93.9 Lite FM

Robservations on the media beat:

Ready or not, it’s that time again! Chicago's annual cavalcade of Christmas music kicks off at 4 p.m. Tuesday on iHeartMedia adult contemporary WLIT 93.3-FM. It'll run around the clock through the end of the year. “There’s no place like home for the holidays and we are delighted to be Chicagoland’s home for holiday cheer in our 19th year,” Mick Lee, program director and afternoon host at 93.9 Lite FM, said in a statement. “We’re honored that so many Chicagoans include us in their annual holiday traditions, and we can’t wait to celebrate the season with Christmas music, fun contests, and a few new surprises along the way.” On Friday Hubbard Radio adult contemporary WSHE 100.3-FM stunted with an afternoon of Christmas music, but then returned to its usual format. “Having some fun playing Christmas music for a wintry Friday commute home,” said Jeff England, market manager of Hubbard Radio Chicago.

Morgan Kolkmeyer

Morgan Kolkmeyer, the "WGN Morning News" meteorologist, will share six favorite episodes of "Friends" on a mini-marathon — “The Ones Morgan Loves” — November 16. Starting at 6 p.m. she'll watch along with viewers on Nexstar Media WGN-Channel 9 and offer commentary on each episode. “I grew up watching 'Friends' as a kid and revisited watching it as an adult. . . . It’s definitely a funnier watch now that I am older and can relate to so much of it,” she said.

Making Beyoncé

"Making Beyoncé," the latest installment in the acclaimed series of "Making" podcasts from Chicago Public Media WBEZ 91.5-FM, will be launched November 15. The three-part documentary, hosted by Jill Hopkins, traces the rise of Beyoncé Knowles to the top of the music industry. Another podcast series on tap at WBEZ is "Nerdette Recaps 'His Dark Materials,'" a weekly commentary on the HBO series "His Dark Materials," hosted by Peter Sagal with Greta Johnsen and Tricia Bobeda. The first episode will be uploaded Tuesday.

Brooke Fox and Jubal Fresh

Brooke Fox and Jubal Fresh, whose syndicated morning show airs on Hubbard Radio adult contemporary WSHE 100.3-FM, have been named recipients of the Radio Hall of Fame's "One to Watch" Award for 2019. They'll be honored at the RHOF induction ceremony Friday in New York. This year's inductees are Dr. Ruth Westheimer, Ryan Seacrest, Sean “Hollywood” Hamilton, Harry Harrison, Joe Madison, Jim Rome, John Tesh, and the team of Kevin Ryder and Gene “Bean” Baxter. (Late last year Jubal Flagg legally changed his name to Jubal Fresh.)

Lanning Macfarland Jr.

Lanning Macfarland Jr., chairman of Chicago Daily Law Bulletin and Law Bulletin Media, died Wednesday at his home in Vero Beach, Florida. He was 94. "For more than 50 years Macfarland led the oldest daily courts newspaper in the country and the oldest family-owned business [140 years] in Chicago, taking it from near bankruptcy to recognized preeminence in the legal publishing field," recalled Mike Kramer, president of Law Bulletin Media. An Evanston native who attended New Trier High School and Northwestern University, Macfarland served in the U.S. Army during World War II.

Friday’s comment of the day: Garrard McClendon: Hank [Mendheim] is awesome.