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Regular viewers of the Morning Show are familiar with Drake the Cameraman.
Yes, ladies - he's single. But probably not for long after the gals get a glimpse of him in this costume.
Happy Halloween, everyone.
Robin
I liked him immediately.
Usually when one of the Bears comes on, it's either in conjunction with a Bears community event, or it's at our invitation and we . . excuse me, I, have to arrange for a car to pick them up. It was nice not to bother with that, and to have a little time to talk to Roberto, one-on-one, before we went on.
Listen, I have no problem AT ALL with guys wanting a ride here. Shoot, that and a free breakfast in the old Cafe Nueve is all they get for stopping by. If I played for the Bears, forget about a Towncar picking me up- I'd demand 6 guys dressed up like Roman Gladiators carry me here on a loveseat!
Roberto is a pretty humble guy. He grew up in a southern Texas border town of 1,600 people, and he's a legend there. There's a "Roberto Garza Day" every year (scheduled inconveniently right in the middle of football season), and the town even re-named the street his parents live on: "Roberto Garza Drive."
I believe my mother has proposed a similar resolution in my hometown, but it's pretty much stalled in the town council.
Rating - 4 stars
www.ew.com
Halloween, as a child, was magical -- the old, gnarled tree branches backlit against the moonlight; shuffling through the fallen colors to strange homes for Trick or Treat. In the days before Fright Night was a marketing bonanza, with fog machines and motion-activited skeletons, one of my neighbors back in 1974 had, in the driveway of his old house, under an old tree, a coffin with a seven foot Frankenstein that could react to my every move, and even talk to me. It was the most unbelievable thing I had ever seen, in all my seven years walking among the living.
It has become increasingly difficult to capture the eeriness of this ghostly night. As we go from high school, to college, to the adult singles scene,
The drinks may get slightly more sophisticated, but the spookish vibe and mystery of the hallowed night just isn't there.
“Paranormalists” recruit people around the world gather every Halloween to mark the death of Harry Houdini, and try and bring him back from the grave through a séance.
It all started 179 years ago, when Houdini died on Halloween of 1926. He set up a code with his wife Bess, so that if there were truly a way to contact her after death, he would do it. She attended séances for nine years and then on the tenth year, the séance was held on the roof of the Knickerbocker hotel in Los Angeles. There were clear skies but reportedly a storm rolled in and downpoured soley on the hotel, and then went away. Some saw this "weather phenomenon" as a sign from Harry. But it must not have been the code. Bess never showed up to another séance.
But if a rolling thunderstorm is considered "a sign" then how will we really know it's Houdini, short of his specter screaming 'boo.' People claiming to be paranormal experts says it's subjective. A "sign" could be a creeky floorboard, or a spider falling from the ceiling. But if it's subjective, than what validity does all this have beyond a piece of compelling theater? Better yet, if we're suspending the laws of science to say that someone can make contact from the grave, than why do we need an organized séance to communicate? Why not just shout out "Hey Harry -- you here?"
Because of Houdini's background as an illusionist, he recognized the techniques of mediums and became a crusader against charlatans who took advantage of grieving families, according to Mark Moran and Mark Sceurman of the book "Weird U.S." He frequently attended séances in disguise, in order to expose the mediums.
We all have intuitive abilities -- some people use them; others choose to ignore them. That's insightful. Because while the annual Houdini séance is a great way to experience the eeriness of Halloweens past, it also serves as a warning. As The Great Houdini knew, those who look to "spiritualists" for serious guidance may experience the greatest disappearing act of them all -- their money.
Larry Potash
Copyright © 2007, WGN-TV
Not a week goes by where a viewer doesn't complain to me about the amount of coverage their favorite team is getting. Listen, I understand and respect that the Kane County Cougars are comprised of some talented and special players, but unless Alex Rodriguez decides to opt out of his Yankees contract and play for them instead, they're not getting more time on our show than the Bears.
Like awkward adolescence and college debt, it's just a simple fact of life.
