Random WGN thread

[TheRolyPoly 3510]

On 8/19/2025 at 2:50 PM, Jase said:

WGN hires Akemi Harrison as News Director

 

Harrison held the same position at WMAQ - NBC 5 and leaves the station at a pivotal time as it looks to combine the newsrooms of WMAQ and WSNS into one.

 

And only could the WGN Morning News welcome her in style...

 

 

[TheRolyPoly 3510]

Also... in honor of the new news director, 9 reasons as to why WGN is better than WMAQ.

 

 

[NBC 5 Chicago 215]

WGN to premier new weekday show called WGN Take Two on Monday Sept 8 @ 2pm.

 

 

From viral moments to highlights from recent WGN newscasts including WGN Morning News, the show will also take viewers on a journey through some of the stations most memorable moments from the WGN-TV vault! Looks like most anchors will provide commentary before and after clips. Looks like this will replace Dr. Phil at 2pm however my YouTubeTV guide has yet been updated to reflect this. 

[TheRolyPoly 3510]

Speaking of new... WGN has debuted another new show for its streaming channel, WGN+. This time, all weather. Its called The Forecasters and airs weeknights at 7 p.m.

 

It debuted last week but here's a sample:

https://wgntv.com/video/the-forecasters-september-1/11035096/

[mouseboy33 137]

Well fresh blood cant hurt. I like WGN alot, but frankly the newscasts can be tough to watch. They are a tad stale. The whole thing needs to be freshened up a bit. They have one of the worst sets in the city and the graphics needs to be updated and some of the anchors tend to rattle-off the news. The last great news casts was Mark Suppelsa and  LOurdes Duarte when they anchored from the Newsroom. That was a brilliant show. Loved it. Energy and personality without being too fluffy and goofy. Most anchors now just try too be to humorous or. 

Edited September 3, 2025 by mouseboy33

[Georgie56 3661]

Apparently, Nexstar MyNet affiliate WCIX in Springfield is simulcasting GN Sports live at 10:30pm.

[R.R. 126]

1 hour ago, Georgie56 said:

Apparently, Nexstar MyNet affiliate WCIX in Springfield is simulcasting GN Sports live at 10:30pm.

WCIX 49 has simulcasted GN sports for probably the past 4-5 years. A few other stations in the Midwest did as well for a short time.

Edited September 18, 2025 by R.R.
Quick typo

[FiveNews 482]

WGN staffer from the creative services department arrested by ICE agents.

 

https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/wgn-tv-employee-arrested-by-ice-agents-in-lincoln-square/

Edited October 11, 2025 by FiveNews

[Reweivvt88 173]

2 hours ago, FiveNews said:

WGN staffer from the creative services department arrested by ICE agents.

 

https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/wgn-tv-employee-arrested-by-ice-agents-in-lincoln-square/

Usually when a TV station employee is wrongly detained by police or whatever the TV station puts out a statement criticizing the arrest, yet neither WGN or Nexstar have put out a statement criticizing the ICE terror group for arresting their employee. Meanwhile NewsNation's website is posting pro ICE propaganda stories about how "scared" the ICE terrorists are. 

[TheRolyPoly 3510]

Sounds like the WGN Morning News was referenced in a new promo for WFLD's morning newscast. WGN had a great response to that...

 

 

[TheRolyPoly 3510]

Lauren Jiggets had to submit an "audition" tape to WGN to land the job of fill in for Micah this week on the evening news.

 

EDIT:

Edited November 21, 2025 by TheRolyPoly
YouTube links are always better.

[TheRolyPoly 3510]

You know how the WGN Morning News keeps an eye on the TV industry. This morning, they held auditions for their new Morning News voiceover, now that Jim Cutler and that other V/O have been replaced.

 

 

[Georgie56 3661]

A new nightly 15-minute political show, The Point, launches on January 26th. Tahman Bradley will anchor.

 

[24994J 5888]

1 hour ago, Georgie56 said:

A new nightly 15-minute political show, The Point, launches on January 26th. Tahman Bradley will anchor.

