Spring Rubber

Speaking of next year, any word on if they plan on extending the WCIU deal? I got the vibe that this would probably be the year that it ends.

I'm not surprised but am sad to see him go. The entire WGN weekend team, save for Jackie Bange, has retired within 18 months.

I guess I won't be attending Test Closing Message school today.

I've noticed WGN has been on a huge advertising campaign to promote Dan and Lauren with the 4-6am news.

It was mentioned today that Erin Ivory will be a permanent fixture on the 4pm show in addition to the 5pm show on a daily basis going forward. Previously, she appeared on the 5pm show on a regular basis, and IIRC, she would only occasionally appear on the 4pm show. She's still going to be in the same role, just doing so every single weekday at 4pm and 5pm.

This is the end of the 11am news, right? Did Joel join the desk to talk about stories coming up on the 4pm news on a regular basis? I can't remember.

Random thought from Sunday night into Monday morning... WFLD did Bears GameNight Live... and it was actually live after the newscast at like 1:30am. They mentioned that Dan Hampton had to leave and wasn't able to appear on the show due to the late hour. So...I'm guessing they're contractually obligated to do the show live no matter what? Logic would dictate that you'd just prerecord the show during the baseball game as soon as you realize how slowly the game was progressing. It's gotta be that their contract prevents them from prerecording.

Interesting. I'm assuming they never went on air that day at all?

Is Sylvia anchoring the Noon on Mondays, or is she off on Sunday and Monday?

She didn't comment. I didn't even realize she's normally on in the morning.

Gotta love World Series week. Fox 32's news ended at midnight, at which point Mark Strehl said he'll be back for Good Day Chicago at 7am. Hope he gets a short cat nap in between shows.

Wow, when's the last time he was in studio? Also, what was the segment about?

I would think there's an uncertain future ahead. Who's to say what the WGN Morning News will be a year from now, both in terms of personnel and format.

AFAIK, ESPN regularly offers the MNF games to the highest bidder whenever the game can't air on the ABC O&O (because Dancing with the Stars is more important for ABC.) That's why, if the Bears have a MNF game in December when DWTS is over, the MNF game will be on WLS. Otherwise, it gets sold to somebody else in the market, typically WGN, WCIU, or WPWR.

So sorry to hear that...

WGN announced on-air today that just like last year, "Cubs Nightly" will air every night at 6:30pm from October 2nd until the Cubs' playoff run is over. It will replace the 6:30-7pm block of news, which, of course, didn't exist last October.

Wow, that's right, it's already been 4 weeks. Where has September gone?

Yep, came here to say this. I hope Rob is doing well.

So, after Rob working the 6pm and 10pm news and Patrick working the 4pm and 5pm news all last week, Dick Johnson returned to the weekend role this weekend. (I'm pretty sure Dick was off last week; don't remember seeing him at all) I wonder what role we'll see Dick in Monday-Wednesday this week. Anchor? Back to general assignment reporting?

Could they possibly be waiting for the regular season? Or possibly be waiting for Sinclair to take over so that they can make their own package?

Rob Stafford is doing the 6pm news tonight.

Wow, that's a rare pairing.

Oh, ok. I hadn't heard that.

WGN replaced the last 15 minutes of the 6pm news with The Lead-Off Man. They probably had to do this because the ads were already sold for The Lead-Off Man, which would have aired before the regularly-scheduled 1:20pm game.

So, I noticed that yesterday and today, Patrick is anchoring at 4 and 6pm despite Dick being on the 5pm. Not sure if Patrick is going to be off this weekend, or if he's going to work a 9-day week. I'm curious why they're doing this. I'm guessing either Dick has a prior commitment that prevents him from working the 4 and 6pm, or management is trying to get Patrick in the seat on weekdays as much as possible.