Chicago Fanatics Message Board :: View topic - Garry Meier out as WGN radio afternoon host

Why would someone listen to WGN?

The funny thing, though, is that someone posted the possibility of the Meier launching/return of John Williams on Larz' board about a week ago, and Larz, being his usual condescending self, ripped the very idea :roll:

Friday, May 16 2014, 05:38 PM - #permalink

Let's see... You want to replace Garry Meier -- the biggest star WGN Radio has had in a decade, who currently has well over a 4 share of Chicago's huge afternoon audience, and has the #1 afternoon talk show in the United States' third largest market -- with John Williams -- a person who no longer lives in this city and was getting around a 1 share in middays before he left to go work in market #16. You wish to replace WGN-AM's beloved hit with advertisers and replace him with one who was never a huge advertiser favorite. With thinking like that, I'd say it's a good thing no radio corporation has placed you in charge of one their radio properties.

By the way, staffers love Garry Meier, so let's stop trying to spread that false rumor.

Don't get me wrong. I like John Williams. Always have, always will. I do indeed think he would be a huge asset to WGN Radio, if/when he is willing to move back to Chicago. But not for afternoon drive and not at the expense of of one of the station's brightest stars.

Adding John Williams as the new host of the revamped "Extension 720" would be great. Having him take over middays if Bill & Wendy move to WGN Radio's new FM talker would be fine. Afternoon drive with a likeable, but slow moving, less funny, more cerebral show? That would be a terrible move for the station.

Minooka Meatball wrote:

I saw that! Larz is a simpleton. He was Randy Michaels's biggest fan until he fell apart.

Huge S&G fan growing up, but I can't think of a radio guy who squeezed so much dough out of so little juice. I'd rather listen to Buzz Kilman for 4 hours straight. He should ride off into the sunset.

Mr. and Mrs. Sirott show is fucking unlistenable.

DannyB wrote:

Huge S&G fan growing up, but I can't think of a radio guy who squeezed so much dough out of so little juice. I'd rather listen to Buzz Kilman for 4 hours straight. He should ride off into the sunset.

That's pretty much how I feel about Garry, too.

Tom Skilling can take a long walk off a short pier or go play in traffic, whichever is more convenient.

Minooka Meatball wrote:

Mr. and Mrs. Sirott show is fucking unlistenable.

That's some very bad radio.

Tad Queasy wrote:

DannyB wrote:

Huge S&G fan growing up, but I can't think of a radio guy who squeezed so much dough out of so little juice. I'd rather listen to Buzz Kilman for 4 hours straight. He should ride off into the sunset.

That's pretty much how I feel about Garry, too.

Tom Skilling can take a long walk off a short pier or go play in traffic, whichever is more convenient.

Minooka Meatball wrote:

Mr. and Mrs. Sirott show is fucking unlistenable.

That's some very bad radio.

Id posit that there's never been a radio guy in Chicago who cant seem to get out of his own way like Meier does. Walked away from 2 multi million dollar radio gigs just to start over again. Cant believe Jimmy D shitcanned one of his boys from back in the day. Especially one who was bringing in ratings. Has to more to this , no?

IIRC his wife or GF is his agent and very obnoxious? Maybe she pissed someone off and they told him to go pound sand.

The company line is that they're going to buy an FM station and put him there once Tribune Broadcasting is spun off from the newspapers, but that would mean they're either giving up on The Game altogether or they're really going to leave it there on 87.7 where no one can hear it.

Curious Hair wrote:

I hope they don't pull the plug on The Game so quickly. IMO their lineup isn't much worse than what the competition is offering. Maybe it's because it's new, but with the exception of Harry, Spike, and Jarret, I prefer it over much of what the competition has to offer.

Tom Skilling can take a long walk off a short pier or go play in traffic, whichever is more convenient.

Oh, and I just got censored by mentioning GM's "agent" (note: I never used the word "spouse" or "wife") - according to Larz, the board rules state no "slamming of a personality's spouse" :lol:

This sucks. He was my "go to" when Danny annoyed me. Now what I am supposed to flip to?

