10 Questions with ... Ken Webster Jr. & Steve Johnson

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

The Walton and Johnson Show has been running since 1983 at WQUE/New Orleans, based now at KPRC-A/Houston and syndicated across the South and Gulf Coast region. John Walton passed away on July 1, 2019; producer Ken Webster has now officially moved into the co-host role opposite Steve Johnson.

Syndication is handled by Michael Eckstein at Eckstein Law Firm.

1. Let's go back to the beginning. How did Ken first join up with the show? What led him to the gig?

Ken was working as a producer for the Mancow show in Chicago and he decided he no longer wanted to live in a city filled with high taxes, gun violence, and sub arctic temperatures - that's when he decided to move South and join the W&J team. We weren't looking for help, but he was so cheap we couldn't pass it up.

2. How did the decision happen to make Ken the co-host after John's passing? When and how did the decision come to make Ken's ascension official?

John got sick earlier this summer and he missed a few shows - after a week we decided we didn't want to keep airing re-runs while John was absent. Since Ken was already hosting an afternoon show on our flagship station here in Houston, Steve decided to give it a try with Kenny. It went a lot better than expected, so we just kept doing it. Plus, he was the only one brave enough to volunteer. If he had a quarter for everytime someone said "big shoes to fill" over the past couple of months, he could buy Nike and fire Colin Kaepernick.

3. How has the show changed, and how has it stayed the same, with Ken as the co-host? Stipulating that nobody could replace John, how has the change in co-hosts changed the show, if at all?

The show has kept the same brand of humor, politics, and cadence. But it's changed in the sense that our old co-host wasn't a snot-nosed millennial. We're still waiting for Ken to develop a more cynical and hardened attitude towards life. Procreation should probably help with that. The minute he has kids, I see a bright future ahead.

4. For Steve, after working with John for so many years, what kind of adjustment have you had to make with a new co-host? What have been the best and most difficult elements of adapting to Ken rising to the co-host chair?

I'm wearing a back-brace now from having to carry him so much. KIDDING! The biggest adjustment has been generational - Kenny has never heard of Gus McCrae and I don't drink hard seltzer. Other than that, the new show appeals to people in a wider age group, which is a huge plus for a syndicated morning show and our sales team. Also, now I no longer fear that we're one statement away from being thrown off the air, which is a plus.

5. How have listeners responded to John's passing and Ken's move up to co-host? Has the audience reaction been what you'd hoped, and how much does that support mean to you?

The outpouring of love for John was overwhelmingly beautiful. We had multiple memorial events for John in places like Houston and New Orleans. Thousands of people attended. 99.5% of listeners have given us a positive reaction to the new arrangements and Ken is also bringing in new young listeners.

6. For each of you, of what are you most proud?

More than anything, we're proud of how important the show is to so many people. When we witnessed the huge crowds that came out for John's memorials, and so many listeners shared with us the value they had for the show, we knew we had to keep the legacy alive after John's passing. We didn't have a choice; the audience won't let us quit, man. Plus, we don't know how to do anything else for a living, so here we are.

7. Back when you were on KKRW and interviewed for our Rock section, Steve and John said that they didn't hang out much together outside work hours, which is pretty much standard for radio teams. Is that the same now with you guys? How much time, if any, do you spend together outside work?

Steve prefers to be left along so I try to show up at his house uninvited as often as possible. The security guard in his neighborhood has my photo taped to the inside of his office, which is probably a good sign.

8. What's the show prep process nowadays? What do you do to get your topics and bits together for each show -- what sites and social media accounts do you check, who does what, how does the show come together?

We get in to work about 5 hours before we get on the air and read every word of the Constitution out loud as we stare into a mirror, so we remember why we're here and where we came from.

In all seriousness, we both have our own way of researching and prepping for news stories, which we blend together to create the final product. The show is still 100% improvised with very little scripting. We keep the audience on their toes by keeping ourselves on our toes.

9. A few years ago, the show moved in some markets, including your home of Houston and in New Orleans, from Rock format stations to News-Talk stations. Did the move change your approach to the show? Do you feel like the show is more news/political than it was when you were on predominantly Rock and Classic Rock stations?

Fortunately, not really; the truth is, the show has always been on multiple formats in multiple markets. We've found homes on talk, new rock, classic rock, sports, and country stations. It's a versatile show with a diverse audience, so it fits on almost any station in the South. We can currently be heard everywhere from the Texas Panhandle to the great state of Georgia.

10. What's the most important lesson you've learned in your careers?

Never interrupt women when they're doing their makeup and don't let sales guys visit the studio with clients during the show. In both circumstances, someone is likely to get offended for unnecessary reasons.

Also, the harder you make one person laugh, the more you've offended someone else. Don't worry about impressing everyone because someone's always gonna be pissed off.

Finally: Live life like Gus McCrae... whoever that is.