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Published on Thursday, 19 August 2010 17:50
In tonight's News & Notes, we look at Saturday's fundraising event for WBBM's Joe Collins, and new contract for Mark Grote, an announcement by Stephanie Miller, a live visit from Greg Jarrett, more radio visits by Rod Blagojevich, a special JBTV episode, some usual bad news for a WFLD staffer and some unusual good news for two others, Cara Carriveau goes "batty," WMVP has a fantasy day, WLFM's Steve Cole has a free concert event, and an exceptional way to celebrate Terry Armour. It's all below!
* * As previously mentioned
HERE on CRM, the fundraiser for WBBM-AM & Shadow/Metro's Joe Collins is this coming weekend! The "Show for Joe" is a fundraising event for Joe Collins, who has been battling Muscular Dystrophy (MD). It will be taking place this Saturday at 7:00pm at the Garden Chalet Banquet Hall, located at 11000 S. Ridgeland Avenue in Worth, IL. In addition to a show for Joe, there will be raffle prizes and a silent auction. Some of the fantastic items that can be won there include: a Chicago Blackhawks hockey stick (autographed by current players, alumni, radio personalities and coaches), tickets for Chicago sports teams (Bears, Bulls, Sox and Cubs), tickets for the upcoming Rascal Flatts concert, tickets for the Dave Koz Christmas Show, tickets for "A Christmas Carol" & "Wicked," hotel stays, and more! Tickets are only $25 in advance or $30 at the door. Tickets can be purchased by calling 773-BTG-TIXS (773-284-8497). More information can be found
HERE.
* * Speaking of Shadow/Metro employees, Mark Grote, who used to work with Shadow/Metro traffic, doing reports on WBBM-AM, has found full-time work down the dial. WSCR-AM has given Mark Grote a full-time contract to deliver sports updates on the Mully & Hanley morning show, as well as co-hosting his own weekend show and possible fill-in work, beginning at the end of the month. He previously had been delivering sports updates on The Score on a part-time & freelance basis.
* * On September 13th, syndicated radio host Stephanie Miller publicly "came out" on her morning radio show. The reason for doing so was somewhat tied into the recent California decision to reverse the ban on same-sex marriage. WCPT, who carries her show here in Chicago, has the audio of the event archived on their website, the MP3 of which can be found
HERE. In 1988 & 1989, Stephanie Miller was the co-host of the morning show on Chicago's WCKG-FM, along side Big John Howell.
* * Tomorrow morning, WGN-AM's Greg Jarrett will be coming out... to do a live broadcast from down in Plainfield, IL. Those in the area can stop by the Plainfield Village Hall, located at 24401 W. Lockport Street, between 5:00am-8:30am to see & meet Greg Jarrett and enjoy a complimentary continental breakfast. The live remote is part of WGN's long-running Hometown Voices Tour.
* * Tomorrow morning, former Governor and (now) convicted felon, Rod Blagojevich, will be back on the air on his favorite radio station, WLS-AM. He will be talking with Don & Roma just after 7:00am. It is still unknown if Blago will get his two-hour
Saturday Sunday afternoon radio show back on WLS-AM. Later tomorrow, Rod Blagojevich will be back on Chicago's AM airwaves when at 3:00pm, he joins WVON-AM's Cliff Kelley on his radio show. Kelley is himself a disgraced politician and convicted felon. They should have much to talk about.
* * The newest episode of JBTV is an extra special one. The JBTV hosts & staff captured many hours of exclusive artist interviews at this month's Lollapalooza concert, including conversations with Devo, Foxy Shazam, Chrissie Hynde, Billy Corgan, Against Me!, Lovehammers, Kill Hannah, Erykah Badu, The New Pornographers, Blues Traveler, Semi Precious Weapons, Wolfmother, Hockey, Slightly Stoopid, and many more. The staff has consolidated all those hours into one jam-packed hour for a special "JBTV: Live from Lollapalooza." The show premiered late last night on WSJY-TV, but will be replayed again on Chicago Access 25 tonight at 8:00pm, Sunday at Midnight, and Tuesday & Wednesday at 9:00pm. It can also be seen in its entirety on
JBTVOnline.com. (And check out host Ryan Manno's latest haircut!)
* * Here is a shocker!
