Dean Richards (reporter)
Encyclopedia
Dean Richards is a Chicago
film critic and entertainment reporter for WGN-TV
and a longtime radio host for WGN (AM)
in Chicago.
and West Beverly neighborhoods, Richards graduated from Columbia College Chicago
. He is of Greek
and Palestinian
descent.
), WMRO and WAUR, Aurora; WFYR (now WKSC-FM), WCFL (now WMVP
), WIND (AM)
and WCLR. In 1984, he also did voiceover work for WPWR-TV Channel 60. From 1985 until 1990, he doubled as operations manager and morning host at the Satellite Music Network
, which was based in Chicago's southwest suburbs.
In 1990, Richards joined WNUA
-FM in Chicago as a weekend and substitute radio host. In May 1991, Richards remained at WNUA, but took a job as a staff announcer at WGN-TV
.
In July 1991, Richards was promoted to become WNUA's morning host after its previous morning host, Yvonne Daniels, died. In the summer of 1994, Richards' contract was not renewed at WNUA. Almost immediately after leaving WNUA, Richards became a fill-in radio host at WGN (AM)
in Chicago. In December 1994, the station gave him a Sunday afternoon program of his own.
In the spring of 1995, Richards was promoted to become WGN's production director, primarily overseeing production of radio commercials. By October 1995, Richards was given a Saturday afternoon shift at WGN as well.
In 1998, Richards successfully persuaded Chicago officials to rename a portion of Addison Street in Chicago near the WGN-TV
studios after Bob Bell
, who had played Bozo the Clown
on WGN-TV from 1960 until 1984.
In January 1999, Richards debuted as a Sunday morning radio host on WGN. In January 2000, Richards began delivering weekly theater reviews on noon newscasts WGN-TV
in Chicago. Richards is also a part of the regular rotation of hosts of Illinois Lottery drawings, which take place at the WGN-TV studios.
In 2001, Richards switched to delivering his weekly theater reviews on WGN-TV's morning newscasts. In 2004, Richards began covering show business for WGN-TV, including conducting hundreds of celebrity interviews. In January 2010, Richards' production duties were cut at WGN-AM radio.
via a remote feed about his new movie, Edge of Darkness, and then queried Gibson about how the public perceives him, given his noted drunken outburst and anti-Semitic rant while being arrested in 2006. The line of questioning annoyed Gibson, who told Richards, "That's almost four years ago, dude. I mean, I've moved on. I guess you haven't." After the interview, Gibson—unaware that the camera was still rolling and that he was still on air—took a sip of coffee and used the term "asshole," presumably directed at Richards. Gibson and his publicist both later claimed that the remark was directed at Gibson's publicist; a remark later proven false by insiders who were in the studio with Gibson at the time.
, a support organization for cancer survivors founded by Gene Wilder
, the husband of comedienne Gilda Radner
. Since the early 2000s he has given over one week of his radio show a year to support the organization and to share with and tell the stories of Gilda's Club members.
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
film critic and entertainment reporter for WGN-TV
WGN-TV
WGN-TV, virtual channel 9 , is the CW-affiliated television station in Chicago, Illinois built, signed on, and owned by the Tribune Company. WGN-TV's studios and offices are located at 2501 W...
and a longtime radio host for WGN (AM)
WGN (AM)
WGN is a radio station in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It is the only radio station owned by the Tribune Company, which also owns the flagship television station WGN-TV, the Chicago Tribune newspaper and Chicago magazine locally. WGN's transmitter is located in Elk Grove Village, Illinois...
in Chicago.
Early life and education
Now living on Chicago's northwest side, Richards is a native of Chicago's South ShoreSouth Shore, Chicago
South Shore is one of 77 well-defined community areas of the City of Chicago, Illinois in the United States. A predominately black neighborhood located along Chicago's southern lakefront, it is a relatively stable and gentrifying neighborhood...
and West Beverly neighborhoods, Richards graduated from Columbia College Chicago
Columbia College Chicago
Columbia College Chicago is one of the largest art colleges in the United States with nearly 12,000 students pursuing degrees within 120 undergraduate and graduate programs...
. He is of Greek
Greek American
Greek Americans are Americans of Greek descent also described as Hellenic descent. According to the 2007 U.S. Census Bureau estimation, there were 1,380,088 people of Greek ancestry in the United States, while the State Department mentions that around 3,000,000 Americans claim to be of Greek descent...
and Palestinian
Palestinian people
The Palestinian people, also referred to as Palestinians or Palestinian Arabs , are an Arabic-speaking people with origins in Palestine. Despite various wars and exoduses, roughly one third of the world's Palestinian population continues to reside in the area encompassing the West Bank, the Gaza...
descent.
Professional career
Richards began his career in radio in 1975, holding a variety of jobs in Chicago at stations like WLTD (now WCGOWCGO
WCGO was a radio station licensed to Chicago Heights, Illinois, USA on . The station is currently owned by Kovas Communications. WCGO went silent on April 10, 2009...
), WMRO and WAUR, Aurora; WFYR (now WKSC-FM), WCFL (now WMVP
WMVP
WMVP is the callsign of a commercial radio station in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It is owned by ABC. Its transmitter is located in Downers Grove. The station broadcasts live sports talk, both locally and nationally. Daily programming consists of talk shows that are both national and local...
