Don & Roma aren't all that's missing from WLS (Chicago)

The Chicago Sun-Times ^ | 09-23-04 | Don Feder

[Musket]

Don & Roma aren't all that's missing from WLS (or The powers that be are trying to kill Conservative Talk Radio in Chicago(my title))

BY ROBERT FEDER SUN-TIMES COLUMNIST

With the nation at war and a presidential election around the corner, you'd think that Chicago radio's flashiest news/talk station would be operating at peak form right now.

But WLS-AM (890) begins the fall ratings period today with no morning show, half an afternoon show, and cobwebs collecting in the vacant office of the general manager.

These are tough times at the Disney/ABC-owned station -- made worse by absentee management that chooses to ignore how badly confidence and morale have eroded at one of the once-great 50,000-watt powerhouses in all of broadcasting.

The most glaring sign of distress is the disappearance of Don Wade and Roma, the morning-drive franchise at WLS and highly rated mainstays of the station for the past two decades.

With their contract up and no new agreement in sight, the husband-and-wife team have been conspicuously absent since Sept. 14, when they signed off by reaffirming their love for their loyal listeners.

While management placates the audience by saying that they're "hoping to renegotiate a new contract with Don & Roma," insiders acknowledge that it could be weeks -- or even months -- before matters are resolved one way or another.

In the meantime, listeners are being subjected to a morning show hosted by two part-timers, the astonishingly mean-spirited and intolerant Teri O'Brien and the utterly bland Art Wallis.

The station's inability to come to terms with the Wades is all the more baffling in light of the collapse earlier this year of contract renewal talks with afternoon co-host Garry Meier.

Though undeniably talented, solo host Roe Conn desperately needs to have a partner of Meier's caliber to play off of. (Paging Bruce Wolf?)

Behind the scenes, WLS is plagued with problems ranging from an angry unionizing effort among producers to the extreme right-wing political tilt of its programs with hardly even the pretense of balance anymore.

To top it off, the station has been adrift without a president and general manager for more than three months. The abrupt departure of Zemira Jones, who quit last June when he learned he would be losing oversight of WZZN-FM (94.7), left WLS in worse shape than it already was.

Mitch Dolan, the ABC Radio Group president who has been nominally in charge of WLS in the interim, refuses to comment on negotiations with Don & Roma -- or talk to the press about anything else for that matter.

Through an intermediary, Dolan passed along the word that there was "no shortage" of candidates for general manager of WLS and that an announcement should be forthcoming within "a few weeks." He denied rumors that several candidates already had turned down the job.

"Mitch Dolan is interested in doing the right thing for the station long term and making the right decisions for the station long term," said ABC Radio spokeswoman Julie Hoover.

Asked why Dolan refuses to return calls, Hoover said: "He prefers not to speak directly to the press."

[arasina]

Yes, I've considered satellite radio. In fact, I want it badly. I have to wait until it gets more affordable though.

[conservatism_IS_compassion]

I wonder if other Conservative stations across the country are getting screwed by Disney?

WABC-NY is still OK. Rush, Hannity, Mark Levin, Laura Ingram, Monica Crowley . . .

[motife]

I stopped listening to Don and Roma because of the lack of programming. WLS is shameless about the time in an hour they devote to commercials. At one point Don Wade promised there would be at least 23 minutes of programming per hour. Listening to the exact same commercial 6 times in an hour first thing in the morning is maddening.

[Musket]

WABC-NY is still OK. Rush, Hannity, Mark Levin, Laura Ingram, Monica Crowley . . .

Well yeah, that's the Big Cahuna. I'll bet their plan is to do away with the expense of all these local hosts accross the country and just put the New York line-up on. Save a TON of bucks that way.

[Musket]

Listening to the exact same commercial 6 times in an hour first thing in the morning is maddening.

Yeah, but what else is there in Chicago? There's nothing. Just liberal crap.

[conservatism_IS_compassion]

Hannity, Savage, Beck, Boortz and Ingraham.

Have you thought about satellite radio?. you get all the above hosts on either radio right, or fox news, plus you get the audio portion of fox news 24/7.

I've wondered a little about what programming they offer. But haven't been eager to shell out the big bucks for it.

One thing I did do was spring for a $60 am antenna which sits next to the radio and cleans up the signal dramatically. Wouldn't help you in your car, but makes quite a difference on a marginal station when you're at home.

I like the idea that satellite radio can create more channels so that the FCC licensing isn't such a big issue in wireless audio programming.

[sneakers]

My co-worker and I listen to WLS via computer here in our little basement office in Indiana, Pa. Our local stations, in my opinion, stink, and we can't pick up anything else - including the "50,000 Watt Blowtorch" - KDKA - in Pittsburgh. WLS has been a godsend for us. Why don't they put the syndicated "Quinn and Rose" on in the morning (www.warroom.com). They'd kick some "liberal butt" there in Chicago!

