24994J

He closes with the personal news.

With so many other projects, and the ongoing restaurant struggles, I felt like this was coming. Glad to see an amicable split, but his work will be sorely missed. As nice as it would be, I'd imagine he won't be replaced, with any food segments being folded into Windy City Live, and especially Local-ish.

For all who didn't see. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/abc-news-names-cecilia-vega-chief-white-house-correspondent

I don't know that Karl's formal role of the This Week cycle will steal any of George's time. Martha could be looking to return to more foreign reporting, special projects, or, at almost 68, maybe even take a bit of a break, and scale back her duties.

I could see a scenario where those going out into the field stick to the first floor, leaving the main newsroom for those who remain at the station through the day. Yes, the pandemic has shown just how much can be done from home, but in many cases there's a certain convenience of having folks in the building. If it means spreading them out, so be it. They definitely have the space.

Please stop posting in the wrong threads. Consider this a warning.

The red live bug is also notable. I don't recall that when they introduced these new L3's within the last couple weeks. The word I've gotten is that WGN won't get the NewsNation look, in any form, but I doubt this is a part of a larger rollout. It still is odd, though, that they'd debut any new stuff if things are gonna be blown up within a few months.

WMAQ, Saturday morning news, 2006, featuring baby Ginger Zee, soon after her arrival in Chicago.

Longtime Chicago weatherman, host, pioneering airline pilot, and aviation expert Jim Tilmon passed away at 86. His decades-long career included stops at WTTW (PBS), WMAQ, and WBBM. https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/jim-tilmon-longtime-nbc-5-forecaster-dies-at-86/2417684/ https://chicago.cbslocal.com/2021/01/16/jim-tilmon-longtime-chicago-meteorologist-and-aviation-expert-dies-at-86/

I like the new dark on light logo treatment, and I understand the purpose of the wings to better hide the end anchors' legs, but this ain't it. The blue tabs are fine, but the gold parts are way too eye-catching. Honestly, I don't know why they're making such a change now, as I can't imagine they want the anchors sitting THAT far apart forever. They could've just relocated the upstairs desk, which is the same shape, but not so wacky.

And even more rare, a WLS weekend newscast from that same weekend in 2001. This open has never been seen on YouTube.

I did a little digging in the past, and while he's not there, Walter had debuted as co-anchor at least a couple months before this broadcast.

'Eyewitness Forum' was ABC 7's weekly news/politics show for decades, and it evolved into 'NewsViews' when a Sunday morning newscast debuted in the 90's, lasting about 15 minutes at the end of the broadcast. As of November 22nd, it was rebranded as 'Our Chicago,' the name used for several segments this past year, mostly regarding race, but now expanding to cover community causes, action, and awareness. Judy Hsu remains host. https://abc7chicago.com/society/our-chicago-feeding-those-in-need/8129496/

I noticed this the last few weeks. It's recent, but not unique to tonight.

Home. https://www.instagram.com/p/CJUahYGhIgC/

@Weeters can surely answer this, but I'm fairly certain CBS was only leasing the 1st floor space. Even if they do own it, they're sure as hell not gonna move back in just because no one is biting on it. That would be expensive and stupid.

And I counter your argument with... $$$ Nobody here is thrilled by such a possibility, but the fact is that the pandemic has shown just what's possible, especially on weather coverage.

It looks like they're finally using a more true to size version like the original KTLA package. The small version always looked weird, so good riddance.

You can lose it when they drop it. Honestly, I dunno.

GMA doesn't use the exterior like they used to, but the pandemic is what really shut that down. Ginger would do the weather, and plenty of warm weather segments would take place outside. As for CBS, if they're just doing it for a view, that seems like a waste of money. However, if they're going to go outside and interact (make it worth their while), then that would require a serious format shift that I don't think is a good idea.

Morning traffic anchor.

On this, the 40th anniversary of the singer's death, here's some coverage of John Lennon's murder from Chicago's WMAQ & WLS.

It says it in the bold type of the press release.

Just spit-ballin' off the top of my head, since it's 2am. Others can chime in with more concrete facts. Honestly, it's probably just easier to figure out when stations have had broadcasts in the 4pm hour, period. WMAQ, for example, flip-flopped between 4 and 4:30 for most of this century before expanding to the full hour in 2016. WBBM, on the other hand, was fairly consistent with a 4:30 newscast, abandoning the hour entirely in like 2004 or so. Both stations maintained 4:30 shows through the 90's, instead ditching 6pm newscasts for a time, as syndicated fare gave them a more competitive alternative to the juggernaut entry on WLS. Whenever both were absent from 4pm in the early 2000's, WLS would tout their exclusivity in their open. WGN entered the race in like 2014, and WFLD just this year. All 4 stations air an hour at 4, with WBBM being the only holdout, but Judge Judy (even if they continue with reruns next year) surely rates better than if they did news.