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ABC / WLS-TV
Category: Mass Media Television Stations Television Stations [Edit]
190 N State StSte 1100
(between Benton Pl & Couch Pl)
Chicago, IL 60601
Neighborhood: The Loop
(312) 899-4000
- Nearest Transit:
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State/lake (Brown Line, Green Line, Orange Line, Pink Line, Purple Line)
Lake (Red Line)
Randolph/wabash (Brown Line, Green Line, Orange Line, Pink Line, Purple Line)
14 reviews for ABC / WLS-TV
14 reviews in English
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Review from Michael H.
Hickory Hills, IL
4/25/2012
The best local-affiliated station in Chicago, even today. Channel 5 used to be interesting, innovative, and fun. They are downright boring. Channel 2 is what the number is (see if you can figure that out). 32 is a corporate fantasy world, thanks to American Idol. The rest are lost in the Twilight Zone somewhere,. WGN is obsessed with left-wing bias and drama.
7 still has the best news, weather, sports, etc. coverage. I don't watch TV a lot these days, but the reporters at Channel 7 are truthful much of the time, and report unbiased facts. Their reporters are experienced and report on a big variety of subject matter. Chuck Goudie is my favorite. I love how he talks and his reports are always worth watching.
Their entertainment reporter does a MUCH BETTER JOB too. Instead of suggesting theatrical BS and emo band concerts like Dean Richards, all kinds of festivals and things to do are mentioned. Roz Varon also interviews a variety of figures and celebrities. I always learn something fun and interesting about whoever Roz interviews. I never seen WGN (aside from the Morning News) do that, or other stations for that matter.
Obviously, the daytime shows suck like everything else. However, many of their weekend movies (late nights these days) are still shown. I have some on DVD. It is a rarity and a pleasure to stay up and watch them. It is great that WLS has continued to do that. Jerry Taft is a very intelligent, non-biased, truthful weatherman. Very calm, not annoying (like Mike Kaplan), and is usually right. The same is true for Tracy Butler. 7 is still the highest rated newscast in town and the presenting of the news is why. -
Review from Jasmine S.
Santa Clara, CA
4/6/2012 2 Check-ins Here
i was going to give only two stars, but i can't say i've experienced better, so i'll just say a-ok...
we passed by this place a few times while walking the street of chicago. most of the time (like in the evening) it was empty, no one was reporting anything, but when there were filming it was kind of cool to see. -
Review from Mike K.
Chicago, IL
8/8/2011
Ay. Hah yous doin'? So dis is my review for da Eyewitness Noos with Fahey Flynn, Joel Daly, John Drury and John Coleman on Chee-ann-ul Seven.
Whoa. Sorry abaht dat. I hee-ad a flee-ashback. It hee-appens. Musta been dose mushrooms bee-ack in collich. So back to da present day.
So dis is my review uh da ABC 7 Chi-cawgo Noos. Dis is yer more conservative noos-cee-ast as far as network TV goes. And people seem ta like it since day lead in da ratings time and again. I personally think they have da better noos-cee-asts when compared to da udder chee-ann-uls. So lets talk abaht da personalities, she-all we?
Ron Magers. Lead noos-cee-aster. Kinda boring if ya ask me, but he's been a trusted staple in dis city for decades. He was bedder wit Cee-arol Marines if you ask me. Ya, Marines.
Kat-ee Brahk. Kinda stiff. Getting up dare in years and fading a bit. Kate Sullivan is blowing dis away. She's haht.
Chee-eryl Burton. Lemme tell ya's summin. She's fake. It's an eeact. I saw dis broad down in da bowels uh da Marshall Field's flagship store (rest in peace ol' lady) getting presents wree-apped for Christmas one year. Oh, da tude. Goin' off on da Field's workers, telling em they had tuh hurry so's she could get ta Michael Jordan's party. I will never forget dat moment. You ain't foolin' dis guy, Chee-eryl.
