|
December 2001 Shows
Click on linked
books to explore buying them from the wgnradio.com/store
MONDAY DECEMBER
3RD
THE WAR ON TERRORISM
More than 1,000 U.S. Marines are on the ground in Afghanistan. The Taliban
and al-Queda seem to be on the run as the U.S.-backed opposition forces
overrun city after city. And, thus far, only one American-CIA Officer
Johnny Michael Spann-has been killed in action. What's next? Are things
as positive as they seem? What follows the fall of the Taliban? What is
to be done in Iraq and elsewhere? We continue our coverage of the war
tonight with another distinguished panel. Our guests include JAY WILLIAMS
of Loyola University and the National Strategy Forum, DAVID GRANGE, the
former commanding general of the 1st Infantry Division, and others.
TUESDAY DECEMBER 4TH
This program remains under construction. Check back to wgnradio.com for
details.
WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 5TH
PRESIDENTIAL MARRIAGES
 Our
guest tonight is KATI MARTON. The 212-year history of the American presidency
has been marked, among other things, by the growing influence and visibility
of the First Lady. Marton's latest book  Hidden
Power: Presidential Marriages That Shaped Our Recent History examines
the teams that shaped the White House in the twentieth century through
six wars, a great depression, unparalleled power, and devastating turmoil--namely,
the presidential marriages. Through glory and crisis, right up to the
present day, we'll examine every husband-wife team from Woodrow and Edith
Wilson to George W. and Laura Bush, and how each put their own peculiar
stamp on American life.
THURSDAY DECEMBER 6TH
THE ERA OF THEODORE ROOSEVELT
 In
1901, Theodore Roosevelt uttered his famous phrase, "Speak softly and
carry a big stick, you will go far." The unfettered growth of American
power marked the post-Civil War era that culminated in the presidency
of TR and, eventually, in the U.S. entry into the First World War. We
are joined tonight by Edmond Morris, one of the preeminent presidential
biographers whose previous work on the elder Roosevelt, "The Rise of Theodore
Roosevelt" was universally praised. Another work, "Dutch," a biography
of Ronald Reagan written in the fictional first person, received tremendous,
if somewhat mixed, attention. His latest work is  Theodore
Rex, the follow-up to his previous volume on TR, covers the entire
stretch of his two terms that eventually earned him a place on Mount Rushmore.
Join us for a look at the era of Theodore Roosevelt, tonight at 9:00pm.
FRIDAY DECEMBER 7TH
CHICAGO CAB DRIVERS
Few people have as many outrageous stories as taxicab drivers, especially
in a city as large as Chicago. Tonight, we offer our version of "The Best
of Cab Stories" with a number of career cabbies. Among our guests will
be JIM SUPERFINE and PETER TOMICHROWSKI, both of whom you may have encountered
after stumbling to the cabstand on a recent Friday night.
MONDAY DECEMBER 10TH
This program remains under construction. Check back to wgnradio.com for
details.
TUESDAY DECEMBER 11TH
ANTIQUES
In the midst of the holiday shopping season, we examine the world of antiques
and collectibles. All of us have stumbled upon some ancient relic while
cleaning out the attic; our guests tonight will be able to draw upon their
long years of experience and expertise to determine whether your finding
has any monetary value in addition to its sentimental worth. Among the
panelists will be JIM BOHENSTENGEL of Galerie St. James and STAN SWOREK
of Cobblestone Antiques, both located in the Chicago area, and eager to
respond to our listeners' queries.
WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 12TH
MILITARY MEDICS
 Prior
to the First World War, far more soldiers died from disease in war than
from combat. Over the course of the twentieth century, the record has,
so to speak, "improved"-far more soldiers (and civilians) have, of course,
been killed by direct military action, but fatal diseases and deaths from
minor wounds in wartime have been sharply decreased. The vast improvement
in medical services and knowledge, and with it, the growth of a professional
medical corps within the armed services have all significantly reduced
battlefield mortality. Tonight, we are joined by three war medics from
three different eras. LEO LITWAK, a World War II medic for the U.S. Army,
has published a memoir of his service  The
Medic: Life and Death in the Last Days of World War II. He joins us
along with BEN WAGNER, who served in Korea and saw action at the Chosin
Reservoir, and a medic from the Vietnam War. Hear their stories, beginning
at 9:00pm.
THURSDAY DECEMBER 13TH
A NIGHT AT THE FIELD MUSEUM
Dating back to 1893, Chicago's Field Museum is one of the great natural
history museums in the world. A leader in the fields of Anthropology,
Biology, Geology, and Zoology, the Field Museum has thrilled millions
of visitors with its brilliant exhibits, and challenged scientists around
the world with its renowned research exploits and discoveries. We are
pleased to welcome its President, John McCarter, and three of its leading
scholars, each from quite diverse research areas, for a look at life inside
this great Chicago, and American, institution. Join us for a night at
the Field Museum, beginning at 9:00pm.
FRIDAY DECEMBER 14TH
ART BOOKS
Veteran listeners are quite familiar with our quarterly Book Review Show
(the next installment of which, by the way, will be in January). Tonight,
we focus not on the history, biography, politics, and literature of our
regular review, but instead on the great art and photography books of
recent months. Join Milt and a knowledgeable expert for a look at recent
trends in 'coffee table books'--though Cosmo Kramer may be disappointed
to learn that we will not be reviewing a coffee table book about coffee
tables. Hear what we do have, tonight at 9:00pm.
