10 Questions with ... Kevin Klein

NAME:Kevin Klein TITLE:Alpha Male: The Playboy Morning Show (Morning Co-Host) STATION:Playboy Radio: Sirius 198 MARKET:Based in Los Angeles, but listened to worldwide COMPANY:Sirius Satellite Radio BORN:01/01/1980 RAISED:Washington, D.C.

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

Lemonade stand at the age of 7... went bankrupt in 30 minutes. Nights at WKRL/WKRH in Syracuse/Utica, NY. Then "promoted" to mornings at same station. After that, it was off to NEW YORK CITY for WXRK (K-ROCK) nights... late nights. While in NYC, I hosted a variety of shows for the MTV Radio Network, including a daily morning show for Vh1 Radio (formerly on XM), specials for MTV Radio, and co-hosted the Vh1 Weekly Rewind, syndicated by Westwood One. Then, I did one air shift on 92.3 FREE FM before deciding to hop a plane to LA to host "The Playboy Morning Show" for SIRIUS. I plan on looking back into the lemonade stand thing in the very near future.

1. How did you get your start in radio?

While interning for "The Jack Diamond Morning Show" (WRQX) at the tender age of 17, I was presented with the opportunity of a lifetime... to board op the Smooth Jazz (WJZW) station at 4 in the morning. I now have an unshakable Kenny G fetish. A few years later, while still a student at Syracuse University, I was interning at WHFS in the morning, driving to Pennsylvania to do a shift on WIKZ in the afternoon, and then driving to Virginia's WINC after that. I was really bad for the environment.

2. About what are you most passionate these days?

Depends who's reading this.... Please skip to the answer that fits your description:

Kevin's Boss: WORK. I am so passionate about work that I wish there were more hours in the day just so I could get more done.

Kevin's Girlfriend: My relationship. I am so passionate about buying little outfits for your 4 lb. poodle.

Kevin's Parents: Law School: I'll be graduating any day now.

3. After just a few years of being a personality on music radio, you find yourself the co-host of the morning show on Playboy Radio -- besides the presence of Playmates, what are the most striking differences between what you did on conventional radio and what you're doing now? What can you do at Playboy that you couldn't at your other gigs, and what are the similarities?

I used to always hear from PDs that "anyone can be funny and entertaining when they talk for 4 hours, the hard part is being just as entertaining in 5 second chunks between songs." I find the opposite to be true. Who can't make a witty comment about Bono while introing a U2 song? The challenge is creating consistently compelling content (yes, that is some fine alliteration) on a daily basis, for a full show. As far as differences, Playboy Radio is the only station where the on-air staff is actually hotter then they sound, and that's saying a lot. No more disappointed looks from heartbroken listeners at remotes. The major difference, however, is FREEDOM. Both Playboy and Sirius are companies that value freedoms, and it is the perfect environment to let creativity flourish. For the first time, I can say what I want to say, do what I want to do, and not fear that the GM or PD will lecture me for 3 hours after.

4. What would surprise a new listener about your show?

If we're doing our job right then everything should surprise them. I know I was surprised when I found out the Hef listens often. I also think people are shocked that we all actually wear pajamas to work. It's company policy.

5. Besides radio and TV, you also do stand-up comedy. Who, and what, makes you laugh?

I actually haven't done as much of that as I used to in NYC. For the most part, comics are bitter people, and I like to surround myself with positive people (e.g. Playmates). It's funny how many comics, who we've had on the show, have said to me "must be nice to be in a stable industry like radio." Ha! That made me chuckle.

6. Who are your influences, in radio and otherwise?

Ron Popeil, mostly. That guy can sell a food dehydrator to guy with no food to dehydrate... and he has. In radio, I'm influenced by all the hacky shows I hear... to DO BETTER!

7. What was the single best segment you've done since joining Playboy Radio, the one where, afterwards, you thought, man, that was amazing?

How can I be expected to pick just one? In the last year we have done our show from inside the Grotto at The Playboy Mansion, The Playboy Club in Vegas, college bars across America, the roof of the Palms Casino, Playboy Casting Calls, Sirius HQ in NYC... That being said, I really enjoyed creating SEX TOY BATTLE BOTS for our "First Annual Sex Toy Battle Bot Royal Rumble." I almost lost a toe...but it felt really good.

8. Besides sitting in a radio studio with Playboy Playmates, what do you do for fun?

What makes you think sitting in a studio with Playboy Playmates is fun? Oh wait, it is. When I'm not doing that, I'm usually thinking about doing that or playing golf, cooking, or wine tasting... in the aisle of the grocery store (the manager hates that).

9. Fill in the blank: I can't make it through the day without _________.

...a spam e-mail about my penis not working. No, I don't want to "knock down walls" with it, but thanks for asking.

10. What's the best advice you ever got? The worst?

I've been lucky enough to have worked with some great people who have all given me some pretty solid advice:
Rob Cross (WXRK): "You can always be better, and in your case, much better."
Jim Robinson (Pres. of ABC Radio): "You can make it far in radio, just don't suck when you get there."
Ed Levine (CEO, Galaxy Communications): "You're not as smart as you think you are, smarty."
Jack Diamond and Jimmy Alexander (WRQX): "Never let the truth get in the way of a good story."
Howard Stern: "Everyone thinks you have to be a good speaker to be a good host, you really just have to be a good listener."
Smokey the Bear: "Only YOU can prevent forest fires."

The worst advice I ever got was from my ex-girlfriend: "You should really look into getting a real job."