Spring Rubber

This happened shortly after WGN went live last night. The camera was stuck on this view with Mike Janssen just talking in the background (not on cam), so a crew member was seen walking across the live camera shot. I assume they were using that emergency feature where the meteorologist presses a button to go live and override master control, and by doing so, it just takes a single camera shot live in the weather center until the station has time to assemble a team in the control room.

Hmm, ok, I must have caught them at bad times. I tuned in around 10:50-something and again around 11:50-something, and they were in regular programming both times. I didn't get a chance to check between those times because I was taking shelter and just kept it parked on WMAQ during the middle of the threat.

So we just had what appears to have been a confirmed tornado come through DuPage County, and it looks like WFLD was the only station in the market that didn't do live coverage of the event. Not sure if the fact that it's Sunday was the biggest factor or if the fact that it happened after 10:30pm was the biggest factor, but everyone else was on live to provide coverage.

Nice to know that they were still interested in filling that position. I was concerned that they were never going to fill it due to cost-cutting measures. Welcome to the team, Tim!

The flat ABC logo next to the 3D Circle 7 logo seems a bit odd. I have to wonder if there would ever be a consideration to flatten the Circle 7 to match the design.

Funny I was just thinking about this last night at random, and here we are with this announcement today.

Probably the first platform in which WGN has delivered the weather without a meteorologist. Speaking of which, who has been doing the weather on weekend mornings for the past several months? Are they doing the classic strategy of having the weekend evening meteorologist (Mike Janssen) work all day every weekend, or are they rotating people in and out?

RIP Dick Kay

Wow, seeing a throwback from only 10 years ago is something I didn't think I'd see, but either way, it's nice to see those graphics again!

I haven't been following the business side of streaming. What happens if the streaming bubble collapses? Where does the business model go if that happens, if both cable and streaming collapse?

Yes, thank you to both! The Fox 2008 look was the main thing that was on the tip of my mind, that I couldn't think of. The 2016 TBS look kinda gives that vibe too. I think it was mainly the color scheme that was making me think of the Turner Sports look from 2007-2010. I also wonder if the new bosses will make all of their booth talent wear full suits for every game like what Marquee is mandating. It looks so odd to see that on a local telecast; although I think some Fox RSNs may have already been wearing suits on a daily basis anyway.

That score bug reminds me of something I've seen before, but I can't place my finger on it. It gives me Turner Sports vibes circa 2007-2010

Oh my goodness. I had no idea that Mike Hamernik was unwell. Total shock to me. My condolences to his loved ones.

https://www.robertfeder.com/2021/03/03/will-mark-giangreco-ever-return-abc-7/ Feder seems to be suggesting that Giangreco will not be returning. If that's the case, what a way for a career to end without a proper goodbye.

Right after Feder wrote that piece about Giangreco being AWOL for several weeks now with no explanation. Could these two things be related?

This does seem like a situation where they might only staff in-house weather on weekdays and outsource either weekends or middays to the Fox Weather service. I would agree with Jase that perhaps the launch of Fox Weather is at least part of the reason why Bellis is out, which is what we feared when the service was announced - the departure of local meteorologists from Fox O&Os nationwide.

Was she broadcasting from home or from one or both of the stations' studios?

I haven't watched the Sunday 9pm news much this fall, but I noticed that tonight, they dedicated the entire 9:40pm-10pm block to sports. Even though the actual show Instant Replay was quietly cancelled during the pandemic sports shutdown, they still basically did a pseudo-Instant Replay tonight. Have they been doing this all throughout the fall sports season, or did they only do it tonight because the Bears are trying to make a playoff push and because it's slow news during the holidays?

I never like large graphics that hug the bottom of the screen with no gap. It feels so claustrophobic. Don't they basically modify the NBA score graphic almost every season now? It seems absurd.

Wow, that's ridiculous. Honestly, sports betting is a huge turn off for me. When SportsCenter started running full segments based around betting a few years ago, I tuned out.

Nice, I always have fond memories of that era. I didn't realize that the format launched without Robin Meade at the helm in the mornings. I just looked it up, and apparently Robin Meade joined CNN Headline News on 9/11/01 of all days. What the heck. Is that a sports cut of the theme because of the Bulls in the NBA Finals? Kinda has a sports cut vibe to it.

Rest in peace, Joel!

Just in case anyone was anticipating Ray Cortopassi's debut, his on-air debut was postponed from the original September 28th date to the following Monday, October 5th.

The ticker text is above the Look N ticker. If you look at it on a different angle, you can see it. I have to tilt my monitor upwards to see the distinction.

Wow, that's weird then. Can't think of why they'd go outside for video, then.