Dick Allen, Bud Greenspan, Mike Squires, Brian Baschnagel, Dave Duerson, Ray Meyer, Stan Mikita, Jack Brickhouse, Phil Georgeff-the guest list reads like a roll call of Who`s Who in Sports.
They`ve all appeared with host Paul Reis on ”On the Bench,” a cable show that started less than a year ago as a companion to the radio show of the same name, broadcast weekly on Joliet`s WCCQ.
It doesn`t hurt that Reis and producer John McCartney are part of the Chicago White Sox public relations team, which makes booking high-profile guests relatively easy.
The live show, produced at Triton College in River Grove, typically features a call-in segment allowing viewers to query their sports favorites. That`s followed by a viewer opinion segment, hosted by Dave Wills, which includes man-on-the-street interview clips and a call-in poll.
The show targets ”not just what`s happening in sports now, it`s anything in sports,” McCartney said.
Players, managers, authors and media commentators are among the guests who tackle a wide range of sports-related topics.
A recent episode, on the construction of the new White Sox stadium, opened with vintage clips of Comiskey Park.
”On the Bench” is cablecast live at 8 p.m. Tuesday on the following cable stations: Continental in Northlake, Ch. 10; TCI in Maywood, Ch. 23;
Cablevision of Chicago in Oak Park, Ch. 45; Metrovision, Ch. 6.
The taped version of the show is repeated on these stations at 8 p.m. Thursday.
A taped replay also is shown at 1:30 p.m. Sunday and 6:30 p.m Thursday on TCI in Mt. Prospect Ch. 3 and at 7:30 p.m. Friday and 5 p.m. Sunday on Jones Intercable Ch. 4.
Northwest highlights
– WBBM`s Judy Moen hosts ”Celebrate Life: The Names Project Quilt,” a documentary about a quilt made in memory of AIDS victims (8 p.m. Monday, 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, TCI-Ch. 21).
– High school football features Elk Grove vs. Conant on ”The Game of the Week” (6:30 p.m. Saturday, 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Continental-Ch. 13).
– The original rock music of Private Drive is showcased on ”Shot at Shades” (9 p.m. Friday, Continental-Ch. 13).
– The proposed Elgin-O`Hare Expressway is discussed on a live cablecast of ”Newsmakers Northwest” (7 p.m. Sunday, Continental-Ch. 13).
