Doors close quietly on Channel 2’s morning show
Robservations on the media beat:
- It didn’t have quite the impact of Conan O’Brien’s farewell, but with strains of Jim Morrison’s “This Is the End, My Only Friend” playing them out, Roseanne Tellez and Ed Curran signed off Friday from WBBM-Channel 2’s little-watched morning show.
Don Schwenneker and Roseanne Tellez
The CBS-owned station stalwarts graciously plugged Monday’s debut of “Monsters and Money in the Morning,” the new gabfest starring Mike North, Dan Jiggetts, Terry Savage and Mike Hegedus, from 5 to 7 a.m. weekdays. Already gone before Friday’s low-key finale was Don Schwenneker, the weatherman-turned-anchorman, who tweeted earlier in the week that he’s “thankful for his time on the CBS2 morning show and for working alongside one of the best anchors in the country. Now back to weather . . .” He returns to weekend weather duties Sunday.
- Eric Ferguson, top-rated morning personality at Bonneville International hot adult-contemporary WTMX-FM (101.9), was back on the Mix Friday morning — and mixing it up with partner Kathy Hart and newsman Mark Suppelsa — after three days in the hospital for treatment of an irregular heart rhythm. All’s well now, he cheerfully reports: “No worries — they fixed it and I feel better!”
- Michael LaCrosse, program director of oldies WLS-FM (94.7), was promoted Friday to operations director of the Citadel Broadcasting station. In his new role, he’ll work closely with Drew Hayes, incoming operations director of news/talk sister station WLS-AM (890). LaCrosse, who previously was assistant program director/music director at Clear Channel Radio’s former smooth jazz WNUA, has headed programming at the “True Oldies” station since December 2006.
- No baloney: Mancow Muller, once a prime target of FCC indecency enforcement, credits tough economic times for inspiring shock jocks to clean up their acts. “I think I’ve moved on,” the WLS-AM midday host told Inside Radio. “With an economy that’s tanked, I just think people throwing baloney on naked women is not that fun right now.”
- It’s hardly a surprise, but the all-Christmas music format tripled the ratings in December for Clear Channel Radio adult contemporary WLIT-FM (93.9). Arbitron figures released this week show “The Holiday Lite” jumping from a tie for 11th place with a 3.2 percent share to first place with a 10.1 share during the four-week period from Dec. 10 to Jan. 6.
- Did anyone else notice something oddly coincidental in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court ruling Wednesday on the $45.6 million in bonuses for Tribune Co. managers? The number of designated recipients is 720 — which matches the frequency of Tribune radio flagship WGN-AM (720). How’s that for symmetry?
- Jim Tyree, the Mesirow CEO who rode to the rescue of the Chicago Sun-Times and saved it from liquidation, will kick off the 2010 “Breakfast with the Experts” series Wednesday at Saint Xavier University. He’ll talk business and take questions for an hour. Sponsored by the university and the Beverly Area Planning Association, the event starts at 8 a.m. in the Warde Academic Center, 3700 W. 103rd St. Tickets are available at BAPA.org or by calling (773) 233-3100.
- “Newer, hotter gospel artists” are in as Clear Channel Radio unveils a revamped format for WGRB-AM (1390). But it’ll still take a miracle to boost the ratings: The “Music of Power and Praise” station is languishing in 33rd place with an unholy 0.7 share.
- Lacy J. Banks, the veteran Sun-Times sportswriter who’s been chronicling his courageous battle with three life-threatening illnesses, is the subject of a Black History Month special on Comcast SportsNet’s “SportsNite.” The update on Banks’ condition and progress will air at 10:30 p.m. on Feb. 8.
- A note to readers: With the launch this week of these occasional “Robservations” updates — and with news liable to break out at any time on this site— it’s a good idea to sign up for free email alerts. Just click on the “Email Updates” link at the right and follow the simple directions. You’ll be notified whenever there’s a new post here.
29
01 2010
blogs.vocalo.org
So, when the economy improves, we can count on Mancow throwing bologna at naked women?
That’s all the incentive I think this economy needs!
what about me?
http://www.chicagonow.com/blogs/blogshakalaka “highwood man must pay back $48 in ncaa office pool winnings because rose cheated on sat exam”
as for this post, i’m no programming maven, but in a cost-conscious radio universe i would have don and roma simulcasting an oldies political talk show on wls am and fm. they could discuss whether goldwater can win on a platform of “extremism in defense of liberty is no vice” and then play dean martin’s “everybody loves somebody.”
What happens to Ms. Tellez and her big contract?
Ms. Tellez will continue to anchor the midday news at 11 a.m. weekdays.
Rob: I believe you were the only one who watched the last broadcast of Channel 2’s morning news.
I watched it too, but only because I happened to turn turn the TV on when they plugged the new show; so I paid attention to the final minutes.
It was sad. Tellez, Curran, & Susan Carlson had such wonderful chemistry with Randy Salerno. I thought they were the best morning news show in Chicago, by far. Sadly, they never recovered from Salerno’s untimely death.
Don Schwenneker is a pleasant enough fellow, but he never really replaced Randy Salerno.
I never watched the Channel 2 early news program but I sure won’t watch Mike North. I have heard enough of this loud mouthed low class, no education slack jaw of an embarrassment of a man. His lack of knowledge when it comes to current events and his racism and bigotry is something I am not interested in. I think he was best at asking what size fry I want when he was a hot dog boy. I hope for a fast and quick failure. This man was partly responsible for people losing there money on that scam called The Webio Show. If he wasn’t aware of what was happening then he is too stupid to drive and chew gum at the same time. Dan Jiggets is a fine person and a class act.
