This was posted on Tuesday, September 26, 2017 by RODNEY HO/rho@ajc.com on his AJC Radio & TV Talk blog
Eric Von Haessler is trading places on News 95.5 and AM 750 WSB with Herman Cain starting Monday, October 2.
The former Regular Guy will begin airing a two-hour show from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. while Cain will take the one-hour slot at 11 a.m.
Von Haessler, whose show is called the "Von Haessler Doctrine," plans to continue his bonus podcast each day as well.
Haessler's team - which includes Autumn Fischer, Tim Andrews, Jared Yamamoto, Greg Russ and English Nick - will remain the same. He began his weekday show on WSB in January after hosting a weekend show for a couple of years.
"I never stop moving, that's my strategy," Von Haessler joked. "Nobody can pin me down. Before I fail at any one thing, I move on and do it another time."
More seriously, he said he said he respects "Herman Cain as a person and as radio personality. I think he's going to be great at 11. He's a great lead in to Rush."
Pete Spriggs, WSB program director, said this will enable Cain to have more flexibility as he continues work in other venues. Cain had been syndicated on several dozen stations until earlier this year. He's now heard on handful of Cox-owned radio stations.
Cain, a long-time businessman and a presidential candidate for the 2012 race, took over for Neal Boortz in early 2013. He's 71.
Von Haessler, 53, was known as one half of the Regular Guys team for 96rock and Rock 100.5 from 1998 through 2013.
He feels nothing but gratitude for this opportunity: "My philosophy is I will sit on the bench and do whatever the coach wants me to do in the game. It's an honor they feel this show is good enough to be put on at that time. I'm looking forward to it. I'm excited. How many people leave music radio and get a chance like this?"
Von Haessler said he was a little nervous when he began the weekday show, wondering if the audience would accept him. After a few months, once he realized they would, he relaxed.
Credit: Rodney Ho
Credit: Rodney Ho
"I think at some point you lose the fear and take ownership of the time slot you're doing," he said. "You recognize the sky's the limit. We can do whatever we want. The audience trusts us. They know they'll get compelling radio. It's a very funny show. Our motto is we'll have as much fun every day as the news cycle allows us."
He thinks this is the best show he's ever been part of, even better than the Regular Guys. "We have no artificial limits on the ability of each person to perform their best," he said. "At the last show, there were artificial limits. 'Don't do too much.' We don't have that around here. Whatever they can contribute to make it a great show is accepted and appreciated. I want more of it."
Shannon Burke over at rival NewsRadio 106.7 since taking over the 9 a.m. to noon slot 15 months ago has more than quadrupled the audience from his predecessor Michael Graham.
WSB Radio and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution are both part of Cox Media Group.
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