WGN Morning News Blog

Thursday's Zell-a-bration was a tribute to our new CEO Sam Zell and in case you missed it, we prepared a cavalcade of stars in the true spirit of WGN Morning News: plate-spinners, acrobatic dogs, Vegas showgirls, The Sam Zell dancers, and more. Charro cancelled last minute, and the rodeo monkees were lost in luggage, and Konrad broke his 12 year vow never to wear garter-belts, and spiked heels. It was another shining piece of TV for the vault at the Chicago Broadcast Museum.

Zell was late for the party, but received 20 calls about it while riding his motorcycle to Bradley Place. His response: "WGN has a morning show?"

He arrived at the WGN meeting with the employees, which feels similar to a Gary Larson Far Side convention of crossed-eyed people. Zell was very complimentary of WGN's rich history, and then outlined how much money the finely-manicured TV executives had lost during those illustrious years.

At the employee meeting, Zell was overheard asking how much we spent on the cans of Sprite, and asking to review Skilling's time-card to make sure the Trib was getting the appropriate dollar per hour value from its meterology department.

Unlike the bean counters of past, Zell isn't about nickles and dimes; he's about
millions and billions. Finally, someone is driving the ship who is "in it, to win it." Let's just hope some of those shekels trickle-down to the little people who make it all possible.