Posted by chicagomedia.org on October 24, 2008 at 09:30:18:
In Reply to: Mancow joins WLS-AM, with Pat Cassidy posted by chicagomedia.org on October 23, 2008 at 07:26:12:
Mancow's back, signs deal with WLS-AM
Mancow Muller, the outspoken radio host who lost his berth at Emmis Communications' WKQX-FM (101.1) more than two years ago, is coming back to the air in Chicago on Monday at Citadel Broadcasting's WLS-AM (890).
In an interview Thursday, Muller said he couldn't be happier about the new chapter in his broadcasting career at the talk radio station, where he will anchor a midmorning talk fest from 9 to 11 a.m.
Muller replaces Jerry Agar, who will remain on the WLS payroll until his current contract expires, according to WLS President and General Manager Mike Fowler.
Muller, who was syndicated to about a dozen stations nationwide through Emmis, will continue an independently syndicated radio show he began after leaving WKQX.
He will do the syndicated show from the WLS studios and then immediately sign on at WLS. There he will be playing to audiences that trend a bit older than those he entertained at WKQX. And that's OK.
"I've got a wife and children now, and I'm really not the swaggering kind of guy I was when I was 22," Muller said.
Muller said he has decided to do the WLS show with Pat Cassidy for at least the first week, and maybe longer. Muller thinks the two will work well together on air.
"Pat's got a great command of facts and figures. I'm a more emotive guy," said Muller, who was signed to a two-year contract by Fowler.
For now, Muller plans to keep things loose on his debut show Monday. The only guest scheduled so far is popular comedian and television advertising star Carlos Mencia, who will be in town this weekend to make some appearances.
Muller said he and Mencia, who was widely lauded for his hysterically funny work in Bud Light Super Bowl spots the last two years, have been friends for a long time.
However Mancow's new radio show evolves, look for politics to be a major topic of discussion. The new WLS talent told us he is no fan of either Barack Obama or John McCain.
"I'm a Libertarian," said Muller, who nonetheless admitted Obama is great fodder for talk radio here in Chicago.
"There's lots of intrigue surrounding him," explained Muller, referring to Obama's ties to the likes of Tony Rezko.
Even though he is excited about the new gig at WLS, Muller has no intention of dropping a lawsuit he filed against his former employer Emmis Communications for, among other things, allegedly trying to block him from getting other jobs. Muller maintains Emmis and its representatives improperly took files from his home and demeaned him by spreading outrageous rumors about him.
It could take two more years before the lawsuit is finally resolved, predicted Muller, who was scheduled to be in court today to deal with matters pertaining to the lawsuit.
Meanwhile, it appears the addition of Muller is part of Fowler's larger game plan to make WLS competitive with Tribune Co.'s WGN-AM (720), long a ratings leader in the morning time slots.
Fowler said a top priority now that Muller is on board is also to re-sign the station's two early morning hosts, Don Wade and Roma, to a new contract.
With a recent change in the way Arbitron tracks radio ratings, WLS' morning show from 5 to 9 a.m. is showing new strength, and could get stronger when WGN morning anchor Spike O'Dell retires soon.
(Lewis Lazare, Chicago Sun-Times)