Posted by Brian Stevens on March 31, 2009 at 09:48:34:
I've been doing some thinking about the WGN opening, and I was reminded about what happened in 1996 and 1997. In the summer of 1996, WGN parted ways with Ian Punnet. At that time, they restructured the schedule which left the 6 to 9 P.M. slot open for a parade of guest hosts. That fall, they even brought in CBS Monday Night football. By the end of the year, they reworked the schedule again, giving Spike the 3 to 7 slot, and the 7 to 9 slot to Sports Central. So, in January of 97, the 12:30 to 3:00 slot became open. Dean Richards was named interum host. This lasted until September, when WGN finally hired John Williams. Let's hope this isn't a repeat performance.