North-Jiggetts show debuts: First impressions
1/12/2009 Chicago Business
Got to experience what it is like to wake up with Mike North this morning. All I can say is that I feel sorry for his wife, BeBe.

Just a joke, Mike.

The assignment was to view Mr. North and Dan Jiggett's new show, "Monsters in the Morning," which airs weekdays from 6-9 a.m. on Comcast SportsNet.

Now, this will be first impressions more than a review. To be fair, new shows take time to develop and hit their stride. A morning program isn't like a Broadway play or a concert. It is going to evolve. What you saw today isn't going to be the same as what you'll see from "Monsters" six months or even a year from now.

Also, I took in all three hours. Only Mr. North's mother and people with nothing to do will watch the show wire to wire. Most people will sample 15-20 minutes tops while getting ready for work. The experience is much different that way.

Having said that, when Mr. North said early on, "We've got 2 hours, 55 minutes to go," I definitely braced myself for a long morning.

Here are some of my first impressions:

The legendary rock group Chicago did the opening theme, inserting "Monster" lyrics to the music of its song "Old Days." It is a nice touch for us old-timers, but I couldn't help but wonder if it will resonate with the younger viewers?

Mr. North opened by noting his partnership with Mr. Jiggetts at WSCR. "So we took a little bit of a break, what's the big deal?"

The attire of the hosts definitely is casual. Mr. Jiggetts wore a dark sweater, while Mr. North had a vintage White Sox T-shirt that said Chicago on it. I have the same one. Hey, Mike, did you get yours at Nordstrom too?

Mr. North said, "Mom, I'm on TV wearing a T-shirt in the morning."

The first hour was a bit slow, as the hosts seemed bent on taking care of title sponsor NextStep Medical Staffing. There was a long interview with the company's CEO David Hernandez.

Mr. North said he is going to tone down his act a bit for television. However, when Mr. Hernandez presented him with NextStep attire, Mr. North said, "We have an examination for the (female) interns after the show."

Mr. Jiggetts said, "Easy, easy."

Jen Patterson fit in nicely with the sports, weather and traffic updates. Of course, that's when you heard her. She suffered from the dread first-show glitches as her microphone was off a couple of times.

The show picked up in the second hour with Blackhawks Chairman Rocky Wirtz making an appearance in the studio. Mr. Wirtz always is entertaining.

However, it was interesting to note that Mr. Wirtz complained that the NHL's national cable outlet, Versus, is difficult to find. Mr. Jiggetts quickly mentioned that Versus is owned by Comcast.

The highlight of the show was a visit from Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley during the 8 a.m. hour. Mr. North had fun with the mayor, asking him to fix his parking tickets and what garb he wears to watch football games.

The mayor stumped for the Olympics and continued to throw out the notion that Chicago could support a second NFL team. That won't happen because of two words: Da Bears.

The show seemed to pick up its pace in the third hour, as Messrs. North and Jiggetts bantered in the final segment.

Mr. North said, "Dan and I used to agree 80% of the time. It was the other 20% when things went haywire."

First-show concerns:

I know Mr. North wants to give his advertisers a big bang for their buck, but he is going to have to be careful not to go overboard. Long in-show commercials will have viewers reaching for their remotes.

If the show is going to do live calls, they'd better be really, really good calls. Unlike radio, it looks awkward seeing the hosts sit there in silence on television while a bad caller stumbles and rambles on with nothing to say. I still think the show might be better off responding to e-mails from viewers.

Will the show be able to continually deliver good guests? With three hours to fill every morning, "Monsters" will need a steady stream of A-list guests who stop by the studio. They aren't going to get Mr. Daley or Mr. Wirtz every day. That will be a big challenge for producer Ryan McGuffey.

Anyway, Day 1 is in the books for "Monsters." There's some potential here. Let's see what it looks like a few months from now.

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Im guessing it will be worse. I had it on for a few minutes before class started this morning. Awful.

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It seems like Sherman wanted to be more harsh but couldn't do it. That's why we have Rodeo Vann.

It sounds horrible. I guess Sherman answered my question. They're gonna put Jiggs in sweaters.

Jen needs the remember the number one rule in broadcasting: TURN ON THE MICROPHONE.

It sounds like Pappy is gonna spend "on air" time licking the sponsors. That's why you have commercial breaks. He's trying to squeeze more money out of them by making them a part of the actual show. Sherman is right. Nobody at home wants to hear that shit. Nobody cares about the sponsor's CEO.

Jen fit in nicely? Sherman is a shill for North.

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"Nobody ever went broke underestimating the taste of the American public." ~ H.L. Mencken

Holy fricken crap, are you kidding me? Her mic is her problem, turn it on, her calling marty havlat, mark is on her, her stumbling through every traffic and weather update is on her, she is suppose to be Ms. Big Time, my daughter has heard better updates and she is deaf. Ed has to be in possession of some pappywear because that review was the things that pussys are made of, say what you want Ed, Pappy aint going to send knuckles and fritzy over to your house.

Yeah. Sherman doesn't want to rip on the cute little girl. He didn't mention how she stumbled throught the weather and traffic when the mic was on. Is that fitting in? You think a critique might mention that. Why bother writing the piece if your gonna cover for their badness?

