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There's bad weather coming...
As of 6:21 p.m. parts of our western suburbs have had as much as 4.5 inches of snow. The snow will continue for many more hours with the height of the storm expected during the morning rush hours. This could be the biggest snowstorm that we've seen this winter.
Tune in early to WGN-TV. Our morning news will have the latest weather and school closings as early as 4:30 a.m on Friday, February 1.
All systems "go" for the big blast-off. And I can hardly believe it. After years of thinking about it and countless hours of research and development here at Mission Control (the Crews home) ... we're finally ready for launch. Just a couple of minor hoops to jump through and we're there!
If all goes according to plan (and my check doesn't bounce), my famous Old Havana black beans will be orbiting the specialty food universe. And for a lot of reasons, the milestone will be met with emotion at the Crews household. .
You see, for years I've dreamed about doing this ... marketing the old family recipe for gourmet Cuban-style black beans. And now, the moment has finally arrived.
Tell me if you like my sales pitch: "for the first time ever you can enjoy a centuries-old family
tradition - authentic "frijoles negros," as it's known on the island. From the streets of Old Havana to your kitchen, the whole family will love our savory Cuban-style black beans!
What do you think?? Is it going to move some beans? Please don't hesitate to give me your honest opinion. Maybe I'll sit you down in the Crews kitchen for a taste test. Coming next to a grocery store near you: the exact launch date! Beans! Beans! They're good for your heart! Stay tuned.
I'm one of those people who considers my dog a part of the family, but still realizes the difference between dog, and HUMAN.
For instance, unless my dog is in some way hurt or incapcitated, I will be not carrying it- not in my arms, nor a $1200 Louis Vuitton "pet carrier."
My dog also eats dog food. Plain, dry, crunchy dog food. I don't add any sauces, and I certainly don't cook anything for her. I barely even cook for myself.
I also don't dress my dog in anything more expensive than an article of my own clothing. I already broke my rule of not dressing her, PERIOD, by getting her a jacket, but it was on sale.
People who don't follow these guidlines worry me, quite frankly. I worry they grew up someplace near a nuclear facility. Have a look at the following video, and you'll see what I mean; it's part of a Boston TV station's award-winning Super Bowl coverage.
Rating - 3 stars
klaassars.multiply.com
Have questions about taxes? Tomorrow morning at 6:45, a tax expert will be here with some tips as people start to crunch their numbers. If have a question for our tax guy, email us at feedback@wgntv.com.
Rating - 3 stars
www.dreadzeppelin.com
It's very hard to write about anything light and funny so soon after last Friday. Not that Randy Salerno was a close friend of mine. I barely knew him in person. We met a couple of times while I was a general assignment at Univision/Chicago. He was always cordial.
I knew Randy more by word of mouth. Even if it sounds corny, the WGN newsroom is like a family and Randy was a beloved relative. And since I've been at the station, I've heard a lot of stories about his excellent news reporting and anchoring style. But even sweeter are the stories about the kind human being he was. Friday, from former interns to anchors were deeply affected by his passing because, as everyone said, he was one of a kind.
As the new kid on the block, since I've only been at WGN 2 and half years, I felt so bad for my coworkers and friends. I admire the work all of them did to keep the show going on Friday, while being overwhelmed by sadness. Even today, I could tell, was a hard day to face. I think what pulls them through is all those wonderful memories they have of Randy.
I think all of Chicago, myself included, feels heartbroken by the untimely death of a talented man who always put his family first. So for this Monday, I could not blog about anything else, but send my deepest sympathy to his family and friends, both at WGN and at home.
Rating - 3 stars
www.videosift.com
I still feel like I’ve been socked in the stomach. When the news of the death of Randy Salerno came through our newsroom this morning, a tangible hush came over the room that's normally bustling with noise and activity. Our friend was gone. It didn't...and still doesn't seem possible.
I have incredible respect for our producers and writers who had to put their emotions aside and do their jobs of reporting the news. It reminded me of the day that Bob Collins was killed in a plane crash when a personal tragedy became the top story that we had to work. After the show, when we had time to breathe, is when the tears came.
On the air, Larry, Robin and I reminisced. It was no easy task trying to get through the show today with this dark cloud hanging over us.
When I started with WGN News, my desk was right next to Randy's in the newsroom. He helped me learn the ropes since I was coming out of radio. He was so supportive and encouraging to me and my writing style. It meant a lot to me to get a "great job" from him after a review or interview that I did.
On his desk were pictures of his wife and kids...and a discolored, old picture of a little boy with Bozo and Sandy from the old Bozo show. It was Randy from when he visited the show, probably from sometime in the 1960s. In 2001, Don Sandburg, who played Sandy on the show, was back at WGN for the taping of the final Bozo show. He was taken back to Randy's desk to see the old picture. Randy was there and was like a little kid again when he met him.
Having grown up in the Chicago area, he loved to talk TV nostalgia. He also loved talking movies and loved even more trying to stump me with movie trivia, as he was pretty knowledgeable. One day, he sarcastically bet me $1000 bucks on some movie trivia. I lost the bet. For years, every time I'd see him after that, he'd ask me for his thousand bucks.
