Out of the bubble: WGN sending Johnny B. upstairs

Jonathon Brandmeier

So Johnny B. won’t be the boy in the bubble anymore?

When Tribune Co. announced plans last week to lease the space occupied by news/talk WGN-AM (720) to a restaurant, it was widely assumed that Jonathon Brandmeier would continue to host his morning show every day from the station’s showcase studio on the ground floor of Tribune Tower.

But now comes word from the man himself that he won’t be occupying the Michigan Avenue fishbowl once the build-out on the seventh floor is complete.

“The showcase studio is going to stay, but I’m going. I’m going upstairs,” Brandmeier told WGN listeners, relaying a conversation with his bosses. “I said, ‘Wait a minute, what’s going on?’ They go, ‘You’re going to be upstairs . . . Everybody’s going to stay downstairs but you.’  Oh, OK. Does that make sense?”

Well, it's not quite as simple as that, according to WGN program director Bill White.

"All of our regular shows will continue to emanate from the showcase studio, although in Jonathon’s case, he’ll use both the showcase studio and the new studio on the seventh floor, depending on what’s going on that morning — if he’s having a band, celebrity guests, etc. — and what fits best for this show that particular day," White said. "He’ll likely be in the seventh floor studio most of the time because the technical set-up will have more of the unique audio tools and equipment Jonathon needs to do the kind of show he does."

Although Brandmeier was known to prefer broadcasting in solitude — drawing curtains around his studio at previous stations to avoid distractions — he told me he’s been enjoying the change since he signed on at WGN December 9. Some of his funniest bits have involved interaction with passersby.

“I just started to get used to waving at people and talking at the same time in the bubble,” he said. “By the time I figure it out, I’ll have to get used to the new one.”

In other Brandmeier news, the WGN morning star has agreed to be Rick Kogan’s first guest for the February 2 season opener of Chicago Live! The weekly variety show, staged by the Chicago Tribune and recorded for airing on WGN, will originate from a new venue, The Second City’s Up Comedy Club at 230 West North Avenue in Old Town.

“When Rick Kogan asks, I say yes,” Brandmeier told me. “I think that he does a heck of job with that program, and I’m looking forward to it.”

For ticket information, see chicagolive.com.