Jenniffer Weigel
Encyclopedia
Jenniffer Colleen Weigel (born October 6, 1970), known professionally as Jenniffer Weigel, is a Chicago
television personality, author and performer who owns her own Chicago-area production company. She hosted Taste, a program aired on NBC
affiliates both in New York and in Chicago and now writes a column for the Chicago Tribune. She appears on WGN Television and CLTV in Chicago to discuss her columns as the emcee of Trib University. (www.tribuniversity.com)
in Evanston, Illinois
and earned a bachelor's degree in theater from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
in 1992.
Northwest, the Wisdom Bridge Theatre and the National Jewish Theater. She also performed voiceover work.
In 1995, Weigel began working as a traffic reporter for WMVP
-AM and WLUP-FM in Chicago. In 1997, she shifted to being solely a news anchor for WMVP-AM, working alongside program hosts like Danny Bonaduce
and Steve Cochran
. From late 1997 until early 1999, she worked as an entertainment reporter for WGN-TV
in Chicago.
In 1999, Weigel and her husband, Clay Champlin, began co-hosting a Saturday evening radio show on WCKG
-FM in Chicago. From 2002 until 2003, Weigel co-hosted a Saturday afternoon talk show on WLS-AM in Chicago. She continues to occasionally work as a fill-in radio host on WGN-AM in Chicago.
In 1999, Weigel began working as a free-lance entertainment contributor for WBBM-TV
in Chicago. In 2000, she won the job on a full-time basis, and in 2001, she won a Chicago Emmy award for her feature reporting. In 2002, Weigel asked for an early release from her contract with the station after being reassigned to general news reporting duties. After that, Weigel did some free-lance television reporting for ABC News
' Chicago bureau and did some commercial and voiceover work. She also formed her own production company, JCW Productions, in 2002.
In 2005, Weigel began hosting and producing a weekly lifestyle magazine show on WMAQ-TV
in Chicago called Taste.
In 2007, Weigel published her first book, Stay Tuned; Conversations With Dad From the Other Side, a book about her relationship with her late sportscaster father Tim Weigel
and her spiritual attempts to contact him after his death. The next year, Weigel adapted the book into a one-woman show called "I'm Spiritual, Dammit!" at the Viaduct Theatre in Chicago.
Her second book, "I'm Spiritual, Dammit!" was published in October of 2010, and is being published in German, French, Spanish and the United Kingdom.
Weigel also has had several acting roles since beginning her television and radio career. In 1999, she played a television reporter in an episode of the series Early Edition
, and in 2001, she played a news anchorwoman in the John Hughes movie New Port South
.
, a longtime Chicago sports anchor and reporter, and his first wife, former WGN-AM radio reporter Kathy Worthington. She also is the sister of noted television sportscaster Rafer Weigel
.
In June 1998, Weigel married Clay Champlin, a Chicago radio traffic and news reporter. They had their first child, son Britt Timothy Champlin, on April 14, 2006. They divorced in 2011.
Weigel has said that her parents added an extra "f" in her first name to differentiate her, given how common her first name is.
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
television personality, author and performer who owns her own Chicago-area production company. She hosted Taste, a program aired on NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
affiliates both in New York and in Chicago and now writes a column for the Chicago Tribune. She appears on WGN Television and CLTV in Chicago to discuss her columns as the emcee of Trib University. (www.tribuniversity.com)
Early life and education
Weigel graduated from Evanston Township High SchoolEvanston Township High School
Evanston Township High School District 202, is a four-year, comprehensive high school occupying a campus in Evanston, Illinois, a Chicago suburb along the Lake Michigan shore. ETHS serves the multiracial city of Evanston and a small portion of the neighboring village of Skokie, for a total...
in Evanston, Illinois
Evanston, Illinois
Evanston is a suburban municipality in Cook County, Illinois 12 miles north of downtown Chicago, bordering Chicago to the south, Skokie to the west, and Wilmette to the north, with an estimated population of 74,360 as of 2003. It is one of the North Shore communities that adjoin Lake Michigan...
and earned a bachelor's degree in theater from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
The University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign is a large public research-intensive university in the state of Illinois, United States. It is the flagship campus of the University of Illinois system...
in 1992.
Professional career
Weigel began her professional career as an actress, appearing in productions at The Second CityThe Second City
The Second City is a improvisational comedy enterprise which originated in Chicago's Old Town neighborhood.The Second City Theatre opened on December 16, 1959 and has since expanded its presence to several other cities, including Toronto and Los Angeles...
Northwest, the Wisdom Bridge Theatre and the National Jewish Theater. She also performed voiceover work.
In 1995, Weigel began working as a traffic reporter for WMVP
WMVP
WMVP is the callsign of a commercial radio station in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It is owned by ABC. Its transmitter is located in Downers Grove. The station broadcasts live sports talk, both locally and nationally. Daily programming consists of talk shows that are both national and local...
