Photography by Alex Maness

Monday mornings in Greensboro sound a lot like Monday mornings anywhere else in America: Alarms ring, coffeemakers buzz, and traffic roars as the rumblings of the daily grind unmercifully kick back into gear.

But inside Dick Broadcasting’s nondescript downtown studio, it’s hard to tell the weekend ever ended. That’s where two guys — both named Chris — and their supporting cast are discussing the weekend that was. In particular, they’re talking about the game of “HORSE” that was played during the NBA All-Star festivities.

“Did you see where they changed the name from ‘HORSE’ to ‘GEICO?’ ” asks Chris Demm, the elder of the two Chrises. “Geico was sponsoring the game, so whenever the players missed a shot, they spelled out ‘GEICO’ instead of ‘HORSE.’ ”

“Are you kidding me?” responds Chris Kelly, the younger, more irreverent of the two. “Sponsorships are getting out of control in this country.”

“It could have been worse,” chimes sideman Dave Aiken. “It could have been sponsored by ‘MUTUAL OF OMAHA.’ That would’ve taken days.” Cue the laughs.

From there, the crew shifts its attention to the rain-stained Daytona 500, Spring Break in Cancun, and CBS’s The Mentalist — cracking each other up the entire time.

If it sounds like a simple approach to radio, it’s because it is. Get a few funny people in a room, turn on some microphones, and see what happens. Yet it’s this unforced, easy-does-it approach that’s made the Two Guys Named Chris show one of the most endeared programs in the Triad, helping thousands of P-1 listeners (i.e. diehard fans) ring in their mornings.

“We’ve always wanted it to sound like a group of friends sitting around a sports bar,” Kelly says. “I’d say it’s a current events-based show with a funny slant.”

Earlier this year, the program celebrated its 10th anniversary with a rousing party inside the downtown Empire Room. The event marked a decisive and unexpected milestone.

“When we first started, I remember saying I just wanted a good run in the tournament.” Demm says. “I really never thought about making it this far.”

The broadcast first hit the Rock 92 airwaves in January 1999. Before that, the two Chrises were nothing more than friends. “We hung out a lot and played basketball together,” Kelly says. “We had always thought it’d be fun to do a show, but never imagined it would happen.”

The reason? Neither one of them had ever been “the guy” on a radio show. Kelly had spent years as Jack Murphy’s right-hand-man on the Murphy in the Morning program, which broadcasts on Rock 92’s sister station, 107.5 WKZL.

Demm, meanwhile, had spent several years at Rock 92, serving as Brad Krantz’s morning-show sidekick. But when the station became a syndicate for John Boy & Billy in 1996, Demm was relegated to running the soundboard.

In 1998, when John Boy & Billy bolted for another station, the guys saw their chance. They casually pitched the idea to the station president, fully expecting to be turned down. Surprisingly though, they were granted their wish.

The excitement quickly turned to apprehension, though, as both guys realized they might be in over their heads.

“We were killing ourselves, working 14-hour days, trying to find worthwhile stuff to put on the air,” Kelly remembers. “Everything we did felt forced at first.”

But eventually, the guys settled in and found their groove. And a few years later, they began mixing new personalities into the show, starting with intern-turned-co-host Deidre James, a High Point native. Later, the program added “Weather Dave” Aiken, a former meteorologist on WFMY News 2. And just last year, the broadcast added John “Biggie” Ellinger to fill the role of producer. He replaced longtime producer Chris “Goat-boy” Imms, who took a similar job at a local TV station.

“It took a while,” Demm says of the show, “but I think we finally got it right.”
Snap back to the show, where a listener from Chapel Hill has just called in to share a few sentiments.

“Guys, I just wanted to say thanks,” he says. “I have a long drive every day, so it’s nice to have some company for the ride.”

Truthfully, it’s testimonies like this that seem to drive each member of the show.

“Hearing positive feedback from the fans is the best part of this job,” Kelly says. “You never get tired of it. Hopefully we’ll keep hearing it for another 10 years.”

Hopefully, indeed.

Catch the Two Guys Named Chris show live weekday mornings from 6 to 11 a.m. on Rock 92.3 FM, WKRR. For more, go to http://www.rock92.com.