Wendy Snyder and Ramblin' Ray Stevens
Robservations on the media beat:
Wendy Snyder and Ramblin' Ray Stevens, two of the most likable personalities on Chicago radio, are getting their own weekly show on WLS 890-AM. Starting this weekend, "The Wendy and Ray Show" will air from 5 to 7 p.m. Saturdays on the Cumulus Media news/talk station. They've been co-hosting a podcast since Snyder's former partner, Bill Leff, left to focus on TV work. "After many years of seeing each other at concerts and charity events Wendy and I finally get a chance to work together," Stevens told me. "The weekend show on WLS AM 890 will be hyper local and will cover everything from block parties to the Bears. This is a true Chicago show hosted by two lifelong Chicagoans. As Chicago opens back up, we want to be there as you get ready for your Saturday night. Chicago needs a little fun on the radio and we hope to provide."
Zoraida Sambolin
No one knows when she'll return, but Zoraida Sambolin is on indefinite leave of absence as morning news anchor at NBC-owned WMAQ-Channel 5. Her last appearance on the air was May 27. Station officials won't say why Sambolin is away, and Sambolin did not respond to a request for comment. Except for a two-year stint with CNN in New York, Sambolin has been the face of morning news at NBC 5 since 2007. She began as a free-lance weekend news anchor there in 2002.
Dan Hampton
Former Chicago Bears Dan Hampton and Ed O’Bradovich will return as co-hosts of "The Hamp and OB Show" on Nexstar Media Group news/talk WGN 720-AM. Via agent Bryan Harlan, the agreement calls for the show to air weekly during the 2021-22 football season. “We’re thrilled to have these two Bears greats back with us for another season to provide their unique brand of analysis," said WGN sports director Dave Eanet. "Bears fans know Hamp and OB won’t hold back. Now the Bears have their quarterback of the future, and we still have the best guys to talk about it."
Ben Bradley
Funny business: In 2017 Ben Bradley joined Nexstar Media Group WGN-Channel 9 after 14 years at ABC-owned WLS-Channel 7. On Monday, while filling in for Larry Potash as co-anchor of "WGN Morning News," Bradley revealed the five key differences between working for the two stations. (Here is the link.) Among the differences he cited: "Here you can call your co-anchor anything you want."
Monday’s comment of the day: Mike Braden: If you're not reading Charlie Meyerson's "Chicago Public Square" every day, you should. Well-written, super simple to navigate and a lot of information in a compact package. Here's hoping "Chicago Media Talks" is another success - I wouldn't bet against it.