Jase

 

Aren't these issues something they probably should've considered prior to moving into the space? Anyone know when their city lease is up for the space?

 

I'm not sure what lease they have with the city. They don't own the building (they just lease space within it), so in theory, that shouldn't stop them from doing basic maintenance or upgrades. Given CIM is building the apartment tower on top of the mall, they are likely working with Prudential (owner of the CBS/Morningstar building) to make the entire complex more appealing. Doing so would benefit everyone. Who knows???

 

@Jase... Do you know if they're making inside improvements to the set once they are finished with the exterior? I thought I saw the corner by the weather center all blocked off? They really let their set go. Its a bunch of pieces put together and totally not functional. I also noticed many of the lights are burnt out now. More than ever before.

 

I haven't heard anything about improvements to the set. It's possible they could do something. I'm still surprised they decided to do exterior work after all these years. As I have said before, they don't have to overhaul the entire set, but do something simple to take advantage of both the space and view.

WBBM has added top-to-bottom glass panels on the outside of the studio on either side of the jumbotron that also wrap around to the Randolph side. Which mean...no more exposed steel beams!!! I dont know if these panels will light up (I assume they will), but this improvement is beyond overdue.

 

I'll try to upload pics, but it's probably better to wait until the work is complete.

 

I suppose the question I would have is: does it get repetitive to do?

 

No. There is always something different to do/to learn. I got to play stage director, if you will, most of the time. One year, the Santa float blew by too fast with about 1 min. left to fill at the end and I had to chase it down before it got out of camera range. Good times...

Having worked the TV side of the parade for a # of years, the hosts have it pretty easy. The scripts are already done, so it's just a matter of doing a quick run through, dressing warmly, being able to read without sounding like you are and that's it. It's much easier now since they have all the performances first and then the parade instead of mixing them in. Heck...Mark and Micah, in theory, could be back home by Noon (if not sooner). Despite the weather, its a cool experience to have under your belt.

 

I saw a commercial this morning for the annual Thanksgiving parade on WGN, but I noticed that the coverage will be hosted by Mark and Micah this year. Robin B. and Paul Konrad have hosted it for years; I wonder why they're switching it up this year.

 

I agree it seems weird to change things after 7 years. It will be interesting to see if they stay on script or ad-lib here and there. Micah doesn't seem to have much of a friendly, upbeat 'it's a parade!!' demeanor.

It's sweeps, so it shouldn't come as a surprise she was there to intro her piece/discuss it with Mark & Micah. As far as turning around and working the AM shift, WFLD does this all the time (i.e. Corey or John sitting in at 9P and are back on GDC the next day). Granted they have little choice given their much smaller staff when compared to WGN or anyone else for that matter.

 

A lot of these moves are in many ways being dictated by the Mouse. WLS is trying to set up their talent roster for the long term. Cheryl is a lot younger than Mike, Phil and Tracy and realistically they want someone who will probably stick around a lot longer than 5-10 years. Granted that there is no guarantee in life, but if you think about, who do you think will be at WLS in another 10 years... Cheryl Scott or Mike Caplan, Phil Shwarz or Tracy Butler? Also, it happened with the outsourcing of master control at the ABC O&O's but you can almost guarantee that layoffs and or non-renewals are coming up for many employees. The ABC O&O's are pretty bloated to begin with and they can easily shave off some payroll at every station in the group- either via non-renewals or retirements.

 

I believe viewers understand that their favorite anchor/reporter will, at some point, retire. WLS really needs to plan out who they want to replace these veterans with. Adding Scott seems like a step backwards imo. Offering her three years (sounds like something WFLD would do) is, on the surface, pointless, so they throw in the possibility to succeed Jerry to sweeten the deal and thus create an uncomfortable situation for the rest of the weather team.

 

If they didn't want to promote someone from within, they could have easily found someone with a bit more experience than Scott without spending a ton of cash.They really can't afford to be careless because viewing habits can change if you add the wrong people (inexperienced and cheap) into the mix.

