Posted by chicagomedia.org on March 22, 2008 at 08:59:16:
BY ROBERT FEDER Sun-Times Columnist
Has there ever been a time when so many television jobs were up for grabs?
Here's an alphabetical guide to the shifting fates and fortunes of Chicago news anchors in play:
* * The handwriting is on the wall for Diann Burns, who's in the final months of a five-year contract reportedly worth $10 million.
In luring Burns from top-rated ABC-owned WLS-Channel 7 and signing her to what probably was the most lucrative local TV news deal ever, WBBM-Channel 2 boss Joe Ahern bet the ranch that she would substantially boost ratings for the CBS-owned station.
He lost the bet.
Although Burns' contract runs through October, insiders say a change in the 10 p.m. anchor lineup could come as early as June, when Channel 2 unveils its brand new studios in the Loop.
In the meantime, Burns' agent/husband, Marc Watts, is busy shopping his No. 1 client.
* * Anna Davlantes, who's been an underrated star as weekend news anchor at NBC-owned WMAQ-Channel 5, could emerge later this year with a new deal worthy of her talent and glamor -- if she and her agents play their cards right.
* * On Monday, Rob Elgas steps up to succeed Dick Johnson as weekday morning news anchor at Channel 5. Station bosses are hoping Elgas' chemistry with co-anchor Zoraida Sambolin ignites viewers' interest.
In any case, the promotion creates a vacancy on Channel 5's weekend morning anchor desk, which Elgas had been sharing with Ellee Pai Hong.
* * Patrick Elwood, morning and noon news anchor at Fox-owned WFLD-Channel 32, has toiled in the shadows of some higher profile personalities at the station. He could be poised to make a move out of the shadows.
* * Allison Payne was hoping she'd bounce back from a series of ministrokes and resume her duties last month as 9 p.m. news anchor at WGN-Channel 9.
Unfortunately, she's still off the air with no word from her or the Tribune Co.-owned station on when she'll be back alongside longtime partner Steve Sanders.
A "Get Well Allison" message board on Channel 9's Web site at www.wgntv.com elicited more than 350 wishes in its first few days online. Add ours too.
* * The tragic death of Randy Salerno last January in a snowmobile accident cost Channel 2 its morning news anchor and left a void yet to be filled.
* * Whispers about when Warner Saunders will retire as Channel 5's top news anchor are getting louder around newsroom water coolers. So far, Saunders isn't among those talking.
But at 73 years old, the guy's been at it since Allison Rosati was in diapers. You do the math.
* * Until last month, Anne State was unknown to Chicagoans as a second-tier news anchor in San Diego, the No. 27 media market.
But starting April 21, she'll bump Burns from Channel 2's 5 p.m. newscast and try her luck alongside Rob Johnson.
Her hiring further repudiates Ahern's failed strategy to build Channel 2 around known names.
* * Since last week, all eyes have been on Mark Suppelsa, the golden boy of local television news, who stunned the market by rejecting a renewal offer as 9 p.m. news anchor at Channel 32.
His departure left a huge opening at the Fox station and an opportunity for David Novarro.
More important, it set off a lively guessing game about where Suppelsa will land after the 90-day "right to match" clause in his contract lapses.
* * Jim Williams is more than just a weekend news anchor at Channel 2. Since the departure of Antonio Mora and the death of Salerno, he's Channel 2's only backup anchor to Rob Johnson.
That should give Williams a leg up when it comes time to renegotiate later this year.