Dean Richards Laid Off: WGN-TV Cuts Beloved Chicago Entertainment Reporter in Massive Downsizing
One of Chicago's most recognizable broadcast voices has been let go. Dean Richards, the long-tenured entertainment reporter and critic for WGN-TV and WGN Radio, was among eight on-air personalities laid off by WGN on Monday, February 23, 2026, in one of the most sweeping single-day staff reductions in the station's history.
Dean Richards and WGN: More Than Three Decades in Chicago Broadcasting
Richards joined WGN in 1991 as a staff announcer and became a regular contributor in 1998. Over more than three decades, he became one of the station's most beloved and recognizable faces, conducting celebrity interviews, reviewing films, and hosting his weekly WGN Radio program Dean Richards' Sunday Morning. His Dean's List segment and Dean's Downloads newsletter built a dedicated following across Chicago and beyond.
WGN-TV Layoffs: Who Else Was Let Go
WGN-TV cut nine on-air personnel on Monday, including entertainment critic Dean Richards and sports anchor Chris Boden. Others laid off were news anchors Ray Cortopassi, Sean Lewis, and Judy Wang, reporters Julian Crews and Bronagh Tumulty, meteorologist Mike Janssen, and political analyst Paul Lisnek.
| Name | Role |
|---|---|
| Dean Richards | Entertainment Reporter / Critic |
| Ray Cortopassi | News Anchor |
| Sean Lewis | News Anchor |
| Judy Wang | News Anchor |
| Julian Crews | Reporter |
| Bronagh Tumulty | Reporter |
| Paul Lisnek | Political Analyst |
| Chris Boden | Sports Anchor |
| Mike Janssen | Meteorologist |
Why Did WGN Fire Dean Richards and His Colleagues?
Station management made it clear the reduction in force was due to budgetary constraints. The cuts are widely seen as part of cost-trimming tied to Nexstar Media's aggressive expansion strategy. The layoffs are an apparent effort to cut costs in anticipation of the excessive debt Nexstar will incur from money borrowed to buy Tegna. In August, Nexstar announced it would acquire Tegna for $6.2 billion, creating a broadcast behemoth that would cover about 80 percent of U.S. TV households.
Sources say Cortopassi was laid off in the middle of his shift, leaving Micah Materre to work solo on the anchor desk Monday night.
The Human Cost: Institutional Knowledge Walking Out the Door
Some of the talents let go are nationally known from WGN's days as a superstation, when its programming beamed via cable and satellite across the country. Crews has covered the city and state since 1996. Boden covered sports for more than 30 years at a half-dozen Chicago TV and radio stations. Wang began at the defunct CLTV in 1995 before joining WGN in 2009.
Sean Lewis, one of the departed anchors, reflected on the loss beyond just jobs. Lewis said one regret tops the list of his unplanned exit: "I do wish that I was able to say goodbye to the wonderful viewers." He also warned of the loss of "institutional knowledge of this city and its news."
What's Next for WGN and Dean Richards
WGN is still very profitable, despite changes in viewing habits, but the cuts have to come from somewhere. The station's morning news program remains a ratings leader and is emulated by other local stations nationally. However, Monday's departures have left a significant void in a newsroom that built its identity on familiar, trusted faces.
Dean Richards had been active through the final days of his tenure, filing entertainment reports as recently as February 23 — the same day he was laid off. His next move has not been announced.