), WIND (AM)
WIND (AM)
WIND "AM 560" is a radio station based in Chicago, Illinois, broadcasting its talk radio format on 560 kHz.Its current owner is Salem Media, a company specializing primarily in Christian radio...
and WCLR. In 1984, he also did voiceover work for WPWR-TV Channel 60. From 1985 until 1990, he doubled as operations manager and morning host at the Satellite Music Network
Satellite Music Network
Satellite Music Network was the first satellite delivered network to provide complete live 24-hour a day music programming to local stations, under several different formats...
, which was based in Chicago's southwest suburbs.
In 1990, Richards joined WNUA
WNUA
WNUA is a Spanish Pop radio station located in Chicago, Illinois, owned and operated by Clear Channel Communications and branded as Mega 95.5.-History:...
-FM in Chicago as a weekend and substitute radio host. In May 1991, Richards remained at WNUA, but took a job as a staff announcer at WGN-TV
WGN-TV
WGN-TV, virtual channel 9 , is the CW-affiliated television station in Chicago, Illinois built, signed on, and owned by the Tribune Company. WGN-TV's studios and offices are located at 2501 W...
.
In July 1991, Richards was promoted to become WNUA's morning host after its previous morning host, Yvonne Daniels, died. In the summer of 1994, Richards' contract was not renewed at WNUA. Almost immediately after leaving WNUA, Richards became a fill-in radio host at WGN (AM)
WGN (AM)
WGN is a radio station in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It is the only radio station owned by the Tribune Company, which also owns the flagship television station WGN-TV, the Chicago Tribune newspaper and Chicago magazine locally. WGN's transmitter is located in Elk Grove Village, Illinois...
in Chicago. In December 1994, the station gave him a Sunday afternoon program of his own.
In the spring of 1995, Richards was promoted to become WGN's production director, primarily overseeing production of radio commercials. By October 1995, Richards was given a Saturday afternoon shift at WGN as well.
In 1998, Richards successfully persuaded Chicago officials to rename a portion of Addison Street in Chicago near the WGN-TV
WGN-TV
WGN-TV, virtual channel 9 , is the CW-affiliated television station in Chicago, Illinois built, signed on, and owned by the Tribune Company. WGN-TV's studios and offices are located at 2501 W...
studios after Bob Bell
Bob Bell (actor)
Robert Lewis Bell , better known as Bob Bell, was famous for his alter-ego, Bozo the Clown. He was the original portrayer of the character for Chicago superstation WGN-TV.- Early life :...
, who had played Bozo the Clown
Bozo the Clown
Bozo the Clown is a clown character very popular in the United States, peaking in the 1960s as a result of widespread franchising in early television.Originally created by Alan W...
on WGN-TV from 1960 until 1984.
In January 1999, Richards debuted as a Sunday morning radio host on WGN. In January 2000, Richards began delivering weekly theater reviews on noon newscasts WGN-TV
WGN-TV
WGN-TV, virtual channel 9 , is the CW-affiliated television station in Chicago, Illinois built, signed on, and owned by the Tribune Company. WGN-TV's studios and offices are located at 2501 W...
in Chicago. Richards is also a part of the regular rotation of hosts of Illinois Lottery drawings, which take place at the WGN-TV studios.
In 2001, Richards switched to delivering his weekly theater reviews on WGN-TV's morning newscasts. In 2004, Richards began covering show business for WGN-TV, including conducting hundreds of celebrity interviews. In January 2010, Richards' production duties were cut at WGN-AM radio.
Mel Gibson incident
On January 29, 2010, WGN-TV aired an interview that Richards conducted with actor Mel GibsonMel Gibson
Mel Colm-Cille Gerard Gibson, AO is an American actor, film director, producer and screenwriter. Born in Peekskill, New York, Gibson moved with his parents to Sydney, Australia when he was 12 years old and later studied acting at the Australian National Institute of Dramatic Art.After appearing in...
via a remote feed about his new movie, Edge of Darkness, and then queried Gibson about how the public perceives him, given his noted drunken outburst and anti-Semitic rant while being arrested in 2006. The line of questioning annoyed Gibson, who told Richards, "That's almost four years ago, dude. I mean, I've moved on. I guess you haven't." After the interview, Gibson—unaware that the camera was still rolling and that he was still on air—took a sip of coffee and used the term "asshole," presumably directed at Richards. Gibson and his publicist both later claimed that the remark was directed at Gibson's publicist; a remark later proven false by insiders who were in the studio with Gibson at the time.
Awards
Since joining WGN-AM, Richards has won over 30 local and national awards for programming and production.Personal
In September 2007, Richards faced a cancer scare when he had his thyroid gland removed. Richards has been a long-time supporter of Gilda's ClubGilda's Club
Gilda's Club, named in tribute to the late comic actress Gilda Radner, who died of ovarian cancer in 1989, is a community meeting place for people living with cancer, their families and friends. There are 22 open clubhouses and nine in development in North America...
, a support organization for cancer survivors founded by Gene Wilder
Gene Wilder
Gene Wilder is an American stage and screen actor, director, screenwriter, and author.Wilder began his career on stage, making his screen debut in the film Bonnie and Clyde in 1967. His first major role was as Leopold Bloom in the 1968 film The Producers...
, the husband of comedienne Gilda Radner
Gilda Radner
Gilda Susan Radner was an American comedian and actress, best known as one of the original cast members of the NBC sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live, for which she won an Emmy Award in 1978.-Early life:...
. Since the early 2000s he has given over one week of his radio show a year to support the organization and to share with and tell the stories of Gilda's Club members.