Joe B. Hall would like radio show to continue

Word spread across social media on Thursday that the Joe B. and Denny Show would air for the final time next Thursday, ending a 10-year radio run for the legendary former basketball coaches.

But Joe B. Hall and producer Jim Lankster told The Courier-Journal on Thursday night that those reports are premature and that they are hopeful the show will continue. For many years Hall, the former Kentucky coach, has broadcast from the WVLK-101.5 studios in Lexington while Denny Crum, the former Louisville coach, was stationed at the WKRD-790 studios in Louisville.

Hall and Lankster said that WVLK has changed formats and cut ties with the Joe B. and Denny Show. But Hall and Lankster said they have been in talks with several other Lexington-area stations to keep the show alive there, and added that their relationship with WKRD remains strong.

Earlier on Thursday, an email was sent to some WKRD employees saying that Hall and Crum had decided to end the show after losing the affiliation with WVLK.

"It's not that we want to end the KRD show, it's that the two are integrally tied together, and if one goes down, what happens to the other?" Lankster said. "There is uncertainty right now, but until Joe B. and Denny say it's over, it ain't over…I know we're not gonna be on WVLK-FM, but there's some things in the works to keep this going."

Kelly Carls, regional programming manager for WKRD's iHeartMedia, said that the station would like to continue its partnership with Joe B. and Denny.

"We've got a 10-year relationship with the coaches now and loved every minute of it," Carls said. "So it's basically up to them how long they want to do the show."

Hall made it very clear on Thursday night that he would like the show to live on.

"I still really enjoy it," he said. "It's been a hoot, a lot of fun. We would like to keep it going, but we'll have to wait and see."

Email messages to WVLK's program director and general manager were not immediately returned on Thursday night.

Hall, 85, said he had no plans to retire from radio in the near future. When asked how long he envisioned the Joe B. and Denny show lasting, he replied: "At my age, I don't buy green bananas."

Adam Himmelsbach can be reached at 502-582-4372 by email ahimmelsbach@courier-journal.com and on Twitter @adamhimmelsbach