Posted by Bud on September 12, 2010 at 22:49:34:
WFLD makes Canellis lead sportscaster; Urlacher joins 'Final Word'
9/7/10
Phil Rosenthal, Chicago Tribune
Lou Canellis has been named WFLD-Ch. 32's new lead sportscaster, succeeding Corey McPherrin, who last month became co-host of the station's low-rated morning program, "Good Day, Chicago."
Canellis, who had been working for Channel 32 on a per diem basis, will handle sports on its 9 p.m. news Sunday through Thursday, and host its "Final Word" broadcasts Sunday nights at 10 p.m. He also will continue to appear on "Bears Game Day Live" and "Bears Game Night Live," which air Sundays on WFLD during pro football season but are produced and owned by the team.
The Bears will no longer use Canellis on its Web site or as host of "Bears Recap" and "Bears Blitz" for Comcast SportsNet Chicago. His last work on the Bears payroll was as a sideline reporter on the team-produced telecast of last week's preseason finale, which aired on WFLD.
Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher, who still works for the team, has been added as a "Final Word" commentator, beginning this Sunday, Channel 32 said.
The Channel 32 sportscaster job went up for grabs earlier this summer when the station did not renew the contract of weekend sportscaster Jill Carlson, who was penciled in as McPherrin's a replacement.
Station management wanted to see how Carlson handled the new, looser 9 p.m. format the station is embracing increasingly on its prime-time newscast before giving her the top sportscaster job on an official basis. But without the security of a new contract, Carlson balked at extending her trial run past her deal's August end date.
What's ironic is Canellis made a name for himself being neutral or something of booster with the Bears and in the 1990s as a Michael Jordan-era Chicago Bulls sideline reporter before that. So he has struggled to offer occasional criticism during his own 9 p.m. trial run in hopes of being the kind of sportscaster the station indicated it wanted.
The effect has been unconvincing, but Channel 32 management obviously is unconcerned.
Canellis, who grew up in Oak Lawn and earned a degree from Loyola University, has also worked over the years for WMVP-AM 1000, Chicago Tribune parent Tribune Co.'s CLTV, WLS-Ch. 7's "190 North" and hosted ?Making Money in Real Estate.? He continues to contribute to Roe Conn and Richard Roeper's afternoon show on Citadel Broadcasting's WLS-AM 890.