WLS makes room for Roe & Cisco in afternoons
Cisco Cotto
After three years at Salem Communications news/talk WIND-AM (560), Cisco Cotto may be heading back to Citadel Broadcasting news/talk WLS-AM (890). But here’s the big surprise: He’s expected to become Roe Conn’s new afternoon partner.
Sources said Salem had hoped to renew Cotto’s contract as Big John Howell’s morning co-host at WIND. But an overture from WLS — and an off-air audition with Conn at a location outside of the station — resulted in a two-year offer to install Cotto as afternoon co-host. If Salem declines to match terms of the deal, Cotto could join Conn’s show by Jan. 4, according to insiders.
While Salem bosses mull their response, Cotto is not expected to be on with Howell Friday morning. Cotto was seen removing some of his belongings from WIND late Thursday.
As reported here last week, WLS is expected to sign Conn to a two-year extension in exchange for a reduction in his seven-figure salary. Despite speculation in the Sun-Times as recently as last Sunday that Conn “could be in jeopardy,” the offer to Cotto would seem to represent an even stronger commitment to Conn as Citadel’s afternoon franchise on WLS.
Ratings for Conn’s show declined after Amy Jacobson replaced Bill Leff and Christina Filiaggi as contributors earlier this year. It’s not known what role Jacobson would have at WLS if Cotto signs on. In any case, Jim Johnson is expected to continue as news anchor. While Leff served as a comedic sidekick, Conn has been without a full-fledged partner on the show since Garry Meier left in a contract renewal dispute in 2004.
Cotto, 34, a native of west suburban Aurora and graduate of Western Illinois University, joined the former all-news WMAQ in 1998 as an intern before moving up to reporter. In 2000, he moved to WLS, where he spent six years as a news anchor and reporter. Since 2006, he’s been teamed with Howell at WIND.
While pursuing a Master of Divinity degree from Chicago’s Moody Bible Institute, Cotto was affectionately dubbed “The Reverend” by former WLS host Jay Marvin. The nickname stuck. “Listeners new to the show often wonder if I run a church or perform weddings,” Cotto once joked to Chicago Radio Spotlight’s Rick Kaempfer. “Not yet, but if radio ever kicks me out. . . .”
Elsewhere on the media beat:
- Devotion to Accuracy Department: Thursday’s piece had the wrong attribution for “A Poem for All Girlfriends,” the ode to Kathy O’Malley and Judy Markey, former midday hosts on Tribune Co.-owned WGN-AM (720). Although it appeared on Facebook’s “Petition to Keep Kathy and Judy on WGN,” the parody poem was actually written by Jim Kollars, who has his own Facebook page called “The Unofficial Kathy and Judy Show Fan Club.” Said Kollars: “I clearly have too much time on my hands.”
- Ben Goldberger, who was the founding editor of the Chicago edition of the Huffington Post, has joined the Chicago News Cooperative as a staff writer and digital media editor. He previously was a reporter for the Sun-Times. Under an agreement with the New York Times, CNC produces two pages of Chicago news coverage in the paper’s local edition every Friday and Sunday. It also plans to launch its own website early next year.
- Are CBS-owned WBBM-Channel 2 and all-news WBBM-AM (780) about to merge their websites? That’s the plan according to Anton Guitano, new chief operating officer of CBS Local Media, who told TVNewsCheck he hopes to combine his television and radio stations’ sites in 14 markets to compete directly with local newspapers. Insiders at Newsradio 780 said the merger should be completed “in the next couple months.” But sources at Channel 2 said the matter is still under review and no decision has been made. In other words, stayed tuned.
- Joel Weisman will preside over a special year-end edition of “Chicago Tonight: The Week in Review” at 7 p.m. tonight on WTTW-Channel 11. His guests will be Bruce Dold and John McCarron of the Tribune, Lester Munson of ESPN and David Greising of the Chicago News Cooperative. It’s airing this week because the show will be pre-empted on Christmas and New Year’s Day.
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I’m anxious to hear this pairing Robert. Thanks for the scoop as always!
