Long-time WJW/8 personality Robin Swoboda is leaving her perch at the local station, again.
We had a tip from inside South Marginal about the end of Swoboda’s hosting gig on “The Robin Swoboda Show”, weekdays from 10-11 AM on Local TV’s “Fox 8”, and when we went to send a tweet hinting about it, we found a tweet from Akron Beacon Journal pop culture writer Rich Heldenfels confirming it.
As it turns out, Heldenfels quoted her Facebook account in his “Heldenfiles” blog:
“Friday is my last show. Wow—that’s weird to write. I am very thankful to Fox 8 for bringing me back, but the show is going in a different direction and it’s not one I want to go in. Thanks to all who have watched and supported me! We’ll keep in touch here, okay? XOXOXO”
We can’t help but wonder if “a different direction” involves more fully sponsored programming, something for which competitor Gannett NBC affiliate WKYC/3’s “Good Company Today” is widely known. And “The Robin Swoboda Show” is no stranger to sponsored segments, either, even now.
OMW hears that there’s no word, yet, what will replace “The Robin Swoboda Show” – which started as “That’s Life” and follows some 5 1/2 hours of “Fox 8 News in the Morning”. Swoboda’s decision seems rather sudden.
One option that would not seem to be in the cards is a nationally syndicated hour long talk show.
None exist right now on the “Fox 8” schedule, as the station fills its daytime hours with a slew of court shows and “Access Hollywood”, and all the talk shows tend to get locked up right before each TV season… and we’re in the middle of one.
Another option would be to double play existing sitcoms (“Seinfeld” and “The New Adventures of Old Christine”, which air at 11 PM and 11:30 PM, perhaps?).
Still another option would be to expand Cleveland’s already largest local morning news block, which would extend “Fox 8 News in the Morning” from 4:30 AM to 11 AM weekdays.
And the final option? Replacing Robin locally.
The station certainly has candidates for that. Could they add “Fox 8 News in the Morning”‘s Stefani Schaefer into the time slot, either in addition to her current duties or as a move? (Our guess is an addition, not a move.)
What about other personalities, like using CBS Radio hot AC WQAL/104.1 “Toohey and Fee” co-host Jen Toohey and Clear Channel classic hits WMJI/105.7 “Lanigan and Malone”‘s Jimmy Malone – as fill-ins, at least? That might indicate that WJW intends to continue locally, whoever ends up hosting the show…which will definitely need at least a name change.
We hear from sources at South Marginal that live shows of some sort are scheduled Tuesday through Friday, though there is very much a chance that they just haven’t gotten around to changing the program listing.
This entire section (from “One option” to now) is pure speculation on our part, and we don’t yet have any indication of the actual thinking on South Marginal.
But the station has a one hour schedule hole to fill as soon as Monday.
Oh, and Robin has been an OMW reader in the past. We don’t know if she’s still reading, but she’s invited to use the “About/E-Mail” link above if she has any comments beyond the Facebook post…
Here’s an idea. If the talk show doesn’t work, Channel 8 can have a one or two hour block of classic sitcoms like they did back in the late 1990’s. I miss watching “The Jeffersons,” “All In The Family,” “Mama’s Family,” and “Murphy Brown” during the day between 1 and 3pm. They should bring back the sitcom reruns.
Fox 8 could easily plug in “Real Housewives” which they currently air at 3 a.m., at the 10 a.m. hour and have infomericals at 3.
A test pattern would be a nice replacement and would probably get higher ratings.
Maybe Brian and Joe?
Interesting idea. Joe has already been on the show, of course, and Brian and Joe are already doing a TV show (“This One Time”) for Time Warner Cable’s NEON.
But we still have no indication what WJW will do Monday. Hope Robin will say something about it at the end of today’s show, and we’re watching.