Dish Nation

Dish Nation was a syndicated American television program that mixed tabloid news with pop-culture commentary, distributed by Fox First Run to stations nationwide. It first aired in 2011, featuring celebrity personalities from various radio shows across the country. The series was renewed for two more seasons in November 2020, carrying it through the 2022–23 season. On January 29, 2025, it was announced that the show would conclude after thirteen seasons.

The concept for Dish Nation originated in 2008 with Stu Weiss, a former radio DJ and TV weatherman who also worked in broadcast marketing. The program drew on radio teams such as The Rickey Smiley Morning Show from Atlanta, heard on over 65 stations and featuring Rickey Smiley, Headkrack, Gary with da Tea, and Da Brat. Another team, Heidi & Frank, aired weekdays on KLOS in Los Angeles with Heidi Hamilton and Frank Kramer, and formerly included Erik Smith and Sammy Marino. Brooke & Jubal in the Morning from Seattle’s KQMV, with Brooke Fox and Jubal Flagg, was part of the show until 2015. The nationally syndicated The Kidd Kraddick Morning Show from Dallas joined in September 2012 for season one, with J-Si Chavez, Kellie Raspberry, Jenna Owens, and Big Al Mack, but was dropped in December 2016.

During a summer test in 2011, the show included recording artist DJ Felli Fel and Jessi Malay from Los Angeles’ KPWR, as well as Blaine Fowler & Allyson Martinek in the Morning on Detroit’s WDVD, and New York’s Scott & Todd (Scott Shannon and Todd Pettengill) on WPLJ. The DJ Laz Morning Show also appeared in the first season.

The test run began on July 25, 2011, in seven markets, with help from Madeleine Smithberg (co-creator of The Daily Show) and Scott Rockett (co-creator of Hollywood Uncensored). It was a fast-paced roundtable featuring four radio teams covering celebrity news. The test aired in the home markets of those teams—New York, Atlanta, Detroit, and Los Angeles—plus Baltimore, Washington, D.C., and Phoenix. Hosts included Scott Shannon and Todd Pettengill, The Rickey Smiley Morning Show (with Ebony Steele, Gary With Da Tea, and HeadKrack), Fowler and Martinek, and DJ Felli Fel and Jessi Malay alongside comedian Michael Bachmann. Rickey Smiley became the longest-running contributor, appearing until the series ended.

The test averaged a 0.9 rating and a 2 share over six weeks, with household ratings rising 11% from the first week to the last. In Atlanta, it outperformed Late Show with David Letterman and sitcoms, ranking third in key demographics and household ratings. Its median viewer age was 43.1, the youngest among entertainment magazine shows at the time (TMZ was 43.7, Access Hollywood 52.3, Extra 54.2, The Insider 55.2, Entertainment Tonight 56.6, Inside Edition 58).

Before the 2012 NATPE conference, 20th Century Fox announced a full 52-week season starting September 10, 2012. After 100 episodes, 20th Television renewed it for a second season on January 25, 2013. Stephen Brown, EVP of programming at 20th Television, credited the show’s success to its viral, real-time nature. On July 27, 2013, Kidd Kraddick died near New Orleans while fundraising for his charity; two days later, Dish Nation aired a tribute.

Season two premiered on September 10, 2013, with The Rickey Smiley Morning Show, the remaining cast of The Kidd Kraddick Morning Show (renamed from Kidd Kraddick in the Morning), and The Heidi and Frank Show. In late 2013, the show was renewed for a third season after finishing first in key demographics among freshman and sophomore syndicated programs. In July 2014, Ebony Steele was replaced by Claudia Jordan, and Porsha Williams joined the panel that summer.

Season three began on September 8, 2014. In November 2014, the Dallas and Los Angeles crews began rotating daily, with the Seattle crew appearing occasionally; the Atlanta crew remained the only group to appear all five days. The show was renewed for two more years on January 6, 2015. Claudia Jordan was dropped in July 2015.

Season four started on September 7, 2015. Rapper Da Brat joined as a main personality for the Atlanta team. Correspondents from other cities included Ben Campbell and Matt McAllister (“Ben and Matt”) from Phoenix’s KNIX-FM, Miguel Fuller and Holly O’Connor (“Miguel and Holly”) from Tampa’s WPOI, and Anthony May (“Tone Kapone”) from Chicago’s WGCI-FM.

Season five premiered on September 5, 2016. The Dallas team left in late December 2016. In January 2017, the show was renewed for two years, averaging 4.1 million weekly viewers in its fifth season with a median age of 49.8.

Season six began on September 4, 2017, with guests including Torrei Ha.