Speaking of Roe Conn, his former partner Garry Meier will be appearing with Steve Cochran this coming Monday night at 9 PM on Milt Rosenburg’s Extension 720. Milt is billing the show as, “THE YEAR AT WGN!” Dr. Rosenburg does this special two hour show every year about this time and the guests, who are always WGN personalities talk with Milt about the station and the state of radio in general for the two full hours.
Needless to say, they entertain many many phone calls and listeners are invited to share their likes and dislikes about the way WGN is programming their station. Does anyone think there will be any angry callers? I suspect Kevin Metheny will be in a veritable audio dunk tank as the vitriol is spewed over the 312 591 7200 phone lines!
It’s MUST HEAR radio!
Big fan of Cisco’s and I wish for him the best. Not sure how he and Roe Conn will fit if that’s what happens. Forget ratings, Roe has not been nearly as entertaining since his split with Gary Meier. And the Jim Johnson schtick became very old many years ago. Maybe part of Roe’s problem is too many voices going on. And I still believe Amy Jacobson should not be working news in this city for anybody after the Stebic issue.
You’ve got one listener wherever you go, Reverend.
Jim Johnson is not funny and in my opinion, has very little to contribute to the show. For a newsman, he doesn’t add a whole lot of insight when it comes to news topics on Roe’s show. Personally, I’d demote him to evenings and move Monica up to Roe’s show, even if she doesn’t contribute to the show, just having her presence in the news room is an upgrade.
I praised the dumping of Christina for the same reasons – but Amy isn’t that good of a personality either. I vote that if Cisco does come to WLS, that it just be Roe and Cisco without any other voices, unless one of them is off sick or on vacation.
I’m afraid Ms. Jacobson is easier on the eyes than she is on the ears. Regardless, Mr. Conn’s show fell apart for me after Mr. Leff was let go. And I never thought I’d miss Ms. Filiaggi as much as I do.
Jim Kollars is RIGHT ON. He has too much time on his hands.
As does Bruce Wolf, and yet I am still interested in knowing…what about him?
Cisco is a pro and will add some spark to Roe’s show. I do think that it was an error to let Christina go. In my opinion, she added contrast and more fun to the show.
what about john blough?
as for me, http://www.chicagonow.com/blogs/blogshakalaka
i feel bad that i gently skewered kathy and judy yesterday because i believed that one of them had penned that anti-wgn ode. then again, i said nice things about them, too. so i would like to retract the retraction i was about to make.
i can’t comment on cisco cotto because i’ve never heard him. but like einstein, who never conducted an experiment but merely correctly theorized about the universe, i think i can safely say that he is a good broadcaster. all of roe’s partners, sidekicks and contributors have been good.
i am not a program director but it seems to me that the way to succeed is to follow the regimen of newsradio78 and the sports talk stations, and that is to drive home the same point again and again. make it like top 40 radio. for wls, the conservative station, that would mean bashing the obama health-care plan on the 8’s.
if that format is instituted, please tell me when roe is ready to blow his brains out. i’ll call garry to tell him to listen.
someone teach me how to use the shift or caps lock button and punctuation please send aid i never have done used computer before
I really enjoyed listening to Roe, but stopped when he began relying on the incoherent ‘Clyde’ on a regular basis. Cisco’s return to WLS will bring me with him, but only in the afternoons. I still CAN’T stand “Archie and Edith” in the mornings, but Big John alone is too painful to bear, so maybe WIND will bring back the intelligent Bill Bennett or always entertaining Laura Ingraham instead.
WLS takes another step backward. The Roe/Bill/Jim/Christina mix worked well. John and Cisco was a painful step down from Bill Bennett. I don’t even agree with most of Bennett’s views, but at least he was intelligent. Roe and Cisco will be almost unlistenable. Too bad. Boy, Chicago radio really took a hit when the national corporate suits got involved. It makes the rank amateurism at a station like WJJG refreshing to listen to.
I know from personal experience that Cisco is the real deal. He really believes what he says and doesn’t say things for ratings or because conservative talk is trendy and profitable. I have no idea how it will work out with Roe, but they worked at the same station before, so it’s not like they were thrown together blindly because the deal was convenient.
