Nick Digilio
Encyclopedia
Nick Digilio is a movie critic and radio personality. He is the host of an award-winning radio program on WGN Radio
in Chicago
, and is a frequent fill-in host for WGN.
in Chicago, Illinois. He attended Luther North High School and graduated in 1983. He also attended Columbia College
where he studied film. He recently moved from the Andersonville and Albany Park
neighborhoods to the Old Irving Park neighborhood of Chicago. Digilio is a theater director and actor, and a former member of The Factory Theater. He is separated from his wife, Heather.
Show in 1985. His contributions to Roy's program led WGN Radio management to decide that he'd be a good permanent addition to the station. He soon became a regular on other WGN Radio programs including Steve King
and Johnnie Putman's program. He gained a reputation for his alternative and controversial play and movie reviews. For instance, he applauds the movies Critters
, Friday the 13th Part 5
, Joe Dirt
, and Freddy Got Fingered
, while he dislikes Ferris Bueller's Day Off
and The Dark Knight
. Digilio reviews all the new films on his own show.
is the best fast food item ever produced, and the fact that there actually once was vegetable flavored Jell-O
.
The current producer of The Nick Digilio Show is Craig, replacing Andy "The Count" Hermann. Mike "Broham" Stephen used to produce Digilio's Sunday night program. Craig currently manages the Nick D. Show Producer's Blog on the WGN Radio website.
; this analogy saddens Nick.
Nick is a fan of McDonald's
"Mac Wrap"
He enjoys doing celebrity impressions when appropriate, such as :
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
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...
, and is a frequent fill-in host for WGN.
Life
Digilio grew up about five blocks away from Wrigley FieldWrigley Field
Wrigley Field is a baseball stadium in Chicago, Illinois, United States that has served as the home ballpark of the Chicago Cubs since 1916. It was built in 1914 as Weeghman Park for the Chicago Federal League baseball team, the Chicago Whales...
in Chicago, Illinois. He attended Luther North High School and graduated in 1983. He also attended Columbia College
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...
where he studied film. He recently moved from the Andersonville and Albany Park
Albany Park, Chicago
Albany Park is one of 77 well-defined Chicago, Illinois, community areas on the Northwest Side of the City of Chicago. It includes the Albany Park neighborhood, one of the most ethnically diverse in the United States...
neighborhoods to the Old Irving Park neighborhood of Chicago. Digilio is a theater director and actor, and a former member of The Factory Theater. He is separated from his wife, Heather.
Early history at WGN
Digilio began reviewing movies on the WGN Roy LeonardRoy Leonard
Roy Leonard is a former American radio personality best known for hosting WGN's mid-day radio show from Chicago for 31 years and for his appearances on WGN-TV's news and Christmas specials. He also hosted Family Classics after Frazier Thomas died....
Show in 1985. His contributions to Roy's program led WGN Radio management to decide that he'd be a good permanent addition to the station. He soon became a regular on other WGN Radio programs including Steve King
Steve King (radio)
Steve King is a radio personality who has been heard on several different stations, almost all in the Chicago area. For more than 25 years, King and his wife, Johnnie Putman, have hosted on "The Steve and Johnnie Show" overnights on WGN....
and Johnnie Putman's program. He gained a reputation for his alternative and controversial play and movie reviews. For instance, he applauds the movies Critters
Critters (film series)
The Critters film series, from New Line Cinema, comprises four movies that combine elements of horror, science fiction and comedy. The first film, called simply Critters, was released in 1986 and received "two thumbs up" from Siskel and Ebert....
, Friday the 13th Part 5
Friday the 13th: A New Beginning
Friday the 13th: A New Beginning is a 1985 slasher film. It was released on March 22, 1985. It is the fifth film in the Friday the 13th film series...
, Joe Dirt
Joe Dirt
Joe Dirt is a 2001 American comedy film starring David Spade, Dennis Miller, Christopher Walken, Brian Thompson, Brittany Daniel, Jaime Pressly, Erik Per Sullivan, Adam Beach and Kid Rock. The film was written by Spade and Fred Wolf.-Plot:...