I don't know if everyone realizes this, but we usually only have three and a half minutes per sportscast. Under normal circumstances, I couldn't describe my breakfast in 3:30! BUT, somehow every morning, I'm able to give what I feel is a thorough, entertaining recap of the previous night's games.
No. It's NOT like I'm re-inventing cold fission here. But it's close!
It's no easy task condensing a variety of important stories into such a short amount of time. YOU try choosing between an extra, dynamic sound bite from Brian Urlacher, or one of Nikolai Khabibulin's 11 saves in a game. It's hard.
But this isn't to say I don't occasionally have a lapse in judgment. Hard as it may be to believe (for me), sometimes I do make mistakes. Recently, I made a big one concerning the Chicago Fire, and I addressed it on this morning's show.
So, I'm doing this story, Beauty Tips From Beauty Queens, that airs in November. I got the idea when I met Miss Illinois United States, Nicole Kaapke. We both danced for cancer research last year. Anyway, she helped me get ready and told me some great tips! Like how to use Saran Wrap and Preparation H to shrink cellulite! How Visine doesn't just take out the red in your eyes but in pimples too! And how easy hair extensions are to use! Nikki's so down to earth, you'd never think she's won several pageant titles. Miss Chicago, Christine Boll, also joined us. She focused on things like pumping up your muscles right before the big bathing suit walk. I'll have to try them this summer before hitting the beach.
I gotta tell ya', it's tough being a girl! The things we go through to be beautiful! But now we'll have some of the secrets from the best of the beauties. Check me out in my borrowed tiara and sash. C'mon give me a break! A girl's gotta have some fun!
Have you ever dreamed of marketing an old family recipe? Like your Grandma's famous fresh-baked cookies? Or an uncle's spicy home-made mustard? It's not so far-fetched. Food experts say many of the delicious specialties you'll find at your local Jewel, Whole Foods or Trader Joe's started out in someone's home kitchen.
What does it take to sell your home-made product to the rapidly-expanding specialty food industry? With the blessings (and sympathy) of my bosses here at WGN, I'm about to find out. I'm going to try and market my family's old Cuban-style black beans recipe.
Without a bungee cord, I'm taking the leap of faith ... throwing caution (and a modest sum of cash) to the wind ... in an effort to bring my family's famous black beans to exotic food lovers everywhere. This is my story.
Whenever I cook up a pot of my savory Havana-style black beans, my neighbors come out of the woodworks ... practically begging for a jar. When the weather's warm, they can pick up the zesty, old-world aroma drifting out of my kitchen window. Friends and neighbors can't seem to get enough of my secret mix of herbs, oilve oil, garlic and onions. Which got me thinking about the possibility of pitching my product to a food catalog or grocer.
So I'm out to spill the beans on the old family recipe. Follow me, as I begin the effort to bring my Cuban "frijoles" to Chicago. I'll share my experiences with you (both good and bad). And hopefully save you some time with the do's and don'ts of food marketing.
Say hello to Julian's "Old Havana" black beans. As the funny saying goes, "Beans! Beans! They're good for your heart!" I'm just hoping this crazy idea doesn't break my heart. More to come.
Julian
Rating - 3 stars
candyaddict.com
This month marks the 50th anniversary of the dawn of the space age. The Soviets’ launch of the Sputnik satellite started the space race in 1957.
But lately the space race seems to be stalling, with much at stake for our survival. Why?
The world is going to end. Don’t believe it because of some guy on the street corner screaming his Armageddon warnings through a bullhorn. Obviously, the world is going to end someday. We all learned in 8th grade science that at some point, in a number of years with a lot of zeroes at the end, the sun will burn out.
But others believe crisis is more imminent.
In July, New York Times columnist John Tierney wrote about Dr. J. Richard Gott and his conclusion that to ensure our long-term survival, we need to get a colony up and running on Mars within 46 years.
At first I pictured Christopher Lloyd as Dr. Emmett Brown from "Back to the Future." But Gott is a professor of astrophysics at Princeton. He bases predictions about how long something will last based on how long something has lasted already, and also upon the Copernican Principal
In short, Gott points out that if we don’t colonize space soon, we may never do it and we’ll have nowhere to go when extinction looms.
