WGN Morning News Blog

BLADES OF GLORY
While the world is watching "Dancing with the Stars", the first movie today has to do with “skating with the stars.” “Blades of Glory” is about two competitors from opposite worlds; bitter foes for all of their lives.

Will Ferrell is Chazz Michael Michaels, a hard living, off the cuff, over sexed cowboy while Jimmy McElroy, “Napoleon Dynamite's”, Jon Heder, is prim, proper and fastidious. Neither is happy when they tie for a gold medal and have to share the spotlight.

After the tragic fire that sets the game’s mascot ablaze, they’re both stripped of their medals and banned from singles skating for life until a coach, Craig T. nelson, devises a plan to put them back on ice...as the world's first all male pairs couple...something neither of them want...but reluctantly agree to.

There’s nothing groundbreaking in "Blades of Glory" but I don’t need much to make me laugh in a Will Ferrell movie. Whether it was spoofing the sport, skintight outfits on not-so skintight bodies, or hilarious evil nemesis's played by Will Arnett and Amy Pohler, it did keep a smile on my face throughout.

It’s no “Talladega Nights” but it’s a far cry from Will’s “Kicking’ and Screaming.”
A solid, Dean’s List “B.”

Meet The Robinsons

The new Disney film, "meet the Robinson’s" is a stylish-looking animation about a young orphan who wants to find his biological mother. He’s a bit of a science geek who invents a machine that sets off a series of events that sends him to the future where he meets the crazy Robinson clan...and discovers a whole lot more than just his roots.

I liked the sweet story that’s cleverly written but it's also the crazy characters and concepts that sets the movie apart. The movie is playing in select theaters in 3-D...a really discrete 3-D that's not overdone...and with comfortable, attractive glasses.

Another Dean’s List “B.”

“Who’s Afraid of Virginia Wolf”?

There’s also some theater to tell you about this week. A classic drama that debuted in 1962 being brought back by Oscar nominee, Kathleen Turner and Tony winner, Bill Irwin.

It’s Edward albee's, brilliant "who afraid of Virginia wolf", a disturbing, yet hilarious drama, about a boozed up, old married couple's love hate relationship that spills over onto a young couple who come over for a visit.

The words that Albee writes are like listening to music. Kathleen Turner over plays the notes taking the subtly out of her character while Irwin hits his notes with perfectly milking every drop of emotion out of them. I can see why he won the Tony for his performance of this role in New York.

See this classic. It’s good but not heartbreakingly great; through April 7th at the LaSalle Bank Theater.

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There is no shortage of Cubs guidebooks. There are reference books that will tally the Cubs wild pitches, blown saves, and men left-on-base; there are others that catalogue the best spots to chug beer and ogle women. But how about one to find happiness? In “The Cubs Fan’s Guide to Happiness,” George Ellis, a 29 year old copywriter for Leo Burnett and longtime Cubs fan, gets philosophical.

If believers of a Cubs curse can have so much faith in a goat manipulating the forces of the baseball universe, based on a hex from a Greek man whose expertise is grilling raw meat, than perhaps Cubs fans can find solace in another Greek—Aristotle. He said, “We are what we repeatedly do.”

For Cubs and Cubs fans, that means losing. Does that make us losers? Let’s do what the philosophers do and consider the arguments.

Ellis would turn to Scottish philosopher David Hume to counter Aristotle’s argument that failing makes us failures.

He writes: David Hume thought it erroneous to assume that since something has always happened the same way that it will continue to do so. Just because the sun has risen every day since the beginning of the earth, it doesn’t necessarily follow that it will rise again tomorrow. There’s simply no definitive proof.

First of all, if the sun fails to come up tomorrow, middle-relief will be the least of our problems. But what Hume might argue, is that just because the Cubs have had a bad century doesn’t mean the Cubs won’t go 162-0. The future is not bound to the past.

OK sure, but you have to consider the degree of probability. Einstein said “God doesn’t roll dice.” Meaning that if Jim Hendry drafted 9 guys from the Chicago School of Massage, the forces of nature would not be with the Cubs.

Where we’d both agree is that reflecting on data from previous years, as baseball broadcast producers love to do, is useless. What Leo Durocher did not do in 1967, or what Tinker, Evers and chance did do in 1908 has absolutely, positively nothing to do with Kerry Wood or Lou Pinella.

Hume offers relief in endorsing Ellis’ optimism: The TANY philosophy---There’s Always Next Year. It’s healthy---not just for Cubs fan but for everyone. Acknowledging that you always have another 162 games, or another day to fix your own personal miscues, gives us hope that things can always be better (assuming the sun does rise again tomorrow. )

“Okay, it sounds silly, but I've found that the more I joke about the "There's Always Next Year" philosophy, the more I start to believe it,” Ellis said. “It's about not getting down on yourself after one failure, because there really is no reason you can't be successful next time. Unless you're a total loser, of course.”

