WGN Radio Resurrects Garry Meier
Friday April 3, 2009
WGN-AM/Chicago has hired Garry Meier to do the early afternoon slot between 1 - 4 p.m. Meier begins his new gig today. Phil Rosenthal has a good article on Meier in the Chicago Tribune.
Meier told Rosenthal: "This is all I know, so believe me, I'm very happy to be back and I think you'll see that in my work..."
Meier had been WLS-AM's afternoon co-host from 2 - 6 p.m. from 1996 until early January, 2004. Then Meier's Chicago radio career came to a screeching halt when extended negotiations did not result in a new contract with the station. He was pulled off the air a month before his contract was up.
After that he did a brief stint in 2007 doing early evenings at WCKG-FM. A format change scuttled that.
More: Profile of Garry Meier
Comments
Long over due.Welcome back Garry!
GREAT NEWS I’ll be listening every day from 1-4.
we missed you. welcome back.
Sorry, not a fan. You are not WGN material. I turn to WBBM as soon as I hear your grating voice. Go back to FM.
I am so glad to have Garry back. I imagine its is because e loves to talk about things that relate to me…. growing up It is a touch of spring for radio
Congratulations to WGN for bringing Gary Meier back on radio. Missed you Gary. I stopped listening to the last station you were on when you left. Welcome!
Boy do you guys know how to insult . No Susan Boyle isn’t good looking but her voice is great I would hope that she goes a long way if you had your way and your callers had their way she should just crawl under her rock . I’m disppoint in you and some of your listeners like you are all movie stars.Thats what is wrong with this world you can not enjoy a beautiful voice some talk show has to make a big deal about your looks well I guess tho your job is pointless at least you have a job.
can’t stand him…turn right to WLS when he comes on… i am not a young male and he is manic and repeats, repeats, repeats…
big mistake WGN
Gary, When you did Williams show – thought the sound of your voice was just a tone better then on the afternoon show – don’t know how all that works…. maybe you were closer to the mic ? All I know is that you sounded exastly LIKE YOU USE TO on the radio – just wanted to tell you that – it may be something useful – don’t know and also
wanted to say it is good to hear your voice any which way back on the radio. Thanks
Jo Ann
Dear Garry, Alice and I welcome you back to your town (West Pullman). If I had my Aerial banner company I would do this around chicago.
The Armenians all say Hi!!
Sark Boyajian
GARY;
KNOWN YOU SINCE YOU WERE A SKUM -BAG -WORMY IDIOT! WHAT DOES MAYOR DALY DO WITH THAT $126 MIL. OF EASY MONEY FROM MIDWAY???
STIR THE POT!!!I’M GONNA LOVE IT! THANKS!
JIM SO. BEND.
I’ve never really listened to you before.SoI can’t say welcome back.But,I really like your show.
I’ve been a WGN radio’er ever since Howard Miller – - maybe even before that. And I’m here to tell ya that the likes of Gary Meier does not belong on a premier station like WGN . That’s OK , I guess , I’ll just switch over to WIND or WLS .
Thank you for allowing me to vent my anti Gary feelings .
I can’t believe the negative comments on Garry Meier. I always hated WGN, now I listen to Garry as often as possiable! Don’t waste your time listening to that nerdy/winny Roe Cann, I stopped right after Garry left.
WELCOME BACK. I NO LONGER LISTEN TO WLS. THE FIRST DAY YOU CAME BACK, I FOUND THAT I COULD NO LONGER LISTEN TO ROE. HIS VOICE BECAME TOTALLY ANNOYING. THIS IS A WIN-WIN FOR WGN !!!
Meier stinks. His best day are behind him. Take him off of WGN before he sinks the station. He is not ‘GN material. Tribune company must be looking for the cheapest personnel since they’re in bankruptcy. Hope no-one is getting a bonus for signing this talentless hack!
I used to love to listen to WGN in the afternoon. Now I only listen to the cub’s games. Garry Meier is terrible and his sidekick who imitates Ron Santo is horrible. I will listen to Steve Cochran on my way home; however, cannot stand his theme song and have to turn the radio off when it comes on.
I’ve been listening to WGN since I was 11 yrs. old..I’ll be 62 this month. I only change radio stations when Gary Meier comes on…he doesn’t fit in and I won’t listen. Randy Miller is more fun, original, and the quality of WGN’s radio hosts. I listen from early a.m. to 1pm, then wait for Steve Cochran….Gary can go “bye-bye”……don’t let WGN’s radio reputation slide down hill…
I will never listen again!!
