{"id":31348,"date":"2021-10-28T06:00:13","date_gmt":"2021-10-28T11:00:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.robertfeder.com\/?p=31348"},"modified":"2021-10-28T06:00:13","modified_gmt":"2021-10-28T11:00:13","slug":"robservations-pat-mcgann-returns-emmy-host-phone-threat-clears-wttw-bill-zwecker-auctions-memorabilia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/robertfeder.dailyherald.com\/2021\/10\/28\/robservations-pat-mcgann-returns-emmy-host-phone-threat-clears-wttw-bill-zwecker-auctions-memorabilia\/","title":{"rendered":"Robservations: Pat McGann returns as Emmy host; phone threat clears out WTTW; Bill Zwecker auctions memorabilia"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Pat McGann<\/p><\/div>\n

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

Chicago comedian Pat McGann<\/strong> has been tapped to emcee the 63rd annual Emmy Awards ceremony sponsored by the Chicago\/Midwest chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences<\/a>. The virtual event will be live-streamed December 5, starting at 7 p.m. It's a return engagement for McGann, who hosted the event to rave reviews in 2016 and 2020. \"I'm thrilled to be hosting the Emmy Awards again,\u201d the South Side native said. \u201cAnd equally excited to still say to people 'not that Emmys . . . the Chicago\/Midwest Emmys<\/em>.' I used that line back in 2016 and even now, in 2021, it\u2019s still true. We won\u2019t be renting a huge tent with chandeliers as the primetime Emmys did. The chapter doesn\u2019t have that kind of money . . . obviously, they hired me.\u201d<\/p>\n

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WTTW<\/p><\/div>\n

Just 30 minutes before \"Chicago Tonight\" went on the air Wednesday, WTTW-Channel 11<\/a> became the scene of a news story unfolding in its own studios. A threat called in by an unidentified person had Chicago police surrounding Window to the World Communications, 5400 North St. Louis Avenue, home to public television WTTW and classical music radio WFMT 98.7-FM<\/a>. Without explanation, employees of both stations were ordered to leave the building<\/a> at once. A company rep confirmed: \"WTTW received a phone threat on October 27. The police were notified, and as of now, there has been no incident.\" Area detectives are investigating, according to police.<\/p>\n

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Bill Zwecker<\/p><\/div>\n

Bill Zwecker,<\/strong> the longtime celebrity columnist and entertainment reporter, is putting his show biz memorabilia on the block. Leslie Hindman's<\/strong> Hindman Auctions<\/a> is handling the sale of hundreds of books, photographs, letters, art work, movie press kits and other promotional items Zwecker amassed over a star-studded career that included 26 years at the Sun-Times.<\/a> Among items up for bid are a framed, signed copy of Michael Jordan's<\/strong> memoir, For the Love of the Game,<\/em> presented to Zwecker on his 50th birthday, and personal notes from Oprah Winfrey<\/strong> and other celebrities. The online auction, \u201cSeeing Stars: Property from the Collection of Bill Zwecker,\u201d<\/a> will be November 19, starting at 10 a.m. (Here is the link.<\/a>)<\/p>\n

Three radio specials of note airing this weekend in celebration of Halloween:<\/p>\n