Plus: Blackhawks vs. Dateline; Ralph Covert vs. Time

1. This Guitar Kills Time.
“Chicago musician Ralph Covert is into puppets,” Chloe Riley writes for DNAinfo Chicago. “Especially ones down with time travel.

“You find yourself talking to the puppets. I’m putting my arms around them and I’m like, ‘They are my friends,'” said the Grammy-nominated musician.

“Covert, the leader of the kids-music group Ralph’s World, recently shot a TV pilot with some animal puppets for what he hopes will become his first television series, Time Machine Guitar, in which he travels back in time, meets historical figures and rocks his socks off. He calls it a ‘rock ‘n’ roll Mister Roger’s Neighborhood.’
“And if PBS picks up the pilot – which aired last weekend on WTTW Channel 11 – the show could begin shooting as early as fall.”
Click through for the rest of the story and a couple of videos.

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Posted on May 31, 2013

A Little Late, But Welcome Aboard!

The president appears to have lost pretty much everybody but the most diehard Kool-Aid drinkers. Stewart has been going after him mercilessly this week. To wit:

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Posted on May 24, 2013

By Steve Rhodes

While Rahm Emanuel was caught blatantly dodging questions from CBS News in Sunday night’s The War in Chicago, Chicago’s police chief was caught in a blatant contradiction of his own making.
Here are the key passages, edited for clarity and concision.
“Porche Foster and Hadiya Pendleton never met, but both fell victim to Chicago’s merciless street violence.
“Porche was shot last November, when – as with Hadiya two months later – a gunman opened fire on her and other teenagers who were standing around talking.
“The lives of both 15-year-olds have been frozen in time. Neither girl will go to a prom, go to college or get married and have her own children.
“But that is where the similarities end. It is as if Porche and Hadiya died in a city with two very different police departments: one for high-profile cases, the other for almost everyone else.

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Posted on May 21, 2013

Makes, Breaks Promise In Matter Of Minutes

On Saturday night, CBS’s 48 Hours broadcast “The War In Chicago,” described by the network thusly:
“An exclusive investigation inside the DEA’s battle to win the war on Chicago’s streets. Drugs, gangs and gun violence are killing hundreds a year. Innocent children are caught in the crossfire.”
As well as questioning police chief Garry McCarthy and following the exploits of local DEA chief Jack Riley, CBS spent a lot of time with the parents of Hadiya Pendleton in what were the most heartbreaking portions of the show.
And Rahm Emanuel couldn’t be bothered. This scene – captured on video – was played with about seven minutes left in the program:
“For months, 48 Hours tried to get Mayor Rahm Emanuel to sit down and talk about the drugs, gangs and street violence effecting his city, and how he plans to sustain the current level of police protection as the summer months approach.
“But he refused. So 48 Hours went to a press conference at City Hall:

Armen Keteyian: Hello, Mr. Mayor. I’m Armen Keteyian from CBS News in New York, I’d like to start on a different topic . . .
Mayor Rahm Emanuel: Wait a second . . . I’ll get to you in a second, okay . . . I promise I’ll answer your questions . . . okay . . .

“But he did not. After taking 15 minutes of questions on other topics, he turned and left the room.”
You can see it for yourself here – just jump ahead to the 35:23 mark:

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Posted on May 20, 2013

Plus: Elvis Day 1987

1. Duh.
“Can you pay a public relations firm to make you a relationship expert on TV, such the Oprah Winfrey Network or CNN? Uh, no.”
“But that doesn’t prevent an Illinois PR firm from trying to convince hopefuls that a hefty fee will land them a casting call and an appearance on national shows such as Oprah Winfrey, Tyra Banks, Rachael Ray, Today and CNN,” the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.
Click through to see how the scam works – or doesn’t.

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Posted on May 14, 2013

Plus: Chicago Goes To The UK

1. Shark Tank Casting Call.
Today at the Shedd.
See also: The Chicago Shark.
2. Robert Redford’s Series On Chicago Looks Like A Wank.
“The vibrant culture and opportunities inherent in this 21st century, world-class city run alongside profound daily challenges,” Redford said in a statement.
“Much of it falls on the shoulders of its tough, visionary mayor, his team and people doing heroic work in neighborhoods throughout the city. Chicago has always had a rhythm all its own. It’s a city that wears its heart on its sleeve and I am honored to be a part of telling this story.”
Gross.

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Posted on May 9, 2013

By CAN TV

Interested in producing your own show but not sure where to start? Come get a behind-the-scenes look at our studios and take the first step towards being a part of CAN TV.
Saturday, May 11 at 11 a.m. at CAN TV, 322 S. Green St. It’s free!
Can’t make it Saturday? CAN TV holds free orientation sessions to introduce Chicago residents to the opportunities available at CAN TV.
Sessions are held at 322 South Green Street and do not require a reservation. Please be prompt. There is no admittance once the session starts.
Bring a photo ID with proof of city of Chicago street address, or a letter on organizational letterhead authorizing you to represent a nonprofit group based in the city of Chicago.
To reserve a spot in the Introduction to Video Production class place a $25 deposit after the orientation session.
Orientation Dates
Saturday, May 11, 11 a.m.
Wednesday, May 22 5:45 p.m.
Saturday, June 8 11 a.m.
Wednesday, June 26 5:45 p.m.
For more information about training schedules call (312) 738-1400.

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Posted on May 7, 2013

Illinois Consumer Coalition Thinks So

“Despite a slowdown in the number of customers paying for cable and high-speed Internet subscriptions, Comcast reported a 17.4 percent increase in net income, to $1.44 billion, in the three months that ended March 31,” the New York Times reports.
“The solid earnings announced on Wednesday were partly the result of higher cable bills for 72 percent of Comcast’s subscribers.”
That squares with an analysis by the Keep Us Connected coalition, which recently released this statement in opposition to proposed changes to the Illinois Cable Act:

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Posted on May 3, 2013