WGN - The Dave Plier Podcast

Get into the ‘thank-goodness-it's-Friday' spirit with some spirits, Fridays at 7:45pm with Dave Plier and Bill O'Donnell, CEO and founder of Blue Ash Farm Spirits.   Nothing says Wisconsin like this week's Friday featured cocktail: Maple Wisconsin Old-Fashioned, made with Blue Ash Farm Maple Bourbon. The recipe gives you options whether you like your Old-Fashioned sweet, […]

WGN Radio's Dave Plier and WGN-TV's Lauren Magiera welcome Brendan, Siobhan, and Anlon McKinney of Chicago's #1 Irish pub Chief O’Neill’s talk to about the legend of Chicago Police Chief O'Neill, the art of pouring the perfect pint of Guinness, their classic Irish cuisine, inspired music and their events schedule for the next three weekends […]

Half of the legendary comedy duo The Smothers Brothers, Dick Smothers, hangs out with WGN Radio's Dave Plier to talk about 65 years of comedy with brother Tommy, their very beginnings, and their groundbreaking albums and variety show.

Andrew Zimmern talks to WGN Radio's Dave Plier about the series debut of ‘Family Restaurant' on HBO Max, ‘Family Dinner' on The Magnolia Network, the legacy of The Travel Channel's ‘Bizarre Foods’ and more!

This week, Dave Plier and Blue Ash Farm Spirits CEO and founder Bill O'Donnell are talking gin – and this one is not your grandfather's gin! The Blue Ash Farm Gin has a flavorful, fruit-forward taste and is infused with 16 of nature's finest botanicals. Use it to make one of Bill's favorites, and this featured cocktail, […]

Caitlin Hendricks, Content Creator for MLB and Chicago Cubs, joins WGN Radio's Dave Plier in studio to talk about what she does on social media to get fans excited about Chicago Cubs baseball and some trivia every Cubs fan should know. Follow Caitlin Hendricks on Facebook, Instagram & TikTok: caitlin_hendricks, Twitter: @caitlinhendrix and at caitlinhendricks.com.

First up, Jenny Giordano joins WGN Radio's Dave Plier to talk about her family business, Tony's Deli in the Edison Park neighborhood of Chicago, and their amazing pepper and egg sandwiches. Later, Samantha Nelson from The Chicago Tribune talks to Dave about Chicagoland's Friday night fish frys in and around town.

Get into the ‘thank-goodness-it's-Friday' spirit with some spirits! Tune-in to Dave Plier on Fridays at 7:45pm to hear a weekly featured cocktail featuring spirits from Blue Ash Farm. Blue Ash Farm creates hand-crafted, small-batch spirits with the finest ingredients from their family farm located in southwestern Wisconsin's Driftless Area. This week's cocktail shines the spotlight […]

Chicago radio legend Kevin Matthews, Jimmy Shorts and Chicago Bears great Kevin ‘Butt-head' Butler reunite on the air and join WGN Radio's Dave Plier to talk about their Pig Skin Picks for the big game!

Onesti Entertainment is hosting two “Mongo Bowl” fundraisers at both the Arcada Theatre in St. Charles and the Des Plaines Theatre on Super Bowl Sunday, February 12. All proceeds from raffles, auctions and donations at the free admission event will be used for Steve McMichael’s 24-hour nurse care expenses. Both events will be hosted by Ron Onesti […]

Weber Grill's Kevin Kolman joins WGN Radio's Dave Plier to talk game day grilling with recipes for the perfect wings, Philly cheesesteak, pulled pork, nachos, dips and more. Weber.com

Jeff Hoover from the WGN Morning News and his wife Tracy join WGN Radio's Dave Plier to share their recipes for the prefect cocktails, whether you're routing for the Eagles or the Chiefs.

