Two comedy traffic schools instructors decide to get their own radio show and talk about the experience of driving around in the world's car craziest city.  Two established radio talk personalities go on the air to say a show about driving around L.A. would flop, but they end up helping the show become a reality. Jay Leno, who happened to be a car but, winds up as the new show's first guest .

Kenny Morse, "Mr. Traffic" and Reed Berry "The Traffic Guy" lived this sitcom scenario late last year. Their real life show about driving, "Traffic Jam" airs Saturdays 2-4pm on KRLA-AM 1110.

"Reed and I were pitching program directors for a year, " says Morse. "KLSX Program Director Jack Silver said 'great demo tape and package' but didn't offer us anything. Our package was made to look like a '57 Chevy with a tape in the front seat."

A guest shot on KLSX-FM's Conway and Steckler Show (7-10p.m. weeknights) proved to be a boon to their aspirations.  But even that opportunity came only after the FM duo had ridiculed the idea of a traffic school after a listener called in with the suggestion of putting Morse's cable TV show on the radio.

"We knew we had to hit a home run," says Morse of their appearance on the FM talk station. The hosts had spoken to Ron Escarsega, program director for the soon to be KRLA which happens to be KLSX's sister station. "Fortunately, it went really well."

The traffic teachers debuted in December and since then have added an additional three hours of general talk, Saturdays from 7-10p.m. to their talk hosting duties while keeping their day jobs teaching at the Improv Comedy Traffic School.

Both bring plenty of show biz experience to the job.  The two met 12 years ago while teaching in San Gabriel's now defunct "Lettuce Amuse You" Traffic School. Morse has performed with improve troupes around the city and Berry sharpened his wit as a warm-up comedian for the Morton Downey Jr. TV show. Morse became "Mr. Traffic" on Public Access Cable TV and Berry had two shows about travel on KIEV-AM 870.

" 'Ask Mr. Traffic' became a cult cable TV show," says Morse.  "Actually it was a favorite among cults," Berry explained.

The first hour deals with driver related news about driving and handling issues such as tickets, road rage and car repair rip-off investigations.

"Most people don't repair their cars, but they drive them," says Morse, explaining the difference between "Traffic Jam" and other auto related shows, which focus on maintenance problems. Guests on the show have included Tom Leykis, Steve Allen, Jerry Dunphy, Wink Martindale, Dennis Franz and Kelly Lange.

"We promise people who come on the show that afterward they'll say 'God, we've had fun!' "

Sandy Wells radio column is published each Friday in CHEERS!
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