In the meantime, there’s always beer. Plato said “He was a wise man who invented beer.”

Ellis’ next philosophical mantra is Beer Will Make it Better.” Well, it won’t make anyone play better, unless we put a keg in the Cards dugout and then maybe the Cubs would look good by comparison. More realistically, it just might numb our pain---although if you’re drinking Old Style, it may take 18 beers.

A more responsible reading might be that beer is just part of the fun, and that is not a trivial thing.

Ellis notes that French existentialist author Albert Camus that it’s the process that gives meaning. Afterall, you win the World Series, and you feel good—there’s a parade---you buy a t-shirt---and then you know what? It’s back to work. So in the end, enjoy the process of cheering, drinking, crying, drinking, and making new friends at the friendly confines.

Which brings us back to the Greeks to find meaning in all this.

“Happiness is something final and complete in itself,” Aristotle said. “As being the aim and end of all practical activities.”

For Cubs fans, baseball is a religion. Faith brings them back. For the secular, happiness is the aim of life, which is found in the optimism of spring, the sounds and smells of Wrigley in the summer, and in the fall, the consolation that Cubs convention is only a few months away.

Posted by Larry Potash at 5:13 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I met a woman yesterday. Her name is Latonya Moore. Her daughter, Loreal, was killed about 2:15 Tuesday morning. The 18 year old was shot in the neck while getting into a car that her twin sister, Lauren, was driving. I sat on the floor in front of this mother who was so overcome with grief she could barely speak. She told me how her heart was broken apart. She kept asking me "Why? Why would someone kill my daughter?". While I sat there, Lauren came into the house. She let out this sob that came from deep within. A sob that can only come in response to immense sorrow. She watched her sister die, her twin, her other half. I had trouble watching her pain. I had no answers for her or her mother. I just tried to be compassionate and put myself in their place. I have a six year old son. What would i do if someone shot him? How could I go on?

The Chicago Police Department hasn't said what the motive was for the murder but Loreal's family believes she was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Residents in that part of the Auburn-Gresham neighborhood tell me they have heard gunshots for days now. Gang wars possibly?

-- Marcella Raymond

Posted by Valerie Warner at 12:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBacks (0)

OK. So I wore a track suit and gym shoes for the first time in about 10 years, thinking I'm doing good work for charity. But then, "Morning Show Showdown 3" happened.

You'll notice a couple of former morning show folks participated. Roseanne Tellez kept elbowing me during the race, even though she was more worried about her hair staying "fresh" than winning.

I, of course, should be the true champion. I followed the rules and waited for the whistle. But typically, that Mike Barz, who we've always known here at WGN to be a cheater, got a false start out of the blocks and led his cheatin' team to victory.

I'm not a complainer by nature, but come on!
Oh wait.....I am a complainer by nature. Never mind.

Posted by Robin Baumgarten at 9:43 AM | Permalink | Comments (10) | TrackBacks (0)

Rating - 4 stars
hk.promo.yahoo.com/movie/superman

Posted by Admin at 8:58 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

OK, technically, it's the picture of yesterday, but never before has a picture so accurately depicted the effect I have on women.

Posted by Pat Tomasulo at 11:17 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Mascots have always held a special place in my heart (somewhere between the right ventricle and the tricuspid valve), so it was a near-fantasy when I recently got the chance to play "Striker," the mascot for the Chicago Storm. First, let me thank the team for staking its reputation on me, and allowing me to wander its arena and harass its fans. I imagine a request to play Benny the Bull would not have been so generously granted.

I'm also thankful because in one half of a soccer game as Striker, I dropped those pesky 12 pounds I've been meaning to lose. I haven't sweat that much since donning a rubber suit and riding a stationary bike the night before my final high school wrestling match. But don't feel bad for me. Feel bad for the guy who had to play Striker in the second half. He actually thought a can of Febreeze would conquer that stench.

It's difficult for me to describe what wearing that suit felt like- actually, imagine having your body ensconsed in shag carpet. Every inch of my being was covered in fur, save for my head- that was disguised by a 37-pound helmet, which didn't rest quite properly on my neck. Anytime I walked forward, the helmet rocked back, and vice versa. I'm currently seeing an accupuncturist for it.

But the pain was worth it, because everyone loves a mascot. I learned that at no other time in life are people friendlier to a stranger, than when he's wearing a mascot costume. I had people offering me their children, women grabbing me, grown men allowing me to sit in their laps. For all these people knew, I could have been Son of Sam under that mask! I must have taken 2 dozen pictures with somebody's kid in a headlock.

On the other hand, there were some children I would have killed to slap a headlock on, maybe follow it up with a German suplex (the two moves transition nicely). Some kids think it's cool (and their parents cute) to mess with the mascot- pull his tail, smack his head, call him names and run. First off, had I been able to run in those damn fur slip-ons, I may have given chase. But ultimately, I'm sure my better judgement would have prevailed.

