Fox Chicago plays fast and loose with Nancy Loo
When WFLD-Channel 32 announced the hiring of Dawn Hasbrouck as noon news anchor, the Fox-owned station went out of its way to tell the world that Nancy Loo, the woman who’d be losing her anchor seat, would be kept on as a general assignment reporter. They said it to me. They said it to Phil Rosenthal. They even said it in a press release posted on their own website.
They lied.
Nancy Loo
Barely three weeks after Hasbrouck signed on, Channel 32 has told Loo that her days as a reporter at the station are numbered. Insiders say that her contract won’t be renewed when it expires next month. She could be gone even sooner.
I can’t say that it comes as a surprise, since I did write at the time of her demotion: “Considering how [Loo’s] role was diminished earlier by former news director Andrew Finlayson and now by news director Carol Fowler, the handwriting may be on the wall.” But rarely have I seen such duplicity by a television station in its public statements.
When she first joined Channel 32 in 2001 from WABC-TV in New York, Loo was considered a rising star and likely successor to Tamron Hall as the station’s top morning news anchor. But somewhere along the way, she fell out of favor and was passed over in favor of Jan Jeffcoat, an outsider from KRIV-TV in Houston, who replaced Hall in 2007.
In her only public comment after losing her anchor gig, Loo wrote:
“It’s been a bad week. . . . There’s really not much I can say about that at this point. . . . I’ll never be able to respond to the hundreds of messages and emails I’ve received. . . . Wow! Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
What’s next for Loo? She recently joined the parade of bloggers on Chicago Now, after years of blogging on her own and spreading the gospel of social media. On Wednesday, she’ll reunite with former Channel 32 sports anchor Bruce Wolf in filling in for morning hosts Don and Roma Wade on Citadel Broadcasting news/talk WLS-AM (890).
Robservations on the media beat:
- Michael Fowler, the Chicago radio veteran who was forced out last January after two years as president and general manager of Citadel Broadcasting news/talk WLS-AM (890) and oldies WLS-FM (94.7), has landed right back at 190 N. State St. On Monday, he’s expected to be named director of sales for ESPN Radio sports/talk WMVP-AM (1000). Fowler will succeed John Cravens, who was promoted to president and general manager. ESPN Radio 1000 occupies studios and offices on the seventh floor of the ABC Building at State and Lake — just under the two floors of WLS-AM/FM.
- Readers of this blog knew all about it last Wednesday, but look for Salem Communications to announce the hiring this week of Amy Jacobson as Big John Howell’s morning co-host on news/talk WIND-AM (560). “The Big John and Amy Show” is expected to start the week of March 22. Promoted to replace Jacobson as midday news anchor and reporter at WLS is Monica DeSantis.
- The Tribune has Tom Skilling. The Sun-Times has Brant Miller. And now the Northwest Herald of McHenry County has Amy Freeze. The Channel 32 chief meteorologist this week will begin appearing on the suburban daily’s weather page as part of a new partnership agreement with Fox Chicago News.
- Haven’t had enough of the Oscars? Can’t get enough of Oprah? You’re in luck: Chicago’s talk show queen will host “Oprah’s Annual After-Oscar Party” from 3 to 4 p.m. today on ABC-owned WLS-Channel 7. (It’ll preempt “Inside Edition” and “Jeopardy!”) The sixth annual special will originate from the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles.
blogs.vocalo.org
Feder-ific! That’s a lot of scoops, man.
If WFLD can’t appreciate Nancy Loo, that’s their loss. Btw, Tamron’s departure didn’t happen soon enough. I only regret when I catch a glimpse of her Medusa-like stare when I land on MSNBC.
Loo/Wolf… I hope other PD’s are listening Wednesday. Maybe an audition? If Amy J can effortlessly project misery during traffic reports, surely Nancy can land a job by merely yawning. I’ll give a listen.
Congrats to cheerful Monica. A nice addition.
Which newspaper will invite the lovely Ginger Zee? Hmmm?
Oprah Wi#&*% – - – static – CLICK! ahhhhh, serenity now.
Perhaps, if Fowler and Conn ever share an elevator together, Conn can laugh in Fowler’s face all the way up.
How about if Nancy Loo replaces Mike North on the Morning Monster Mash show ?
There is too much misdirected male energy there anyway.
The 2 other women are in for few minutes and stand around at the end as “decoration”?
Mike North can serve the coffee like he did at the hot dog stand.
Gee, Channel 32 doing something stupid?
It’s part of the Fox Network, by nature they’re GONNA do stuff as lame as their reportage.
Rupert Murdoch is the Dick Cheney of journalism: an elusive underhanded liar and crook who would authorize ethnic slurs on the air if it would improve ratings.
All I can say is if you work for ANY Fox affiliate, don’t drop your keys in the office….
