Perhaps the return of a live, local talk show at night can helpjump-start the ratings for urban/talk WVON-AM (1690).
That's the hope at Midway Broadcasting, where the Saturdayafternoon team of Matt McGill and Perri Small shifted this week tothe 7-to-10 p.m. Monday through Friday slot.
They replace Michael Eric Dyson, whose syndicated talk showlasted seven months.
"Matt and Perri are knowledgeable, entertaining, funny, seriousand compelling," said program director Jerry Riles. "They bring adifferent flavor to WVON, and having them in this time slotstrengthens WVON as 'The Talk of Chicago.' "
Despite its switch last fall from a part-time signal at 1450 AMto a full-time, stronger signal at 1690 (and a move to new studios),WVON has been having a tough time in the Arbitron ratings.
For the first two months of the winter quarter, it averaged a 0.6percent audience share -- lower than the previous three quarters.
DIALING
'Idol' offer from B96
- Is there a future for Sanjaya Malakar on Chicago radio?
The spectacularly untalented "American Idol" finalist has beenoffered $10,000 to co-host for a week on CBS Radio Top 40 WBBM-FM(96.3) with morning personalities Eddie Volkman, Joe Bohannon andErica Cobb.
No response from Malakar yet. But "The Eddie, JoBo, Erica &Sanjaya Show" does have a ring to it, don't you think?
- Restaurateur Dutchie Caray, widow of legendary baseballannouncer Harry Caray, is appearing with Jonathon Brandmeier on thebacks of CTA buses. They're featured in ads for Johnny B.'s morningshow on Emmis Communications' classic rock WLUP-FM (97.9).
"Listeners are aware of Johnny's crush on Dutchie throughnumerous live interviews with the famed Chicago icon who hascontinued Harry's legacy long after his death," explained TommyKing, director of marketing for Emmis Chicago.
"With baseball season heating up, it's topical and buzz-worthy toassociate Johnny and the Loop with Dutchie and her ties with thesport. If you don't know it's Dutchie, you might know that Johnnyhas a thing for older women and sings proudly of them in the song'Older Women' with the Leisure Suits."
Earlier this month, King unveiled billboards for alternative rocksister station WKQX-FM (101.1) featuring Bob "The Price Is Right"Barker.
- Thursday is "Celebrity Day" at CRIS Radio, the nonprofit radioreading service under the auspices of the Chicago Lighthouse forPeople Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired.
Among broadcasters filling in as guest readers will be JohnRecords Landecker, Rich "Svengoolie" Koz, LeeAnn Trotter, KathyVoltmer, Christine Moran, Ken Southern and Mike Kendall.
TRACKING
'Shoot-Out' lines up stars
- A stellar roster of current and former Bears, Cubs, White Soxand Blackhawks will compete in the 14th annual "Chrysler All-StarShoot-Out," the 10-week, $100,000 charity golf series to air lateSunday nights on ABC-owned WLS-Channel 7, starting June 24.
This year's lineup includes Mark DeRosa, Carlton Fisk, RobbieGould, Jay Hilgenberg, Hunter Hillenmeyer, Bo Jackson, Brad Maynard,Stan Mikita, Jim McMahon, Ron Rivera and Denis Savard.
The series, hosted by Mark Giangreco and Tracy Butler, will betaped June 11 at Kemper Lakes Golf Club in northwest suburbanKildeer. It's a co-production of Nick Aronson's Beat the ProEnterprises and Channel 7.
- Sun-Times columnist Richard Roeper, co-host of the nationallysyndicated "Ebert & Roeper," will be featured as a contributor to"Larry King: 50 Years of Pop Culture," a two-hour special markingthe CNN star's 50th anniversary in broadcasting.
The documentary will air from 8 to 10 p.m. Wednesday on CNN.
feder@suntimes.com
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