A mascot is held to a higher standard.

http://www.myspace.com/pattomasulo

Posted by Pat Tomasulo at 8:48 AM | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBacks (0)

This time last year, I was getting ready to kick some butt in the 2nd Annual Morning Show Showdown.
At least, that's what I thought.
Remember, the showdown is the big race between the local morning news teams from channel 2, 5, 7, Fox and us.
The point really is not the competition but instead to have a little fun and raise awareness for the The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's Team in Training Program that has raised nearly $700 million dollars to fight blood related cancers.
I bought into that idea initially...the whole no competition thing, that is.
But let me tell you something.
Once you get out there and see the other stations gearing up.....you're like "IT'S ON".
I WANT TO WIN.
I stretched.
I warmed up.
I did all I thought I needed to do to help our team(me, Ana and Dean) get a victory.
But, it didn't happen.
That's okay.
That other team, a couple of dials down from us, won.
They cheated :-)
We, here at the ol' number 9, are winners in our heart and of course every morning on the air.
Oops, did I say that.
Oh well, it's the truth!!!!!!! Just ask Larry Potash.
We call Larry "Ricky Ratings" because he's a freak about the daily numbers.

Anyway, if you are interested in checking out the fun this year (I have since retired from running) check it out tomorrow.

Here's all the info.

It's the 3rd Annual Morning Show Showdown.
It's Wednesday March 28th at 8:45am.
It's a 400 meter relay race to help cure cancer.

The teams are as follows:
WGN Team: Robin Baumgarten, Pat Tomasulo, Marcella Raymond
FOX Team: Mike Barz, Tammie Souza, David Viggiano
CBS Team: Roseanne Tellez, Ed Curran, Susan Carlson
NBC Team: Bruce Wolf, Art Norman, Saran Dunmore

Race time: 8:45am at the Lake Shore Park Chicago
That's at Chicago avenue & Lake Shore Drive if you want to be there to cheer us on.

For more on the Leukemia and The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's Team in Training Program visit
www.Teamintraining.org
Phone: (312) 651-7350

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Team In Training® is the world's largest endurance sports training program. Since 1988, more than 295,000 volunteer participants have helped raise more than $695 million to fight blood related cancer.

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is the world's largest voluntary health organization dedicated to funding blood cancer research, education and patient services. The Society's mission: Cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families.

That's all from Val!

Peace

Posted by Valerie Warner at 8:36 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Rating - 3 stars
www.youtube.com

Posted by Admin at 7:24 AM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

I will not win the WGN Morning News Bracket Challenge. It's a guarantee, and I am at peace with it.

I understand that certain unforseen variables can factor into a contest like this, and thus, skew the results. So as long as I make a respectable showing, I will be content. And if Ohio State beats Florida in the National Championship game, I will finish fifth. FIFTH! Not bad for a guy in 96th place after Round 1!

Of course, from my current perch of 21st place, if neither Florida nor Ohio State even reaches the title game, I can finish in 111th.

Here are the top 5 (6 really) teams.

caesar 99 111
Zion 110
Donnie B 108
Rerucha 108
uhhhh... I don't care 106
Jen Berry 106

http://www.myspace.com/pattomasulo

Posted by Pat Tomasulo at 8:43 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Rating - 3 stars
www.pepsidjdivision.com

Posted by Admin at 7:12 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Men-pigs? Insecure Hussies. Exorcising your romantic baggage? They sound like episodes of Dr. Phil, but they could just as easily be the titles of sermons by Rabbi Shmuley Boteach, and certainly not sermons you'd snore through. I'm pretty sure you won't find topless co-eds in Leviticus, but Rabbi Shmuley tackles these problems from a different pulpit: "Shalom in the Home" on TLC at 6 p.m. Sundays.

He believes it's important that clergy talk about more than just faith and charity. On his TLC show, he tackles family problems, which includes everything from parenting to love to relationships. Shmuley's qualifications as a relationship expert also include authoring several books, including "Kosher Sex" and "Dating Secrets of the Ten Commandments."

Judaism has a long tradition of seeking answers to life's small questions, from marriage to child-rearing; and when you get right down to it, the lessons transcend religious affiliation.

Take marriage, for example. Why do people seem to be drifting apart? His advice on avoiding this fate may surprise you. He suggests that compatibility is overrated. Instead of looking at someone's background, look at their destination and find someone who shares your goals. If you do this, you will not have to wait until you are in your mid-30s to find true love.

But, before you do that, you must end the addiction to serial dating.

"So many people go through relationships and they're haunted by all these people who preceded them in the relationship," Shmuley said. "You gotta come fresh as if it was the first time. I believe that mental virginity is a lot more important than physical virginity." He suggests finding someone at a young age and growing together.