I'm looking over at his desk now and I can picture him slithering down in his chair, watching TV with one eye, working on a story with the other while throwing out one liners about one thing or another.
There wasn't a quicker wit nor dryer sense of humor than Randy's. There wasn't a more skilled, professional than Randy. There wasn't a nicer guy; completly dedicated to his family.
I'm SO sad for Irene, the kids, his parents and his family; but I celebrate that I even knew Randy Salerno. I'll always smile when I think of him and I guess that's about the greatest thing any of us can hope for.
Enjoy every minute. Have as few regrets in your life as possible. Tell the people you love, that you love them.
Dean
I came to WGN TV in 1994 and Randy Salerno sat me down, and shared valuable advice with me about the station, and working in Chicago. While Randy was an accomplished journalist, it is this selfless act of friendship that I will remember most.
After he left WGN, we were all still in contact with Randy. Paul and I went golfing with him and he had us laughing throughout the day.
It is awkward to be reporting his death, and yet because of his smart sense of humor, we also celebrate his life.
Our thoughts go out to his family and friends.
We'll miss him.
We invite you to share your thoughts of Randy Salerno.
Rating - 4 stars
www.themusicube.com
Rating - 2 stars
www.japanprobe.com
Robin is hot to trot on this video.
Take a peek.
Click on the original.
Sure it is nice and everyone there is so young and happy.
However, she is interested in doing a video like that one here at the station.
Nice idea until you start looking around at the old buggers who are collecting mold around here.
Outside of me & Skilling, we are not an office filled with young hotties. (Especially now that Juan Carlos Fanjul has left.)
So, she is going to try to get all of us to sing along on a video with her.
I put up a sign up sheet in the cafeteria yesterday and so far only one taker.
Bob from engineering (pictured below) is willing to go.
I can't wait.
Rating - 4 stars
www.officelipdub.com
Here's the complete list of the 80th annual Academy Awards.
What happened to my beloved "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street." It was my pick for the best film of 2007 for it's bold performances and film making by Tim Burton. I'm glad that Johnny Depp was at least nominated.
Emile Hirsch and Sean Penn should have been nominated for "Into The Wild." Tommy Lee Jones was OK in "In the Valley of Elah"...but to snub Denzel?
Cate Blanchette for "Elizabeth: The Golden Age?" Everytime someone throws on a hoop skirt, they get nominated. There were far better performances.
Everyone is asking me if I think they'll be an Oscars show. The answer is, yes. The Directors and Producers Guilds came to an agreement with the writers recently. David Letterman struck a seperate deal for his company, Worldwide Pants. I excpet the Academy and ABC to do the same thing to avoid losing hundreds of millions of dollars if the show DOESN'T go on.
Speaking of money, the five best picture nominations have grossed $119,320,000 combined, so far. The worst film of the year, "I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry" has made more. Very sad.
Here's the list...what do you think?
1. Best Picture: "Atonement," "Juno," "Michael Clayton,"
"No Country for Old Men," "There Will Be Blood."
2. Actor: George Clooney, "Michael Clayton"; Daniel Day-Lewis,
"There Will Be Blood"; Johnny Depp, "Sweeney Todd the Demon
Barber of Fleet Street"; Tommy Lee Jones, "In the Valley of
Elah"; Viggo Mortensen, "Eastern Promises."
3. Actress: Cate Blanchett, "Elizabeth: The Golden Age"; Julie
Christie, "Away From Her"; Marion Cotillard, "La Vie en Rose";
Laura Linney, "The Savages"; Ellen Page, "Juno."
4. Supporting Actor: Casey Affleck, "The Assassination of Jesse
James by the Coward Robert Ford"; Javier Bardem, "No Country for
Old Men"; Hal Holbrook, "Into the Wild"; Philip Seymour Hoffman,
"Charlie Wilson's War"; Tom Wilkinson, "Michael Clayton."
5. Supporting Actress: Cate Blanchett, "I'm Not There"; Ruby
Dee, "American Gangster"; Saoirse Ronan, "Atonement"; Amy Ryan,
"Gone Baby Gone"; Tilda Swinton, "Michael Clayton."
6. Director: Julian Schnabel, "The Diving Bell and the
Butterfly"; Jason Reitman, "Juno"; Tony Gilroy, "Michael
Clayton"; Joel Coen and Ethan Coen, "No Country for Old Men";
Paul Thomas Anderson, "There Will Be Blood."
7. Foreign Film: "Beaufort," Israel; "The Counterfeiters,"
Austria; "Katyn," Poland; "Mongol," Kazakhstan; "12," Russia.
8. Adapted Screenplay: Christopher Hampton, "Atonement"; Sarah
Polley, "Away from Her"; Ronald Harwood, "The Diving Bell and
the Butterfly"; Joel Coen & Ethan Coen, "No Country for Old
Men"; Paul Thomas Anderson, "There Will Be Blood."
9. Original Screenplay: Diablo Cody, "Juno"; Nancy Oliver,
"Lars and the Real Girl"; Tony Gilroy, "Michael Clayton"; Brad
Bird, Jan Pinkava and Jim Capobianco, "Ratatouille"; Tamara
Jenkins, "The Savages."
