Media Notebook--12-2-22

MEDIA NOTEBOOK

A curation of news items about the media from this past week, with a particular emphasis on Chicago…

 

RADIO/PODCASTS

 

*Chicago Radio Ratings

=Inside Radio posted the numbers for November.  Here are the top fifteen stations, 12+…

WLIT (6.0)

WDRV (6.0)

WVAZ (5.1)

WBBM-AM (4.8)

WOJO (4.4)

WXRT (4.2)

WBEZ (4.0)

WTMX (3.8)

WLS-FM (3.4)

WUSN (3.0)

WGN (3.0)

WBMX (2.9)

WPPN (2.9)

WKSC (2.8)

WSCR (2.4)

=The biggest jump from last month goes to WLIT (Christmas music). The biggest drop goes to WBBM-AM (dropped .5). But for the most part, these numbers are remarkably stable.

 

*Kathy Hart’s New Venture

=The former co-star of the Eric and Kathy show announced this week what she has been working on these past few years. She unveiled her website, gritology.com. This is how she describes the site: I’m calling my website, Gritology. Because healing requires GRIT, and ‘ology’ is the science/knowledge of something. What will you find on my website? I’ve included LOTS of tips for healing — from getting a diagnosis to detoxing your body and environment to treating mold and Lyme disease and much more!

 

 

*Ali Mattacola Leaves Q-101 Morning Show

=The station is on the lookout for a new co-host after Ali Mattacola opted not to renew her contract at Q-101 after four years on the morning show. Radio Insight has more details about the move.

*Steve Seaver Leaves the Drive

=Seaver has been with the Drive since 2008, afternoon drive since 2015, and has been in the market since the early 90s. According to the RAMP newsletter, Seaver’s exit is amicable. I interviewed Steve for Illinois Entertainer back in 2018.

*iHeart and Google Sued by FTC

=This involves deceptive advertising practices from a few years ago when iHeart media personalities (including some in Chicago) were hired by Google to do personal endorsements for phones they had never used. Bureau of Consumer Protection Director Samuel Levine put it this way: "Google and iHeartMedia paid influencers to promote products they never used, showing a blatant disrespect for truth-in-advertising rules. The FTC will not stop working with our partners in the states to crack down on deceptive ads and ensure firms that break the rules pay a price."

*Lin Brehmer’s Return to the WXRT Airwaves

=It sure was great to hear Lin Brehmer on the air again this week after a lengthy medical sabbatical. He returned in a way that only Brehmer could, with a wonderful Lin’s Bin audio essay. The title of the essay says it all: How are you doing?

 

*Mitch Rosen Promoted 

=He will remain the Brand Manager for the Score (WSCR), but Mitch Rosen has also been promoted to VP/BetQL Network. That’s the sports betting wing of Audacy. Rosen will work with the current VP/BetQL team and Audacy President of Sports Mike Dee to increase the visibility and distribution of the network.

 

*Sean Hannity adds 700^th affiliate

=Who is America listening to? Well, if the number of radio stations is any indication, it’s Sean Hannity. This week he added his 700^th affiliate. In Chicago, Hannity airs on WIND-AM from 10-Midnight.

 *iHeart Spreading Holiday Cheer in Chicagoland

=Combined, the participating stations (WLIT, Kiss-FM, V-103, WGCI, and Inspiration 1390) will give away more than $95,000 through various contests, charity events, and grants this holiday season.

*Podcast Corner

=I’ve previously highlighted some of my favorite comedy podcasts (see previous columns), and there are lots of them, but the field is about to get even more crowded. iHeart announced this week that they will be rolling out five new comedy podcasts in the coming months, and they all sound worthy of checking out. The History of Curb Your Enthusiasm (with Susie Essman and Jeff Garlin), Onward with Rosie O’Donnell, Really? No Really? (with Jason Alexander), The Amber & Lacey Show (with a Seth Meyers writer and her sister), and Bombing (with Eric Andre). There’s more information here.

