Robert Feder's 2007 media in review

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Posted by chicagomedia.org on December 28, 2007 at 08:43:34:

Chicago broadcasting was never more of a family business than in 2007. Just think Baskerville, Dahl, Damsky, Jiggetts, Jordan, Spann, Volkman and Wells.

But one name emerged above all others as the dynasty of dynasties.

With the hiring of Anthony Ponce as a reporter at NBC 5, there were Ponces popping up all over town. Proud patriarch Phil Ponce held forth as anchor and managing editor of WTTW's "Chicago Tonight," while big brother Dan Ponce was thriving as a reporter at ABC 7.

When they weren't appearing on their respective newscasts, the Ponces seemed to be together everywhere: Lighting the city's official Christmas tree, hosting Emmy Award nominations, advising young journalists on their careers, reviewing "The Simpsons Movie" on TV, and expounding on the pronunciation of their last name to readers of this column.

You could even see home movies of their childhood antics on reruns of "America's Funniest Home Videos" and watch their college singing performances on YouTube.

So as The Year of the Ponces draws to a close, here's a look back at other great moments of 2007:

Winner of the swimsuit competition: Amy Jacobson lost her job as a reporter for NBC 5 after a camera from CBS 2 caught her in a bikini top at the home of a man whose estranged wife was missing.

Dancing with the stars: Mike Barz was ordered to take a day off as morning news anchor at Fox 32 for "dirty dancing" with a staffer at a station party.

This just into our newsroom -- literally: "All of a sudden, our cozy little studio has a draft in it." -- Startled news anchor Ravi Baichwal, after a minivan slammed into ABC 7's studios during a newscast.

Whatever happened to T-shirts and key chains? At a B96 concert, the station handed out to preteens goodie bags containing condoms and a sex catalog.

Give 'em the finger, Roger: "At the Movies with Ebert & Roeper" went thumb-less after Roger Ebert and Disney-ABC Domestic Television stalled on a contract sequel.

Can't we all just get along? Ken Bedford, an African-American news cameraman at ABC 7, was suspended for calling an African-American news cameraman from CBS 2 the N word.

Heck of a job, Brownie: At the height of radio's morning drive, the Federal Emergency Management Agency set off the Emergency Alert System, triggering false alarms on dozens of stations.

Instead of grades, they'll give out Nielsen ratings: Bill Kurtis and Walter Jacobson agreed to teach a course at Columbia College on "what makes Chicago such a great news market."

Timing is everything: Radio & Records named "Crazy" Howard McGee the Urban Personality of the Year -- two months after he was fired from WGCI.

The creme de la creme: Chet Coppock was suspended from ESPN Radio 1000 for dropping his pants in the presence of a female employee.

Thomas Jefferson's flack on Line 2: During an interview with Cook County Board President Todd Stroger, WGN's John Williams unknowingly took a call from a Stroger PR aide, who used a fake name and disguised his voice.

Check, please: Donnie Devoe, the Power 92 host known as "The Freakin' Puerto Rican," was charged with assault, criminal damage to property and disorderly conduct over an incident at a Pepe's Mexican Restaurant.

We liked you better when you were standing on your head, John: Former Chicago weather clown John Coleman declared global warming "the greatest scam in history."

For the woman who has everything: After landing a job at MSNBC, morning news anchor Tamron Hall told Fox 32 viewers that it wasn't necessary to send her gifts.

Bringing the locker room to you: Dan McNeil, afternoon host at ESPN Radio 1000, was suspended for calling a Comcast SportsNet producer a "bitch" for refusing to answer a question he asked her.

Just when you thought "blow-dried anchors" were a thing of the past: NBC 5's Marion Brooks posted a video on YouTube demonstrating her technique for blow-drying her hair.

Spayed, neutered and canceled: Q101 hired Bob Barker, the 83-year-old retired host of "The Price Is Right," to promote its morning radio show geared to young adults. Six months later, "The Morning Fix" was history.

Stand in the corner, Nate: Nate Clay was suspended for joking on his late-night talk show that he'd give $1,000 to the first caller who could identify the writer of Ben E. King's "Stand by Me." His WLS bosses weren't laughing when they had to pay up.

As long as it's still fair and balanced: "I'm not here to talk to you about journalism. I'm here to talk to you about good TV." -- Fox News anchor Shepard Smith in a pep talk to local staffers.

Get those guys a map: NBC renamed its midday show "In the Loop with iVillage" even though its studio is out of the Loop -- on the other side of the Chicago River.

The family dog is still negotiating: Roe Conn's afternoon show on WLS aired commercials by his wife for Dairy Queen and by his mother for a glass and mirror company.

