Lossano & Friends

Ryan Chiaverini, Jenniffer Weigel, Rick Kaempfer on the NEXT #LossanoAndFriends! New Saturday: http://t.co/EzqB3kz54z pic.twitter.com/nkDsYaRPJO

— Lossano and Friends! (@LossanoFriends) May 2, 2015

Cole Hamels

Is Cole Hamels back on the front burner as a potential trade target for the Cubs? The Phillies need prospects, and the Cubs have them popping out of their eyeballs.

It could work.

That's what this article speculates.

Although how confusing would it be to have a rotation with both a Hamels and Hammel?

55 Years!

Another milestone for Dick Biondi tomorrow. The RAMP Newsletter has the details...

Tomorrow marks a very important career milestone for Chicago radio icon Dick Biondi and his legions of fans -- May 2, 2015 marks the 55th anniversary of when Biondi originally joining the legendary WLS. Yes, that was May 2, 1960! Biondi currently does the late night show on Classic Hits sister WLS-FM. This classic photo was taken in 1967 when Biondi was working at WCFL. To honor this special occasion, WLS-FM will salute Biondi all day today with special anniversary liners. In a staff memo, Jan Jeffries, Cumulus SVP of Corporate / Programming & PD of WLS-FM said, "An amazing career, and we are proud and honored to have The 'Wild I-Tralian' still rockin' nights at 94-7 WLS! We love you man!"

iHeart Finances

I knew iHeart (the former Clear Channel) was in debt, but I had no idea it was THIS much. From Tom Taylor's column this morning...

Management insists that they’ve now pushed back significant debt maturities to 2018, though (we can observe) that was at the cost of double-digit interest rates in the near-term. At year-end, iHeart’s total debt was $20.326 billion. Now it’s a bit higher at $20.486 billion.

That's why each station in the cluster has about 1-2 employees each doing 20 jobs. But they do have a plan to get out of that hole. They're going to sell your data...

As for that pile of big data that iHeart is “sitting on” – the company not only has more stations than any other group, it’s making the data from those stations available in the buying process. Bressler says they can offer “music-based psychographic groups, weather and traffic patterns, and purchase behavior.”

I'm here too, you know.

Bridget and I were sitting on the couch together last night watching a tv show and our son walked in and said..."good night mom. I love you.' And then he walked out. Going to spread myself on a bagel now because apparently I'm chopped liver.

The Greatest News Ever

The article is about a certain male body type. I call it normal. The woman who wrote it, calls it the "Dad Bod".

The title of the article says it all: Why Girls Love the Dad Bod

Look, but don't touch, baby. It's 100% real.

More NFL Draft

This photo was posted on instagram by Dave Karwowski...gives you an idea of how the NFL has taken over downtown Chicago.

This Week in Wrigley History

No Cubs game today, so maybe This Week in Wrigley history will tide you over: A double no-hitter, an inside-the-glove homer, and a 20-strikeout masterpiece are all described in vivid detail at Just One Bad Century.

The NFL Draft

The NFL Draft starts tonight...FINALLY!

I saw the most ridiculous show ever yesterday. I couldn't turn it off--it was like watching a slow motion auto accident. It was a mock draft show, where ESPN commentators played the roles of the guys in the war rooms. They discussed the possible picks, but they also got into character, fielded fake phone calls from other teams trying to trade, and referred to each other by fake names. Then, they switched chairs and did the same thing for the next team. Same guys. Different fake names. Same fake phone calls. Different chairs.

Very, very weird.

Pay No Attention to the Man Behind the Curtain

The radio life of Dr. Oz has been snuffed out by Oprah. From today's Tom Taylor column...

Draw your own conclusion – Oprah Winfrey pulls the plug on “Dr. Oz” radio minutes. The “Daily Dose with Dr. Oz” feature was picked up by Westwood in mid-2010 and quickly grew its affiliate base. Dr. Mehmet Oz’s successful daily syndicated TV show reinforced his popularity, which began with his endorsement by Oprah Winfrey on her TV show. Now Westwood’s telling affiliates that “After many years, [Winfrey’s] Harpo Productions has decided to end production” of the Dose. No explanation, but it’s reasonable to speculate about the heat Dr. Oz is taking over some way-beyond-alternative medical treatments and ideas he’s featured on his TV show. A group of ten physicians is accusing Oz of "promoting quack treatments and cures in the interest of personal financial gain." They’d like him dropped from his daytime job as Vice Chair of Columbia University’s surgery department. No matter how that plays out (and some of Dr. Oz’s colleagues at Columbia defend him), Westwood is moving on. It says “based on availability in your market, we would like to offer your station ‘A Better Life with Dr. Sanjay Gupta’” – the TV doctor associated with CNN as its chief medical correspondent.

