{"id":16193,"date":"2017-12-08T06:00:12","date_gmt":"2017-12-08T12:00:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.robertfeder.com\/?p=16193"},"modified":"2017-12-08T07:22:48","modified_gmt":"2017-12-08T13:22:48","slug":"robservations-wgn-presents-family-classics-suppelsa-farewell-tonight","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/robertfeder.dailyherald.com\/2017\/12\/08\/robservations-wgn-presents-family-classics-suppelsa-farewell-tonight\/","title":{"rendered":"Robservations: WGN presents \u2018Family Classics,\u2019 Suppelsa farewell tonight"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>

<\/a> Dean Richards<\/p><\/div>\n

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

\u201cFamily Classics\u201d airs tonight for the first time in 17 years as a special primetime presentation on WGN-Channel 9.<\/a> From 7 to 9 p.m. Dean Richards<\/strong> will host \u201dScrooge,\u201d the film adaptation of Charles Dickens's<\/strong>\u00a0A Christmas Carol.<\/em> \u201c\u2018Family Classics\u2019 is a WGN legacy and we wanted to make sure we got this right,\u201d said Paul Rennie,<\/strong> president and general manager of the Tribune Broadcasting station. \u201cThe set pieces, the quality \u2014 which is why we chose the 1951 Alastair Sim<\/strong> movie \u2018Scrooge.\u2019\u00a0Likewise, we couldn\u2019t think of a person more suited to host this than our very own Dean Richards.\u201d The great movie series was hosted by Frazier Thomas<\/strong> from 1962 to 1985 and by Roy Leonard<\/strong> from 1985 to 2000.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Mark Suppelsa<\/p><\/div>\n

Tonight also marks the final broadcast of Mark Suppelsa,<\/strong> who\u2019s retiring<\/a> as 5, 6, 9 and 10 p.m. news anchor at WGN and wrapping up an outstanding 36-year career in television news. Tributes are pouring in to the veteran newsman who attended Libertyville High School and graduated from Lincoln-Way High School in New Lenox, and Marquette University in Milwaukee. Among the highlights was a hilarious sendoff in \u201cNoticias de mi Corazon,\u201d<\/a><\/em> the telenovela spoof starring WGN\u2019s Dan Ponce, Lourdes Duarte<\/strong> and Ana Belaval.<\/strong> (Here is the link.<\/a>) Spoiler alert: Look for cameo appearances by Ben Bradley,<\/strong>\u00a0Robert Jordan, Rich King, Muriel Clair<\/strong> and even Ron Magers.<\/strong> Suppelsa, 55, plans to move with his wife to their cabin in Montana. He\u2019s one of Chicago's all-time best. (In case you missed it, here is the link to my exit interview with Suppelsa.<\/a>)<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

WYCC<\/p><\/div>\n

Less than two weeks after WYCC-Channel 20 <\/a>went dark, there\u2019s news of resurrecting the public television station formerly operated by City Colleges of Chicago. Window to the World Communications, parent company of WTTW-Channel 11,<\/a> has agreed to a channel-sharing arrangement with City Colleges and a deal to buy WYCC\u2019s station license for a reported $100,000.<\/a> \u201cThe agreements, which include conditions that depend on FCC approval, will route to parties for execution over the next few business days,\u201d said Anne Gleason,<\/strong> senior vice president of marketing and digital media for WTTW. \u201cThe subsequent timetable for approval of share and transfer is at the discretion of the FCC.\u201d WTTW would air WYCC programming on a digital subchannel. Ending 34 years on the air, WYCC vacated its frequency November 27 after netting a disappointing<\/a> $15.9 million in the FCC spectrum auction.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Delilah<\/p><\/div>\n

Last week\u2019s retro rebranding <\/a>of adult contemporary WLIT FM 93.9<\/a> as \u201cThe New 93.9 Lite FM\u201d also restored a familiar voice in the night. Syndicated host Delilah Rene<\/strong> is back on the iHeartMedia station from 7 to 11 p.m. Monday through Friday after a five-year absence in Chicago. \u201cDelilah is a living legend in the radio industry,\u201d Matt Scarano,<\/strong> president of iHeartMedia Chicago, said in a statement. \u201cHer passion for her craft and the deep connection she has with our audience make Delilah the perfect choice.\u201d A Premiere Networks spokeswoman said a new Chicago home soon will be announced for \u201cOn with Mario Lopez<\/strong>,\u201d which had aired in the time slot. Fans can still hear Lopez\u2019s podcast on iHeartRadio.com.<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Daily Herald<\/p><\/div>\n