And about Bruce Wolf (since he always posts here): I find it ironic that an established media personality makes daily posts about how everyone should go to his blog. I remember when the broadcast and print media used to express an open disdain for blogs. So Bruce–do you bother to visit other blogs written by non-famous people? There’s a lot of good writing out there about sports and other topics written by people who’ve been toiling in obscurity for years. Try it, you might like it.
If you are to secure Cisco Cotto I will be a listener. I got turned on the Cisco on WIND over a year ago and faithfully listen every day via the radio or podcast…WIND’s loss would be your gain. CISCO ROCKS! Doug Clayburg- Rockford
The THIRD afternoon drive overhaul at WLS since Garry Meier left?
Roe Conn is greatly diminished without Garry Meier. It’s painful to listen to him pandering to the right wing teabag refugees who make up the WLS audience. Is his squeaky, rapid, rabid delivery supposed to be funny? Informative? And Conn turns into a radio Mack Daddy for the Mark Kirk campaign several times a week.
Paying Jim Johnson to be lame is redundant. As for Cisco Coto, he probably works for less pay than Bill Leff, who worked for less pay than Garry Meier. Cisco at least has his Master of Divinity to fall back on if the radio gig doesn’t pan out.
I think Cisco could be a great addition to the show. I do think that dropping Amy Jacobson would be a mistake. In my opinion she brings a strong female point of view and with her journalistic skills, maybe they can expand her role in the news area, since Cisco will be taking up a great deal more air time.
Here is my 2 cents on Bruce Wolf. He is a laugh riot. I’m not certain why he gets canned from station after station other than the fact that is what happens to most radio personalities. Then again, it could have something to do with his inability to punctuate and use the CAP key.
Keep on keeping on Bruce!
About WGN, they seem to be going the route of WLS. Instead of entertainment and information they now utilize political and sports screamers. Even Uncle Milt has gone RIGHT off the cliff.
It’s simple… If you want a loyal and large listenership, Entertain and Inform… Don’t piss ‘em off by spouting Right and Leftwing political drivel. Same goes for most of the mouth-foaming sports commentators (Wolf not withstanding.)
I can’t stop listening to Roe. I keep thinking he’s going to be funny again.
This will give John Howell at WIND an opportunity for a more humorous sidekick, will be interesting to see what happens
What are you doubters talking about?? Rev. Cisco is incredibly talented and Jim Johnson is still hillarious. Though they need to give Jim more opportunities to chime in like he used to. I am looking forward to listening to Roe, Cisco & Jim. HAT TRICK!
The Cisco move is promising.
When do they get rid of Roe Conn?
Wow, I expect this to be a train wreck! Cisco and Conn have the same type A personality. How are two hard charging, certain they are brilliant, radio hosts going to vie for the same microphone!!?? My guess is these guys will end up screaming over each other trying to be heard. The result will likely be cacophony. And don’t get me wrong, I like them both… I just think that together it will be a mess. It would be like having two Rush Limbaughs on the same show, or two Steve Dahls on the same show or two of any really hyperactive hosts on. That is why Conn and Meier (or Dahl and Meier) worked. Because Meier was a bit more laid back than his opposite.
Can anyone tell me why Lester Munson hasn’t had his own WTTW panel show for the past 15 or 20 years? Not restricted to sports? Use the Chicago Tonight set. No investment needed. Underwriters would line up to sponsor him. Think of the one-two punch…Joel at 7 p.m. and Lester at 7:30 p.m. I’ll also use this opportunity to get in my plug for The Marin-Ahern Report to follow Lester Munson in Chicago. Let’s get serious…before we get too old?
Roe Conn should team up with Mike North. They can sink together. Two windbag anchors trying to save themselves. So many chances – so many opportunities to blow.
Garry Meier and Bill Leff are onto better things.
The Amy Jacobsen move was incredibly stupid.
Hello Bruce Wolf . . . your opportuniy at Channel 2 may be coming up !
No wonder Cisco’s been so bitchy on WIND of late. Too bad. He and Big John were a good fit, and I can’t wrap my head around a Roe/Cisco pairing – yet another clash of the overblown egos.
Doesn’t matter to me — I’ve been loving Garry Meir on WGN since April.
Getting rid of Bill Bennett was a huge mistake at WIND altho I enjoyed getting to know Cisco immensely – But I missed Bennett’s intelligent conversations. Get him back!!!!!