 

Sooner or later 7 is going to screw up, maybe this is that event. None of the other 3 vets that are there would likely be at all happy. Scott has nowhere near the expierience to do the 10. Why you would have one meteorologist do one show is beyond me. Ideally one meteorologist would do 4, 5, 6 and 10 the way so many other stations do. Not having that 11am complicates that though unless they want to drop to 4 mets from the 5 they have.

 

The job should be Caplans. Period.

 

Before Jim Tilmon retired from WMAQ, he only did the 10PM newscasts with Andy handling the 4:30, 5 and 6 newscasts. That said, Jerry doing only 10 with Cheryl taking over 5 and 6 and Mike staying at 4 could, in theory, happen.

 

I'd also be inclined to think that other chopping would be done, but I'd bet that they could pay Cheryl handsomely, give the other three a raise to make up for the shafting, and still be spending less than with the current arrangement.

 

That is, of course, if the others stick around. I think management might actually let that sort itself out versus being clouded with a firing. And, I think this is a guarantee, Jerry has probably given some sort of timetable, letting the bosses know that he's hanging it up. Jerry just might be the only winner in this, because if he has stated his intent, then he's definitely going to be leaving on his own terms, whenever he wants, especially if it's within a year.

 

Unless Tracy Butler quits, she seems like the odd one out. They wouldn't have six weather people on staff unless it was a temporary arrangement with Jerry leaving at the end of November/this year. But it doesn't appear he's leaving anytime soon.

No way she jumps ahead of everybody else. I'm thinking she will join a revamped weekday AM newscast. And even if she takes over in 3-5 years, she really needs to step it up. WMAQ is done with her, so she's not going back there.

 

To be clear, I don't usually like these kinds of promos, but I gotta admit, this is one of the better self-serving campaigns I've seen in a long time. I'm also pretty sure that this is the first time in like decades since ABC 7 shot a promo with all of their evening anchors assembled...the last time being before they even had a morning show.

 

I'll try to post some better-quality stuff when I can.

 

While not the most creative promo, it is unique to see the entire evening crew in one shot.

 

 

The first 15 minutes of tonight's 6pm news featured a new in-news weather ticker that includes a map filling the space of the bug. It looks good, not over the top, but it only reminds me how I miss a normal, full-width ticker on the morning news.

 

http://t.co/Y5JhrjUOGR

 

This feature has been employed by others in the past, but I don't recall ABC 7 doing this before. Not sure it was warranted tonight however.

 

While I do like the softer lighting, overall, this is a wasted effort. New durans look like a small step above the ones at WFLD. It's unfortunate they decided to take a pass on doing something bigger and better to the set.

 

So WFLD has updated their cityscape backdrop duran which now puts WLS to shame. I still dont understand why WLS didn't do more.

While I do like the softer lighting, overall, this is a wasted effort. New durans look like a small step above the ones at WFLD. It's unfortunate they decided to take a pass on doing something bigger and better to the set.

 

They ditched the weather center? I thought they weren't showing it just because they were still working on that area. Did you walk by there and see that they completely removed it for good?

 

Weather Center should be up and running @ 10p. Work continues in the interview area.

Well that sucks. Was hoping for at least a refresh.

They could easily make adjustments to the set if they wanted to. Will they remains to be seen however. Like I mentioned last night, they were pointing at/discussing the duratrans, so they could throw in some new ones and a new desk without much work I would believe.

 

The temp set looks a little too good for something minor. Either they are refreshing the main set or they're getting a new one. They are WAY overdue for a new set.

 

I would agree. It doesn't seem like something they have set up 'already' just in case. I was surprised they had all the shades open, so you could see inside. There were a couple of lights that were removed, wires everywhere, etc.. There were also a couple of guys walking around pointing at the background duratrans and so forth, so something is going on. What...I don't know.

 

Isn't it amazing that this is the first time in nearly eight and a half years that this has happened? At least to the point of actually broadcasting elsewhere.

