Chicago's Deon Cole has enjoyed a successful career in the stand-up comedy scene, and he even parlayed that success all the way to the [now defunct] "Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien."
Cole served as a staff writer during the show's short run; however, for TV Guide Magazine columnist Bruce Fretts, the end of the "Tonight Show" should mark a new beginning for the comic.
Dean says: "[The PR company] told me that I could talk to [Gibson], but only if I didn't bring up any of his much publicized personal problems of the past few years, and stuck to talking about his movie. I told them no, thanks. I don't do interviews with conditions on them."
Here's some info about TV segments that are going run in February to celebrate Black History Month: Bob Jordan will profile prominent African American Chicagoans on February 14 and 28 during the "WGN News at Nine."
And every week this month, Garrard McClendon will feature African American Inventors on his CLTV show, which airs Monday through Saturday at 6pm and 9:30pm. Throughout the week, he will feature clues and questions, inviting viewers to call in and guess who created the invention or modern convenience. And each Friday, he will reveal the answers during the program.
I still feel bad for McClendon because his parents were murdered. He's a strong person to still be able to do his show and carry on. I've heard he's a nice guy too.
I'm sure I'm not the only person to say this, but now that Conan O'Brien is off the "Tonight Show," why doesn't he just come here? Oprah is leaving anyway, and he's done his show here before (at the Chicago Theater). Or are we just fly-over country?
I heard that Roe Conn and Cisco Cotto were on TV, and now the proof has surfaced, thanks to the embedding feature on the CBS news site. Cisco said how their TV appearance came about isn't "a very sexy story": CBS was looking for reactions to the Scott Brown victory, so they sent a camera to WLS Radio. Cisco and Roe briefly appear just past five minutes into the newscast below.
Tonight at 9:30, "Paranormal Cops" is going to be premiering on A&E. According to the site, the show "follows a group of larger-than-life cops who walk one beat during the day as real-life Chicago-area police officers and another at night when they apply their forensic and investigative expertise to paranormal casework...As they investigate, the team will also uncover the dark underworld of Chicago's sordid history, which will both inform and enrich their cases as they seek to rid people of the fears that plague them."
If you miss it at 9:30, you'll get a chance to see it at other times. See the schedule for details.
I was at the Media Monolith, aka 190 North State Street, which houses various radio and TV outlets, including ESPN and WLS-TV. I was in the waiting area downstairs and saw a guy and a woman dressed in identical sweatsuits discussing what seemed like a segment that they were going to be doing that day.
So I asked them if they were going to go on TV, and they looked at me as if I was asking them for money. They eventually said "yes" and I told them that I write for this site, which means I'll be able to write something about them. They looked at me again as if I was deranged, and they mumbled something about "[blah blah] exercises for 2010". So I asked them if they were going to go on Channel 7, and the guy started listing exercises they were going to do.
Um, that's not what I was asking, but apparently they were so freaked out, they didn't want to incriminate themselves by being specific or forthright about their purpose at the Monolith.
It contained the usual problems: lazy staff, debt, chaos, sloppy management. But what caught my eye was when the owner, Janeen Nufer, yelled out her frustrations towards Lake Michigan.
That's what I want to do! I want to yell, "It is too cold!" "Why is it so hard to make decent money?!" "I want that guy to pay for what he did!"
I've walked along Lake Michigan several times, wanting to scream at the top of my lungs to let out my frustration about unfair situations. But I've never done it because I didn't want people to think I was crazy. But now that I saw Janeen do it, I want to do it too! Even right now!
Chicago comedian Deon Cole, who also doubles as a staff writer on "The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien," offers the talk show host an interesting perspective about all the late night goings-on at NBC:
Chet Coppock, who has a crazy history in Chicago media, will be on "Good Day Chicago" tomorrow morning around 9:30 AM.
According to his Facebook status: "i'll be guesting on fox 32 tomorrow at 9-30 to discuss the halas hall shuffle........ why, why would a quality mike martz type coordinator want to come to halas hall with lovey really operating on a one year leash....... don't worry Jerry 'Draft king' angelo has this whole situation under complete control..... sort of like the edmund fitzgerald..."
