Media lineup set for Novant Thanksgiving Parade

For the first time, the Novant Health Thanksgiving parade will be broadcast live on radio.

Ramona Holloway

Beginning at 9:30 a.m. Thursday, WBT-AM (1110) will carry the parade with Ramona Holloway describing the action. 

Holloway said Wednesday that she's never broadcast a parade before and has studied the script in preparation for describing the action to her listeners. She plans to bring both the visual interpretation and the spirit of the event.

Holloway will be on the broadcast with her mom, Louise “Wheezy” Holloway, and Brent “Bandy Boo” O’Brien, her producer on the "Matt and Ramona Show" on WLNK-FM (107.9).

At 4 p.m. Thursday, WBTV will broadcast a tape-delay version of the parade hosted by Paul Cameron, Maureen O’Boyle and Kristen Hampton. 

Darla Thomas to join WLNK as program director

Darla Thomas

Darla Thomas will be taking over as program director at WLNK-FM ("Link" 107.9) in January.

Thomas came to Charlotte in 2010 as program director and afternoon host on WLKO-FM ("Lake" 102.9) and left that job last year. Before that, she worked in Tucson, Omaha and Seattle.

She replaces Anthony Michaels, who left WLNK-FM this fall after 13 years. Her first job will be to find a new midday host to replace Kelly McKay, who is departing in December after five years to run her own business.

WSOC names new morning anchor

Stephanie Maxwell

Stephanie Maxwell will replace Peter Daut on WSOC's (Channel 9) morning newscasts beginning in January, news director Julie Szulczewski announced Tuesday.

Maxwell, a graduate of UNC Chapel Hill, has spent the last five years at the ABC affiliate in Jackson, Miss. Earlier in her career, she was an anchor and reporter in Greenville, S.C., and New Bern. Maxwell is a native of Cincinnati and grew up in Atlanta. 

Woody Durham back at the microphone

Woody Durham records a segment in a studio at WNCW. 

 Woody Durham, who spent four decades as the sports voice of the Carolina Tar Heels before retiring in 2011, will be heard on the airwaves once more.

Durham will do “Woody Durham’s Great Moments in Sports History”  on WNCW-FM (88.7 Spindale; 99.1, 100.3 Charlotte) during NPR’s “Morning Edition” beginning Monday.

His minute-long spots will focus on a historic sports anniversary for that day. 

 “I am enjoying the research and the spots hold a lot of memories for us all,” said Durham, 73, in a statement.

Durham started in radio at age 16 at WZKY-AM (1580) in his hometown of Albemarle. Durham graduated from UNC Chapel Hill in 1963 with a communications degree.

Durham recorded multiple radio spots earlier this week at WNCW-FM, which is operated by Isothermal Community College. 

Al Gardner signs off sports station

Longtime Charlotte radio personality Al Gardner is leaving WZGV-AM ("ESPN" 730) after a year, and leaving Charlotte as well.

Al Gardner

Gardner, who will be 68 in December but still puts in his hours boxing at the gym, said Friday he and his wife Robin have sold their home and are moving to a place with a view of the Intracoastal Waterway in Little River, S.C., just outside Myrtle Beach.

"Robin really missed the beach," Gardner said Friday, "so we're moving down there." 

Gardner, who for 15 years was the morning host on "Charlotte's Morning News" on WBT-AM (1110), joined WZGV-AM last December with co-host Lanny Ford. Since June, he has been paired with former Panthers general manager Marty Hurney on a 1 p.m. daily show, "Hurney and Gardner." Friday was his last day.

"It's been a fun year at 730," Gardner said. "I'll miss all the folks there."

Showtime picks up 'Homeland" for another season

Claire Danes in "Homeland"

Showtime announced Monday that its spy thriller "Homeland," filmed in Charlotte for its first three seasons, will be renewed next year.

Also getting a renewal is the freshman drama "The Affair" starring Ruth Wilson, Joshua Jackson, Dominic West and Maura Tierney.

Charlotte stood in for Washington for the first three seasons of "Homeland," then it moved away when Claire Danes' character was moved to the Mideast. Her CIA assignment takes her to the U.S. embassy in Islamabad, Pakistan. Showtime expects to make 10 to 12 episodes of "Homeland" for the next season.