Blagojevich critic gets his turn at WLS mic

SPRINGFIELD - On the radio, no one can see your hair.

That will be an advantage, said a nervous state Rep. Jack Franks, a Marengo Democrat, who follows in the footsteps of impeached former Gov. Rod Blagojevich this morning by co-hosting a radio show on WLS-AM.

"I would not even be close on that one," Franks said of a contest between Blagojevich's famous do and Franks' sometimes less than perfectly coifed silver mane.

Franks fills in from 9 to 11 a.m. for the vacationing Pat Cassidy on the "Mancow and Cassidy" show. While Franks has been on the radio many times during his decade as state representative, this morning he'll be on the air with Erich "Mancow" Muller.

"With Mancow, you have no idea what the topics are going to be or what he's going to say. Or how outrageous he's going to be," Franks said. "Who knows if he'll even let me speak. He's a little loquacious."

Franks said he met Muller over a year ago at a fundraising dinner and they became fast friends. They go to Chicago White Sox games together and their wives are also friends, Franks said.

He said he's scored two big guests for the show: Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn and J.B. Pritzker, lead fundraiser for the new Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center in Skokie.

"There may be a couple other surprises," Franks added.

Franks was a frequent and flamboyant critic of Blagojevich and was one of the first to call for his impeachment. While he's following Blagojevich on the radio, Franks said he won't be looking for a reality television show slot anytime soon.

"I'm pretty well grounded where I am now," Franks said.