The DVE Morning Show (currently branded Randy Baumann and the DVE Morning Show) is a morning radio comedy and variety show broadcast on Pittsburgh classic rock station 102.5 FM WDVE featuring DJ Randy Baumann. The show began airing in the 6:00-10:00 am weekday morning drive slot in late 1986 after the cancellation of Jimmy and Steve in the Morning (from which the show draws inspiration). Originally hosted by Scott Paulsen, the show would go on to be hosted by the team of Paulsen and Jim Krenn from 1988 to 1999, briefly by Krenn solo, then by the team of Krenn and Baumann from 2000 to 2011. Since late December 2012, Baumann has hosted with comedian Bill Crawford, sportscaster Mike Prisuta, and news anchor Val Porter. Additionally, many newsreaders, sportscasters and other members have come and gone during the show's run.
In its nearly thirty years of existence, the DVE Morning Show has consistently remained one of the most popular morning radio shows in the Pittsburgh radio market. Though the show has changed personnel several times, the same basic formula of comedy bits, celebrity impersonations, telephone interviews, in-studio guests, unusual news items, sports coverage and promotion of local music and comedy has remained and been the key to the show's continued success.
History
In 1980, WDVE began airing Jimmy and Steve in the Morning with DJs and hosts Jimmy Roach and Steve Hansen. Roach and Hansen re-established comedy and local music promotion on Pittsburgh morning radio, elements that had been absent from the region's airwaves for quite some time. They helped to promote the careers of Pittsburgh area acts like the Iron City Houserockers, the Granati Brothers, Donnie Iris and the Cruisers and B. E. Taylor Group. This formula of comedy, talk and local music helped to make the show and station extremely popular in the region. Despite this, WDVE did not renew their contracts in 1986, and Roach and Hansen were fired, effectively canceling Jimmy and Steve in the Morning.
Not long after Roach and Hansen's departure from WDVE, the station replaced them and their show. Hiring comedian/DJ Scott Paulsen, the station began airing Scott Paulsen and the DVE Morning Show in the 6:00-10:00 am time slot. Adopting a similar format to Roach and Hansen, Paulsen's show became very popular and kept WDVE near the top of the ratings. In 1988, Paulsen was teamed up with comedian Jim Krenn, who had been a regular on the show. Paulsen and Krenn even competed against Roach and Hansen from 1987 to 1991, when the latter duo joined WMYG. When Jimmy Roach and Steve Hansen went separate ways in 1991, Scott Paulsen, Jim Krenn and the DVE Morning Show became Pittsburgh's most popular morning radio program.
Over the next decade, Paulsen and Krenn created many comedic characters, sketches and celebrity impersonations. They interviewed many regular guests and continued to promote Pittsburgh music and comedy. At the end of 1999, Scott Paulsen decided to not renew his contract and leave WDVE and the Morning Show (he would return later in 2000 until 2006 as a DJ). For a temporary period of time in 2000, Krenn hosted solo and the show was rebranded Jim Krenn and the DVE Morning Show. After interviewing several candidates, Krenn and WDVE selected Erie, Pennsylvania native and radio personality Randy Baumann. The program was again rebranded, this time Jim Krenn, Randy Baumann and the DVE Morning Show, and the show remained popular in the ratings.
Over the show's run, several newsreaders and sportscasters have come and gone. However, newsreader Val Porter and sportscaster Mike Prisuta have been with the show since the early 2000s. Phil Kirzyc, later the DJ for the weekday 7:00 pm–12:00 am time slot, got his start at WDVE as the Morning Show'''s announcer.
For a period of a month in January and February 2010, Randy Baumann did not appear with Jim Krenn on the program because of a contract dispute, and the show was temporarily rebranded The DVE Morning Show. Negotiations were eventually settled, and Baumann returned to Jim Krenn, Randy Baumann and the DVE Morning Show.