WGN Radio's Dave Plier and Jeff Rogers, Managing Partner of Chicago's Player's Workshop, talked about the $7 million dollar price tag for this year's Super Bowl commercials and gave a preview of this year's most anticipated spots. Dave and Jeff also look back at the most historic Super Bowl Commercials of all-time. playersworkshoponline.com

We’re remembering Cindy Williams, best known as Shirley on the sitcom “Laverne & Shirley,” who died last week at age 75. In February 2016, Dave Plier spoke with Cindy Williams about the 40th anniversary of ‘Laverne & Shirley', her first movie ‘American Graffiti', and working with Francis Ford Coppola, George Lucas, Ron Howard, Penny Marshall […]

WGN Radio's Dave Plier welcomes legendary anchormen Bill Kurtis and Walter Jacobson to celebrate the 50thanniversary of their pairing on WBBM's ‘THE 10 O'Clock News'. Bill and Walter talk about how they entered the world of broadcasting, their early days launching their iconic newscast, and how they set the tone for local news broadcasts throughout the country.

Comedian and actor Kevin Nealon joins WGN Radio's Dave Plier to talk about his first appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, his years on Saturday Night Live, and this weekend's comedy shows at City Winery Chicago.

What is the classic Chicago TV commercial or business that is your remember that is gone but not forgotten? Roger Badesch, retired WGN Radio news anchor, returns to ‘The Dave Plier Show' to talk to Dave and our listeners about vintage Chicago commercials including Boushelle (Hudson3-2700), Victory Auto Wreckers, Empire Carpet, Zayre, Wieboldt's, Marshall Fields, Lincoln Carpeting and United Auto Insurance; […]

WGN Radio's Dave Plier celebrates five decades of award-winning animated series ‘Schoolhouse Rock!' and shares his 2018 interview with the late Bob Dorough, award-winning musician, whose songs helped teach children that ‘Knowledge is Power'. Schoolhouse Rock! includes the songs ‘I'm Just a Bill', ‘Conjunction Junction' and 'Three's the Magic Number'.

Nick Friedman, Executive Producer of ‘Bezos: The Beginning,' joins WGN Radio's Dave Plier to talk about the new movie telling the story of Jeffrey Bezos, then a 31-year-old hedge fund manager who quits his job. With the support of his wife and borrowed money from his father, he moves across the country to launch his dream […]

Country Music Hall of Famer Wynonna Judd joins WGN Radio's Dave Plier to talk about her mother's legacy, parental relationships, her music and a new tour celebrating The Judds featuring Martina McBride, Tanya Tucker, Belinda Carlisle and more. For tickets, visit thejudds.com.

WGN Radio's Dave Plier welcomes WGN-TV's Mike Lowe on his 12 part series on the 75th Anniversary of WGN Television, the research the history and legacy of the faces in front of the camera and behind the scenes. The 75th WGN TV features air Thursdays during the News at Nine. For more, visit https://wgntv.com/news/wgn_75th_annivesary/.

Entertainment legend Pat Boone joins Dave to celebrate 88 years on the planet, 70 years in show business, hosting his own ABC television series “The Pat Boone Chevy Showroom,” which featured top-name guests including Ella Fitzgerald, Nat ‘King' Cole, Connie Frances, Roy Rogers, Frankie Avalon, and Tony Bennett, among many others. Among his numerous awards […]

Dolly McCarthy, publisher of BeLocal NW Chicagoland, joins WGN Radio's Dave Plier to talk about her upcoming comedy night to benefit Chicago's The Yard Foundation on Friday February 3, 2023 with two shows at 6:30pm and 9pm at Moretti's in Edison Park. Comedians include Mike Toomey from the WGN Morning News, radio's Brian Noonan, Peggy […]

WGN Radio's Dave Plier talks to Cubs great Ryan Dempster on the return of the Cubs Convention this weekend, spring training, the investments made in the off-season in hopes of returning to contention, and his talk show ‘Off the Mound' on the Marquee Sports Network.

