24994J 5575 Posted February 8, 2022 Share Posted February 8, 2022 (edited) After Chicago's Best got canceled, co-host Marley Kayden left the building. Now she's back in the building...upstairs. https://www.instagram.com/p/CZIPi-RvnOz/ Edited February 8, 2022 by 24994J 1 Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/14011-random-wgn-thread/page/57/#findComment-270031 Share on other sites More sharing options...
R.R. 90 Posted February 8, 2022 Share Posted February 8, 2022 10 hours ago, 24994J said: After Chicago's Best got canceled, co-host Marley Kayden left the building. Now she's back in the building...upstairs. https://www.instagram.com/p/CZIPi-RvnOz/ That’s been out in the news the past two weeks Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/14011-random-wgn-thread/page/57/#findComment-270039 Share on other sites More sharing options...
24994J 5575 Posted February 8, 2022 Share Posted February 8, 2022 (edited) 1 hour ago, R.R. said: That’s been out in the news the past two weeks It's not exactly a industry-shaking hire, and it wasn't mentioned on the forum. It flew under my (and apparently others') radar, so I posted it. No offense, but why didn't you, if you knew? Edited February 8, 2022 by 24994J Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/14011-random-wgn-thread/page/57/#findComment-270046 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spring Rubber 702 Posted February 8, 2022 Share Posted February 8, 2022 I was also unaware... Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/14011-random-wgn-thread/page/57/#findComment-270048 Share on other sites More sharing options...
R.R. 90 Posted February 8, 2022 Share Posted February 8, 2022 1 hour ago, 24994J said: It's not exactly a industry-shaking hire, and it wasn't mentioned on the forum. It flew under my (and apparently others') radar, so I posted it. No offense, but why didn't you, if you knew? It was a huge news day when it Kayden announced her NN hire, and I forgot to post about that, however it’s in my newscasts from my “Briefly Tonight” portion on YT. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/14011-random-wgn-thread/page/57/#findComment-270050 Share on other sites More sharing options...
24994J 5575 Posted March 16, 2022 Share Posted March 16, 2022 Merri Dee, the trailblazing anchor, reporter, and host, has passed away at 86. https://wgntv.com/news/former-wgn-tv-anchor-reporter-merri-dee-dies-at-86/?fbclid=IwAR2kIFjw8uKd_JvAuITatp_EO07-UlZ8KWe8Fb-hjj3mtcZl3n_U_TqAjI4 2 Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/14011-random-wgn-thread/page/57/#findComment-271311 Share on other sites More sharing options...
CircleSeven 1955 Posted March 17, 2022 Share Posted March 17, 2022 I'll always remember her distinctive voice in those station promos/movie opens back in the day. May she rest in peace. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/14011-random-wgn-thread/page/57/#findComment-271337 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Georgie56 3303 Posted April 8, 2022 Share Posted April 8, 2022 From Tom Skilling: 5 Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/14011-random-wgn-thread/page/57/#findComment-272158 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spring Rubber 702 Posted April 8, 2022 Share Posted April 8, 2022 RIP Jim Ramsey. It's hard to believe it's already been over 4 years since he retired. He was always Mr. Dependable at WGN, always there to fill in on literally any weekday timeslot while still carrying his regular weekend shifts, sometimes working like 14 or more days in a row when Tom or Paul were on vacation. Gonna miss you, Jim. 1 2 Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/14011-random-wgn-thread/page/57/#findComment-272164 Share on other sites More sharing options...
abric 178 Posted April 9, 2022 Share Posted April 9, 2022 A true professional in every sense of the word. 1 Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/14011-random-wgn-thread/page/57/#findComment-272199 Share on other sites More sharing options...
