Chicago Sun-Times

Staffers at Downers Grove office air their complaints — on TV

Wed, 22 May 2013 23:28:01 -0500

LORI RACKL: The new Fox reality show “Does Someone Have To Go?” gives employees the chance to ax problematic co-workers. Suburban Velocity Merchant Services is featured in the series premiere, airing Thursday.

Michael Douglas, Matt Damon shine in captivating Liberace movie

Wed, 22 May 2013 09:09:41 -0500

LORI RACKL: At first lighthearted and campy, HBO's “Behind the Candelabra” turns dark as it tells of the piano virtuoso's romance with the far younger Scott Thorson.

Thursday’s talk shows

Wed, 22 May 2013 23:43:49 -0500

“Live With Kelly and Michael” (9 a.m., Channel 9): Guest co-host Carson Kressley; actor Ken Jeong. “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” (3 p.m., Channel 5): Actress Amanda Seyfried; comedian Kevin Nealon; musicians Michael Bolton and Delta Goodrem. “Conan” (10 p.m., TBS): Actor Vin Diesel; actor Steve Schirripa; music group the Mowgli’s. “Late Show With David Letterman” (10:35 p.m., Channel 2): Actor Harrison Ford; actress Rita Wilson; musician Jake Bugg. (R) “The Tonight Show With Jay Leno” (10:35 p.m., Channel 5): Filmmaker Tyler Perry; actress Isla Fisher; music group Shout Out Louds. “Jimmy Kimmel Live” (10:35 p.m., Channel 7): Actor Mark Ruffalo; …

Kellie Pickler wins ‘Dancing with the Stars’

Wed, 22 May 2013 11:48:59 -0500

It came down to an “American Idol” alum and a Disney Channel star, but when all the fancy footwork was done, country music singer Kellie Pickler and her pro partner Derek Hough emerged as the season 16 champions of “Dancing with the Stars.” Their final dance, a jive set to Little Richard’s classic “You Come A-Knockin’ (But You Can’t Come In), earned them a perfect score and the famed mirrorball trophy. It marks Hough’s fourth win on the series. NFL star Jacoby Jones rounded out the final top three, following the surprise elimination early on in the evening of Olympic …

A poignant finale episode closes out ‘The Office’

Fri, 17 May 2013 09:30:25 -0500

LORI RACKL: Ain’t no party like a Scranton goodbye party, and the Dunder Mifflin gang proves it with big laughs, emotional moments and the return of the star we most wanted to see.

Wednesday’s talk shows

Tue, 21 May 2013 17:46:00 -0500

“Live With Kelly and Michael” (9 a.m., Channel 9): Actor Morgan Freeman; singer Angie Miller. “The View” (10 a.m., Channel 7): Actor John Malkovich; cast of “Matilda.” “The Talk” (1 p.m., Channel 2): Actress Patricia Heaton; chef Art Smith. “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” (3 p.m., Channel 5): Guest co-host Jennifer Aniston; actress Portia de Rossi. “The Daily Show With Jon Stewart” (10 p.m., Comedy Central): Journalist Bill O’Reilly. “Conan” (10 p.m., TBS): Actor Jesse Eisenberg; filmmaker J.J. Abrams; music group 30 Seconds to Mars. “The Colbert Report” (10:30 p.m., Comedy Central): Music group the National. “Late Show With David Letterman” …

Tuesday’s talk shows

Mon, 20 May 2013 16:14:30 -0500

“Live With Kelly and Michael” (9 a.m., Channel 9): Musician Psy; singer Trace Adkins. “The View” (10 a.m., Channel 7): Actor Woody Harrelson; actress Jane Lynch. “Steve Harvey” (2 p.m., Channel 5): Reality TV star Tabatha Coffey. “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” (3 p.m., Channel 5): Actress Hayden Panettiere; musician Ed Sheeran. “Katie” (3 p.m., Channel 7): Actress Jenny McCarthy; nanny Jo Frost; actress Jenna Ushkowitz. “The Daily Show With Jon Stewart” (10 p.m., Comedy Central): Former NBA coach Phil Jackson. “Conan” (10 p.m., TBS): Actor Ed Helms; actress Alice Eve; cast of “Workaholics.” “The Colbert Report” (10:30 p.m., Comedy Central): …

Monday’s talk shows

Sun, 19 May 2013 22:06:16 -0500

“Live With Kelly and Michael” (9 a.m., Channel 9): Actor Colin Farrell; actress Elisabeth Moss; “American Idol” winner Candice Glover. “The View” (10 a.m., Channel 7): Guest co-host Brooke Shields; actor Michael Caine. “Steve Harvey” (2 p.m., Channel 5): Boxer Laila Ali. “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” (3 p.m., Channel 5): Actor Ed Helms. “Katie” (3 p.m., Channel 7): Dr. Ian Smith; TV host Sherri Shepherd. “The Daily Show With Jon Stewart” (10 p.m., Comedy Central): Actress Ellen Page. “Conan” (10 p.m., TBS): Actress Sarah Chalke; music group the Black Angels. “The Colbert Report” (10:30 p.m., Comedy Central): Climate expert David …

The paper pushers of ‘The Office’ left an imprint on TV

Thu, 16 May 2013 02:29:23 -0500

LORI RACKL: “The Office” is about to close for good, with Thursday’s 75-minute finale capping off a nine-season run. For me — and probably many fans — NBC’s workplace comedy really ended two years ago when Michael Scott left. That said, I’ll still be sad to see the groundbreaking sitcom go.