Jerry Tee-aft. Dis guy, I like. He likes sahsages. He's irreverent. He don't even cee-are about da wedder, but he reports it. And he reports it well, pee-al. Not Skilling well, but it works. It's funny, and I like it.
Giangrecos. Dat's right. Giangrecos. It's plural. Dis guy gets it. He takes nuttin' seriously. He's always cree-ackin'. He dresses like he's in Goodfellas or Casino, wit dose ultra straight parallel collars. You gotta love dat. Reports da sports wit humor and his tongue in his cheek. And, ay, he likes hockey. What's not ta like abaht dat?
Ay, it ain't da Eyewitness Noos anymore. So what? Dis is probably da best of what's left of local news-cee-asts. And dat ain't too bee-ad.Listed in: Iconic Chi-cawgo Stuff
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Review from John L.
Glendale Heights, IL
3/8/2011
I tuned to ABC's world news today. The first half of the show they spoke of flood rains in the southeast states, dead fish found in California, honoring Women's Day, something about a priest being punished, and spankings in public school. The second half they spoke of souvenirs not made in America, the HCG diet, and where are the happiest people in America.
That's it?
I sat there asking myself "Where's the World News?"
H-e-l-l-o-o-o ABC News...
Perhaps you should call your program ABC National News? Gezzz -
Review from Jon L.
Chicago, IL
5/14/2010
Channel 7 features some of my favorite Chicago news personalities. Lest you be fooled into thinking that the 10:00pm newscast is their flagship broadcast, might I humbly suggest that you tune your TiVo each weekday morning to witness the train wreck that is the 11:00am news?
Veteran anchors Sylvia Perez and Linda Yu anchor my favorite hour of television since The Wire went off the air. Linda's hair is a masterpiece each and every day, and Sylvia's multifarious contributions to the broadcast are too numerous to mention. Sylvia and Linda are joined daily by Tracy Butler, the foodphobic meteorologist who cannot bear to watch someone get a shot at the doctors office. Tracy's favorite food is grilled cheese and crab legs. She once ate 50 snow crab legs in one sitting. If that is not a sign of someone on the verge of a nervous breakdown, I don't know what is.
Food journalist Steve Dolinsky visits on Wednesday and Friday, and he usually brings a smorgasbord from whatever restaurant he happens to be featuring that day. Linda and Sylvia pig out while Steve explains everything. It's particularly entertaining to watch Linda try to stuff large things into her mouth, so look out for episodes about burgers. (Tracy only gets involved in Steve's segments on her birthday, where they explore white food. Next year, Tracy will sample mashed potatoes.)
Each episode is rounded out by a local interest feature segment for which this 29 year old male is totally not the target demographic (proper bra fitting, swimwear fashion shows for ladies of all sizes, and salsa dance performances) and Mr. Food. The latter is the television pseudonym of an elderly gentleman that demonstrates recipes that can be made solely of items from the old generic aisle at Jewel. Mr. Food's segment always cuts away to Tracy Butler, and her reactions to his concoctions are frequently priceless.
For those of you who have jobs or lives that render you unable to watch the late morning newscast, a bit of fun can be had on the Friday night 10:00pm newscast. After Steve Dolinsky's Friday Night Special, keep an eye out for the frequent humiliation of lead meteorologist Jerry Taft. We are to infer that Jerry is a man with a somewhat unsophisticated palate. Tune in enough and you may hear Kathy Brock or Ron Magers chide him about how good the featured encased meat must look.
If you're up late on Sunday night, you may want to tune into 190 North, Channel 7's Chicago lifestyle and entertainment show. The host, Janet Davies, must be seen to be believed. -
Review from Chrissy F.
New York, NY
3/9/2007 1 photo
Having dated someone from this station, it amuses me to no end that I'm reviewing this place on Yelp.
When I graduated from college, ABC was in the middle of completing their State Street studio - obviously a move to compete with NBC (WMAQ) over on Michigan Avenue. Now, the studio is open and functional (and has been for a few months).
On my trip back to Chicago last week, I was wandering down State Street (in search for a new handbag) and I saw a bunch of people gathered around the studios - it was time for the 5pm news!
