It's hard enough to peg down actor, About Face Theatre Co-Founder, and Laugh Factory's "Chigaygo" stand-up host Scott Duff, who is currently starring in About Face Theatre's We Three Lizas at Stage 773, with all of his professional hats. But Duff is about to add another to his collection: talk radio host.
Beginning Jan. 5, WCPT 820 AM—advertised as "Chicago's Progressive Talk"—will add an LGBT-specific talk show to its regularly scheduled programming. "Out Chicago" will air 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Sunday, with Duff and a rotating roaster of guest co-hosts.
Duff, who has been billing the two hours as "Sunday brunch with your gay best friends," told Windy City Times he wants it to be fun, entertaining and informative.
"We're going to be talking about politics, entertainment, a little celebrity gossip thrown in for good measure," he said. "We're going to have some regular features that include a health segment, real estate, personal investment, all sorts of stuff—all filtered through a queer lens."
Duff said Progressive Talk's Michael Damsky approached him about the prospect of an LGBT-focused show, and the two began sitting down and brainstorming together.
"He's worked in radio all in his life, so we've got some really good credibility behind this, and some good chops," he said. "We're going to make the show as amazing as possible."
Duff said the show will primarily have a local focus, including theater, music and restaurants, but will address national issues as they come up.
"We want to make it kind of like Fresh Air meets Andy Cohen without Andy Cohen," he said.
Duff did reveal a few features of the show. Professional harmonica player Ellen Miller will be a regular appearing co-host. Actor and playwright Paul Oakley Stovall will co-host as well. The program will also include a regular segment called "Outstanding in the Community."
"We're going to focus on either an organization or a person who's just doing good in Chicago for the LGBT community," he said.
He said the show is about bringing together all the various groups of Chicago.
"We're tying to focus on as much of the queer scene as possible, trying to get a variety of perspective in there, people of all shapes, sizes, colors and orientations," he said.
Duff said he was excited about the prospect after being approached, and is looking forward to the opportunity.
"There are a ton of podcasts out there right now, but this is something that I think is really bold of Chicago Progressive Talk to actually take two hours out of the week to devote just to LGBT issues," he said. "It's been such a crazy, exciting year for us—especially with marriage equality that's happening and all of the stuff with DOMA—it's just really wonderful that they're realizing that this is a voice that needs to be heard. That we're no longer marginalized, that we should be in the mainstream."
