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Mark Suppelsa to Alcohol Rehab
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Author:  cpguy [ Fri May 04, 2012 10:34 pm ]
Post subject:  Mark Suppelsa to Alcohol Rehab
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.”
Author:  Swingandalongonetoright [ Fri May 04, 2012 10:41 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Mark Suppelsa to Alcohol Rehab
Scotchy Scotch Scotch.
Author:  Beardown [ Fri May 04, 2012 10:43 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Mark Suppelsa to Alcohol Rehab
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.
Author:  beni hanna [ Fri May 04, 2012 10:45 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Mark Suppelsa to Alcohol Rehab
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
Author:  Drop In [ Fri May 04, 2012 10:47 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Mark Suppelsa to Alcohol Rehab
beni hanna wrote:
Wow. He was supposed to be the morning show today talking about his daughter. Didn't make it. Larry made a light hearted joke about him booting last night. Oops.

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


I suggested Virginia McCaskey was unaware the Bears had signed Julius Peppers.
Author:  beni hanna [ Fri May 04, 2012 10:50 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Mark Suppelsa to Alcohol Rehab
Who is that new stallion?
Author:  Big Chicagoan [ Sat May 05, 2012 9:20 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Mark Suppelsa to Alcohol Rehab
This deserves a shoutout.
Author:  Ed_from_Lisle [ Sat May 05, 2012 9:34 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Mark Suppelsa to Alcohol Rehab
If he hasn't left yet, maybe Suppelsa can present the ball for game 5 at the UC.
Author:  spmack [ Sat May 05, 2012 10:32 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Mark Suppelsa to Alcohol Rehab
Ed_from_Lisle wrote:
If he hasn't left yet, maybe Suppelsa can present the ball for game 5 at the UC.

:lol:
Author:  Telegram Sam [ Sat May 05, 2012 11:58 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Mark Suppelsa to Alcohol Rehab
There is seriously a TV station in Green Bay called WFRV-TV? That must have been awesome. Until it wasn't.
Author:  Curious Hair [ Sat May 05, 2012 1:00 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Mark Suppelsa to Alcohol Rehab
Don't worry, it's for "Fox River Valley" and predates his tenure. I feared the worst at first, though.
Author:  T-Bone [ Mon May 07, 2012 7:10 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Mark Suppelsa to Alcohol Rehab
Big Chicagoan wrote:
This deserves a shoutout.


This. Takes courage to check yourself in. Most have to be pressured by family or friends
or have something really bad happen to them.
Author:  rogers park bryan [ Mon May 07, 2012 8:35 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Mark Suppelsa to Alcohol Rehab
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
Author:  good dolphin [ Mon May 07, 2012 4:10 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Mark Suppelsa to Alcohol Rehab
T-Bone wrote:
Big Chicagoan wrote:
This deserves a shoutout.


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


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.
Author:  Hatchetman [ Mon May 07, 2012 4:12 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Mark Suppelsa to Alcohol Rehab
good dolphin wrote:
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.


DING!
DANG!
DENG!
Author:  Brick [ Mon May 07, 2012 4:20 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Mark Suppelsa to Alcohol Rehab
Telegram Sam wrote:
There is seriously a TV station in Green Bay called WFRV-TV? That must have been awesome. Until it wasn't.
Don't let your kids watch it after 10pm.
Author:  good dolphin [ Mon May 07, 2012 4:27 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Mark Suppelsa to Alcohol Rehab
Boilermaker Rick wrote:
Telegram Sam wrote:
There is seriously a TV station in Green Bay called WFRV-TV? That must have been awesome. Until it wasn't.
Don't let your kids watch it after 10pm.


You should see what the broadcast in place of "The Christmas Log" late night on Christmas Eve
Author:  T-Bone [ Tue May 08, 2012 7:47 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Mark Suppelsa to Alcohol Rehab
good dolphin wrote:
T-Bone wrote:
Big Chicagoan wrote:
This deserves a shoutout.


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


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.


I don't doubt there is a possibility they could be spinning it that way.
Author:  rogers park bryan [ Tue May 08, 2012 7:48 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Mark Suppelsa to Alcohol Rehab
Boilermaker Rick wrote:
Telegram Sam wrote:
There is seriously a TV station in Green Bay called WFRV-TV? That must have been awesome. Until it wasn't.
Don't let your kids watch it after 10pm.

Thought for sure you would go with

"It should be WCHK-TV"
Author:  Douchebag [ Tue May 08, 2012 9:05 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Mark Suppelsa to Alcohol Rehab
Beardown wrote:
I wonder if Mac's move prompted Suppelsa to do the same. I wouldn't be surprised.

Mark Suppelsa probably doesn't even know who Mac is.
Author:  Brick [ Tue May 08, 2012 9:06 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Mark Suppelsa to Alcohol Rehab
Telegram Sam wrote:
There is seriously a TV station in Green Bay called WFRV-TV? That must have been awesome. Until it wasn't.
They should change it to WCHK-TV.
Author:  SHARK [ Tue May 08, 2012 12:49 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Mark Suppelsa to Alcohol Rehab
Telegram Sam wrote:
There is seriously a TV station in Green Bay called WFRV-TV? That must have been awesome. Until it wasn't.

I think it's the CBS affiliate up there in Green Bay now.
Author:  Firefox [ Fri May 18, 2012 6:54 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Mark Suppelsa to Alcohol Rehab
Drinky!
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