10. Animated Feature Film: "Persepolis"; "Ratatouille";
"Surf's Up."
11. Art Direction: "American Gangster," "Atonement," "The
Golden Compass," "Sweeney Todd the Demon Barber of Fleet
Street," "There Will Be Blood."
12. Cinematography: "The Assassination of Jesse James by the
Coward Robert Ford," "Atonement," "The Diving Bell and the
Butterfly," "No Country for Old Men," "There Will Be Blood."
13. Sound Mixing: "The Bourne Ultimatum," "No Country for Old
Men," "Ratatouille," "3:10 to Yuma," "Transformers."
14. Sound Editing: "The Bourne Ultimatum," "No Country for
Old Men," "Ratatouille," "There Will Be Blood," "Transformers."
15. Original Score: "Atonement," Dario Marianelli; "The Kite
Runner," Alberto Iglesias; "Michael Clayton," James Newton
Howard; "Ratatouille," Michael Giacchino; "3:10 to Yuma," Marco
Beltrami.
16. Original Song: "Falling Slowly" from "Once," Glen
Hansard and Marketa Irglova; "Happy Working Song" from
"Enchanted," Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz; "Raise It Up"
from "August Rush," Nominees to be determined; "So Close" from
"Enchanted," Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz; "That's How You
Know" from "Enchanted," Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz.
17. Costume: "Across the Universe," "Atonement,"
"Elizabeth: The Golden Age," "La Vie en Rose," "Sweeney Todd
the Demon Barber of Fleet Street."
18. Documentary Feature: "No End in Sight," "Operation
Homecoming: Writing the Wartime Experience," "Sicko," "Taxi to
the Dark Side," "War/Dance."
19. Documentary (short subject): "Freeheld," "La Corona (The
Crown)," "Salim Baba," "Sari's Mother."
20. Film Editing: "The Bourne Ultimatum," "The Diving Bell
and the Butterfly," "Into the Wild," "No Country for Old Men,"
"There Will Be Blood."
21. Makeup: "La Vie en Rose," "Norbit," "Pirates of the
Caribbean: At World's End."
22. Animated Short Film: "I Met the Walrus," "Madame
Tutli-Putli," "Meme Les Pigeons Vont au Paradis (Even Pigeons Go
to Heaven)," "My Love (Moya Lyubov)," "Peter & the Wolf."
23. Live Action Short Film: "At Night," "Il Supplente (The
Substitute)," "Le Mozart des Pickpockets (The Mozart of
Pickpockets)," "Tanghi Argentini," "The Tonto Woman."
24. Visual Effects: "The Golden Compass," "Pirates of the
Caribbean: At World's End," "Transformers."
The awards show, if it happens, will be February 24th. Jon Stewart will host.
Rating - 2 stars
www.asylum.com
Motherhood can be a wonderful club and a very judgmental club all at once. I've noticed that , as soon as a woman becomes a mom, we all feel entitled to ask the most inappropriate questions, share our feelings and give our opinions to be considered as the right ones by all. That said and since I'm a proud card carrying member of the mommy club for all of three months and three weeks now, let me give you my opinion on the latest statements by stylish, young and filthy rich Mom, Katie Holmes.
In the interest of full disclosure, I love her grown up make over. I literally copied her haircut. But that's about all I'm emulating her on. Especially after her recent comments about her one and half year old. Here's what I read on msnbc.com
>
> Meanwhile, seemingly beaming in from a galaxy where babies mature at
> an accelerated rate is Mrs. Tom Cruise, who gushes to People of
> preternaturally winsome daughter Suri, "She's a very strong woman."
>
> "I'm very proud of her," adds Katie, who is currently out stumping for
> "Mad Money." "She's actually teaching me a lot -- probably more than
> I'm teaching her."
Ok, what the hell is Katie Holme's on? I'm a 33 year old mother, wife and professional and I still don't feel like a full blown woman. How can a toddler be called a strong woman who teaches her 29 year old mom. Suri is not even a girl yet. She still drinks out of a bottle (although a lot of women I know do too. except the bottle is usually glass, doesn't have a nipple and is full of beer) and she's not even toilet trained. Come on, her teeth are called baby teeth for a reason.
Ms. Holmes has gone as far as saying that Suri and her have great conversations. Yes, Amelia and I do too but these talks mostly include gibberish, screaming and a lot of drool.
I know a few mom's that call their children gifted geniuses ,but most of them wait to say these statements when the child starts at least day care. And trust me, I find those remarks very uncalled for as well. If your child is a tested genius, don't throw it at other people's faces. That's what grandparents are for. It's just basic manners.
Besides, most of us think our child is the most beautiful, smart and charismatic kid in the world. And we might be right, but we may also be blinded by love. Hence, these statements can make you sound arrogant and even foolish, if your baby, God forbid , is average.
My problem with celebrities like Holmes talking about their kids like this is that, just like I copy her hairdo, other women might want to follow her mothering style. Or worse yet, some mothers might wonder why their one and half year old is not a woman yet or why is her 2 year old still grunting when Suri Cruise is already having enlightening conversations with her mother.
