Checking in (boogie-wise) with Amy Landecker’s dad
Robservations on the media beat:
John Records Landecker
- After seeing a funny comment from him on this blog the other day, it was great to catch up with John Records Landecker, the Chicago radio legend and the man credited with inspiring more American teenagers to become disc jockeys than anyone else in the business. Nearly 40 years after he debuted as a Top 40 radio star here, Landecker, 62, is still at it — hosting a daily talk show with partner Paula Griffin from 9 a.m. to noon on WIMS-AM (1420) in Michigan City, Ind. (and online at wimsradio.com). His syndicated music show, “Into the 70s,” airs from 7 p.m. to midnight Sundays on Citadel Broadcasting oldies WLS-FM (94.7). But he’s most proud of the success of his youngest daughter, Amy, who starred in the Coen Brothers’ movie “A Serious Man” and appears in the season’s first two episodes of “Law & Order: Criminal Intent.” She also just shot a comedy pilot with Adam Corolla for NBC. “She is no longer the daughter of John Records Landecker,” he quipped. “I am Amy Landecker’s father!” Boogie Check, anyone?
- WBBM-AM (780) suburban bureau chief Julie Mann was promoted Wednesday to managing editor of the CBS Radio all-news station. But that doesn’t mean we won’t hear her anymore. Ron Gleason, director of news and programming, said Mann will continue to do some air work, although she won’t be reporting on a daily basis. A 13-year veteran of Newsradio 780, Mann fills the vacancy left by operations director Drew Hayes, who exited in January for the same position at Citadel Broadcasting news/talk WLS-AM (890).
- In other news at Newsradio 780, Bears football broadcasts on the station drew more listeners last season than any other NFL team on radio. According to a study released Wednesday by Arbitron Sports, the Bears had an average game audience of 626,600 listeners, followed by the New York Giants with 457,000, and the Philadelphia Eagles with 422,400. The report covered play-by-play estimates for 25 teams in 23 markets where Arbitron’s Portable People Meter service has kicked in.
- Now it’s really official: Amy Jacobson starts March 24 as Big John Howell’s morning co-host at Salem Communications news/talk WIND-AM (560). Of his new partner, Howell said, “her perspective as a strong, opinionated woman will bring our show to a whole new level.” In a statement announcing the debut of “The Big John & Amy Show,” general manager Jeff Reisman wrote:
“We’re excited to welcome Amy to WIND. We believe that she possesses an immense amount of unrealized potential as a talk show host that we fully anticipate will be realized as she joins John Howell in morning drive. Any preconceived notions anyone has about Amy will be completely changed once they hear her on the air with John.”
- Another familiar voice from the smooth jazz era of WNUA-FM (95.5) is the latest alum to join his former colleagues at Venture Technologies Group’s WLFM-FM (87.7). Bill Cochran debuted last weekend as host of “Dinner Party,” airing from 6 to 10 p.m. Saturdays. Billed as “Saturday night oldies for grownup tastes,” the show features familiar contemporary jazz classics. “I think the show has the potential to do for Saturday nights what the ‘Smooth Jazz Sunday Brunch’ did for Sunday mornings — be a perfect lifestyle complement to what our listeners are doing at the time,” said program director Rick O’Dell.
- Comcast SportsNet will offer live online streaming of Chicago Bulls basketball, starting with the March 19 game against the Cleveland Cavaliers. But here’s the catch: It will be available only to viewers who already receive Comcast SportsNet from a participating TV service. Registration is required at csnchicago.com. It’s a free experiment that will run for six games through April 14 (and possibly during the first round of playoffs). “This represents the next logical step forward in the inevitable convergence of TV and the Internet,” said Steve Schanwald, executive vice president of business operations for the Bulls.
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Julie Mann is a great choice to replace Drew Hayes. The people at WBBM are glad that Drew is gone and Julie was promoted. Perhaps the only one sad about Drew’s departure is Ron Gleason, wasn’t it Drew who hired Gleason as a night time anchor, and saved his butt after he was fired from the Score?
John Howell and Amy Jacobson make WIND an odds on favorite if there was a radio station personality basketball league. Twin towers on and off the air. Good luck to them. Landecker…how we miss your boogie checks!
During the Big 89 Reunion, to listen to Boogie Check for the first time in years, and it just had lost nothing over the years, absolutely nothing.
Imagine if radio stations today programmed themselves with disc jockeys with a real personality, talking about the things that matter in listeners lives, and not reading liner cards…or worse “satellite shows” with “emceees” in distant lands and their wares peddled in from afar. Is it REALLY making more money?
Terrestrial radio is a viable medium, just mis-guided at the moment.
John Records Landecker is a great man.
Just a note to Mr. Feder -
Glad you are reporting again – this has to be a real upper to you with the tons of responses you get daily to your posts, versus the Sun-Times. Great job, as always – what’s happened to the “what about me” posts from Mr. Wolf??
Did I ever tell you my real name is FireVaney? Thanks Robert. I thought I would pop in here to invite everyone to call our talk show. The number is 219-861-1632. Only one line and it rings on the air ..no screener …if we answer you are live!!!!!..thank you john landsecker and paula griffen
I’d love to be able to listen to Boogie Checks again. I really disagree on Big John and No Integrity starting 3/24 though.
who’s john landsecker?
Well, so when is Sunday Brunch returning to the ariwaves?
Congratulations Julie! As always, you rock! Unfortunately, I’m a fictional character, otherwise I’d buy you lunch to celebrate.
Landecker also was superb on WTTW “Chicago Tonight” doing movie commentary, among other interesting, enlightening reports. What a foolish move when WTTW dropped him.
Speaking of “Chicago Tonight,” what’s wrong with this picture: I am a WTTW supporter because of “Chicago Tonight,” but during pledge drive, the station truncates the program to bring me… Celtic Thunder and something about staying rich forever. Who does WTTW think they are signing up with this junk when they pre-empt the very programs that keep the donor base motivated?
When you read that John Records Landecker is doing a daily show on AM 1420, with 1 incoming phone line, then you KNOW he is doing what he loves. Class act.
The Comcast SportsNet new offering seems to be “whatever” on the surface, but as one person pointed out on my discussion forum yesterday, it goes deeper that. They are trying to diversify while peel people away from their TV’s. It seems logical yet not many are buying into this theory?
Warm Regards,
President Pedro.
OK, now I’ll have to give JRL a curious listen. Funny posts, Mr. Boogie.
Tom Thayer is a class act.
Tom Thayer is also one of the funniest guests on Steve Dahl’s “Dahlcast”. Good guy.
John Landecker is a very talented man, and makes radio entertaining- which many so-called “personalities” on air today should learn…
@Rich Koz #16, and you do the same thing on the TV side.
Btw… BERRRRRRwyn?!?
Btw, Mr. Landecker, you have a lovely and talented daughter. Amy was great in “A Serious Man”.