Franky T wrote:

This sucks. He was my "go to" when Danny annoyed me. Now what I am supposed to flip to?

He'll still be on from 3-7 on http://wgn.fm/

Author:	Scorehead [ Wed May 21, 2014 10:27 am ]
Post subject:	Garry Meier out as WGN radio afternoon host
Well this is some bullshit. Garry had the only listenable show on 'GN. http://www.robertfeder.com/2014/05/21/new-wgn-lineup-adds-williams-subtracts-meier/ Posted on May 21, 2014 at 9:30 am by Robert Feder New WGN lineup adds Williams, subtracts Meier Breaking news: John Williams will return to middays and Garry Meier will lose his afternoon slot in a new weekday program lineup to be unveiled Wednesday at WGN AM 720. Williams, a mainstay of the Tribune Broadcasting news/talk station for 15 years before he left in December 2012, will be heard from 10 a.m. to noon on WGN, starting Tuesday. He’ll broadcast from Minneapolis, where he continues to host afternoons at WCCO. Meier, who has occupied afternoons on WGN since 2009, is being reassigned to WGN.fm, the “freeform media” online streaming portal, where he is expected to fulfill the remaining year and a half of his contract. Replacing Meier from 3 to 7 p.m. on WGN will be the duo of Bill Leff and Wendy Snyder, who currently co-host from 9 a.m. to noon. Effective Tuesday, the new weekday lineup will be: Steve Cochran from 5 to 10 a.m.; Williams from 10 a.m. to noon; Bob Sirott and Marianne Murciano from noon to 3 p.m.; Leff and Snyder from 3 to 7 p.m.; Pete McMurray from 7 to 11 p.m., Patti Vasquez from 11 p.m. to 2 a.m.; and Nick Digilio from 2 to 5 a.m. The changes are expected to be announced by Jimmy deCastro, president and general manager of WGN, and Todd Manley, vice president of content and programming. Williams, 54, hosted daily shows on both WGN and WCCO for more than two years before he cut ties with WGN and moved permanently to Minneapolis. He recently extended his contract with the CBS Radio news/talk station through 2016, making it clear he has no plans to move back to Chicago. So other than the money, why is he returning to WGN? “Jimmy. And Todd,” Williams told me. “And Steve and Maureen and Judy and Dave and all the other people there. I don’t think they even realize what a transformation that place has undergone in the last year. You almost have to go away and then come back to see how happier everyone is. And you can hear it on the radio. So yeah, would I like to come back and talk with my friends in an environment like that? You bet.” A Joliet native and Southern Illinois University graduate, Williams once worked as a college intern for WGN morning superstar Wally Phillips. After stops in Plano and Peoria, he spent four years in the Twin Cities at WCCO. In 1997, he returned to WGN, where he hosted middays, afternoons and (for six months between Spike O’Dell and Greg Jarrett) mornings. The return of Williams to WGN is the latest in a series of comebacks for popular personalities who jumped or were exiled during the prior regime of general manager Tom Langmyer and program director Kevin Metheny. Under deCastro and Manley, WGN also has welcomed back Cochran, the team of Kathy O’Malley and Judy Markey, Rick Kogan, and Milt Rosenberg (as a podcaster), among others. Meier, 64, a suburban Chicago native, was one-half of the legendary radio team of Steve Dahl and Garry Meier before they broke up in 1993. Meier later worked with Roe Conn at WLS AM 890 before severing that partnership in 2004. Since then he’s been working solo, including the past five years on WGN. Although Meier will continue to be the highest-paid personality on WGN’s payroll, his move off the 50,000-watt broadcast station can only be seen as a demotion. He was given the news by deCastro and Manley when he got off the air Tuesday, which turned out to be his last show for WGN. On WGN.fm, Meier will be on from 3 to 7 p.m. He’ll join a lineup that includes Jonathon Brandmeier, Kevin Matthews, housing guru David Hochberg and Ken Rutkowski’s “Business Rockstars” in a prototype for what deCastro plans as an FM talk station. Tribune Broadcasting previously used the site as an incubator for The Game 87.7 FM, the sports/talk format that migrated to WGWG LP 87.7 (along with Brandmeier in mornings). Officially joining WGN’s weekday lineup under the new schedule is Vasquez, the nationally renowned standup comic who began at WGN as weekend personality in May 2013. She’s been filling in on late-nights since McMurray was promoted to evenings last February. In the latest Nielsen Audio survey, WGN tied for fourth place overall with a 4.5 percent share and cumulative weekly audience of 945,400. Among listeners between 25 and 54, WGN ranked 15th with a 2.9 share.

