Dan Roan calls it a career after 38 years at WGN-TV

Ellen DeGeneres’ show also ends today

[Editor’s Note: There is an update on Ellen’s show below.] 

One of Chicago’s longest-tenured sports anchors is ending his run today. 

Dan Roan quietly announced his retirement several months ago and made his plans to depart May 26. WGN-TV paid homage to him during their newscasts and on GN Sports half-hour show in a week-long tribute. 

Among the well-wishers include numerous Chicago sports figures past and present, with Anthony Rizzo, Ozzie Gullien, Scottie Pippen, Jim McMahon, and countless others. On Monday night, GN Sports looked back at his career at WGN with tons of archive footage. 

Not bad for a person from Keokuk, Iowa and got his start at CBS affiliate WCIA in downstate Champaign in the late 1970s, covering of course University of Illinois sports. He moved over to WGN-TV in December 1983 replacing Bill Frink (of WLS-TV’s Eyewitness News fame) and became the station’s full-time sports anchor and director, covering numerous Chicago pro and college sports teams. Roan covered all of the city’s pro sports championships starting with the Bears’ 1985 Super Bowl triumph, followed by six Bulls titles, the Fire’s 1998 MLS title, the Cubs and White Sox World Series victories, the Blackhawks three Stanley Cup Championships, and lastly, the Sky WNBA title last year. 

Roan also filled in for a short time as the play-by-play man for WGN’s Cubs telecasts in the late 1990s and filled in one time for Ken “Hawk” Harrelson when he wasn’t able to work at the last minute. Roan was a part of history when he reported from Wrigley Field during the first night game ever at the historic ballpark. And of course, he was also a part of the bizarrest television interruption in history: 

Roan certainly had the pulse of a sports-crazy town and that’s why he lasted as long as he did. Plus, being a part of a strong high-rated news team didn’t hurt either. And while he won’t be jumping into any swimming pools anytime soon, you can bet you can find him swinging clubs at your nearest golf course as he spends more time with family. He’ll be missed, but what a terrific, long run.

Roan of course, isn’t the only television personality calling it a career today. As anticipated, Ellen DeGeneres’ nineteen-year run as a daytime talk show host came to a close, albeit in a low-key manner. Once one of the top-rated talk shows in daytime and early fringe, Ellen’s ratings declined over the years thanks in part to behind-the-scenes controversies involving bullying, racism, sexual harassment, and more. The news drew concern from the NBC-owned stations who carried the Warner Bros.-syndicated show, who depended on her as an early news lead-in. DeGeneres made the announcement to step down a year ago. The final show was taped last month. 

Ellen’s final guests included Jennifer Anniston, Billie Ellish, and Pink, who’ll also perform. According to IndieWire, NBCUniversal Syndication Studios’ The Kelly Clarkson Show takes her spot on the NBC-owned stations (including NBC 5 locally at 3 p.m.) on June 6  with Ellen moving an hour earlier as for some reason, has new episodes remaining with guest hosts according to Zap2It. Beginning in September, on WMAQ at least, is Dateline reruns probably landing at 2. 

DeGeneres’ NBC primetime series, the schlocky Ellen’s Game of Games, was mercifully canceled months ago.