WGN Radio's Dave Plier talks to photographer Jeff Lowenthal and author Robert Schaffner about their new book, showcasing the legendary Fleetwood Mac blues session at Chicago's Chess Studios in January 1969.

WGN Radio's Dave Plier talks actress India de Beaufort on the reboot of NBC's ‘Night Court' premiering Tuesday January 17th on NBC.

WGN Radio's Dave Plier talks to Dr. Ian Smith about starting the new year right, the power of intermittent fasting, and 9 mood boosters to get you through the winter.

WGN's Dave Plier welcomes ABC7 Chicago's Cheryl Scott to talk about her work with the American Red Cross and the Great Chicago Blood Drive on Wednesday, January 11th and Thursday January 12th. Make an appointment to give blood as soon as possible by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). All hours […]

WGN Radio's Dave Plier  shares his ‘Favorite Conversations of the Year'! Valerie Bertinelli from ‘One Day at a Time' and Food Network's ‘Valerie's Home Cooking', Henry Winkler from ‘Happy Days' and HBO's ‘Barry', Bob Odenkirk from AMC's Better Call Saul, Ginger Zee from ABC’s Good Morning America, TV director and producer James Burrows (‘Cheers', ‘Taxi', […]

Cardinal Blase Cupich, Archbishop of Chicago, joins WGN Radio's Dave Plier to talk about ‘Renew My Church', his Christmas Message of Peace and the power of Catholic Charities.

WGN Radio's Dave Plier talks to comedy legend Bob Newhart about filming the movie ‘Elf' with Will Ferrell back in 2002, and why it is a new holiday classic.

Adrian Kane from The Infatuation will talk about Chicago's best new restaurants of the year and the dining experiences that are open on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

What is your favorite holiday themed TV episode? WGN Radio's Dave Plier and listeners talk about their favorite holiday TV episodes of all time including I Love Lucy, The Honeymooners, The Dick Van Dyke Show, The Brady Bunch, All in the Family, Cheers, Seinfeld's ‘Festivus for the rest of us', The Sopranos, Modern Family and […]

Kevin Kolman from Weber talks to WGN Radio's Dave Plier about firing up the grill for your holiday feast after some very snowy days.

WGN Radio's Dave Plier welcomes pop culture historians Wally Podrazik and Kevin Pokorny to celebrate those we lost in 2022… from TV, movies, sports, music, politics and more.

WGN Radio's Dave Plier is joined by WGN Morning News producer and on-air personality Jeff Hoover and his wife Tracy to share three cocktail recipes (gin, vodka and bourbon), perfect for the holidays. Recipes are below. HOLIDAY SPRITZ 3/4 oz. Gin 1/2 oz. Aperol 1/2 oz. Lemon juice 1 oz. Mandarin orange juice 1/2 oz. […]

WGN Radio's Dave Plier talks to comedian George Lopez about his comedy roots, his first appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, and the inspiration behind his new NBC sitcom with his daughter, ‘Lopez vs. Lopez'.

Actor, producer and director Peter Billingsley joins WGN Radio's Dave Plier to talk about the long awaited sequel to 1983's ‘A Christmas Story' and returning to the role of Ralphie in ‘A Christmas Story Christmas' on HBO Max.

WGN Radio's Dave Plier welcomes WGN-TV's Pat Tomasulo to preview Sunday's Bears/Packers game and his upcoming New Year's Eve Comedy Show at The Beverly Arts Center. For tickets, visit pattomasulo.com.

Author and TV critic Michael Starr talks to WGN Radio's Dave Plier about his new book: Don Rickles: The Merchant of Venom.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas! WGN Radio's Dave Plier shares his conversation with Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Johnny Mathis to talk about his career, his legendary holiday album, and more.

With 1 in 6 Cook County residents turning to their network each year, our neighbors who need emergency food assistance are much closer to home than many realize. To discuss what you can do to help, Dave Plier talks to Jim Conwell of Greater Chicago Food Depository.