 Johnson akatanga basa rake rokuparadzira nhau paterevhizheni somutauri wenhau muChampaign, Illinois. Iye anozivikanwa semukuru weChicago Broadcasting achitora chikamu munhau dzeterevhizheni neredhiyo kweanopfuura makumi matatu emakore. Akapinda mubhizimisi renhau reChicago pazera ramakore 23 muna 1968, zvichida rimwe ramakore ane mhirizhonga munhau yeChicago neKuurayiwa kwaMartin Luther King, Jr. kutanga mhirizhongauye kuratidzira kwairwisana nehondo. Mukupera kwema1970, Johnson akashanda semutori wenhau paABC 7 Chicago kuwedzera kubasa rake neredhiyo. Mumakore ekuma1980 akaona achishanda semumiriri wenhau paSteve naGarry Show naSteve Dahl naGarry Meier. Johnson akabva atanga kushandira Roe naGarry Show. Akaenderera mberi achishanda naRoe Conn sezvo vanogamuchira vakashanduka mukati memakore. 