In 2006, a group of scientists, including Stephen Hawking, got together for a TV production and predicted several ways the Earth could end.
* A gamma ray burst or black hole
* Artificial intelligence on the loose
* A super volcano
* An asteroid striking the Earth.
* Nuclear annihilation
* A natural or bioterrorist pandemic
* Global warming
So if not the Earth or Mars, where?
Dennis Hope is selling real estate on the moon; deeds go for $20. Laugh if you will, but Hope claims 4 million people have spent $9 million so far, including George Lucas and President G.W. Bush, according to Discover magazine. Hope exploited a loophole in a UN treaty that prohibits nations from owning the moon but says nothing about individual holders.
However, Discover quotes a professor at the Institute of Air and Space Law at McGill University as saying Hope’s strategy won’t hold up in court. Of course, if these new lunar owners are leaving behind an Earth in ruins, having a deed might be better than not having one.
Perhaps in another corner of the universe, there is another planet colonizing other planets. Or, perhaps we are a colony of a previous planet, and some bumbling Dr. Smith fumbled the sacred history books, which are now ‘lost in space.’
Either way, the game here is "survival of the fittest."
Tragedies in the space program have made us gun-shy. But colonizing space will take bold ideas and risks—and a public with an appetite for failure.
So as we look to the next 50 years of space exploration, let’s steer our children away from iPods and X-boxes and toward understanding the universe.
Rating - 2 stars
showbiz.sky.com
People are never emailing me and asking me about how does Robin stays so beautiful.
Whenever I don't respond I always say "it's her diet".
One thing you can count on around here is that at 7am she is chomping down on Cheetos and a Diet Pepsi.
Yum.
I am not kidding or making this up.
Sometimes she likes to work in a bag of Fritos or a tuna sandwhich.
The good news is that she always chases it with a tic tac.
I asked her what she ate when she went home.
She said without any hesitation that her latest happy meal is a hot dog in the cafe at Costco.
So if you want to look as great as Robin....good luck.
Just try the old Crap-food diet.
See if it works.
Konrad
Lions receiver Roy WIlliams recently admitted that he doesn't tip the pizza delivery man. He made the remark after a pizza guy told him he usually gets between $3 - $7 dollars gratuity per pizza. That sounds about right . . . for a $30 pizza!
But Williams is a Pizza Hut guy, where a large 3-topping pie goes for $11.99.
I'm calling B.S. on the $7 tip statement.
This doesn't excuse Williams from not tipping, though. You're a millionaire, Roy. Throw the kid a couple of bucks! But because you're a millionaire, don't feel pressure to over tip. Tip generously, but remember to use common sense. The tipee is doing a job, not public service. It's pizza delivery, not saving the manatees.
And as an introduction to tipping, here's another thing to remember: tip only when it's appropriate. That means no tip for the kid who scoops your ice cream, nor your "sandwich artist" at Subway. My guy at the deli down the street never even went to sandwich school and his subs are way better. No tip cup on his counter!
Thankfully, Williams seems to have learned his lesson. He is now a born-again tipper, thanks in large part to a Pizza Hut executive.
Concert: Great performance by the band, despite Dave forgetting the words and his voice cracking. The sound was bad, way overmodulated, couldn’t understand a lot of the lyrics drowned out by the music, perhaps to mask Dave’s loss of range? Could have been the venue, I’ve never seen a concert at the Allstate. Hopefully it’s better at the UC Thursday night. Biggest crowd pleasers seemed to be Hot for Teacher, Jamie’s Cryin’, Panama and the encore, Jump (with piped in synthesizer). I've been to four Stones concerts and saw the Police over the summer, and this is the first one where I didn't notice anyone sitting down during any part of the show.
During Alex Van Halen’s drum solo, the rest of the band left the stage, and Alex continued for several minutes, it occurred to me that they may have just broken up again, given the way things change from minute to minute with the band, and that Sammy Hagar just might come out to finish the show.