Even though I don't know what he's talking about, I'm going to watch because I've met him a couple of times and I want to see what he's like on TV. He seems like a talented guy but I've heard he's a lightning rod. I think he's even implied that, but he doesn't seem to care.
Update: I saw the segment which seemed very short. I was able to grasp some of what he was talking about, but he seemed to be the same guy I've met off the air.
My New Year's Eve was spent having a great time working overnight with Steve and Johnnie, where TV meteorologist Tracy Butler showed up before her early morning gig at Channel 7.
So here's the scoop: she's cute and bubbly and looks good before 4 AM. She also was having trouble talking straight into the microphone: she kept moving her head around, and I wondered if she thought she was in a TV studio where the mic is somewhere floating above and all that matters is that you look good.
But really, you know how TV people "need" makeup to look pretty? She doesn't. And the cool thing is that she didn't seem arrogant or anything, just peppy and ready to go to work. Little did she know that I was planning this post as she was sitting on the other side of the glass, having a good time.
For my last post of the year, I'd like to quote Robert Feder, who's been writing about television and other media for years. A lot of people in The Biz "know" him but haven't actually met him, but I was lucky to run into him at an event, and he was really friendly. He was so easy to talk to, I almost told him all about the troubles I'd seen at work, but I refrained. I also managed to not shed a tear about my situation, though I wonder if he could tell I was trying to hold it all in.
He has some good advice in his last blog post of the year for tonight's countdown, which is missing on Chicago TV:
Well tonight she came back to Chicago to take over another salon (Chicago Male Salon) and if you see this post before midnight, you'll catch the rerun then. But Bravo usually reruns her show on other days, so I'm sure you'll get other chances to see it.
Of course, the salon had a viewing party, so if anyone wants to add any comments here about that or about the show, feel free.
And below is a clip of her in Chicago giving tips on cross-promotion.
Today is Bill Zwecker's birthday, and if the world were run by me, I'd give him another TV job as a birthday present.
In the video clip below, you see how Bill talks--he seems friendly and smiley. Well that's how he was when I met him when he was waiting for a cab outside of the MCA. I walked up to him and he had no idea who I was, but he smiled and said hello. Then I dropped a name of someone I worked with who knew him, and asked him some questions about working in TV, neither of us knowing that he'd eventually be canned from CBS-2. He was totally friendly and wasn't snobby at all, which is why I wish he'd end up on TV somewhere instead of just writing for the Sun-Times.
Happy Birthday Bill and hopefully 2010 will be a better year for you.
I rarely watch "Dog the Bounty Hunter" but when I saw this conversation with a Chicago-born woman, I felt bad for her because she's really destroying herself and ruining her life, and she's only in her 20's.
Phil Rosenthal will be on CNN tomorrow morning. What's amusing is his announcement in his column: "This columnist is scheduled to be a guest on Sunday's edition of CNN's 'Reliable Sources.' Look for me -- or avoid me, completely your call -- between 9:30 a.m. and 10 a.m., barring something unexpected."
I've run into him a few times, and one time he didn't recognize me and wasn't the friendliest person on earth. I sent him a message, letting him know that it was me who he saw, and he sent a very nice response, apologizing for the indifference. So when I read that self-deprecating announcement about his appearance on CNN, I thought it seemed consistent with what I've encountered, ie, he's a nice guy who is probably pleased to be on TV but isn't all arrogant about it. So I'm going to tune in and offer my anonymous support.
Chicago native Morris Brent has always had music on his mind; with over 15 years as a music professional, he has written songs, managed artists, and has even fronted his own band. He has now added to his passion for "music and life" by creating CounterPoint, a positive outlet for teens who are interested in pursuing a career in music. When it comes to providing positive opportunities for teens, Brent gets "the point."
Tell us about CounterPoint.
The CounterPoint Music and Life Workshop is an eight week program that is also an after-school arts program for kids who are interested in pursuing music. It is designed to bring out the positive aspects of music as it relates to life.
What are the criteria to join?
Only one: They must be passionate about music. Once they're in the program, they are required to improve in at least one of three key areas--attendance, grades, or behavior.
Why did you decide to create the program?
