Robby Bridges

Robby Bridges (born October 7, 1982 in Providence, Rhode Island) is an American radio disc jockey heard on New York's WPLJ and on the nationally syndicated True Oldies Channel. He is the Program Director and afternoon host on the newly launched WDRQ Nash FM in Detroit. Additionally he programs WDRQ HD-2 channel Nash Icon, hosts an afternoon show for WFMS in Indianapolis, a weekend show on WDVD and late nights nationally on Westwood One Hot AC stations.

Bridges began his broadcast career in 1993 at Providence's WELH & WWBB and working through the ranks of programming assistant to air talent by age 12. When WELH was an alternative rock station he was afternoon host and then newscaster and talk show host as the station switched to jazz. He then worked at pop stations WQGN-FM in Groton, Connecticut and WFHN in New Bedford, Massachusetts and CBS Radio’s WODS in Boston where he was the number one-rated personality in his time slot. He later joined sister station WBMX-FM. While still working in Boston, Bridges returned to Rhode Island to host the night shift at WPRO-FM. In 2002, Bridges joined WIOQ Philadelphia and then sister WHTZ New York City. Returning to Boston, Bridges re-launched his company BBOR Productions to include syndication and production in addition to live event and voice over narration; among programming he developed was "Show Me the 90s".

In 2003, he made the move back to the night shift in Providence at country outlet WCTK which was re-branding itself with top 40 jingles and a pop-crossover playlist. In addition to bringing a top 40 presentation to the format, Bridges introduced numerous recurring features, bits, parodies and characters in addition to making numerous personal appearances. Within a year he moved the show to afternoons. He became the number one rated afternoon host in the market, attracting nearly a quarter million listeners a week.

In 2008, Bridges moved to Cumulus Media's WEBE in Bridgeport, Connecticut as the afternoon air personality calling the move in trade publications a "tremendous opportunity to entertain the millions of listeners in "WEBE-land" every weekday afternoon and to be a part of a legendary team of outstanding broadcasters". Bridges was also heard regularly on sister stations WICC, WCZX-FM Poughkeepsie and WFAS-FM Westchester, New York. In December 2011 he was selected by Scott Shannon to come to New York City. In the summer of 2013, he returned to mornings on WEBE where he was also Program Director for Cumulus Media

The Variety Hour

On September 28, 2008, he began hosting and producing a first-of-its-kind late-night talk show on the radio, Night-Time with Robby Bridges; guests included a broad array of personalities including Bob Woodward, Bill Cosby, The Fray, Dennis Miller, Stuart Woods, Spike Lee, Tony Orlando, Jerry Springer and Joan Rivers. Following the late night television model (although it aired as a morning show in most markets), the Variety Show Band plays his theme, "Swing Time", as announcer Mike Bellamy lists the show's guests. The program then opens with banter between Robby and Mike on topical stories/topics of the day (referred to as the "two-person talk show monologue") and features four to five guests, usually one actor, one journalist/politician or news-maker, a comedian-performer and a musical act. Bridges has shown a penchant for booking unusual guests on both the political far left and right, singers from the 1950–60s, Broadway performers, activists, scientists and people with unusual talents including strongman contestants, clairvoyants and archaeologists. Donna Summer, Maya Angelou, Johnny Maestro & the Brooklyn Bridge and sportscaster George Michael are among guests who've now passed.

In 2009 the show was renamed in regional syndication in the Northeast asThe Robby Bridges Variety Hour. Notable moments included Robby joining in with a Russian dance troupe, meeting crazed American Idol fans and exploring a bee farm without a protective suit. While Bridges has hosted each of the 100+ episodes to date, on occasion guest announcers have subbed for Bellamy and the program frequently re-aired recent episodes and "Best of Bridges" specials; these have include annual Independence Day and Christmas specials in addition to "Kings of Comedy" and "Legends of Rock". A test pilot for a television version of the show was taped in May 2010 but never aired. The show ceased production after 136 episodes December 25, 2011 with some affiliates airing encores thereafter.

Trivia

External links

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