WGN Fires Metheny, Laski

Kevin Metheny, the WGN-AM 720 program director whose abrupt moves to grow the audience grew a well of resentment among some long-time listeners, is leaving the station along with his most controversial hire, former convicted Chicago City Clerk Jim Laski.

Phil Rosenthal at The Chicago Tribune writes the station said Thursday a series of hosts will fill in for Laski, whose show airs weeknights at 7 when not preempted by sports play-by-play, until a new show is announced. Newsman Steve Betrand is set to be the first substitute.

"The next step in the station’s evolution is the development of a show from 7 (to) 10 p.m. that best complements the rest of our evening programming—something on which we will be very focused going forward," Tom Langmyer, the station's vice president and general manager since 2005, said in a statement.

"Our goal is to continue developing engaging and relevant programming, while still keeping the hometown connection that Chicagoans have come to identify with WGN radio."

Metheny's exit, after 23 tumultuous months in the job, comes less than three weeks after the resignation of long-time radio executive Randy Michaels as chief executive Tribune Co., parent of WGN-AM as well as the Chicago Tribune. Metheny had enjoyed the backing of Michaels, who installed him in Chicago.

Read more here.