Mark Suppelsa's Next Move

[cbs2worksforyou 44]

In an exclusive (and very suprising) story today, Robert Feder of the Chicago Sun-Times reported that Mark Suppelsa has decided to part ways from Fox affiliate WFLD-Channel 32.

 

Any ideas on his next move? Does anyone think he might take the top job back at NBC station WMAQ-Channel 5 after Warner Saunders retires? Suppelsa was previously the heir-apparent, but things may have changed after Bob Sirott joined that station in the recent past.

[former newsboy 52]

Wow. I hope Mark knows what he's doing. Something tells me he does, wonder what it is. Guess we'll know in 90 days.

 

If he stays in Chicago (which I'm thinking he will), I'd be a little surprised to see him return to Channel 5, I know management wasn't happy about his departure. But they do need a successor for Warner Saunders, and I don't feel Bob Sirott cuts it as principal anchor. Could the future of Channel 5 be Mark Suppelsa and Anna Davlantes?

 

He'd be better than Rob Johnson at Channel 2. I wonder if they're considering bringing Mark in and moving Rob to mornings, replacing Randy Salerno. Course, he's much different than Randy. Maybe having 2 weeknight teams: Rob Johnson & Anne State at 5 and Mark Suppelsa & Mary Ann Childers at 6 & 10? Who knows

[cbs2worksforyou 44]

I am pretty sure he has something else in mind. Newspeople always have something up their sleeve when they decide to leave a station--especially in a case as surprising as this. He probably has been courted by a rival station or network making some bigger bucks than he is currently earning.

 

It'd be interesting to see him on CBS 2. If I remember correctly, several years ago, Steve Johnson of the Tribune reported that Channel 2 was looking for a Suppelsa-type to succeed Lester Holt who eventually left for MSNBC and then got promoted to NBC News.

 

I was thinking about the possibility of Rob Johnson reporting the news with Roseanne Tellez earlier, it does kind of roll off your tongue, "Roseanne and Rob, back to you in the studio."

[Jase 1047]

If he's staying in the market, Suppelsa is likely going back to WMAQ. Warner is probably going to finally call it quits in May and I don't think Bob wants to be the principal anchor (he seems happy in his current role). They wouldn't pass over Marion Brooks or demote Allison Rosati so they would just create some type of weekday role for Davlantes to keep her.

 

Rob Johnson would quit (I know I would) if WBBM hires Suppelsa and demotes him in any way. Plus, it would just make matters worse for them given that they made anchor changes before that have cost them money and made little to no impact ratings-wise.

 

If I had to guess, I think he may become a correspondent or anchor for either NBC/MSNBC or CNN. Heck, maybe even the Fox News Channel. Without question, his departure is a huge blow to WFLD. The morning show is in a ratings free-fall and now they have to deal with this. I would hate to be in their shoes.

[Link 3]

I've always thought Bob Sirot would be good as the principal anchor on WMAQ with Allison. But since I don't watch NBC 5 News on a regular basis, my opinion is not that strong on the issue. I will say I have never thought the Warner Saunders/Allison Rosati team was as good as Ron Magers and Carol Marin. Just think if the station hadn't pulled that stunt with Jerry Springer, Ron and Carol would likely be still anchoring today. With Carol back at the station, why have they never put her on to anchor at 5, 6, or 10? I assume she isn't interested in going back to anchoring.

[cbs2worksforyou 44]

I wondered the same thing when Carol Marin joined Channel 2 after all the Jerry Springer stuff happened. Why didn't they replace Linda MacLennan then and put Carol on at 5, 6, and 10?

[NBC 5 Chicago 191]

Bob and Allison seems like a great combo. They have great chemistry. Better then what allison and warner have. I think bob will replace if and when warner retires.

 

I thought the same thing about Carol Marin! I wondered why she didnt get any anchoring position. HOWEVER, she is the political editor since dick kay retired. She seems stronger with her political coverage then just anchoring. She knows this town.. and this towns politics. She seems a better fit there then anchoring. Watch her in November shes great!

[former newsboy 52]

I wondered the same thing when Carol Marin joined Channel 2 after all the Jerry Springer stuff happened. Why didn't they replace Linda MacLennan then and put Carol on at 5, 6, and 10?

 

Carol made it very clear when she joined Channel 2 back in '97 that she never wanted to anchor again. She learned a few years later to never say never when she agreed to solo-anchor Channel 2's 10PM news. Of course, this wasn't a conventional newscast and she wasn't anchoring in the traditional sense, but still a return to the chair nonetheless.

 

And after her hugely publicized exit from Channel 5, though she's back at the station. you'll probably never see her anchor there again. But I'm forgetting, never say never.

[lazynetjunkie 34]

What does Mark Suppelsa have to say about his next move? Mark Suppelsa talks about why he left FOX Chicago. WGCI's Tony Sco talks to Robin Robinson and Mark Suppelsa. Here's YouTube video:

 

 

[5Viewer 1]

WTTG's Morning Reporter Virg Jacques is coming to Chicago, after a 5 year stint at WTTG. He has worked in Champaign, Chicago, and the Baltimore-DC area. DCRTV is reporting that he isn't going to any station in Chicago that we know of at this time. Could he become the morning anchor for CBS 2, "The Ten" co-host and FOX Chicago moves David Novarro to 9, he takes over the 9PM at FOX, the weekend morning anchor at NBC 5, or the 5 or 6PM anchor at CBS?

 

I think he would be good on "The Ten", NBC 5 weekend mornings, or maybe CBS 2 Morning News.

 

Here is the link to his farewell from WTTG (which has some of his reports in the farewell videos), and his WTTG bio/video-bio.

 

http://www.myfoxdc.com/myfox/pages/InsideFox/Detail?contentId=6083189&version=3&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=5.2.1

 

http://www.myfoxdc.com/myfox/pages/InsideFox/Detail?contentId=29920&version=3&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=5.3.1

[former newsboy 52]

Hey 5Viewer, you scooped Robert Feder!

 

Never heared of him before, but after checking out the video links u provided, he seems top notch. Bad name tho. Wonder which station got him, there certainly are a lot of possibilites right now.