Per Feder.

What's old is new again.

https://www.robertfeder.com/2019/12/20/ ... ning-host/

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"When people want their version of the truth, they go find it, no matter how baseless their beliefs." -- Ken Rosenthal

I've never understood the fascination with Bob Sirott. What's his appeal?

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Old people like him?

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He's the Chicago radio version of the Member Berry from South Park.

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Cochran has been stealing money for years. What a bore.

Bob and Marianne on wls was pretty good radio. They'd talk about various topics and have quite interesting guests. Both are very likeable, Cochran is very unlikeable. Sirott is very pro Chicago. They don't go heavy on political views unlike Cochran. Sirott is getting up there age wise. I've read the Sirott's house was up for foreclosure recently.

Cochran used a anti Trump theme constantly. His chats with Dick Durbin were classic. Cochran getting the axe is quite gratifying.

Cochran repeatedly showing up late to his own show (and this was before they moved him up an hour) probably had more to do with his departure than being mean to Daddy.

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I'm almost afraid to ask. Who is Daddy?

It’s weird that Bob Sirott was on radio when I was born and likely will when I die.

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Elections have consequences.

He's like Zelig or something. I think he was a boom mic operator at the Hindeburg disaster.

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I don't remember half the time if I'm hiding or I'm lost

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the guy's name is curious hair FFS; it's obviously David Foster Wallace!

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I don’t think the question is why did they get rid of Cochran as much as it is why replace him with Sirott? Think of it this way: His peak radio popularity was before Dahl’s.

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“Mr. Trump is unfit for our nation’s highest office.”- JD Vance
“My god, what an !diot.”- JD Vance tweet on Trump
“I’m a ‘Never Trump’ guy”- JD Vance

I haven't listened to a WGN morning show in approximately twelve years, but if it's structured the same way now as it was then, then you don't want/need a big personality in the chair so much as a "game manager" who will throw to all the news, weather, traffic, business, sports, agriculture reports. Bob Sirott, being a name people recognize but not necessarily an outsize personality at this stage of the game, is probably a good fit for that. Greg Jarrett was boring and no one knew who he was, Brandmeier was a legend but was never allowed to do Brandmeier things.

But more than any of that, it was probably just that the boss doesn't like Cochran personally but does like Sirott. No one expects him to be a resounding success who will restore glory to WGN, it's just a matter of how they choose to manage the decline.

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I disagree with your "game manager" characterization. WBBM has more of the "managed game" morning radio show. I listen more to WGN on the morning drive than any other station, and I thought Cochran was a perfect fit for their show. He had a recognizable personality, was flexible enough to talk about everything, and was able to express a political opinion without beating the listeners over the head with it.

from Feder:



He's also the fifth since Spike O'Dell retired 11ish years ago. I didn't realize it had become that much of a revolving door until I saw it in print. Brandmeier did mornings! Remember that? And Greg Jarrett! Which twentysomething market did he wind up in?

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I think Jarrett went back to San Francisco where he came from. Fucker couldn't accent the right syllable for Devon Avenue even a few months into his time here.

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"When people want their version of the truth, they go find it, no matter how baseless their beliefs." -- Ken Rosenthal

Interesting blurb from that Feder article - Sirott was offered the Cubs radio PBP in the 90s.

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I don't remember half the time if I'm hiding or I'm lost

Crain's article on future of WGN, speculating on a sale this year.

https://www.chicagobusiness.com/marketi ... -wgn-radio

"Nine to 10 months from now . . . don't be surprised if WGN Radio gets sold for $18 million. They are trying to maximize the value of this," says Adam Jacobson, editor-in-chief of trade publication Radio & Television Business Report.

WGN Radio is worth one season for a #3 starting pitcher. Sad state of affairs.

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Reality is your friend, not your enemy. -- Seacrest

I'd say the Rickettses should buy it and reunite 720 and the Cubs, but they can't afford a #3 starter, either.


Oh, definitely, people are dying to listen to one guy's songs from the 1950s on the radio band that sucks for music.

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heh WGN threw a hissy fit over this https://www.robertfeder.com/2020/01/14/ ... -business/

Interesting note on the looks-like-1996 message board (as compared with our looks-like-2006 message board):



A news talk station doing taped newscasts is pretty low-rent. You may as well not do them at all.

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It's probably not going to be Robert Feder's comment of the day, but someone remarking on 720's Sinatra show with "I'd rather listen to Steve Dale talk about cats, at least the cats are alive" made me laugh out loud.

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