Bob loved radio. And the people Bob liked listening to in the 60's were the WLS and later WCFL personalities. He listened to Dick Biondi and the other WLS jocks of the era.
Other than Biondi and Art Roberts, those guys didn't talk very much, or do too many special features---they made a name for themselves with a kind of quiet, warm, friendly approach that made listeners like them and feel like they knew them. Guys like Clark Weber had some sort of mysterious quality to their voices that pulled people right in. Later when Lujack burst on the scene, Bob was--along with many others, captivated by his groundbreaking "I hate this job and think this format is stupid" persona. His "inside" humor appealed to those interested in radio.
WQAMJim Stagg was one of Bob's favorites. He did a very formatic, tight music show in afternoon drive. He did an occasional interview with a rock star, but for the most part he just kept the format moving and only talked over the music, but from him Bob learned that if he used every second wisely, put some honesty and "soul" into what he was saying, and really "felt" the music, he could effectively make his mark.
Joel Sebastian was another great talent. He had a God-given beautiful, rich voice, but rather than come off as a sterile, unreal, mechanical announcer voice - he used his wit and warmth to captivate listeners. Bob paid attention, and he learned just by listening.
With John Landecker, St. Patty's Day '76.Bob's first real gig came at WMAQ when he got the job as an NBC page after hanging out in their studios occasionally. Officer Vic Petrolis, a kindly former Chicago cop who had been a traffic reporter on WLS in the early 60's was doing the same thing for WMAQ Radio.
WLS with Dick Clark in 1976
[ LISTEN ] (9:03)Sirott began his career in radio as a summer vacation fill-in disc jockey for WBBM-FM in 1971 before moving to WLS (AM) in 1973. He was a top disc jockey at WLS from 1973 until 1980. Sirott shifted to television in 1980, taking a job at WBBM-TV. After five years at WBBM, Sirott took a job with the CBS newsmagazine West 57th, although the network allowed him to remain based in Chicago.
During the 70's, Bob rarely listened to the lyrics to any song he played. He knew the first line and the last, but that was about it. Bob said, "Ask me about a record I introduced on the radio ten thousand times, and I probably couldn't recite more than two lines."
Sirott's 1st Show On WLS-AM June 8,1973.
[ LISTEN ] (16:56)
[ LISTEN ] (16:56)
Recorded live directly to a reel-to-reel tape by an old high school classmate of Sirott's. Featuring Bob's first ad libs, live reads, talk-ups, and more.
The nighttime "new guy," announces that overnight host Yvonne Daniels would be making her debut on WLS a little later in the evening. Newsman Don Hoover can also be heard...and also at WLS on April 12, 1975. [ LISTEN ] (13:45)
The nighttime "new guy," announces that overnight host Yvonne Daniels would be making her debut on WLS a little later in the evening. Newsman Don Hoover can also be heard...and also at WLS on April 12, 1975. [ LISTEN ] (13:45)
Bob was famous for his features "B.S." Love Counselor and Horoscopes.
Sirott left West 57th in 1988, telling the Chicago Sun-Times in an article that ran on December 22, 1987: If (West 57th) were more of a personality-oriented show, and if he (were able) to do some live things, he'd be able to withstand it longer.
Back at WLS Bob once persuaded Wolfman Jack to substitute for him while he was on vacation. According to Bob he turned out to be one of the nicest, most caring humans he ever met.
In March 1989, Sirott returned to Chicago's airwaves at WMAQ-TV as a noon news anchor and program host; the following year, he launched and was the co-anchor of WMAQ-TV's "First Thing in the Morning" along with Allison Rosati. After four years at WMAQ, he was fired in July 1993—for the first time in his career—after he and management had a difference of opinion over his and his show's autonomy.
Bob and Marianne MurcianoIn March 1994, Sirott returned to work, anchoring "Fox Thing in the Morning" on Chicago's FOX affiliate WFLD with his future wife Marianne Murciano, until she was moved to another time slot in June 2000. It was ranked high in the Nielsen ratings, and fans were taken aback when they learned that the show was unceremoniously cancelled and renamed "Fox News in the Morning."
On September 27, 2000, Sirott was bounced as the station's host—concurrent with the show's renaming. News reports had stated that Sirott didn't want to work with new anchor, Tamron Hall, who had replaced his wife, but Sirott downplayed those rumors in a Chicago Sun-Times article on September 28, 2000. "It's not about Tamron...it's about changes in the focus and direction of the show."
Chicago Tonightt with Larry Lujack
Sirott was removed as co-host with 2½ years remaining on his contract, and he was nominally kept on WFLD's payroll to develop new programming for Fox stations and the company's syndication division. On July 19, 2010, Sirott rejoined WFLD as co-anchor of the 9 p.m. news alongside Robin Robinson. He remained in that role until 2013, when his contract expired.From June 2002 to December 2005, Sirott hosted "Chicago Tonight" on the Chicago PBS station WTTW. At WTTW he also hosted the "Friday Night Show." His contract was not renewed in 2005 because of cost cutting.
On April 12, 2007, Chicago radio station WGN announced that it was reviving The Noon Show with Sirott as its host. Sirott was removed from The Noon Show on January 25, 2010. He returned to weekday radio at WGN in 2013.
Sirott is also known for his "One more thing" commentaries on various topics, many of which are Chicago related. He was seen in cameo appearances as a reporter on the FOX Dramas Prison Break during its first season and The Chicago Code.
In July 2014 Bob made his debut as a reporter for The Onion News Network with the story "Deadly Super Rainbow Tears Through West Coast".
WHERE DID BOB WORK? Here is the list: WQAM, WBBM-FM, WLS-AM, WRCK-FM, WCKG-FM, and WGN-AM 720.
Some materials found on this page were originally published at the following: Trax and Grooves (YouTube channel), Sirott and Murciano.