There are kids who want to be hip-hop artists, DJs, poets, singers, etc. I noticed that there really isn't a specific platform for this in high schools today; to be involved with music, you have to basically be either in the choir or in the band.
Tonight at 10 o'clock, WTTW will be airing "Raising the Barre: The Homer Bryant Story" about Homer Hans Bryant, who has worked with famous people and Olympians. He's received the Chicago Cultural Alliance's 2007 Lifetime Achievement Award and the 2009 Illinois Arts Alliance Award. He's also the founder and artistic director of the Chicago Multi-Cultural Dance Center and is the assistant artistic director for Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago and a ballet master for the Giordano Junior Youth Performing Groups.
It's a 30-minute documentary that should be interesting because he's really done a lot in this city and beyond, and is considered one of the top teachers in the country.
It is no secret how proud Jennifer Hudson is of her Chicago roots--and she showed us just how much in "Jennifer Hudson: "I'll Be Home for Christmas," her holiday special that aired last night on ABC-7.
In the special, the singer/actress took viewers on a journey to her favorite parts of the city that included a ride down the Chicago River and a stop at Navy Pier and her other Chicago stomping grounds, including Evergreen Plaza, as she sang holiday classics along the way.
One of Hudson's stops included a visit to her alma mater, Dunbar Vocational Career Academy. There, she gave an auditorium full of students a mini-concert where she belted out her rendition of holiday classics like "O Holy Night" and "The Christmas Song." Next, the Grammy and Academy Award winner visited the South Side church where she honed her singing chops and sang more holiday tunes, this time, backed by the Soul Children of Chicago choir. Together, they sang a high-energy, gospel-influenced version of "Go Tell It On The Mountain" and other Christmas songs.
The show was an excellent showcase for Hudson's singing talent, (not that we don't already know about her powerhouse vocals) and her fans everywhere were certainly treated to a warm and family-friendly holiday special.
Since WFLD-TV (Fox Chicago) has decided to not renew Jack Conaty's contract, they'll most likely be deleting his bio from their site. So I've posted it here. I think it's important to preserve it, especially since they said, "We appreciate all of Jack's hard work and dedication during his time with Fox Chicago." So much so, they've shown him the door.
Rick Kogan has the best media gig in Chicago, and it hasn't gone to his head -- unlike some other folks who shall remain nameless. He's a generous person and isn't snobby at all. I met him a while ago, and he's one of the few people who judges people according to their personality and character, not how famous, rich or successful they are, even though he is definitely successful and well-connected.
Now that the show "Monk" has ended, I'm going to say what I've been thinking for a long time: it wasn't even good anymore! It especially went downhill when Bitty Schram (who played Sharona) left the show. There was always an interesting tension between them because they had different personalities, and she called him out on his weird behavior.
But more than the unfortunate departure of Sharona was that the early episodes were actually mysteries, and after a while, the show became just about him and his annoying quirks. What we ended up watching was his amicable relationship with his new assistant Natalie, which seemed boring because there was no tension, and one big character sketch, supported by lots of extras at the show's site. I stopped watching it, even when Sharona came back to the show for one episode, though I did see the finale (which was better than most of the show's episodes anyway).
And btw: Tony Shalhoub, who's the producer and lead actor, is Jonathan Brandmeier's cousin (at least according to Shalhoub's IMDb bio).
Well, Brandmeier definitely doesn't have a "face for radio." Compare him to other 50-somethings, and I'd say he looks a lot better -- he obviously works out and takes care of himself. Yes, it's superficial to talk about his looks, but that's what matters when it comes to TV.
Check out this clip below from a cancelled TV show and you'll see what I mean. And check out his site to see more videos (they don't let anyone embed them elsewhere).
This week I met Debra (Deb) Coltune-Mendez, who is going to host the show "Dig In! America" on Bravo TV. She'll be talking to renowned chefs about their restaurants and neighborhoods, then they'll show where the food came from, and how people can cook a meal featured in the show in their own kitchens.
When I first met Debra, I thought I'd seen her before, and she said that people think she looks like Eva Longoria. But Debra has none of the Beverly Hills attitude. She's really easy to talk to and has had an interesting life, including working in TV in Las Vegas and Florida.
