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Funny that we should be having this conversation. Phil was off this morning, and announced online that he'll be back tonight, and with Jerry off this week, he fill in at 6 Monday through Wednesday. I'd assume Cheryl will take everything else.

I don't know, but Rich King has been doing Instant Replay most weeks over the last several months. Heck, even when Dan was just at Spring Training, he didn't host, even after doing so in previous years.

After 13 years, 4:30PM anchor Rob Elgas' last day on the air is going to be March 13th. He's leaving for on his own, but his next career move is not yet known. Weekend anchors Dick Johnson and Lauren Jiggetts will fill his chair alongside Marion Brooks until a replacement is announced. http://www.robertfeder.com/2015/03/06/rob-elgas-hauls-anchor-from-nbc-5/

No, she came back tonight.

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.

One thing, especially among the ABC stations, since they maintain a mostly individual look, I do appreciate is WPVI's color scheme. They've been using the blue, red, and yellow/gold motif for several packages, and I hope they'd keep that. Same thing with WABC and their use of red. Heck, I was initially hesitant when WLS dumped all purple and most gold accents upon their rebrand a year and a half ago.

To be fair, the graphics were very nice fresh out of the box, but the new elements and additions over the years have made most of it very clunky and overbearing.

At this point, they really need to blow up the whole package and start fresh.

Joan was on weekends at WLS until '85 when she moved to the 5pm desk with John Drury. She left 4 or 5 years later (being replaced both times by Diann Burns), and took on a similar early evening role at WMAQ.

Also on Instagram and Twitter. And here's the cleaned up link... https://www.facebook.com/CScottWX/posts/10153154339674626

Apparently Sharpie has hired an attorney to try and calm these rumors that, without confirmation, are just rumors and nothing more. If this really starts to get out of control and/or the rumors are true, then that's a bridge that the Blackhawks and ABC 7 (separately) will have to be prepared to cross. ------------------------------------------------------ Anyway, I was surprised to see Terrell anchoring for Ben and Stacey this morning. I wouldn't think they'd grab someone from the weekdays to fill a weekend morning shift, but rather grab a Garcia, Gallardo, Holmes, or a Babich to pinch hit.

The declaration PROBABLY could have been worded better. Probably.

The back-up plan is a little muddy for the 7 o'clock show, from what I've noticed. The only constant is that Alan fills in for Hosea, and seemingly vice versa at 4. It seems to me that when Linda is off, Kathy will do the 4 and Cheryl will do the 7, but Stacey will randomly pop up from time to time. Cheryl and Linda were off last Friday, so Baca did both shows. When she anchored at 7 another time last week was when Linda left halfway through the 4 o'clock show and Cheryl checked in early. Another scenario I've noticed a few times is Karen doing the 4 and 7 when Linda and Kathy are off. Nothing's really consistent. I'm still curious to see how this is going to shape up when it's a holiday and if a single anchor team will do all five shows, what will it take for Ron and Kathy to show up at 7, and will Phil (or Tracy, who knows) come in to fill in for Cheryl so Jerry doesn't have to pull and "all-nighter"?

I just put this together, if anyone was curious...

I would guess they shot it in the secondary debate/performance studio right next door to the Windy City Live studio. I know for a fact that it's large enough, and the width of the room looks about right in the promo.

GMA is a program that spent the first half of its entire existence being produced by the entertainment division of the network, and enjoyed it's best ratings during that period. Personally, I don't like how fluffy it's gotten, but a news-heavy focus isn't necessary for morning television. CBS gives that option, and I do check them out from time to time. I'm not a Today fan, but I'll also admit that they're beginning to put on a more solid broadcast. My main viewership still lies with WGN Morning News, but I was raised on Charlie and Diane, and still flip over to ABC very often. As always, if you don't like it, don't watch, but stating the obvious doesn't help the matter or change anyone else's minds. Competition is good, and varied options across the morning landscape are great.

It's at least the 2nd year, but it might be the 3rd. One or two of them will stay in LA for the 'Dancing with the Stars'cast announcement tomorrow, instead of flying the whole cast to NYC.

They brought back that theme for commercial bumpers a few months back.

Not televised. Ravi was reporting from the show in full tux all evening, and some video from the event was used when Kathy announced the winners of raffle prizes, but the event did not air. However, Mark give a bit of a hit that some special guests from the station might drop in during the show tomorrow night, and the 3 WCL hosts are also going to have something air during the special.

Ron, Kathy and Mark emceed the charity event tonight, but on Magers made it back to 190 North for the late news.

Nope, not a big deal at all.

Roz has been added to the auto show telecast.

Kudos to the station for taking care of the issue quickly and doing their best to level the playing field prior to the debate. Other bosses in local and national news should act like this more often.

That the local segments of 'The List' are being canceled, making the show an entirely national production with everything coming out of Phoenix. Other rumblings say the the whole program is being canned, but Scripps denies any notion. http://www.adweek.com/tvspy/scripps-eliminating-local-segment-on-the-list/141361

Well, Cheryl has the experience from doing it at channel 5, JR and Jerry are noted techies, and Giangreco is a gearhead, so the line-up assembled sure makes sense. On another topic, I cannot remember the last time ABC 7 put out a one-time promo to air during a special event. According to Tracy Butler, this spot for the morning show will air on Oscar night. It is no surprise, though, that they're pumping in more funds to promote the "new" team.