WeatherandTraffic 54 Posted April 11, 2022 Share Posted April 11, 2022 https://www.robertfeder.com/2022/04/11/robservations-sports-anchors-away-lauren-magiera-leaves-wgn-kaitlin-sharkey-leaves-fox-32-score-picks-gabe-ramirez/ Lauren Magiera is out. With Dan pushing his retirement back and Payton the obvious person to replace him. She maybe felt she was not getting the lead sports position anytime soon. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/14011-random-wgn-thread/page/57/#findComment-272252 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spring Rubber 702 Posted April 11, 2022 Share Posted April 11, 2022 Dang, that comes as a surprise, but I can understand the reasons. I assume Payton will cover all Fridays from now on. Wonder it will be Payton or somebody else covering Saturdays. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/14011-random-wgn-thread/page/57/#findComment-272257 Share on other sites More sharing options...
24994J 5575 Posted April 11, 2022 Share Posted April 11, 2022 They're stacked in the sports department, and could easily skip hiring anyone to replace her AND Dan, if they really wanted to go cheap. Roan is obviously still there, and Tomasulo probably stays on the morning show, but they still have Payton and Frydman (the favorite for weekends, if they don't hire from outside), plus Chris Boden and Dave Eanet as fill-ins. That said, they've had a job listing posted for a sports anchor for more than a month. That could be just a formality and elevate a current employee, but I doubt they'll go too long without a female on the team. Want to really shake things up? Poach Miller or Chiaverini from 7, since that feels like the pending collision course, when Rose retires, or even pluck Blanzy from 5, whose airtime has been greatly diminished with the promotion of Leila Rahimi to sports director. And I'll throw it out there. Feder had this line about Kaitlin Sharkey leaving Fox32..."What’s behind her departure should become clear when we see her next move." Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/14011-random-wgn-thread/page/57/#findComment-272264 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Georgie56 3303 Posted April 11, 2022 Share Posted April 11, 2022 Dan Roan's swan song will be May 26. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/14011-random-wgn-thread/page/57/#findComment-272275 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spring Rubber 702 Posted April 12, 2022 Share Posted April 12, 2022 4 hours ago, Georgie56 said: Dan Roan's swan song will be May 26. Wow, what a day for the WGN Sports department. I guess that means a really major overhaul is in store. I've got a major hunch that Kaitlin Sharkey's WFLD departure is a sign that she's going to join WGN. What's the current situation with GN Sports? I haven't watched in quite a while. Is Dan Roan hosting Sunday-Thursday while Jarrett Payton hosts Monday-Friday, or did they finally unify their schedules? I'm curious how they would re-tool these lineups in a post-Dan Roan era. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/14011-random-wgn-thread/page/57/#findComment-272285 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spring Rubber 702 Posted May 26, 2022 Share Posted May 26, 2022 I'm curious to see how WGN will handle Dan Roan's goodbye tonight. I know they've still been enforcing social distancing in the studio. I wonder if they'll lift those restrictions a bit in order for the anchors and crew to give him a proper goodbye. I'm also curious if they would do two separate goodbyes - one at the end of the 10pm news and one at the end of GN Sports - or if they'll just do a single goodbye. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/14011-random-wgn-thread/page/57/#findComment-273602 Share on other sites More sharing options...
24994J 5575 Posted May 26, 2022 Share Posted May 26, 2022 All farewells, so far, have been dominating the final 20+ minutes of GN Sports, so I'd imagine the FINAL farewell will be there. He doesn't do sports on the 10, but they could still do something there. I wouldn't be surprised, though, if his big, though maybe less formal speech was at 9, with the main team. As for distancing, they've recently accommodated 3 at the main desk with someone sitting between the main anchor positions. Stand Skilling behind the roll-away portion, and they can get everyone in the same vicinity. Still, despite the return to distancing, they haven't stopped having guests in-studio, so I can't imagine that there'll only be a small on-air group, plus family. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/14011-random-wgn-thread/page/57/#findComment-273605 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spring Rubber 702 Posted May 27, 2022 Share Posted May 27, 2022 They did stuff throughout both the 9 and 10pm newscasts, but yeah, they did the big final farewell during GN Sports. Ray, Micah, and Tom re-joined Dan and Jarrett at the desk during GN Sports, also bringing in Rich King, Josh Frydman, and many others. For the very final segment, the on-air staff left the desk, instead having Dan sit at the desk surrounded by his family while Dan delivered his final remarks. They wound up staying live over their timeslot, ending the show at 11:01pm. Dan did remark that they have hired their new sports anchor, but they can't announce it yet. He said the announcement should happen next week. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/14011-random-wgn-thread/page/57/#findComment-273631 Share on other sites More sharing options...