Dave and Eddie: Seemed to enjoy themselves, gave each other a hug at the beginning to establish that "yes, we *are* getting along." Danced around each other a bit. I think Dave would act the same goofy way at Eddie’s funeral. People may make fun of how old they look, but I thought they looked like they were in great shape for 50-year-old guys. Most of us could only hope we look so good at that age.
Dave: He’s the ultimate showman: Part rock star, part circus ringmaster and part jazzercise instructor.
-This is the big stage he’s wanted for the last twenty years and you could tell he was just giddy by the permanent smile on his face – almost like the Joker on Batman.
-Nobody has worn a top hat as well as him since Abraham Lincoln, and no guy can pull off wearing a silk scarf like he can.
-He forgot the words a couple of times, most notably in Dance the Night Away – he blatantly admitted in the middle of the song "I forgot the (expletive) words."
Eddie: In case we had forgotten, this tour will re-establish Eddie as the top guitarist of our generation. He can do amazing things with a guitar.
However, his solo was excruciatingly long, about ten minutes of "indulge the genius that is me." Earlier in the show, he and Wolfgang did one of those obligatory guitar player "slide on the knees" moves. But it seemed like it was in slow motion, like Eddie may have been a bit tentative, concerned about coming up with a torn ACL or something. He had a lot of energy, was running around the stage like a teenager and seemed to be so proud that his son was up there playing with him.
Wolfgang: He seemed to do a competent job on bass. Apparently Valerie Bertinelli isn’t sharing her Jenny Craig with him. While his dad was shirtless, he looked somewhat goth with his dark clothes and hooded sweat shirt, sweating profusely perhaps trying shed that baby fat.
Alex: He’s looking more like Keith Richards these days, but kicked butt on drums.
Crowd: Average age: 43.7 (that’s the kind of in-depth research I do for this show).
The mullet was back and I spotted a *guy* with feathered hair. My wife suggested I was jealous.
Extras: T-shirts cost $35, bumper stickers that said "I can barely see the road" $10. Beer $7.25, lines way too long, so buy two at a time. Parking $15.
MIKE
Rating - 2 stars
www.dennyscottphoto.com
It's been quite a while since I've last blogged, and for that I apologize. I was out of town a little bit, then the Cubs kept me busy with producing content for the actual show. Now that that's over, I can get back to the important stuff- posting random, irrelevant tidbits to this webpage.
So the NFL is thinking of playing a Super Bowl overseas, particularly in London. Commissioner Roger Goodell says there's great interest overseas in football. Yeah? Well there's also a lot of interest in it here!
He's trying to broaden the league's appeal and expand its popularity. I get that. It's OK to play a regular season game there. Premier League soccer clubs play friendly matches in the US all the time, but you'll never see Manchester United and Real Madrid playing a championship match in Dallas. And do you know why? Because no teams from America are in their league!
Don't get me wrong. I'd love the Robbie Williams halftime show and I think Sean Connery would be great for the ceremonial coin toss. But can't we just leave well enough alone? Why do we need the rest of the world to love and play football? Hasn't America provided the NFL with enough screwballs?
Plus, it's borderline Communist to move the Super Bowl out of America. What's next? The Daytona 500 in France? Maybe we import the British Open and play it in Columbus, Ohio?
http://www.myspace.com/pattomasulo
Rating - 3 stars
www.evhgear.com
My favorites this week are "Planet Terror", Transformers" and "A Mighty Heart." "PT" is unrated and extended; silly, bloody fun. Very campy. "Transformers" is solid, action and excitment. And Jolie is stunning in "Mighty Heart." It's great but tough to watch.
Tell me what you've seen that you like. Here's this week's full list.
Dean
Grindhouse presents "Planet Terror"- Extended and Unrated
The Transformers
A Mighty Heart
The Reaping
The Hoax
The Jazz Singer with Al Jolson
That 70's Show-Season 7
Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip-The Complete Series
Medium- The Third Season
Ironside-Season 2
Macgyver-The Complete Series
The Sopranos-Season 6-Part 2
The L Word-The Complete 4th Season
Veronica Mars-Season 3
Rating - 4 stars
www.usanetwork.com
In Surfin the Net Today we featured the 50 most stylish men of all time, according to GQ, but they didn't have a ranking. We ask you to give us your top ten to help us come up with a ranking and put all this in perspective.
