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Earlier this week, WGN-AM (720) general manager Tom Langmyer met with members of the new regime running the Tribune Co. Sources say Langmyer was given the go-ahead to quickly make more programming changes in the station's weekend line-up that didn't involve expensive contract obligations.

So Langmyer has severed the station's ties with two weekend hosts -- Jerry Agar and Shawn "The News Junkie" Wasson. Their departure comes just days after the axing of program director Kevin Metheny and weekday evening host and felon Jim Laski last week. Langmyer's additional changes appear designed to give alienated listeners more reasons to return.

Both Agar and Wasson, along with Frenchman Simon Badinter (who survived this week's cuts), were added to the weekend line-up in May 2009, just months after Metheny arrived as the controversial program director armed with a mandate to shake up programming and talent to attract a younger 25-to-54-year-old demo.

Prior to joining WGN, Agar was heard on news/talk WLS-AM (890). Agar's confrontational -- some might say argumentative -- style was very much in keeping with what Metheny wanted more of.

But the push is on now to reverse that trend. "The goal of WGN weekends is to make our programming more relevant, warm, upbeat and all Chicago," said Langmyer earlier this week announcing several changes in WGN's weekend line-up.

Though he remains a part of WGN's Sunday evening programming, Badinter's show was cut to two hours from three. "Simon Rendezvous" now will air from 6 to 8 p.m when it isn't pre-empted by a sports broadcast.

"We don't want our hosts to be telling our listeners what to think," said one WGN insider. Badinter's suave, yet cheeky French manner certainly isn't "all Chicago." But his program may be the one touch of exotica that Langmyer is willing to keep in the mix.

"I am happy to be here at WGN," said Badinter, indicating he is eager to work with Langmyer as the station changes its tone in the wake of Metheny's ouster.

Another veteran WGN host, Nick Digilio -- familiar to WGN listeners for many years -- was given a new prime weekend slot for his show, which will now air from 6 to 10 p.m. on Saturday. Dean Richards, another well-liked voice on WGN, is adding an hour to his Sunday show. It will air from 9 a.m to 1 p.m. "Sports Central Weekend," hosted by former Chicago Bear Glen Kozlowski and Alex Quigley, is being reinstated in the 4 to 6 p.m. slot on Saturday.

A first at WBBM-Channel 2

Susanna Song has the distinction of being the first general assignment reporter hired by WBBM-Channel 2 news director Jeff Kiernan since he arrived at the station nearly two years ago.

Song comes to Channel 2 after a nearly four-year stint at ABC affiliate KSTP-Channel 5 in Minneapolis/St. Paul. She starts her new job at Channel 2 on Dec. 13. Born in California, Song grew up in Chicago's northwest suburbs and attended Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism. Song worked for the Korean Broadcast Channel here while still at Medill.

Channel 7 iPad app out

WLS-Channel 7, Chicago's top-rated TV news operation, is the first TV outlet in the market to introduce a dedicated iPad app. The new free app from Apple's iTunes store has sections devoted to top news of the day, investigative reports, health, politics and food.