* I didn’t always agree with them, I intensely disliked the way they fawned over Rod Blagojevich, but, man, I hate to see anybody get sick like this…
Veteran radio star Don Wade and his wife and radio partner, Roma, are stepping down from their morning show to focus on Wade’s health, the couple announced Thursday.
Wade, 71, has been battling brain cancer. The couple went off the air from their WLS-AM (890) show three months ago when he started undergoing treatment for the brain tumor.
Love them or not, they were an institution and more often than not a whole lot of fun to listen to. Sad times.
* Proft will keep his gig…
Bruce Wolf and Dan Proft, who had been filling in for the Wades, will continue as hosts of the 5 a.m. to 9 a.m. morning show, according to a statement released by Cumulus Media.
“We are pleased to pass the morning show gauntlet to two of our favorite WLS hosts: Dan Proft who was a regular feature on our show [“Pundit” and “Fundit”] long before he ran for governor, and crazy Bruce Wolf who brings the perfect balance to start your day on WLS,” the couple said. “We like to think we hand-picked our great replacements. They are terrific!”
I want you to be very careful in comments here. Be respectful or I’ll ban you. I mean it.
LIVE session coverage...
- Huggybunny - Friday, Dec 14, 12 @ 10:36 am:
I listened to them every morning driving into work, I didn’t always agree with them either, but respected their points of view. They are an entertaining couple, and will be missed I’m sure. Wish them both the best.
- just sayin' - Friday, Dec 14, 12 @ 10:52 am:
Don & Roma’s show just got too superficial. But I know they are good people. I wish them the best.
Bruce Wolf is good and would be better by himself. Can’t listen with Proft. For anyone who knows anything about Proft and his Cicero history, the show is a cynical joke. Plus the guy is smug and humorless. Beyond some gullible rubes, I can’t imagine who listens.
- siriusly - Friday, Dec 14, 12 @ 11:08 am:
Sad news. I think I listened one time when they interviewed The Speaker. Can I be remembering that accurately?
As seldom as I listened, I am sad to see them go.
Almost anyone would be a better replacement than Dan Proft & Bruce Wolf. Those two are about as credible on politics as Alan Keyes and about as paranoid and delusional John Kass.
- Pot calling kettle - Friday, Dec 14, 12 @ 11:21 am:
I quit listening to WLS when they went to all talk. I miss the days of Lujack, Serrot, & Landecker. (I know, I know, I’m dating myself.) Ah, for the days of listening to AM top 40 radio…
- RedLeg - Friday, Dec 14, 12 @ 11:29 am:
- Pot calling kettle - Friday, Dec 14, 12 @ 11:21 am:
I quit listening to WLS when they went to all talk. I miss the days of Lujack, Serrot, & Landecker. (I know, I know, I’m dating myself.) Ah, for the days of listening to AM top 40 radio…
Amen to that Pot. Please add Fred Winston and Les Grobstein to your list.
- dupage dan - Friday, Dec 14, 12 @ 11:39 am:
I also couldn’t understand the whole RodB thing with DW&R.
Bring back Animal Stories & Li’l Tommy!
Best wishes to both Don & Roma.
- Just sayin' - Friday, Dec 14, 12 @ 11:43 am:
It’s the “Blagojevich Curse”, but I still wish Don a speedy recovery and great retirement for both.
- Boone Logan Square - Friday, Dec 14, 12 @ 12:36 pm:
I don’t have much ideology in common with him, but Bruce Wolf is a very talented broadcaster. Chet Chitchat is one of the more inspired developments in local broadcasting over the past 40 years.
- Jake From Elwood - Friday, Dec 14, 12 @ 12:58 pm:
Good luck and Godspeed to Don Wade, Roma and their family. A family member just died from brain cancer last month so I can definitely relate.
Cancer does not discriminate.
- Cheswick - Friday, Dec 14, 12 @ 1:14 pm:
I think I heard Don and Roma’s first show on WLS. It was a lot different back then. Good luck Don.
