Dave Plier

Chicago’s own Wayne Messmer joins WGN Radio’s Dave Plier to talk bout his one-man play, ’Father (Saint) Damien’ happening at Holy Name Cathedral on Sunday March 2, 2025. For tickets, visit Holynamecathedral.org.

WGN Radio’s Dave Plier shares his interview with author and historian Adam Selzer to talk about the fascinating yet little-known story of how Chicago served as the unlikely capital of American film production in the years before the rise of Hollywood (1907–1913), the rise and fall of the major Chicago movie studios in the mid-silent era (principally Essanay and Selig Polyscope), and the colorful, larger-than-life historical figures, including Thomas Edison, Charlie Chaplin, Oscar Micheaux, and Orson Welles.

WGN Radio’s Dave Plier welcomes WGN-TV’s Brhett Vickery to the WGN Radio Studios to talk about her first year at WGN, her new streaming show with Marcus Leshock on the WGN Plus app and wgntv.com called ‘What a Day!’, stories about her mom interning for Bob Sirott back in the day, her journey, her family and more!

Music legend Bill Medley from The Righteous Brothers joins WGN Radio’s Dave Plier to talk about his journey in music and his upcoming show at The Des Plaines Theatre on Saturday, March 1st, 2025. For tickets, visit desplainestheatre.com.

WGN Radio’s Dave Plier spends some time with comedian Jeff Ross, THE Roastmaster General about his comedic process, favorite roast jokes and his upcoming appearance at The Den Theatre in Chicago on March 7-9th, 2025. For tickets, visit thedentheatre.com.

Half a century after the drug-fueled, DJ-driven, glamour-drenched musical phenomenon of disco was born at a New York City loft party, disco’s musical and fashion influences live on in popular culture. WGN Radio’s Dave Plier talks to author Frank DeCaro about his new book Disco: Music, Movies, and Mania under the Mirror Ball — an entertaining, yet serious tribute to the overlooked art form of disco.

Steve Darnall, Editor-in-Chief of Nostalgia Digest Magazine, speaks with WGN Radio’s Dave Plier about the latest edition of Nostalgia Digest Magazine, featuring stories about film legend Lionel Barrymoore, Judy Holliday, the history of Pez and more. Steve & Dave also celebrate the 75th Anniversary of Jack Benny’s debut on television and his 131st birthday, which is on Valentine’s Day. For a subscription, visit nostalgiadigest.com.

WGN-TV Chief Meteorologist Demetrius Ivory hangs out with WGN Radio’s Dave Plier to talk about the snow moving into the area tonight and through the weekend, along with some spirited 90’s pop culture trivia.

WGN Radio’s Dave Plier talks to Jeff Rogers, jeffrogersunlimited.com, about this year’s commercials for Sunday’s Big Game featuring celebs, nostalgia and plenty of humor. Plus Dave and Jeff talk about the NEW Museum of Broadcast Communications online exhibit on the Top 20 Super Bowl Commercials of all time. To see the new exhibit, visit MUSEUM.TV.

Author and entertainment journalist Tripp Whetsell talks to WGN Radio’s Dave Plier about Norman Lear and his new biography about the seven-decade career of a TV icon who created the gold standard for television comedies, producing shows that were the first to give underrepresented members of society an authentic prime-time voice, while encouraging audiences to confront their own humanity and shortcomings.