The director is another Chicagoan, Marc Shaykin, who's worked all over the city for every TV station, and also teaches at the City Colleges of Chicago. And Anzour Jallouqa, a tech guy in Chicago, is also helping out with production.
I'll post more details about the show when it premieres, but I just wanted to give folks a heads-up.
I guess I'm the only person who doesn't like "My Boys" because it's going on its fourth year, which means it has lots of viewers. This is not to diss the actors--they seem talented, but the show is not funny and reminds me of the shallow interactions you see in tacky Wrigleyville bars, which is probably what this show is based on. I could barely get through one episode, and I don't want to give it another shot.
The only thing I find entertaining about the show is [are] all the Chicago references and seeing if they got the details right, such as our glee about balmy days within harsh winters. But I have to disagree with the TBS slogan ("very funny"): not very funny. Not funny at all.
I said before that if Oprah leaves Chicago, it won't be good for us. Well, now that she's announced the end of her CBS-syndicated show, my opinion remains unchanged. Since Discovery Communications, the company that's going to partner with her for her OWN cable network, isn't located in Chicago (except for a sales office), that means that a lot of resources and opportunities are going to disappear from our fair city.
Let's hope that another innovative, successful person in Chicago steps up to the plate to keep our city prosperous and dynamic.
I am old enough to remember when Walter Jacobson and Bill Kurtis hosted, I mean read, the news on Channel 2. The newsroom was behind them and had a realistic, gritty, serious feel to it. But we're in the 21st century now--news has changed. So it was weird to see them together on Friday (you can see the video here). And I wonder if younger viewers were puzzled about what all the hype was about, and if they cared. What demographic did they think they were appealing to?
In case you missed it, you can see a bit of this week's episode of "Dirty Jobs" when they were in West Chicago at the Sims Recycling Solutions facility. What's sort of annoying is that the Discover Channel doesn't let folks embed their videos elsewhere, which is why I've only provided the link.
I was at a Blackhawks game on Monday (they won, btw) and I met Gene Honda, who's the public address announcer for them and other teams in town. I think he does voice work for Me-TV, and I've seen him on WTTW during pledge drives, but what's weird is that he's not listed at their site, and he doesn't have his own site either. So I'm not clear what he exactly does at Channel 11, but he has a great voice.
He seemed friendly, though I probably annoyed him because I asked him for advice about some stuff, and he gave me some obtuse answers. He probably thought, "Great, another wannabe asking me about the dwindling competitive voice business," so perhaps he didn't want to be specific because there was no point. I did get a chance to ask him if he speaks Japanese, because I lived there and can speak it ok, but he said "no." After he disappeared into the announcer's booth, I thought I would never see him again, but I later ran past him in a hall downstairs. So I said it was nice to meet him and he smiled, and I haven't emailed him yet to follow up (he doesn't know I write for this site and I seriously wonder if he's glad to be rid of me).
And before I go back into my blogging booth, I'd like to offer him some specific advice: get a website and post your audio and bio so that we can know more about you.
There's been a question posted in Fuel that asks what you think of Oprah leaving Chicago. Well I think that Chicago will definitely suffer if she leaves.
Not only will hundreds of people lose their jobs, but all the residuals that go along with her presence here will be affected as well. Remember what the West Loop used to look like? It was a bunch of emptying warehouses and decrepit buildings, a kind of no-man's land where parking was plentiful, but restaurants weren't.
Not only did her studio bring about urban revitalization, but it's also increased tourism and enhanced Chicago's exposure. Before, Chicago was known more for the mafia and Al Capone than Oprah. Now we get all sorts of people here who want to see what her "hometown" looks like, and even if their friends and family aren't fans of hers, they at least become curious to see what type of place they've been to.
So as a non-fan of her show (though if I got an invite, I'd gladly go), I'd like to publicly plea that she not leave Chicago because we need her. Otherwise, we might slip back to the Chicago of the 70's, when the city was grim and people stayed away.
The second season of "Tabatha's Salon Takeover" opened in Chicago! The salon featured was Orbit Salon in Lakeview, within walking distance from Wrigley Field.
I love this show--I watched the entire first season and was impressed. It's not just about a salon, but about how to run a business, have pride in your work, and take responsibility for even seemingly mundane details. It's entertaining, but I've also come away from the show thinking about how to "step up" (as Tabatha often says) in my own projects and jobs.
