24994J

I can't. This is too fantastic. A fan of the ESPN radio show decided to add visuals to one of Mark's great commentaries... [MEDIA=vimeo]145106350[/MEDIA]

Giangreco's ready for the weekend... "We should do shots on the air, in the studio. Limoncello before weather."

FOUND IT! I'm only going to give the numbers at 10pm for this year and the two prior Novembers. 2013: WLS- 8.9, WMAQ- 5.9, WBBM- 5.5, Combined- 20.3 2014: WLS- 9.3, WMAQ- 6.6, WBBM- 4.6, Combined- 20.5 2015: WLS- 8.4, WMAQ- 6.2, WBBM- 3.2, WGN- 2.6, Combined- 20.4 (In-progress) I like when I'm right.

How much everyone is down, though, is unclear, but the hemorrhaging isn't likely as strong as the writer implies, considering he doesn't include WGN in that stat, but fails to realize that much, if not most of 9's 2.6 came from the other three channels.

One week into sweeps, WLS has opened up a surprising 2.2 point lead in total viewers at 10 (8.4 to 6.2). ABC 7 and NBC 5 both improved on their lead-ins (5.8 and 5.0, respectively). Of course, it is only based on 5-7 nights of competition (I don't know if Saturday and Sunday nights count, where the two leaders don't compete head-to-head, anyway), but considering they only had a 1 point lead and were down a fraction in the demo last month, the folks at 190 North must be confident. No word on the demo numbers, but I'd imagine that, with this recent boost, they've at least tied WMAQ. WBBM was also "up" about a point this first week, notching a 3.2. WGN, meanwhile, has essentially remained steady at a very disappointing 2.6. "Channel 9's poor showing suggests its star weatherman Tom Skilling [...] doesn't automatically ensure strong ratings results." http://www.bizjournals.com/chicago/news/2015/11/06/wls-channel-7-evening-news-pulling-ahead-as.html?ana=twt

It's late, so I ask, they're alleged typo or did I make one?

I DVR'd Jimmy Kimmel last night, am watching it right now, and noticed that ABC 7 ran a promo for the morning news. By itself, that's something they haven't done in a few years, but the notable part is that the lower third said "TOMORROW AT 4AM". No announcement been made, they made no verbal mention in the spot, and my cable guide has not been changed.

Keep it in the second hour. Personally, I don't mind Lara being on the show, but getting equal billing as George and Robin has made her presence too strong. She can be entertaining and charming, but in small doses.

Here ya go. It is a lot better, though I still prefer the last theme (and the '09 theme, most of all).

Hell, I captured it this morning in case they'd change it. I'll upload it.

Chris Cato is leaving for Florida. http://www.adweek.com/tvspy/chris-cato-joins-wtvt-in-tampa/158132

Nothing important in the package is 16:9. All relevant text is in the safe zone. As for the time and temp, it never left if your local affiliate was made aware of the change/knew what they were doing.

It's better than I thought, but I think the theme is still a downgrade, and it doesn't help that they're not using it particularly well.

God, I used to hate that desk. Still do.

Really, if they didn't run like 90 seconds of headlines, they'd be able to squeak out an open that wasn't only 4 seconds. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0wU6q8VVqTw

It's not perfect, but I'm thrilled that they FINALLY blew up the old look. The new theme is way too vague, though, and the new desk is pretty bad.

That's also one of the new Ford Transit vans. I'm pretty sure any new vans at WABC have been Nissans.

Yeah, that's definitely new. I'm kinda surprised, too, because I don't ever recall any of the morning show making changes on a weekend, and they just refreshed everything over the summer. For those who haven't seen, the bug is now a large blue box much further to the right (still safe) the switches between 'GMA' with '#GMA' below, and 'ABC' with the show's website. Atop the blue box is a white box with the time and temp, and the type is quite small.

When did Robin join the show in 2002? She still read the news for nearly 14 months from when she was promoted to co-anchor early in May of '05 until Charlie left in the middle of the following June. If she didn't hit 4 years, she came damn close.

WFLD isn't on at 10. At nine, they usually score lower than a 2, and WGN typically triples that with something close to a 5. Below a 1 is reserved for 32 and 2 in the mornings.

WGN's less than thrilled with their 4th place finish at 10pm, so they're doing everything they can to appeal to the younger viewers. EVERYTHING.

WLS has introduced an animated news bug for the GMA updates. Like WABC's, it now rotates between the ABC 7 and the stacked 'Good Morning America' logo. I don't know how long it's been this way, though, as I'm rarely up and/or watching. In addition to the regular model, this is the station's third variation of the on screen bug (WCL, WCIU, GMA).

Haven't had a good Jerry blooper in awhile. While it may not be his best stuff, it got a nice chuckle from everyone involved.

I don't think the doomed anchor team was at the 30th. I can't recall. Update: I found an article on that celebration, ironically enough, on Today.com. "As [Hartman] and Lunden stood with current hosts Charles Gibson and Diane Sawyer, it was almost as if the dark days of the late 1990s, the Kevin Newman and Lisa McRee era, didn’t exist (they were invited but didn’t attend)."