BOMBSHELL: Eddie & JoBo Exit B96
Long-time Chicago morning duo Eddie & JoBo have been released from CBS’ B96 today.
Rosenthal here. Radio & Records here. CBS2 here. Lazare here.
Here is the report from All Access:
Shocker! ALL ACCESS has confirmed that longtime CBS Top 40/Rhythmic WBBM-F (B96)/CHICAGO morning duo EDDIE & JO BO are out, as well as co-host ERICA COBB.
B96 PD TODD CAVANAH told ALL ACCESS, “We celebrate EDDIE & JO BO’s nearly two decades of great entertainment and service. We will miss them and it’s time for B96 to move in a new direction. We are looking at several options and hope to have something to announce sooner than later.”
CAVANAH added that he’s still accepting packages at cavanat@wbbm-fm.com, and that mornings will be filled on an interim basis by middayer J NIICE thru end of the year, and that weekender REBECCA ORTIZ would handle middays temporarily.
The pairing of Eddie Volkman and Joe Bohannon began in 1988. Their first incarnation lasted until 1994 when they were let go after Joan Esposito filed a defamation lawsuit against them after the duo claimed that she had been impregnated by a member of the Chicago Bulls. They were re-hired in late 1996.
UPDATE: In the wake of the firing of Eddie & JoBo, crosstown rival KISS-FM is offering the duo a chance to say goodbye to their fans, according to a report in All Access:
Crosstown CLEAR CHANNEL Top 40 WKSC PD RICK VAUGHN called ALL ACCESS to say, “I am offering our airwaves for EDDIE & JOBO to say goodbye. They have been here for 20 years and and were not allowed this opportunity, and we just happen to have a really big transmitter.”
VAUGHN is in the process of formerly extending EDDIE & JOBO the invite.
that’s not cool there a staple in morning radio.i would drive over an hour and a half to work every morning.hearing them makes the drive,and day go alot smoother.they will be missed every morning hearing the jokes,and all the other antics is a way to get motived in the morning Thanks Rick long time listener of eddie & jobo
I cannot believe these two have been let go! I turned on the station this morning and was pretty darn shocked not to hear them. I’ve listened to them since 1988. I’ll listen to them where ever they go! Class-less on B96′s part.
Could not believe the news! I have also listened to them in the 80′s, then switched to Howard Stern for five years or so. When he went to Sirius, went back to E & J and have listened to them diligently since then. It’s a shame how B96 management let them go. But we all work in “Fire at Will” jobs so none of us are really safe if you think about it.
I hope they find another home somewhere, although chances of a gig here in Chicago are pretty slim. With the amount of money they have been making, maybe they should both consider early retirements and take it easy for once.
I tried Kiss FM’s DreX but I know I will never get used to his voice and mannerisms. Also Steve Dahl again, who I’ve also listened to before for years. He should also consider an early retirement himself along with Buzz Kilman. His show is now a bit tame and a tad boring.
I will really miss them and Erica in my daily morning trek to work.
I listen to Joe Bo, Eddie and Erica every morning, I was shocked to fimd out they ( B96) had let them go. My wife and I had been listening to eddie & Joe Bo since the eighties and with the addition of Erica it made for great morning entertainment. I am truly sorry to see them leave.
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