Spring Rubber

Since it's Friday, WGN is just having Tom Negovan anchor solo tonight. 2/3 of the talent on this newscast is named Tom.

Wow, my foggy memory told me that Steve Sanders was only doing the Evening News right after Suppelsa was hired. I was away at college from 2008-2012, so I don't exactly have that much knowledge of the Chicago market during that period. I had WGN America at college, but I don't think I ever watched the Noon news at all.

Not sure why, but WMAQ is completely ignoring the possibility of snow on Monday night into Tuesday. Every other local channel plus the NWS, TWC, etc. all agree that we're going to get snow on Monday night into Tuesday, but I watched Byron's forecast at both 4:30 and 5:00, and neither time did he mention the possibility of snow on Monday-Tuesday, and his 7-day forecast shows a "partly cloudy" icon for both Monday and Tuesday. Usually if a certain channel disputes the common forecast being given by everyone else, they'll make mention of it and explain the models that make them feel that way, but instead Byron and NBC 5's weather team are just completely ignoring the notion that we could even get snow Monday night into Tuesday. Why do you think this is? Are they disputing everyone else's forecast, or is it that they simply don't care about Monday or Tuesday until after Saturday and Sunday's storm system passes? If it's the latter, then that's a major flub. I certainly hope that's not the case.

Well, I assume he's going back to the anchor chair once either Steve Sanders or Robert Jordan retire. Remember, he was anchor of the Noon newscast until his motorcycle accident that kept him out of work for a while in 2009, at which point they permanently slid Steve Sanders into his spot.

Ravi, Linda, Cheryl, and JR tonight.

Speaking of Cheryl Scott, they put her on the Countdown Chicago coverage in this only her third week with ABC 7, partnered with Alan Krashesky. She was so elated at the stroke of midnight, you could really see the excitement on her face knowing that 2015 is gonna be an amazing year for her with her new job at ABC 7. I couldn't help but feel excited for her as well.

Mike Caplan did the 10 pm news. They seem to be trying out random meteorologists on random newscasts over the holidays right now. Maybe they'll randomly reverse it tomorrow and have Mike to the 4, 5, and 6 and have Cheryl do the 10pm.

Tonight's 5pm team was Karen Jordan, Linda Yu, Cheryl Scott, and Mark Giangreco. We're in full holiday mode tonight!

Ravi is in for Ron tonight just like on Wednesday. Was Ron really on last night, or was that a typo?

What the heck...Ron, Kathy, and Jerry on the 4 o'clock show. I'd think that out of anybody, they would be the ones with the week off! I guess they'll all definitely be off later this week and all of next week.

Sean Lewis is doing the 5 pm news after doing the 6 am news this morning. It's the Phil Schwarz experience!

She did WHAT to the promo shots?!? :ph34r:

I guess Tom's illness flared up worse again. After laboring through the day on Monday, he's been gone again yesterday and today. Get well soon, Tom.

All programming on the SD channel is being letterboxed from now on.

It looks to be only a refresh to the lower thirds and the bug. Opens appear to be the same, and the music is the same. EDIT: They've scrapped the custom copyright graphic from the previous package and are just using a regular lower third to display that info now.

New graphics just debuted at 11. I'm watching on the TV at work, so I can't provide any screen grabs until 10 pm. Hopefully someone else can get some. Yes, they are letterboxing the SD feed now.

They just aired a pre-recorded Ben Bradley report where they forgot to edit out a flub and a 3...2...1... leading into what was supposed to be the final take of the report.

I wonder if Mike Caplan will seek to become chief somewhere else. Surely he's got to be the most snubbed by this decision to hire Cheryl Scott.

Tom Skilling just said that he went to an immediate care center over the weekend due to a flare-up of the illness that he's been dealing with for the past month and a half. Man, I hope he gets better soon.

IIRC, Ron Magers is always off on Christmas. He works the Thanksgiving holiday every year, but then he's always off for the entire two weeks of Christmas and New Years. I think it's usually Ravi Baichwal and sometimes Linda Yu on Christmas. Side note: Mike Caplan filled in for Phil yesterday, and Phil is back today filling in for Mike on the 4pm news.

Any videos or pics?

Ah, that's good to hear.

Tracy Butler is filling Phil Schwarz's vacated role tonight.

Wow, what happened? Where did you meet him?

Erin McElroy got to anchor the Morning News again for the full morning today as both Robin and Lourdes were off. Too bad she'll be permanently relegated to the kiddie desk (traffic) again after today's brief holiday opportunity to anchor again.