Author:	Krazy Ivan [ Wed May 21, 2014 10:29 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Garry Meier out as WGN radio afternoon host
Why would someone listen to WGN?

Author:	KDdidit [ Wed May 21, 2014 10:33 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Garry Meier out as WGN radio afternoon host
That sucks, Meier was often better than B+B and S+W. Weird that in the crosstalk yesterday Sirrott joked that it was Meier's series finale.

Author:	Douchebag [ Wed May 21, 2014 10:34 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Garry Meier out as WGN radio afternoon host
Krazy Ivan wrote: Why would someone listen to WGN? Old.

Author:	Curious Hair [ Wed May 21, 2014 10:36 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Garry Meier out as WGN radio afternoon host
Very strange move from the guy you'd think would be a Garry Meier person above all else. I was never a fan of Garry solo, but that's a lot of confidence to put in Bill Leff and Wendy Snyder. Five hours of Cochran is two too many. Some would say six too many. John Williams seems to be a pleasant gentleman, but he's so dull it hurts. He's like Mr. WGN in that regard.

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Garry Meier out as WGN radio afternoon host https://mail.chicagofanatics.com/viewtopic.php?f=156&t=86989	Page 1 of 2

Author:	Scorehead [ Wed May 21, 2014 10:38 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Garry Meier out as WGN radio afternoon host
I'm pretty sure that Meier was #1 in his timeslot. This is a bad move by Jimmy DC. Cochran, Williams, Leff & Snyder are all terrible.

Author:	denisdman [ Wed May 21, 2014 10:42 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Garry Meier out as WGN radio afternoon host
Krazy Ivan wrote: Why would someone listen to WGN? Pat Hughes.

Author:	Minooka Meatball [ Wed May 21, 2014 10:52 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Garry Meier out as WGN radio afternoon host
From a ratings standpoint, it doesn't make sense. From a current management standpoint, it doesn't seem to, either, so I wonder what went on behind the scenes to make them pull the trigger? Maybe Garry's "agent" making demands again??? FWIW, I can only take him in short bursts, because of his increasing "deaf old man" yelling. Bill and Wendy are quite popular, but I'm not sure if that show is ready for prime-time yet. John Williams always was a milquetoast bore, and the Mr. and Mrs. Sirott show is fucking unlistenable. The funny thing, though, is that someone posted the possibility of the Meier launching/return of John Williams on Larz' board about a week ago, and Larz, being his usual condescending self, ripped the very idea that someone would even be so dumb as to think of posting it . Larz also says that he KNOWS MacNeil will re-sign with The Score, but when pressed won't back it up. Wuss.

Author:	Curious Hair [ Wed May 21, 2014 10:54 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Garry Meier out as WGN radio afternoon host
Minooka Meatball wrote: The funny thing, though, is that someone posted the possibility of the Meier launching/return of John Williams on Larz' board about a week ago, and Larz, being his usual condescending self, ripped the very idea . I saw that! Larz is a simpleton. He was Randy Michaels's biggest fan until he fell apart. Quote: Friday, May 16 2014, 05:38 PM - #permalink Let's see... You want to replace Garry Meier -- the biggest star WGN Radio has had in a decade, who currently has well over a 4 share of Chicago's huge afternoon audience, and has the #1 afternoon talk show in the United States' third largest market -- with John Williams -- a person who no longer lives in this city and was getting around a 1 share in middays before he left to go work in market #16. You wish to replace WGN-AM's beloved hit with advertisers and replace him with one who was never a huge advertiser favorite. With thinking like that, I'd say it's a good thing no radio corporation has placed you in charge of one their radio properties. By the way, staffers love Garry Meier, so let's stop trying to spread that false rumor. Don't get me wrong. I like John Williams. Always have, always will. I do indeed think he would be a huge asset to WGN Radio, if/when he is willing to move back to Chicago. But not for afternoon drive and not at the expense of of one of the station's brightest stars. Adding John Williams as the new host of the revamped "Extension 720" would be great. Having him take over middays if Bill & Wendy move to WGN Radio's new FM talker would be fine. Afternoon drive with a likeable, but slow moving, less funny, more cerebral show? That would be a terrible move for the station. OOPS