Instead of investing time, auditioning potential spouses (or worse, dating for entertainment) people also should be looking for character. It is the foundation for a successful commitment. Ask yourself: Does this person have my best interest, first?

Which brings us back to an even more important question: How should men and women behave? The bottom line, according to Shmuley, is that women are "self-loathing" and men are "pigs."

Why are men pigs? Because women allow them to be. Shmuley believes women don't make men earn their love. For example, he sites a stroll along the boardwalk last weekend in Miami, where he saw thousands of young women strutting around men in bikinis--half of the women were topless.

"Already at that age, these women are training themselves to just be so available to men. What incentive is there for a man to be a gentlemen? None. And then women wonder 'dang, why can't I find a nice guy to date?'" Shmuley said. "Women have become very insecure and I think one of the reasons is that there's so much emphasis today on looks. I mean, there is no group in America that hates themselves as much as women do."

Shmuley says women need to hold men to a higher standard.

["Men] don't know how to love a woman, they don't know how to focus on a woman, because it's so easy to get a woman. They don't even have to change themselves. They don't have to earn a woman. They just get her."

Lighting shabbos candles or saying a prayer may give you peace of mind, but those rituals won't cause the answers to magically appear in your head. That's where a rabbi, or "teacher," can be helpful by tapping into the experience of others who have come before you.

While Moses never had to deal with low-cut jeans or Internet porn, wise men have invested a great deal of time reflecting on how to get along with their fellow man.

"The healthiest people -- physically and mentally - are those who have a purpose-oriented life. Those who are encumbered by their own selfishness, their own narcissism, their own focus on self, they end up getting crushed by the weight of their own existence

Posted by Larry Potash at 9:04 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Rating - 3 stars
www.benkweller.com

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So, my daughter Anna made me this adorable - yet predictably cheesy - flower shaped like paper heart with her school picture taped to a straw and planted in a plastic cup. Every parent has gotten one of these - usually with an optional "macaroni" feature.

Well, I've been promising since Valentine's Day to bring it to work and keep it on my desk.
But, as you know, my desk is on the air, the the big boss is not fond of seeing knickknacks perched on the ledge behind the anchors as they read serious news stories.

So, my idea was to take this picture of me on the set holding her crafty creation, and post it on the blog.
Then, pull up the website on our home computer, pretend it's the t.v., and show her Mom is showing her flower on t.v.

The problem might be trying to explain how I'm in two places at once, and why the t.v. looks so much like the computer.

Posted by Robin Baumgarten at 9:23 AM | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBacks (0)

Rating - 2 stars
Http://video.aol.com/

Posted by Admin at 9:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Two weeks until I'm on vacation and nowhere to go.
That's right, I've waited too late to book any kind of trip now.
That is, unless I want to spend a ton of money and I DON'T.
So, I think my husband and I are going to spend the week cleaning out the basement.
Exciting!!!!!!!!!!!
We have so much crap down there from when we moved here a year and a half ago.
It's a mess.
Yeah, I know, this may sound boring, but it'll be very productive and sometimes productivity can be just as satisfying.
Who am I trying to fool?
I think myself.
Anyway, I do want to thank those who wrote responding to my last blog with all the great Disney info.
I'll use it one day...but not anytime soon.

Happy Spring Cleaning!

Val

Posted by Valerie Warner at 6:37 AM | Permalink | Comments (7) | TrackBacks (0)

Rating - 3 stars

www.tonygeary.net

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I am in a complete free-fall right now, arms and legs all flailing as I plummet down the standings of our pool. I speak metaphorically, of course, though if I ever find myself in such a descent, I assure you I will not try and latch onto anyone or anything associated with the Universities of Wisconsin, Nevada, Texas or Virginia.

I thought I'd picked some winners, when the truth is . . .

I can't even pick my nose correctly.

Right I'm in 91st place, though technically, I'm only 10 points behind our leader . . but have ZERO chance of catching him/her. We have the same Final Four and the same national Champion (obviously "Zion" heard me give my Final Four, yet wisely ignored every other one of my picks).

Here are the top 5:

Zion 54
ULOOZ 53
Caseman 52
Donnie B 52
dagreatwall 52

http://www.myspace.com/pattomasulo

Posted by Pat Tomasulo at 8:54 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Once the St. Patrick’s liquid feast wears off, you may find you don’t feel so good, and that the person you met the night before doesn’t look as good the morning after.

Ideally, the goal of dating is settling down with someone, not settling for someone.

That might be the biggest obstacle of dating--the perception of a perfect Mr. or Miss Right. People have faults. But which ones can you live with, and which can’t you live without?

Brian Wolf, 30, of Chicago acknowledges all of this on the Web site he started last June, www.settleforbrian.com. Wolf says he started the site because his friends said he needed to find a good woman—and he didn’t do so well on other dating sites. He also was tired of all the perfect pictures posted on Internet dating profiles.