I don't feel sorry for Jen. She should have been practicing in front of a mirror for the last 3 months. I feel sorry for all of the talented girls that don't have a Pappy to give them a shot.

This show will be on 6 months from now?

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If that isn't a double entendre.....

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I wish I could say that was my intent. It wasn't.

Think about a lady like Kerry Sayers. Pretty polished broadcaster. Pretty smooth. Not afraid of the camera. Think how she feels if she's watching Jen Jen. She got fired by Comcast and Jen gets hired.

Think about anyone at all, without any TV talent, that's unemployed and watching this and wondering why they can't find a job and these idiots are given an opportunity to do something which they have zero experience.

Ok now think about all the breaks and lucky sperm club members that are famous and relax about this JEN

She may suck (zing) but shes not wronging anyone...and I doubt anyone here would turn down such a lucritive offer.


You guys act like she's the first unqualified person to get a job

Right. Jen was the one that told everybody, in that Daily Hearald article, that the Score didn't know what they had with her. She quit cuz all they wanted her to do was book guests with her girly charm. I hope she didn't book guests the way she reads the weather.

Don't we all have a greater appreciation for Paula Farris now?

I don't blame her, Rogers Park Bryan. I can still make fun of her. I agree. She should ride this Pappy wave as long as she can.

Once he's done she will be done.

I really would like to believe this but the same thing was said during the score morning show days. What you see is what you get.

Six months to practice and plan should have resulted in a first day extravaganza.

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

Precisely. How long have they known that this was going to happen today, Jan. 12? But remember Rock's not-so-veiled reference to the daily lack of preparation for the MNMS somewhere else on this board. Why would we expect anything else from this moron?

You're acting like we only rip on one person here. Is this your first day on the board?

Yeah first day. Anyways I thought you guys were going overboard and just wanted to point out that She not the only one.

I mean you guys are crying for Kerry Sayers?

Where would she be without her father Gayle?

Answer: Nowhere

Do you think Jen is beating herself up after her performance today?

Probably not. Pappy told her she was good I'm sure. Jen is likely at the mall shopping for a pant suit for tomorrow's show.

Ed is acting like this the first time pappy or jigs have been on tv, they both have had their own shows, there is no room for mistakes with, as mike said about himself, "the most multi media star in this town". Sherman must be norths new ted cox.

Listen, I dont wish bad on pappy, I hope the show is a all time hit, i would love it, i just dont expect it to be because pappy is in charge and he has failed anytime that has been the situation and since he insist on running it like he did with the MNMS, he deserves any heat he is given.

By the way, jen doesnt have excuses either, she is a "pro" she has said, pappy has said, this doenst happen at the rate it happened today with "pros".



Please, KS is better then anyone that got air time on the monsters show, more professional and for sure better prepared.



Hell no, she thinks this is her lane to the 5:00 news on channel 5. I dont know jen, so maybe she is, but based on what she has said over the last few years and her attitude, no, she thinks she did well. I dont like beating up on her work today, but man, there is a point where someone needed to tell her to take a breath and collect herself, all this cockiness leading up to the show and she failed, first impressions babe, no do overs.

I think Jen surrounds herself with people that say how great she is. I've read her myspace page. Everybody loves her and tells her she is pretty.

In fairness, if I were her friend I wouldn't tell her she sucks. How could you do that? That's why Jen has us. For the truth. To try and help her.

I'm gonna check out her myspace. See what her fans are saying about her TV debut.

Here it is. No comments on today's show. You can read the other stuff. Jen has a huge fan base.

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewProfile&friendID=31942393

Some guy named Kwak76 who looks like a stalker says Hey Jen I can't wait until Monsters in The Morning!!!!! You are going to be great!!!!!

That was last week though.

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Hell, yeah. I thought her work, both as an anchor and a reporter on the scene, was always solid. Is there some behind-the-scenes-story anyone knows as to why she wasn't renewed?

It's not that I'm crying for KS. I'm just pointing out that there are people out there that are pros and should be on TV. You don't think KS would have loved to do weather and traffic for the Monsters show? It's better than being fired. No. She's fired and Jen Jen has her mic off.

Uh . . . I don't think so. Don't know her, but I suspect she has more dignity than that. Kerry will get another good job somewhere soon.

Well, she might have taken this until she found something better.

I'm sure Keeping Score would jump at the chance to work with North.

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We all have private ails. The troublemakers are they who need public cures for their private ails.- Eric Hoffer

The great thing for Jen is she doesn't have to be good. Doesn't matter that she's scared of the camera. Doesn't matter that she can't do a clean read. Pappy is her boss. Pappy owns the show. Nobody there can criticize her.

The only way you get better is if you feel pressure. She doesn't. Pappy will always tell her she's the best. He'll tell her it's cute when she messes up. "Da people watchin' love dat."

The ladies doing local news have pressure. They can't fuck up or they'll be fired and somebody younger and better looking will replace them.

That's what it is. Another media critic afraid to be critical. They're all trying to be buddies. He couched everything he said. I don't know how you write a review without saying that Jen couldn't do clean reads and looked nervous. Sherman said she "fit in well" even with her mic off. Yeah, Ed, nothing like looking at a girl do traffic without sound. Jen fit this TV show like a cock would fit in Rosie O'Donnell's ass. Rough, awkward, scary and you can tell it's never been done. After it's over, you know it should never be done again.