AA: 10 Questions with former Kiss-FM DJ, Silly Jilly


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Posted by chicagomedia.org on September 10, 2009 at 14:01:17:

NAME: Silly Jilly
POSITION: Night show host
STATION: KHHT Hot 95.7
MARKET: Houston
OWNER: CBS


10 Questions with ... Silly Jilly
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Please outline your radio career so far:

Intern/part-time, WKSC/Chicago, Jan 2002- Jan 2006
Night host, WHKF (99.3 KISS-FM)/Harrisburg, Jan 2006- Aug 2007
Part time host, WIHT (Hot 99-5)/Washington, DC, Nov 2006-Aug 2007
Night host, WKSC (103.5 KISS-FM)/Chicago, August 2007-September 2009
Voicetracked middays/weekends/etc. for WAKS (96.5 KISS-FM)/Cleveland; WKGS (106.7 KISS-FM)/Rochester; KTRS (104.7 KISS-FM)/Casper, WY; KXXM (MIX 96-1)/San Antonio.


1) Congratulations on the Houston gig. You pumped?

Thanks! I'm super-excited about it! The staff at HOT seems like a lot of fun. Texas is a state I never thought I would be living in, but I like a good change. And I also like Tex-Mex ... a lot..


2) You've been with Clear Channel for quite awhile now. How did the opportunity to join CBS come about?

When my contract was up and I wasn't really happy with the offer I was looking at from CC. I just started talking to people, getting a lot of opinions, and seeing what was out there. Dom Theodore, who initially helped bring me back to Chicago with KISS, told me about some options with CBS and things worked out great for me. I will, however, miss convincing the city of Chicago that Ty Bentli is dating Ryan Seacrest.


3) There aren't a lot of female night jocks out there. Why is that?

Especially in Top 40, there is some sort of unwritten belief that females who listen to the radio at night want to call in and flirt with the "hot guy" on the air ... like they want to be called "babycakes" or some other ridiculous pet name. One thing I always wanted to do was prove a female could be successful at night and I'm happy it happened in Chicago -- and look forward to bringing the show to Houston. I would LOVE to see more females step out of the midday bubble and add a little edge to do a night show.


4) What makes your show unique?

Going back to the last question, I'm one of few female night jocks out there. I also have a potty-mouth and I'm not opposed to making ... umm ... I guess you could say "un-ladylike" comments. Aside from that, I also hate doing topics out of magazines like Cosmo, etc. I take the things that happen to me and talk about them on the air. I feel it makes a more relatable show for a listener. A 25-year-old female can call in and say, "WOW, that's SO funny you bring that up because it JUST happened to me"... or "My co-workers were JUST talking about this the other day!" When a listener can share a story that happened to them as opposed to giving an opinion on something Cosmo says, it makes a more personal connection and makes them feel like they know you better.


5) Describe your first radio gig...

I don't know if you could call showing up and co-hosting a night show withut being paid for about three years necessarily a gig, but working with Java Joel was definitely an experience. It did lead to my first "gig" doing Klub Kiss on Saturday overnights part-time, which was fun, but I learned so much doing The Rubber Room w/ Java. That show is a big part as to why I'm the type of jock that I am. We would talk about the oddest things and do bits you typically would never hear on Top 40 radio. Everything was real; no callers were staged or fake, and I also made a lot of makeshift ashtrays out of styrofoam cups and water. ( lol )


6) What is your favorite part of the job?

I love being able to interact with listeners. Radio can be so interactive if you do it right. With TV, viewers aren't usually able to pick up a phone and call the personality like they can with a radio station request line. I love that aspect of this field. I also love reaction. When I ask some demented twisted "would you rather" question, and a listener calls in laughing hysterically and using a term like "poo-juice," it makes my night.


7) What's one thing that would surprise many people to learn about you?

Most people are shocked when I tell them about my obsession with "The Golden Girls." They usually think I'm kidding. It's legit. I have all seven seasons on DVD; my friend got me the greatest gift EVER, which was an original script from an episode autographed by the girls. My license plate frame on my car says, "I don't suffer from addiction to Estelle Getty, I love every second of it;" and I dressed up as Blanche for Halloween. Seriously.


8) Who would be your "dream-guest" to have on your show?

Chelsea Handler from Chelsea Lately on E! I love her, her attitude, and what she does. If she doesn't like someone, she'll say it. I think she would be A LOT of fun on the air. Plus she has a book called, "Are You There, Vodka? It's Me, Chelsea" Replace Chelsea with Jilly and Vodka with Jager and you have what I would have named my book if I had one.


9) What music do you listen to when you're not working?

I tend to listen to more Alternative music. Stuff with guitars. I do like some of the Top 40 stuff. I can't deny my love of the All-American Rejects and okay, I totally have the Lady GaGa CD in my car.


10) What advice would you give to people new in the business?

Stand out. Radio is more competitive than ever now. Don't expect a job or position after doing an internship for three months. When I started out, I just kept showing up. If someone really wants to be in radio, they'll volunteer to do ANYTHING just to keep their foot in the door. I have an intern who I call The Freshman. He's a junior now and still shows up to the station and works because he wants to. Not only do you get experience just being IN a radio station, but you meet a lot of people who have some great connections. Networking. Do it.


Bonus Questions

What's the best sweeper/liner you've ever heard?

Let me tell you, I worked with Gillette, I've heard some GOOD ones. My favorite, though, has got to be, "HEY, my nana's name is dot. 1035kissfm DOT com" hahaha


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