"It’s usually the best picture they can find. That’s not dishonest, but it is setting the other person up for disappointment. And that’s really what my site is about: putting both the good and the bad about me out there so that there’s no nasty surprises," Wolf said. "So if you are settling for me, you are settling for the bad and the good. [I thought it would be] a fun idea to tell the truth from the get go. It caught on."

OK, ladies. Here are Brian’s attractive attributes as well as his self-deprecating confessions:

BRIAN’S CONS

Sense of humor: "I once Saran wrapped a co-worker’s car for April Fool’s Day."
This impressive resume has earned him six dates since the site went up in June. Only one was moderately successful, but it was long distance so it fizzled at four months. His experiment attracted some media coverage, including in a September RedEye cover story.

"I get a lot of e-mails from people who say, ‘I am not interested in dating you, but it brought a smile to [my] face.’ I wish everybody was honest this way."

I brought in an expert to view Wolf’s profile. Dr. Jon Carlson is a psychologist at Governor’s State University.

"I was turned off at first by the opening picture, but as I read on he became more real and likeable. Women probably believe that since he has a big nose, etc. he will be tolerant of their defects," Carlson said. "Honesty is very important in a successful relationship. Brian is sharing things that a potential partner will find out soon enough."

But Carlson also notes, in his syndicated "advice cartoon" with cartoonist Joe Martin (of "Mr. Boffo" fame) this week, that a little mystery is OK. The cartoon shows a man being interrogated by police.

Cop: "Are you keeping any secrets from us?"

The caption: Somehow my wife can always tell when I’m lying. Shouldn’t a person be allowed to have some secrets?
I think there is a fine line between honesty and mystery. Both fuel the chemistry of a stable but exciting relationship. I wonder if Wolf has crossed the line into being a little too forthcoming.

The issues of religion/children are the foundation that cannot be broken, but blemishes like being an ESPN-aholic or despising her cat can be put on hold. Let’s face it, all baggage is revealed in good time; and building some credit with a little self-promotion at the beginning might inspire a little more forgiveness later from the potential Ms. Right.

Posted by Larry Potash at 10:50 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

There are 185 people in this pool, and not one person correctly picked every game of day one. My friends, we have certainly defied the odds on this one. I've been in pools where picks are based on how cute the point guard is (my brother has no clue), and at least SOMEBODY was perfect after 16 games. I mean, I was preoccupied with an impending eyebrow-threading appointment I had the day I made my picks, so I have an excuse. But what's yours?!?!

Among my first round slip-ups would be Old Dominion, which also counts as one of my second-round slip-ups, considering I picked them to go to the Sweet 16. But that's nothing compared to the first round had so far by "Haventaclue," who lived up to his/her nickname by picking Duke and Gonzaga to face each other in the Elite 8.

Here are the 5 people tied for first place. They all luckily . . CORRECTLY picked 15 of the 16 games on day one.

GetBusyBoy
numba1pick
Straight Outta Schaumpton
uhhhh... I don't care
THGuild

To check the rest of the picks click on this link

http://tournament.fantasysports.yahoo.com/men/group/102001/standings

I am taking the advice of one our leaders, and I am going to get busy on dominating day 2. Except I am a man . . . and not a boy.

P.S. If you'd like proof of my predicting prowess, visit page 100 of today's edition of the newspaper in town that's not the Tribune. I'm working on getting them a bigger picture.

http://www.myspace.com/pattomasulo

Posted by Pat Tomasulo at 8:56 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

Premonition
Sandra Bullock, Julian McMahon
Rated PG-13

I’m going to start calling her Huey Lewis because no one goes “Back to the Future” as much as she does.

Following up her time travel romance, "The Lake House", now, she's tripping around in time again...trying to figure out what's going on with her, "here today, dead tomorrow"

She says the whole scenario is inconsistent? She must have had another premonition and read my mind. I’ll add on confusing and just plain boring.

The premonition that she thinks she's having in the movie is about her husband, played by “Nip-Tuck's” Julian Mc Mahon, who she's been told was killed in a car crash. She even went to his funeral. Only, whenever she wakes up from sleep, he seems to be still alive, living his life from days leading up to the car crash...she thinks. Maybe she's just going nuts. Maybe she can prevent his death. Maybe she'll let it happen since she discovers some dirty secrets about the “dead man walking.” Maybe this stab at a "what-if" thriller would have been better if it just made better sense.

If only I could go back in time to get those 2 hours back for this dull, Dean’s List, “D.”

I Think I Love My Wife
Chris Rock, Kerry Washington, Gina Torres, Steve Buscemi
Rated R for language and sexual content

You’d never know that this film came from the same mind as one of the greatest social commentators around today.

I can't figure out how one of the great geniuses of stand up comedy keeps coming up so short with his movie making?