These comments annoy me as much as when celebrities say "I'm such a devoted mother", and then the next sentence in the article reveals she has two nannies for one baby. Or when they pose for pictures with their post baby body and they "miraculously" have their abs of steal back and no horrendous dark line on their stomachs. Fess up ladies, you either hit the gym right after delivery, starved yourself and/or asked for a tummy tuck during the c section.
But see, I shouldn't judge Katie. That is the way she feels and that's just great for her... The hell with it, let me judge. I guess is my right as a member of the motherhood club.
This morning about 5:14am...Paul and I got the shock our our lives.
Robin Baumgarten came into the studio with coffee for the both of us.
It was unbelievably kind of her....very different than what we are used to, you see.
Usually, she's the one sending us to fetch her coffee....STRONG, LARGE WITH MAXIMUM WHITENER..(her order is embedded into my brain).
It's gotten so bad for me, that now, she doesn't even give me the 50 cents to buy her coffee anymore.
I have to come up with it on my own.
My daughter keeps asking me, "Mommy, why are you emptying my piggy bank everyday?"
Now you know, Zoe.
Your poor mother is going broke supporting one Robin Baumgarten's coffee habits.
What's next Robin????
Having toiled in small markets, working at stations smaller than my apartment, and where internet access was deemed "too expensive," there's little I'll complain about in terms of facilities and resources.
But I feel there are 3 inalienable rights I have at the workplace. Nothing fancy. I don't need a private office, or a Blackberry, or a water cooler. I don't even a need a lunch break. All I require are the following 3 things:
Electricity, running water, and heat.
Let me see, let me pee, and let me be frostbite-free!
But as I type this, a wool overcoat is draped over me, a constant reminder of my 4-week-long battle to bring climate control back to the sports office. My toes are slightly numb, and my fingertips tingle every time I strike a key.
Apparently, fixing the situation is a lot more involved than calling someone to raise the thermostat. First, you have to fill out a "maintenance request" form. Then, you have to explain yourself to the guy who walks in and declares "It's not that cold in here!"
But I think we're finally getting somewhere. A few days ago, they came in and plugged in THIS device.
It's a beauty, isn't it? Apparently, it monitors the temperature in here 24/7, and in the event of an earthquake, we'll have a pretty good read on the magnitude. It's a little blurred, but the digital thermostat reads 64 degrees, up from 63 when I first got in this morning.
Anyway, I think we're finally getting somewhere. It's one thing if my co-workers and I say it's very cold in here. It's quite another when a little box says it!
Rating - 3 stars
www.notsonoisy.com
We heard the The Today Show did some lame version of our Friday Dance today. Stations across the country have been stealing the idea. We've been doing it for about ten years now. I can't imagine The Today Show's version was any good----I mean, what kind of "highlights" could they possibly have? Their idea of "crazy" is wearing a wig on Halloween.
I give them credit for trying to spice up their predictable show but they just don't do or say the things that we do at WGN that make the Friday Dance what it is.
Our phone lines were jammed this morning with people complaining about the two women who were on at 6:50am talking about "how to get a raise" at work. No one really complained about the content. They were upset because the women looked like they just got out of bed and their hair was a mess. To be honest, I thought it was some edgy New York hairstyle and didn't want to insult them by handing them a hairbrush.
We just caught the tail end of Sylvester Stallone's tirade at his satellite location for having such a dumpy satellite studio. When he realized he was on the air with us, he recovered well. He's pretty self-depricating so we like him. He's been in studio before and he's always a gracious guest.
Charlie Murphy (Eddie Murphy's brother) has been on our show too, but this time he was flat.
He clearly didn't want to talk about the "True Hollywood Stories" that made him famous.
Sometimes these comedians come on and they think it is an interview about them, when all anyone really wants is for them to be funny.
As the Conference Championship Games get closer, local news affiliates are running out of stories to last them until Sunday. So when a station is faced with this crisis, what does it do?
A story on itself!
WLUK-TV in Green Bay is pulling its Saturday 5:30 PM re-run of Seinfeld, because it happens to be (Giants QB) Eli Manning's favorite show. Of course, if Eli (having a little disposable income) really wanted to watch Seinfeld, he'd probably bring the complete DVD set, instead of banking on the Green Bay Ramada to show it on WLUK.
But, that would require we suspend our common sense for a second, and not believe they're doing this so guys like me will write about it.
The General Manager of WLUK gave an interview . . . to WLUK, to talk about the decision.
And to think, the NFL takes 2 WEEKS OFF before the Super Bowl.
Rating - 3 stars
www.addictinggames.com
If there's one thing I can honestly say makes me happy about the Bears not being in the playoffs, it's this:
No Bears playoff coverage.
Now before you accuse me of being lazy (or worse, anti-Bears), allow me to clarify my statement. The actual games, the player interviews, the X's and O's, the road trips, harassing yokels at Super Bowl Media Day- GREAT FUN.
Interviewing a lady who painted her house orange and blue? Not so much.
Finding the biggest Bears cupcake in Chicagoland? Profiling the guy who grew his back hair so he looks like an actual bear? Tracking down the original Staley?