=Guesting on a podcast can have a huge ROI, says Forbes Magazine. Of course, I say the same thing every time I try to book a guest on mine.

 

*Chuck Swirsky Making the Rounds

=The December issue of Illinois Entertainer is out, and features my interview with Bulls Play-by-Play announcer Chuck Swirsky.  Here’s a small excerpt….

“During Covid we were doing road games live from the United Center. One night the Bulls won a game, and I did a little dance, and our engineer Rich Wyatt was taping it. He asked if he could put it up on the internet, and I said sure. Next thing we knew, we got 25,000 hits. So, we thought, why not? Let’s keep doing it. And it really caught on. I saw (Golden State Warriors player) Stephen Curry, who I have known since he was a kid, in the hallway before a game last year, and we chatted, and at the end of the chat I said, ‘have a good game.’ I took about ten or fifteen steps, and he called out to me, “Oh Chuck, Chuck. You’re not dancing tonight.”

=Andy Masur also has a great piece out about Chuck’s book in Barrett Sports Media. It’s called “Chuck Swirsky Embodies Always a Pleasure.”

=If you're coming to the Bulls game on December 7, come a little early and meet Chuck Swirsky. He's selling and signing his Eckhartz Press book Always a Pleasure at the team store in the United Center before the game.

 

 

MEDIA BIRTHDAYS/MILESTONES

I didn’t post any last week, so there are a few extras this week.

 

*November 20 was Radio Hall of Famer Steve Dahl’s birthday. Yes, I worked with Steve back in the Steve & Garry days, but I also interviewed him for Illinois Entertainer in 2019 for the 40^th anniversary of Disco Demolition.

 

*WVON’s Todd Ronczkowski also celebrated a birthday on November 20. I interviewed Todd for Chicago Radio Spotlight in 2010.

 

*NewsNation’s Mike Greaney shares a birthday with Dahl and Ronczkowski.

 

*November 21 was WCIU’s Bill Leff’s birthday. I’ve interviewed Leff a few times, including this one going all the way back to 2008.

*David W. Berner is not only an author and a former professor at Columbia College, he’s a newsman at WBBM NewsRadio. His birthday was November 21.

 

*November 21, 1985, the feud between Steve & Garry and Larry Lujack blew up on the air. Catherine Johns was part of Larry’s show and tells the tale of what that time was like in this podcast interview.

*November 22 was former Channel 2 sportscaster Howard Sudberry’s birthday. For a while, Howard also hosted a podcast with Steve Baskerville. I interviewed both of them for my podcast.

 

*November 22 was the birthday of WTMX morning co-host Chris Petlak. He has settled into the role after replacing Eric Ferguson.

 

*Former Chicago radio executive Jeff Schwartz (WCKG, The Score, WLUP) had a birthday on November 23. Schwartz is a memorable character. I enjoyed chatting with him for Chicago Radio Spotlight in 2008.

*One year ago on November 24, 2021, Harry Teinowitz’s play When Harry Met Rehab opened in Chicago. The Jeff-nominated play was discussed at length in my podcast interview with Harry just before the opening curtain.

* Tony Fitzpatrick (WLUP, WCPT) celebrated his birthday on November 24. The highly acclaimed artist got his media start co-hosting Drive-In Reviews with Buzz Kilman in the 1980s, and makes frequent appearances now on Joan Esposito’s WCPT radio show.

 

* Pete Crozier’s birthday was November 25. Pete still contributes to Lin Brehmer’s feature Lin’s Bin on WXRT.

 

*November 26 was the birthday of Roman Sawczak. Roman was the leader of the band The Dancing Noodles and Teenage Radiation. He also served as Steve & Garry’s producer in the mid-to-late 80s. I interviewed Roman for Chicago Radio Spotlight in 2007.

*The late news reporter (ABC-Channel 7) Bob Petty, one of the first Black reporters on local Chicago TV, was born on November 26. Petty passed away in February of 2020 after a long battle with lung cancer.