Author:	Don Tiny [ Wed May 21, 2014 10:55 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Garry Meier out as WGN radio afternoon host
Seems there's no shortage of dumb-assed ideas in Chicago radio the last few years ... 'Hooterville' indeed ...

Author:	walkrman5 [ Wed May 21, 2014 11:10 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Garry Meier out as WGN radio afternoon host
will tom skilling continue to be a regular on the afternoon show??

Author:	DannyB [ Wed May 21, 2014 11:26 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Garry Meier out as WGN radio afternoon host
Huge S&G fan growing up, but I can't think of a radio guy who squeezed so much dough out of so little juice. I'd rather listen to Buzz Kilman for 4 hours straight. He should ride off into the sunset.

Author:	Tad Queasy [ Wed May 21, 2014 11:35 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Garry Meier out as WGN radio afternoon host
DannyB wrote: Huge S&G fan growing up, but I can't think of a radio guy who squeezed so much dough out of so little juice. I'd rather listen to Buzz Kilman for 4 hours straight. He should ride off into the sunset. That's pretty much how I feel about Garry, too. Tom Skilling can take a long walk off a short pier or go play in traffic, whichever is more convenient. Minooka Meatball wrote: Mr. and Mrs. Sirott show is fucking unlistenable. That's some very bad radio.

Author:	badrogue17 [ Wed May 21, 2014 11:38 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Garry Meier out as WGN radio afternoon host
Tad Queasy wrote: DannyB wrote: Huge S&G fan growing up, but I can't think of a radio guy who squeezed so much dough out of so little juice. I'd rather listen to Buzz Kilman for 4 hours straight. He should ride off into the sunset. That's pretty much how I feel about Garry, too. Tom Skilling can take a long walk off a short pier or go play in traffic, whichever is more convenient. Minooka Meatball wrote: Mr. and Mrs. Sirott show is fucking unlistenable. That's some very bad radio. Id posit that there's never been a radio guy in Chicago who cant seem to get out of his own way like Meier does. Walked away from 2 multi million dollar radio gigs just to start over again. Cant believe Jimmy D shitcanned one of his boys from back in the day. Especially one who was bringing in ratings. Has to more to this , no?

Author:	jimmypasta [ Wed May 21, 2014 1:14 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Garry Meier out as WGN radio afternoon host
I'd listen (to a DT show) but I too am upset of Meir getting dumped. The problem with his show was the constant breaks for weather,traffic,news & ads. That's a WGN staple of course. Patti Vasquez is somebody I tried to like. I listened a number of times. She has an issue of talking too damn fast. Something she admitted to on air. BUT she gets a gig. DeGilio "best Ever" BS gets old.

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Author:	Curious Hair [ Wed May 21, 2014 11:45 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Garry Meier out as WGN radio afternoon host
The company line is that they're going to buy an FM station and put him there once Tribune Broadcasting is spun off from the newspapers, but that would mean they're either giving up on The Game altogether or they're really going to leave it there on 87.7 where no one can hear it.

Author:	Tad Queasy [ Wed May 21, 2014 11:47 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Garry Meier out as WGN radio afternoon host
badrogue17 wrote: Tad Queasy wrote: DannyB wrote: Huge S&G fan growing up, but I can't think of a radio guy who squeezed so much dough out of so little juice. I'd rather listen to Buzz Kilman for 4 hours straight. He should ride off into the sunset. That's pretty much how I feel about Garry, too. Tom Skilling can take a long walk off a short pier or go play in traffic, whichever is more convenient. Minooka Meatball wrote: Mr. and Mrs. Sirott show is fucking unlistenable. That's some very bad radio. Id posit that there's never been a radio guy in Chicago who cant seem to get out of his own way like Meier does. Walked away from 2 multi million dollar radio gigs just to start over again. Cant believe Jimmy D shitcanned one of his boys from back in the day. Especially one who was bringing in ratings. Has to more to this , no? IIRC his wife or GF is his agent and very obnoxious? Maybe she pissed someone off and they told him to go pound sand.

