Posted by Bud on September 12, 2010 at 22:54:52:
Kevin Manno to co-host new afternoon MTV show
Ex-WKQX host to share duties on 'The Seven' in NYC
September 10, 2010 | Chicago Sun-Times
LEWIS LAZARE | Media & Marketing columnist
Former WKQX-FM (101.1) radio host Kevin Manno has hit it big in the Big Apple. Starting Sept. 27, Manno and Julie Alexandria will co-host from New York City a new live 30-minute MTV afternoon show called "The Seven." Each weekday, Manno, 27, and Alexandria will examine the day's top seven pop culture topics, ranging from music to fashion and the latest Hollywood news -- and even sex.
Reached in New York on Thursday, Manno said his level of excitement about his new job is "through the roof." The Highland, Ind., native ended his hosting duties on WKQX in late August and moved into his new apartment in New York just Saturday. But he had to sleep on the floor the first couple of days while he waited for his mattress to arrive. Even though he has a mattress to sleep on, Manno knows it will take awhile to get comfortable in his new East Coast digs. "I always thought Chicago was big, but New York is mind-numbingly huge," said Manno.
Manno's first brush with MTV occurred about two years ago when a rep from the music and entertainment channel reached out to him during a visit to Chicago. "I guess they were interviewing a lot of talent at the time," said Manno. Nothing resulted from that interview, but last February, Manno suddenly got a call out of the blue from MTV asking if he would be interested in auditioning for "The Seven." "They must have kept my information on file," he said.
For the last three years, Manno has been an evening and weekend host on Emmis Communications' alternative rock station WKQX. He started out at the station on the bottom rung as an intern eight years ago. Nicole Gamboa, who works in the programming department at WKQX, said she's not at all surprised about Manno's new good fortune. "He's a lot of fun and a really hard worker," said Gamboa. "This is a huge opportunity for Kevin."
In addition to his hosting duties on WKQX, Kevin and brother Ryan Manno also were regulars on "JBTV," a weekly, one-hour, Chicago-based music and entertainment show airing on WJYS-Channel 62. "JBTV" general manager Christian Picciolini described Kevin Manno as a "super talent with a lot of charisma." Kevin Manno's last appearance on "JBTV" will be Wednesday, when he will interview a Danish band called New Politics. Picciolini said brother Ryan Manno will continue to work with "JBTV."