 

*Former Chicago traffic reporter Christina Filiaggi White’s birthday was November 27^th. Christina is best remembered for her time on WLS with Roe Conn.

 

*Podcaster James Van Osdol (Car Con Carne) was a birthday boy on November 28. James got his start in Chicago at Q-101, and later wrote a book about the history of the station.

*November 28 was also former Loop newsman Bill Holub’s birthday. Every year as spring training begins, I post a feature Holub wrote about the most glorious words in the English Language: “Pitchers and Catchers Report.”

*November 29, 1923, Frank Reynolds was born. Reynolds was a native Chicagoan but is best remembered for his years at ABC-TV as a Washington-based correspondent. He passed away in 1983.

 

*Gary Spears (B-96, K-Hits) celebrated his birthday on November 30. I interviewed Gary shortly after he returned to Chicago in 2011.

*December 1^st was Linda Yu’s birthday. The long-time Channel 7 anchor retired from the station in 2016 after 34 years in Chicago television.

 

*December 2^nd is Garry Meier’s birthday. Meier is a Radio Hall of Famer for his time as the co-host of Steve & Garry’s show, but also had long stints with Roe Conn (WLS) and a solo show (on WCKG & WGN). He currently hosts a podcast. The first time I interviewed Garry was in the early 90s. He was in character at the time, as Cliff Mansavage.

 

TV/STREAMING

 

 

*Frank Whitaker Retiring from Channel 5

=Guess who broke the news?

Best wishes to Frank Whittaker, station manager and VP of news at @NBCChicago, who's retiring Dec. 30 after 46 years in Chicago TV news. Seems like only yesterday we were @MedillSchool undergrads dreaming of journalism careers in our hometown. Congrats on a great run, @chinews. pic.twitter.com/sr0ZuEyKGK

— Robert Feder (@RobertFeder) November 29, 2022

 

*Rob Stafford Also Retiring from Channel 5

=There seems to be a trend going on at WMAQ-TV. Anchor Rob Stafford also announced his retirement this week. From his Facebook page…Good morning friends. Some personal news to share. This was my last holiday promo with my dear friend Allison Rosati. After 40 years in television news, I’m retiring December 23rd.  I end my broadcasting career with a great sense of satisfaction and gratitude. I appreciate your support over the years and your prayers after my Amyloidosis diagnosis. I’m happy to report I’ve been in remission four years and feel great. I turn 65 next year and my wife Lisa and I look forward to making our own schedule.

 

 

*Alan Krashesky Signs Off

=You may have missed this over the Thanksgiving break, but Alan Krashesky’s last newscast at ABC-7 Chicago was November 22^nd.

 

*Morning TV Ratings in Chicago

=Jeff Hoover likes shouting these numbers from the rooftops, and it’s certainly understandable why. The WGN-TV Morning News is a ratings juggernaut.

.@WGNMorningNews finished #1 with Adults 25-54 from 6-10am, beating its nearest competitor at 6am by 56%, 7-9am by 105%, and 9am by 158%. No matter your age or the percentages, thank you all for your loyal viewership. We greatly appreciate it.

— Groovyhoovy (@Groovyhoovy) November 30, 2022

 

 

*Rolling Stone Ranks the Best TV Theme Songs

=These articles are created to start arguments, so they will probably be pleased that I’m upset neither Mission Impossible nor Peter Gunn are in the top ten.

 

*The Highest Ranked NBC Show of the Year

=Would you believe it was the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade? I’m guessing that’s not a good sign.

 

*Disney Swaps Bobs at CEO

=Bob Iger is back at Disney as the CEO, after the backlash against former Disney CEO Bob Chapek. The Hollywood Reporter has a good piece explaining the decision-making process behind that move.

 

*Streaming Corner

=The show Wednesday set the Netflix record for most-viewed English-language series in a single week, beating the record once held by “Stranger Things.” 341.2 million hours were viewed.

