WGN’s Suppelsa steps aside for alcohol rehab

Posted in Robert Feder | Chicago Media blog by Robert Feder on May 4, 2012 at 10:00pm

Veteran Chicago newsman Mark Suppelsa surprised friends and colleagues Friday with a public announcement that he was entering an alcohol recovery program.

Saying he was sure the news would be “a stunner for some or all,” Suppelsa, 49, disclosed that he would be taking a month off as principal news anchor at WGN-Channel 9 to admit himself to the Hazelden Addiction Treatment Center in Minnesota. Effective immediately, he was off the 5 and 9pm newscasts he anchors for the Tribune Co.-owned station.

“Simply put, I have been abusing alcohol at the end of my work day as my family slept. It was my secret and I became very accomplished at hiding it,” Suppelsa wrote in an open letter to colleagues. “I do my best to function at a high level and I know that it is my responsibility to correct anything that potentially interferes with my family or my work.”

Even some of Suppelsa’s closest friends expressed surprise at his admission. “I have never been aware of any problem,” said his longtime agent, attorney Todd Musburger, who praised Suppelsa for what he called “a very courageous act on his part.”

Marty Wilke, vice president and general manager of WGN, said in a statement posted on the station’s website: "We are supportive of Mark's efforts to deal with this issue and look forward to his return. We, and he, appreciate the support from our viewers." The station said there was no single event that prompted his action.

Suppelsa’s announcement came at the end of a particularly productive and rewarding week. In addition to anchoring his regular newscasts, Suppelsa was the lead reporter on a major investigative series involving City Hall pensions, which had him making appearances on a variety of radio stations and on public television.

A Chicago television news star for two decades, Suppelsa spent 10 years at NBC 5 and five years at Fox Chicago before joining WGN in 2008. A graduate of Lincoln-Way Central High School in southwest suburban New Lenox and Marquette University, he previously worked at KSTP-TV in Minneapolis and WFRV-TV in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

Here is the full text of Suppelsa’s message to colleagues:

“I want to share with you something I'm about to do. I'm going to be blunt here because that's my nature and because we're in a business where we seek the truth and it would be wrong of me not to be frank at this moment.

“I'm driving soon with my family to Hazelden in Minnesota where they'll drop me off for a month long alcohol recovery program. I have felt for some time that this would become necessary and I've now crossed a bridge in my life where I want and need to do this.

“It's my choice. No one is forcing me to do it.

“Simply put, I have been abusing alcohol at the end of my work day as my family slept. It was my secret and I became very accomplished at hiding it. I do my best to function at a high level and I know that it is my responsibility to correct anything that potentially interferes with my family or my work.

“With management's blessing, I plan to return next month once again ready for action to continue the valuable and important work that all of you are involved with. Thanks for absorbing this news which I'm sure will be a stunner for some or all. See you in June.”

Scotchy Scotch Scotch.

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fock this club. I should manayer.

I wonder if Mac's move prompted Suppelsa to do the same. I wouldn't be surprised.

Maybe Mac has started a trend. You watch. We're gonna see a march to rehab from a lot of Chicago's media people.

Mac is a hero. He saved them all. One small step for Mac, one giant leap for Chicago media kind.

Wow. He was supposed to be on the morning show today talking about his daughter. Didn't make it. Larry made a light hearted joke about him boozing last night. Oops.

What was your worst on air blunder Chicago? Light em up.


Edit: McCracken rule

I suggested Virginia McCaskey was unaware the Bears had signed Julius Peppers.

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Who is that new stallion?

This deserves a shoutout.

If he hasn't left yet, maybe Suppelsa can present the ball for game 5 at the UC.

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There is seriously a TV station in Green Bay called WFRV-TV? That must have been awesome. Until it wasn't.

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I don't remember half the time if I'm hiding or I'm lost

Don't worry, it's for "Fox River Valley" and predates his tenure. I feared the worst at first, though.

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This. Takes courage to check yourself in. Most have to be pressured by family or friends
or have something really bad happen to them.

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Flew too close to the sun on wings of pastrami

He reccommended his daughter's singing and was pimping her album last friday


Was that the booze talking?

Because Im about to steal her CD from Best Buy

I may be a cynic but my bullshit reader is hitting deep brown with this official story.

Late night drinking alone usually leads to late night drinking not alone which leads to the alcohol made me do it and I'll go to rehab rather than have my fortune cut in half.

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O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

DING!
DANG!
DENG!

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Reality is your friend, not your enemy. -- Seacrest

Don't let your kids watch it after 10pm.

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

You should see what the broadcast in place of "The Christmas Log" late night on Christmas Eve

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O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

I don't doubt there is a possibility they could be spinning it that way.

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Flew too close to the sun on wings of pastrami

Thought for sure you would go with

"It should be WCHK-TV"

Mark Suppelsa probably doesn't even know who Mac is.

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They should change it to WCHK-TV.

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

I think it's the CBS affiliate up there in Green Bay now.

Drinky!