Radio's Roeper Tries TV Game Host Role

Richard Roeper’s on top of his game

You’d think that being the star columnist for a daily newspaper, the co-host of a top-rated radio talk show, and a movie critic whose reviews are seen by millions on cable and online would be more than enough work for anyone, writes Robert Feder at chicagotimeout.com.

Unless you’re talking about Richard Roeper.

In addition to juggling all of the above, the 51-year-old Chicago media icon has set his sights on yet another role: game show host. Roeper recently produced and hosted a pilot for a TV quiz show in which teams of ordinary moviegoers compete for prizes — ranging from giant tins of popcorn to trips to Hollywood red-carpet premieres — by answering film-related questions. (Sample query: “In which movie did Harry Potter share his first romantic kiss?”)

Holding down multiple jobs is nothing new for the south suburban Dolton native, who’s been an award-winning columnist at the Chicago Sun-Times since 1987. A three-year contract renewal last fall paved the way for Roeper’s column to hit the 25th anniversary mark, which would be a noteworthy achievement for any newspaperman these days.

That deal came on the heels of his radio partnership with Roe Conn on news/talk WLS-AM (890), where they hold forth from 2 to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. Michael Damsky, president and general manager of the Citadel Broadcasting station, calls Roeper’s hiring “the single most important programming change we have made in the past year,” and points to an 83 percent increase in year-to-year ratings since “Roe & Roeper” rejuvenated afternoon drive.

“Richard brings out the best in Roe, and vice versa,” adds Damsky. “When you hear them together, it is easy to understand why they’re the most listened-to talk show on Chicago radio.”

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