I will not listen to wgn during this time slot. I have been a faithful listener,but not any more. Things are c
hanging on this station and they are not good.
Gary is so fun to listen to on lunch hour escape
from the rat race!
The debut of Garry Meier on WGN. The best thing for WLS-FM between 1 and 4 every day.
I will not listen to that idot, Garry Meier. I listen to a different station during that time slot. He makes Jerry Springer look like a gem! The sound of his voice is like nails scratching a chalkboard! I can’t imagine the thinking behind this choice…was there any (thinking)?
I was flipping through stations and what a pleasant surprise….I thought, I know that’s Garry Meier! I listened when you were with Roe Conn..but I will definitely turn the dial now. So glad to hear you’re back on the air.
I love GM on GN. I look forward to the afternoon to hear his program. My 20 year old daughter is now a WGN fan thanks to Gary Meier. I tell everyone to listen to him because he tells is like it is and cracks me up.
WGN’s new direction: Gary Meier is in, Kathy and Judy are out. The new direction is DOWN, DOWN, DOWN. What a bunch of idiots are running this joint.
Maybe it was just me, but I could already tell back in Dec. when Spike retired, that the station was headed in a different direction, as they say. I feel many WGN fans are going to look in a different direction also. I listened because it felt like family, since I was 9 yo. I am 57 now. I don’t want to hear people YELL at each other.
Thanks but no thanks to Gary.
WGN had a style that the average person liked.
PLEASE don’t mess with John & Steve, also.
Nick was your edgy guy, and enough to be enjoyable. After all these yrs. I will most likely switch to Public Radio. THEY DON’T YELL AT ME.
I’VE LISTENED TO WGN FOR 20 PLUS YEARS. WAS SAD TO HAVE SPIKE LEAVE, MAY NOT AGREE WITH KATHY AND JUDY,BUT ALWAYS LISTENED, ENJOYED JOHN W. AND STEVE. BUT GIVEN THE NEW ROAD GN IS TRAVELING I AM LOOKING FOR A NEW STATION. ATTITUDES IN THIS LIFE ARE ALREADY TROUBLESOME…I SURE DON’T NEED TO BRING IT INTO MY HOME. SO SORRY THE STATION IS CHANGING.
I’ve loaded up my car with CDs. After 60 years of loyalty to WGN, I cannot stand how the quality of your on-air people has dropped, especially in the afternoon. My radio is no longer set to 720. I’ll be listening when the Cubs play…or are they the next to go????? (And how dare your new hire used Ron Santo to try and boost his ratings? Sleaze personified.)
I am a little stunned by what is going on at WGN. WGN is an institution and now it seems headed towards some hip new format idea that will last months instead of decades. Who was the idiot that decided that this was good idea? WGNs ratings are about to tank and sponsors will run away from everything, but the Cubs games. I will click over to John Williams in the morning, Lou M on the weekends, but they’ll probably be replaced by some Rush Limbaugh clones or talentless jerks. What I liked about WGN and what set it apart was it’s willingness to not go negative. If I want negative I will turn on WLS, or listen to the news on WBBM.
My grandparents, my parents, myself and my siblings all listened to WGN for many years because of the high quality of conversation and topics. The personalities felt like family. However, as with the Tribune, the station is going the way of the advertising dollars rather than with the support of loyal listeners. What a shame that money is more important than the listeners. Look out John Williams,Steve Cochran, Milt Rosenberg, Dean Richards, Orion and Max, your jobs won’t be around long because you are too classy for the new WGN.
WGN is now the station of insult, inane conversation. The withdrawal of the Kathy and Judy show and the addition of the afternoon radio host were big mistakes. Management started making mistakes when they hire the evening host. What a loser—always talking down about his girlfriend. Sure glad I have a great collection of cd’s and public radio to listen to.
Disgusted!!
How dumb cancelling the girls and bringing in that dumber than a stone Gary Meier (sp?) He’s loud and thick upstairs. It’s time to evaluate WGN’s leaders and dump a few to save money and THATS what it was all about.
I am stunned!!!
I cannot imagine in what “direction” WGN is heading – other than South! Gary Meier is not at all intellectually interesting…he is boorish. Kathy and Judy were funny, intellectual, entertaining and, in my house, the main reason our radio dial was set on 720.
It seems that it is time to “switch the dial”.
HSD
definitely not a fan…wbbm has my attention now at least until cochran is on…no kathy and judy either….wgn needs a stimulus
I agree with all of you above who say that WGN is going DOWN. It takes no brains to raise the panic level about everything little thing in the news. The News Junkie is worried about the “numbing down” of America — guess what? He’s one of the new “dumbing down” folks on WGN now. There must ne real money in that!
