Radio Daze
Whether you're on your way to a night out on the town or just staying in for a cozy evening, Second City wants your Saturday night. The legendary comedy company will take over the airwaves on 105.9 FM WCKG every Saturday night starting at 10pm with its latest project, "Second City Radio." The show premieres this weekend for a six-week run, with hopes of eventual syndication into LA, Dallas and Detroit. Second City alum Jim Zulevic will host the two-hour show, dishing out the latest tidbits when it comes to events, music and beyond around town, with periodic cuts to roaming reporters in New York and LA. "This is great chance to take a comedic look at current events and put our point-of-view, which is funny, out there," says Zulevic, who has appeared on "Seinfeld," "The Shield" and "Curb Your Enthusiasm." Along with co-hosts Ed Ferman and TJ Jagodowski, Zulevic will welcome a number of Second City alumni and celebrity guests with a few other surprises. "It's more fun with radio's live reaction rather than with film or television, where everything becomes horrifically watered down," promises Zulevic.

McHalf-Pipe
The ongoing fight against flab took another bold step forward this month as McDonalds Corporation announced plans to market skateboards in an attempt to "help make fitness fun" for America's ever-growing youth population. The skateboards, which would bear McDonalds' logo, are part of a wider corporate initiative to increase McDonalds' reputation among health-conscious Americans. But the main thrust of McDonalds' crusade against corpulence targets the popularity of skateboarding as a youth activity. Chicago's skateboarding community is not entirely pleased with this sudden burst of popular appeal. "I'd have to say that any kids who are riding these skateboards aren't real skateboarders," muses Steve Davenport, manager of suburban Geneva-based RQ Boardshop. He adds, "you'd have to be kind of clueless [to ride a McDonalds board]." Not everyone in the skating community views this newfound attention in a bad light, however. "Some negative thoughts came up initially," admits Ken Keistler, manager of Bucktown's Uprise Skateboard Shop, "but if it helps kids get into skateboarding or helps kids that wouldn't have had an opportunity otherwise, then great."

(2005-06-28)

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