In a highly unusual move for any newspaper company, Paddock Publications announced that it\u2019s giving year-end bonuses to all full-time and part-time employees of the Daily Herald.<\/a> \u201cYour extra effort and commitment to the company\u2019s strategy for growth through innovation of new products and services have set us apart from other media companies,\u201d Doug Ray,<\/strong> chairman, publisher and CEO of the Daily Herald Media Group, told staffers in an email. \u201cPaddock Publications is doing well. The newspaper brand is strong. Readers find value in the newspaper and online and subscribers are willing to pay more each year for Daily Herald journalism. As we create essential new revenue streams, it is important to understand that the newspaper itself remains our greatest asset.\u201d (This blog operates under an agreement with the Daily Herald.)<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Pat Cassidy<\/p><\/div>\n

Somewhere \u201cChicago Ed\u201d is smiling: Entercom all-news WBBM AM 780\/WCFS FM 105.9<\/a> presents its annual 18-hour Good Neighbor Radiothon today to benefit the Salvation Army\u2019s Bed and Bread Club. Morning news anchor Pat Cassidy<\/strong> hosts the live broadcast from Woodfield Mall in Schaumburg, starting at 5 a.m. \u201cIt is a chance for WBBM's entire news team to report about the positive work being done to provide food, clothing and shelter to neighbors in need within our own community,\" Ron Gleason,<\/strong> director of news and programming at WBBM Newsradio, said in a statement. The original \"Good Neighbor Food Drive\" was started in 1982 by the late, great overnight radio host Eddie \"Chicago Ed\" Schwartz.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Mary VanDeVelde<\/p><\/div>\n

They\u2019re widening a couple of traffic lanes at WGN AM 720.<\/a> Mary VanDeVelde,<\/strong> traffic reporter for Steve Cochran\u2019s<\/strong> morning show and a 20-year veteran of the Tribune Broadcasting news\/talk station, will expand her duties to include Bill Leff<\/strong> and Wendy Snyder\u2019s<\/strong> midday show, starting Monday. Also adding hours will be Violeta Podrumedic,<\/strong> traffic reporter for Roe Conn\u2019s<\/strong> afternoon show. Now she\u2019ll start her reports at noon, picking up the business hour and the John Williams<\/strong> show. Traffic from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. previously was handled by a rotating group of voices from United States Traffic Network (USTN)\/Radiate Media studios, according to Todd Manley,<\/strong> vice president of content and programming at WGN.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Chuck DuCoty<\/p><\/div>\n

One of radio\u2019s finest ambassadors is calling it a career. Chuck DuCoty<\/strong> has announced his retirement as chief operating officer of NRG Media,<\/a> culminating a 53-year run in the business. He joined the Iowa-based company in 2005 after four years as vice president and general manager of Chicago\u2019s alternative rock WKQX FM 101.1<\/a> under Emmis Communications. DuCoty said he and his wife plan to move back to Chicago. \u201cI leave the industry and NRG Media with mixed emotions but after 53 years, it is time for the next chapter in my life and for enjoying time with my family and friends,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd I\u2019m living proof that occasionally some of us do get out alive.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Robservations on the media beat: \u201cFamily Classics\u201d airs tonight for the first time in 17 years as a special primetime presentation on WGN-Channel 9. From 7 to 9 p.m. Dean Richards will host \u201dScrooge,\u201d the film adaptation of Charles Dickens's\u00a0A Christmas Carol. \u201c\u2018Family Classics\u2019 is a WGN legacy and we wanted to make sure we... Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/robertfeder.dailyherald.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16193"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/robertfeder.dailyherald.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/robertfeder.dailyherald.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/robertfeder.dailyherald.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/robertfeder.dailyherald.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=16193"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/robertfeder.dailyherald.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16193\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":16212,"href":"https:\/\/robertfeder.dailyherald.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16193\/revisions\/16212"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/robertfeder.dailyherald.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16193"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/robertfeder.dailyherald.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=16193"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/robertfeder.dailyherald.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=16193"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}