I, too, was a faithful listener of Lujack, Serrot, & Landecker… Fred Winston and Les Grobstein. And Yvonne Daniels (RIP) and Katherine Johns. Those were radio days.
- reformer - Friday, Dec 14, 12 @ 1:31 pm:
Don is a rigid conservative idealogue, so Dan is a suitable replacement.
- Wensicia - Friday, Dec 14, 12 @ 2:02 pm:
I lost my husband a year ago to a very aggressive form of cancer he didn’t know he had until days before his death.
I can deeply sympathize with both of them.
- mokenavince - Friday, Dec 14, 12 @ 2:24 pm:
I didn’t agree with many things Don said and I know alot of it was stick. But he was always up front and honest. You don’t find my people like him anymore.I wish him nothing but good luck and I will say a prayer for him. He is one of a kind.
- Gene - Friday, Dec 14, 12 @ 3:17 pm:
We wish Don Wade and Roma all the best.
Thanks for the early am drive time shows too.
Gene & Michelle
Park Ridge
USA
- Gene - Friday, Dec 14, 12 @ 3:20 pm:
Now my comment on Dan P.
A little too arrogant.
Calm is down danger Dan.
And please stop with the pro
gun commercials too.
Thank you.
Lt. G. Spanos
Ret. RPS 72/95
Past Board Member
Cook County Peace Officers Memorial Foundation
Past Conterpart U.S. Secret Service - Chgo Field office
- John Galt - Friday, Dec 14, 12 @ 3:38 pm:
Sad to see Don Wade & Roma off the air officially. The end of an era.
I enjoy Bruce & Dan tremendously. I like the schtick of Dan as straight man to Bruce’s comic antics, although Bruce can get on my nerves when he’s trying *too* hard at times. Of course, I am a right-of-center guy, but WLS crafts it’s listening audience to that demographic anyway.
Yes Dan can be dour, and he is a conservative ideologue. I don’t think he has an incredibly realistic view on Springfield mechanics, but he is an eloquent voice for the conservative point of view. Yes, his involvement in Cicero tarnishes that purist conservative brand he’s adapting now. But in the end, this is entertainment. I think Proft was born for this platform and it fits him much better than coming in dead-last in the governor’s race yet again in 2014.
Sad to see Don Wade & Roma go though. Having that long of a run in the drive-time slot in a major media market like Chicago is quite an accomplishment. Even if you didn’t care for their particular show, it does show the talent they had and their professional chops to pull that off day in and day out for such a long stretch.
Godspeed.
- too obvious - Friday, Dec 14, 12 @ 4:02 pm:
Thanks to John Kass, Dan Proft is only the second most boring voice on WLS.
- dupage dan - Friday, Dec 14, 12 @ 4:38 pm:
Often I am only responding to words and a nickname. Then I hear from a regular poster and am reminded, appropriately, that I am speaking to my fellow citizens. I am sorry for your loss, Wensicia.
- Anonymous - Monday, Dec 17, 12 @ 7:42 pm:
I love Don’s website and I’m paraphrasing here….”I’ve never had a real job in my life.” Sad to hear about the illness but he’s part of the Hannity Limbaugh line of easy living: making millions of dollars for no work.
- john r - Tuesday, Dec 18, 12 @ 8:06 am:
Best of luck to to Don & Roma.
I have really enjoyed Bruce & Dan since they were fill-ins on WLS. I was thrilled when I heard they had been awarded a regular slot.
As to tbe comments of other’s, I think Dan is the perfect foil/straightman for Bruce’s style of nonsense. Bruce without a partner just wouldn’t work very well.
- rbatts - Friday, Dec 21, 12 @ 4:34 pm:
Will miss Don and Roma, long time fan. Hope Dan and Bruce can lightn up a bit. Can we never find or see common ground with Obama, every day negative gets trying.