 

*Cable News Corner

=CNN reshuffled the deck of reporters covering the White House. The Hill has the details.

=The long-awaited layoffs at CNN also began this week. Among those let go; Robin Meade and Chris Cillizza.

=Don Lemon appeared on Stephen Colbert this week and was asked about the changes at the network.

=A court ruled that former Congressman Devin Nunes may sue Rachel Maddow and MSNBC for defamation. Details on the comments in question are here via Reuters.

=Fox CEO Lachlan Murdoch is going to be questioned in the Dominion Voting Machines lawsuit.

 

*RIP Mike Nolan

=Mike Nolan passed away this week at the age of 85. The sportscaster worked in Chicago briefly (weekend anchor at WLS-TV from 1975-1978), but became well known in Denver, where he spent nearly 30 years. His younger brother Peter Nolan also worked here in Chicago for decades as a writer, reporter, and commentator. This past February Peter released a book about the Harold Washington race for mayor (Campaign) for Amika Press in Chicago.

 

 

PRINT MEDIA

 

*A webinar with Washington Post columnist Dan Balz

=The University of Illinois alum will do a Q&A special webinar on December 5^th (Monday). It’s being put on by his alma mater’s Media College. (Yes, I’m also an alum). You can register for the event here.

 *Gannett Lays Off Six Percent of News Division

=That translates to hundreds of people laid off. Poynter has the details. 

 

SOCIAL MEDIA

 

*Twitter Drops Moderation of COVID Misinformation

=This news was very quietly announced on the social media giant, but eagle eyes at the Associate Press noticed it. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene immediately posted something about masks being as effective as underwear at stopping farts. That’s the country we live in now.

 

 

OTHER MEDIA

 

*Bob Dylan Autographing Controversy

=Turns out that Bob Dylan didn’t technically autograph all of those autographed editions of his latest book. The Washington Post reports.

 

*Back in the D.D.R.

=My latest novel Back in the D.D.R. came out over Thanksgiving break, I’ll be signing and selling copies of it at my book launch party on December 11^th. All the details are below.

If you have any media stories (Chicago or national) that you think I might like to share in future columns, feel free to drop me a line at rick@eckhartzpress.com or amishrick@yahoo.com

Media Notebook--10-7-22

MEDIA NOTEBOOK

A curation of news items about the media from this past week, with a particular emphasis on Chicago…

RADIO/PODCASTS

 

*National Radio Hall of Fame

=The NRHOF announced the latest inductees of legends to the Hall in 2022, and once again, Chicago is represented well. The late Doug Banks (long-time Chicago jock at WGCI), Pervis Spann (WVON), and former Rockline host Bob Coburn (WMET) are among the names this year. The others are James Brown (yes, the Godfather of Soul also owned a radio station in Knoxville), Chick Hearn (Lakers play-by-play man), Bernice Judis (New York), Bobby O’Jay (Memphis), Rosalie Trombley (Detroit), Sid Mark (syndicated Sinatra show host), and James Thompson (Group W Broadcasting).

 

*2023 Ford Frick Award Nominees

=Both Chicago baseball teams have an announcer nominated for the prestigious Ford Frick Award: Pat Hughes (Cubs) and Steve Stone (White Sox). The winner of the award every year becomes a Baseball Hall of Famer. Both Hughes and Stone are worthy, and eventually, both will be enshrined. This year they are up against a pretty formidable bunch, including Dave Campbell, Joe Castiglione, Gary Cohen, Jacques Doucet, Tom Hamilton, Jerry Howarth, Ernie Johnson Sr., and Duane Kuiper. 

=For more about the nominees and the Ford Frick Award, the Baseball Hall of Fame is the place to go.

=My Pat Hughes interview (from 2010) can be found here.

 

*Chicago Radio Ratings

=The top five stations (ages 6+) according to the September Nielson PPM ratings are…WDRV, WLIT, WBBM-AM, WVAZ, and WBEZ. These five stations were all in the top five last month too. The Drive has been at #1 (or tied) now for five straight months.

