Shock's out, Marie's in on radio

LEHI — Marie Osmond is taking the shock out of jock.

As the Federal Communications Commission cracks down on indecency in the industry, Osmond's nationally syndicated and family friendly-radio show, "Marie & Friends," is hitting the airwaves.

"It's safe radio," said the 44-year-old Osmond, a member of the famously squeaky-clean performing Utah family. "That's one of the things we're going for is to be safe, and funny and clever and quick-witted without getting to the blue side."

"It's pretty good timing, huh?" said Tom Taylor, editor of the New York-based trade publication Inside Radio.

The debut of Osmond's show last month came as broadcasters nationwide are responding to pressure from federal regulators and lawmakers who say too much of radio and TV programming has become unsuitable for children.

Radio giant Clear Channel Communication has said it would pay a record $755,000 fine for broadcasts of "Bubba the Love Sponge," which the FCC found indecent, and fired the disc jockey responsible.

Clear Channel also suspended broadcasts of the Howard Stern show on its six stations that carry it, citing sexually graphic content from a broadcast.

"I'm not Marie Stern," Osmond said of her show, which mixes congenial conversation with familiar songs instead of Stern's shock talk and stripper sidekicks. "We all have choices. You have to be 21 to be able to go into a strip bar. Why are you bringing the strip bar into my living room?"

Besides, she has tailored the show to an audience of primarily women but counts her eight children, her 78-year-old mother, men and truck drivers among her listeners.

"It's informative and it's fun and we're a little crazy," she said. "But it's something you don't feel like you have to explain to your 6-year-old later in the evening, and try to fill her in on information that she's too young to understand."

"Marie & Friends" is a five-hour afternoon drive time program syndicated by Jones Radio Network, and getting stations to forgo local programming may be the show's biggest hurdle to more signing on.

"The challenge for Jones is to persuade stations to give them that time slot," Taylor said. So far, five stations have — one each in Salt Lake City; Boise; Yakima, Wash.; Santa Monica, Calif.; and Santa Maria, Calif.