Thanks
Larry
In case you missed it, Chris Matthews, of TV's "Hardball" was here. And....so was Wizzo - Marshall Brodien from the original Bozo Show.
Two great minds on one great show in one day. But, we were lamenting the fact that we couldn't get them on the air TOGETHER.
Well, turns out Chris met Marshall back in the green room, and was fascinated by his magic tricks. (yes, he does them even when he's off camera).
Hardball meets Hardcore Wizard.
Rating - 4 stars
video.google.com
Rating - 3 stars
www.eepybird.com
We finally got a chance to talk to Ana on the air this morning and see photos of her new baby Amelia. She is a first time mom and we are soliciting advice for this first-time parent.
Marion Brooks at Channel 5 blogged about her cracked nipples but we don't need anything that graphic---just some practical advice of coping with babies, husbands, in-laws, and other judgemental mothers.
The Cubs in the World Series? I didn’t want to take a chance at waiting to write about it. Who knows how long the Cubs playoff push will last? While the dream is alive, I thought I would explore Cubs World Series story, albeit a brief one.
It seems spooky things happen in October between the white lines of a baseball diamond. While baseball purists love stats, I thought these vignettes might be more useful in helping more moderate fans sound like they just jumped on the band wagon. The Cubs appearances are easy enough to look up but I was surprised at how many different ways the Cubs have dramatically choked. Here are the odd stories you don’t get from simply glancing at the box score.
Let’s start out on a positive note, something the 1907 Cubs did not do. According to THE WORLD SERIES’ MOST WANTED by John Snyder, for unexplained reasons, the Cubs wore their gray “away” uniforms, so they looked just like the visiting Tigers. The only difference was the hat and socks. It’s unclear if having two teams dressed alike caused much confusion, but the matching grays of Chicago and Detroit finished with a matching score. Game one was called 3-3 because of darkness in the 12th. When the Cubs straighened out their wardrobe malfunction, they won four straight.
In 1918, The Cubs and Red Sox threatened to go on strike during the World Series.
Their share of the gate receipts had been cut. Part of the reason was that the nation was at war, so attendance was lower and ticket prices decreased. The players eventually backed off their threats, worried they would appear greedy, while other men were risking their lives.
What contributed to the Cubs failure in 1918 was not the tension over a strike threat, but baserunning. In game three, the Cubs were down 2-1 with two outs in the ninth. Cubs outfielder Charlie Pick tried to take third on a passed ball that was only 20 feet behind the plate. The third-baseman knocked down the catcher's poor throw into foul territory. Pick pressed his luck and tried for home and a perfect throw nailed him.
It gets worse. In game four of that series, Cubs outfielder Max Flack was picked off base twice in the game---the only time that’s ever happened in the World Series.
Here’s a bit of baserunning trivia. The only time the World Series ended on a botched stolen base attempt? Babe Ruth, who was not known for his fleet feet, decided on his own to steal second and was thrown out. I bring up the baserunning blunders, because it reminds me of Carlos Zambrano recently chugging around third, ignoring the coach’s stop sign, and getting thrown out at home. As they teach you in Little League, physical mistakes are inevitable; mental errors are unforgiveable.
OTHER NOT-SO-FUN FACTS from Snyder’s WORLD SERIES MOST WANTED
The Philadelphia Athletics beat the Cubs in the 1910 World Series using only two pitchers: Chief Bender and Jack Coombs.
In the 1918 Series, The Cubs’ Hippo Vaughn pitched three complete games, giving up only three runs, but he lost two of the games, including the opener 1-0. The opposing pitcher? Babe Ruth.
In the 1929 Series, Pat Malone took an 8-0 Cubs lead over the Athletics and gave up a record setting 10 runs. A couple of days later, he pitched game five, and took a two hitter into the ninth. With two outs away from a World Series ring, he fell apart and gave up three runs.
In 1932, game three was at Wrigley and the Yankees hit four home runs. Babe Ruth reportedly pointed his bat to the outfield to “call his shot” and hit a homer to center. It was the last of his 15 career World Series home runs.