What has happened to WGN??? First Spike, now Kathy & Judy. I am from Wisconsin and for 25 years I have listed to WGN, but no more. The guy in the afternoon, Gary Maier is most irrating!
Gerrie Meier is a wanna-b-shoack jock and in that he even fails.If you want this station to fail(I think you do)keep cancelling the really talented people and get more like him.
I will not listen to wgn any longer and I am in the age bracket that buys the sponsors products. Milly
I am very disappointed in the hiring of Gary Meier. He sounds like a Don Imus without brains. Now that Kathy and Judy are no longer on the air I have switched to other radio stations. Good bye WGN.
Gary Meier does not belong on GN. What is going on at GN? First Spike, then Kathy & Judy. Who’s next Milt,Steve & Johnnie? What are you people doing?
Since I agree that WGN is longer worried about its long time listeners I am ready for a change. What station is being recommended??? Maybe GN will get the hint!!!
I can’t stand Gary and his always negative opinions. He has always been a butt and over the years he hasn’t changed. Besides the out dated hair style I can’t stand too look at him or listen to him and now without the girls WGN 720 is no longer the house radio station.
Good bye WNG
When one of the new hosts introduced Orion Samuelson as “Oh-rye-un” that says it all. Tradition is gone from WGN; I do not want to be yelled at. I want pleasant conversation from people who were like on-air family. YOu want the younger crowd and are throwing away the long-time listeners. Good luck with that strategy.
Shame, shame on you WGN! The reason WLS said adios to Garry was that he thought he was “Top Banana” but he will always be a “Second Fiddle.” He just can’t keep a good conversation going and if you bother to listen, he’s definately not very smart! It’s back to WLS for me….
I agree with the person who said that Garry is a Second Fiddle. He’s always been from way back! The only reason I tolerate him is because Chicago Radio has changed so much in the past 2 years, and I need my “fix”.
Where do we get the “ratings pager thing” and who is controlling the ratings out there?
Sign me up, I would gladly wear it to make a difference here in Chicago. There is nothing like radio in Chicago both talk and music choices of all genres!
Please keep Gary Meier on radio. I have loved him since way back.
Great to hear Garry back on his 50,000 watt blowtorch.Someone who tell’s it like it is and let’s the lisenter’s have their say.Tired of all the politcal talk show’s,on the left and right blabbering on for hour’s why we should support their crooked politician rather than the other partie’s crooked politician’s.
Wgn; what have you done? I have been a loyal listener since Bob Collens but no more. In todays times I don’t need the negative blabber from your 1to4host. I am now a part time listener. Also, your new 9 to 12 slot doesn’t make me happy either. Bye WGN.
After years of loyalty as a WGN listener, I have switched all my radios to NPR. The addition of Gary Meier, was bad enough, and then to follow that poor decision with the cancellation of the Kathy and Judy show was the last straw. Gary Meier has never ever been funny, and seems uncomfortable in his own skin, and unable to establish a report with virtually everyone he speaks with. I still really like John Williams, but can’t take three minutes of good conversation, interrupted by countless minutes of news, traffic, sports, and endless commercials.
WGN is taking a turn to the right and i think that stinks. The republicans have enough control over radio in Chicago. I hope that people can still think for themselves and find someplace else to get info from.
Great to see Garry back!Chicago talk radio has become pathetic. The right wing psychopaths at WGOP(WLS)are just not listenable. More of the same at WIND. An earlier post mentioned Bob Collins; I still miss his show.
gm and program director get your head out of your ass
Wow! I’ve lisened to ‘GN since Bob Collins, Roy Leonard, Wally Phillips; I still enjoy Max Armstrong, Orien Samuelson, John Williams, Steve Cochran. What a shame Kathy and Judy have been cancelled! They always were interesting and entertaining, even educational. I don’t like their replacement at all; nor I do care for that Meyer character. WGN has really hit the skids! Too bad; you were always such a high-quality station; not any more. At least you still have the cubs.
How in the world did tis guy land a gig at WGN? He has the intellect of a box of rocks. That does not stop him from spewing his confused opinions about everything. I give him six months tops. Where is Steve Dahl?
WGN just isn’t the same anymore. I used to keep it on all my radios all over the house and in the car. Now I listen only when I know I’ll still get good programming. since the departure of K & J, where is the “female voice”!?
Wgn has lost my trust. The changes to the right wing complainers of government are forcing me to change the dial. Garry and this other new guy are not right for WGN. Thank you for at least keeping Steve and John so I can get a few hours of good talk radio each day.