There's a really good article in the Sun-Times that talks about some reality behind what we saw: what the stylists had to say compared to what was shown. If you watched the show with the stylists at The Stretch, feel free to talk about it here.
After watching this interview with Sherri Shepherd (who grew up in Chicago and Hoffman Estates before moving to California), I really want to meet her. I'm not a fan of any of the shows she's been involved with, but she seems like a very vibrant person who's funny too. I wish I could make a living off my personality as she's been able to do.
People shouldn't get too much plastic surgery. Actually, no one should get it, but since some segments of society are materialistically self-absorbed, plastic surgery is "inevitable." Just take a walk around the Gold Coast or the Viagra Triangle to test such a theory.
Last night I spotted plastic surgery overkill: Cindyana from "Million Dollar Listing." This photo does not capture the hideousness that appeared on camera for several moments at a time. In fact, I think the producers purposely did close-ups of her face to expose us to such horror. If you want to be creeped out, watch Season 3, Episode 3 -- they'll most likely rerun it multiple times.
When it comes to performing, Chicago native Robert Townsend has certainly done it all; beginning with his 1987 directorial debut, "Hollywood Shuffle", (and before then with a bit part in the 70s cult classic "Cooley High")Townsend has gone on to produce, direct, write and act in several feature films and television series.
After a television hiatus, Townsend returns to the small screen, adding another entry to his repertoire: "Robert Townsend's Musical Theater of Hope." Airing this weekend on the Gospel Music Channel (GMC), "Hope" is a trilogy with a "theatre-like quality" that shows "characters dealing with the challenges of life." I have seen all of his projects, including "Meteor Man", (but don't hold that one against him) and he has consistently put out quality, entertaining, and family-friendly material that everyone can enjoy.
So, if you're all tuckered out from watching football, tune into "Robert Townsend's Musical Theater of Hope" on GMC this Sunday, Oct. 25 at 7pm. Encore performances are scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 27 at 11pm.
Though I'd like to commend CBS for posting full episodes of "The Good Wife" at their site (for those of us who can't record it on Tuesday nights), I've noticed an inconsistency: the Chicago police in Highland Park. Highland Park has its own police department, so realistically, the police who arrested the teenager in the clip below would be from Highland Park, not Chicago.
After a long search, this is the only picture I could find. If you have a better picture, feel free to let me know. Nene's uncle is on the far left, and to the right of her is the co-author of her book (Denene Millner), and Nene's alleged real dad.
Someone sent me info about CLTV (which according to some people is the Triple A/Farm Team for WGN): you can now watch it if you have RCN. Finally. It's obviously impractical that for years, people could only see it on Comcast, but what's odd is that not even all Comcast subscribers can see it either. I don't know what CLTV's plan is, but I hope they get more exposure because it's refreshing to see news presented in a regular way (instead of the fluffy presentations on other stations). And they have pleasant weekday morning anchor Tonya Francisco and earnest weekend anchor Judy Wang, two women on TV who don't act dumb.
From the local club scene to cable TV to feature films, Chicago comedian Deon Cole has been steadily climbing the ranks in stand-up comedy; now, he has a new feather in his cap: He is the latest addition to the writing staff of NBC's "The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien."
Here is Cole at work:
Be sure to tune in to "The Tonight Show" to see one of Chicago's own in action!
Let me honestly say that I've wanted to write about the Lettermansituation since the story broke, but I've refrained because it seems that everyone is writing about it. But here's something you haven't seen in the Chicago media: any mention that it happens here as well.
Kathy Griffin (who grew up in Oak Park) is in town for some shows at the Chicago Theater, and today I saw her walking out of the Ritz Carlton to get in a car that drove her a couple of blocks to the Borders on Michigan Avenue (which will be closed early next year).
I walked over to the Borders to try to get a picture of her, but all I saw were hundreds of people lined up on the first and second floors to get their books signed. What's D-List about that? Staying at the Ritz, wearing beautiful clothes, surrounded by handlers, sold-out shows at the Chicago Theater, hundreds of people waiting for her to just sign their books...she's obviously a success!
