When Alix Kendall departs KMSP’s morning airwaves on Friday, it’ll mark the end of a 25-year run that made her as essential to many Minnesotans’ morning routines as coffee and a hot shower. But the 63-year-old isn’t retiring.
She’s following up her co-anchor stints on “Fox 9 Morning News” and “Fox 9 Good Day” with a full-time commitment to screenwriting. Kendall chatted last week by phone about her colorful past and ambitious plans for the future.
Q: What has been the reaction from viewers since you made the announcement that you’re leaving the station?
A: It’s been overwhelming. It’s really hard to comprehend how people connect with you and how much they feel they owe me. I’ve been getting lots of random gifts at the State Fair. Old pictures, lots of letters. Got some salt-and-pepper shakers. I don’t know why. I also just got a couple of birdhouses with my name on them.
Q: Are you really into birds?
A: No. It’s so random. I had to do some mental exercises. Did I once mention birdhouses on the air?
Q: The station has been airing highlights from your career. What memories are making the strongest impressions?
A: They just showed a clip of when Kristen Wiig came on the show. That was really cool. There was another one from the ice bucket challenge days. I’ve been thinking about the early days, that original group on “Good Day Minnesota.” The format was a lot looser. It was a wild and crazy experiment. There was the time we had a Tupperware party in our green room with Miss Richfield and a few drag queens. Another time, people were introducing us to Vespas. I ran from the studio to the parking lot and got on one with virtually no training whatsoever. I fell over almost immediately.