(Yes, that was sarcasm...) A WFLD-TV on-air news staff member is being let go at the end of his contract. Chris Sowers has been a weekend meteorologist for the Channel 32 since late 2008, which was before the current news bosses took over. WFLD announced today that his contract, which expires at the end of October, will not be renewed by the station. He is expected to continue to do weekend weather forecasts for the station through October. For the most part, since this spring, every WFLD weekend anchor, sportscaster & weathercaster, who had joined the station prior to the current News Director's joining, has been released or is in the process of being released.
* * Now here is a real shocker!
(No sarcasm!) Two WFLD-TV station veterans who were hired before News Director Carol Fowler's arrival will actually have their contracts renewed and allowed to stay on at the station. The two staffers are Sondra Solarte, the "Good Day Chicago" traffic & general assignment reporter (and newlywed), and also, Dane Placko, the investigative reporter and co-host the the Sunday morning "Fox Chicago Sunday" program. Solarte has been with WFLD since August 2005 and Placko since 1992. Both are Chicago natives.
* * This week, WTMX's Cara Carriveau has turned her basement into the Batcave! Adam West, best known for his role as television's campy Batman (but now known for being the voice of the demented Mayor West on "Family Guy'), did an interview with Cara for her "Cara's Basement" podcast series. The former Caped Crusader is in town for this weekend's ComicCon and talked to Cara about coming in to do that. Cara also was able to uncover some juicy information about his "Batman" days. You can hear the conversation from the red, over-sized Bat-Phone in her basement at this link
HERE.
* * On Saturday, August 28th, ESPN1000 presents Chicago's Fantasy Football Championship Convention. The event will be held at The Venue inside the Horseshoe Casino in Hammond, IN. The long day of fantasy football player picks kicks off at 8:00am with a live broadcast of WMVP-AM's "Fantasy Football Island," featuring Harry Teinowitz and guests Matthew Berry, John Clayton, Stephania Bell and Mike Wilkening. At 10:00am, the sound of football angels singing will be heard as "Da Coach" himself, Mike Ditka takes the stage. Ditka, Teinowitz and the panel of experts will help those in attendance get a better idea of who they might want to take with their picks. After the panel discussion, the participants will break into their 10-team leagues and draft their players for the year. The teams will then be loaded online where they will battle it out for the next 13 weeks. Rules, the complicated points system and more information can be found
HERE. Tickets to be part of this contest are only $10 in advance (purchase by next Wednesday, though), and can be found at this link
HERE. The winner of this year's ESPN1000 Fantasy Football contest will win numerous prizes and months of bragging rights.
* * Steve Cole, the award-winning saxophonist and Chicago native, who also happens to host an exclusive
radio show on WLFM each Wednesday night, will be taping a music video and concert DVD for his new album "Moonlight" next month. 87.7 Chicago's Smooth Jazz is sponsoring this special FREE show of Steve Cole's. It will take place on September 16th at 7:00pm at The Venue inside of the Horseshoe Casino in Hammond, IN. By clicking on this link
HERE and signing up for Horseshoe Casino email alerts, you will receive an emailed voucher that is redeemable at the show for free seats. Prior to the show, bring the voucher to a local Lexus dealer, test drive a new Lexus, and that voucher will be upgraded to seats in "Lexus section" in the very front, where you will also get the chance to meet with Steve Cole.
* * Terry Armour was the beloved Chicago Tribune columnist and WCKG-FM radio show host, who suddenly passed away in December 2007. Now, a benefit for the Terry Armour Media Arts Award at Columbia College has been planned for next month. Calling it the "First Annual T-Dawg Ball," fans & friends of Armour's can get together for a fun evening of food, drinks, music and more. Chicago jazz songstress Erin McDougald will provide the music and a silent auction with numerous items will also be held to help raise funds for the Columbia College award. The event will be held on Terry Armour's birthday, September 22nd, at the downtown Harry Caray's Italian Steakhouse (33 W. Kinzie St., Chicago) at 7:00pm. Terry Armour's widow, LaNell Essary Armour, will be the host for the evening. His on-air partner, Stan Lawrence will also be in attendance. Tickets are $50 and can be purchased by clicking on this link
HERE. According to the initial announcement last October, the Terry Armour Media Arts Award was established to give a Columbia College scholarship to "a student who possesses Terry's passion, spirit, drive, and love of journalism and entertainment."
