Chicago Live! is an hour-long stage and radio variety show hosted by Chicago newspaperman and radio personality Rick Kogan.[1] The multi-platform show is produced by the Chicago Tribune in partnership with The Second City and broadcasts on WGN Radio 720-AM Saturday nights at 11 p.m. It is taped in front of a live studio audience. Short, individual segments from each show are distributed in video and podcast format.[2]

Chicago Live!
GenreNews/entertainment, variety show
Running time60 min.
Country of originUnited States
Language(s)English
Home stationWGN Radio
Hosted byRick Kogan
Executive producer(s)Kelly Leonard, Lara Weber
Recording studioChicago, Illinois
Original releaseOctober 2010 –
2013
WebsiteWebsite
PodcastPodcast

History

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Chicago Live! debuted at the Chicago Theatre Downstairs on October 14, 2010, and continued recording and airing in six-week seasons through 2011.[3][4] Chicago Live! performed live in 2011 at the Haymarket Pub & Brewery place.[5] Billy Corgan was a guest on the show in 2011.[6] In November 2011, Chicago Live! announced that it would shift to eight-week seasons in 2012 and move to the Up Comedy Club in Chicago's Old Town neighborhood.[7][8][9] John Conroy was a guest on the show in 2012.[10] Chicago Live! was still active in 2013.[11] In 2013 Kathy and Judy of WGN Radio were guests on the show.[12]

Notable guests have included Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, musician Billy Corgan, former White House Social Secretary Desirèe Rogers, Sesame Street puppet Cookie Monster and rapper Lupe Fiasco.[2]

Lara Weber does the production work for the show.[13]

Format

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As described by host Rick Kogan, the show's mission is to "bring the paper in its wonderful variety on stage."[14]

Each episode of Chicago Live! includes:

  • Interviews with Chicago newsmakers and entertainers
  • Topical comedy from The Second City
  • Almanac segment in which Rick Kogan presents stories, videos around a selected year in Chicago history
  • Performances by Chicago artists and entertainers

Further reading

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  • Feder, Robert (21 November 2011). "Kogan brings life to Chicago Live! as no one else could". Time Out Chicago. Retrieved 30 November 2011.

References

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  1. ^ Janega, James (3 February 2012). "Chicago Live! comes home to Old Town". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved 2021-02-18.
  2. ^ a b "Chicago Live! stage and radio show created by Chicago Tribune and The Second City". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 30 November 2011.
  3. ^ "Chicago Live! Will Return for Second Season". NBC Chicago. 26 January 2011. Retrieved 2021-02-18.
  4. ^ Alfano, Elysabeth; Producer, ContributorExec; Creator; Alfano, Host of The Celebrity Dinner Party with Elysabeth (2011-08-18). "Behind the Scenes With Rick Kogan and Chicago Live!". HuffPost. Retrieved 2021-02-18. {{cite web}}: |first2= has generic name (help)
  5. ^ Newspapers, Rick Kogan, Tribune (24 January 2011). "'Yes sir, Senator'". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved 2021-02-18. You can experience the Haymarket Pub & Brewery place any time you like. It is open for lunch and dinner. Or you might visit this Tuesday, when I will be hosting "Chicago Live! Team Bar Trivia Night" at 7 p.m. I will be joined by Benjamin, Mosqueda and some folks from The Second City. Osgood promises to come too.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  6. ^ Solomon, Sheila. "Interviewing Billy Corgan". capitalgazette.com. Retrieved 2021-02-18.
  7. ^ "'Chicago Live!' moving to new Up Comedy Club". Chicago Tribune. 1 December 2011. section 4, p. 2.
  8. ^ Sidewalks, Rick Kogan's (15 June 2012). "A toast to Earl of Old Town". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved 2021-02-18. "Chicago Live!" is hosted by Kogan and takes place at 7 p.m. Thursday at the UP Comedy Club, 230 W. North Ave., this week with, among many guests, Chicago police Superintendent Garry McCarthy and, as always, the comedy of The Second City.
  9. ^ "Chicago Live! Kicks Off Spring Season Tonight". Gapers Block. Retrieved 2021-02-18.
  10. ^ Wawrzaszek, John. "Author/Journalist John Conroy on Chicago Live!". Gapers Block. Retrieved 2021-02-18.
  11. ^ Wood, Miden. "Chicago Live! Encourages Chicagoans to 'Explore the City'". Gapers Block. Retrieved 2021-02-18.
  12. ^ "Kathy and Judy on Chicago Live!". WGN Radio 720 - Chicago's Very Own. 2013-11-19. Retrieved 2021-02-18.
  13. ^ "Lara Weber joins Tribune editorial board". www.robertfeder.com. Retrieved 2021-02-18. Weber most recently has been the Tribune's events editor, producing the "Chicago Live!" stage series and overseeing other public events under the Trib Nation banner.
  14. ^ Kogan, Rick (10 October 2010). "Lara Weber" (Audio). WGN Radio. Retrieved 30 November 2011.[permanent dead link]
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