Chicago - A message from the station manager

Did Comcast Refuse This Chicago Cannabis Conference Commercial?

By Steve Rhodes

“As the rules for a state medical marijuana pilot program are being finalized, a group of proponents has announced that a cannabis conference will be held in Chicago in June,” the Tribune reports.

“Don’t be shy. It’s OK to talk about marijuana – cannabis,” Amish Parikh, vice president of My Compassion, the Michigan-based nonprofit that is hosting the June 7-8 conference at Navy Pier, said.

But Comcast doesn’t feel the same way, the conference organizers claim.

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Posted on May 28, 2014

Local TV Notes: Beware Sharks And Urban Chickens

Most Of What You See On TV Isn’t True

1. Tribune: A Visual Perspective On Chicagoland.
2. The Truth About Shark Tank.
“Emory University student Kaeya Majmundar survived the ‘sharks’ and secured a deal for her invention during ABC’s Shark Tank on Friday night,” the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
“Majmundar, a rising senior, was featured on the show’s season finale with her ‘BZbox’ invention. The BZbox is billed as a durable, collapsible cardboard packing box that doesn’t require assembly.
“Lori Greiner, the Queen of QVC, agreed to invest $50,000 in BZbox for a 40 percent stake in the company if it can be marketed as a storage box. Greiner also noted that some aspects of the product need improving.
“Majmundar, a Chicago native came up with the idea two years ago when she and her roommate were packing up their dorm room for summer break. Before BZbox, her parents wanted her to become a doctor, she told the television investors.”

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Posted on May 19, 2014

Local TV Notes: Dave Grohl vs. Tamron Hall

Plus: Chicago’s Lizard King

1. “Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl will present and produce his own TV series on HBO, according to a report in Classic Rock magazine,” Jam Bands notes.
“The untitled series will expand on what Grohl set out to do in his Sound City documentary, as the frontman will visit and record at some of the world’s most iconic recording studios.
“In addition to the recording, Grohl will conduct interviews with some of the artists who have recorded at each facility. Studios in consideration include Steve Albini’s Electrical Audio in Chicago.”

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Posted on May 14, 2014

Chicago Newsroom vs. Chicagoland

By Steve Rhodes

In this corner, Chicago Newsroom host Ken Davis, with guests Rick Kogan, Richard Steele, Ray Salazar and Bill Ruthhart.
In that corner, Mark Konkol, Marc Levin and Chicagoland.
Not even close.

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Posted on May 2, 2014