Michele Tafoya/photo by Brian Peterson
Michele Tafoya, best known for her night-time shift as an NFL sideline reporter, is adding to her duties.
She has joined Tom Barnard as co-host for the KQRS morning show, one of the most successful radio programs in Twin Cities history.
"We're thrilled to expand Michele's role to co-host," said program director Scott Jameson. "She's a terrific, local talk talent we're happy to have more of."
Note the term "co-host." Terri Traen, who booked guests for the show and served as Barnard's on-air frenemy, was a prominent player during much of the show's 30-year run, but I don't think she ever got such a lofty title. She shifted to afternoons earlier this year after ongoing spats, both on air and off, with Barnard.
Tafoya is a bigger deal. She has covered NFL games for NBC since 2011 and previously worked sports for CBS and ABC. She can still make a splash -- whether she wants to or not. Her Twitter dispute with comic Franchesca Ramsey went viral last month.
"Radio is such a fun, free-flowing platform where we can talk about anything at all, and Tom makes it easy," Tafoya said in a statement.
How much of an impact Tafoya will have is uncertain. Her workload may be a factor . An attempt to host a drive-time program on WCCO radio ended in 2012 after just three seasons. She is not planning on giving up her football gig.