There are a few laughs here, but not much else in this story of a married man from the suburbs who gets a little bored and antsy in his life and is tempted when a beautiful, flirty, friend from the past enters his life. Gina Torres is the wife...Kerry Washington the new girl. Steve Busemi is in the movie for a minute for no particular reason.

Adapted from a 1970's French film, Chris directs, writes and stars in this movie that doesn't say anything new about the relationship game or battle of the sexes.... but worse, says it, awkwardly, badly acted and then with an embarrassing musical number at the end of the film.

Chris Rock is one of my favorites but here, he seems like a fish out water here.

I think I would have loved my wife better if it were more like Chris’ stand up, instead of his attempt at a bad sitcom. Another Dean’s List “D.”

Posted by Dean Richards at 8:42 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Rating - 2 stars

www.hookyforhoops.com

Posted by Admin at 8:08 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

As of press time, the Tomasulo selection committee has extended 75 invitations to the "WGN Morning News Bracket Challenge." Again, participation is unlimited, because the last thing we want is for all you Drexel's and Syracuse's to go on ESPN and complain. You will be swiftly eliminated anyhow.

Brackets don't go public until the start of the tournament tomorrow morning- that way, none of my picks can be copied. Though if you were to look under the hood of this handicapping machine, you might spot a manifold made by Oral Roberts, and an engine built on Oregon.

If I had to rate the "Challenge" field, I'd say "Pat Tomasulo's Understudy" is a lock for the Final Four. That's a team loaded with talent, good looks, and a clear goal- to be like Pat Tomasulo.

I also like "Find your inner Celine Dion." I have found mine, and it's brought harmony to my life.

"U Got Owned By An 8th Grader" also looks tough. This is a team that has no regard for spelling or proper grammar- only tough, hard-nosed predictions.

I can also tell you a few teams that have no chance. "I've fallen and I can't get up" will enjoy an early exit. Anyone who so easily accepts a crippling injury doesn't have the fortitude to last in this field. "BetterThanTomasulo" is guaranteed a first round loss for obvious reasons. And I also don't like "Chi-Texan." Which one are you? If you can't make a decision about that, how can you make a decision about a college basketball game?

Don't forget your brackets must be completed by tomorrow morning, before the first round. I don't want you leaving any picks blank, because the last thing I need is an advantage.

*To play, this is what you need to do.

- First, you must have a Yahoo! account. If you don't, it will take you 2 seconds to set one up.
- Second, click on the link below, and then click on "Join a Group."
http://tournament.fantasysports.yahoo.com/men/

- Next, enter "102001" for the league I.D., and "wgn" for the password
- Lastly, make your picks

All you need to do is make your picks, and the website will update the standings. I will update the pool on the blog and on the show.

http://www.myspace.com/pattomasulo

Posted by Pat Tomasulo at 10:49 AM | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBacks (0)

I enjoy looking at the blog here every once in awhile.

However, oftentimes it seems like it's not personal.

I want to know more about the people and what's going on behind the scenes here.

So, in that spirit, I will begin revealing personal information about people until they do it themselves.

I'll start with Larry.

Larry is tallish...6'2" to 6'8".

Married for 6 years to the lovely Mrs. Potash.

His favorite color is maroon. (you should see his smoking jacket)

Favorite food is Apple Pie.

His barber's name is Val.

He showers twice daily.

Does not have his nails done by anyone but himself.

He does come to me to get his legs waxed.

He was once arrested in 1983 and has given me vague answers as to what it was for.

All he will say is "it included 3 football players, 2 women, his 1974 ford pinto and headlights."

(I don't know for certain...but my hunch is that he is a sick freak.)

Finally, I asked him what is in his car CD right now...he said "A lecture on St. Augustine".

At that point I stopped asking him questions because it is clear...he is such a freak that I need to protect his reputation.

I now understand why he doesn't share too much personal stuff.

Next Time...the dirty sides of Dean Richards.

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Rating - 3 stars
/youtube.com

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Every now and again, the station gets an e-mail stating how little I know about sports.

An example . . .

"Note to WGN: get rid of Pat Tamasulo on your morning sports. That guy is an idiot and has no business being on the air."

I don't mind a little criticism, but at least spell my name right, because letters like this only besmirch the name of Pat "Tamasulo," and he works very hard down there in the cafeteria.

Anyway, for those of you who think I know nothing, here's your chance to prove it. We're conducting our first-ever Morning Show office pool, which, naturally, is open to anyone outside our office. I challenge you all to match powers of prognostication with me. My method of picking winners is foolproof (whichever team has more underclassmen on their cheering squad will win!).

*To play, this is what you need to do.

- First, you must have a Yahoo! account. If you don't, it will take you 2 seconds to set one up.
- Second, click on the link below, and then click on "Join a Group."
http://tournament.fantasysports.yahoo.com/men/

- Next, enter "102001" for the league I.D., and "wgn" for the password
- Lastly, make your picks

All you need to do is make your picks, and the website will update the standings. I will update the pool on the blog and on the show. Remember, you must make your picks by Wednesday night.