The personal lives of police at the heart of ‘Chicago Fire’ spinoff

Wed, 15 May 2013 08:23:58 -0500

LORI RACKL: Tonight’s “Fire” episode sets the tone for “Chicago PD,” an NBC show for next season that a producer says will “tell stories about what the cops go through personally, how they approach the job and how they interact with each other.”

Thursday’s talk shows

Wed, 15 May 2013 20:27:53 -0500

“Live With Kelly and Michael” (9 a.m., Channel 9): Actress Zoe Saldana. “The View” (10 a.m., Channel 7): Guest co-host Jewel; actress Jessica Capshaw; former Sen. Olympia Snowe. “The Talk” (1 p.m., Channel 2): Actor LL Cool J; TV host Andy Cohen. “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” (3 p.m., Channel 5): Actor Chris Pine; musicians Robin Thicke and Pharrell. “Conan” (10 p.m., TBS): Actor Zachary Quinto; actress Heather Graham; comedian Jen Kirkman. “The Colbert Report” (10:30 p.m., Comedy Central): Biologist Daniel Lieberman. “Late Show With David Letterman” (10:35 p.m., Channel 2): Journalist Barbara Walters; actor Jesse Eisenberg; music group MS MR. …

10 buildings that revolutionized architecture, according to Geoffrey Baer

Mon, 13 May 2013 20:49:31 -0500

LORI RACKL: In his first national PBS special, the WTTW hosts highlights a diverse assortment of buildings that have influenced the nation’s architectural landscape.

Wednesday’s talk shows

Tue, 14 May 2013 21:44:39 -0500

“Live With Kelly and Michael” (9 a.m., Channel 9): Actor Jesse Tyler Ferguson. “The View” (10 a.m., Channel 7): Guest co-host Eden Sher; musician Brad Paisley. “The Talk” (1 p.m., Channel 2): Actress Lucy Liu. “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” (3 p.m., Channel 5): Actors Will and Jaden Smith. “Katie” (3 p.m., Channel 7): Judge Judy Sheindlin; comedian W. Kamau Bell. “The Daily Show With Jon Stewart” (10 p.m., Comedy Central): Former Sen. Olympia Snowe. “Conan” (10 p.m., TBS): Actor Zach Galifianakis; comedian Jim Gaffigan; music group Beware of the Darkness. “The Colbert Report” (10:30 p.m., Comedy Central): Musician Cyndi Lauper. …

Tuesday’s talk shows

Mon, 13 May 2013 17:01:05 -0500

“You & Me This Morning” (6 a.m., Channel 26): Actress Jaclyn Smith. “Live With Kelly and Michael” (9 a.m., Channel 9): Actor Mark Harmon; music group Huey Lewis and the News. “The View” (10 a.m., Channel 7): “Scandal” stars Kerry Washington and Tony Goldwyn; musician Tom Jones. “The Talk” (1 p.m., Channel 2): “NCIS” stars Mark Harmon and Michael Weatherly. “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” (3 p.m., Channel 5): Actress Kaley Cuoco; musician Natalie Maines. “Katie” (3 p.m., Channel 7): Journalist Mika Brzezinski. “The Daily Show With Jon Stewart” (10 p.m., Comedy Central): Actor Nathan Lane. “Conan” (10 p.m., TBS): Actress …

Monday’s talk shows

Sun, 12 May 2013 18:08:00 -0500

“Windy City Live” (9 a.m., Channel 7): Author Brad Thor. “Live With Kelly and Michael” (9 a.m., Channel 9): TV host Jimmy Kimmel; actress Alyson Hannigan. “The View” (10 a.m., Channel 7): Actor LL Cool J. “The Talk” (1 p.m., Channel 2): Actress Sigourney Weaver. “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” (3 p.m., Channel 5): Actress Kerry Washington; musician Demi Lovato. “Katie” (3 p.m., Channel 7): Musician Kenny Chesney. “The Daily Show With Jon Stewart” (10 p.m., Comedy Central): Filmmaker J.J. Abrams. “Conan” (10 p.m., TBS): Actress Mila Kunis; comedian Chris Hardwick; music group Family of the Year. (R) “The Colbert Report” …

Peter Sagal hits the road in a Harley to see the Constitution in action

Mon, 06 May 2013 02:17:32 -0500

LORI RACKL: The Oak Park radio host’s entertaining new PBS documentary brings the historic, often misunderstood document to life.