Robservations: Wilbon, Kornheiser to bring ESPN’s ‘PTI’ to Evanston

Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon

Robservations on the media beat:

Here’s your chance to attend a taping of ESPN’s “Pardon the Interruption” in Evanston. Hosts Michael Wilbon and Tony Kornheiser will originate their show November 16 from Northwestern University’s newly renovated Welsh-Ryan Arena hours before the Northwestern and Binghamton University men’s basketball game. (Admission and parking are free.) Wilbon is a 1980 graduate of NU’s Medill School of Journalism (where he has been on the faculty since 2015), and Kornheiser is a 1970 graduate of Binghamton. The two also will be calling that night’s game with ESPNews play-by-play commentator Will Flemming.

Daily Herald

Wednesday's front-page headlines: Chicago Tribune: Pritzker tops Rauner to become next governor; Sun-Times: House Flippers; Jublilant J.B: Pritzker routs Rauner; Daily Herald: Democrats take the House; Suburbs propel Pritzker.

"Those Were the Days"

Celebrating the bicentennial of Illinois a bit early, Steve Darnall will host an afternoon of “Radio from the Prairie State” on this weekend’s “Those Were the Days.” Among historic broadcasts spanning the years from 1936 to 1969 will be three from Chicago (including "Little Orphan Annie" and "Destination Freedom") and others from Waukegan (“The Jack Benny Program”), Libertyville (“Man on the Farm”), Peoria (“Dick Jurgens and his Orchestra”) and Galena (“Breakfast with the Johnsons”). Now in its 48th year, the old-time radio showcase airs from 1 to 5 p.m. Saturdays on College of DuPage’s WDCB 90.9-FM and wdcb.org.

Mike Parker

Visitation and services for retired Chicago broadcast journalist Mike Parker will be from 3 to 8 p.m. Sunday at Donnellan Funeral Home, 10525 S. Western Ave., Chicago. A reporter and news anchor at CBS-owned WBBM-Channel 2 for more than 35 years, Parker died of congestive heart failure Sunday at 75.

Tuesday’s comment of the day: Dan Miller: The Chicago Tribune Guild reveals its shallowness and naivete in its plea for a Tribune buyer who "understands that meaningful journalism isn’t accomplished by layoffs and cutbacks, by disregard and greed." No one buys a newspaper, least of all one with a recent financial track record as depressing as the Tribune's, to gratify its greed. Newspapers are bought for their prestige, their influence and their power to affect pulic policy -- all honorable motives that are implied in the Guild's plea. But unless there are deep pockets to accompany the honorable motives, the best intentions won't save the Tribune.