Good luck to all of you. You will need it, because I am out to dominate.

http://www.myspace.com/pattomasulo

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My Greek ancestors didn't talk much about the ancient battles of my people. They were busy passing down the secrets of the perfect Athenian salad and the art of plate breaking. Today, Hellenic history lives, in one of the best films of the year...and this ain't your daddy's gladiator movie.

"300" is the, apparently true, story of the legendary battle of Thermopylae from 486 BC, in which 300 Spartan warriors fought off tens of thousands of invading Persians, uniting the Greeks...but all told with an edgy style and sound.

Gerard Butler from the movie, "Phantom of the Opera", is the ripped-beyond-belief, King Leonidas who, vastly outnumbered, faces down the invading and slightly fabulous, Persian King, Xerxes and his freak show of creatures of conquer, all based on the Frank Miller graphic novel and the comic book. .

There are probably about 300 ways that I could tell you how much I loved this film.

There’s the story of loyalty and honor no matter what the cost.

Then, there are the thrilling, though graphic battle scenes. Nothing is held back. If you're squeamish, this may not be for you.

And what's a battle without some fun. Most epics like are very serious in tone. "300" winks at the audience acknowledging what it’s extreme style, dialogue, narration, extreme camera movements and a wild rock and roll musical score by former Chicagoan Tyler Bates.

Add on the comic book-like vivid, bold look and colors that oozes action and you’ve got one heck of a ride.

Then there's the acting. Of course there are the chiseled bodies. Abs and pecs aside, the actors turns in a great performances; especially considering that nearly every scene was performed against blue screen backgrounds with over 13 hundred effects added in later.

All right, so I only gave you around 7 reasons why I loved it. I’ll find 293 more when I see it again.

It’s a complete original. Exciting...thoughtful...total fun. A Dean's List "A Plus."
It’s in theaters everywhere and also at the Imax theaters...and that's where I’m recommending that you see!

Tell me what you think of it.

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Bruce Pecho of Niles has been to Disney World more than 40 times. Here are his top six tips to get through efficiently. He emailed me this photo and added a couple of ideas if you can't get to Disney in the spring:
Epcot Flower and Garden Show in April and May, and Epcot Food and Wine Festival in October.

Bruce’s WDW Spring Break Tips

1. Always get a park hopper pass. That way, you won’t be confined to a single theme park on any one day. If one theme park is extremely crowded, you can always hop to another park.

2. If you are a Disney hotel guest: Take advantage of the Extra Magic Mornings and Extra Magic Evenings. Only Disney resort guests get an extra hour in the morning or up to three extra hours in the evening each day in one of the theme parks. Resort guests can beat the crowds by using that exclusive time to their advantage. And since a theme park can be especially busy on an Extra Magic Day, you can leave the park during the day once it really crowds up and go to a less crowded park.

3. Get a FASTPASS very early in the day for really popular attractions, such as Expedition Everest, Splash Mountain or Soarin’. During peak season, FASTPASS tickets can run out early in the day, sometimes before noon, and then you’ll have to wait in extremely long lines in order to ride them.

4. If you want to dine in a nice, sit-down restaurant during your stay, make dining reservations now via 407-W-DISNEY. By the time you get to WDW during spring break, you may not be able to get into these restaurants because they may already be booked up.

5. Once in WDW, eat your counter service meals (fast food) at times other than during normal meal hours. Lines in these restaurants can become horrendous during normal meal times and you may waste a lot of valuable time standing in line waiting for food. During off-peak eating times, the lines will be much shorter and the eating area will be less congested and much easier to navigate.

6. Try to hit the busier attractions during a theme park’s special events (such as parades, fireworks). Lines often thin down during these special events which are viewed each day/night by thousands of guests.

-- Larry Potash

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Rating - 3 stars
us.video.aol.com

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So I have this promo shoot to do this morning for this fitness challenge and the top they gave me to wear is too small. How sucky is that? It's all mind games. They give you a shirt that's too small so you'll feel like a fat loser when you put it on. Then I'll be so depressed that I can't help but lose a few pounds, because damned if I'm gonna be the one who looks like a slob. Oh, wait, my phone is ringing. It's Diana Dionisio, our publicity and promotions manager. She says she'll get me a bigger shirt. Praise the Lord! I do not want all of the world to see the roll around my gut. I'm doing the fitness challenge with morning sports jock Pat Tomasulo. Yeah, like he needs to lose weight. And Keenan Smith who does weather on WGN and CLTV. You know the tall thin guy who doesn't have to lose weight? It's tough being a girl.