A former Cub has the best all-time World Series batting average (minimum 75 appearances) but this won’t make you burst with pride. It involves the worst trade in Cubs history. Lou Brock hit .391 in three series. His 25 hits in consecutive World Series (1967-68) is a record.
In the back of my mind, I can’t help but wonder, what are the possible ways in which someone could blow it. There are physical errors (Bill Buckner letting a ball through his legs in ‘86) and mental errors (see examples above) and the intangibles (Bartman.) So here is a look back, in hopes of learning a lesson or two. Clip and send to your favorite Cub. Hopefully, October will spare us frightening nights until the 31st.
I guarantee that when Carlos Marmol entered the game last night, no one was throwing their shoe at the TV in disgust. Yet this morning, it's as if Lou Piniella went ahead and pinch hit for Derek Lee with Buddy Lee, the tiny dungarees mascot.
Yanking Carlos Zambrano cost the Cubs last night, but does that make it a bad decision on Piniella's part? That depends on how you judge a decision. If you judge a decision solely on its outcome, then sure, it was a bad one. But if you judge a decision on how it was reached, on the information used to make it, and on the amount of thought given to its future ramifications, then it wasn't such a bad one.
Say Piniella left Zambrano in the game. He lasts the entire inning, but labors, throwing another 25 pitches. That's a pitch count of 110. The Cubs then lose the next 2 games and face elimination in Game 4. Well that's a must win, so you gotta ride Zambrano out. He goes 8 or 9 and throws another 125 pitches. Cubs win the series and Zambrano struggles in the NLCS. They end up losing and critics say it's because Zambrano was so overworked and Piniella didn't utilize his "great bullpen."
Don't even doubt that's what every sports column in Chicago would be charging. That's exactly what they'd be saying.
And I'm not saying they'd be wrong.
Point is, Piniella was damned if he took Zambrano out, and damned if he left him in. The only way any decision he makes during these playoffs is guaranteed to be a good one, is if the Cubs win the World Series. And we can't brand any decision he makes a bad one, until (or unless) the Cubs are eliminated.
What do you think?
So Val has had her baby and Ana is due any minute now, and I *still* have not been asked by either ungrateful girl for parenting tips.
I know deep down inside they want to ask, but they're too embarassed.
So Val, Ana, and any other new moms, this is for you:
10 THINGS EVERY NEW MOTHER SHOULD KNOW
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Get a babysitter every Saturday night.
2. Damn. I can't think of anything else.
Good luck-
Robin
Rating - 2 stars
www.myspace.com/wrigleyinoctoberbyangeloband
I know, I know, Val is already done with the pregnancy and has a beautiful son to show for it. You are not the only ones looking at me like a ticking bomb. Trust me, all my co workers are too. Since Val went into labor a week before her date, people just assume I'm next.
Well, we are almost there. Remember my due date is 10 days after Valerie's original date of October 2nd. I know it can be any day now and my doctor is very confident it will be close to or on schedule. This girl is just like her Mom, aching to get out and heading for the exit since week 36.
So sit tight, relax and keep watching me go Around Town this week. I'll also be there next week, but in studio since I don't want to chance it and end up having to name this baby after the state trooper who helps deliver her on the highway.
My only hope is that Amelia Victoria waits until my parents get here from Puerto Rico this Saturday. I've told her many times, but as all parents know, kids never listen.
Thank you so much for all your well wishes and keep us in your prayers for a good delivery and a healthy baby girl.
If you saw Monday's show, you saw us checking in with the boss man (News Director Greg Caputo) on his commute down the Edens.
As you now know, the Edens is under construction and everyone on the North Shore has their panties in a wad.
We talked with him on the phone during his commute to see how traffic was moving.
A good number of you never got to see his handsome face.
So, I thought I would show you his picture.
Thanks for your help Greg.
Konrad
ps. If you missed his work on the show...you can still catch him in the role of Inspector Duddlenuts in the Glenview Players production of Our Town.
Rating - 4 stars
www.plaidstallions.com