Find the rustiest nail you can, and jam it forcefully in my eye.
Only 4 media markets in the country are now churning out such high-I.Q. content. Here's a little gem from Boston, home to the New England Patriots.
*Immediately following is a little extra from today's sportscast- us having fun with the always facially expressive Shaquille O'Neal.
Rating - 3 stars
www.homeexchange.com
OK, so the ladies were atwitter around the the studio today, anticipating the arrival of Travis Stork, ER doctor, and former star of "The Bachelor."
He was here promoting his new book "Don't Be That Girl." It basically puts women into about eight different categories, and tells them how those categorizations may be keeping them from finding true love.
There's AGENDA GIRL, INSECURE GIRL, WORKING GIRL.....you get the idea.
And then, there's BITTER GIRL.
Larry and Paul, for some reason, thought that one reminded them of someone they knew.
Take a look.
Trash talk is a common weapon in the arsenal of today's pro athlete. Unfortunately, only a handful know its correct usage, and the proper situations for it.
For instance, any guarantee made during the regular season is garbage. Nobody cares. And while on the topic of guarantees, never qualify one. Never say, "I guarantee we'll win this game. If we rebound well, shoot well, make sure we defend, and keep Kobe under 40 points, then I guarantee we'll win."
Right, and if I was 6'2", ran a 4.2 forty and benched press 495 pounds, I'd play in the NFL.
As for trash talking, if you have even the slighest inclination of using it, ask yourself this question: "Does anyone know who I am?" If you can't think of anyone outside your locker room or extended family, then you should probably just keep quiet.
Or else you end up like Anthony Madison.
He was the guy know no one ever heard of until he guaranteed a Week 14 win against the Patriots (see, right there he already broke both of my rules). Then he got torched for 2 long scores and his team lost by 3 touchdowns. Now everyone knows who Anthony Madison is.
That putz who got burned on 2 long scoring drives and whose team lost by 3 touchdowns.
You'd think his experience would be a deterrent to other obscure, relatively unaccomplished players.
Apparently not.
Rating - 4 stars
www.n.ethz.ch
I've mentioned once or twice in this blog the role of satellite interviews in a morning show. Again, the arrangement with these interviews is: we get to ask them pretty much whatever we want, so long as we leave them adequate time to discuss whatever product, company or cause they're endorsing.
Typically on other news programs, you'll see an anchor try and slide the topic in rather casually, as if it follows the natural progression of the conversation. Maybe it's just me, but asking a guy about the NBA Playoffs, and following it up with a question about colon polyps just is not natural.
This morning, we had Archie Manning on the satellite (father of Peyton and Eli, college football Hall of Famer), and he was promoting something befit of football's First Family- a "second sport" that his sons were taking up; one that would allow them to use their superior twisting, licking and dunking skills. We even ran video of Peyton and Eli twisting, licking and dunking.
I've just gotten my eyesight back.
If you don't value yours, have a look.
Rating - 3 stars
www.novascotialife.com
Why is it that anytime a professional athlete cries on TV (save for the times he or she actually has something worth crying about, like, say a tragedy), we all have the same initial reaction?
Belly laughter.
I don't know. Maybe there's just something about a hulking man weeping over a missed field goal, that on some level is just so . . . satisfying to shmoes like you and me.
I guess it allows us to say, "Yeah, you make more money than me. You have all sorts of hot women throwing themselves at you. Thousands of people scream for you every week. You have a pet llama. But HA HA, you cried on national TV after missing a free throw!!!"
I'm not saying it's right that we have a tinge of this sentiment, nor that it's not a bit disturbing.
But it is true.
So as seeing how much we all enjoy the spectacle (nearly as much as the action on the field or court), I propose they build a Hall of Fame for it. And I've already picked the first class for induction.
Dick Vermeil- the famous football coach would cry over a generous pre-game spread.
John Elway- the first man to snort during a retirement speech (a true pioneer)
Mark Messier- the hockey great bawled when he was picked first in the draft . . . in BANTAMS!
If I'm leaving anyone out, let me know. Some have already suggested Terrell Owens, after his post-game breakdown yesterday. What struck me so much about this episode is 1) Terrell is a first time crier, and 2) his history suggests he wouldn't care so much about his quarterback.
Watch below to see what I mean.
I was warned... by my mother and my girlfriends, as soon as you have your first baby, everyone, and I mean everyone will ask you, when are you having your second one? A very inappropriate question in so many levels, if you ask me. Especially when no one knows, but the woman who gave birth to the token first child, how was her post labor recovery. Mine was a living hell. The worst six weeks of my life. My body gave out on me like it never had.
My baby was in perfect health, and thank God for that because, if there is one thing you learn the moment you know you are pregnant is that YOU rather go through all the pain and suffering known to womankind, than to see baby suffer at all. Nevertheless, I was a total mess, physically at first, and then an emotional wreck for about four weeks.
So when at week three of my post partum nightmare, my loving husband kept alluding to the second child and went as far as asking me if we should save some of our baby clothes for the next one, I almost killed him right there on the corner of Fairbanks and Ohio. You'd think the fact that he took me out for a walk so I would get my mind off my overwhelming sense of inadequacy, would have kept him from asking. After all, he was the one helping me with my pain, he was feeding our daughter because I couldn't sit for 2 weeks and calmed my constant crying. Why in the world would he ask that?