, and Freddy Got Fingered
Freddy Got Fingered
Freddy Got Fingered is a 2001 American comedy film directed, co-written by and starring Tom Green. Some of the scenes feature similar antics to those seen in his own The Tom Green Show and scenes in Road Trip. It is largely built around gross-out and shock humor...
, while he dislikes Ferris Bueller's Day Off
Ferris Bueller's Day Off
Ferris Bueller's Day Off is a 1986 American teen coming-of-age comedy film written and directed by John Hughes.The film follows high school senior Ferris Bueller , who decides to skip school and spend the day in downtown Chicago...
and The Dark Knight
The Dark Knight (film)
The Dark Knight is a 2008 superhero film directed, produced and co-written by Christopher Nolan. Based on the DC Comics character Batman, the film is part of Nolan's Batman film series and a sequel to 2005's Batman Begins...
. Digilio reviews all the new films on his own show.
Nick D. and Garry Lee and The Nick Digilio Show
For several years, Digilio co-hosted a weekend late-night radio program on WGN with Garry Lee Wright and on May 31, 1998, he began hosting his own program called Nick at Night - joined by Wright on Fridays. On February 10, 2006, Digilio's program's name was changed to 'The Nick Digilio Show' to correspond with a move from late-nights to prime time on Saturday night and not-so-late nights on Friday and Sunday nights. The Nick Digilio Show can currently be heard on WGN Radio in Chicago (720 AM) where Digilio discusses popular culture, current events, all things Chicago, and other hot topics including why the Flavor Bowl from KFCKFC
KFC, founded and also known as Kentucky Fried Chicken, is a chain of fast food restaurants based in Louisville, Kentucky, in the United States. KFC has been a brand and operating segment, termed a concept of Yum! Brands since 1997 when that company was spun off from PepsiCo as Tricon Global...
is the best fast food item ever produced, and the fact that there actually once was vegetable flavored Jell-O
Jell-O
Jell-O is a brand name belonging to U.S.-based Kraft Foods for a number of gelatin desserts, including fruit gels, puddings and no-bake cream pies. The brand's popularity has led to it being used as a generic term for gelatin dessert across the U.S. and Canada....
.
The current producer of The Nick Digilio Show is Craig, replacing Andy "The Count" Hermann. Mike "Broham" Stephen used to produce Digilio's Sunday night program. Craig currently manages the Nick D. Show Producer's Blog on the WGN Radio website.
Aspects of the show
Listeners who have viewed some of Nick's photos on his WGN web page have compared his face to the late pitchmen, Billy MaysBilly Mays
William Darrell "Billy" Mays, Jr. was an American television direct-response advertisement salesperson most notable for promoting OxiClean, Orange Glo, and other cleaning, home-based, and maintenance products on the Home Shopping Network, and through his company, Mays Promotions, Inc...
; this analogy saddens Nick.
Nick is a fan of McDonald's
McDonald's
McDonald's Corporation is the world's largest chain of hamburger fast food restaurants, serving around 64 million customers daily in 119 countries. Headquartered in the United States, the company began in 1940 as a barbecue restaurant operated by the eponymous Richard and Maurice McDonald; in 1948...
"Mac Wrap"
He enjoys doing celebrity impressions when appropriate, such as :
- Redd Foxx'sRedd FoxxJohn Elroy Sanford , better known by his stage name Redd Foxx, was an American comedian and actor, best known for his starring role on the sitcom Sanford and Son.-Early life:...
character from Sanford and SonSanford and SonSanford and Son is an American sitcom, based on the BBC's Steptoe and Son, that ran on the NBC television network from January 14, 1972, to March 25, 1977.... - Bill CosbyBill CosbyWilliam Henry "Bill" Cosby, Jr. is an American comedian, actor, author, television producer, educator, musician and activist. A veteran stand-up performer, he got his start at various clubs, then landed a starring role in the 1960s action show, I Spy. He later starred in his own series, the...
