Sad to hear KBEE nixed 'Dream Doctor'

Much of evening FM radio nowadays is cookie-cutter formula stuff — lots of music and very little conversation.

And maybe that's what people want, because one of the most unusual evening radio programs, "The Dream Doctor," which interpreted dreams of callers, was recently canceled locally by KBEE (FM-98.7) . . . in favor of John Tesh.

The last Salt Lake broadcast of the "Doctor" was Sept. 10. It has been replaced by "The John Tesh Radio Show," 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. weekdays.

Personally, I think KBEE made a mistake with this cancellation. This was the kind of show that may have seemed a little strange to many first-time listeners, but it grew on you.

"The Dream Doctor Show" was fifth-place in the Salt Lake radio market for females, ages 25-49, according to Arbitron. Ironically, the host of the show — Dr. Charles McPhee, the former director of the Sleep Apnea Patient Treatment Program at the Sleep Disorders Center of Santa Barbara — was in Salt Lake City last month for "Erin's Slumber Party." He did dream interpretations for some of the 1,000 guests at the event.

I'm convinced this show had potential to expand its audience in the coming months. After all, we all dream, and McPhee's friendly manner made the show magnetic. It also was positive and upbeat, another rarity in much of today's radio.

Talking to McPhee by phone from his headquarters in Atlanta, Ga., recently only reaffirmed my belief that the show has a winning formula. McPhee was as pleasant as he seems on the air.

Salt Lake listeners gave the show a strong response — both by calling and e-mailing — and McPhee said he was disappointed at the cancellation.

"The Dream Doctor" began nationally two years ago and is syndicated through Cox Radio on 13 radio stations — including such top markets as Atlanta, Miami, Denver and Seattle. The show started with a 2 percent share in Santa Barbara, but soon catapulted to a 15.6 share (for persons 25-54 , its core audience).

"It's a unique product," McPhee said. "There's nothing else out there like it."

The show can also work with different musical formats plugged in, though McPhee also admits it is a show that people have to get used to.

He's had some TV offers, but said, "My show is good theater of the mind; it engages the mind" best on radio.