Comcast SportsNet Chicago analyst Kendall Gill, a former Chicago Bulls player, has been suspended from the station following an altercation with another on-air analyst Tuesday. Gill approached Tim Doyle following a panel discussion during a taping of “Sports Talk Live,” according to Danny Ecker of Crain’s Chicago Business, who participated in the panel and witnessed the incident:

Mr. Gill confronted Mr. Doyle in the newsroom over critical comments he had made on the air about Mr. Gill’s analysis of the controversial final moments of Monday’s Chicago Bulls-Denver Nuggets game. The referees ruled that what at first appeared to be a last-second basket by the Bulls would not be allowed, thus giving the win to the Nuggets.

Mr. Gill approached Mr. Doyle and called him out for his comments, which escalated to a shoving match and ultimately Mr. Gill throwing a punch at Mr. Doyle. The two bumped up against a sign on the wall and a small amount of blood was drawn (though it was unclear exactly how) before the two were separated.

“We’re looking further into the incident that took place in our newsroom earlier today,” said CSN Chicago news director Kevin Cross in a statement late last night. “Until the investigation is complete, Kendall Gill will not be appearing on our air.”

David Doebler has been named president and general manager of WMAQ, the NBC-owned station in Chicago. His appointment is effective immediately, the station announced Tuesday.

It is a move within NBC for Doebler, who has been president and general manager of NBC-owned WVIT in Hartford-New Haven since 2005.

“David has done a great job strengthening the competitive position of NBC Connecticut,” NBC Owned Stations president Valari Staab said in a statement. “With his leadership abilities, local broadcast experience and record of success, I am confident he has the right skills to steer WMAQ as the station continues its forward progress.”

Before joining WVIT, Doebler was the president and general manager for WVTM in Birmingham, which was an NBC O&O during his time there. He has also worked as the vice president of creative services and sales for WNCN, the former NBC O&O in Raleigh-Durham.

“I could not be more honored to join WMAQ and to work with the very talented team at the station to continue the tremendous momentum in the market,” Doebler said.

Doebler replaces Larry Wert, who left WMAQ for Tribune last month.

The morning news team at Chicago CW affiliate WGN has a message for newscasters everywhere: don’t use air time to take care of personal matters (video after the jump).

On Tuesday’s newscast, weathercaster Paul Konrad said he has a “sickness” when he sees newscasters use “precious TV time for their personal stuff,” citing a Huntsville anchor who got engaged live on the WZDX weekend newscast Saturday. Konrad asked his fellow newscasters if there was anything personal they wanted to get out so they could get on with the newscast.

“To everyone in my apartment building, I don’t want to talk about the weather on the elevator anymore, okay?” Pat Tomasulo responded. “I’m the sports guy, not the weather guy.”

“I’d like to say to my mother: stop trying to tell me that I look good in hats and capri pants,” Robin Baumgarten said. “Neither one is going to happen for me.”

So we’re putting it to you: is it acceptable for newscasters to address personal matters on the air occasionally? Vote below.

Read more

Chicago anchor and reporter Marty McNeeley, who worked on-air for WGN’s 9:00 p.m. news in the 1970s and 80s and was host of the station’s “Creature Features” show, has died.

McNeeley was born in Youngstown, OH, and worked in radio and TV in Cleveland, Detroit and, after leaving Chicago, at ABC Radio in New York.

A station spokesperson told the Chicago Sun-Times McNeeley died of complications from Alzheimer’s at the age of 86.

Two years ago, WGN reporter Marcella Raymond reached viral fame by taking out a nine-year-old kid while sledding down a hill in one of her reports. This week, she got back on a sled and took another shot, this time on live TV.

“The last time I did this, I just have to say, and they run this video all the time,” said the reporter for Chicago’s CW affiliate. “I took out a nine-year-old. So I’m going to try not to do that this time.”

Raymond made it down the hill safely. Though, this attempt seemed to lack the drama of the last attempt. But Raymond seemed pleased. “That’s awesome!” said Raymond. “And I didn’t kill myself.  I’m here and I didn’t hurt anybody!”

You can see the video of her taking out the kid after the jump. Read more

Robin Baumgarten, morning anchor for Chicago CW affiliate WGN found it difficult to hide her disgust and later, laughter, after co-anchor Larry Potash made his way through a story about a woman in Oklahoma who tried to conceal a gun from police in a delicate area.

During the story neither Potash nor Chris Ross, Pontotoc County,OK, District Attorney specifically mentioned where the woman was hiding the gun, but a shot of a police document in the video show a document that reads, “Gun located inside vagina.” What may be more disturbing to TVSpy is lower on the document it reads, “Loaded with three live rounds and one spent shell.”

In response to the visibly disgusted Baumgarten, Potash said, “The old caboose pistol, everybody has one.” Which caused Baumgarten to laugh-talk back, “Did you just say, ‘caboose pistol’? We’ll leave the reporting of rest of the witty banter to you if you care to view the video after the jump. Read more

WPWR, the Fox-owned MyNetworkTV affiliate in Chicago, will be the official television broadcast partner of the Chicago Fire Soccer Club for the 2013 season.

“The Fire is coming off a successful 2012 season and we are looking forward to providing our viewers all the live action throughout the coming season. Partnering with the Fire is just another example of My50’s commitment to bringing appointment local programming to Chicago area viewers,” WPWR-WFLD general manager Dennis Welsh said in a statement.

The Fire will televise up to 23 matches live on the station this season. Dan Kelly and Kevin Egan will provide the play-by-play analysis for the broadcasts.

Jae Miller, reporter for Chicago CW affiliate WGN and cable news channel CLTV, is leaving to become the spokesperson for the Illinois Department of Transportation.

Miller told Time Out Chicago‘s Robert Feder, “I am excited to embark upon this wonderful opportunity with IDOT. The agency continues to move forward with cutting-edge ideas and initiatives. I am thrilled to be able to apply the skills I obtained during my tenure in television news to this challenging role.”

Before joining CLTV in 2008, Miller worked at WDJT in Milwaukee and WHBF in Quad Cities. She began working full-time for WGN in 2009. Her first day with IDOT will be one week from Monday on March 11.

Anchor legends Bill Kurtis and Walter Jacobson will sign off from the Chicago CBS owned station WBBM for the final time Thursday.

“I think we’ve benefited more than CBS,” Kurtis told Time Out Chicago‘s Robert Feder. “What fun to relive the best years of your life. Walter and I started co-anchoring in 1973. I was 33. He was 36 or 37, I think. Now we’re over 70.”

In their first run with WBBM, the two anchored the 10:00 pm. news from 1973 until 1982. They then returned to the Chicago station in 2010. They announced their most recent departure in August last year, handing the reins of their 6:00 p.m. newscast to Rob Johnson and Kate Sullivan. Read more

Tom Doerr has been named vice president and news director at WFLD, the Fox O&O in Chicago.

“Tom has a fresh approach to local news and an ability to recognize meaningful stories within a community. He is an exceptional leader, with a natural news instinct and a proven track record of success and we are excited to welcome him to our station,” WFLD VP-GM Dennis Welsh said in a statement.

Doerr comes from another Fox O&O, KRIV in Houston, where he has been vice president and news director since 2009. Before that, he spent three years as vice president and station manager of WFOR, the CBS O&O in Miami.

“There is no news town quite like Chicago; there is always something vibrant and exciting happening in this city.  I look forward to leading the talented team of committed journalists at FOX 32 in providing interesting and valuable news to viewers,” Doerr said.

Doerr replaces Phyllis Schwartz, who left WFLD in December.