OK, so maybe they're not that enjoyable: "[Delilah and Whoopi are] a whole lot more enjoyable than some of the local radio hosts who happen to be housed right here in Chicago." -- Darren Davis, vice president of programming and operations for Clear Channel Radio Chicago, who dropped Delilah and Whoopi shortly thereafter.

Turd demanded a recount: Shock jock Mancow Muller won a Peter Lisagor Award for his commentaries on "Chicago Tonight."

Your charming and delightful Ol' Uncle Lar: "Frankly, I'm more than a little disappointed that it took the NAB this long to recognize that fact!" -- Retired "Superjock" Larry Lujack on learning of his induction in the National Association of Broadcasters' Hall of Fame.

Station mis-identification: North suburban Skokie-based KM Communications applied for and received the call letters KUNT and KWTF for two of its low-power television stations. They later called their choices "extremely embarrassing."

Gone but not forgotten (a partial list)
"The Bad Boyz" (Mike Love & Victor "The Diz" Blackful), "Barely Today," Coz Carson, Coco Cortez, Delilah, Tim Dukes, Jon Duncanson & Sylvia Gomez, Alexx Dupri, Dennis FitzSimons, Todd Fooks, Joey Fortman, Alita Guillen, Joel Hollander, Amy Jacobson, Mike Krauser, John Records Landecker, Edward Lifson, Ric Lippincott, Todd Manley, Andy Masur, Anne Maxfield, "Crazy" Howard McGee, Garry Meier, John Monds, Jim Mullen, Mike Myers, Opie & Anthony, Jon Petrovich, Fran Preston, Marylu Ramos, Armando Rivera, Michael Robinson, Ron Schofield, John Sebastian, Jeff Shrinsky, Fred Shropshire, Elroy Smith, Sean Smith, Stan & Terry, Jennifer Stephens, Don Tait, Jeff Taylor, Lisa Tutman, Zakk Tyler, "Wake Up with Whoopi," WCKG, Mack "Mack @ Night" Weaver.

In memoriam
Dorsey Connors, Jim Cummins, John Drury, Jim Frank, Wally Gair, Eddie Hubbard, Jack Jacobson, Roy "Tornado" Little, Paul Molloy, Sterling "Red" Quinlan, Paul Rogers, Allan Stagg, Jim Stagg, Mark Sullivan.

