Hockenberry to Host Late-Night Show From NPR

National Public Radio will launch a new late-night show hosted by John Hockenberry, a former NPR reporter and newscaster on “All Things Considered.”

The two-hour show, entitled “Heat,” is described by Hockenberry as “a place where the left and right brain can unwind together. We want to set out some creative ideas each night and see how they turn out, and erase the artificial line between intellectual and creative expression.”

The program is scheduled to begin airing Monday at 10 p.m. on KCRW-FM (89.9) and at midnight on KPCC (89.3). It will focus on the arts, current events, philosophy and science, and will present music by established and emerging artists.

Guests to be featured include actor-writer Eric Bogosian, satirists Marshall Efron and Paul Krassner, film maker Spike Lee, musician Branford Marsalis, writer Fran Lebowitz, cartoonist Matt Groening, folk group the Roches, film-maker Michael Moore and neo-conservative David Horowitz.

MUSICAL CHAIRS: Those who miss hearing veteran deejay Charlie Tuna on KRLA-AM can now hear him at FM oldies station KODJ (93.1). He will be on the air weekday mornings from 5 a.m. to 9 a.m. Tuna’s career has included deejay work at KRLA, KIIS, KROQ and the now-defunct KHTZ, K-BEST and KHJ.

And at talk station KFI-AM (640), the weekend lineup has changed. Added to the roster are radio psychologist Laura Schlessinger, who will be on the air Saturdays from 8 p.m. to midnight, replacing Bill Moran, who hosted an entertainment show. On Sundays from 1-4 p.m., Dr. Steven York will host a call-in medical show, filling an open slot in which various KFI personalities had rotated. Conservative talk-show host Jon Melichar will be heard from 4-8 p.m. Saturdays discussing topical issues and news, replacing Phil Hendrie.

A LEG UP ON THE COMPETITION?: The 250 L.A. Leggers, a group of runners organized by KNX-AM (1070), will be ready to show their stuff at the Los Angeles Marathon Sunday after a 30-week training program. KNX newsman Bob Scott, the station’s “running reporter,” helped to set up the training clinic, which is co-sponsored by KNX, the City of Los Angeles Marathon and Orthopaedic Hospital of Los Angeles.

STRIKING A MATCH: Restaurateur, actor and Hollywood bachelor Nicky Blair will get “matched” on “Susan Block’s Match Nite” on KFOX-FM (93.5) March 12 at 9 p.m. Blair will entertain calls from interested single women on the air and answer the question of the night: “What’s more important to you: food or sex?” The program matches up callers with guests and discusses issues related to modern romance.