Chicago Sun-Times

Al Jazeera adding Chicago reporters in push to expand U.S. audience

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 10:03:33 -0500

LORI RACKL: The Middle East-based news organization beefs up its Chicago bureau as it prepares to turn Al Gore’s Current TV into a 24/7 U.S. news channel, Al Jazeera America, later this summer.

Thursday’s talk shows

Wed, 01 May 2013 14:52:00 -0500

“Live With Kelly and Michael” (9 a.m., Channel 9): Actor Ben Kingsley. “The View” (10 a.m., Channel 7): Guest co-host Debi Gutierrez; Dr. Mehmet Oz; Dr. Drew Pinsky. “The Talk” (1 p.m., Channel 2): Comedian Kathy Griffin; musicians Natasha Bedingfield and Linda Perry. “Anderson Live” (1 p.m., Channel 32): Guest co-host Norah O’Donnell; fashion expert Stacy London. “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” (3 p.m., Channel 5): Actor Chris Colfer; TV host Alison Sweeney; musician Michael Buble. “The Daily Show With Jon Stewart” (10 p.m., Comedy Central): Former Navy SEAL Eric Greitens. “Conan” (10 p.m., TBS): Actress Julia Louis-Dreyfus; comedian Bob Saget. …

Wednesday’s talk shows

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 14:56:01 -0500

“Live With Kelly and Michael” (9 a.m., Channel 9): Actor Jim Parsons; musician Carly Rae Jepsen. “The View” (10 a.m., Channel 7): Guest co-host Jenny McCarthy; actress Patricia Heaton. “The Talk” (1 p.m., Channel 2): Comedian Bob Newhart; music group the Band Perry. “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” (3 p.m., Channel 5): Musician Cher and her mother, Georgia Holt; medium Theresa Caputo. “The Daily Show With Jon Stewart” (10 p.m., Comedy Central): Former U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchinson. “Conan” (10 p.m., TBS): Filmmaker Jon Favreau; comedian Bo Burnham. “The Colbert Report” (10:30 p.m., Comedy Central): Music group Macklemore & Ryan Lewis. …

‘Check, Please!’ host contenders get a taste of being on camera

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 02:20:21 -0500

LORI RACKL: The 17 remaining finalists hoping to succeed Alpana Singh step into the studio to helm a mock version of WTTW’s restaurant review show. This part of the audition process will be made into a behind-the-scenes special airing May 17.

Tuesday’s talk shows

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 15:12:00 -0500

“Windy City Live” (9 a.m., Channel 7): Actor Robert Downey Jr. “Live With Kelly and Michael” (9 a.m., Channel 9): Actor Robert Downey Jr.; racecar driver Carl Edwards. “The View” (10 a.m., Channel 7): Guest co-host Jenny McCarthy; Dr. Phil McGraw. “Anderson Live” (1 p.m., Channel 32): Guest co-host Vivica A. Fox; actress Dana Delany. “Steve Harvey” (2 p.m., Channel 5): Bishop T.D. Jakes. “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” (3 p.m., Channel 5): Actor LL Cool J. “Katie” (3 p.m., Channel 7): TV host Vanna White. “The Ricki Lake Show” (3 p.m., Channel 32): Model Amber Rose; model Cindy Crawford; actress …

Wilmette’s Nico Tortorella talks about his fate on ‘The Following’

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 09:48:13 -0500

LORI RACKL: The New Trier grad wishes he could have stayed longer on the Fox drama, which caps off its blood-soaked freshman season Monday.

Monday’s talk shows

Sun, 28 Apr 2013 17:50:00 -0500

“Windy City Live” (9 a.m., Channel 7): Comedian Nora Dunn. “Live With Kelly and Michael” (9 a.m., Channel 9): Actress Lauren Graham. “The View” (10 a.m., Channel 7): Guest co-host Jenny McCarthy; actress Rebel Wilson; musician Fantasia. “Anderson Live” (1 p.m., Channel 32): Guest co-host Marilu Henner. “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” (3 p.m., Channel 5): Actor Vince Vaughn. “Katie” (3 p.m., Channel 7): “Mad Men” stars Jon Hamm, January Jones and Jessica Pare. “The Daily Show With Jon Stewart” (10 p.m., Comedy Central): Actor Jon Hamm. “Conan” (10 p.m., TBS): Actor Brad Garrett; comedian Amy Schumer; music group Old Crow …

CNN stumbles against TV’s instant 24/7 rivals in race to cover Boston Marathon tragedy

Sun, 21 Apr 2013 11:06:03 -0500

LORI RACKL: With virtual round-the-clock coverage of the most popular show on television Friday — “Manhunt” — broadcast networks beat cable news at its own game. CNN struggled the most this week when it came to chronicling the unfolding drama in Boston, but you wouldn’t know that by looking at the ratings.