cbs2worksforyou 44 Posted May 27, 2022 Share Posted May 27, 2022 Mark giangreco Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/14011-random-wgn-thread/page/57/#findComment-273632 Share on other sites More sharing options...
24994J 5575 Posted May 27, 2022 Share Posted May 27, 2022 I'd honestly be stunned if it was Giangreco, unless it was so they could elevate Josh Frydman and have Mark as a fill-in. Dan certainly implied that Frydman is in the long-term plans. I don't love J.P. as an anchor, but he's a great personality, and I'd be down for a J.P. & Josh weeknight platoon. As for the send-off, it was very nice, and I LOVED the cake, adorned with past and present logos. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/14011-random-wgn-thread/page/57/#findComment-273633 Share on other sites More sharing options...
abric 178 Posted May 28, 2022 Share Posted May 28, 2022 Here is the link: Messages and well wishes for Dan Roan as he signs off after 45 years | WGN-TV (wgntv.com) Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/14011-random-wgn-thread/page/57/#findComment-273660 Share on other sites More sharing options...
24994J 5575 Posted May 31, 2022 Share Posted May 31, 2022 Chris Boden gets promoted to full-time, while Kaitlin Sharkey, who voluntarily exited Fox32 the same week Magiera was let go from 9, joins WGN. Neither are being named to a broadcast slot, at least for now.. Payton and Frydman are also in the mix, so that'll mean any/all of 4 sports anchors on any given night. That's not at all messy and annoying. https://www.robertfeder.com/2022/05/31/wgn-names-chris-boden-kaitlin-sharkey-full-time-sports-anchors/ Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/14011-random-wgn-thread/page/57/#findComment-273725 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spring Rubber 702 Posted May 31, 2022 Share Posted May 31, 2022 16 minutes ago, 24994J said: Chris Boden gets promoted to full-time, while Kaitlin Sharkey, who voluntarily exited Fox32 the same week Magiera was let go from 9, joins WGN. Neither are being named to a broadcast slot, at least for now.. Payton and Frydman are also in the mix, so that'll mean any/all of 4 sports anchors on any given night. That's not at all messy and annoying. https://www.robertfeder.com/2022/05/31/wgn-names-chris-boden-kaitlin-sharkey-full-time-sports-anchors/ This is exactly what I expected in terms of hires. Sharkey leaving WFLD at the same time Magiera left WGN made it all-too-obvious. What I didn't expect was WGN taking a WMAQ-style approach to just having any sports anchor appear on any given night. I figured they would go with assigned roles right out of the gate. I would assume they'll have defined roles before November sweeps, but hey, you never know. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/14011-random-wgn-thread/page/57/#findComment-273727 Share on other sites More sharing options...
24994J 5575 Posted May 31, 2022 Share Posted May 31, 2022 The wording about the 3 longer-tenured staffers seems to suggest that Payton and Frydman might be getting weeknight WGN Sports, outright, no matter how things shake out. But really, I don't see the WMAQ model serving well for the long-term. Cemented spots by the fall feels like a solid bet. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/14011-random-wgn-thread/page/57/#findComment-273730 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Georgie56 3303 Posted June 3, 2022 Share Posted June 3, 2022 WGN is launching a new longform reporting/documentary division called WGN Films. The first installment premieres Saturday with "Medicine is Sick". Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/14011-random-wgn-thread/page/57/#findComment-273846 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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