Jerry Springer, the man who’s given TV talk shows their share of controversial topics, has a chance to create more controversy with commentaries he’ll deliver on WMAQ-Ch. 5 newscasts in May.
“We’ve known a lot about Jerry long before his talk shows,” station Prez and General Manager Lyle Banks told us, referring to Springer’s award-winning work as a TV anchor and commentator in Cincinnati. “He’s been wanting to get back to that, a side of him most people have not seen.”
What about the station’s credibility? Station VP Joel Cheatwood “and I both feel that news is about a diversity of perspectives, and social commentary adds to that. It’s not as if Jerry will be actually anchoring,” said Banks. No word on where Springer’s country-western singing career fits in the picture.
Saying hello: INC. hears a civic, black-tie welcome for new Chicago Archbishop Francis George, with City Hall throwing its full weight into the event, is set for May 10 at the Chicago Hilton & Towers. ComEd’s Jim O’Connor and wife Ellen co-chair with Rev. Ken Velo.
Wit’s world: Mike Myers, son of Liverpool-born parents, avowed hockey/Peter Sellers/ Burt Bacharach/Beatles freak, Second City vet, mastermind behind “Wayne’s World,” and the star/writer/producer of the secret agent spoof “Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery” stopped in Chicago Wednesday. And while the movie (Demi Moore’s a producer, he plays Austin Powers and Dr. Evil) was the focus of his visit, the visit proved sentimental for the Canadian-born actor. During a Blackhawks-Maple Leafs game here, Myers caught a puck and met his wife Robin Ruzan. Really. More:
– The movie with Elizabeth Hurley, he says, is a love story with his hairy-chested Austin character “modeled after Sean Connery–half man, half beast.”
– There was some stunt work (it involved double-sided tape and some almost-nude scenes), but that was easy compared to the skating lessons he took during a yearlong hiatus from Hollywood.
Whoops: State Rep Kurt Granberg (D-Carlyle), assistant minority leader, was nailed for DUI late Saturday in the vicinity of a late-night Springfield watering hole. Since Granberg’s an outspoken foe of Secretary of State George Ryan’s proposal for a stricter blood-alcohol content, we can only wonder how this affects his stance.
Stop the presses: Gov. Jim Edgar and Mayor Richard Daley agreeing on a Chicago airport issue? Yep. They may battle over Midway and Peotone, but they’ve signed on as co-chairs of the Midwest-Asia Aviation Coalition, a group lobbying for increased non-stop service between O’Hare and Japan.
Tea leaves: Message to state Sen. Peter Fitzgerald: Illinois Comptroller Loleta Didrickson hasn’t said if she’ll challenge you for the GOP nod for U.S. senator, but she’s tossing a $250-per-plate funder Thursday at Gibson’s, and the money cannot be used in a Senate campaign. Draw your own conclusion.
Memories: Fred Hoffmann transforms the lounge at his Magnum’s restaurant into Faces Thursday with a benefit that’ll feature Cathy Core’s Luvabulls in routines they’ll do during Bulls’ playoff games. . . . Jay’s, a Rush Street staple, celebrates 32 years in business with a two-day party May 6-7.
Passages: Here’s an amusing note, on Thursday, both Mayor Richard M. Daley and Barbra Streisand celebrate their 55th birthday (but not together). For good measure, Shirley MacLaine is marking her 63rd (or is she?). Eric Bogosian’s a mere kid at 44.
Sweetness: They’d planned to hand out 91 cinnamon rolls Friday morning at the Belmont “L” stop, a salute to Ann Sather’s hospitality, baking and 91st birthday on Sunday. Ann even considered traveling here from her Michigan home for the event. Sadly, she died Wednesday. Tom Tunney, the man who took over the restaurant years ago, plans to carry on with the a.m. event: “Now we’ll celebrate her life.”
