Posted by chicagomedia.org on July 30, 2009 at 10:16:46:
WGN's Pat Tomasulo a winner in 'Regis & Kelly' co-host-for-a-day contest
WGN-Ch. 9 sportscaster Pat Tomasulo beat out a field that included his "WGN Morning News" colleague, anchor Larry Potash, to land a date as Kelly Ripa's co-host next Tuesday morning in New York on the nationally syndicated "Live With Regis and Kelly."
Tomasulo and Potash were among 10 male finalists, chosen by producers from a field of hundreds nominated by viewers, vying for one of five chances to fill in for Regis Philbin alongside Ripa in online balloting by viewers.
Another 10 women "From Local to 'Live' Co-Host for a Day" were competing for the chance to substitute for Ripa with Philbin.
Winners of the Internet vote were announced on Wednesday on "Live," which follows the "WGN Morning News" weekdays on Chicago Tribune-parent Tribune Co.'s Channel 9.
The men will co-host the week of Aug. 3. The women will get their shot the week of Aug. 17. Only full-time staffers of outlets carrying "Live" were eligible.
As noted here earlier, Disney-ABC Domestic Television, which syndicates "Live," has done variations of this stunt before, as WFLD-Ch. 32 5 a.m. anchor Kori Chambers knows quite well.
Tomasulo, a graduate of New Jersey's Trenton State College, has been with WGN for four years, previously working at WKBW-TV in Buffalo, N.Y., and WJFW-TV in Rhinelander, Wis.