I saw the end of the CBS 2 News this AM..sad sad sad…they have already given up..they canned the chopper reports several months ago, only 1 Anchor today, 1 weather guy who also did the traffic….Poor Rob Johnson on the news last night at 10 had to interview one of the new AM Team players for Monday’s show..it was more than pathetic. Shameful.
CBS 2 Morning news was at the bottom of the ratings. They had to do something, this new show will sell, but will anyone watch?
Let us not forget, in an effort to save money, Bill Zwecker and Joanie Lum were canned last year. So, who from the current staff will lose out? Just how many weather guys/gals do they need there?
ROSEANNE TELLEZ IS HARD TO WATCH. SHE HAS A FACE FOR RADIO.
More news at 11 AM?
Let’s see: there’s ABC/CBS
So far, ABC has the best 11 AM news if you’re not side tracked by Wendy Williams on Fox & Martha Stewart.
Oh well, rev up those DVRs folks because it will be very, busy at 11 AM!
Mike North is part of the ponzi Webio scandal. I hope more of this will be
revealed as people start talking. I hope many more people of influence will
come forward with stories about his arrogance, racism and stupidity.
I cannot understand how this unfunny cartoon continues to fool everyone.
Talented people should be given a shot at that job. Do some guest shots.
Thanks for including updates on “the people behind the people behind the microphones/cameras”. Michael LaCrosse has quietly gone about his various roles in radio efficiently and effectively while being one of the most decent and honest chaps in the business. This from someone who isn’t even trying to get the gig as the new morning guy on 94.7FM. Kudos to Channel 2 for trying something a little different in the morning. I’m not a North fan and I don’t hold out much hope that this will fare better than “prime time Leno”, Carol Marin doing the news standing up or whatever that news thing was Fox32 did at 10PM for a while, but IF it does bump the numbers up a little then there’s hope that programmers will venture a little farther out onto the ice and give us something other than more of the same.
You know, it’s funny. Randy died around this time of year and I was JUST wondering how his family was …..his real family and his work family. I was thinking about what a loss they suffered. I wonder if his death played a part in the downturn of the show. Too bad.
Mancow is wrong.
We need throwing baloney on naked women now more than ever!
Steve Dahl, where ARE you?!? We NEED you NOW!!!
WLIT would be able to keep that 10 share if they had the semi-lovely Melissa Forman on their station again. “The Melissa Lite” would be even more popular than the Christmas music, especially in penal institutions.
If Melissa could do her show naked and be on a web cam…the show would be the best rated in Chicago, and have the most hits on the web of any radio station web site in the world….sorry, but that’s what it would take for her to have high numbers. she would have to be naked!
i think for further symmetry wgn is now down to 720 listeners.
also is there a LIT out west of the mississippi that would use the K instead of the W in the call letters? that would be cool
The idea of pairing the immensely talented (yet mostly overlooked) Susan Carlson in any way with…Mike North…is a cruel joke. Early in his career, he was sort of an Everyman. He’s mutated into Arrogantman. Here’s a thought. Now that we all know Channel Two has a morning show, give him the first week then slide him out the door.
Based on the number of comment’s Bruce Wolfe gets for his blog entries, he appears to be “talking” to himself, sort of like his radio stints….
Mike North as pitchman . . . move over Sham Wow, Slap Chop VINCE !
I expected him to pull out ginsu knives out of the magic marker cereal box.
I want Svengoolie to do his recreation of this multi-trainwreck soon.
Let’s all send him a dollar so he can put it together for air this week.
- no personal checks -
Beyond pathetic . . . stop the bleeding !
Bruce (mr. what about me)
Hey Bruce,
Everyone thinks that you are the greatest wit to ever grace the airwaves – both radio and TV. You have the best sense of humor of anyone on the air, past and present. You deserve a really good gig – if WGN is the place – great.
I do have to say however, that your daily responses to Feder blogs are totally irrelevant, in many cases, to the topic, and come off as self-serving, instead of just recognizing your talent. I think you have much more class than some of the posts suggest. Personally love your talent.
What about Tom?
But I digress, as is my wont.
What I’m attempting to do is hijack this blog. I admit to a fascination with the subjects Rob Feder addresses, but sometimes I attempt to re-direct what he talks about to something with a little more meat on it. Is this presumptuous of me? You betcha. Example: Today he writes about some dude who is leaving a Spanish-language combo tv station. Who cares about some fungible bureaucrat? But what is important is how the Hispanic community, which is in terrible shape and threatens to drag the nation down with it, can be served by tv. If that is irrelevant, then let me be irrelevant. And exactly what is irrelevant in a blog? A blog spurs conversation. Conversation can lead to nooks and crannies.
But thank you for the plaudits, Tom.
As for Lance, thank you for not even spelling my name correctly. Based on the spelling and grammar of many of the comments to this blog, I would say Mr. Feder and I would be better off ushering people to the Space Mountain ride at Disneyland. But then it is easy for me to bite the hand that doesn’t feed me.
What about Bruce using Cap Letters ?
Your run on sentences and paragraphs are still TOOOOO LOOOOONG !
I caught the new morning program on CBS2 on Monday. I had a headache after watching it for just 5 minutes. They talk all over each other and the cameras have a hard time keeping up with who to focus on! I won’t be watching that show again!
I miss Roseanne Tellez in the morning. After Randy’s death the show never seemed to recover. The new morning show is a joke and embarrassing for Susan Carlson.