Pool Party

Credit Robert Feder in today's Sun-Times for breaking the story of WMAQ's Amy Jacobson taking her two children (ages 3 and 2) to swim in the backyard pool of Craig Stebic, estranged husband of the missing Lisa Stebic. According to the story, the purportedly married Jacobson took to the water in a two piece swimsuit while a WBBM camera caught the highjinks on tape from a neighboring yard. Feder writes that Jacobson was told to "get a lawyer." I'll go further and advise her to get a moving van, a real estate agent and a spruced up resume because this sounds like a wrap for the Pride of Mount Prospect.

At the time of this post, Amy Jacobson's profile on the WMAQ website was the most popular page on that site.

Shot Through the Heart

So, no sooner do we cheer the return of Bruce Wolf to morning TV, does WMAQ pull the rug out from under Barely Today. As reported by the Sun-Times' Robert Feder, Bruce is being "reassigned to sports anchoring and reporting duties." That is so weak. The show was really entertaining. Too bad Bruce and Ellee cannot take over for the frauds in New York at 7 am.

The People's Champ

Robert Feder continues his Pulitzer-level coverage of the sacking of Bruce Wolf. In today's Sun Times, he reprints notes from fans (and enemies) of Bruce. You can read Feder's column here. Clearly, viewer sentiment backs Bruce.

The authors of JFBW ride for the Sun Times, but our man Teddy Greenstein came through with the Tribune's investigation into this matter. His column can be found by clicking this link. TGreens suggests that Bruce's firing was motivated by Channel 32's interest in cost cutting. If that is the case, you would think that they would have looked at some of the fungible, non-spectacular talent on staff (e.g., Corey "Don't Call Me Bobby" McPherrin, the only Chicago sportscaster giving Jack Nicholson's Joker a run for his money in the perpetual grin department).

Although neither Bruce nor WFLD have discussed this matter publicly, one thing is clear: new WFLD news director Andrew Finlayson is emerging as the villain here. If TGreens' money motive turns out to be true, it would not square with the "we need to spend more money to make better newscasts" attitude Finlayson originally brought to WFLD.

Sun Times Covers Brucegate

Robert Feder's column in today's Sun Times covered WFLD's cowardice. You can read his article by following this link.