- Jerry LewisJerry LewisJerry Lewis is an American comedian, actor, singer, film producer, screenwriter and film director. He is best known for his slapstick humor in film, television, stage and radio. He was originally paired up with Dean Martin in 1946, forming the famed comedy team of Martin and Lewis...
- Harry CarayHarry CarayHarry Caray, born Harry Christopher Carabina, was an American baseball broadcaster on radio and television. He covered four Major League Baseball teams, beginning with a long tenure calling the games of the St...
- Ron SantoRon SantoRonald Edward Santo was an American professional baseball player and long-time radio sports commentator. He played in Major League Baseball from 1960 to 1974, most notably as the third baseman for the Chicago Cubs. A nine-time All-Star, he was a powerful hitter who was also a good defensive...
- Former Chicago mayor Richard M. DaleyRichard M. DaleyRichard Michael Daley is a United States politician, member of the national and local Democratic Party, and former Mayor of Chicago, Illinois. He was elected mayor in 1989 and reelected in 1991, 1995, 1999, 2003, and 2007. He was the longest serving Chicago mayor, surpassing the tenure of his...
Current and former radio segments
(Alphabetically)- "Anti-Valentine's Day"
- "Celebrity News/Gossip"
- "Drunks in the News" - Nick reads stories about drunks doing stupid, but funny things. Each week, there is one guest listener that reads one story.
- "Free For All" - callers talk about topic of their choice
- "Halloween Spooktacular Spectacular"
- "The John and Troy Highlight Reel" - a review of clips of the wacky things said during the radio coverage of Chicago BlackhawksChicago BlackhawksThe Chicago Blackhawks are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They have won four Stanley Cup championships since their founding in 1926, most recently coming in 2009-10...
hockey games. - "Nick D. Show Songs"
- "Nick D. Show Spies" - listeners submit clips of other shows on the station when they mention Nick's show.
- "The Pat and Keith Highlight Reel", previously known as "The Pat and Ron ShowPat and Ron ShowThe Pat and Ron Show was the nickname of the Chicago Cubs' radio broadcasts on WGN Radio 720 AM and the Cubs Radio Network from 1996 through 2010...
Highlight Reel" before Ron SantoRon SantoRonald Edward Santo was an American professional baseball player and long-time radio sports commentator. He played in Major League Baseball from 1960 to 1974, most notably as the third baseman for the Chicago Cubs. A nine-time All-Star, he was a powerful hitter who was also a good defensive...
's death - a review of clips of the wacky things said during the radio coverage of Chicago CubsChicago CubsThe Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
baseball games. - "Paula Cooper's Rock Alert"
- "Straight Out of Context" - listeners submit clips of things that people on the station say that may sound dirty if taken out of context.
- "The Secret History of Chicago Music"
- "The Three's CompanyThree's CompanyThree's Company is an American sitcom that aired from March 15, 1977, to September 18, 1984, on ABC. It is based on the British sitcom, Man About the House....
Throwdown" - a trivia contest that featured former show producer Andy Hermann whose obsession with and encyclopedic knowledge of Three's Company is, frankly, frightening. - "The Wisdom of Keith RichardsKeith RichardsKeith Richards is an English musician, songwriter, and founding member of the Rolling Stones. Rolling Stone magazine said Richards had created "rock's greatest single body of riffs", and placed him as the "10th greatest guitarist of all time." Fourteen songs written by Richards and songwriting...
" - funny excerpts from Richards' book, Stone Me: The Wit and Wisdom of Keith Richards - "The Wisdom of Ted NugentTed NugentTheodore Anthony "Ted" Nugent is an American guitarist, musician, singer, author, reserve police officer, and activist. From Detroit, Michigan, he originally gained fame as the lead guitarist of The Amboy Dukes, before embarking on a lengthy solo career...
" - funny excerpts from Nugent's book, Ted, White, and Blue: The Nugent Manifesto - "The Wisdom of Gene SimmonsGene SimmonsGene Simmons is an Israeli-American entrepreneur, singer-songwriter, actor, and rock bassist. Known as "The Demon", he is the bassist/vocalist of Kiss, a hard rock band he co-founded in the early 1970s.-Early life:...
