Talkers
Magazine has released its 2013 “Heavy Hundred” list of the 100 most
important radio talk show hosts in America, and representing Milwaukee at No.
96 is a certain 620 WTMJ personality – but not the one you might expect.
Jeff Wagner, host of “The Jeff Wagner Show” on weekdays
at noon, beat out WTMJ co-worker Charlie Sykes to land six spots behind Al
Roker and 95 spots behind first-place finisher Rush Limbaugh on the list, which
was compiled by Talkers Magazine editors.
Wagner began his career at WTMJ in 1998, originally
acting as a fill-in host for “Midday with Charlie Sykes” and hosting his own
show on Saturday mornings. Sykes has
been at the station since 1992. His highly rated, politically fueled and
sometimes controversial show is popular with conservative listeners and often
steals the WTMJ spotlight. But in what appears to be a case of student becoming
master, Wagner is no longer flying under the radar.
Mark Reardon, another man with Milwaukee ties, is
ranked No. 69 on the list, which takes into account the following objective and
subjective factors: courage, effort, impact, longevity, potential, ratings,
recognition, revenue, service, talent and uniqueness. Reardon, currently a host
for KMOX in St. Louis, was fired from WTMJ in 2006.
