Chicago Live!

{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}

{{Infobox radio show

| show_name = Chicago Live!

| format = News/entertainment, variety show

| record_location = Chicago, Illinois

| runtime = 60 min.

| executive_producer = Kelly Leonard, Lara Weber

| presenter = Rick Kogan

| country = United States

| language = English

| home_station = WGN Radio

| first_aired = October 2010

| last_aired = 2013

|website = [http://www.chicagotribune.com/about/chicagolive Website]

|podcast = [http://www.chicagotribune.com/about/chicagolive/podcast Podcast]

|image=File:Chicago_Live_Cover_Art.png}}

Chicago Live! is an hour-long stage and radio variety show hosted by Chicago newspaperman and radio personality Rick Kogan.{{Cite web|last=Janega|first=James|title=Chicago Live! comes home to Old Town|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-chicago-live-with-sara-paretsky-fr-tom-hurley-jonathon-brandmeier-and-the-congregation-20120203-story.html|access-date=2021-02-18|website=chicagotribune.com|date=3 February 2012 }} 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.{{cite web|title=Chicago Live! stage and radio show created by Chicago Tribune and The Second City|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/about/chicagolive/|publisher=Chicago Tribune|accessdate=30 November 2011}}

History

Chicago Live! debuted at the Chicago Theatre Downstairs on October 14, 2010, and continued recording and airing in six-week seasons through 2011.{{Cite web|title=Chicago Live! Will Return for Second Season|url=https://www.nbcchicago.com/local/chicago-live-will-return-for-second-season/1909726/|access-date=2021-02-18|website=NBC Chicago|date=26 January 2011 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web|last1=Alfano|first1=Elysabeth|last2=Producer|first2=ContributorExec|last3=Creator|last4=Alfano|first4=Host of The Celebrity Dinner Party with Elysabeth|date=2011-08-18|title=Behind the Scenes With Rick Kogan and Chicago Live!|url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/behind-the-scenes-chicago-live_b_929469|access-date=2021-02-18|website=HuffPost|language=en}} Chicago Live! performed live in 2011 at the Haymarket Pub & Brewery place.{{Cite web|last=Newspapers|first=Rick Kogan, Tribune|title='Yes sir, Senator'|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/lifestyles/ct-xpm-2011-01-24-ct-sun-0123-sidewalks-haymarket-20110124-story.html|access-date=2021-02-18|website=chicagotribune.com|date=24 January 2011 |language=en-US|quote=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.}} Billy Corgan was a guest on the show in 2011.{{Cite web|last=Solomon|first=Sheila|title=Interviewing Billy Corgan|url=https://www.capitalgazette.com/chi-billy-corgan-on-chicago-live-20110722-story.html|access-date=2021-02-18|website=capitalgazette.com|language=en-US}} 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.{{cite news |title='Chicago Live!' moving to new Up Comedy Club |newspaper=Chicago Tribune |at=section 4, p. 2 |date=1 December 2011 }}{{Cite web|last=Sidewalks|first=Rick Kogan's|title=A toast to Earl of Old Town|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/ct-xpm-2012-06-15-ct-ae-0617-kogan-sidewalks-20120615-story.html|access-date=2021-02-18|website=chicagotribune.com|date=15 June 2012 |language=en-US|quote="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.}}{{Cite web|title=Chicago Live! Kicks Off Spring Season Tonight|url=http://gapersblock.com/ac/2012/05/10/chicago-live-kicks-off-spring-season-tonight/|access-date=2021-02-18|website=Gapers Block}} John Conroy was a guest on the show in 2012.{{Cite web|last=Wawrzaszek|first=John|title=Author/Journalist John Conroy on Chicago Live!|url=http://gapersblock.com/bookclub/2012/05/23/authorjournalist_john_conroy_on_chicago_live/|access-date=2021-02-18|website=Gapers Block}} Chicago Live! was still active in 2013.{{Cite web|last=Wood|first=Miden|title=Chicago Live! Encourages Chicagoans to 'Explore the City'|url=http://gapersblock.com/bookclub/2013/06/13/chicago_live_encourages_chicagoans_to_explore_the_city/|access-date=2021-02-18|website=Gapers Block}} In 2013 Kathy and Judy of WGN Radio were guests on the show.{{Cite web|date=2013-11-19|title=Kathy and Judy on Chicago Live!|url=https://wgnradio.com/wgn-radio/kathy-and-judy-on-chicago-live-2/|access-date=2021-02-18|website=WGN Radio 720 - Chicago's Very Own|language=en-US}}

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.

Lara Weber does the production work for the show.{{Cite web|title=Lara Weber joins Tribune editorial board|url=https://www.robertfeder.com/2015/03/23/lara-weber-joins-tribune-editorial-board/|access-date=2021-02-18|website=www.robertfeder.com|quote=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.}}

Format

As described by host Rick Kogan, the show's mission is to "bring the paper in its wonderful variety on stage."{{cite web|last=Kogan|first=Rick|title=Lara Weber|url=http://www.wgnradio.com/shows/sundaypapers/uncut/wgnam-lara-weber-chicago-live,0,1377842.mp3file|publisher=WGN Radio|accessdate=30 November 2011|format=Audio|date=10 October 2010}}{{dead link|date=August 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

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

  • {{cite web |last=Feder |first= Robert |title=Kogan brings life to Chicago Live! as no one else could |url=http://timeoutchicago.com/arts-culture/chicago-media-blog/15031135/kogan-brings-life-to-%E2%80%98chicago-live%E2%80%99-%E2%80%94-as-no-one-else-could |date=21 November 2011 |work=Time Out Chicago |accessdate=30 November 2011}}

References

{{Reflist}}