" - funny excerpts from Simmons's mouth. - "The Wisdom of Paul StanleyPaul StanleyStanley Harvey Eisen , better known by his stage name Paul Stanley, is an American hard rock guitarist, singer, musician, painter and songwriter best known for being the rhythm guitarist and primary lead vocalist of the rock band Kiss. He is the writer or co-writer of many of the band's...
" - funny excerpts from Stanley at concerts. - "The Wisdom of Gary BuseyGary BuseyWilliam Gary Busey , best known as Gary Busey, is an American film and stage actor and artist. He has appeared in a large variety of films, as well as making regular appearances on Gunsmoke, Walker, Texas Ranger, Law & Order, and Entourage...
" - funny and odd comments from the mouth of Gary Busey. - "TwitterTwitterTwitter is an online social networking and microblogging service that enables its users to send and read text-based posts of up to 140 characters, informally known as "tweets".Twitter was created in March 2006 by Jack Dorsey and launched that July...
Topic" - Fans post a topic on the social networking site TwitterTwitterTwitter is an online social networking and microblogging service that enables its users to send and read text-based posts of up to 140 characters, informally known as "tweets".Twitter was created in March 2006 by Jack Dorsey and launched that July...
and Digilio will pick one and talk about it the first half hour of his Friday night show - "Unnecessary Censorship" Listener generated submissions which involve Nick's clean conversations and are turned into dirty conversations by using the *bleep* sound.
- Yahoo!Yahoo!Yahoo! Inc. is an American multinational internet corporation headquartered in Sunnyvale, California, United States. The company is perhaps best known for its web portal, search engine , Yahoo! Directory, Yahoo! Mail, Yahoo! News, Yahoo! Groups, Yahoo! Answers, advertising, online mapping ,...
Trending Now and GoogleGoogleGoogle Inc. is an American multinational public corporation invested in Internet search, cloud computing, and advertising technologies. Google hosts and develops a number of Internet-based services and products, and generates profit primarily from advertising through its AdWords program...
Hot Searches - Nick reads the top 10 on those lists and gets help from listeners on who some people are and/or why they are on the list. He formerly read the Yahoo!Yahoo!Yahoo! Inc. is an American multinational internet corporation headquartered in Sunnyvale, California, United States. The company is perhaps best known for its web portal, search engine , Yahoo! Directory, Yahoo! Mail, Yahoo! News, Yahoo! Groups, Yahoo! Answers, advertising, online mapping ,...
Buzz Search listings until it was discontinued in 2011.
Frequent callers and contributors
- Larry from AuroraAurora, IllinoisAurora is the second most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois, and the 112th largest city in the United States. A suburb of Chicago, located west of the Loop, its population in 2010 was 197,899. Originally founded within Kane County, Aurora's city limits have expanded greatly over the past...
- Larry, a former professional wrestler, has an uncanny ability of calling Digilio whenever he is on the air - Phil from StickneyStickney, IllinoisStickney is a village in Cook County, Illinois, United States. The population was 6,148 at the 2000 census. It was well known in the 1920s and early 1930s as the home for several bordellos linked to mobster Al Capone's empire....
- Natural Mike and his male nurse
- Steve KrakowPlastic CrimewavePlastic Crimewave , otherwise known as Steve Kraków, is a Chicago-based illustrator and writer, avant-garde musician, music historian and impresario. He is the editor of Drag City-published magazine Galactic Zoo Dossier, eponymous frontman for Plastic Crimewave Sound, founder of the Million Tongues...
- frequently calls in for his "Secret History of Chicago Music" segment - Lazer - a frequent contributor to the "Pat and Ron ShowPat and Ron ShowThe Pat and Ron Show was the nickname of the Chicago Cubs' radio broadcasts on WGN Radio 720 AM and the Cubs Radio Network from 1996 through 2010...