=The  rest of the top ten: WLS-FM, WOJO, WXRT, WGN and WTMX.

 

*Janda Lane Named Permanent Midday Host at the Drive

=Janda has been doing the show since Bob Stroud stepped down a few months ago, so it’s probably not a huge surprise that they named her to this slot. The former afternoon co-host (with Steve Seaver) has adapted pretty seamlessly. (I interviewed Janda for Illinois Entertainer this summer).

=In the station’s announcement of the official promotion, Janda says, “I am beyond thrilled to move into middays on The Drive and am honored to fill the space around the one and only Bob Stroud’s long-standing Ten at 10 and One 45 at 1:45 features. Life is a winding road and I am so happy that the road has led me here to Chicago, to The Drive, and last and most importantly, to our awesome listeners. Thank you so much for listening!”

 

*RIP Bob Gelms

=Bob Gelms passed away last weekend. He was 73. You may remember his contributions at WXRT and the Loop, where he wore multiple caps. There has been an outpouring of love expressed by his former colleagues.

=Current WXRT morning man Marty Lennartz had this to say on the radio.

=Here are a few more comments on social media from his old friends and co-workers

Patti Haze: Bob was one of the most charming men I ever met, he loved sharing great music with his audience and he was one hell of a broadcaster.

Charles Jaco: Bob was one of my favorite people at XRT. He was kind, funny, big-hearted, and had an encyclopedic knowledge of music. May the wind be at your back, boy-o.

Bob Stroud: Bob was a good guy who loved the music and the radio that played it.

Johnny Mars: I remember his laugh and big love of blues and new music.

Tom Marker: Bob was well respected by all who knew him. Not surprisingly, I see a lot of comments about his laugh and warmth. He was also highly regarded through his work on air, as a music director and as a Blues program host. RIP.

Charlie Meyerson: Bob was one of the first people I met at WXRT. It’s particularly sad to get this news the day after the station retired a blues show he shepherded during its early days.

Patty Martin: There aren’t many people who have claimed the Music Director chair at XRT. I’m grateful to have followed in his footsteps. Gelms is now presiding over the great music meeting in the sky.

 

*Julian Lennon on College Radio Day

=I feel a weird connection to this announcement because I played Julian Lennon’s debut record on my college radio station (WPGU), but here’s the news: Julian Lennon has been named the official 2022 Ambassador for the 12^th Annual World College Radio Day, which is today.

“College radio is a good way to learn about what’s going on in the world, whether it’s locally or worldwide,” says Lennon. “College radio is not like the usual mainstream stuff, and I find that far more intriguing!”

 

*Nationwide Lover

=Last week I reported Ed Lover was removed from the morning show at WBMX. This week the company (Audacy) officially announced his national syndication deal…in the evening slot. The Ed Lover Experience will be on here in Chicago 8-Midnight at WBMX, but he’ll also be heard in New York, Las Vegas, San Francisco, and Seattle. The show rolls out on October 17.

*Podcast Corner

=The obvious merging has finally happened. Dateline NBC, the show that presents news stories as murder mysteries, is doing a True Crime podcast. It’s a natural. The NewYork Times has more on the story.

 

*Ex-Chicago Radio Corner

=Former Loop and WKQX staffer Gordon Mays has gotten a big promotion. He was the brand manager of WRTB The Bull in Rockford, but is now director of programming and content for the company’s six-station group in Rockford and Dekalb.

 

MEDIA BIRTHDAYS/MILESTONES

 

*October 1^st was Norm Winer’s birthday. Norm was the driving force behind WXRT for many decades. He’s currently the co-founder and chief content curator at Noteworthy.

 

*October 2^nd was former WBEZ broadcaster Michelle Damico’s birthday.

