Morning with Melissa & Whip” instead of “Eric and Kathy.”

“We decided to settle on something that is familiar and also adds a new element,” Ferguson said on Wednesday's show. “Yup, we really got out of our comfort zone with that one.”

The Chicago Tribune reports the name change comes less than a week after WTMX, which is owned and operated by Hubbard Radio, announced it had officially parted ways with Kathy Hart, who had been partnered with Ferguson since 1996. She had been missing from the show without explanation since late April.

Hart's name was scrubbed from wtmx.com, and @ericandkathy was deactivated on Twitter as of Wednesday morning.

WTMX 101.9 FM (4.2 kW) Red=Local Coverage Area

Melissa McGurren and Brian “Whip” Paruch have been with the morning show for years. “I was really, really, really excited to have both Melissa and Whip's name put on the show because I think you guys deserve it. I think you’ve earned it. I think that you have done an incredible job, and this is the right and proper thing to do,” Ferguson said.

Meanwhile, it’s unclear what Hart’s next move will be.