Wendy Bell gets own KDKA radio show; Marty Griffin back to mornings

After eight months sharing KDKA-AM News Radio 1020’s on-air afternoon commute slot together, Wendy Bell and Marty Griffin are now each taking the driver’s seat for their own shows.

Starting Sept. 3, Griffin will return to the 9 a.m. to noon slot, with Lynne Hayes-Freeland moving from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to broadcasting from noon to 3 p.m., and Bell taking over from 3 to 6 p.m.

“I’m thrilled with the opportunity to do any time slot,” Griffin says. “I think they (KDKA management) want to kind of spread out the talent, quite frankly.”

“I’m going back to my old slot. I’m more effective and can get more done,” he says.

KDKA and his new company, Sparkt.com, also will be involved in some projects together, he says.

The new line-up gives all of them a chance, he says, “to spread our wings a little bit.”

“I love Wendy. She’s fabulous,” Griffin says.

Griffin says he’s looking forward to “creating a change.”

“This gives me more opportunity to help people, quite frankly. I’m so blessed to be able to do the show with Wendy and heal. She’s a fantastic talent, unbelievably hardworking. She creates some conflict, and so do I,” he says.

On Jan. 3, Bell assumed midday and afternoon host duties with station veteran Griffin, who had recently returned to work following treatment for throat cancer.

A long-time WTAE news television anchor, Bell was fired from her position with the station in 2016 over a controversial Facebook comment.

Griffin says he’s had four cancer screenings since completing treatment and is now cancer-free.

“I was able to reach a lot of people with (HPV information), and I’m going to continue to do that,” he says.

In beginning his treatment, Griffin urged parents to strongly consider getting their children the HPV vaccine.

”Why not raise hell and make a difference?” he says.