Jase

 

Why him though?

 

He is likely the only one available. Plus, with extended sports coverage, they likely didn't want Karen to anchor the enitire hour solo.

Another EP is supposedly out at 32, this time it's Jennifer Vander Sanden.

http://www.adweek.com/tvspy/wfld-executive-producer-reportedly-out/148777

She started as a morning producer in 2012 and been an EP since 2014.

What the heck is going on over there? I believe this was the 6 EP Good Day Chicago has had in the past 7 years. How can things get better when they never give people enough time to turn things around?

 

Wow.... They got the same idea... Interesting.

 

WLS reportedly did this on Monday and Tuesday with WMAQ responding yesterday to the challenge. WMAQ has used this tactic before and WFLD has used a different type in the past also.That said, look for MAQ' to run a promo saying they are #1 @ TEN (with an * noting it's actaully a win in the demo and not households/total viewers in the smallest print possible). Gotta love their competitive spirit!!!

Stations here have often used promos to highlight things...ie..'#1 at TEN,' 'Local Coverage. FIRST.,' etc... They don't do that as much as they once did however. That said, I can't remember ever coming across any releases online as of late.

 

See that's something I don't get... Maybe it's that there are too many news organizations working behind 7 to make any one of them a really strong competitor because the audience is too diluted.

 

WMAQ and WLS were a lot more competitive, particularly at 10, for years often trading the #1 spot every few months. In late 1997/early 1998, WMAQ suffered a 20% decline in viewership after Marin and Magers quit and it took years for them to recover. WLS, to a certain degree, benefitted from that and maybe still does a little. Honestly, who knows how things would have played out if Ron and Carol had stayed...

 

News coverage (in general) has changed so much and with it, the habits of viewers. I think it will only get tougher for WLS to hold off WMAQ constantly in certain key demos (overall/total viewership doesn't matter) going forward if MAQ' offers up something (whether it's an investigative piece, storm coverage, etc...) that draws viewers in regardless of how long that may be. Sadly, I don't think WBBM is up to the challenge to compete with either of them. I miss the days when everyone made a constant effort to up their game and really go after each other.

Since the door has been opened (if you will), it looks like he is wearing the same shirt too. There appears to be makeup residue on the collar that is somewhat similar, but more pronounced today on one side given the angle. I could be totally wrong given that I'm dealing with an eye infection.

This is what happens when you cut beyond the bone, so none of this should come as a surprise. You have to feel for those that have to pretty much scrape together a newscast day in and day out because management, on any level, just doesn't care.

 

I really hope Demetrius gets some sort of reward for his coverage. He is doing a fantastic job.

 

At one point, Tom and the rest of the crew gave him kudos for his coverage. He said he has covered small tornadoes before, but, as you can imagine, seeing the devastation first hand is difficult to see/explain.

Rob keeps talking over her and vice versa. They need to work as a team and not try to be the lead. Honestly, Brant could (and should have) just run things. Shocking how bad they are.

As I have said before, when Scott was at WMAQ, it was a very similar situation (very bad weather/entire weather team on-air) and she seemed out of her element. So I dont see things getting better. As far as technical issues, they could have sent someone (or both) upstairs and run things from there if they couldn't get things going in the studio.

 

And that's what I'm complaining about... If this is the future of their coverage meteorologist wise... Not good.

 

Sadly this isn't her forte. When it comes to breaking weather coverage, she is weak. Jerry sounds sick (I dont know if he really is) and has to carry the load. I feel bad for him.

 

Good for him! yes. ish I could move to LA lol. On a side note, does anyone know when the contract with the streetside studio ends? I feel like WBBM is wayyyyyyyy overdue for a total overhaul of everything (more reporters, news structure/presentation, and an update of that miserable set). The set makes me so irritated. That set was perfect and they just let it be destroyed. Okay, sorry, end of rant.

 

Conventional wisdom would suggest 2018 would be the end date (10 yrs. after the studio debuted). I still believe that if they wanted out, they probably could get out of it. The city has bigger issues to deal with plus with the entire Gallery 37 complex on a upswing, I doubt there would be anything/anyone standing in their way.

 

oh oh oh ha ouch,but i guess they did have one with him?

 

Yes. Both he and Marion Brooks were cropped out.

 

WMAQ Tuesday did a live toss to Lester Holt for a preview of Nightly News.

 

As of late (a couple of weeks), it has been a live toss. It may be something they're trying to help keep the numbers here in Chicago (Lester's former hometown) and in other key markets stable following the Williams thingy.