 

And it should be noted that he's leaving the weekend evening shift to do this program. Honestly, having your political reporter tied to a weekend shift never made sense to me, since most of his beat is a 9-5 job.

[TheRolyPoly 3510]

On 1/7/2026 at 1:23 PM, Georgie56 said:

A new nightly 15-minute political show, The Point, launches on January 26th. Tahman Bradley will anchor.

 

 

This probably speaks as to why the WGN-TV Political Report with Paul Lisnek was just canceled.

 

https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1283826580225576&id=100057947386023

[TheRolyPoly 3510]

WGN is trying out potential new shows for the WGN+ streaming service.

 

The trailer for it is right here:

[24994J 5888]

After @R.R. was tipped off earlier today, I was able to verify a round of on-air talent layoffs at WGN that have claimed as many as 8 individuals. A close Nexstar source confirmed that entertainment reporter/commercial VO/radio host Dean Richards & weekend evening meteorologist Mike Janssen were among the ousted. If our other hunches are correct, as many as 2 anchors and 3 other reporters were also cut, but we can't yet confirm those exits. We could be talking about a 100 years' worth of WGN experience being walked out the door.

[TheRob 969]

Chicago Tribune story - https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/23/wgn-tv-layoffs-reporters-anchors/

(archived): https://archive.ph/vfqVO

[312newswannabe 11]

Damn! The Sun Times said Nexstar is doing this to prepare for the debt they’re about to take on from Tegna, and that WGN is still very profitable, dominating in the mornings and 9pm, but has to cut from somewhere. Sean Lewis was one of the eight according to the Trib.

Edited February 24 by 312newswannabe

[24994J 5888]

The full list, in addition to Lewis, Richards & Janssen, which totals 9...

• Ray Cortopassi, lead anchor
• Paul Lisnek, political analyst
• Chris Boden, sports anchor
• Julian Crews, reporter
• Judy Wang, reporter
• Bronagh Tumulty, reporter

https://www.ftvlive.com/sqsp-test/2026/2/24/nexstar-swings-the-blade-in-chi-town

[Georgie56 3661]

Absolutely brutal. Just brutal.

[GodfreyGR 812]

1 hour ago, 24994J said:

The full list, in addition to Lewis, Richards & Janssen, which totals 9...

• Ray Cortopassi, lead anchor
• Paul Lisnek, political analyst
• Chris Boden, sports anchor
• Julian Crews, reporter
• Judy Wang, reporter
• Bronagh Tumulty, reporter

https://www.ftvlive.com/sqsp-test/2026/2/24/nexstar-swings-the-blade-in-chi-town

Jen Lyons has developed a habit of employing former WGN/NN staffers (Donlon, Ramon for starters). How many from this list find a new home at Channel 2?

Edited February 24 by GodfreyGR

[FiveNews 482]

Good observation, but the CBS brand has been tainted with new ownership and under Bari Weiss' leadership. The individuals could walk across the proverbial street today and get a new job. I see a few going to 'MAQ or FOX.

[tyrannical bastard 4678]

I'm just going to throw in a FUCK NEXSTAR here. 

 

Absolutely uncalled for for WGN to undergo this kind of decimation so they have some extra pennies to destroy what's left of Tegna and to help Perry Sook suck up to the FCC and this godless excuse of an administration. 

 

I really hope Nexstar fails spectacularly when their massive debt catches up with them and their game plan of gouging viewers and pay TV systems runs dry... 

[GodfreyGR 812]

1 hour ago, FiveNews said:

Good observation, but the CBS brand has been tainted with new ownership and under Bari Weiss' leadership.

If I just got pink-slipped from my job, if the job offer is where there are openings and perhaps I have a connection to land said job, and if my family and I wanted to keep living in the market and community and not have to move, you can bet I wouldn't care that it's one of the lower rated stations with more than it's fair share of drama. 

I get that this board likes to slam the current issues at CBS News- most of it is warranted. But I'm examining this through a lens of people getting back on their feet and back to a job. Plus, if history tells us anything, the leadership door will continue to revolve at corporate.