It's official. As first tipped here Wednesday, WGN-AM (720) has named veteran Chicago radio talent Garry Meier as the host of the news/talk radio station's mid-afternoon show from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. He will begin his new show Friday, Apr. 3.

Meier is no stranger to tens of thousands of avid radio listeners. For 15 years he was half of one of the most successful of all radio on-air parings when he co-hosted the "Steve & Garry Show" with Steve Dahl, who is no longer on air. Meier also worked for eight years alongside Roe Conn on the "Roe & Garry Show."

In announcing Meier's hiring, WGN Vice President and General Manager Tom Langmyer described the new mid-afternoon host as "contemporary, smart, hip and fun." Most importantly, though, Meier is likely to attract a somewhat younger demo to WGN, which has a large, loyal, but somewhat older listener base.

This just in. Longtime Chicago radio personality Garry Meier will return to the airwaves for one day only on Wednesday, Feb. 25, as he sits in with John Howell on WIND-AM (560) from 5 a.m. to 9 a.m. Meier will fill in for Cisco Cotto, the other half of the "John and Cisco" morning show. Meier is best known for his stints at WLUP-FM (97.9), WLS-AM (890) and WLS-FM (94.7) with Steve Dahl and his show with Roe Conn at WLS-AM. Most recently, Meier hosted a show on WCKG-FM (n 2007. John Howell and Cisco Cotto have hosted mornings on WIND since October of 2006. Recent guests on their show have included Gov. Pat Quinn and embattled Sen. Roland Burris. WIND is owned and operated by Salem Communications.