8-29-13
The changes go into effect Tuesday, after the Labor Day holiday as new GM Jimmy de Castro tries to remake and rebuild the legendary station. Steve Cochran will return to WGN Radio full time, hosting mornings replacing Jonathon Brandmeier. Cochran has worked for deCastro in Chicago before. It was at the Loop and AM 1000back in the '90s when deCastro ran Evergreen, Chancellor Media, and AMFM. Cochran's been working the Chicago radio scene since 1993.
Here is how the rest of the day and weekends will look on the station.
The mid-morning timeslot becomes a radio reunion for Bill Leff & Wendy Snyder. The Bill & Wendy Show will air and stream from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m, followed by husband-and-wife duo Bob Sirott and Marianne Murciano from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. Garry Meier will continue to host the afternoon drive show from 3-7 p.m, with the David Kaplan Show airing from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. Pete McMurray expands his role with the station as the 11 p.m. to 2 a.m. host, and WGN veteran Nick Digilio moves to the 2 a.m. to 5 a.m. timeslot.
The return of Kathy O?Malley and Judy Markey to the station on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. highlights the weekend lineup changes, effective Saturday, September 14. Other changes include The Design Dude with Frank Fontana, airing from 6 a.m to 7 a.m., followed by Mr. Fix-it with Lou Manfredini from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. When not affected by sports preemptions, Bill Moller will follow Kathy and Judy from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m., and Sports Central will remain in the 3 p.m. to 6 p.m timeslot.
The Sunday lineup will introduce a new show dedicated to the discussion of the Chicago political landscape. Chicago Tribune writer Rick Pearson will host ?Chicago Way: Politics with Pearson? on Sundays from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. The Dean Richards Sunday Special will follow at 9 a.m., extending an additional two hours until 1 p.m. In addition to his Saturday show, Bill Moller will air from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Brian Noonan remains in the 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. timeslot, followed by the return of Chicago treasure Rick Kogan, from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. Comedian and media personality Patti Vasquez will air from 11 p.m. to 2 a.m.
Playing a feature role in the future of WGN-AM?s new lineup will be 720 Snackables. These spotlight segments will live online and on-air as interviews, video shorts, and podcasts. They?ll feature the WGN family of experts including Dean Richards? ?A-List Interviews,? ?Legally Speaking with Karen Conti,? ?Bertrand on Books? with Steve Bertrand, ?Flavor HD? with Hannah Stanley and Dane Neal, ?Steve Dale?s Pet World,? Paul Green?s ?Paul & The Politicians,? ?Good Cents With Ilyce Glink,? and more.
(8/29/2013 9:12:00 PM)
Cochran needs to be back, as does the girls. JB did not ever fit, ditto mcconnell.
(8/29/2013 8:55:29 PM)
Love Steve glad he's back. JB is a hoot but sometimes I wondered how long he would last with WGN. Been listening to WGN for 50 years. Wish JB nothing but the best.
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