Posted by iconauntmarge on December 02, 2009 at 18:47:09:
In Reply to: Lazare: North & Jiggetts to CBS? posted by DC on December 02, 2009 at 18:35:54:
WBBM-Ch. 2 to blow up early news, go with 'Monsters and Money in the Morning'
WBBM-Ch. 2 is blowing up its moribund morning show, replacing it with "Monsters and Money in the Morning," a hybrid news and talk program set to debut Feb. 1.
Mike North and Dan Jiggetts, the occasional Chicago Sun-Times columnists and one-time radio team whose Comcast SportsNet Chicago morning show is drawing to a close at the end of the month, will talk sports. Sun-Times finance columnist Terry Savage and former CNBC reporter Mike Hegedus will discuss money.
Mary Kay Kleist will handle weather and Susan Carlson headlines and traffic. Others from from Channel 2's current on-air crew in the 5 a.m. to 7 a.m. slot, leading into CBS' "The Early Show," will be reassigned.
The idea is to offer a unique mix of sports, business and personal money management, as well as news headlines, weather and traffic. In an effort to boost corporate synergy, there will be contributions from CBS Radio news station WBBM-AM 780 as well.
“It’s time for something new and smart that will differentiate CBS 2 from its competitors,” Channel 2 boss Bruno Cohen said in a statement. “We are targeting an underserved television audience – Chicagoans who are passionate about sports and want to stay on top of local business news and personal finance – while at the same time continuing to provide the news headlines, weather and traffic information that people want before leaving home in the morning.”
Playing off Jiggetts and North's "Monsters" brand name, WBBM news chief Jeff Kiernan called the new combo "a monster team we’ve put together.”
North has not returned calls for comment concerning Channel 2's plans for the last two days.