Iconic 'Murph & Andy,' viewed as Iowa's best sports talk radio show, says goodbye to KXnO

Keith Murphy sits in a seat on the third floor of the iHeartRadio office in Des Moines and intently listens to the introduction to the “Murph & Andy Show." The intro, which is full of movie quotes and was formerly a staple at the start of each show, now comes on only before Friday episodes.

“I hear that vintage,” Murphy starts to say into his microphone.

But Murphy can’t finish the sentence. Sitting just a few feet away from him in another chair is Andy Fales, Murphy's co-host. Fales, who often knows where his friend and colleague is going with every take, quickly chimes in, completing the thought for him.

“It takes you back,” Fales says.

There’s been a lot of reminiscing since the two announced on June 4 that the show, which airs on KXnO, would be coming to an end. It has legions of loyal listeners across Iowa and the nation and has become one of the most iconic on local airwaves. But after more than 15 years, it'll come to an end Friday.

“That 15-year show, that’s the biggest impact anybody’s had on that station, and that’s really saying something,” said Andrew Downs, the show’s former producer. “It is Iowa’s best sports talk radio station, and they have been the best show on that station for a long, long time.”

'If they believe in this, then we should believe in this'

Murphy and Fales have been synonymous with central Iowa sports for years. Murphy, the sports director at WHO-TV and Fales, a reporter, co-hosted "SoundOff," a sports talk show that aired every Sunday. That widely popular show caught the interest of Joel McCrea, then the general manager of KXnO.

McCrea, who liked how the two filled in for longtime radio show host Jon Miller, thought the television show limited Murphy and Fales. He believed it didn't give them enough time to hit on important topics. A radio show, McCrea, figured, could.

"It (SoundOff) was kind of their creative release," McCrea said. "But by putting them on the radio for two hours a day, it allowed them to be more creative and talk even more about the issues."

McCrea began talking to Fales about it after Fales had briefly left Des Moines for a job in Kansas City. Fales, who had been contemplating a return home, was interested in the idea of hosting a show, a longtime dream of his.

Murphy was just as intrigued. He liked the idea of being able to expand on topics and have discussions about sports, music, movies and more as he would with friends. "SoundOff" was more of a caller-driven show at that point, which limited their time on individual topics.

"We thought that would be fun to take those same kind of conversations and just be able to go to air with them," Murphy said.

When Fales moved back to Iowa early in 2008, an unexpected opportunity arose. A hot microphone in the studio picked up an expletive-filled fight between hosts Marty Tirrell and Larry Cotlar. Tirrell and Cotlar, along with producer Geoff Conn, were fired.

The tirade cost KXnO hosts of two shows and left the station in dire need of content. McCrea brought on Murphy and Fales to help save the station. Downs was working at iHeart, the company that owns KXnO. He said the move to bring on the two popular television voices gave the station instant legitimacy.

"It's 'Oh, Murphy and Andy, oh OK, if they believe in this, then we should still believe in this,'" Downs said.

Murphy and Fales help trap a bat and host a show during a vasectomy

The "Murph & Andy Show" show debuted on April 20, 2009.

It began with Fales as the lead host and Murphy working more as his sidekick, a much different look from their time on television together. After about five shows, the two realized it wasn't the right fit. So, they switched roles, and the show took off.

Murphy came up with some staple segments for the show. The hope was that it would give them things to fall back on each day and, with the right amount of branding, could be selling points to sponsors. The segments would also help pass the time during the two-hour show, especially during the summer, a typically slow time for sports in Iowa.

They came up with "Trending Iowa" to talk about the latest things in the state. Mike Woody, a well-respected movie critic, came on the show every week to chat about past and present films. Even President Barack Obama once called into the show.

"It felt great to be able to try whatever we felt like trying," Fales said. "We both have a lot of different interests and never wanted a show with boundaries drawn around it. And I think it kept us and our show fresh and ultimately broadened our audience. Some of our favorite compliments from listeners have been the ones that began 'I'm not actually much of a sports fan, but..."

Sports were still important to the show, though. The two broke down football and basketball games and hosted guests including Iowa football coach Kirk Ferentz and Iowa State athletic director Jamie Pollard. The duo regularly chatted about the biggest sports news happening across the country.

But Murphy, who plans the show every day, often filled in his rundown with topics away from sports, ranging from silly to serious. They played "Guess Whose Birthday?," trying to figure out whose birthday it was from a short audio clip. Fales came up with ideas for a segment called "More," which tackled random stories outside of sports.

