View from the WGN anchor desk.

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Jeff Goldblatt answers THE question.

I enjoy getting a chance to talk with viewers when I’m out and about covering stories.  Often, I am asked about Fox Chicago evening anchor Jeff Goldblatt.  The most common question, “How did he get that scar on his chin?”   Today, I found out. And along the way, I learned that many people in the newsroom didn’t know the answer either!

Eek, where'd my earring go?

Somewhere between the Northwest suburbs and downtown Chicago this morning, I lost one of my earrings.  I didn’t notice until just before the News at Noon.  For some reason, I had just one spare pair in my locker and they were too bohemian for the argyle sweater I wore today.

I just went without.  But my Fox Chicago colleagues were happy to weigh-in on my dilemma:

Dr. Oz did a great job and the studio crew loved him.  He even called Patrick’s cell phone to leave a message about co-anchoring with me!  I think it all got Patrick’s Irish up:

My "co-anchor" today, Dr. Oz!

You never know what might happen during a live newscast. Today, I was supposed to anchor Fox Chicago News at Noon by myself.  And Dr. Oz was supposed to come on as a guest. He’s the doctor who now has his own program on Fox after becoming a household name on “The Oprah Winfrey Show”.

Dr. Oz showed up early for his segment.  He’s a great guy – very friendly and at ease with everyone in the studio.  During a commercial break, he plopped down in the chair where Patrick Elwood usually sits so I joked that he should just fill-in as my co-anchor.

The studio crew scrambled to rework the show and before you knew it, he was on the air announcing, “Patrick is sick today so the doctor is in!”  It was great fun to have him join me for two segments of the show.

I asked Dr. Oz if he’s ever considered doing broadcast news.  He was quick to say no but he enjoys television.  His true passion is medicine so his new show allows him to dabble in both.  And still have time to help me out… at least, for today.

I'm wired!

Whenever I wear a dress to anchor a newscast, there is nowhere to clip the units for the remote microphone and IFB (that’s for our earpiece, allowing us to hear the director and/or producer in the control room).  Each pack weighs almost a pound so we need pretty sturdy material to hold them in place.

Years ago, I learned this great trick from other anchors – clip the packs onto an elastic/velcro strap on one of our legs. Then, they can be hidden under the dress.  There are other options – I’ve actually seen anchors have equipment clipped onto their bra straps in back or they wear a belt underneath. But that makes for a pretty lumpy look in back.

The "ugly" accessories.

Since “Good Day Chicago” is on the air for 5 hours, the audio guys have to make sure every mike and IFB pack has new batteries at the start of the show.  With numerous anchors, reporters and guests weaving through every hour, you can imagine what a challenge it can be for the person running the audio board.  The guys we have doing that are great.  I never see them wearing dresses, though.