Now this is one of those shiny objects that you find very hard to walk by without stopping - especially when they're actually doing the news. But I refused to do it! I will not be drawn in by your bright lights and shiny robotic cameras!...ok maybe I could stop to watch one segment. Yea, I guess I don't have to leave RIGHT now...I can stay to watch the weather...wait, we're almost to the end of the show? There's no harm in staying until then...oh look, I'm on TV!
Now, while I maintain that I was watching for research purposes (Being a TV grad student, myself)...I did enjoy myself for the most part.
The green screen for the weather reports comes down right in front of the audience -- which prompted a few people to think that the news was over and they left. I'm not sure if this was a purposeful placement, but it was confusing and then sort of annoying.
I know this isn't ABC's issue, but since there are people stationary for a certain amount of time, homeless men take this opportunity to work their "magic" (or whatever). I don't think ABC can do anything about that issue (as the sidewalk is public property, etc, etc), but it's a little unnerving to try to watch the news and the guy next to you is spitting on the ground and talking to himself.
I also know that Chicago has to have some sort of Noise Ordinance or something, but I wish that the news they pipe outside would be a little louder. There seems to be only one speaker, which is above the TV they've swiveled around for passers-by to watch the news on.
And if you want to be on TV, you'll be waiting the full half hour. They don't pan out onto State Street until it's over. And the anchors don't look out and wave until the end of the broadcast either -- but that's something I totally understand. If I were in their place, I'd have to pretend there aren't 15 or so people pressed against the glass (like a kid at a fish tank) watching me just to get through the broadcast. -
Review from Amber G.
Evanston, IL
2/25/2010
Great station - very nice people and a beautiful new atmosphere. I had the chance to speak with Emily Barr and she was such a gracious and down-to-earth host. I really believe ABC has the highest quality local news in Chicago, even with the cuts they announced they will be making Tuesday. I really hope that doesn't impact the quality of their news.
I love waking up to Good Morning America and I really love how Diane Sawyer has been doing on ABC's World News. Great job all-around! -
Review from G R.
Chicago, IL
3/23/2009
I don't know why but on-line links don't work. Otherwise the T.V. version is fine.
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Review from April M.
11/9/2006
My favorite News station, ABC 7 Chicago! :D ABC also has the best primetime line up this year, at least in my eyes!
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Review from Bill M.
12/31/2005 2 photos
I have this habit of running into all the Channel 7 newspeople during my downtown lunch walks. I have even run into them in airports and restaurants. I am not a WLS stalker, although I do watch the newscasts.
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Review from Alan R.
5/24/2007
Without question the best station for news in Chicago. They have the most professional broadcasters in Chicago. Their "talent" knows when to be funny and when to be serious. I used to like channel five better, but for local news, seven it where its at.
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Review from Robert L.
Los Angeles, CA
10/1/2005
We all know this station and grew up with shows from this network. Many of us still currently watch this station for their popular shows and the nightly news. I sometimes get a kick out of watching Wheel of Fortune. Has this show been on the air since the beginning of time?:)
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Review from Paul B.
Hinsdale, IL
4/25/2006
I am watching the news on channel 7 but to be honest it could be any of the news channels in Chicago. Why is it that the presenters can not talk in sentences? It perplexes me as to why oviously intelligent well qualified people pause in all the wrong places. The sentence then makes no sense and one is left to work out what the presenter is talking about. Now I am not an English Major (in fact I left school at 16) so come on News Presenters lets try a bit harder. If I can talk in a sentence then you all can to. You all earn enough money spend some of it to have a few extra lessons on English from Sylvan!!!! Make it easier for us to be interested in the news!! 0/10 for effort!!
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Review from Jill G.
Chicago, IL
11/6/2008
I used to watch Channel 7 each morning but the news with Tracy Butler acting like a teenager turned me off. I like more professionalism not giggling and joking around and Roz Varon could improve her overall presentation. As a result we are Channel 2 fans but I will not watch 7 too much play.