It’s a shame that a top-rate reporter like Nancy would be discarded like yesterday’s paper (sorry to all of my publishing friends). Yet another in a seemingly never-ending series of poor choices by WFLD. Who’s next? Navarro? Robinson? Elwood?
I always liked Nancy. She had to deal with Michelle Leigh for so long. She would be a nice replacement at any one of the locals.
Jim Pastor is a class act.
Nancy is one of the bright spots on Fox. I believe she’ll do well here in Chicago; she’ll be snapped up by one of the other stations.
how is it they (fox) lied (in relation to loo)? They said she’d continue on as a reporter….she did (albeit for a short time). What they didnt say is that she’d continue on as a reporter forever…and if they’d said that then you might have something.
I can see Loo replacing North on Monsters & Money. This morning I woke up and heard Mancow & North on the same show??? OMG! Loud & Louder! Loo would be an excellent balance to that show. Too bad Loo’s bosses didn’t think she had the right stuff………………..
I’d love to see an American Idol system for the local news in Chicago. Trust me when I say, the Viewers would do a better job of picking who reads the news than these idiots in Management!!
Feder, where’s the mention of the fact that the number of Asian-Americans on Chicago TV will have been almost cut in half, once Loo leaves? Now, in the last two years, we will have lost Ellee Pai Hong, Joanie Lum and now Nancy Loo. Who’s left? Ravi Baichwal, Nesita Kwan, Linda Yu and Judy Wang, obviously. That’s quite a drop. I’m a bit surprised that Asian-American groups aren’t up in arms about Loo’s dismissal, on the heels of Lum and Hong being shown the door. Maybe they will be, soon.
(PS: I recognize that Mai Martinez is half Asian-American)
@Hal: Don’t be surprised if Joanie Lum turns up at Channel 32.
@Apres Ski #10… are you kidding me? This must be the Seventh Sign and I’m Kent Brockrodamus. I jokingly suggested that M+M pair North/Mancow on a Feder blog over a week ago. Now it has actually come to pass. UGHH… Who knew that CBS2 was making programming decisions based on blog comments. I want my cut! ;-)
Rob, I hope you’re right about Joanie Lum winding up at Channel 32. It’s a real shame that she’s been off the airwaves — esp. because had she stayed at WGN, she’d almost surely still have a job (they’ve hardly ever laid off any on-air folk over the years, other than Jane Boal).
@Tom Susala…I really hate it when someone else says exactly what I wanted to write (and just gets it on the blog sooner, damn you). But dropping one’s keys in any Tribune-owned newsroom nowadays would be inadvisable as well.
Let’s see, I’ve already offered my opinion on She Who Swims Where She Shouldn’t …big yawn there…
As for Joanie Lum…now, she is a class act. Solid reporter/nice person/good friend. Station managers/network execs should have been cutting one another’s throats to hire her. She’s been off the street too long. Don’t know as I’d go for round two (or is it three?) with Fowler but hey, a job is a job.
@Hal Newhouser … Your question would be better directed to the esteemed Rev JJ and his (some parts of the) Rainbow (are more worth standing up for than others) Coalition.
Jan Jeffcoat, an outsider from KRIV-TV in Houston, who replaced Hall in 2007
———————-
And that is an unintended comment about Jan as well. She was an outsider, and remains an outsider to Chicagoans. In fact, I did a double take when I saw that you wrote 2007 as the year that Jan arrived. Can it possibly be three years? While it has been three years, she still seems like a newbie, mispronouncing street names, etc. To drop Nancy (who is ok, but not great) while keeping Jan (who is just plain bad), makes no sense.
@James Dvorak #16, Rev JJ will always fight for truth, justice and the Jackson way as long as there is a free lunch involved. “Look, what’s that up in the sky? A cheeseburger? Some deep dish ‘za? No it’s The Extortionator!” All you need to get Jesseroo on the case is to shine the Batman beacon using dollar signs in the beautiful night sky. “Oh, you guys in trouble? How can I help you out and what’s my per diem? And leave Sox tix in a plain brown envelope.”
Nancy is a true Chicagoan; she she hails from suburban Hong Kong.
Kent- Mancow has been popping up on a regular basis on the M&M Show.
Disappointed to hear about the teaming of WIND’s Big John with Amy. I thought Big John was coming along in great style as a solo act. I sincerely hope Amy doesn’t kill his momentum (as I believe she could).
@Tony Smith #19, thanks man! I’m glad I didn’t have to watch that show to find out on my own. WHEW! I’m sure it’s just as bad as some have claimed. I hope your ears are healthy.
“Stay thirsty, my friend”
News readers is what they are, it is all show business.
a agent gets them a job,they read what a news writer puts in front of them.
a few are good at what they do, the rest are just bad readers.
This is what the powers of media have created,the days of a news reporter will soon be history!