During one show, Fales got a vasectomy on air, with his doctor taking the phone for a quick interview. In another, the two helped Murphy's son, Cade, try to trap a bat that had gotten into the family's house. Then there were the serious stories. From the studio, they watched the Jan. 6 attacks on the Capitol and reacted in real time. They stayed on during the COVID-19 pandemic and talked through Gov. Kim Reynolds' press conferences.

"We didn't have a lot of answers, and they were conversations that a lot of people weren't having," Downs said.

Murph and Andy take a stand by staying off the air

One of Murphy and Fales' biggest impacts came when they weren't even on the air.

In early 2020, six employees, including Downs were abruptly fired from the station. Fales, who was scheduled to host that day's show with Downs, called Murphy during his vacation. They agreed to post a statement on social media that they wouldn't be coming on air that day. The firings of their friends, and how they were treated, bothered them.

Murphy and Fales' stand focused more attention on the firings, with listeners and advisers voicing their displeasure to executives at iHeart. It was a risky move for Murphy and Fales, putting their jobs in jeopardy. But it didn't surprise Chris Williams, one of the six who had lost their jobs.

Williams had seen how Murphy and Fales approached their show and others at the station. While shows in the past had routinely battled for guests, topics and advertising, the two went out of their way to bring all the talent at the station together.

"I just know that it was always about more than just them and money," Williams said.

The two stayed off the air for five days and didn't return until iHeart hired back all six employees and gave the station an FM signal. Downs believes that iHeart executives didn't expect Murphy and Fales to fight back. When they did, it ignited an outrage that got too loud to ignore. Without Murphy and Fales taking a stand, Downs doesn't think he would have gotten his job back.

"It was Murph and Andy as much as anything," Downs said.

The show returned. It was too important not to.

Keith Murphy: 'I don't ever take it for granted'

Over the years, the show became important not just to listeners, but to Murphy and Fales. It became a way for the two to connect with their parents from afar. They even treated it like they were talking to their parents.

While Murphy's late father was sick, those around him knew not to bother him with treatments or rehab while his son's show was on. During the last few days of his dad's life, Murphy sat with him and listened as Fales ran things in the studio.

"I don't ever take it for granted," Murphy said.

Fales says some of his favorite conversations with his late dad came from the show when they discussed books that turned into movies. Long after the segment aired, Fales continually heard from his dad, who kept sending him ideas. Even now, he said he looks at the show as a way to connect with his mom while she listens from Wisconsin.

Because of their easygoing approach, the two connected with listeners as well. To many, they felt a part of Murphy and Fales' lives. In one on-air discussion, Fales talked about how he regretted not buying seats from the St. Louis Blues' old arena. A listener offered to sell him his seats from the arena. When Fales showed up to buy them, the two talked about the show and some of their favorite memories.

As Fales went to pay, he was told to keep his money.

"He goes, 'I want to say thank you. These are my thank you for the radio show. I'm so glad to know that you'll have them,'" Fales said.

Those types of stories are why their decision not to renew their contract with iHeart hit so many people so hard. The two said they've heard from listeners who plan their entire day around the show.

But the time had come.

Murphy and Fales have spent more than a decade balancing their jobs at the radio and television stations, sometimes working as many as six days a week. Murphy said their decision to leave has nothing to do with money.

"It's not an indictment of KXnO or iHeart or anything," Murphy said. "We're really appreciative of the opportunity. They were very good to us. It's quality of life."

Murphy and Fales announced the news on the radio on June 4. When Murphy posted about it on Facebook, his inbox filled with heartfelt messages from longtime listeners. One listener wrote to Murphy about how she grew up talking sports with her dad, who was a huge fan of the show. After he died, she felt like the show kept her connected to him. Another wrote about how he drives around all day for work and listened so much that he felt like he became friends with the two. Murphy also heard from a listener who said the show helped him through surgery last year.

"It is so nice and has really moved me," Murphy said.

Friday's show will be the last. It doesn't signal the end for the dynamic duo, though. The hope is to find something that won't take up as much time. Whatever happens next, it won't be the same as their time on the radio together. So, they're relishing every moment they have.

"I'm going to miss it," Fales said.

Tommy Birch, the Register's sports enterprise and features reporter, has been working at the newspaper since 2008. He's the 2018, 2020 and 2023 Iowa Sportswriter of the Year. Reach him at tbirch@dmreg.com or 515-284-8468.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iconic 'Murph & Andy,' viewed as Iowa's best sports talk radio show, says goodbye to KXnO