Highlight Reel" - Ryan from LakeviewLakeview, ChicagoLake View, or Lakeview, is one of the 77 community area of the Chicago, Illinois, located in the city's North Side. It is bordered by West Diversey Parkway on the south, West Irving Park Road on the north, North Ravenswood Avenue on the west, and the shore of Lake Michigan on the east...
- occasional contributor to the Nick D. Show Songs and the Pat & Ron Highlight Reel Songs - Mike from Portage ParkPortage Park, ChicagoPortage Park is located on the northwest side of the City of Chicago, Illinois and is one of 77 officially designated Chicago community areas. Portage Park is bordered by the community areas of Jefferson Park and Forest Glen to the north, Dunning and the suburb of Harwood Heights to the west,...
- Gov from the South Side of ChicagoChicagoChicago 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...
- Nick Jr. - young fan of the show, showed up in front of the showcase studio as Nick Digilio for Halloween
- Lemont from Park ForestPark Forest, IllinoisPark Forest is a village located south of Chicago in Cook County and Will County, Illinois, United States. As of the 2000 census, the village had a total population of 23,462...
- TFCreate - ChicagoChicagoChicago 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...
Area Multimedia consultant and commercial photographer (semi-retired) - Doug the Nutjob from Minnesota
- Dirty Dave
Running jokes
- Digilio frequently plays a recording of Keri RussellKeri RussellKeri Lynn Russell is an American actress and dancer. After appearing in a number of made-for-television films and series during the mid-1990s, she came to fame for portraying the title role of Felicity Porter on the series Felicity, which ran from 1998 to 2002, and for which she won a Golden Globe...
, who was on Spike O'DellSpike O'DellWilliam O'Dell a native of East Moline, Illinois, is a former radio host for WGN Radio in Chicago, Illinois. He joined WGN in 1987 and hosted the afternoon show until 2000, when he took over for the late Bob Collins in the morning slot from 5 to 9 a.m. During the time O'Dell held that slot, his...
's show, saying "Hi, I'm Keri Russell and I LOOOOOOOOVE Nick's radio show!" - Digilio frequently mentions Liam NeesonLiam NeesonLiam John Neeson, OBE is an Irish actor who has been nominated for an Oscar, a BAFTA and three Golden Globe Awards.He has starred in a number of notable roles including Oskar Schindler in Schindler's List, Michael Collins in Michael Collins, Peyton Westlake in Darkman, Jean Valjean in Les...
needing to throat punch someone. - In response to things Digilio or the staff might like, radio-appropriate clips of Christian BaleChristian BaleChristian Charles Philip Bale is an English actor. Best known for his roles in American films, Bale has starred in both big budget Hollywood films and the smaller projects from independent producers and art houses....
's on-set Terminator: Salvation rant against the director of photography on the film are played, especially the quote "Ooooh, good for you!!". - Digilio frequently asserts that every segment of his show will "make your pants fall off", which annoys some listeners.
- Incredibly frequent use of reverb while broadcasting.
- Digilio constantly plays back McDonald's "Filet-O-Fish" commercial and is obsessed with it.
- Purposely calling Jewel-Osco "The Jewels" which annoys some listeners.
- Purposely mispronouncing the names of celebrities, such as:
- M. Night ShamalamadingdongM. Night ShyamalanManoj Nelliyattu Shyamalan,known professionally as M. Night Shyamalan, is an Indian-born American screenwriter, film director, and producer known for making movies with contemporary supernatural plots that climax with a twist ending. He is also known for filming his movies in and around...
- Hayden PantatoopyHayden PanettiereHayden Leslie Panettiere is an American actress and singer, best known as cheerleader Claire Bennet on the NBC television series Heroes. She began her acting career by playing Sarah Roberts on One Life to Live , and Lizzie Spaulding on Guiding Light , before starring at age 10 as Sheryl Yoast in...
- Shia LaBoofShia LaBeoufShia Saide LaBeouf is an American actor who became known among younger audiences for his part in the Disney Channel series Even Stevens and made his film debut in Holes . In 2007, he starred as the leads in Disturbia and Transformers...