 

 

If they didn't ditch for NATO in 2012 or Lolla in years past, I wonder what's so different now? I'm betting on tech problems like jase is going with.

 

Would it be crazy though to think they might do a backdrop refresh like WPVI at some point?

 

They will likely mention what's going on at some point. Probably before they toss it to Jerry (or thereafter).

 

Holy shit! Ron and Kathy are on a temp set and Jerry's in the upstairs studio!

 

There are some type of light/electrical issues happening in the studio. There was stuff everywhere on the floor when I walked by at around 8p tonight.

 

I have benewscasting that WMAQ has begun to use the updated Look F design in its promos. So far, the actual news graphics have not been updated to what we have seen at KNBC and KXAS.

 

Look F graphics have also been used as part of the cold open/intro into the newscasts. This and the aforementioned updated promos have been used for the past couple of weeks I believe.

Right, but that isn't my point. You are the one talking about pushing and asking. My point was that the man is 69 not 39... you do the math and tell me if he will be there another 5 or 6 years or not. The odds say he will not be 75 or 76 and still anchoring. Health and age become factors (see about the powers that be below). Linda looks fine, she broke her leg... not a big deal. Jerry is getting up there and I do worry about his health from time to time.

 

The powers that be I mentioned in the post you quoted were not the bosses at WLS. You read into that who or more like what they might be. It went right over your head the first time.

No need to get bent out of shape over this. Age isn't really an issue given that with decent enough health and a relatively light workload, people can do their job beyond the age of 70. For example, WBBM's Harry Porterfield is 85 and still anchors/reports five days a week. Finally, with the recent executive changes at Disney/ABC, forgive me if I don't take too much stock in the imaginary 'powers that be' you are referring to.

 

Ron is 70 and is gonna retire sooner than later, Alan succeeds Ron. Tell the powers that be that Ron is untouchable... as much as I like the guy (and that is a lot), he doesn't have too long to go, the same goes for Jerry Taft and Linda. Theresa Gutierrez and Paul Meincke aren't gonna be far behind. Everybody but Mark Giangreco and Jim Rose are still under 60. But there will be some major upheavals in the next 2-3 years. We haven't seen anything yet.

 

Ron will be there until HE decides to leave. There is no way he is pushed, asked, etc.. to retire. Jerry doesn't appear to be in the best of health, so it would make sense to retire soon. In some sense, the same can be said of Linda.

 

You get that way after 20 some years as a number 1 in every time slot. It's a foregone conclusion major attrition and personnel changes will quickly impact abc7 at some point, it's a matter of when not if at this point. I think Babich will replace Judy Hsu and she will move to 4 to replace Linda Yu to be honest. Kathy should be on at 5, 6 and 10 and Cheryl needs to be moved to full time feature reporter. This new guy will probably remain a reporter for a while until Ron retires and Alan moves up, then he will end up at 4, they will not totally nuke and rebuild the morning news, they don't need to, it just needs a pick me up, Tanya Babich would provide that, she gives it energy when she is on with Hosea or Ben Bradley or most anybody else.

 

Karen is next in line to move and she would likely replace Linda and then possibly Kathy at some point. Ron is untouchable and could very well anchor another 8-10 years. By that point, it would make sense to give the job to Ravi and not Alan. While I would agree a complete morning rebuild isn't necessary at this point, I could see everyone, including Roz, being replaced within a year or so.

'First Alert' isn't the type of term that should be use daily so I don't get the idea behind using this to brand their weather segments. Seems like another step in the wrong direction.

 

So, Troy made his weekday debut with Tracy this morning, and she's still on with Mike at now at 4. Jerry is apparently off, as well, so the promo for the 5 has her showing up there, as well. She's apparently been in since 3am.

 

My cynicism makes me wonder if she's pulling for that promotion? (sarcasm)

 

Why was she there that long? We all knew it was going to be really cold today and tomorrow, so what was the point of having two people on more than one newscast basically telling you it's cold outside. Seems unnecessary.