Dancing with disaster

Don’t drop Cheryl, Tom! Or she’ll be like The Tribune… All right, I’ve seen some absurd items on Chicago Tribune’s editorial page before… but this one takes the cake. One of Wednesday’s  editorials in the paper was titled “Dancing With DeLay” , about former disgraced Texas congressman Tom DeLay competing on the newest season of Dancing With the Stars. You’ve got […]

T Dog’s Think Tank: The joke’s on us

In a recent column in the Chicago Tribune, Steve Dahl wondered what the country – and the world – thought of Illinois thanks to Patti Blagojevich (former Governor Rod’s wife) appearing on I’m A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here! He said it gave Illinois a Hollywood feel, but a Third World one at the same time. Of course, we […]

Patti Blago to appear on "Celebrity?"

Patti Blagoveich is in discussions to appear on NBC’s upcoming revival of I’m A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here. If you recall, her husband Rod – the former governor of Illinois – tried to get on the show, but a judge denied the request – since he would travel outside the country. Now, just in case The Tribune – […]

T Dog’s Four Pack: Cheers! (and Jeers)

The past week’s winners and losers: Four cheers of the week – Bulls-Celtics Playoff Series. Even though the Bulls did not win, admit it: It was the most entertaining playoff series in years. Thanks for the ride. – … but the Blackhawks are still in! They advanced past Calgary in the first round and now facing Vancouver in the second, […]

Oh, now he gets it

You ever hear of buyer’s remorse? Well, Sam Zell has a huge case of it. In an interview with Bloomberg News, The Tribune owner said buying the debt-ridden media company was “a mistake”, saying he was “too optimistic.” Zell said he didn’t know the economy would crater like it did, and wouldn’t do the deal if he had to do […]

Sun-Times files for Chapter 11

Chicago, that great newspaper town… now with both in Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The Chicago Sun-Times has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, as the troubled newspaper is sinking under a massive amount of debt, which includes a lot to the IRS. The Sun-Times joins The Tribune in Chapter 11, who filed for bankruptcy several months ago. The paper has never recovered […]

So, why do you live here?

The Chicago Tribune asked this question regarding Chicago’s frigid weather in January – a really, really, really stupid question…. And boy, did yours truly ever respond: This article is one of the most insipid pieces of crap I’ve ever read on the Tribune’s website. It’s January. It’s supposed to be cold! Big deal! Why is this a story? Does The […]

T Dog’s Groovy Grab Bag

A new size for the Trib; A new FCC Chairman (hooray!); Stargate Atlantis exits with a bang; Fox cancels Prison Break. – One advantage the Chicago Sun-Times had over the Trib was its tabloid-like size and the ease of reading it on the bus or on the “L”. Now, that’s gone. Oh-oh… Chicago Tribune introduces a new size: The paper […]

New Tribune design brings yawns

The Chicago Tribune redesigned its paper yesterday, and it brought about as much excitement as another Oakland Raiders coaching change.According to ChicagoBusiness.com, 72 percent of those polled by the site did not like the new look of the Tribune, while 81 percent said the new redesign made it no easier to find stories. (The comments section of the linked story […]

Who’s in your four, Edition 6

This is retroactive to last week (I’ll post this week’s edition on Friday), so here it goes: T Dog’s Fabulous Four – The Insider cans Pat O’Brien. He was fired after sending e-mails to staffers at the show and Entertainment Tonight, criticizing the programs. O’ Brien, who was demoted to special correspondent for this season after a stint in rehab […]

T Dog’s Groovy Grab Bag – 08/16/08

But not-so-groovy: A couple of exits to report… – Ed Sherman is out at the Tribune. The golf and sometimes media writer has accepted a buyout from the Trib and is expected to do freelance and co-author a book with Dan McNeil regarding the best and worst of Chicago sports. Best wishes to Mr. Sherman. The move comes as 30 […]

Chicago Tribune to cut 80 newsroom jobs

Mirroring the struggles the newspaper industry is experiencing nationwide, The Chicago Tribune announced Tuesday it is laying off 80 people in its newsroom and is reducing the number of pages in the publication. The number laid off is actually 55, since 25 of those jobs were unfilled positions, left over from the last round of layoffs. The Tribune’s sister paper […]

Tribune TV Critic hooks up with Tivo

Tivo announced on Wednesday a new partnership with the Chicago Tribune to offer Maureen Ryan’s TV picks to users who sign up for the service in the Chicago area. Ryan is also hosting bi-monthly videos summarizing her picks. If the move is successful, Tivo could develop more partnerships with other newspapers’ TV critics, whose jobs are being eliminated as the […]

T Dog’s Think Tank: The upfronts? Meh.

The excitement of Upfront week. The new shows. The glitz. The glamour. The parties. But not this year. Or maybe ever again. This year’s upfronts had about as much excitement as a Kansas City Royals-Baltimore Orioles game, and if you read the Chicago Tribune this week, you wouldn’t even know the upfronts were taking place. That’s a far cry from […]

T Dog’s Think Tank: Can you smell what the mayor is cookin’ ?

Usually, the T Dog Media Blog doesn’t devolve into local politics since this is a media blog (it says that in the name!) and not a political one. But yours truly can’t pass up an opportunity to take this on since it involves the Chicago Tribune and Chicago Sun-Times. Last Friday, Mayor Richard M. Daley of Chicago blasted the Tribune […]