'Brooks & Ken Show' ends 3-year run of political talk, opinion

By JIM BROOKS
Nelson County Gazette

Monday, June 29, 2009, 9 p.m. -- The final broadcast of "The Brooks & Ken Show" will air 11 a.m. Tuesday, June 30th on 1320 WBRT in Bardstown. Kenny Fogle, who along with his wife owned the 1000-watt station, will officially turn the business over to its new owners on July 1.

After seven years at the station (managing it at first and owning it the past 3-1/2 years), Kenny Fogle -- the "Ken" in "Brooks & Ken" -- decided to hang up his headset following the sale of the station. Kenny and his wife Donna have worked together at the station through the years, and in a press release last month, stated the couple plan to spend some of their time traveling.

The station was a family business: Kenny served as station manager while Donna was business manager and their son Matthew Fogle has served for 11 years as the station program director.

CHANCE BEGINNINGS. Jim "Brooks" and "Ken" Fogle crossed paths more than three years ago because of each man's interest in politics.

In the Spring of 2006, Kenny Fogle was a candidate in the Democratic primary for Nelson County judge-executive. Some months earlier, this writer launched the Nelson County Gazette with an eye on the many races in the county's Democratic primary.

The Gazette followed the contested races closely, providing coverage of candidates at local events and publishing candidates' campaign finance reports. The 2006 primary was Fogle's second Democratic primary run facing incumbent Dean Watts.

After the May primary was decided, Fogle called this writer to discuss an idea he had for a local talk show focusing on politics. Fogle would represent the political left and this writer would represent the political right. The format would be a no-holds-barred discussion, with each agreeing to speak his mind.

The first "Brooks & Ken Show" aired on June 6, 2006, with an opening that promised listeners an hour of local news and politics "with a little humor thrown in for good measure."

With an eye on the 2006 General Election, the show extended an open invitation to all candidates for elected office -- local, state and national -- to spend an hour in the studio with Brooks & Ken and their listening audience. Between election cycles, local and state elected officials were invited to visit the show. The show also conducted studio interviews with local and state elected officials.

Politicians who wanted time on the show had but one rule to observe: They had to come to the studio in person -- no interviews by telephone were allowed.

One of the show's most important aspects were calls from its listeners. While Fogle and this writer usually had ideas for discussion topics at the start of each show, it was listeners who largely steered the conversation. From gas prices to wild turkeys, "Brooks & Ken Show" listeners gave the show's hosts quite an education.

It was former Congressman Ron Lewis (KY-2) who tagged "Brooks & Ken" as "the Hannity & Colmes of Nelson County." This writer was flattered, though Fogle was less than impressed (apparently he was no fan of Alan Colmes).

While Fogle and this writer were diametrically opposed on most political issues, there were times when the two hosts fell on the same side of an issue. If an agreement arose while on-the-air, listeners were asked to make note of it on their calendars, as these events were few and far between.

The last "Brooks & Ken" broadcast can be head on 1320 WBRT AM, as well as online via streaming audio on the station's web site, www.1320wbrt.com.