Canceled ‘All My Children,’ ‘One Life to Live’ reborn online

Thu, 02 May 2013 09:19:37 -0500

Will fans flock back to Pine Valley and Llanview? Those fictional Philadelphia suburbs, home base for former ABC soaps “All My Children” and “One Life to Live,” hope to draw return visitors as the shows migrate online. Both will be available starting Monday in a shortened half-hour weekday format at Hulu and iTunes, from the Prospect Park studio’s Online Network, which licensed the rights to both in 2011 as part of a push into original programming. Many returning cast members, including “OLTL’s” Erika Slezak and Robin Strasser, and “AMC’s” Darnell Williams and Debbi Morgan, will be joined by younger newcomers …

Thursday’s talk shows

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 13:33:44 -0500

“Windy City Live” (9 a.m., Ch.7): Author Steve Santagati; former Chicago Bear Jerry Azuma; radio host Tony Sculfield. “Live With Kelly and Michael” (9 a.m., Ch. 9): Actress Laura Linney; musician Michael Buble. “The View” (10 a.m., Ch. 7): Guest co-host Gretchen Wilson; soap opera actors Vincent Irizarry, Thorsten Kaye and Erika Slezak; musician Carla Bruni. “The Talk” (1 p.m., Ch. 2): Actress Katey Sagal. “Anderson Live” (1 p.m., Ch. 32): Guest co-host Erica Hill; fashion expert Tim Gunn; dog trainer Victoria Stilwell. “Steve Harvey” (2 p.m., Ch. 5): “Sandwich King” Jeff Mauro. “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” (3 p.m., Ch. …

NBC plans a 12-day-long, 24/7 quiz show this fall

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 12:46:16 -0500

NEW YORK — NBC says it’s planning a 12-day-long, around-the-clock competition show to air this fall. The network said Wednesday that the trivia-based game show, “The Million Second Quiz,” will air live in prime time from a specially built studio in the heart of Manhattan. This hourglass-shaped complex will also serve as the living quarters of the four finalists. When the 12 days — or 1 million seconds — draw to a close, the winner could claim a cash prize of as much as $10 million. Viewers will be able to play along in real time and sync to the …

Wednesday’s talk shows

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 12:26:53 -0500

“Live With Kelly and Michael” (9 a.m., Channel 9): Actor Jon Hamm; rapper Snoop Lion. “The View” (10 a.m., Channel 7): Guest co-host Amy Schumer; musicians Steve Martin and Edie Brickell. “The Talk” (1 p.m., Channel 2): Reality TV stars Giuliana and Bill Rancic; TV host Beth Stern. “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” (3 p.m., Channel 5): Actor Dennis Quaid; comedian Kate McKinnon; music group Grizzly Bear. “Katie” (3 p.m., Channel 7): Models Iman, Paulina Porizvoka, and Veronica Webb. “The Daily Show With Jon Stewart” (10 p.m., Comedy Central): Satirist Bassem Youssef. “Conan” (10 p.m., TBS): Comedian Andy Samberg; actor Josh …

Monday’s talk shows

Sun, 21 Apr 2013 20:34:04 -0500

“Live With Kelly and Michael” (9 a.m., Channel 9): Actor Pierce Brosnan; actor Jake Johnson. “The View” (10 a.m., Channel 7): Actor Matthew McConaughey; music group Mary Mary. “The Talk” (1 p.m., Channel 2): Actor Scott Baio. “Anderson Live” (1 p.m., Channel 32): Guest co-host Kelly Osbourne; reality TV star Kandi Burruss. “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” (3 p.m., Channel 5): Actress Jane Lynch; musician Kenny Chesney. “The Daily Show With Jon Stewart” (10 p.m., Comedy Central): Actress Christina Hendricks. “Conan” (10 p.m., TBS): Actor Ryan Gosling; comedian Kevin Hart; musician ZZ Ward. (R) “The Colbert Report” (10:30 p.m., Comedy Central): …

Released inmate adjusts to freedom in engrossing Sundance series ‘Rectify’

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 11:42:55 -0500

LORI RACKL: Inspired by a succession of overturned death sentences in Illinois, the poignant story of a man set free from Death Row comes to life in “Rectify,” the beautifully paced series debuting Monday on Sundance Channel. A sneak peek screening takes place Tuesday at Music Box Theatre.

Thursday’s talk shows

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 02:21:59 -0500

“Windy City Live” (9 a.m., Channel 7): Journalists Bill Kurtis and Walter Jacobson; actress Debbie Allen. “Live With Kelly and Michael” (9 a.m., Channel 9): Guest co-host Carrie Ann Inaba; actor Zac Efron; music group the Jonas Brothers. “The View” (10 a.m., Channel 7): Guest co-host Maria Menounos; actress Jane Seymour; musician Billy Ray Cyrus. “The Talk” (1 p.m., Channel 2): Musician Marie Osmond. (R) “Anderson Live” (1 p.m., Channel 32): Guest co-host Marlon Wayans; actress Bridgete Moynahan. (R) “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” (3 p.m., Channel 5): Actress Jennifer Aniston; actress Jessica Mauboy. “Katie” (3 p.m., Channel 7): Actress Debra …

Wednesday’s talk shows

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 19:38:07 -0500

“Windy City Live” (9 a.m., Channel 7):Actress Julia Sweeney; blogger Andrew Barber. “Live With Kelly and Michael” (9 a.m., Channel 9):Guest co-host Mark Feuerstein; actor Brad Garrett; musician Nick Lachey. “The View” (10 a.m., Channel 7):Guest co-host La La Vasquez Anthony; actor Tom Sizemore; musician Olly Murs. “The Talk” (1 p.m., Channel 2):Guest co-host George Eads; actor Benjamin Bratt. (R) “Anderson Live” (1 p.m., Channel 32):Guest co-hosts Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi and Jenni “JWoww” Farley; actor Matthew Rhys. (R) “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” (3 p.m., Channel 5):“Grown Ups 2” stars Adam Sandler, Chris Rock, Salma Hayek, Maya Rudolph, David Spade and …