Tribune Talk 720 WGN Chicago is tweaking its lineup beginning January 2.
Departing the station are John Williams, who announced in October that he will be leaving WGN to return to Minneapolis and focus on his afternoon drive show on CBS’ 830 WCCO, and Milt Rosenberg. The 87 year old Rosenberg has been hosting “Extension 720” for the past 39 years.
WGN Radio shakeup: "I'm on the older side, obviously, but I'm still full of piss and vinegar," 87-year-old @MiltRosenberg tells me.
— Robert Feder (@RobertFeder) December 17, 2012
The new lineup will begin with Jonathan Brandmeier moving from 530-9am to 6-10am. 9am-12pm host Mike McConnell will move to a split shift of 10am-12pm and 1pm-3pm. Carol Roth joins the station to host “The Noon Show” from 12pm-1pm. Garry Meier and WGN Sportsnight stay in their 3-7pm and 7-10pm slots respectively. Turi Ryder, who has been doing fill-in at WGN recently will take the 10pm-1am timeslot. Ryder previously worked in Chicago for multiple runs at WLS AM & FM. Bill Leff stays in overnights from 1-6am.
The press release from WGN follows:
WGN Radio today announced changes to its weekday lineup effective January 2013.
Beginning Wednesday, January 2, 2013, Jonathon Brandmeier’s morning show will be extended one half hour, shifting to a 6 a.m. start time and airing until 10 a.m. Mike McConnell will air from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., followed by the return of The Noon Show with host Carol Roth from 12-1 p.m. Mike McConnell will return to the airwaves from 1-3 p.m. and Garry Meier and WGN Sports Night will continue to air during their respective 3-7 p.m and 7-10 p.m. time slots. On Monday, January 7, Turi Ryder takes over the 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. time slot.
The Noon Show host Carol Roth is a bestselling author and national media personality who can be seen weekly on a variety of television outlets, including Fox Business, CNBC, Fox News, CNN and MSNBC. Her show will provide news and information, lifestyle segments, and will include business and agricultural reports from legendary WGN Radio broadcaster, Orion Samuelson.
Host Turi Ryder returns to the Chicago airwaves after previous stints at WLS AM, KFI Los Angeles, KIRO Seattle, and KSTP Minneapolis. Most recently she presented the nationally syndicated editorial humor feature, “Turi Ryder’s Exception to the Rule” for CBS Radio.
Extension 720 with Milt Rosenberg ends its 39-year run on December 20 with a final retrospective show featuring notable moments, guests and previous discussions that have aired on this illustrious program.
“Milt has added another rich chapter to WGN Radio’s history and we thank him for his service,” said Jeff Hill, GSM/Interim General Manager of WGN Radio. “Though Milt will not be a full-time program host, he will continue to be a show contributor and have a presence at the station. We’re also very excited to add two female voices to our lineup and to Chicago radio in Carol Roth and Turi Ryder.”
Rosenberg added, “I’m thankful to my listeners and I’m proud to have shared almost 40 years with them. We attempted to provide intelligent radio featuring the movers and observers of history being made as well as programs on established history, the popular and ‘high’ arts, and the sciences from cosmology to sociology – all mixed with frequent forays into more light-hearted fare.”
New schedule effective January 2013:
6-10a.m.: Jonathon Brandmeier
10a.m.-12p.m.: Mike McConnell
12-1p.m.: The Noon Show – Carol Roth
1-3p.m.: Mike McConnell
3-7p.m.: Garry Meier
7-10p.m.: WGN Sports Night
10p.m.-1a.m.: Turi Ryder
1-6a.m.: Bill Leff