Why is Nancy Loo being dumped???? Was she making too much money? Is that what this is about? Will Joanie Lum work for scale and be the token Asian? This is shameful.
Let’s face it ..WFLD has too much news and nobody is watching the News Shows.
I try to like North but it is really difficult. Today they had Mancow on the show to critique the Oscar fashions but in the end I had no idea what I was watching. It was bunch of posturing by Mancow and North (and Savage being lost). I am not being a wise guy here but isn’t Jan Jeffcoat part Asian? I don’t think so but if you Google her there are some folks that claim she is African American and Asian. It does not matter to me but some folks are into counting how many of each race are employed.
I had no idea that Amy Jacobson was a delusional foaming-at-the-mouth right-wing psycho. At least, that’s what she’d have to be to fit in at WIND. Or will she just play along, say “uh-huh” and giggle when Big John asserts that our president was born in Kenya, is a socialist and a Muslim, touts Sarah Palin as the second coming and calls for all dirty hippie environmentalists to be tied to trees and mauled by wild animals?
For insight, I’ve checked with Jerry Seinfeld regarding his girlfriend, Donna Chang.
Results:
Elaine: Donna Chang?
Jerry: I should have talked to her. I love Chinese women.
Elaine: Isn’t that a little racist?
Jerry: If I like their race, how can that be racist?
Elaine: She’s not Chinese?
Jerry: No, not Chinese. Not even Asian!
Elaine: So what is she?
Jerry: Well, she’s…like you.
Elaine: …Oh, how disappointed you must have been.
@TonySmith: Jan Jeffcoat was honored by the Chicago chapter of the Japanese American Citizens League. Here is the link:
http://www.jaclchicago.org/JACL/PDF/Jan-Feb%202008%20Issue.pdf
I have not found any local anchor who brings more life and fun to every Chicago story..with interest and knowledge… Nancy brings a smile to the city…can’t wait to see which is the lucky station to get her. I’ve already stopped watching Fox and will be moving over as soon as we know!
I think Nancy Loo and Ellie Pai Hong should fill in for the vacationing Mike North.
The permanent vacation.
Thank you Mr. Feder for the link. In the link, Jan is refered to as a hapa…an interesting word in itself. The definition of a hapa can be found on wikiperdia.
How about Nancy Loo and Big John Howell? anybody but AJ, John, your days could be numbered with that DITZ!
Is it wrong that even though I never watch Channel 32, I want to console Nancy Loo? Meanwhile, I look forward to listening to her with Bruce on Wednesday AM. Bruce is certainly playing the field, as I heard him briefly over the weekend on WSCR.
I stopped watching FOX as soon as Nancy Loo left that desk. She’s smart, witty, funny and her replacement doesn’t make any sense. She will sure to find something bigger and better anyway.
It’s sad, but Fox Chicago is committing a slow and sure suicide!
Nancy Loo’s charming personality and style of delivering the news made it such a joy to watch. Since she’s finding out that she was replaced at the anchor desk, we have found our news source elsewhere and are waiting to find out where to follow her to next.
Nancy is great. I pray that she gets a job at a competitor station in Chicago and goes up against Fox. I used to be a big Fox watcher, but I’ve swithed to Channel 7 since they pulled Nancy. Internal politics seem to be getting deep at Fox. All the best to Nancy!
@TomSusala. My goodness all the hate for anyone or anything not of the left. Take a deep breath everything will be ok. You guys own all of the media except for FNC and talk radio, why worry and be so negative?
Also, why are we so concerned with the ethnicity of people who read the news to us? Lets just get the best people for the job whether they’re black, brown, pink, white, red, yellow, green or blue for crying out loud! I am a white male and I do not need a white man to read the news to me. I just want someone who can tell me whats going on and read it to where it makes sense. Thats all! Sheesh!
Nancy is not only a TV personality. Through her active community work, she is able to reach and inspire young writers, both male and female alike. She is a wonderful role model and I would love to see her on one of the other channels that appreciates an anchor with substance.
Where to start? Nancy has known for some time now that she would not be renewed. She is a class act! No one at the station can compare to the professionalism she has shown for years and as of late.
Fowler is nothing but a bean counter, she has no clue. I’m sure by dumping Loo’s salary and bring in Dawn (btw she seems nice, this is no way reflective of her, hey she was offered the job, she didn’t fire Nancy) My guess is at the end of this fiscal year she’ll get a nice bonus on the salaries she has freed up, pitiful!
Seeing Fowler in action makes one shake their head. She asks dumb questions about numerious things that a News Director should have learned in their 1st job, say in market 175 or lower.
Nancy will be missed, she lit up the newsroom with her always positive attitude. She was what 32 is missing, a real face, a connection to the community. Best of luck Nancy, btw I see ABC 7 has an opening, what do you say from last to first? It will be their gain.