Beach Boys Anniversary

From Bob Dearborn's The Olde Disc Jockey's Almanac, this little tidbit from 25 years ago today...

April 29, 1990…The TV-movie "Summer Dreams: The Story of the Beach Boys," starring Bruce Greenwood, Greg Kean, Arlen Dean Snyder, Casey Sander, Bo Foxworth, Wendy Foxworth, and Linda Dona, aired on ABC.

I remember it well. I was Steve & Garry's producer at the time, and Steve was one of the executive producers of that movie. He was the one that got the ball rolling and really made it happen. Here's a scene from that movie...

David Letterman

I watched Letterman's first Late Night show when he was on NBC. I was in college at the time. I've been making a point of watching Dave every night as he closes out that long run. I'll be watching his last show too.

Not having Dave there every night is going to be a major bummer.

This is a great piece in the New York Times about him. He very (very very very) rarely sits for an interview, but in this article he reflects on his 33 years of late night television. Highly recommended.

For the Cub Fan Mom

It's not too late to order something from the JOBC store for that Cub fan mom. We've got a nice assortment of shirts she may enjoy, including...

32 Years Ago Today

And Les Grobstein was the only one there rolling tape...(Warning: This is unbleeped)

White Sox Game Today Played in Empty Stadium

I've seen about twenty people make this same joke (including me). This is the way my friend Johnny Conlisk put it on his facebook page...

The bad news, Wednesday's game between the White Sox and the Orioles at Baltimore's Camden Yards will be played in a stadium without fans, due to safety concerns because of the riots in Baltimore. The good news? It will seem like a home game for the Sox!

Zing. Memo to White Sox fans: We only tell the attendance jokes because we know it bothers you. It's just too easy. Luckily for you, there's no shortage of Sox fans ripping the Cubs.

Bye Bye Mirabell's

I liked to stop by here after Cubs games. Last time I was there with Bridget, the owner (Jeff) told us that he was sick of the restaurant business and didn't want to do it anymore. So, this isn't a big shock to me, but it's still a bummer...

Patridge Family Death

I loved the Patridge Family when I was a kid--never missed an episode. Sad to hear the news today that the youngest daughter passed away. She was my age--52. TMZ has the details. No cause of death has been revealed yet.

This was her last appearance with her "family" from 2010...

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

An Afternoon with Dick Orkin

The most legendary radio advertising man of all time, Dick Orkin, is coming to town for an event at the Museum of Broadcasting. The date of the event is June 27. Robert Feder has the details.

I may just have to go to that one.

I interviewed Dick a few years ago for Chicago Radio Spotlight, and I've provided background info and quotes to the author who is currently writing Dick's memoirs.

National Sports Press Descends on Chicago

Is it because of the Blackhawks, Bulls or Cubs doing well?

No, the NFL Draft is taking place here this year, and wow is it spectacle. ESPN will be devoting 90 (90!) hours of programming from here beginning tomorrow. ESPN Radio is here too. From Radio Online...

Mike & Mike will broadcast from Chicago in advance of the NFL Draft. ESPN Radio will broadcast Day One of the Draft on Thursday, April 30 (coverage beginning at 7pm), and continue with Day 2 on Friday, May 1 (coverage beginning at 6:30pm). Host Dari Nowkhah, NFL analyst Louis Riddick and NFL Insider John Clayton will provide updates and analysis. Freddie Coleman will host post-draft coverage alongside NFL Insider Adam Caplan on both days at 11:30pm.

Don't Mess With Mama

This is the best way to handle the rioters. Get their moms out there...

Monty Python's Holy Grail 40th Anniversary

The guys all gathered for an anniversary event, which was moderated by John Oliver.

Some of the highlights were gathered here by The Week.

Recently watched the movie again with my sons, and it wasn't as funny as I remember it--but then again, that might be because I knew every single bit so well. This one still made me laugh...

Silver Circle Award Winners

Robert Feder has the list of this year's inductees. Among them: Fahey Flynn (postumously), Bob Sirott, Larry Wert (my old boss) and more.

Sirott also gave Feder a great picture of Fahey and Sirott together from 1969. It's worth clicking on the link, just to see that picture. Love the sideburns, Bob.

Whoops

So close...

White House Correspondent's Dinner

I know there are people who don't like this guy, but I'm not one of 'em...