I literally answered, "of course, since this first delivery went so well, why not have another one". His only defense was that having 2 children was our original plan and that since he's older than me, he had to think about having another one quickly. "Well" I answered, "since your old, you'll die and then leave ME with the 2 kids, great idea". And a quick note for husbands, anything discussed before having a baby is put on hold while your poor wife gets her hormones and body under control, so, give it about a year.
From then on everyone from my mother in law to strangers at the supermarket asked the question. When I was finally feeling physically better and crying less and less, my answer was very much true to my usual self, "if I have another one, I'll go adopt him in another country, possibly South America. He will be 5 years old and eat on his own and will be potty trained".
My issue with this question is that not all first time mom's discover that motherhood is their calling when the doctor hands that baby over. Not all women adjust to their new life immediately. Babies don't come with instructions and for women like me who like it all under control, life as they know it takes a nose dive. Plus, physically, your body is a wreck. It nurtured another human being for 9 months, it delivered a full term baby through a very small cavity, it sure as hell will not bounce back.
I have a friend who told me she didn't feel she could have another baby until her first one was three years old. Another one called my only child husband to find out if it was horrible not having a sibling, just because she is not sure about having a second one. I'm feeling much better about the whole thing. Amelia has made me feel things I never thought I was capable of feeling. Making her happy and proud of her parents is my priority. She will have a sibling if her father and I decide we want to have another child, not because we want her to have a companion.
But that is our decision, no one should pressure us or ask us. So, a word of advise to all of us, since I'm sure I've asked the inappropriate question before having Amelia, do not ask the obvious question when someone has their first baby. Support their experience and enjoy the moment. We don't know how they are adjusting to parenting, we don't know if they CAN have another child. We could really hurt feelings with that one single question. It's none of our damn business anyway.
Rating - 4 stars
www.listoftheday.blogspot.com
As you know, our show is creative and often we are producing elements of the show while we're on the air. That means our conversations are quite different than the ones Charlie Gibson has with his staff.
Here are the top three quotes heard behind the scenes at WGN Morning News this week:
1/ "And then you want me to pull his pants down?"
2/ "Are you going with the usual wig?"
3/"We’ll take a chance on Miss Piggy, but not the cartoon M&M."
And this behind the scenes moment wasn't about the show, but worth sharing, because we want your input.
Two females who really put the broad in broadcaster had a rip-roaring argument about breast-feeding. I won't name names and I won't say where Robin and Val stand on the issue but let's just say words like fluid, uterus and bonding were used, which inspired Paul and I to hold our stomachs.
We have not done the research but supporters claim breast-feeding reduces bunyons later in life while opponents have pushed the negative effects----critics suggested Charles Manson was breast-fed.
What's your input?
Here is the list of the new DVd releases for January 15, 2008.
I love the Earth vs. Flying Saucers/It Came from beneath the sea remastered discs. They're now in color and black and white. So cheesey, Kraft shoulda put them out.
What have you seen that you've loved?
Dean
Mr. Woodcock
Good Luck Chuck
An Affair to Remember -50th anniversary edition
Alex Haley's Queen
Alfred Hitchcock, Master Of Suspense: 10 Movies
Beverly Hillbillies: Volume 2
Bonanza: Volumes 1-4
Bound For Glory 2005
Breaker Morant
California Dreaming
Cowboy Millionaire
The Crime Smasher
Criss Angel Mindfreak: The Complete Third Season
Dick Van Dyke Show: Volume 1
Do You Trust Your Wife?
Down With Love
Earth Vs. The Flying Saucers (2 Disc Collector's Edition)
Extras: The Complete Series (Gift Set)
Family Guy Presents: Blue Harvest
French Kiss (Widescreen)
Garfield: Prime Time Gift Set (Set)
Great Expectations
Jane Austen's Persuasion
Killer Diller
Love Potion No. 9
Lucy Show: Volumes 1-4
Melissa
The Naked Prey (Criterion Collection)
The New Adventures of Old Christine - The Complete First Season
She's Gotta Have It
Wedding Daze
When Harry Met Sally - Collector's Edition
Rating - 3 stars
www.metacafe.com
Growing up in New Jersey, the Giants were my football team as a kid, and Phil Simms was the guy. There are few quarterbacks in history who've give defensive players pause.
But Phill Simms was one of them.
He didn't give them a TON of pause. After all, he did miss some games because of injuries. But his whole attitude said "don't mess with me" (except use a more descriptive word for "mess").
Fully aware of this, I poked a little fun at one my childhood favorites anyway. We had him on the satellite hookup this morning, as he was announcing the finalists for the FedEx Air and Ground Players of the Year. I couldn't resist playing video of one of the finer moments of his career. A portion of the interview is available for your viewing.
Naturally, it is devoid of any NFL-copyrighted video.
Rating - 4 stars
www.ripevideos.com
Here's the list of thenew DVD's out this week (January 8, 2008.) Is there something you've seen that you loved or hated? Lemme know.