To Chris #37
You got your wish when it comes to Blue People. Maybe we can get someone from Avatar to read the news since Blue People are now in style!! ROTFLOL!!
Anyone who’s worked for FOX or Newscorp knows it’s like living in the movie “The Devil’s Advocate.” The powers that be are the devil’s spawn!
As for the current management locally; didn’t move the needle at WGN or WBBM. Moving the needle at WFLD…DOWN.
I tuned in this morning to WLS 890. Bruce, Nancy & Wendy sounded great together. It was like a breath of fresh air compared to the stale hosts normally in that time slot. I love Nancy, she was good on the radio. But she’s made for TV and her beautiful personality is wasted on AM radio. Maybe she can do both? Bruce/Nancy 9-11am M-F… Cisco can make coffee for all.
I’m sorry to hear Channel 32 is dismissing Nancy Loo, and I’m not just saying that because I’m Asian and feel compelled to do so. Loo is an excellent news anchor and reporter, plain and simple. WFLD hasn’t been the same since they dismantled FOX THING IN THE MORNING. (Actually, WFLD hasn’t been the same since they fired Jerry G. Bishop back in the early 1970s, but that’s another story.) I don’t know what factors are taken into consideration when deciding who stays or who goes, but it’s evident the competency has little to do with it. How else do you explain Mike North’s TV gig? Back in 2006 his detractors screamed bloody murder (and rightfully so) over the “Chinaman” quip he made on his radio show. Some thought he should have been fired because of the racist remark. It’s still a touchy issue in the Asian-American community, though I would counter that a dismissal should have ultimately been based on the fact that he’s insufferable on every level.
Fox continues to make one stupid move after another. Putting the Mutt and Jeff team of Mike Barz (Mr Personality) and Jan (Valley Girl) Jeffcoat together as their main AM anchor team while pushing Patrick Elwood and Nancy Loo into the nobody-watches 5m hour was one big mistake. If it hadn’t been for Barz’ boneheaded behaviour off-camera he would probably still be there, turning viewers away in droves along with Jeffcoat. Taking Nancy Loo off the anchor desk and leaving the airhead Jeffcoat to annoy people for 4 hours every morning was just compounding the mess, and their rather obvious push to move Loo right out the door just continues the stupidity. Carol Fowler has ruined the past two stations she ran news departments at, and continues her work at Fox. Andrew Finlayson was a cruel joke, his only reason for being there was to cut, cut, cut while lying thru his teeth about how much he wanted to improve the product.
Fox has a death wish, its the only answer. They continue to make one stupid move after another, get rid of one pleasant and watchable on-air personality after another only to replace them with apparently cheaper replacements.
My sympathies go out to David Novarro and Mark Strehl for having to put up with Jeffcoat’s rambling and ranting every morning. Those two guys are the bright spots.
It’s sad and almost hard to believe that Fox, which used to have one of the brightest and most interesting morning shows to watch in the Bob Sirott era, has sunk into a such a terribly un-watchable mess, and it shows no promise of getting any better.
They should bring back the overnight teletext program ShadowFax that they used to run after sign-off back in the 80’s. It would probably get better ratings than “Good Day Chicago”
Best of luck to you Nancy Loo, you are a talented and enjoyable lady to watch on air. I look forward to seeing you at a station that appreciates you very soon.
Nancy, we are going to miss you. I always thought of you as my most favorite news anchor. I used to look forward watching the noon time news, even though I could hardly stand Patrick. Nancy’s presence would make up for the whole crew, including the weather people. Wishing the best of luck to Nancy. Now, I will definitely switch to another channel to watch the news!
That’s my way of showing support!
Seems as if the station has not handled this very well. On the other hand, it does not take much skill to read the tele-prompter, and therefore cost becomes the factor. Fact is, not too many people even watch TV news these days.
When Fox first brought in Jan Jeffcoat, I couldn’t understand why Nancy Loo wasn’t just put in Tamron Halls spot instead. And after watching,(I WAS a loyal Fox person)Jan Jeffcoats arrogance is sickening. When I found out where she came from, well, she’s typical of Texas arrogance. Last week she made light of, I believe it was David Navarros’ forgetting of a personal item, which he laughed off, but I thought it was VERY unprofessional to laugh AT her co-anchor on the air in front of the whole city.
Nancy Loo is a very sweet and down to earth person who seems to have fun with everyone. Never in all my time watching her have I seen anything but a very friendly lady who was always on the same level as her co-workers. Unlike Jan Jeffcoat, who projects an air of being above everyone else. A BIG MISTAKE was made by Fox replacing Nancy Loo with Jan Jeffcoat.
Except for David and Cory i cannot stand the rest of the Good Day Chicago team! They are constantly making underlying sexual inuendos and they are very unprofessional!!! Jan, Sondra and that chubby weather guy are very irritating and i don’t see why you keep them on!!!!