Tony Kornheiser made an appearance on Washington Post Radio this a.m., promising that his new show, which debuts tomorrow at 8:30, will be all about him (surprise!). He also said that he would “get even” with several naysayers once he finally hits the airwaves.

“I’ll name them tomorrow or maybe Wednesday,” said the sports guru. “Eventually it will be about killing all the wounded.”

Paul Farhi was not mentioned by name, but we’re sure he’s quivering somewhere in the crevices of the WaPo building.

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We told ya so! From the lovely Reliable Source today:

Mark Kaye knew things were getting sticky in contract talks, but he didn’t know it would come to this. On Wednesday, the suits at Clear Channel told him and partner Kris Gamble that their popular 99.5 FM “Hot Morning Mess” show was no more.

Kaye and program director Jeff Kapugi gave the same explanation: “It’s a business decision.” Which is to say, it’s all about money. The duo took the station from No. 11 to No. 1 among young female listeners since starting in ‘01 — which means they were due for a raise, Kaye told our colleague Paul Farhi. “I imagine they figured the new guy [ Kane , a deejay outta Tampa] would be more cost-effective. You know, one salary instead of two.”

Many listeners thought Kaye, 32, and Gamble, 38, were married, on account of their on-air chemistry. They’re not, though they plan to stay a team wherever they land next. It’s a delicate time for both: Kaye and his wife just had a baby; Gamble just had back surgery. “I’m not angry, I’m not bitter,” said Kaye — but they will greet their fans at a Starbucks near WIHT’s Rockville studio this morning.

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An insider tells us that WaPo’s Paul Farhi will finally have a story tomorrow about Hot 99.5’s Wednesday decision to fire Mark Kaye and Kris Gamble from their popular morning show – a full day after our own extensive coverage. 

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A Big Head Rob pal was in the audience last night during the Kennedy Center’s presentation of the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor to Neil Simon. Of course, WaPo, too offers a write up today, but one of their captions has a mistake (Jane Kaczmarek is not Lucie Arnaz, silly WaPo copyeditors). So you, dear readers, of course, should only read us.

“I could see the teleprompter from where I was seated,” our tipster reports. ”Robert Redford was first up, and he stumbled over the reading a bit. Paul Riser and Nathan Lane did too, and Nathan — he shouldn’t have had that margarita.”

Drunks in DC?! We’re shocked.

Among the other stars in attendance: Jason Alexander, Christina Applegate, Matthew Broderick, Richard Dreyfuss, Patricia Heaton, Robert Klein, Jonathan Silverman, and Allen Toussaint.

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Michael Wilbon’s sports chat today highlighted a new wrinkle in the ongoing Paul Farhi/Tony Kornheiser battle:

Leesburg, Va.: So what was Tony’s reaction to Gene Weingarten’s article from last week? I loved the “review.” The only thing funnier [than] the satirical article was the reaction of the people who didn’t get the joke. Joe Thiesman made a comment that he would no longer be friends with anyone who wrote an article like that about him. I think Joe needs to get a sense of humor. I hope Tony found the article funny, but I’m worried that enough people didn’t get the joke, and that would bother him. 

Michael Wilbon: I haven’t talked to Tony about any more of those pieces. I know this for sure: most people weren’t certain if it was satire. I read the piece not knowing for sure until the agate type at the end…and that day (Tuesday of last week) I ran into a bunch of prominent Washingtonians who are faithful readers of the newspaper (we’re talking senior partners in law firms and one noted politician) who said to me they didn’t know for sure what to think, whether it was satire…Everybody’s sense humor, and this should be underscored, ain’t the same. Anyway, we know what Weingarten was trying to do and to some it was successful. I think Tony, who has taken millions of hard shots over 30 years, has to suck it up, be a big boy, and live with criticism. Don’t throw the rock if you’re not willing to take one on the forehead

What “prominent politician” couldn’t figure out that Weingarten was writing satire? Any bets? That’s what he does, folks.

Paul Farhi deserves a medal for the mess he’s stirred.

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Have you ever want to go inside the glam world of Congressman Robert Wexler? Tonight at 9 p.m. is your first opportunity, so set your TiVo, if you’ll be partying like us during the actual show (we do have our own glam world to maintain, you know). Or you can view it online here.

To whet your whistle: Wexler and his staff will be shown scheduling TV appearances during the 2004 elections. And Halie Soifer, his legislative assistant, copes with “the troubling fact” that her bf works for the Bush campaign. Next week, Lale M. Mamaux, his communications director, will try to figure out why she likes to date Republicans.

OK, so it’s not the Real World, but this is Washington, folks. (And WaPo’s Paul Farhi loves the show, so it’s gotta be good, right?)

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Slow news day: one WaPo columnist shares some love with another WaPo columnist.

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