He returned to Channel 7 to promote his Eckhartz Press book "The Daly News" on Windy City Live yesterday, and it was obvious that it was a homecoming for him. Everyone knew him there from the security guards to the soundmen to the producers to the cameramen. And they all seemed to genuinely care for him.
Joel was sitting in the dressing room before the show with the other guests, and they were all pretty impressed by him. WGCI's Tony Sculfield told Joel that he never missed his newscasts when he was a kid. "It wasn't news until we heard it from Daly and Flynn."
Joel also chatted with Chicago Bears running back Matt Forte.
"You went to Tulane, didn't you?" Joel asked.
"Yeah, I did," Forte answered.
"My daughter went there too," Joel said. "I think she graduated in 1985."
"That's the year I was born," Forte replied.
"Wow am I old," Joel laughed. Forte got a kick out of talking to Joel. Joel complimented Matt's snappy sense of style and good looks.
The hosts of the show (Ryan and Val) were very reverential toward Joel as well. Ryan described the television station as "The House that Daly Built".
After each person left the room, Joel would tell me their life stories. He seemingly remembered everyone and everything.
When it was time to go on the air, Joel lit up, and told some very funny stories. The crowd seemed to really love him. Cameras were snapping away throughout his segment. Here is the video...
After it was over, the producers asked if we would mind staying to tape another segment for the midnight show. "We just need to do the weather and say goodbye, and then we'll bring you back."
Joel waved for me to follow him. We walked back into the dressing room, and through the makeup room, and exited a side door. "The studio's over here," he said, pointing toward the door. The sign on the door said "Quiet. On the air," but Joel didn't stop. He walked right in.
"Tracy Butler is doing the weather," he whispered to me. "She's right on the other side of this partition."
When we got on the other side, we saw and heard her talking to Ryan and Val about how much she loved Joel, and how wonderful it was to see him. Joel took the opportunity to walk right into the live shot, surprising everyone. "I'm still available!" he said. Everyone loved it.
We taped the segment for the midnight showing of "Windy City Live", and then took a picture with the audience. Several people stopped Joel on the way out to get their own personal photographs, and shake hands with the legend.
Once again, Joel snuck out a back door toward the elevators and told me to follow. This time he took me up to the WLS-TV newsroom, where he introduced me to all of his old friends. It was obvious that everyone was happy to see him.
It was a wonderful day with one of the nicest guys you'll ever meet.
(PHOTOS: The Windy City Live set, Joel coming out of makeup, Joel & Matt Forte, Joel & Tracy Butler, the teaser live shot, on the set & on the air, Joel with the hosts and audience of Windy City Live)
