Posted by chicagomedia.org on October 17, 2008 at 10:43:38:
Over and out
As columnist closes his notebook, here's one last roundup of scoops
Yes, this is it. I'm stepping down today after 28 years of daily coverage of radio and television for the Sun-Times.
But in the words of Sonny & Cher, the beat goes on. Although I won't be here to report them, here are some predictions I'm willing to bet will occur in the coming months and beyond:
• • It's no longer a question of if but when: Bob Sirott will replace Warner Saunders as the No. 1 news anchor at NBC-owned WMAQ-Channel 5.
When it does happen, it'll be a fitting topper to a multifaceted career that began in 1966 when Sirott joined NBC as a page in its old Merchandise Mart studios.
It's also fitting that the move to the 10 p.m. slot will reunite Sirott and Allison Rosati, with whom he first began anchoring Channel 5's "First Thing in the Morning" in 1989.
• • "Superjock" Larry Lujack will return to morning radio as star of a nationally syndicated format featuring popular music spanning 1950 to 1980.
"The Hit Parade Hall of Fame" is the brainchild of veteran radio programmer and consultant John Rook, who was Lujack's program director at WLS-AM (890) in the late '60s. Rook's 24/7 oldies format is gearing up for a launch in January.
• • Richard Roeper will return to national television as host of a new movie-review show that will uphold the fine tradition of the late, lamented "Ebert & Roeper" and "Siskel & Ebert."
The only question is whether he will launch it before or after the execrable current version of "At the Movies" disappears.
• • Steve Cochran will move up from afternoons and succeed the retiring Spike O'Dell as morning host at Tribune Co.-owned news/talk WGN-AM (720).
Look for Cochran to head an ensemble cast of contributors on the morning show that's led the market since Wally Phillips and Bob Collins ruled the airwaves. If that happens, the smart money is on Jonathon Brandmeier to take over afternoons at WGN.
• • CBS Radio will look for a way to bail out of the remaining two years of Steve Dahl's multimillion-dollar contract.
Since he moved to mornings on "Jack FM" adult hits WJMK-FM (104.3) and Arbitron began its Portable People Meter ratings system, Dahl has practically fallen off the face of the earth.
The latest ratings show him tied for 24th place among adults between the ages of 25 and 54 -- losing even to the Moody Bible Institute's WMBI-FM (90.1).
Notwithstanding the decision to drop the 9 a.m. hour of his show, Dahl continues to drive the station into oblivion.
• • Two years after he was forced off the air in Chicago, Mancow Muller will be back.
Citadel Broadcasting is in the final stages of negotiations to put Muller on news/talk WLS-AM (890) in a slot that would allow him to continue his nationally syndicated morning show.
• • After five years in limbo, the fate of the Museum of Broadcast Communications finally will be resolved.
One way or another, we'll soon find out if the doors will ever open on the shrine to broadcast history at State and Kinzie.
Despite a string of broken promises from Springfield, tepid support from industry leaders, numerous construction delays and our dismal economy, Bruce DuMont remains committed to realizing his life's dream.
AND FINALLY:
'Wires and lights in a box'
It was 50 years ago this week that Edward R. Murrow, patron saint of broadcast journalism, came to Chicago to deliver his most prophetic address.
Before a national convention of news directors meeting at the Sheraton-Blackstone Hotel, he took them to task for what he saw television becoming. I can think of no better valedictory:
"This instrument can teach, it can illuminate; yes, and it can even inspire. But it can do so only to the extent that humans are determined to use it to those ends. Otherwise it is merely wires and lights in a box.
"There is a great and perhaps decisive battle to be fought against ignorance, intolerance and indifference. This weapon of television could be useful."
(Robert Feder, Chicago Sun-Times)