Good-Bye, Spike — We'll Miss You

Spike O'Dell is a Chicago favorite

One of Chicago's most familiar radio hosts signs off for the last time today after 22 years on the air.

Spike O'Dell, of WGN 720-AM, says he's leaving to retire and move to Nashville, Tenn.

O'Dell joined the station 21 years ago as the host of "The Spike O'Dell Radio Experiment" from 3 to 7 every weekday afternoons. Then in 2000 when Bob Collins died in a plane crash, O'Dell took over the morning shift.

The show was ranked No. 1 in the ratings when he took over and it stayed there for most of his time as host.

As part of O'Dell's finale, a very busy Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn, who could well be the next governor of Illinoios in the wake of federal charges against Gov. Rod Blagojevich, is scheduled to present the anti-shock jock a proclamation declaring it "Spike O'Dell Day" in Illinois.


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