Dean Richards said that he got a chance to talk to her, and she totally made him laugh. That interview will be on the WGN Morning News tomorrow (Thursday), and he said it will be funny. Hopefully they'll post the video online as well.
Here's the context: in the episode The Lazarus Experiment, the Doctor was playing an organ to try to destroy an evil creature and said, "I'll have to turn it up to eleven."
Yes, I'm a Spinal Tap fan which is why I caught that reference easily. I'm sure many people in Chicagoland were smiling and nodding their heads when they heard that. I just wanted to celebrate such a pop cross-cultural reference here. Thank you and have a good night :)
I had a membership with WTTW/Channel 11 but let it lapse, and eventually got a desperate-sounding letter from them, with several paragraphs that started out with the phrase "We took the chance..." followed by "There's only one problem with 'the honor system,' and running a public service on faith--everyone has to keep doing their fair share or it falls down." They said that they're worried, which made me wonder how bad TV would be without them around.
So I sent my membership check in, and I'd like to suggest that other people do the same. They're one of the few TV stations that doesn't require trash to fuel their programming, and they don't use visual extremes or try to melt people's minds.
I've never worked for them and don't know anyone there, so I don't have a ulterior motive. I just appreciate that they're around.
If you look at the opening scene in the video below, the alarm radio goes off, and the traffic reporter is talking about how backed up Michigan Avenue traffic is. But really, do we ever hear about it? Real Chicago traffic reports focus on expressways and Lake Shore Drive. But I guess the show wanted to feature that famously pretty street, not only visually (you see Michigan Avenue a lot in the opening credits) but on the radio as well.
I honestly didn't expect much from the new CBS show The Good Wife, but it was actually really good. I still can't believe they created a main character who is female and complex! And we can identify with her--not just her struggles but her strength as well--who would've thought that TV shows could do that?
What's amusing is that the woman's husband was the Cook County State's Attorney, and before he was thrown in jail, they lived in Highland Park.
I was surprised to see Matt Czuchry in the show--I watched him in many episodes of Gilmore Girls, where he played a smug rich kid. Now he's an ambitious junior lawyer, working on cases that are tried in our glorious Cook County.
I'm going to tune in next week, but if CBS decides to make any of the mainfemalecharacters stupid, slutty, weak, shrill, or shallow, I will no longer watch.
Oprah (aka Opie to some folks) promptly paid back the city for closing down Michigan Avenue to kick off her 24th season. (Why she wouldn't wait for "25" to make it really special, I have no idea. Which makes me wonder what she has planned for next year.) That was fast. And responsible. Thanks.
I don't worship at the Temple of O, and I'm not a buddy of Da Mayor either, but I had no problem with her closing down Michigan Avenue to throw her party. It might not be a hip opinion, since it seems that a lot of people wanted to complain about how she pushed her way onto the most prestigious section of street in the city, but it's only helped. Chicago got exposure not just on TV, but in all the residuals that surrounded the event, and businesses made money.
I had difficulty getting down the street, but I got a clear view from a high floor in the 333 building, and sure, there were a lot of people, but it was organized and festive and they cleaned up real nice, too. We didn't hear about any crime or freak-outs, so let's just be happy a TV powerhouse chose Chicago to celebrate success, and let's hope that gets more visitors here.
CAN-TV has just posted a video of a panel on making a living as an artist, featuring those who figured out a different solution to the art/money conundrum.
First it was Pat O'Brien, now we find out that Chicago stand-up Hannibal Buress has also been hired to write for the newest season of Saturday Night Live. Buress has been living and performing in New York City, having recently appeared on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon, and he recently announced on his Twitter page that he would be joining the SNL cast on the 17th floor of 30 Rockefeller Plaza.
"hey. i found out that ill be writing on this season of SNL. lots of elaborate poop sketches will be pitched this season:"
Tune in to the season premiere of the 35th season of SNL on September 26th on NBC!
Most theater companies define themselves by what they want. Jeremy Menekseoglu, artistic director of Chicago's Dream Theatre Company, knows exactly what he doesn't. No fourth wall. No superfluous roles. No poor roles for women. No living rooms. No boundaries of... Read this feature »
