The Jim Rome Show

History

The Jim Rome Show began on XTRA Sports 690 in San Diego. In 1996, Premiere Radio Networks picked up the program for national syndication. Sometime after, the show was shortened by one hour and the broadcast location was shifted from XTRA Sports 690 to the Premiere Radio Networks studio complex in Sherman Oaks, California.

The show became a charter program of CBS Sports Radio, later Infinity Sports Network, upon its full launch on January 2, 2013.

In October 2017, CBS Sports Network announced that it would add a simulcast of The Jim Rome Show to its afternoon lineup beginning January 2, 2018, ultimately running it until February 9, 2024. The show began streaming on the social media service X on May 28, 2024. The show also began broadcasting on September 19, 2024, on various free ad-supported streaming television channels including an exclusive fourth hour of show with a co-host, among them Will Blackmon and Bobby "T-Bob" Hebert.

On January 6, 2025, the show swapped positions with The Rich Eisen Show, moving from 9am to 12pm PT and moving from Infinity Sports Network to Westwood One. In October 2025, it was announced that in December 2025 Rome would return to Infinity Sports Network as part of Westwood One's assumption of day-to-day operations for the network, rebranded as Westwood One Sports.

Show personnel ("The [[Merkur XR4Ti|XR4Ti]]")

, staff includes Tom "Count Chocula" Di Benedetto, executive producer (EP) and call screener since 2021; Alvin Delloro, engineer since 2005; James "Flight Deck" Kelley, digital program director since ; Cindy Stirling; Alex Hardy; and Lorn McLaren of the "XCR" (video control room staff), assistant director and graphics producer since 2024.

Former staff includes EPs Travis Rodgers (1996 to 2009), Kyle Brandt (2009 to 2016, producer back to 2007), and Adam Hawk (2016 to 2021), as well as Brian "Whitey" Albers, Keith Arnold, Robert Dozmati, Mike Goldfarb, Austin Huff, Gerrit Ritt, Jack Savage, Jason Stewart, Dave Whelan, and Imanni Wright.

Show format and content

The three-hour program is a mixture of interviews, calls, emails, Tweets and Rome's own thoughts and analysis. On the radio, the opening and closing theme is "Lust for Life" by Iggy Pop, and the show also uses "Welcome to the Jungle" by Guns N' Roses and "Up All Night" by The Boomtown Rats. The program usually begins with headlines, when Rome highlights the main sports news of the day with his thoughts and opinions. Rome refers to his listeners as "Clones". A staple of the program is the Smack Off, an annual show on which the best callers compete against each other for a cash prize.

Friday episodes include the week rewind, known as "Alvin Delloro's Week that Was", which is a compilation of show highlights over the past week alongside a mix of music.

From February 11 to March 11, 2009, all of Rome's shows contained an interview with an individual with the given name Rex.

References

• When in Rome: Heterosexism, homophobia and sports talk radio David Nylund, GLAAD Center for Study of Media & Society (academic analysis of the show format, PDF document).

References

1. "CBS Sports Radio {{!}} Jim Rome Studio". V Three Studios LLC.
2. Andreeva, Nellie (August 29, 2012). [https://deadline.com/2012/08/jim-rome-to-leave-premiere-radio-networks-for-deal-with-cbs-sports-radio-326945/ Jim Rome to leave Premiere Radio Networks for deal with CBS Sports Radio]. ''Deadline.com''. Retrieved August 30, 2012.
3. Steinberg, Brian. (2017-10-17). "CBS Sports Network Will Televise Jim Rome's Radio Show". Variety.
4. "2024 Radio Row - Tuesday Hour 3 - Dr. David Chao, Andrew Whitworth, Jeff Chadiha, X Announcement 02/06/24". The Jim Rome Show.
5. Staff. (May 28, 2024). "The Jim Rome Show Launches on X". Barrett Sports Media.
6. Staff. (September 19, 2024). "Jim Rome Launches FAST Channel, Including Exclusive Bonus Hour Co-Hosted by Will Blackmon". Barrett Sports Media.
7. Staff. (May 16, 2025). "T-Bob Hebert Stepping Down From 'The After Hour' With Jim Rome". Barrett Sports Media.
8. Cameron, Coats. (December 16, 2024). "Jim Rome, Rich Eisen Swap Networks in Sports Radio Shakeup". [[Radio Ink]].
9. Coats, Cameron. (2025-10-22). "Infinity, BetMGM Shows Join New Westwood One Sports Network".
10. "[https://www.stucknut.com/takebox/id/18f5/ 3/8/2013 Jason Stewart's Farewell Show]". ''Stucknut.com'' website.
11. Koehler, Robert. (December 24, 1993). "Rome's Empire Grows". [[Los Angeles Times]].
12. (July 26, 2017). "Jim Rome's 23rd Annual 'Smack Off' Set For Friday".
13. (June 2, 2009). "Clone Wars: Jim Rome's World Within a World".
14. Hoffarth, Tim. (March 11, 2009). "The Rome/Rex streak is over". Father off the Wall.