If you’re going to close the book on 45 Conclaves and nearly half a century of broadcasters gathering in Minnesota, you might as well bring in somebody whose career demonstrates just how ridiculously far a radio microphone can take you. Ken Levine — Emmy-winning television writer, producer and director, former Top 40 personality and Major League Baseball broadcaster — will deliver a keynote presentation at Conclave 45: The Last Conclave on Thursday, September 17 at 8:30 a.m. in Bloomington, Minnesota. And for broadcasters attending this final gathering, this may be one of those sessions where you forget about checking email, put the phone down and simply listen.
Because Ken Levine’s career is absolutely nuts.
In the best possible way.
Before Hollywood, There Was Radio
Long before some of television’s most famous characters were delivering lines Levine helped write, he was the guy delivering the lines himself — into a radio microphone.
And because Top 40 radio once understood that your real name was apparently insufficiently ridiculous, Levine spent part of his early radio career working under the air name “Beaver Cleaver.”
That alone should qualify him for a Conclave keynote.
But radio wasn’t merely an amusing first chapter before his “real” career began.
It helped build the foundation for everything that followed.
Timing.
Writing tightly.
Understanding an audience.
Knowing when to talk.
Knowing when to stop talking.
Learning how to create something memorable within seconds.
And perhaps the most important lesson of all:
How to tell a story.
Levine himself has written about continuing to work in Los Angeles radio even after his television career had begun taking off, including doing a weekend shift on TEN-Q while he was working on MASH*.
That’s a broadcaster.
Then Television Happened — BIG TIME
Trying to summarize Levine’s television résumé almost becomes comical because eventually you start wondering whether there were any legendary sitcoms he didn’t work on.
M*A*S*H.
Cheers.
Frasier.
The Simpsons.
Wings.
Everybody Loves Raymond.
Becker.
Those aren’t merely successful television programs.
Several are foundational pieces of American television comedy.
Levine’s work ultimately brought him an Emmy Award, along with additional industry recognition, and established him among the accomplished comedy writers of his generation. His own biography also lists work as a writer, director and producer across a career spanning decades.
Think about the creative range required for that.
Hawkeye Pierce.
Sam Malone.
Frasier Crane.
Homer Simpson.
Completely different universes.
Completely different rhythms.
Completely different comedic voices.
Yet underneath all of them is something every great radio personality should understand:
Characters matter.
Relationships matter.
Writing matters.
Timing matters.
And audiences come back because they care about the people.
Sound familiar?
It should.
And Then He Called Major League Baseball
Because apparently writing some of America’s greatest television comedies wasn’t enough.
Levine also built a substantial career calling Major League Baseball.
His broadcasting work has included the Baltimore Orioles, Seattle Mariners and San Diego Padres, along with Dodgers-related broadcasting.
And one particular assignment tells you how remarkable that portion of his career became.
Levine has recalled calling a Dodgers spring-training game alongside Vin Scully — an experience he regarded as a career highlight. He also has a Mariners broadcast alongside Dave Niehaus represented at the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Seriously.
Radio DJ.
Emmy-winning comedy writer.
Television director.
Producer.
Major League Baseball announcer.
At some point somebody should have told Ken Levine that most people are only supposed to have one career.
But That’s Exactly Why He Belongs at The Last Conclave
The Conclave has always been about more than radio formatics.
Yes, there have been programmers.
Consultants.
Music executives.
Managers.
Personalities.
Corporate leaders.
Researchers.
But underneath all of that, The Conclave has always been about possibility.
You walk into the building doing one job.
You meet somebody in the hallway.
You learn something in a session.
Somebody hears your aircheck.
Somebody takes your phone call six months later.
And suddenly your career is going somewhere you couldn’t possibly have predicted.
Ken Levine may be the living embodiment of that idea.
His career didn’t remain inside one lane.
The skills traveled with him.
Radio became television.
Writing became directing.
Comedy and broadcasting crossed paths.
And eventually the kid behind a Top 40 microphone wound up calling Major League Baseball while simultaneously carrying a television résumé filled with programs millions of people still watch.
That’s not abandoning radio.
That’s discovering how transferable the things radio teaches you really are.
An On The Dial Perspective: Don’t Miss This Session
There are going to be plenty of emotional moments during these final three days.
There almost have to be.
The Conclave has been part of this industry’s fabric for generations, and September 15–17, 2026 represents the final gathering. The official schedule confirms those dates for Conclave 45.
But Thursday morning at 8:30 isn’t the time to sleep in.
Get the coffee.
Get downstairs.
Find a seat.
Because this is somebody who can speak about creativity from perspectives very few people possess simultaneously.
Radio. Television. Writing. Directing. Comedy. Sports broadcasting.
And here’s what we’re especially interested in hearing:
What did radio teach Ken Levine that stayed with him when he entered a writers’ room?
What can today’s personalities learn from television character development?
How much does great comedy depend upon listening rather than talking?
How does storytelling change when you’re writing Hawkeye Pierce versus describing a baseball game live with no idea what happens next?
And after decades spent across virtually every form of mass-media storytelling imaginable…
what does he think radio still does better than everybody else?
Those are Conclave conversations.
On The Dial Will Be There
And we’re getting more excited about this thing by the day.
On The Dial President & Publisher Steven Mills and Senior VP/Editor Kevin Fodor will both be in Bloomington for The Last Conclave, covering the event, talking radio, catching up with old friends, meeting new ones and soaking up every possible minute of this final chapter.
We’re also planning an informal On The Dial dinner near the hotel, with details still to come.
Because if this really is the last one…
we’re not sneaking out quietly.
We’re going to talk radio.
We’re going to tell stories.
We’re going to laugh.
We’re probably going to tell some stories that absolutely should not be published.
And we’re going to celebrate an institution that helped generations of broadcasters become better at what they do.
Ken Levine’s addition makes Thursday morning even more compelling.
From “Beaver Cleaver” behind a Top 40 microphone to M*A*S*H, Cheers, Frasier, The Simpsons and Major League Baseball…
If ever there were a career that screams:
“You have absolutely no idea where radio might take you next.”
This is it.
We’ll see you in Bloomington.
And Thursday morning?
Set the alarm.
The Last Conclave deserves it.
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