Family guys: Ponce Brothers get tryout as talk show team on WLS

Could the first family of Chicago television be adding radio to its media dynasty?

Reporters Dan and Anthony Ponce (pictured above), the sons of veteran Chicago news anchor Phil Ponce, will make their debut as a talk show team Monday when they fill in for afternoon hosts Roe Conn and Richard Roeper on Citadel Broadcasting news/talk WLS-AM (890).

To make it happen, the Ponces first had to secure permission from their respective bosses at Tribune Co.-owned WGN-Channel 9, where Dan has been working as a general assignment reporter since last September, and NBC 5, where younger brother Anthony just renewed his contract after four years as a general assignment reporter. Dan previously spent three years as a reporter at ABC 7. 

Drew Hayes, operations director of WLS, said he thought it “should be fun” to hear the brothers on the air together as a Memorial Day treat. The show airs from 2 to 6pm.

While nothing is set beyond Monday’s pairing, the Ponces could be under consideration for the Saturday night slot at WLS vacated by Eddie Volkman (son of another famed Chicago broadcaster, meteorologist Harry Volkman) and Joe Bohannon, who left last March to join CBS Radio classic hits WJMK-FM (104.3) as morning personalities.

A second vacancy opened last week when Tom Roeser announced his retirement after 17 years at WLS. Saturday morning host Jake Hartford filled in during Roeser’s former 8-to-9pm slot last Sunday.

All appearances to the contrary, the Ponces insist they never set out to build a dynasty.

“Believe me, I’m not that good of a planner,” patriarch Phil Ponce, host of WTTW-Channel 11’sChicago Tonight, once told an interviewer. “This was not planned. It’s completely accidental and funny and great at the same time.”

(Photo by Nick Infusino)