I have been listening to WGN Radio in WI since 1975 after leaving Chgo. If you think replacing Kathy & Judy can be done you are so wrong. Where did you ever find Gary…what a dissapointment for you and me. He is all mouth and nothing interesting comes out. Help or I am out of here.
Here is an idea…..John Williams, Kathy and Judy, Steve Cochran and Orion and Max should all leave WGN in the lurch and start there own radio station!
I won’t listen to WGN as I have for the last 25 years. Too bad that things went south really fast after Spike left.
I am sorry for the talent that WGN is letting slip away.
You will regret it. I already do!
GARY MEIER – WRONG, INSENSITIVE, AND BORING.
BRING BACK KATHY AND JUDY. STEVE BERTRAND IS
SMART AND INTERESTING. WHAT HAPPENEND WGN?
Bring back Bob Collins!
WGN, what can you be thinking? After being a faithful listener for many years I won’t listen to such annoying idiots. All they do is rant and rave – they are obnoxious to listen to and inpolite to callers. We have enough of that in our society. Who’s next to go, John and Steve? How sad. I will have to switch to NPR.
I too am not in favor of the addition of Garry to the WGN daily lineup. I will turn off the radio when I hear his voice…which this week has meant my morning trip to work. Can’t wait for my favorite, John Williams, to return. John and Steve Cochran are the ones that drew me to WGN a few years ago. Garry Meier adds nothing worth listening to and his voice irritates me. He’s not funny, interesting, intelligent or entertaining.
I managed the Condominium Associaiton he lives at – both he and his wife/agent are two of the most pompous and arrogant people you would ever want to me.
I hope and pray WGN comes to its senses and ends this abomination.
His voice is WORSE than John Williams’
Garry should be on any station he can find but not WGN. “50,000 watt blower” may be what Garry thinks about WGN, but it is not what the long standing WGN fans are about.
altho I don’t understand the firing of Kathy and Judy..i applaud WGN for hiring Gary…very bold move…when I 1st heard him I thought how many people would not like him for being very rough around the edges..Bring back Kathy and Judy…leave Gary where he is..and do NOT touch John Williams or Steve Cochran
Thank goodness you are putting John Willams back to a time when I can hear ALL of his programme
John, glad to have you at mid am. Really missed you in the afternoon, but at least I can hear you again. It will be the only show I listen to! You (and Steve Bertram) are the best!
It’s a shame what they are doing at WGN! They are now just another radio station.
Gary and Roe to me, were only entertaining together. Both have very boring shows without each other. But theres no reason to bad mouth anybody. Turn the dial.
I thought I was the only one, but by the looks of the other comments, there are many people out there who are saddened by the new direction of WGN.
720 has nearly always been my radio channel of choice, but this 45 year old female finds herself switching to either 890, 720, NPR, or even Air America.
I love John Williams but won’t be able to hear him any more on my morning commute, and I’m really upset about the loss of Kathy/Judy. Where the heck are the women on WGN? To be honest, Gary is really a better sidekick guy. He and his sidekick don’t seem to gel well at this point.
Maybe the head honchos know what they’re doing, but from what I’m reading and hearing, WGN is in for a rough road ahead.
I agree w/ most of your listeners. I am glad you are back on the air, but you are SO NEGATIVE, AND LOUD. ( agree w/ your mom). There has to be something that keeps you here. If you are this unhappy w/ all going on – why do you stay. I don’t live in the city, but appreciate the clean city I come to see. When my family from N.Y. comes in, they cannot believe how clean our City is. Tone it down, and do some positive things Garry. You are so negative. Not good for your show. Are you trying to prove something??? I understand You are upset w/ what is going on, but, You have to look at everything. Just ONE DAY, I would like to tune in to your show, and not feel we are under attack by someome. Your show could be so good, if it was not political. You are so focused on beaning every one, it becomes repetitive, and frankly BORING
I have stopped listening to WGN in that time slot, bad move
I like Garry Meier. I tune in to WGN just to listen to him, he is THAT entertaining. Nick D and Brian Noonan are awesome too! You people need to lighten up. Perhaps a nice warm shot of Geritol prior to tuning in will help you people out, either that or Chocolated Ex-lax. (it works for me!)
Gary Meier is an obnoxious boor–when he is on FM stations here we come! Send him back to where he came from.
The direction WGN is taking a bad turn. The range of listeners for Kathy & Judy was amazing.It was great to have the female point of view on MANY subjects. Listening to Garry makes me nervous. He does not have a smoothe style at all, he is a whiner and a screamer…and would someone please show him where the buttons are.
