former newsboy

He was smoking the same stuff Dan was when he left Channel 7 to go sing with his barbershop quartet. Look how long that lasted. So of course he'll be back soon enough. But if Anthony really wanted a promotion at Channel 5, why'd he go and grow that monkey terrorist beard at the worst possible time? Some people can pull off facial hair, but definitely not him. And he's a good looking guy...

Touché! I hadn't considered that. I guess my partiality for Ms. Jordan got the best of me. But I hardly think she wants to spend another 13 years on weekends. Then again, I suppose her hopes for an eventual promotion are a LITTLE brighter than Ravi's --- if anything changes with Kathy Brock and/or Cheryl Burton. But I highly doubt that would be any time soon.

I would think Ravi's gotta be piiiiiiiiiiiiiissed. And he has every right to be. Nothing against Elgas, he's deserving of the spot too, but, um, didn't he already have the same gig at Channel 5? Especially now that they're expanding to 4pm? Plus, Channel 5 has all the momentum right now so is it really any better? I realize Rob left 5 to explore his options, but when the networks didn't come calling, all he did was make a lateral move and get in the way of Baichwal & Bradley moving up at Channel 7. So good for Rob, but it's a shame for Ravi. I bet he ends up leaving since any hope of a weekday spot is now gone. Which is too bad because I love Ravi & Karen. Wouldn't it be ironic if he ends up being Rob's replacement at Channel 5? Channel 2 would be lucky to have him too. Channel 2 should just go ahead and make a play for both Ravi & Karen since rumor has it she'll be passed over too in favor of Judy Hsu when/if the time comes for Linda Yu to retire.

Ron Magers & Carol Marin together again! We're just minutes away on Chicago Tonight!

I hope so. I miss Linda filling-in at 6. I also miss her occasional fill-ins at 10 so I hope that resumes as well. To me, it doesn't get any better than seeing Ron, Linda, Jerry, and Mark together. So good, so Chicago.

Call me crazy, but I think Antonio Mora would be perfect for the 4:30p anchor spot. I've never been a huge fan, but he just might be the only one out there to create a chemistry with Marion Brooks, as he has a unique ability to pair well with virtually anyone. Anyone better than Diann Burns of course, which of course would be virtually anyone. He'd be good with Allison Rosati too. I bet he's still kicking himself for signing with 2 instead of 5 in 2002 as I'm 99.9% sure Channel 5 was the other station in town said to be after him back then. And with his Al Jazeera America stint coming to a close, the timing couldn't be more perfect. Just a thought.

This actually pisses me off considering this is the first test since replacing Harry Porterfield & Roseanne Tellez. I mean it was definitely (more than) time for Harry to go (sorry), but I'm still furious Roseanne no longer has an anchor spot. But the reality is, Channel 2 has always done well at 11, ever since Mary Ann Childers & Jay Levine fronted it starting in 1998. Maybe even since the Joan Lovett days, when they first began having news at 11, moving the noon news an hour earlier in 1997 when Hank Price was running things. Channel 2 was the first station in town to ever have news at 11. Now it's a crowded field. But I'm pretty sure their strength there has everything to do with their lead-in (The Price is Right) and NOTHNG to do with the detestable Lionel Moise & Erin Kennedy. Oh my God, those two. Oh. My. God.

Does anyone know why Rob & Irika will be anchoring tonight at 10? On a Saturday? Just caught the tail-end of the Saturday morning news and Marissa Bailey said "be sure to join Mai at 5 and Rob & Irika at 10." Huh? The only thing I can think of is CBS has the Republican debate tonight, but that hardly seems like a Super Bowl type of event to bring in your A-team. Also, I've been meaning to mention that Channel 2 has a cool new intro to it's weeknight M-F 10pm news, even featuring a cut from Gari's 1994 Enforcer package that WBBM used to use as a sports bumper like 20 years ago. But it totally works. Here's a link to some video of it (since I don't know how to post it directly). It's a little cut-off at the start, but you get the gist of it. Enjoy the 30 second commercial as well http://chicago.cbslocal.com/show/latest-videos/video-3359785-cop-in-alleged-fatal-jail-beating-had-prior-record/

