Roe Conn - Career

Career

Roe's first radio gig was Saturday overnights on WDUB in Granville, Ohio. Returning to Chicago after graduating from college he worked fill-in duties at WLUW, starting in August 1986. He then was the producer for Don Vogel on WMAQ (AM) and Walter Jacobson at WBBM-TV. On August 27, 1989 Conn debuted a Sunday morning radio show at WLS (AM). Conn maintains that his performance went poorly, but that the program director ordered the show be continued after confusing Conn with another host.

He received his first national exposure for his daily roundup of the O.J. Simpson trial. After that, he continued to host his regular show on WLS (AM). Eventually he teamed up with Garry Meier to cohost the highly successful Roe & Garry Show. In 2004, amid an impasse in contract negotiations with the station, Meier did not renew his contract with WLS. Roe then became the sole host of the show, which also featured Jim Johnson and Christina Filiaggi. Many praise Roe Conn for having a good sense of humor and for being skilled at articulating his thoughts. In the spring 2006 ratings period, The Roe Conn Show became Chicago’s most listened-to radio talk show among adults.

On March 27, 2009, Conn announced on his WLS-AM radio show a new, parallel endeavor called "The Roe Report." The Roe Report was a nationally syndicated daily news/commentary segment initially airing in New York (WABC), Los Angeles (KABC) and Chicago (WLS-AM), filling the void left by the death of Paul Harvey. The final "Roe Report" aired October 29, 2010. A reason for ending the Report was not cited.

On May 8, 2009, it was announced on the show that longtime associate Christina Filiaggi had been once more laid off by station management, and would be replaced by Chicago area newscaster Amy Jacobson the following week; however, after a change in management, she returned for the third time on March 26, 2010.

On May 29, 2009, it was announced on the air that Bill Leff had been laid off by corporate management. Roe and Leff had often joked on the air about the similarity of their voices.

On January 11, 2010, The Roe Conn Show became Roe and Cisco, as Cisco Cotto was introduced as the new cohost of the WLS afternoon show with Roe Conn. Also, Amy Jacobson was removed from her position doing traffic and weather for the show and daily appearances by WLS-TV anchor Ron Magers ceased, although Magers returned to the 3 p.m. hour on February 9, 2010. The following day the show became The Roe Conn Show again with the announcement that Cisco Cotto was leaving to host his own show on WLS from 9 to 11 a.m.

On April 12, 2010, Richard Roeper became Roe's new on-air partner, and the show was rebranded The Roe Conn Show with Richard Roeper.