I have been working out though. I've been ballroom dancing! It's for a charity event where all the proceeds go to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. We dance with professionals from Arthur Murray Dance Centers who are fabulous! I'll be competing against reporters from ABC and NBC, Miss Illinois International, and a former Bull. The former Bull is my biggest competition. Kendall Gill knows how to bust a move. He's doing a hip-moving, butt-shaking dance. I'm doing the fox trot and swing. I know how to move my hips. I DO NOT know how to be graceful. It's a big challenge! But after seeing Kendall's moves last week, my partner James and I took our dance up a notch. Now we're ready to kick some butt! And swing some hips!

I may not be 20 pounds thinner by then, but gosh darn it I'll be able to dance at any wedding I go to from now on! Wish me luck!

-- Marcella Raymond

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Rating - 3 stars
www.gsn.com

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Rating - 4 stars
www.vonleesmith.com

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Rating - 4 stars
www.starz.com

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Here's what I am up to these days.

I AM GOING TO DISNEY WORLD!

At least, that's what I am working on. My 4 year old daughter is driving me nuts about going to Orlando, Fl.
At Sunday dinner, she led the prayer and even thanked God for Cinderella and prayed that she would find her slipper.
She also prayed that we are safe in Florida.
Mind you, I have not bought one ticket.
So, if you have any advice for me in making this trek to Disney world, please offer it up...like how to survive, how long should I go for, where to go, where to stay, rent a car or not....that kind of stuff.
I have never been to Florida before, let alone Disney world.
I want to go this spring....which means I'm probably out of luck, because everything is booked up. But, hey who knows.
I am going to give it the good ol' college try.

Wish me luck!

Val

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In Congress this week, just about everyone agreed on everything. At least that’s the case at the 16th annual UFO Congress in Laughlin Nevada, which wraps up a week of activities tomorrow. It’s a place where UFO enthusiasts can congregate without being laughed at, and where UFO authors and lecturers can make their wallets thicker.

Perhaps the recent sighting of “mysterious lights” at O’Hare peaked your interest in UFO’s. Who could resist? The idea of there being life on other planets is thrilling. The universe is so vast, it would be naïve to think there’s no life out there. But that’s a separate issue from someone paying us a visit. The problem is, it’s difficult to get your mind around just how big the universe is. Try this: of all the little stars you see in the sky at night, the closest is four light years away, according to Stephen Hawking, and it would take the fastest space ship thousands of years to get there.

‘’Ok, then perhaps they have some super-duper technology that helps them travel light years in a blink?’’ asks the UFOlogist. That raises two points:

1//Last I checked, not one good piece of credible evidence exists. Not an alien rock, or piece of clothing, or video. Nothing’s ever landed at State and Madison at high noon.

2//If they have the technology to travel light years, wouldn’t they have the technology to do so undetected by us humans, who get excited about the new cupholders in their car that’s designed to last only four years.

Of course, none of this discourages the attendees of the UFO Congress from trying to make their case. Skeptic and researcher Robert Shaeffer visited a previous meeting. He dressed in black, from head to toe. When he walked in, everyone stared. One UFOlogist finally asked, “So are you one of those Men In Black?”

Shaeffer replied, “Sorry, I'm not at liberty to discuss that."

He expected a laugh, but instead, the man slowly moved away, confirming the paranoid spirit that runs through the UFO believer.

Here are the hot topics at this week's congress:

A couple of congressmen videotaped an interview ten years ago with an attendee who claimed to be involved with a crashed saucer recovery mission. The congress promised not to release it until the attendee gave permission but it seems the attendee has disappeared (Men in Black?) in the last ten years so they’re setting up the video screen. Attend---if you dare.

Another participant will debut his research on the Starchild skull which “should soon prove to be the most important relic in human history.” I checked out the website of presenter Lloyd Pye. It says the Starchild skull is most likely a human-alien hybrid. (Hey didn’t Steve Guttenberg do the wild thing with an alien chick in the swimming pool in 1985’s Cocoon?) Note that Pye also describes himself as a researcher in the field of “alternative knowledge,” which I believe is a nice way of saying “subject that sounds important but doesn’t exist in any major university.”

An engineer and scientist found a way of calculating the duration of long-term magnetic reversals on the Sun. Using this ‘’knowledge’’ he was able to break the codes of ancient sun-worshipping civilizations. He’ll explain how the sun is the cause of all our problems although there is no plan at this time to erect the Montgomery Burns sun-blocker contraption.

How about a lecture on "Exopolitics: How Does One Speak To A Ball of Light?”

(I am not making this up.)

“Hello Mr. Light? I’m Mr. Johnson. Damn glad to meet you.”

“Many people have made huge psychological investments in this ‘alien visitor’ world-view,” Shaeffer said. “It's like a religion to them, they can't understand why other people don't ‘see the light,’"

That’s how they counter the naysayers like me. They might explain that I am just part of the cover-up conspiracy. Of course any conspiracy would have to include governments from around the world. And as we see on a daily basis--whether its celebrity gossip or political sources leaking dirt to the press--most people can’t keep a secret.

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