Dean
Two and a Half Men - The Complete 1st and 2nd Seasons
3:10 to Yuma
All-Star Family Feud All Star Family Feud
Con Air (Blu-ray)
Death Sentence (Unrated Edition)e Second Season
Dragon Wars - D-War
Eureka Seven, Volume 11
Evil Roy Slade
Golden Door
Gunsmoke - The Second Season, Volume 1
The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter
Man On Fire (Blu-ray)
MI-5, Volume 5
Personal Best
The Pianist (HD DVD)
The Riches - Season 1
Rob & Big - The Complete Seasons 1 & 2 (Uncensored)
The Road To Rio / The Road To Bali (Double Feature)
The Rock (Blu-ray)
Sunshine
The All-New Superfriends Hour: Season One, Volume 1
Sweatin' to the Oldies
The Waltons - The Complete Sixth Season
What's New Scooby-Doo? - The Complete Third Season
Zodiac
Hello
Happy New Year.
People have been asking me about the Morning News team's New Year resolutions.
Well, here is an exclusive look.
Robin has vowed to try to get in the sack with Ch. 7's Mr. Food in '08.
Larry is going to start acknowledging me when he sees me in the hallway.
Valerie is going to cut back on her foul mouthed cursing and breastfeeding in the newsroom.
Pat is going to stop giving Robin wedgies.
Anna is going to stop shooting & cooking the squirrels in her back yard.
Dean is going to stop smuggling illegals across the border.
And finally, I am going to stop hijacking Skilling's clothes and towels while he's in the shower.
Have a great new year.
Konrad
Here's the scoop on the "One Tree Hill" casting call coming to Chicago on January 19th. If you decide to enter, let me know at deanrichards@wgntv.com. We'll be there with our cameras and will want to put you and your audition tape on the Morning News.
Good luck,
Dean
TELEVISION GROUP PARTNER FOR THE "ONE TREE HILL CASTING CALL" TO OFFER THE ULTIMATE FAN WEEKEND AND A WALK-ON ROLE
The CW, Macy's and the Warner Bros. Television Group are offering eight passionate ONE TREE HILL fans the opportunity of a lifetime - a chance to win a walk-on role and spend a star-filled weekend with the cast in Wilmington, North Carolina, where the series is filmed.
The "Ultimate Fan Weekend in Wilmington" promotion, which began December 18 and continues through February 4, 2008, offers fans the chance to spend time with the cast, see the show in production, attend a charity event and appear in an episode. Fans can enter the contest in one of two ways: by attending a regional casting call at seven Macy's stores nationwide or by uploading an audition video at www.cwtv.com/macys. In addition, ONE TREE HILL cast members will be signing autographs at the following Macy's locations on Saturday, January 19 from 2:00-4:00pm (local time):
· Macy's State Street - 111 N. State Street Chicago, IL with cast member Lee Norris at 2pm.
· Macy's Herald Square - New York City (cast members Sophia Bush and Daphne Zuniga)*
· Macy's Aventura - Aventura, FL (cast member Hilarie Burton)
· Macy's Union Square - San Francisco, CA (cast member James Lafferty)
· Macy's Lenox Square - Atlanta, GA (cast member Antwon Tanner)
· Macy's Downtown Seattle - Seattle, WA (cast member Bethany Joy Galeotti)
· Macy's Easton Town Center - Columbus, OH (series creator Mark Schwahn and cast member Michaela McManus)
* These are the scheduled cast members but circumstances may result in a change as to the cast member participating at a particular location.
Full rules for this event are posted at http://www.cwtv.com/thecw/macys.
Rating - 3 stars
www.wired.com
As you know, everyone and their sister on this show has had a baby recently- Ana, Val, Larry's wife. A number of others on our staff are expecting- all of whom will remain nameless, lest I incorrectly identify one of them.
I've seen the joy brought into all their lives by these new additions, and it spurred me to act. So today, I am very happy and proud to announce . . . .
I'M PREGNANT!!!
Yep, I'm about 12 weeks along, and I'm feeling great so far- no morning sickness, but my ankles are a bit swollen, and I'm craving butterscotch morsels. The farting can get a little out of control at times, but at least I haven't begun to show yet. Usually you don't show this early until your second pregnancy.
I'm sorry. I can't lie. I'm not really pregnant.
But I sure know a lot about pregnancy, right? That's because during the last 10 months I've heard about every one of the symptoms mentioned above, exactly as they're written. And frankly . . . I'm scarred for life.
I went nearly 30 years thinking women don't pass gas.
I think children are great, but I also think we need to put a moratorium on people here having them. I'm not sure my psyche can handle it, especially with the emergence of a new topic of conversation.
Breast-feeding.
Rating - 3 stars
www.metacafe.com
I call it a party, but maternity leave wasn't quite that.
Just kidding!!!!
I had a great maternity leave!
Besides the middle of the night feedings, all the poopy diapers and spit up down my back, I love being a mom again.
I tell you what...that 3 months I was off, sure went by fast.
Now, I'm back to work and trying to settle into my new routine as working mom of 2.
So far so good.
So here are the answers to some of the questions you may be having....
