{"id":12056,"date":"2016-08-04T15:00:49","date_gmt":"2016-08-04T20:00:49","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.robertfeder.com\/?p=12056"},"modified":"2016-08-04T15:43:51","modified_gmt":"2016-08-04T20:43:51","slug":"robservations-skilling-doing-swell-after-vertigo-attack","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/robertfeder.dailyherald.com\/2016\/08\/04\/robservations-skilling-doing-swell-after-vertigo-attack\/","title":{"rendered":"Robservations: Skilling \u2018doing swell\u2019 after vertigo attack"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Tom<\/a>

<\/a> Tom Skilling<\/p><\/div>\n

Robservations on the media beat:<\/p>\n

Tom Skilling,<\/strong> Chicago\u2019s superstar meteorologist, says he\u2019s \u201cdoing swell\u201d after he suffered an attack of vertigo on the air Monday night. \u201cI was in the middle of the weather pictures and everything started spinning,\u201d he told fans in a Facebook video <\/a>posted from home Tuesday. Skilling, 64, is expected back August 11 at Tribune Media WGN-Channel 9,<\/a> where he\u2019s been king of weather since 1978. \u201cIt\u2019s not fun,\u201d Skilling said of the spell, \u201cbut you\u2019re over it in a couple of minutes. And they tell me the best thing to do is just rest after it. So that\u2019s what I\u2019m doing. But I wanted to let you know it wasn\u2019t anything horrible horrible.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Frank<\/a>

Frank Whittaker<\/p><\/div>\n

Just in time to capitalize on increased viewership for the Summer Olympics, NBC-owned WMAQ-Channel 5 <\/a>is upping its weather game. NBC 5 announced deployment Thursday of StormRanger 5. Shared with Telemundo Chicago WSNS-Channel 44<\/a> (where it\u2019s being called CazaTormentas 5<\/em>), it\u2019s a new and first-of-its-kind mobile Doppler weather radar truck. NBC 5 also unveiled Live Doppler 5, the only commercial high-frequency S-Band dual polarization fixed weather radar in operation in the United States. \u201cWe researched and invested in the best and most powerful radar available for the NBC 5 StormTeam to serve our viewers\u2019 safety needs,\u201d Frank Whittaker,<\/strong> station manager and vice president of news, said in a statement. \u201cWe are the first and only station in this region and in the country to build a radar of this magnitude.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Joel<\/a>

Joel \"Jax\" Lisinski<\/p><\/div>\n

Following the resignation<\/a> of Ramblin\u2019 Ray Stevens<\/strong> and the dismissal<\/a> of Lisa Dent<\/strong> as co-hosts of the morning show Wednesday, CBS Radio country WUSN FM 99.5 <\/a>also cut its evening personality, Joel Lisinski,<\/strong> who called himself Jax on the air. Todd Cavanah,<\/strong> vice president of programming for CBS Radio Chicago, said the moves are part of \u201cexciting new changes coming to US 99.5,\u201d expected to be announced next week. Lisinski signed on<\/a> in 2013 from two stations in Milwaukee. Part-timers will fill in until a permanent replacement is named. On Monday, Stevens debuts as morning co-host with Big John Howell<\/strong> on Cumulus Media news\/talk WLS AM 890.<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Amber<\/a>

Amber \"Alabama\" Cole<\/p><\/div>\n

A big winner in the shakeup at US 99.5 may be WEBG FM 95.5,<\/a> iHeartMedia\u2019s country music competitor. Earlier this week Big 95.5 formalized its assignment of Amber \u201cAlabama\u201d Cole<\/strong> as full-time morning co-host with Mason Schreader<\/strong> and Zach \u201cRemy\u201d Hoesly.<\/strong> Since early this year, she had been doing double-duty in mornings and afternoons. Until a permanent replacement<\/a> is hired for her in afternoons, Erik Zachary<\/strong> will be filling in. In the latest Nielsen Audio ratings, Big 95.5 was No. 1 in morning drive among listeners between 18 and 34 with a 6.1 share. The former \u201cLisa and Ray Show\u201d on US 99.5 was 11th with 3.9 share. On Thursday, iHeartMedia unveiled digital billboards saluting Big 95.5\u2019s former rivals: \u201cLISA & RAY #MUCHRESPECT.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Eric<\/a>

Eric Tyler<\/p><\/div>\n

Eric Tyler,<\/strong> just in from KBKS in Seattle,\u00a0Washington, has joined CBS Radio Top 40 WBBM FM 96.3<\/a> as evening personality. He succeeds Jason Cage,<\/strong> who left in March after five years at B96 to join CBS Radio\u2019s WZMP in Philadelphia as morning co-host. Tyler, a native of Rockford, Illinois, spent nine years at KBKS as afternoon personality, assistant program director and music director. He previously worked in Charlotte, North Carolina; Tulsa, Oklahoma; and Springfield, Missouri. \u201cI am beyond excited to have the chance to become an integral part of the station I grew up listening to \u2014 the legendary B96 in the great city of Chicago,\u201d Tyler said in a statement.<\/p>\n

\"Jeff<\/a>

Jeff Herndon<\/p><\/div>\n

Jeff Herndon<\/strong> isn\u2019t going anywhere. An amateur blogger\u2019s report this week cited \u201crumors\u201d that the WFLD-Channel 32<\/a> news anchor did not want to renew and was \u201clooking for work elsewhere.\u201d Calling the story \u201ccompletely false,\u201d sources at the Fox-owned station said Herndon just signed a contract extension to continue as 5 and 9 p.m. weekday co-anchor with Dawn Hasbrouck.<\/strong> Herndon joined Fox 32 in 2013 from KAKE, the ABC affiliate in Wichita, Kansas, where he anchored for 12 years. Scott Schneider,<\/strong> weekend news anchor at Fox 32, isn\u2019t going anywhere either.<\/p>\n

\"CBS<\/a>

CBS 2<\/p><\/div>\n

Without fanfare, CBS-owned WBBM-Channel 2 <\/a>refreshed its graphics on the air and in social media last week, including the unveiling of a new station logo. A CBS 2 spokeswoman said it was part of a larger design package being rolled out among all of the major market CBS-owned station. The show opening also incorporates the new logo:<\/p>\n