-AM and WLUP-FM in Chicago. In 1997, she shifted to being solely a news anchor for WMVP-AM, working alongside program hosts like Danny Bonaduce
Danny Bonaduce
Dante Daniel "Danny" Bonaduce is an American radio/television personality, comedian, professional wrestler, and former child actor...
and Steve Cochran
Steve Cochran (radio host)
Steve Cochran is an American radio broadcaster. Steve presently hosts a radio show from 10am-12pm and 6pm-9pm on KTRS 550 AM in St. Louis. He previously worked for WGN radio in Chicago from 2000 to 2010.- Childhood :...
. From late 1997 until early 1999, she worked as an entertainment reporter for WGN-TV
WGN-TV
WGN-TV, virtual channel 9 , is the CW-affiliated television station in Chicago, Illinois built, signed on, and owned by the Tribune Company. WGN-TV's studios and offices are located at 2501 W...
in Chicago.
In 1999, Weigel and her husband, Clay Champlin, began co-hosting a Saturday evening radio show on WCKG
WCKG
WCFS-FM , known on-air as "WBBM Newsradio 780 & 105.9", is a radio station licensed to Elmwood Park, Illinois and serving the Chicago, Illinois market...
-FM in Chicago. From 2002 until 2003, Weigel co-hosted a Saturday afternoon talk show on WLS-AM in Chicago. She continues to occasionally work as a fill-in radio host on WGN-AM in Chicago.
In 1999, Weigel began working as a free-lance entertainment contributor for WBBM-TV
WBBM-TV
WBBM-TV, virtual channel 2 , is the CBS owned-and-operated television station in Chicago, Illinois. WBBM-TV's main studios and offices are located in The Loop section of Chicago, as part of the development at Block 37, and its transmitter is atop the Willis Tower.-History:WBBM-TV traces its history...
in Chicago. In 2000, she won the job on a full-time basis, and in 2001, she won a Chicago Emmy award for her feature reporting. In 2002, Weigel asked for an early release from her contract with the station after being reassigned to general news reporting duties. After that, Weigel did some free-lance television reporting for ABC News
ABC News
ABC News is the news gathering and broadcasting division of American broadcast television network ABC, a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company...
' Chicago bureau and did some commercial and voiceover work. She also formed her own production company, JCW Productions, in 2002.
In 2005, Weigel began hosting and producing a weekly lifestyle magazine show on WMAQ-TV
WMAQ-TV
WMAQ-TV, channel 5, is an owned-and-operated television station of the NBC Television Network, located in Chicago, Illinois. WMAQ-TV's main studios and offices are located within the NBC Tower in the Streeterville neighborhood, with an auxiliary street-level studio on the Magnificent Mile at 401...
in Chicago called Taste.
In 2007, Weigel published her first book, Stay Tuned; Conversations With Dad From the Other Side, a book about her relationship with her late sportscaster father Tim Weigel
Tim Weigel
John Timothy Weigel , known professionally as Tim Weigel, was a Chicago broadcaster who spent most of his career as a television sports anchor and reporter.- Early life and education :...
and her spiritual attempts to contact him after his death. The next year, Weigel adapted the book into a one-woman show called "I'm Spiritual, Dammit!" at the Viaduct Theatre in Chicago.
Her second book, "I'm Spiritual, Dammit!" was published in October of 2010, and is being published in German, French, Spanish and the United Kingdom.
Weigel also has had several acting roles since beginning her television and radio career. In 1999, she played a television reporter in an episode of the series Early Edition
Early Edition
Early Edition is an American television series that aired on CBS from September 28, 1996 to May 27, 2000. Set in the city of Chicago, Illinois, it follows the adventures of a man who mysteriously receives each Chicago Sun-Times newspaper the day before it is actually published, and who uses this...
, and in 2001, she played a news anchorwoman in the John Hughes movie New Port South
New Port South
New Port South is a 2001 drama film. The film is set in the fictional town of New Port, near Chicago. It stars Will Estes, Todd Field, and Blake Shields, was written by James Hughes and directed by Kyle Cooper...
.
Personal
Weigel is the daughter of the late Tim WeigelTim Weigel
John Timothy Weigel , known professionally as Tim Weigel, was a Chicago broadcaster who spent most of his career as a television sports anchor and reporter.- Early life and education :...
, a longtime Chicago sports anchor and reporter, and his first wife, former WGN-AM radio reporter Kathy Worthington. She also is the sister of noted television sportscaster Rafer Weigel
Rafer Weigel
Rafer Weigel is the weekend sports anchor and reporter at WLS-TV in Chicago. He was sports anchor for CNN HLN’s Morning Express with Robin Meade and a former actor.-Background:...
.
In June 1998, Weigel married Clay Champlin, a Chicago radio traffic and news reporter. They had their first child, son Britt Timothy Champlin, on April 14, 2006. They divorced in 2011.
Weigel has said that her parents added an extra "f" in her first name to differentiate her, given how common her first name is.