 

*October 5, 1947, President Harry Truman gave the first televised address to the nation from the White House. The topic was the humanitarian crisis in war-torn Europe…

 

*October 7 is US-99’s Melissa McGurren’s birthday. I previously interviewed her for Shore Magazine (2008), when she was still part of the morning show at the Mix.

 

*John Owens, the Chicago/Midwest chapter President of the The National Academy of Arts and Sciences, is also celebrating a birthday today (October 7). Owens currently works at ABC-7 in Chicago and is the co-author of the book Chili Dog MVP.

 

*October 8, 1970, WLS Radio announced the arrival of a new night-time disc jockey Kris Erik Stevens. I interviewed him about that and his long career last year for Illinois Entertainer.

 

TV/STREAMING

 

*Alan Krashesky Announces Retirement

=He has been the main anchor at 10pm at Channel 7 since Ron Magers retired, and has worked in television for 40 years. This week he announced he will be stepping down on November 22.

 

*Svengoolie Interview

=On Saturday Illinois Entertainer’s October issue came out, and it features my interview with Rich Koz/Svengoolie. 

=If you are a Me-TV watcher, you’ll have a hard time avoiding Sven over the next few weeks. It’s a month-long Halloween spectacular. Here's a small taste. I asked him about the differences in the show now that it's national...

    “We still bring up Berwyn,” he points out. “The great thing is there are other Berwyns in America. The people in Pennsylvania think we’re talking about their Berwyn. For the most part, we just dropped some of the local references like local news and weather folks or local sports teams, but that’s basically the only thing that changed. It’s pretty much the same content we’ve always done. Unfortunately, the rubber chickens will never leave. I’m constantly being pelted by them. The office people come in and really get into it, sometimes a little too much.”

=In other WCIU news, the first high school game of the week will air tonight. Brother Rice vs. Joliet Catholic at 7pm. On Wednesday night the station will air the CPS soccer championship game (Teams TBA) at Lane Tech.

 

*Network TV corner

= Former Today show and Dateline co-host Natalie Morales has been named a CBS News correspondent. She also will continue her role on CBS’s The Talk. Morales joined CBS in 2021 after 22 years at NBC.

=Former Scrubs writer/producer Eric Weinberg is charged with 18 counts of sexual assault.

=Velma from Scooby Doo officially comes out as a lesbian.

 

*Cable News Corner

=Former President Trump is suing CNN for $475 million. He claims that the network has defamed him. Nobody is taking it seriously, including CNN. Here is how they responded to the letter warning them a lawsuit was coming…

“While we will address the merits of any lawsuit should one be filed, we note that you have not identified a single false or defamatory statement in your letter.”

 

*Streaming Corner

=Just in case you were wondering about the pace of unplugging: Peacock now reaches 15 million paid customers.

 

OTHER MEDIA NEWS

 

*Elon Musk Whiplash

=He’s buying Twitter. He’s not buying Twitter. He’s suing Twitter. Twitter is suing him. Where does this whole back and forth stand this week? Now he’s buying Twitter again, at the original asking price. Oh, and this morning, the Twitter lawsuit was halted. Where does this finally end? Your guess is as good as mine.

 

*Sun Times is Dropping their Paywall

=This was a big announcement yesterday from the Sun-Times, and a welcome one. The headline says it all: The Sun Times’ New Chapter: Our Digital Content is Now Free for Everyone

 

*The Onion Files Supreme Court Brief

=Because it’s the Onion, it’s a little more irreverent than a typical legal brief, but they are tackling a serious subject: defense of parody and satire.

*RIP Judy Tenuta

=The Oak Park native was a regular on the comedy circuit for years and made countless appearances on Chicago’s comedy stages before breaking big nationally. Sad to hear about the passing of Judy Tenuta. She was 72 years old. Ovarian cancer. The New York Times has her obit.

 

 

If you have any media stories (Chicago or national) that you think I might like to share in future columns, feel free to drop me a line at rick@eckhartzpress.com or amishrick@yahoo.com