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Mike McConnell

J

js

Jim Scott left and came back. Same with Eddie Fingers. Could McConnell be next? There have been rumors flying on the Chicagoland Radio and Media Board that Mike wouldn't be at WGN much longer. This morning, Mike posted to Facebook that he now has a podcast. The WGN schedule lists middays as "various hosts"

Willie is busy with television. How much longer will he want to split his time? Could this be an opportunity for Mike? I'd love to see him return Cincinnati!
 
I love how when they all fail in major markets they return to Cincinnati. I think McConnell is good but I don't think He will want to return to The Big One right away unless the guy who got him to WGN, Randy Michaels has something up his sleeve here. Didn't He leave on bad terms with CC Cincinnati anyway?
 
No, He's going to do an online podcast only.

Info Via RadioInsight

http://radioinsight.com/blog/headlines/84621/wgn-moves-mike-mcconnell-online/

Tribune News/Talk 720 WGN Chicago is bumping midday host Mike McConnell from its on-air schedule.

McConnell, who had been hosting from 10am to 3pm, will now be heard on WGN’s WGN2 online stream. The station is currently listing the daypart as “WGN Daytime” with various hosts. The station has yet to set a timeslot for their addition of Bob Sirott and Marianne Murciano.

McConnell joined WGN in August 2010 after spending 25 years at WLW Cincinnati, along with a brief run in syndication.
 
jry said:
Did he ever REALLY leave?
Click to expand...

The people that bash him on the Chicago Message Boards claim that he has been doing his show via ISDN from his Ohio home. Some of them say that is why they did not like him.
 
The biggest reason they didn't like him was he hadn't been there, boring them, for 30 years like most of the rest of the dial. Programming on Chicago's AMs makes the old WCKY of the 80s sound compelling and controversial. "What's your favorite color" is about as risque as they get. The only way Mike would have lasted is if Randy had out-lasted the newspaper bosses who seem to think they have a birthright to stay in business.
 
The last time Chicago had any of the talk you're describing was on the old AM 1000 back in the 80's WGN is heading in that direction as they recently hired the same guy who programmed the Loop then as their new GM.
 
norman881 said:
jry said:
Did he ever REALLY leave?
Click to expand...

The people that bash him on the Chicago Message Boards claim that he has been doing his show via ISDN from his Ohio home. Some of them say that is why they did not like him.
Click to expand...

Well, for the first year, he did most every show from our studios in the Fox 19 building. I joked with him and a buddy at Trib. that i cannot be blamed if the show just happened to bleed over from that studio to the 1160 transmitter.
Frankly, i think that this is a graceful "out". There's probably some time left on his contract and they are riding it out.
Man, i wish he'd have been available to us in Cincy.
 
I agree completely, jry. That is a stream that they only use when they have overlapping sports commitments. They are just putting him there cuz they have to pay him anyway.
 
Haven't paid the closest attention the past two years but I was unaware McConnell was earning ratings so pathetic as for this to happen. I always enjoyed him on WLW and on the few occasions I listened via WGN. Any chance at all he comes back here? Sloan is just too much in the morning sometimes.
 
microbob said:
I love how when they all fail in major markets they return to Cincinnati. I think McConnell is good but I don't think He will want to return to The Big One right away unless the guy who got him to WGN, Randy Michaels has something up his sleeve here. Didn't He leave on bad terms with CC Cincinnati anyway?
Click to expand...

Cincinnati, last time I looked was a top 25 market (or close to it) in America. It is not "failure" to work in Cincinnati. (regardless of what anyone might think about the city itself.) Especially not at a station as influential as WLW. Or, to come back to it from another market.

Nor is it "failure" to never make it to the "bigs". Or to have not made it big in one.

Robert W. Morgan (a native Ohioan) "failed" in Chicago in the early 70's. He went from market #2 (Los Angeles) to market #3 (Chicago). When Chicago's listeners didn't take to his act, he went right back to LA, where he'd be on air on top stations till his death.

Should Mike be offered the chance to come back, there would be, to me anyway, no shame in taking that kind of a gig at all.

Some people's acts play differently in some cities than others. And, there can be other things at play internally at the station which can also affect these decisions that people outside of the station, or the business, never hear about as you may know.

Having worked with Mike a long time ago, I've always thought of him as a good guy. He'll land on his feet, no matter what.
 
Arbitorn said:
The biggest reason they didn't like him was he hadn't been there, boring them, for 30 years like most of the rest of the dial. Programming on Chicago's AMs makes the old WCKY of the 80s sound compelling and controversial. "What's your favorite color" is about as risque as they get. The only way Mike would have lasted is if Randy had out-lasted the newspaper bosses who seem to think they have a birthright to stay in business.
Click to expand...

Your comment about "What's your favorite color?" (referring to the programming on WGN) is more true than you may know.
 
Jason Roberts said:
microbob said:
I love how when they all fail in major markets they return to Cincinnati. I think McConnell is good but I don't think He will want to return to The Big One right away unless the guy who got him to WGN, Randy Michaels has something up his sleeve here. Didn't He leave on bad terms with CC Cincinnati anyway?
Click to expand...

Cincinnati, last time I looked was a top 25 market (or close to it) in America. It is not "failure" to work in Cincinnati. (regardless of what anyone might think about the city itself.) Especially not at a station as influential as WLW. Or, to come back to it from another market.

Nor is it "failure" to never make it to the "bigs". Or to have not made it big in one.

Robert W. Morgan (a native Ohioan) "failed" in Chicago in the early 70's. He went from market #2 (Los Angeles) to market #3 (Chicago). When Chicago's listeners didn't take to his act, he went right back to LA, where he'd be on air on top stations till his death.

Should Mike be offered the chance to come back, there would be, to me anyway, no shame in taking that kind of a gig at all.

Some people's acts play differently in some cities than others. And, there can be other things at play internally at the station which can also affect these decisions that people outside of the station, or the business, never hear about as you may know.

Having worked with Mike a long time ago, I've always thought of him as a good guy. He'll land on his feet, no matter what.
Click to expand...

I never had the honor of working with him, but have heard the same sentiments.
 
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