Chi-Town Rising (2017)

"Chi-Town Rising," Chicago’s answer to New York’s Times Square celebration on New Year’s Eve, won’t be back this year. But that isn’t going to stop NBC-owned WMAQ-Channel 5 from ringing in 2018 anyway.

Arena Partners, organizers and promoters of the first two outdoor parties, did not cite a reason for pulling the plug, but sources said the "Chi-Town Rising" events in 2016 and 2017 were not profitable. Continue reading →

Eric Ferguson and Kathy Hart in happier days

The dismissal of Kathy Hart last week — and the demise of the phenomenally successful “Eric & Kathy” brand after 21 years on Chicago radio — culminated a tumultuous year for WTMX FM 101.9.

Eric Ferguson, who’s been hosting solo since Hart went on leave from the Hubbard Radio hot adult-contemporary station in late April, officially carries on without her now. Continue reading →

Kathy Hart

Kathy Hart, one-half of the most successful morning team in Chicago radio history, has been handed her walking papers from WTMX FM 101.9.

Hubbard Radio, owner of the hot adult-contemporary station known as The Mix, announced Thursday that it has severed ties with Hart, who’s been missing since late April from the top-rated morning show she co-hosted for 21 years with Eric Ferguson. Continue reading →

Dennis Welsh

Dennis Welsh is at it again.

The last time we looked in on the vice president and general manager of WFLD-Channel 32, he was seated on a throne while lecturing viewers about the evils of nepotism in Illinois and Chicago politics.

In his latest editorial on the Fox-owned station, Welsh has a new gimmick: He punctuates his commentary on the state’s “insane unfunded pension debt” with video inserts from seven unidentified taxpayers. (Here is the link.) Continue reading →

Saturday Night Live: The Experience

Saturday Night Live: The Experience, an immersive multimedia exhibition taking visitors behind the scenes of the late-night comedy series and celebrating its phenomenal success over more than four decades on NBC, is coming to Chicago.

Steve Martin’s King Tut headdress, Eddie Murphy’s Mr. Robinson cardigan, Dana Carvey’s Church Lady dress, Bill Murray’s lounge singer jacket, the Coneheads, the Killer Bees and many other iconic costumes will be on display along with hundreds of other original sets, props and scripts. Continue reading →

Dan McNeil

Robservations on the media beat:

“Dan McNeil: Unsupervised” premiered right on time today. The twice-weekly podcast for Chicago-based Radio Misfits Podcast Network marked the return of the outspoken Chicago radio personality. McNeil minced no words in recounting his ill-fated tenure as morning host at Hubbard Radio classic rock WDRV FM 97.1. Calling his former program director at The Drive “Hamster Vomit,” he said of Rob Cressman: “He had no major market experience. It was all flash over substance with this Rob guy. He looked like a hamster and made you want to vomit. . . . This was the first program director I neither respected nor liked.” Cressman declined to comment. Continue reading →

New York Daily News

Chicago-based tronc may have struck out in its bid for the Sun-Times eight weeks ago, but it just picked up a bigger tabloid newspaper in the Big Apple.

In a stop-the-presses surprise that rocked the media world, the owner of the Chicago Tribune and the Los Angeles Times has acquired the New York Daily News. The news was first reported late Monday by the New York Times and later confirmed in a press release. Continue reading →

National Radio Hall of Fame

A major new exhibit on the history of radio in America is coming to Chicago’s Museum of Broadcast Communications. But you’ll have to wait two years to see it.

The National Radio Hall of Fame is expected to announce Tuesday that it plans to debut “100 Years of Radio” in the fall of 2019. Radio celebrates its official centennial in 2020. Continue reading →

Mark Suppelsa

Mark Suppelsa’s stunning decision to step down as anchorman at “Chicago’s Very Own” WGN-Channel 9 and retire from television news before the end of the year led the top 10 most-read stories here in August.

To read the full posts, click on the headlines: Continue reading →

Gary Spears

Gary Spears, who first started playing the hits on Chicago radio 35 years ago, is calling it quits.

Spears announced Friday he’s stepping down as afternoon personality on CBS Radio classic hits WJMK FM 104.3 and plans to move to Florida. His last day on the station known as K-Hits will be October 13. Continue reading →