The radio Girlfriends reunite -- Kathy & Judy (...and Terri )


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Posted by Bud on September 09, 2009 at 13:03:12:

The newest issue of the Inside Booster newspaper takes a look at a recent Kathy & Judy event at Ann Sather's restaurant. It also talks about the WGN Girlfriends being visited by a certain WXRT radio icon. Inside Booster now publishes their articles online at YourNews.com and here is the text version of the story as it was placed on there this morning.

..............
Kathy & Judy meet radio 'girlfriends' in Lakeview rendezvous

Discuss cancelled show after 20-years on air

By Sheila Swann
Special to Inside

Girlfriends were treated to an intimate gathering with Kathy and Judy on a rainy night in Lakeview. On Wednesday, August 19, Kathy O'Malley and Judy Markey, formerly of the "Kathy & Judy Show" on WGN Radio, mixed and mingled with 100 loyal listeners at Ann Sather Restaurant, 909 W. Belmont Ave., with proceeds benefitting the Broadway Youth Center of the Howard Brown Health Center, 4025 N. Sheridan Rd.

After catching up with loyal fans and posing for snapshots, O'Malley and Markey stood in the center of the room and addressed many listeners' concerns. "First off, we know you're still pissed," stated Markey, which raised a long round of hearty applause and hollers. After a 20-year run in the 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. slot on WGN Radio, on May 22 listeners were startled to hear that Kathy & Judy were giving their last show -- ever. The girlfriends had been fired and the end of an era was at hand, whether listeners liked it or not.

That morning in May phone calls, emails and twitters went out to girlfriends all over the map announcing the sad news. For those not in the know, a "girlfriend" is a listener and most importantly a big fan of the Kathy & Judy Show. One girlfriend, a schoolteacher, shared that she had received word via a text message in the middle of class. She read the text and said aloud "Oh no," to which her students chided her because having your cell phone on during class is strictly prohibited. "This is important," she retorted.

O'Malley and Markey had gotten word from WGN management three weeks earlier that their show was over, despite their contract end date of July 3, 2010. Markey shared with the crowd that management had wanted the last week to be a "Kathy & Judy Farewell Week," to which O'Malley replied "Well, you're bleeping firing us." That's why their fans love these two petite, strong, intelligent and witty women, they tell it like it is.

Many girlfriends have not tuned their radios to 720 AM since that fateful day. Markey has not listened to the radio nor picked up a newspaper, she has been traveling, doing more yoga and learning Spanish. O'Malley has been in her garden, listening to more NPR and sometimes catches herself thinking "Oh, I should talk about this." What they both feel is that their WGN Radio gig was an amazing time and connection.

The pair had been friends and writers for the Chicago Tribune and Sun-Times before being brought together on radio. What better job to have than being on the air with your best girlfriend talking about who wore what the morning after the Oscars and who's had plastic surgery? O'Malley acknowledges that they were in the right place at the right time.

Stopping by to support her sisters in radio was Terri Hemmert of WXRT.

"They're my girlfriends. There ought to be a place on radio for that kind of community. It's about connection, it's very magical. It's our loss," said the 25 year radio veteran and longtime friend of O'Malley. The diversity of their audience is what made up such a strong community. Old or young, liberal or conservative, lawyer, truck driver or housewife, "If we aren't the target audience, then who is?" asked one woman. Another stood up and pointed out that her views on politics were the extreme opposite of the Kathy & Judy Show's, and that she found it to be very important to hear the "other sides" opinions. O'Malley said that a listener like her was very important to their show. Another well wisher acknowledged that there are three generations of Kathy & Judy listeners in her family, to which other girlfriends, men and women, nodded their heads.

One of the most important things about this community that Kathy & Judy created was something that O'Malley remarked on during their last hour on the air. "I thought I was the only one. That I was alone," people had said to her throughout the years. Spanning the widest range of topics, what their show allowed for was a forum of sharing, where hearing one person's story could make one realize that they too had experienced the same thing. That is a gift, to know you're not the only one, made even more precious by the fact that they would have you laughing the next minute.

When asked will they write a book together, the answer was "no, we couldn't write together." Judy would always be telling Kathy, "why don't you write it like this?" When asked will they go on NPR, O'Malley said "no, we aren't smart enough to be on NPR." When asked if maybe they could do podcasts, they said "no, we can't do anything until our contract is up." The listeners came up with many possible options to get Kathy & Judy back into their lives, their kitchens and cars, their psyches and hearts, because their fans love who they love and they miss them now that they're not on the air.

After their last show, John Williams of WGN Radio -- also a girlfriend, gave O'Malley and Markey bottles of champagne with a Dr. Seuss quote on accompanying cards. "Don't cry because it's over, Smile because it happened."

Ald. Tom Tunney (44th) footed the bill for the event space Aug. 19, Swedish meatballs, chocolate dipped strawberries and cinnamon rolls at his Ann Sather Restaurant.

To get whatever Kathy & Judy fix you can check out their Facebook page and think about attending their Canyon Ranch Tuscon Getaway October 9-13, 2009. Go to: www.wgnradio.com/about/events/wgnam-canyon-ranch-girlfriend-getaway-2009 or call Canyon Ranch Reservations at 800-742-9000. Also, Kathy & Judy will be with the Association for Women Journalists in Chicago on September 17. Go to awjchicago.org for more information.


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