WLS Clears air, dumps Mancow and Cassidy

Duo wrong fit, management says; Cotto to split with Conn, fill slot

BY LEWIS LAZARE Sun-Times Columnist

Without warning, the boom was lowered on midmorning co-hosts Mancow Muller and Pat Cassidy and their show at news/talk WLS-AM (890) Wednesday.

Station management said the show did not fit the expectations of WLS listeners. Cisco Cotto, who was Roe Conn’s co-host on the afternoon drive show at WLS-AM for only a few weeks, will take over the 9 to 11 a.m. slot formerly filled by Muller and Cassidy, effective today. Muller and Cassidy did not return calls seeking comment. Muller came to WLS-AM in October 2008 after being off the air in Chicago for more than two years. Cassidy joined the station in August 2008.

Since Michael Damsky took the reins as general manager last month, he has been on a fast-paced crusade to remake the station and turn around its lackluster performance in the monthly Arbitron ratings report. The station ranked a disappointing 25th overall among adults 25 to 54 in the most recent ratings book.

WLS Clears air, dumps Mancow and Cassidy :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: Lewis Lazare