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Published on Monday, 13 August 2012 12:44
It's yet another dozen local news items from the media beat, including: WGN-AM brings back Veronica Carter and hires Jeff McKinney; a change for Roger Badesch; a welcome back to Chicago for Dan Diebert; a new job for Katherine Kelly; a reunion for Hawk & Wimpy; an exit for James D. Jones; a major change in direction for Kevin Scott; a new movie club showing for Nick Digilio; a breakfast with Eddie & Jobo; a barbeque dinner with Jim DeRogatis & Greg Kot; and sad news for the families of Doug Levy & Anthony Santucci. All the details can be found below...
* * Since last summer, WGN-AM has lost numerous news anchors/reporters, with none of their roles being replaced. Among the many who have left voluntarily or otherwise include
Charlie Meyerson, Rob Hart, Veronica Carter,
Jim Gudas, and as of yesterday,
Christopher Michael. For the first time in a long time, WGN-AM has just brought in two new news voices... Well, one is new to WGN and one is a welcome return. Last week, Veronica Carter, who left WGN-AM last year to join FM News 101.1, has been re-hired on a part-time basis for late nights. Another alum of FM News 101.1, veteran radio news anchor Jeff McKinney has been hired, as well. McKinney will be doing weekends on the station and frequent fill-ins.
* * Speaking of WGN-AM news anchors... Roger Badesch is making a change with his day job working with the Chicago Public Schools. After many years of teaching at Chicago Vocational Career Academy, he is about to start new, teaching at Roberto Clemente High School as a Broadcast Technology instructor. Fans need not worry, as Roger Badesch will still be heard on the airwaves of WGN Radio overnights.
* * Former WGN-AM weekend/fill-in host Dan Deibert is back in Chicago and back on the air. He is filling in for John Howell all this week on WIND-AM's morning show from 5:00am-9:00am.
* * Another former FM News 101.1 alum has found work. Katherine Kelly has joined the Virtual News Center as a morning news anchor. There, she joins other former & current Chicago voices, such as David Jennings and Dave Alpert. Former WLS-AM Program Director Kipper McGee is a consultant with the company that delivers local & national news reports to stations nationwide.
* * Chicago White Sox television announcers Ken Harrelson and Tom Paciorek -- aka "Hawk & Wimpy" -- are reunited once again in the broadcast booth this week. The duo, who worked together on the air from 1990-1999, will be together again, calling the Chicago White Sox vs Toronto Blue Jays' series this week. Monday & Wednesday night's games will be broadcast on Comcast SportsNet Chicago, while Tuesday & Thursday's games will be broadcast on WCIU-TV. All of the games are 6:07pm starts. Tom Paciorek is filling in for Steve Stone, who has a few days off.
* * Late last week, on the eve of the annual Fest For Beatles Fans here in Chicago, south suburban radio station owner STARadio decided to cancel its regular weekend Beatles-themed show, "Magical Mystery Tour." Sadly, that also meant the release of the show's creator & host, James D. Jones. The program had been heard for years on WYKT-FM, but after the Classic Rock station evolved into a Heavy Metal/Active Rock station, the weekly Beatles show was out of place. In April, STARadio moved the "MMT" program and Jones to sister-station WKAN-AM. As of last week, it has been moved completely out. Jones is now actively seeking a new radio home for his program and its many fans.
* * Kevin Scott, who had been a Director of Operations for Metro Traffic Networks/Total Traffic Networks since 2004, has left the radio traffic business, as of this summer. He has instead returned to a business he worked at many years ago -- insurance.
* * Tomorrow, Tuesday, August 14th, will be the latest get-together of the Nick Digilio Film Club -- a monthly gathering of film, food, and fun, hosted by WGN-AM's Nick Digilio. The movie being shown will be the 1951 release, "Ace In The Hole," the classic directed/produced/co-written by Billy Wilder and starring Kirk Douglas. The event will begin at 7:00pm at Bogart's Restaurant, located on the 2nd floor of Muvico Theaters Rosemont 18 (9701 Bryn Mawr Ave, Rosemont), and then move upstairs to the state of the art Muvico Premium Theatre for the film at 8:00pm. Nick Digilio will introduce the film and then host a discussion of it immediately afterward. The ticket price to attend is only $10, which can be purchased in advance
HERE or at the door. (Price does not include food & drinks.) Digilio can't stay too late, though, as he will be working the WGN Radio overnight shift a short time later.
* * Fans of the WJMK-FM/104.3 K-Hits morning show hosts Eddie & Jobo can have breakfast with the duo this week. On Friday, E&J will be doing a live remote broadcast from 5:00am-9:00am from Eggs Inc. Cafe, located at 278 S. Weber Road in Bolingbrook. As they always do at live remotes, K-Hits will have plenty of concert tickets, prizes and radio station swag to hand out to those in attendance.
* * WBEZ-FM's "Sound Opinions" program is throwing an "End of Summer BBQ" party. It will take place on August 22nd from 7:00pm-10:00pm at the WBEZ Terrace in Navy Pier, overlooking Lake Michigan. "Sound Opinions" hosts Jim DeRogatis & Greg Kot will be on hand, as will other staffers from Chicago Public Radio. Drinks (alcoholic and non-alcoholic), BBQ, and desserts will be provided. As usual, Navy Pier will provide the fireworks at 9:30pm. Tickets are $35 per person and available online
HERE. Discounted Navy Pier parking passes for only $8 (instead of the usual $21) are available, too.
* * Deepest sympathies go out to Univision Radio Chicago Vice President and General Manager (and former WXRT-FM DJ) Doug Levy on the passing of his father. Jim Levy died last week at the too-young age of 72.
* * Suburban Chicago radio pioneer, Anthony V. Santucci, passed away last week at the age of 87. Santucci started up WCHI-FM from his Chicago Heights home in 1949 and formed South Cook Broadcasting in 1959, the owner of WCGO-AM & WTAS-FM.
