http://www.wgnradio.com/news/top/wgnam- ... 1590.story

(WGN-AM)- Bob Sirott, long expected to take over Warner Saunder's 10 p.m. anchor chair on WMAQ-Ch. 5, instead is leaving the NBC-owned station three weeks after Saunders' retirement.

Sirott, a veteran Chicago radio and television personality and former CBS News correspondent, already had replaced Saunders as co-anchor on Channel 5's 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. newscasts and has been Allison Rosati's primary co-anchor at 10 p.m. in place of Saunders for several months.

A clause already in Sirott's current multi-year contract assured him of the 10 p.m. broadcast, but sources say the station sought to shorten the guaranteed terms in exchange for actually naming him to the position and negotiations failed to produce a settlement.

WMAQ will likely use other anchors such as Marion Brooks, Dick Johnson and Rob Stafford in Sirott's place, with Stafford, a former "Dateline NBC" correspondent, seen as having the inside track.

"We appreciate all that Bob has done for us for the last three-and-a-half years," WMAQ executive Frank Whittaker said in a memo to staff this morning, noting Sirott will continue to work with Chicago Tribune parent Tribune Co.'s WGN-AM 720.

Bob Sirott's dismissal at NBC5 came as a bit of a surprise, considering the fact he had gotten adjusted to sitting in Warner Saunders' big chair at 10p alongside Allison Rosati weeknights and strong talk that Sirott was the favorite to succeed the retiring "Peacock" veteran. The surprise dismissal may not necessarily have been the call of NBC5 bossman Larry Wert & V.P. of News Frank Whittaker, but "Peacock" bosses in New York that didn't want to increase overhead for that 10p newscast if Sirott was named to succeed Saunders. If you read between the lines, NBC didn't want to pay Sirott if Wert & Whittaker had named Bob as permanent 10p anchor.

Wow, and I thought news anchors liked to use fake names.

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Are you sure that's not NBC5 bosses Larry Wert & V.P. of News Frank Whittaker as "Beavis & Butt-Head"?

Bob Sirott's sudden dismissal from NBC5 may actually pave the way for him to take over the controversial midday slot at Newstalk 720 WGN that was recently vacated by Kathy & Judy. There have been rumblings at Tribune Tower in which Sirott may be in line to take over the ladies' 9a-Noon time slot weekdays in addition to his "Noon Show" duties which he has hosted since 2007. I know that ex-WLS-AM "Big 89" host Jerry Agar has been filling in that time slot lately...

I watch King of Queens reruns at 10:00. I don't care.

Bob Sirott is equally unbearable on TV and the radio. He's a smug little fucker, but as far as I can tell, he has yet to formulate an interesting thought. At least the equally smug Bernstein has interesting if woefully misguided things to say.

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I worked with Sirott for three years... never bothered me personally, but I was in a department without much direct relations to him. Everybody who did work for him hated it (and most also hated him), partly because he smells. Bad. A lot.

How's this for a possible replacement? About 2 years ago, Rob Stafford was among the cuts at NBC News nationally. Last summer, he replaced Amy Jacobson at NBC5, and started anchoring Saturday & Sunday night newscasts with the very beautiful Anna Davlantes, meteorologist Ginger Zee & sportscaster Paula Faris...Talk about "Must See TV"! It's believed now that Bob Sirott is out, Stafford could be in line to succeed the retired Warner Saunders if he can get along with Allison Rosati at 10p weeknights. That's a big if...