THE WAYNE NORMAN SHOW ON WILI
WILI’s Wayne Norman show has changed considerably over the years–most notably in the 1990’s with the addition of interesting live, in-studio guests each morning.
The guest list has included Connecticut Governor Jodi Rell, UConn Presidents Susan Herbst, Harry Hartley, and Michael Hogan, activist Jesse Jackson, actress Susan St. James, Academy Award-winner Kim Hunter (Stella in “A Streetcar Named Desire”), acclaimed forensic scientist Dr. Henry Lee, local and national political candidates, Steve Lyons and Roger LaFrancois of the Boston Red Sox, Pete Walker of the Toronto Blue Jays, and many fascinating faculty, staff members, and student-athletes from the University of Connecticut and Eastern Connecticut State University and local high schools.
Some of the most popular guests have included UConn coaches Jim Calhoun, Kevin Ollie, Geno Auriemma, Bob Diaco, Randy Edsall, Jim Penders, Mike Cavanaugh, Bruce Marshall and Ray Reid, and UConn basketball stars Rashad Anderson, Diana Taurasi, Shea Ralph, Rebecca Lobo, Nykesha Sales, Kevin Ollie and Ray Allen. But sometimes it’s the unknown names that bring the most captivating stories.
The Wayne Norman Show is total information. WILI News Director Mike Morrissette gives complete local and state news summaries at the top and bottom of each hour, with ABC News covering the rest of the world. Wayne’s sports reports follow the bottom of the hour news, with tape from the locker room. Meteorologist Pat Pagano has hourly live conversations with Wayne that go deeper than the forecast, and are localized for the Windham region. Another popular feature is the WILI/McDonald’s Birthday Club, where local birthdays are recognized, and celebrity birthdays noted. (See our “contests” page for an entry form.)