All good things must come to an end. I knew Ron wouldn't want to stick around with Jerry on the way out and Cheryl Scott on the way in. For that matter, I can't see Mark Giangreco too interested anymore now either. Those 3 are kind of a package deal, "the boys club" if you will, all for one and one for all. And sure, Alan should get the job (Ron's). But Emily Barr's not running the show anymore, John Idler is. And if you ask me, with him in charge, the only ones there with a guaranteed bright frontline future are Cheryl Scott, Rob Elgas, Terrell Brown and Tanja Babich. Linda Yu will be gone soon and let's be real, as soon as that whole WCIU newscast ends (which it will), Hosea Sanders is done too. If Alan's passed over, and I fear he will be, he'll leave as well. So then why keep Kathy Brock? Don't get me wrong, I love Kathy Brock, I'm just thinking like Idler. I love Ravi Baichwal & Karen Jordan too, maybe even more than Ron & Kathy, but if they don't move-up in all this, I can't see them at all happy. But I'm thinking they will. Move up, that is. Just not to the top unfortunately. Rob Elgas will be Ron's replacement at 10, I'm just not sure about who the female will be. But it won't be Cheryl Burton, she's out! So basically everyone currently on weeknights is gone except for maybe Jim Rose (if they still want 2 evening sports anchors). No, they won't, so bye-bye JR. Just like Cheryl Scott will handle all P.M. weather duties. WCL gets cancelled, midday news returns, and Ryan Chiaverini gets the top sports job. Val Warner joins the free-for-all, as does Judy Hsu, Stacey Baca and Ben Bradley. Tracy Butler gets replaced, Diane Pathieu takes Roz's spot. And BOOM goes the dynamite! So there you have it: John Idler's ABC 7 Eyewitness News!

I'm pretty certain this has everything to do with CBS having the Super Bowl this year, but Channel 2 has turned it's newscast bug gold (matching the logo on the recent promos for the big game). I'd say it's an improvement as I haven't liked the bug since the '13 graphics change, but whatever, I'm sure it'll only be around for a couple weeks and make ratings go through the roof HA. Here's a sample (did they change the boldness of the website/twitter/facebook text?)

Wow, Judy Hsu is anchoring at 10 right now. I'm pretty sure that's a first. Change is in the air!

Mike just made his on-air debut, top of the 7 o'clock hour. They had some fun with it, teasing a "big surprise" and acting like they were trying to find someone in the building who could give Tammie Souza a break on this busy weather morning. Great to see him, hasn't skipped a beat - it looks and feels like I'm watching Channel 7. Maybe he'll help their numbers, it got me to watch anyway. (Tammie's sticking around for now at least, sharing the duties. They're alternating between the two of them thus far).

Irika Sargent has made such an impact, they even forgot how to spell her name. Unbelievable. From last night's 10PM news...

Ew, I saw Kathy's the other day and thought she came across as super arrogant. "The reason we're so good at it." Ew! Maybe that's why there's another Kathy one, maybe someone else didn't like it either, so they replaced it. Maybe they even had to re-shoot it?

Just saw the 'Wheel' promo... Rob Elgas & Cheryl Burton anchoring tonight at 10. (I guess Kathy wasn't there at 6)

So stoked about Jane Pauley anchoring tonight! Saw her preview on the 5pm news here in Chicago.

I thought Darlene Hill & Corey McPherrin CO-anchored Fox 32 News at Noon. And it used to be that way. But now it's always one or the other SOLO. What gives?

I was thinking he was there because of the big Hillary announcement. They knew it was coming today, so they wanted Lester there. Which would further indicate Lester's their man. Makes sense to me anyway.

I forgot about him! HE'LL probably replace Mark when the time comes. The way things are going, I wouldn't be surprised if Terrell Brown, Tanja Babich (cringe), Cheryl Scott (shudder), and Ryan Chiaverini are the main faces at ABC 7. Probably next week.

Oh, it's on his personal page, not his fan page...I was lucky enough to get in early and become one of his friends. If I knew how to friggin paste on here I could show you his message. His personal page is blowing up though!!!!

HOLY SHIT!!! MIKE CAPLAN'S OUT AT ABC 7!!! HE JUST POSTED IT ON FACEBOOK - TODAY WAS HIS LAST DAY!!! DAMN THAT CHERYL SCOTT AND HER NAUSEATING SELFIE VIDEOS!!!!

Well they better not change their morning music. I just LOVE their morning music. Thank you.

Thank you, ns8401.

Did you guys not see Feder today?! Maybe it's the paywall crap. Or maybe it's because he buried it so far down in a sweeps wrap-up focused on WGN. But this made my eyes pop-out of my head 'cause, ummm, it's REALLY happening...and seemingly a lot sooner than later... "Even so, changes are imminent in the station’s front line, with chief meteorologist Jerry Taft soon to be succeeded on ABC 7’s top-rated 10 p.m. newscast by Cheryl Scott, former weekend meteorologist at NBC-owned WMAQ-Channel 5. An official announcement is expected before the end of the year."

Hoda Kotb all week long! Somebody pinch me! Meant to post sooner, saw a commercial following weekend Nightly News. This is the way it should be. Matt's an ass but Hoda is the perfect co-host for him à la Meredith Vieira. Why they didn't go with her instead of ho-hum Savannah, I'll never understand.