Maxwell Wallace Warner is wonderful.
He's sleeping through the night(started at 10 weeks).
He's almost 15 weeks now.
He's about 13 pounds.
His big sister, Zoe, is great with her baby brother.
I'm still nursing(yes, ladies it can be done even while back at work!)
I have about another 15 pounds to lose to be at pre-pregnancy weight.
and oh yeah, I'M TIRED AS YOU KNOW WHAT!!!!!!!!!!!
Hope that does it for now, because I'm ready to go home and slip into my other hat...MOM!
Rating - 4 stars
www.youtube.com
No rating
www.vajoe.com
There is some exciting new content now available on Youtube, none of which will be featured in an upcoming Presidential debate.
WGN now has its very own Youtube channel.
So now, amongst all the webcam karaokes, bad acting demos, people taking shots to the groin, and amateur extreme sports stunts, you'll find us. I don't guarantee that anything we post will bring more value to your life, or make you a better person in some way, but at least you'll know the people posting it.
(Or at least you'll know them better than some 16-year old in Montana who can jump five trash cans on his BMX).
Basically, we're posting moments from the show- some of the stuff you can find on our WGN website, as well as additional materials.
I'm going to open up the request line now, for which I'll probably get into trouble, especially if the requests far exceed our manpower. But who cares!! Let us know if there's anything imparticular you'd like to see on there, even if it's from years ago. This show's been on the air over a decade. Certainly, there have been 1 or 2 moments you've enjoyed.
In the meantime, you can visit our Youtube channel, by clicking on this link:
http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=wgn
Rating - 3 stars
http://www.biography.com/biography/quiz_trivia_poll/trivia.jsp
Rating - 4 stars
www.Farmersonly.com
Ladies and Gentlemen, Ana Belaval, who never believed in awards, never submitted anything and claimed to never care, has won an Emmy and is almost sleeping with the statue.
Let's put it all in context. Submitting material for any award show is a pain in the %$#. You have to look for a category among tons of them. Gather your material, which can mean looking at hours and hours of tape. That's if you find the tapes since the filing system at most newsrooms is not the best. Then you have to copy the material on to a DVD or tape, and then fill out the paper work, which can be as confusing as filling out tax forms.
Many of my colleagues have the system down pat or an intern who has the system down pat. I have neither so the prospect of submitting anything once a year, stresses me out. I seldom do it. To be honest, I've only done it twice and have been nominated both times. At this point, my mother would say that goes to show me I should submit more often.
But this year I submitted on three categories, at the constant nagging of my Around Town producer. The process was grueling and I could've sworn I had gotten something wrong. Since I never win anything, I convinced myself I wasn't going to be nominated. But I was, for our One Tank Trip series. And honestly that was enough to make me proud. Now I could say that I was a twice emmy award nominated journalist. That's an accomplishment.
So when the ceremony came around, I was busy with my one month old baby. My husband encouraged me to go since a night out would be nice. I went with my producer and his wife. My good friend Dean Richards was my date. Steve had to stay home with Amelia. We are on a formula budget so we can't be spending money on babysitting and a ticket for my husband to an award ceremony where his wife wasn't even going to win.
I put on the only dress that fit me, put on make up for the first time in a while and off I went. Our category was the second to last one, so I was almost ready to leave. Dean had to hold me down. But then, the unthinkable happened. We won! My producer Terry Barthel and I were shocked. Since he had won one before, he was gracious enough to let me take the statue home. We will split the cost of the second one. Hey, even NATAS is on a budget, so you get a statue per category.
Once that gold statue was in my hand, I was a believer. So proud to be a winner, especially after a month of trying to figure out my new daughter. I had spent weeks feeling physically sick and mentally inadequate, so it was a fantastic feeling to be a winner. To know that I still had my career and that I knew how to do it well. "You love me, you really, really love me" to quote Oscar winner Sally Field.
As cheesy as it sounds, I was also happy to show my daughter that women can almost have it all. So I came home with my new man Emmy to my great husband, changed into a t shirt and bathed my new baby. The best of both worlds.
Today, for the first time in over 3 months, our entire 7-person Morning News team was together for the show- Larry, Robin, Paul, Val, Dean, Anna and me- local TV's equivalent of a "Jerry Springer" guest list.
It felt good.
As you know, Val and Anna started all the disruption by going off and getting knocked up.
Then, once they came back, Robin and Larry were each off on the kinds of winter breaks normally reserved for college students.
We should thank everyone who came off the bench to eat up some valuable minutes during this time- Erin Mendez, Marcella Raymond, Tom Negovan, etc. Gentlemen, I'm not sure when Erin will next appear on our show, so please stop with the letters.
It was nice having different combinations of people to work with. For instance, when Val and Marcella co-anchored the show together, I enjoyed a little break. Those two can talk so much that I barely had to say a word all 4 hours. I felt like a cast-member of "The View."
But as much fun as that was, it's good to have the original team back. Plus, I know Tom wanted to be back on his normal shift, and Marcella was nervous she'd miss out on the season's first "Wind Chill Advisory" live shot (made it back just in time!).
Everybody wins now.
Rating - 3 stars
www.star28.net/snow.html