Author:	Tad Queasy [ Wed May 21, 2014 11:53 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Garry Meier out as WGN radio afternoon host
Curious Hair wrote: The company line is that they're going to buy an FM station and put him there once Tribune Broadcasting is spun off from the newspapers, but that would mean they're either giving up on The Game altogether or they're really going to leave it there on 87.7 where no one can hear it. I hope they don't pull the plug on The Game so quickly. IMO their lineup isn't much worse than what the competition is offering. Maybe it's because it's new, but with the exception of Harry, Spike, and Jarret, I prefer it over much of what the competition has to offer.

Author:	Zizou [ Wed May 21, 2014 11:59 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Garry Meier out as WGN radio afternoon host
Tad Queasy wrote: Curious Hair wrote: The company line is that they're going to buy an FM station and put him there once Tribune Broadcasting is spun off from the newspapers, but that would mean they're either giving up on The Game altogether or they're really going to leave it there on 87.7 where no one can hear it. I hope they don't pull the plug on The Game so quickly. IMO their lineup isn't much worse than what the competition is offering. Maybe it's because it's new, but with the exception of Harry, Spike, and Jarret, I prefer it over much of what the competition has to offer. They can't abort the station yet. Not when Mac could still be a get.

Author:	Hank Scorpio [ Wed May 21, 2014 12:37 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Garry Meier out as WGN radio afternoon host
Tad Queasy wrote: Tom Skilling can take a long walk off a short pier or go play in traffic, whichever is more convenient. Very nice of you to give him the option.

Author:	Franky T [ Wed May 21, 2014 12:38 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Garry Meier out as WGN radio afternoon host
This sucks. He was my "go to" when Danny annoyed me. Now what I am supposed to flip to?

Author:	badrogue17 [ Wed May 21, 2014 12:43 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Garry Meier out as WGN radio afternoon host
Minooka Meatball wrote: Oh, and I just got censored by mentioning GM's "agent" (note: I never used the word "spouse" or "wife") - according to Larz, the board rules state no "slamming of a personality's spouse" What does a censoring on Larz board consist of?

Author:	Tad Queasy [ Wed May 21, 2014 12:51 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Garry Meier out as WGN radio afternoon host
Franky T wrote: This sucks. He was my "go to" when Danny annoyed me. Now what I am supposed to flip to? He'll still be on from 3-7 on http://wgn.fm/

Author:	Don Tiny [ Wed May 21, 2014 12:59 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Garry Meier out as WGN radio afternoon host
Tad Queasy wrote: Franky T wrote: This sucks. He was my "go to" when Danny annoyed me. Now what I am supposed to flip to? He'll still be on from 3-7 on http://wgn.fm/ For all anyone knows I could have a show on WGN.FM .....

Author:	cpguy [ Wed May 21, 2014 1:19 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Garry Meier out as WGN radio afternoon host
This was the only show I listened to on GN besides the Cubs on occasion. Thought it was a good listen. Oh well.

Author:	good dolphin [ Wed May 21, 2014 1:51 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Garry Meier out as WGN radio afternoon host
I still enjoy bad things happening to Meier after all these years. That fucker has ruined more good radio than any PD in this city. Bill Leff, Harry and Spike Manton make up the triumvirate of the most incipit and unfunny jocks in this city. How can a guy who was a professional comedian have absolutely zero that makes anyone but housewives chuckle. I have never been a WGN guy from way back in my Dahl days. I have never listened to a show that would has any interest for me. Mr. Fix It likes to walk around the neighborhood like he is a celebrity, meanwhile, no one under 80 has ever heard his show.