Alexa Helms
Even by the minimal standards for news anchors these days at WFLD-Channel 32, poor Alexa Helms just couldn’t cut it.
Three months after she was plucked from the Fox affiliate in Miami and hired as a weekend and fill-in anchor at the Fox-owned station here, Helms has been taken off the anchor desk and moved to full-time reporting duties, according to station insiders. Continue reading
Scott Shannon
It’s been two years since the unmistakable voice of Scott Shannon graced the FM airwaves in Chicago. Now the Radio Hall of Famer is about to make a comeback here.
“Scott Shannon Presents America’s Greatest Hits,” a brand-new nationally syndicated four-hour weekly show, has been picked up by CBS Radio’s 10 classic hits stations, including WJMK FM 104.3. Starting October 18, it will air from 6 to 10 a.m Saturdays on K-Hits, according to program director Todd Cavanah. Continue reading
John Barron
John Barron, the former Chicago Sun-Times publisher and editor who crossed over last year to the Chicago Tribune, was promoted Wednesday to general manager of Tribune Content Agency, the rapidly growing syndication and licensing unit of Tribune Publishing.
In his new role, Barron will be responsible for operations, marketing and technology while continuing as editor. James Pinnick, who had been general manager of Tribune Content Agency for four years, left earlier this month to become vice president of licensing and content acquisition of Cision. Continue reading
P.J. Hoff
Long before Tom Skilling or Harry Volkman or John Coleman, Chicago’s favorite TV weatherman was P.J. Hoff.
With little more than an oversized sketch pad and his imagination, the amiable Hoff brought a wealth of talent as a cartoonist to his nightly weather reports over nearly two decades at CBS-owned WBBM-Channel 2. Continue reading
Phil Bedella
In an historic long-term deal announced Tuesday, Comcast SportsNet Chicago landed the rights to all 59 state championship events encompassing Illinois High School Association football, basketball and other preps sports.
Starting with the current school year, Comcast SportsNet will be the exclusive home for more than 160 hours of IHSA Championship events, to be produced by PlayOn! Sports. Terms were not disclosed, but it marks the first time the football and basketball championships have both been on a regional sports network since the days of Fox Sports Net. Continue reading
Howard Griffith
After little more than six months as midday co-host on WGWG LP 87.7, Howard Griffith has cut back to a part-time role as college football insider for the Tribune Broadcasting sports/talk station.
Alex Quigley and Ben Finfer, who previously shared billing with Griffith, now co-host the show themselves from noon to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. Continue reading
Jeff Herndon and Dawn Hasbrouck
Robservations on the media beat:
Like everything else at WFLD-Channel 32, even the launch of a new Monday-through-Friday news show is done in stealth. Mum’s the word, but rehearsals have been underway for weeks on a hybrid news-and-talk show set to air at 4 p.m. weekdays on the Fox-owned station. Tentatively titled “Studio 32,” it’ll be fronted by Jeff Herndon and Dawn Hasbrouck, who already anchor Fox 32’s 9 p.m. newscast. Insiders describe the format as heavy on social media and chitchat — and light on news. While awaiting approval for the format from Fox bosses in New York, the station continues to list “TMZ Live” at 4 p.m. on its schedule. So much for debuting in time to counter Tribune Broadcasting WGN-Channel 9, which starts its expanded afternoon newscast at 4 p.m. on Monday. Continue reading
Roy Leonard
Funeral mass will be Saturday (September 13) for Roy Leonard, the beloved Chicago broadcasting legend who died last Thursday at 83.
Leonard was a popular and respected talk show host and entertainment critic for WGN AM 720 for more than three decades until his retirement in 1998. He also hosted the “Family Classics” movie series and reviewed theater and films for WGN-Channel 9. Continue reading
Tommy Edwards
So long, L’il Tommy.
Tommy Edwards, the iconic Chicago broadcaster who excelled as both an on-air personality and behind-scenes programmer, is signing off after an amazing 54 years in radio.
Edwards, 70, announced Friday he’s retiring as midday host at WJMK FM 104.3, the CBS Radio classic hits station. Following a weeklong on-air celebration of his career, his last show on K-Hits will be September 12. Continue reading
Roy Leonard
One of Chicago’s most popular and respected broadcasters for decades, Roy Leonard brought the world of entertainment in all its forms to generations of loyal listeners with warmth, class and style.
Leonard died Thursday at Evanston Hospital after a brief illness. He was 83. Continue reading