Bill Leff was hilarious but didn’t get enough air time from Roe. What was that about? Christina held things together but Amy’s OK and growing on me.
Roe needs to get rid of the “movie/TV star” interviews. BOR-ing. I love hearing from listenrs who often have more common sense and razor-wit than anyone. What a riot. Roe used to interact hilariously with them! Chicagoans are the best source of poking fun at themselves. :) Who decided that should go?
All the best Cisco!
If Cisco really makes the move, get Bill Bennett back & use John for local interludes & an 8-9AM program. Then give him a weekend regular talk show. I’m tired of bad programming on Saturday afternoons.
Aw, poor “big” John Howell … met him and Cisco back in the winter of 2008, great guys. All the best to Cisco in his new gig … and to John at WIND (or wherever he lands … wonderful guy)!
Way to go WLS…if you indeed secured Cisco Cotto for 2 years…you booked a winner.
Bill Bennett should be called Mr. Hypocrite.
Family values? How many millions has the degenerate gambler lost in the past? He even had the nerve to request a Las Vegas casino to set up a slot machine in his private room!
And now WIND is catering to an even lower demographic when they start airing the Glen Beck show.
What fools.
I can’t stand Cisco! “Real Deal” my @ss. He obviously manufactures points soley to be a foil. A “devil’s advocate.” And they’re quite weak. I may have to give up Roe completely. To use his latest overused phrase: “That’s how that goes.”
Still, the most over paid Chicago personality by far is Mrs. Don Wade (Roma)!
I also keep listening to Roe thinking he will be funny again. Letting Bill and Christina go left his show dull. Amy is just annoying. Good luck with Cisco, I wont be listening anymore.
Is is me, or do the suits continue to make the dumbest decisions of all time? Don’t get me wrong, I like Cisco a lot, but I think he is not a good fit with Roe, who is way too self-absorbed to allow someone pair up and steal his spotlight.
First it’s Jay Marvin, next it’s Christina, next thing I know Amy “Pool buddy of Craig Stebic” Jacobson and Rod Blagojevich are ruining the 890 kHz wavelength!
Oh yeah, don’t forget Jake Hartford- WLS, could you do anything dumber?
Update (if anyone is still interested in this topic): I did an interview with Cisco. It covers a lot of what people have been wondering about, ie, do he and Roe really get along? Does Mancow really go to church? What’s it like to be back at WLS? Any advice for others who want to work the media? Was his possible run for Senate just a publicity stunt? Is Cisco his real name? What does he think of Eric Zorn? And lots more!
http://podcast.radiogirl.us/2010/01/cisco-cotto.html
Good job WLS for ridding yourselves of Amy Jacobsen. I listened to her first interview with Roe shortly after her scandal. As I listened, I got the distinct impression she was interviewing for Christina’s job. The more she began to fill in for Christina, the more obvious it became. Soon enough, Christina was out the door (again) along with Bill Leff. On that note, I wish Roe could start showing a little more loyalty towards his co-hosts. Nobody seems to survive in that chair. God only knows if Jim Johnson wakes up every morning wondering if he still has a job.
However, replacing Amy with the insufferable Cisco Cotto was a big mistake. Cotto is right of Atilla the Hun, which makes him at best, controversial. Unfortunately, he lacks the charm and self-assurance of Limbaugh, which makes him boring and predictable.WLS will figure that out soon enough. Knowing Roe’s co-host history, I would suggest “The Reverend” begin sending out his resume halfway through his contract, which is in one year. Until his contract expires, I’m listening to something else that can get me through Chicago rush-hour traffic. I do hope Roe’s show survives, he is pretty funny.
There’s No Chemistry! I love Roe but I don’t think this show will last. BRING BACK JAY MARVIN!!!
Jay Marvin should stay where he is.
BTW didn’t he pass on to the great control room in the sky?
If that’s true, hopefully he will stay where he is. Frankly, I’ve always considered Jay scary.
Has anyone else noticed the great number of commercials one has to endure when (trying) to listen to Roe??? Ditto on the departure of Bill and Christina – the show has been tanking ever since they left.