Madeleine Brand joining KCRW for new daily show

Former KPCC morning host Madeleine Brand will host the first new daily show to be created at KCRW since the launch of "To the Point" in 2001. You'll remember that Brand left KPCC last September following a period of discomfort all around when her successful morning show was re-christened with co-host A Martinez. After Brand left, Alex Cohen was promoted to be the co-host with Martinez of "Take Two." Brand has since done some guesting on KCRW, and was on "SoCal Connected" on KCET in its final season. The new show on KCRW will run midday sometime.

Here is the note sent to KCRW staffers this evening by general manager Jennifer Ferro. I'm not in that loop; it landed in my in-box through the transom.

From: Jennifer Ferro
Date: Wed, Jul 24, 2013 at 6:32 PM
Subject: KCRW news

I wanted to let you know about some exciting new developments for KCRW.

We will be bringing on Madeleine Brand, starting in mid-September, to develop a brand new one hour mid-day show. The show will launch some months after she arrives.

I know this will be a great offering for our audience with all of other excellent mid-day programs like To The Point, The Business, The Treatment, LRC, Bookworm, DnA and Unfictional.

We'll make a big official announcement later but I wanted to let you know now because you're a member of our family.

This new show will mean the hiring of a number of new producers. We intend to create a strong collaboration across all of our talk programming and are excited to offer a new platform for all the hard work that goes on here.

The show concept will have a local feel and will aim to perfect what KCRW does best - inspire people in Los Angeles and beyond with new ideas, thoughtful analysis and creativity.

This is an exciting time for KCRW. Through your hard work KCRW is growing in audience and across many platforms. Soon, we'll add a new building to our growth. In two years our concept of "the basement" will change dramatically. Because of our programming, our talented hosts, producers and staff, KCRW is ready to emerge both physically and figuratively from underground.

This will be our first daily program that we've created since To the Point's launch in 2001 and I know it will take a lot of work and new ways of doing things here.

It will be worth it. Madeleine will bring a new but recognized and respected voice to our line up of incredible on-air personalities. She's been a longtime fan and friend of the station and I'm excited we will all get to work with her.

She's hosting for Warren on To the Point tomorrow and Friday. I hope you'll welcome her to our family. If you have any questions, please ask.

Jennifer

That's Warren Olney who Brand is hosting for this week.

Previously on LA Observed:
Madeleine Brand's talks with KCRW seem to be progressing
Madeleine Brand joins KCET's new daily 'SoCal Connected'
Madeleine Brand says outside offers are behind her KPCC exit