[Kieri]

WjR is another station that's gone down the tubes. Other than Rush, and other than The Appliance Doctor, they totally suck. Since handing over their evenings to pre-recorded shows, they've become a "former radio station" in my book.

Moving from Metro Detroit over to Jackson County had a big benefit -- I now get Sean Hannity after Rush on WKHM. I couldn't stand Mitch Albom!

The morning conservative talk show host left after a bit of local controversy about a month ago. I keep hoping they'll add the Tony Snow Show to their AM roster.

I listen to Hannity when I want to blow off steam. I listen to Rush when I feel the need for a good laugh. I listen to Tony when I want to think. All in all, great shows with outstanding programming.

[jaydubya2]

"It was also insane for them to let Garry Meier go from his afternoon spot with Roe Conn."

Actually I don't think they let him go. I read that he was offered a fantastic contract, lots of $$$$$!. But he held out for more and WLS would not pay. Too bad it was a great show.

As for "the astonishingly mean-spirited and intolerant Teri O'Brien ". She can be abrasive and sometimes rude, but I agree with most all of her political positions.

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

FYI, the new Arbitron ( radio ) ratings come out some time this week.

[Musket]

Not only that, but this Saturday Rush Limbaugh, Tony Snow and George Noory are all coming to town for an onstage performance. I wonder if they realize what's going on here?WLS Stars on Stage.

[SuziQ]

Behind the scenes, WLS is plagued with problems ranging from an angry unionizing effort among producers to the extreme right-wing political tilt of its programs with hardly even the pretense of balance anymore.

Why would a radio station have to have 'balance'. If folks don't like what's being said, they can listen to another station. It's not like Chicago doesn't have other stations available.

I have fond memories of WLS in the 60's. I grew up in MS, and when the local stations went off the air in the evenings, we would then be able to hear WLS, and WMPS out of Memphis; great top 40's music all night long!!

[Musket]

Why would a radio station have to have 'balance'. If folks don't like what's being said, they can listen to another station. It's not like Chicago doesn't have other stations available.

You'd thinnk. But Liberal Fascism seeks to silence all opposition. I thought about going to the "Stars on Stage" thing on Saturday for about one second. I wouldn't want to be spotted there by a business associate or neighbor for fear of being branded and ostracised. I expect Chicago Union Thugs to show up and disrupt the festivities. We'll see...

[uvular]

I like Terri O'Brien. She is much better and smarter than Roma, and I don't find her much more abrasive than Don could get. Stopped listening to them months ago, as some other freeper mentioned, the commercial time was much longer than D&R's air time.

I miss Garry alot, but sounds like it was mostly his fault he's not on the air. Roe spends too much time talking about drinking and ogling women now.

Per Feder's column today, Jack Diamond will be paired with Teri, starting tomorrow. Jack is from Disney owned WRQX from Washington-anyone heard of him and his leanings?

[Celtic Conservative]

Yes, I've considered satellite radio. In fact, I want it badly. I have to wait until it gets more affordable though.

With some of the newer receivers coming out, your startup cost would be Less than $100, after that, $10 a month, and they are constantly running specials on receivers also.

FWIW, CC

[Celtic Conservative]

We need a local Conservative voice, at least one, in a town so over-the-top insane with liberalism.

Well that's a good point, but you won't see local content on satellite any time soon. This is due to our GOOD friends at the NAB who have fought satellite radio tooth and nail to protect their petty kingdoms. Local radio has become moribund and complacent

CC

[jaydubya2]

"Per Feder's column today, Jack Diamond will be paired with Teri, starting tomorrow. Jack is from Disney owned WRQX from Washington-anyone heard of him and his leanings?"

Never heard of him. Art Wallis is a little bland, and He and Terri would bicker sometings (not unlike D&R). Teri did a good job by herself, but I guess WLS thinks she needs a partner. Roe Conn could use one also.

[Celtic Conservative]

One thing I did do was spring for a $60 am antenna which sits next to the radio and cleans up the signal dramatically...

For just $ 40 more you could've had a roady receiver and free home kit. Your only cost then would be the $10 dollar monthly subscription fee. It's not as expensive as it was a few years ago when it started up.

CC

[Musket]

Per Feder's column today, Jack Diamond will be paired with Teri, starting tomorrow. Jack is from Disney owned WRQX from Washington-anyone heard of him and his leanings?

I wish we knew the numbers the Wades and Disney are playing with so we could decide who's being reasonable and who's not. From what we can see it looks like Disney/ABC are just being pricks to 2 fine people who helped put WLS on the talk radio map and gave 20 years of their lives to the station.

[uvular]

Per Feder's column today, it sounded like this is the end for Don and Roma. Hard to say if D&R were attempting to play hardball in the light of what happened during the Meier debacle, not believing that WLS would dare lose them, or if you say, WLS perhaps just being jerks and trying to cut costs at the expense of losing listeners.

Hopefully D&R will be picked up by another station. I'm imagining Don, sitting in their Cambria-laden kitchen, while Roma endlessly reads from her little red book-haha!