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: Chicago broadcasting was never more of a family business than in 2007. Just think Baskerville, Dahl, Damsky, Jiggetts, Jordan, Spann, Volkman and Wells. : But one name emerged above all others as the dynasty of dynasties. : With the hiring of Anthony Ponce as a reporter at NBC 5, there were Ponces popping up all over town. Proud patriarch Phil Ponce held forth as anchor and managing editor of WTTW's "Chicago Tonight," while big brother Dan Ponce was thriving as a reporter at ABC 7. : When they weren't appearing on their respective newscasts, the Ponces seemed to be together everywhere: Lighting the city's official Christmas tree, hosting Emmy Award nominations, advising young journalists on their careers, reviewing "The Simpsons Movie" on TV, and expounding on the pronunciation of their last name to readers of this column. : You could even see home movies of their childhood antics on reruns of "America's Funniest Home Videos" and watch their college singing performances on YouTube. : So as The Year of the Ponces draws to a close, here's a look back at other great moments of 2007: : Winner of the swimsuit competition: Amy Jacobson lost her job as a reporter for NBC 5 after a camera from CBS 2 caught her in a bikini top at the home of a man whose estranged wife was missing. : Dancing with the stars: Mike Barz was ordered to take a day off as morning news anchor at Fox 32 for "dirty dancing" with a staffer at a station party. : This just into our newsroom -- literally: "All of a sudden, our cozy little studio has a draft in it." -- Startled news anchor Ravi Baichwal, after a minivan slammed into ABC 7's studios during a newscast. : Whatever happened to T-shirts and key chains? At a B96 concert, the station handed out to preteens goodie bags containing condoms and a sex catalog. : Give 'em the finger, Roger: "At the Movies with Ebert & Roeper" went thumb-less after Roger Ebert and Disney-ABC Domestic Television stalled on a contract sequel. : Can't we all just get along? Ken Bedford, an African-American news cameraman at ABC 7, was suspended for calling an African-American news cameraman from CBS 2 the N word. : Heck of a job, Brownie: At the height of radio's morning drive, the Federal Emergency Management Agency set off the Emergency Alert System, triggering false alarms on dozens of stations. : Instead of grades, they'll give out Nielsen ratings: Bill Kurtis and Walter Jacobson agreed to teach a course at Columbia College on "what makes Chicago such a great news market." : Timing is everything: Radio & Records named "Crazy" Howard McGee the Urban Personality of the Year -- two months after he was fired from WGCI. : The creme de la creme: Chet Coppock was suspended from ESPN Radio 1000 for dropping his pants in the presence of a female employee. : Thomas Jefferson's flack on Line 2: During an interview with Cook County Board President Todd Stroger, WGN's John Williams unknowingly took a call from a Stroger PR aide, who used a fake name and disguised his voice. : Check, please: Donnie Devoe, the Power 92 host known as "The Freakin' Puerto Rican," was charged with assault, criminal damage to property and disorderly conduct over an incident at a Pepe's Mexican Restaurant. : We liked you better when you were standing on your head, John: Former Chicago weather clown John Coleman declared global warming "the greatest scam in history." : For the woman who has everything: After landing a job at MSNBC, morning news anchor Tamron Hall told Fox 32 viewers that it wasn't necessary to send her gifts. : Bringing the locker room to you: Dan McNeil, afternoon host at ESPN Radio 1000, was suspended for calling a Comcast SportsNet producer a "bitch" for refusing to answer a question he asked her. : Just when you thought "blow-dried anchors" were a thing of the past: NBC 5's Marion Brooks posted a video on YouTube demonstrating her technique for blow-drying her hair. : Spayed, neutered and canceled: Q101 hired Bob Barker, the 83-year-old retired host of "The Price Is Right," to promote its morning radio show geared to young adults. Six months later, "The Morning Fix" was history. : Stand in the corner, Nate: Nate Clay was suspended for joking on his late-night talk show that he'd give $1,000 to the first caller who could identify the writer of Ben E. King's "Stand by Me." His WLS bosses weren't laughing when they had to pay up. : As long as it's still fair and balanced: "I'm not here to talk to you about journalism. I'm here to talk to you about good TV." -- Fox News anchor Shepard Smith in a pep talk to local staffers. : Get those guys a map: NBC renamed its midday show "In the Loop with iVillage" even though its studio is out of the Loop -- on the other side of the Chicago River. : The family dog is still negotiating: Roe Conn's afternoon show on WLS aired commercials by his wife for Dairy Queen and by his mother for a glass and mirror company. : OK, so maybe they're not that enjoyable: "[Delilah and Whoopi are] a whole lot more enjoyable than some of the local radio hosts who happen to be housed right here in Chicago." -- Darren Davis, vice president of programming and operations for Clear Channel Radio Chicago, who dropped Delilah and Whoopi shortly thereafter. : Turd demanded a recount: Shock jock Mancow Muller won a Peter Lisagor Award for his commentaries on "Chicago Tonight." : Your charming and delightful Ol' Uncle Lar: "Frankly, I'm more than a little disappointed that it took the NAB this long to recognize that fact!" -- Retired "Superjock" Larry Lujack on learning of his induction in the National Association of Broadcasters' Hall of Fame. : Station mis-identification: North suburban Skokie-based KM Communications applied for and received the call letters KUNT and KWTF for two of its low-power television stations. They later called their choices "extremely embarrassing." : Gone but not forgotten (a partial list) : "The Bad Boyz" (Mike Love & Victor "The Diz" Blackful), "Barely Today," Coz Carson, Coco Cortez, Delilah, Tim Dukes, Jon Duncanson & Sylvia Gomez, Alexx Dupri, Dennis FitzSimons, Todd Fooks, Joey Fortman, Alita Guillen, Joel Hollander, Amy Jacobson, Mike Krauser, John Records Landecker, Edward Lifson, Ric Lippincott, Todd Manley, Andy Masur, Anne Maxfield, "Crazy" Howard McGee, Garry Meier, John Monds, Jim Mullen, Mike Myers, Opie & Anthony, Jon Petrovich, Fran Preston, Marylu Ramos, Armando Rivera, Michael Robinson, Ron Schofield, John Sebastian, Jeff Shrinsky, Fred Shropshire, Elroy Smith, Sean Smith, Stan & Terry, Jennifer Stephens, Don Tait, Jeff Taylor, Lisa Tutman, Zakk Tyler, "Wake Up with Whoopi," WCKG, Mack "Mack @ Night" Weaver. : In memoriam : Dorsey Connors, Jim Cummins, John Drury, Jim Frank, Wally Gair, Eddie Hubbard, Jack Jacobson, Roy "Tornado" Little, Paul Molloy, Sterling "Red" Quinlan, Paul Rogers, Allan Stagg, Jim Stagg, Mark Sullivan.

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