As stated above, 'Empire' is filmed here, but the setting is NYC. While they are still behind WGN rating-wise, having a mega hit like 'Empire' as a lead-in has no doubt helped WFLD stabilize things a bit. WMAQ tends to do the same with both 'Chicago Fire' and 'PD.' For example, actors from CF/CPD hosted WMAQ's auto show last month. With more TV shows calling Chicago home these days, most of us have grown use to Empire, Prison Break. ER segments, etc.. appearing on newscasts.

 

Man, I hope you're right. Remember how we all thought there were dead ends for Cheryl Scott, and then seasoned veterans at ABC 7 got superseded and one got the boot.

 

Scott is a unique case. If Mike, Phil and Tracy were in their 30s-40s, WLS likely wouldn't have given her a second look. She jumped ship at the right time is all. Who knows how things are going to pan out with her.

 

Elgas probably lands either a correspondent gig at the broadcast/cable level or a job in LA or NYC is my guess. I don't have any confidence WBBM management knows what the heck they're doing so I don't see him going there.

It seems like such a waste to have Phil work just one newscast. He should pick up the 10P also.

 

She hadn't been off since before sweeps, possibly even before the WCIU-cast debuted, so a few days off is less than surprising. I am a little surprised that Jerry's doing all 5 broadcasts, though. I wonder if he'd be willing to maintain that for an entire week, versus just a few days.

 

There's really no reason why he couldn't work all 5 for an entire week. He seems to be in better health these days, so that shouldn't be an issue. Plus, Scott will likely work all 5 when she succeeds him next year. It's highly doubtful they move Phil or Tracy from their current spots to weekday afternoons/evenings.

 

Her response to comments on a facebook post:

I'm not skating by any issue. There is no truth to the rumor. ZERO! It's sad some have to dabble in people's personal lives with false information. I'm sorry you all have to hear such nonsense too. It's not fair to anyone. The only thing we can do... is stay true to who we are... Move on... &... chin up!

 

First, I am surprised she posted (or was allowed to post) anything at all. Management/PR probably should have stepped in and came up with a simple response and posted that on FB, Twitter, etc... While I get you want to, in your own words, defend yourself, that may not be the best decision.

 

These posts make her sound somewhat defensive and deflective. I fear this situation isn't going away anytime soon.

 

I assume they didn't include Scott in that... I was watching but on the stream so I missed sports...

 

No...just rumors about him being traded and his relationship with teammates and the like. No media outlet (TV or print) that I have seen/read has gone beyond that (meaning...no mention of Scott or anything else of a personal nature). I would assume it will stay that way.

WLS didn't shy away from briefly mentioning (some of) the Patrick Sharp rumors and his response to said rumors during tonight's 10P newscast. Hopefully, this will be the end of it.

 

If iofftirs up the right group of people she will be terminated faster than the wind speeds in an EF5 tornado. Sharp is high profile enough of a person for Scott to become a complete distraction if it blows up.

 

On the flip side the ratings could bounce up...

 

Unless some photos and/or a video pops up, there really isn't enough proof of anything for anyone to cause a stink over. Aside from a few negative posts on her Facebook page, most people seem to not care. ABC 7 is really invested in her it seems, so unless an avalanche of evidence were to be produced, this will blow over.

ABC 7 really has nothing to worry about concerning these rumors, but I am sure the GM & ND will do (or have done) their due diligence and gotten some answers from Scott concerning the situation. This would be a much bigger deal if she was a sports anchor/reporter. Anyway, if the rumors are true, the worse possible outcome is that she is labeled a homewrecker which, in no way, would be grounds for any type of disciplinary action.

 

______

 

I was surprised to see Terrell this AM too. My guess is that since he has filled in before on weekend mornings prior to moving to weekdays, he was a logical choice if others were unavailable.

Don't know when this happened, but two monitors have been added to the front of the weather desk. It still says NBC 5 Storm Team. Guess I was right about the placeholder sign being a temporary thing.

 

A new promo featuring Jerry and Cheryl debuted last night during the Oscars. It pretty heavily implied that Cheryl is the heir apparent to Jerry, and he pretty much stopped just short of saying that out loud. The setting also caught my eye; it looked to be in a fairly large area in front of several distant monitors and a bright white backdrop. I had never seen it before.

 

https://twitter.com/jerrytaft/status/569994908897042434

 

Not a bad promo, but they probably should have ran this when Scott first started. It definitely comes across like a passing of the torch. I really like the setting as well. If I am not mistaken, this is the same space they often use for debates, musical performances and the like.