The only time I am listening to WGN is 9AM to Noon and only because Jon Williams addresses some of the topics Kathy and Judy did. I cannot tolerate Gary Meier. Whoever is programming has lost a lot of listeners in Wisconsin. What a waste of air time/
Man, WGN must not want you to contact any of the talant. I fished around the site for 10 min without any luck. I guess I’m not smart enough to work for them. I do remember writting Judy of Cathy & Judy show…
and she wrote back to me in 1 day! Wow, the new WGN.
I agree with most of the comments, I have listened to gn for years first because that’s all my Dad would listen to and then because I grew into and I followed Spike here from the quads. Now Spike’s gone (makes me wonder if he was pushed out) you’re messing around with John Williams (that’s no good eventhough I like the time slot) The guy in the morning is okay Gary M isn’t growing on me and I have given him a listen, then this guy the News Junkie is terrible and hangs up on people so he can get the last word in and then insults people what a coward. I though gn had class but it is quickly dwindling and so is my listening what’s next are you giving up the Cubs! We don’t need another loud, obnoxious radio station. And what you did to Kathy and Judy was totally class-less. Somebody is definitely not thinking.
Agree with most comments. No longer listen to WGN all day, it is now just another Chicago talk station. I do listen (for now) to John Williams, but he too is getting too politically opinionated. Where can we go to just listen to enjoyable talking topics???
We live in Wisconsin and love listening to Gary Meier. WGN keep him and pay him well.
My family and I have always enjoyed the quality talk shows on WGN Radio which has always taken the high road.
But todays Gary Miers show was sick, sick, sick, which also atracted the sickos that called in and connected with this sick format about President Clinton and his return from North Korea. Mr Miers does not represent the family values of WGN
or its listeners. Bring back the likes of The Girls, Bobby and Spike and let us not forget Wally.
I HAVE BEEN A LOYAL LISTENER, GOING BACK TO WALLY PHILLIPS. I HAVE PUT UP WITH ALL THE DIFFERENT CHANGES. I LIKED JOHN WILLIAMS, I LIKED KATHY AND JUDY, BUT WHEN YOU PUT A FRENCH MEN ON MY STATION, I’M DONE.
THANKS FOR MANY YEARS OF ENJOYMENT, BUT ENOUGH IS ENOUGH
I now live in Washington,DC, where almost all radio is syndicated..Rush, Hannity, Levin, no real local feel. You never hear about events or great restaurants. WGN was the Heart & Soul of Chicago. They were a neighbor, a friend, Bob C. and Spike were your buddies, and you never worried about your mom or kids listening to what WGN people said. I also love the Cubs, but CUBS TRADITION, not any specific player..except Ernie. They come and go, now just like WGN talent.
Sorry but when garry Meier (yuk) comes on at 1pm–guess what–bye bye WGN–
I must be the only person who did not know who Gary Meier is. Gees – I love your wit – on going never ending comments – the way you just keep on talking – its like you never take a breath – so funny. I know my son Bill listens to you – and sure it makes his day cause when we talk on phone during the week will bring up some of your comments -especially about the weather. Oh so funny – don’t change your way – it keeps this 69 years young women going in the afternoon. I also love your voice – its so sassy and sexy. Like having hot flashes – lol
I’ve given it a try, I thought it was a matter of getting used to, but I can no longer listen to WGN in the morning. GM isn’t personable – it doesn’t feel like you are listening to someone in the family or a friend anymore. GM is continually touting himself – where he’s been, who he knows, who he has had dinner with and just the other day – ending a conversation with one of his friends “meet you at so-and-so restaurant at the booth with my name on it”.
I’m not impressed with his arrogance.
WGN is changing – it is now trying to be one of the crowded list of stations that yell, complain, are crass, deride other people, etc. I always listed to WGN because they were different. Everything always had a positive twist to it – something we desparately need in this world.
I like Gary’s dry sense of humor. He always makes
laugh even when I feel down. His voice is fine with
me and is quite pleasant to listen to. I have enjoyed his show with Dahl and Con as well. Best
wishes Gary. PS He is around my age as well,
and I am a female for those wondering.
We don’t get your daytime talk shows here in Southern Ohio. But, we LOVE Steve and Johnnie all night. I have to work to stay awake for them but, I do manage to hear part of their show most every night. Being a product of the fifties, I enjoyed their tributes to Les Paul recently when he died. Don’t ever let go of Steve and Johnnie–no more than a week or two in Panama City, Fla., every year.!
gary and his ? elton john? (lol) there just like mancow and turd :]- lol