MONDAY DECEMBER 17TH
CHARLES DICKENS: A LITERARY LIFE
With Ebenezer Scrooge's annual encounter with Jacob Marley only a week
away, we appropriately examine the life and times of their brilliant creator,
Charles Dickens. We will learn of Dickens career and influence, but even
better, will hear some great performances of his work. It is a far, far
better thing for you to tune into Extension 720 following the 7:00pm game
than anything else you may have in mind-how else could you possibly be
better prepared for 'A Christmas Carol'?
TUESDAY DECEMBER 18TH
THE YEAR ON WGN
Our remembrances of 2001 begin with a look at the year on WGN. One of
the great pleasures in working at WGN is the wide variety of programming,
and we put this variety on full display tonight. Our guests will be KATHY
O'MALLEY of the Kathy and Judy Show, JOHN WILLIAMS, host of our afternoon's
The World of John Williams, and GARRY LEE WRIGHT, a omnipresence in our
weekends. An inside look at life at the mighty 720 with Milt and three
other captains of their wireless domains begins at 9:00pm.
WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 19TH
BIOGENETIC ENGINEERING
The recent revelation of an advanced effort at human cloning in Europe
leads us once more to a broad program on biogenetic engineering. In July,
we welcomed Leon Kass of the University of Chicago, who has since gone
on to head President Bush's commission on stem-cell research. Tonight,
we'll bring together a full panel to analyze the science, as well as the
politics, of biogenetic engineering. Our guests will include REX CHISHOLM
of the Department of Cell and Molecular Biology at Northwestern University
Medical School, and others.
THURSDAY DECEMBER 20TH
RESTAURANT REVIEW
While most of us look forward to a Christmas turkey dinner at home, our
panel tonight continues their search for the perfect dining experience
not involving Mom's cooking. The Chicago restaurant scene is in a constant
state of change, and the "best" in town (if such a term may be used objectively)
is anybody's guess. Nevertheless, roving critic DON ROSE and PHIL VETTEL
of The Chicago Tribune are as qualified as any to offer their opinions
on the wide range of food options in the city. Hear their take, beginning
at 9:00pm.
FRIDAY DECEMBER 21ST
FILMS OF THE YEAR
The runaway success of Harry Potter has dominated film news in the last
month. But which are the best films of the year? Thus far, the pickings
have seemed pretty slim. Most major releases have been critical disappointments,
but, as always, December offers the cream of the crop. Hopefully by tonight
we'll have discovered the next Citizen Kane or Dr. Strangelove (though
we doubt it). Our three person guru panel will include PENELOPE MESIC
and GENE PHILLIPS. Get the early Oscar buzz, and offer you own thoughts,
when we raise the curtain at 9:00pm.
MONDAY DECEMBER 24TH TUESDAY DECEMBER 25TH
CHRISTMAS PROGRAMMING
Extension 720 will not air at its regular time due to WGN's annual holiday
programming that begins on Christmas Eve. But be sure to listen for Milt's
hand-picked Baroque Holiday Music that will air periodically throughout
this special programming.
WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 26TH
THE BEST OF EXTENSION 720, 2001
Throughout the year, Extension 720 has been honored by the visits of innumerable
distinguished guests: Jimmy Carter; Francis Cardinal George; Secretaries
of State Henry Kissinger, Warren Christopher, and Madeline Albright; Washington
heavy-hitters Chris Matthews, Michael Beschloss, David Halberstam, Haynes
Johnson, Morton Kondracke, Christopher Hitchens, and Richard Reeves; famed
historians from Ian Kershaw to Robert Remini; former General Electric
CEO Jack Welch; even Hall of Fame quarterback Terry Bradshaw. Gravely,
but necessarily, our airways have been filled with defense experts and
analysts in the wake of September 11th. And, of course, we cannot forget
our regular friends in all fields that have been omnipresent throughout
the year. Tonight, we listen to some of the best of Extension 720 from
the year 2001, a tremendous year for our program and, we hope, our listeners.
THURSDAY DECEMBER 27TH
THE YEAR IN REVIEW
The events of September 11th have, rightfully, overshadowed all other
news in 2001. As we look at the year in review, they will no doubt dominate
tonight's discussion. But we'll try to examine the war on terrorism in
its broader contexts: Presidential and Congressional performance, the
implications of homeland security on the size and scope of the federal
government, and, as always, what's next. Our traditional end-of-the-year
panel is back again: syndicated columnist GEORGIANNE GEYER, the University
of Notre Dame's ROBERT SCHMUHL, and MIKE McGUIRE of The Chicago Tribune.
FRIDAY DECEMBER 28TH
OPEN LINE
As a tumultuous year draws to a close, we open the phone lines to our
loyal listeners. Tune in after the 7:00pm Northwestern game, and be ready
with your calls. Listen in--and join in via telephone--as we get together
with our audience.
MONDAY DECEMBER 31ST
NEW YEAR'S EVE
Check back to wgnradio.com for details of tonight's holiday programming.
Archive of previous show topics:
Sweet Home Chicago
Site
Map
|
