Justin Kaufmann
Robservations on the media beat:
Justin Kaufmann, who's been a full-time contributor to Steve Cochran's morning show since last June, is returning to evenings on Tribune Broadcasting news/talk WGN 720-AM. Starting March 15, he'll host a new version of "Extension 720" from 7 to 10 p.m. weeknights (except on Mondays when "Andrea Darlas & The Reporters" airs and on nights when play-by-play sports airs). The late Milt Rosenberg, professor emeritus at the University of Chicago, hosted the original “Extension 720” for four decades before he was forced to retire from WGN in 2012. “I’m honored and humbled to be at the helm of one of the best radio shows in Chicago history,” said Kaufmann, who joined WGN in 2015 after more than 20 years as a producer at Chicago Public Media WBEZ 91.5-FM. Today will be Kaufmann's last day on Cochran's show. "Justin and producer Pete Zimmerman will be great," said Cochran. "And I'm sure that the ghost of Milt Rosenberg will fact check the show every night."
Printers Row Lit Fest
After 16 years as principal sponsor of Printers Row Lit Fest, the Chicago Tribune is closing the book on its ownership and management of the annual event. Billed as “the largest gathering of book lovers between the coasts,” the festival will continue — but under the auspices of its original owners, the Near South Planning Board. Sources said the popular event was a money loser for the newspaper, which continues to look for ways to cut costs. Bruce Dold, publisher and editor-in-chief of the Tribune, told staffers in an email: “We actively pursued alternate locations and partnerships with other institutions, before ultimately agreeing to return management of the festival to the NSPB. We recognize Lit Fest has a long history with the Tribune, and with our newsroom. NSPB is still determining the scale and scope of the festival programming, but we expect there will continue to be opportunities for some of our journalists to interview authors at the festival.” This year’s event will be June 8 and 9 in the South Loop.
Larry Potash
Larry Potash, anchor of the top-rated WGN Morning News on Tribune Broadcasting WGN-Channel 9, will guest host a radio show tonight for the first time. From 7 to 10 p.m. Potash will join weekend host David Plier in studio on WGN 720-AM. Their guests on "WGN Nightside" will include original MTV VJ Alan Hunter and comedian Mike Toomey. Potash also will talk about the second season of “Backstory with Larry Potash,” his primetime series on historical mysteries and oddities, airing at 8:30 p.m. Sundays in March on WGN.
Zully Ramírez
Zully Ramírez, consumer reporter for Telemundo Chicago WSNS-Channel 44, has been named recipient of the 2019 Diogenes Award by the Better Business Bureau of Chicago and Northern Illinois. At the group's 92nd annual dinner meeting Thursday, she was cited for her "exceptional consumer investigative work." Ramírez, who joined Telemundo Chicago in 2014, has helped consumers in the Chicago area recover nearly $500,000 since 2016.
Marshall "Wizzo" Brodien
Marshall Brodien, the famed Chicago magician and creator of TV Magic Cards, was best known and loved as Wizzo the Wizard on “Bozo's Circus” and “The Bozo Show” from 1968 to 1994. Brodien died Friday at Arden Courts of Geneva after a long battle with Alzheimer’s, according to WGN-Channel 9 entertainment reporter Dean Richards. He was 84. Brodien began his career in the 1940s as a magic shop demonstrator before becoming a performer at the Magic Lounge in Cicero and a nightclub hypnotist at the Cairo Supper Club in Chicago. On his retirement from WGN as Wizzo in 1994, Brodien said: "It's been a lot of fun to put on that costume and just act crazy and wild.”
Thursday’s comment of the day: Alan Solomon: Say what you will about the man's work — I've never really been a fan, and haven't talked to him since he kindly introduced me to actor Rip Torn at Gibson's eons ago — but it's hard to knock Mike North's energy and ability/willingness to re-invent himself. Best wishes.