Question of the day
Thursday, Aug 21, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* As somebody else tweeted yesterday, she’s 72? I never woulda guessed that one. Robert Feder…
Elizabeth Brackett, a respected veteran of four Chicago TV news operations, retired Tuesday after 20 years as a full-time staff correspondent for “Chicago Tonight,” the nightly news program on public television WTTW-Channel 11.
But she won’t be leaving the show altogether. In her new role as “special correspondent,” Brackett will contribute 10 long-form stories in the coming year. […]
Brackett, 72, said her decision was determined in part by the retirement last May of her husband, Peter Martinez, as co-director of the Center for Urban Education Leadership at the University of Illinois at Chicago. A world champion triathlete in her age group, she also said she needed more time to train for the World Triathlon Championships in Chicago next year. Before that, she plans to compete next month in the International Triathlon Union World Championships in Edmonton, Canada. […]
For her work she has been honored with a Peabody Award, five Emmy Awards (including a national Emmy), a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Chicago Headline Club and induction in the Silver Circle of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Chicago/Midwest chapter.
* She won her age group’s World Triathlon Championship three years in a row…
* The Question: Caption?
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Aug 21, 14 @ 1:53 pm:
“Superstar!”
Congratulations on your athletic accomplishments that rival your stellar work and career as a top notch journalist. Sound mind, sound body. All the best to you.
- Goonhammer - Thursday, Aug 21, 14 @ 1:54 pm:
“FINALLY!!!! RETIREMENT!!!!…kinda…”
- Belle - Thursday, Aug 21, 14 @ 1:57 pm:
I knew about the running and triathlons but had no idea Elizabeth is 72—she’s amazing.
- 47th Ward - Thursday, Aug 21, 14 @ 2:03 pm:
Because getting up before the sun to train every morning, running for hours on blistered feet, swimming lap after monotonous lap, and pedaling hundreds of miles on a bicycle are so much better than sitting though another Pat Quinn press conference.
So long WTTW. You’ll always have Paris.
- Ron Burgundy - Thursday, Aug 21, 14 @ 2:08 pm:
For a sustaining pledge of $10 a month, we’ll send you a signed photo and a keepsake vial of authentic triathlon sweat. For only $20 a month, you get the opportunity to work at a water station of your choice at the Chicago Triathlon!
- Ron Burgundy - Thursday, Aug 21, 14 @ 2:09 pm:
This ain’t no Antiques Roadshow.
- Dirty Red - Thursday, Aug 21, 14 @ 2:13 pm:
No more threats of layoffs or buyouts!
- VanillaMan - Thursday, Aug 21, 14 @ 2:17 pm:
The WINNER!
- Siriusly - Thursday, Aug 21, 14 @ 2:23 pm:
You hacks think I was scary with a microphone? Just watch me!
- walker - Thursday, Aug 21, 14 @ 2:40 pm:
Gotta love her.
- Capitol View - Thursday, Aug 21, 14 @ 3:00 pm:
you like running? How about running for governor?
- dupage dan - Thursday, Aug 21, 14 @ 3:32 pm:
Exercise is overrated. (snark)
“Whenever I feel the need to exercise, I lie down until it goes away.” (Paul Terry, 1887-1971)
What a great career and avocation. Kudos!
- À guy - Thursday, Aug 21, 14 @ 3:35 pm:
This is the look you want coming out of the water Jimmy Fallon!
- Precinct Captain - Thursday, Aug 21, 14 @ 3:42 pm:
“F–king golden!”
- anon - Thursday, Aug 21, 14 @ 4:01 pm:
only the UofI could come up with the term co-director–
- Amalia - Thursday, Aug 21, 14 @ 4:17 pm:
she’s in her own brackett and always the winner, on tv, in sports, and once upon a time in politics. we still remember how you started lady!
- been there - Thursday, Aug 21, 14 @ 4:31 pm:
WOMAN POWER!!!
- wordslinger - Thursday, Aug 21, 14 @ 4:32 pm:
Here’s looking at you, kid.
To borrow the WTTW hook, if you haven’t seen it, look for the “Muscle Shoals” doc on PBS.
What a yarn. And what music! Stones. Staples. Aretha. Wilson Pickett. Etta James. Lynyrd Skynyrd.
I had no idea that, early in her career, producers tried to package Aretha as some demure, chiffon-dress-wearing girly act.
She got down to Muscle Shoals with The Swampers and here comes the funk!
After The Staples “I’ll Take You There” and Aretha’s “R-E-S-P-E-C-T” everyone wanted to record with the greasy black cats in Muscle Shoals. Little did they know…..
- circular firing squad - Thursday, Aug 21, 14 @ 4:55 pm:
Go Bitsy
- JS Mill - Thursday, Aug 21, 14 @ 5:36 pm:
I am 72 years old and I can beat your a#$!
- BehindTheScenes - Thursday, Aug 21, 14 @ 7:51 pm:
…I did it my-y-y-y way!!
- Connect the dots - Friday, Aug 22, 14 @ 12:06 am:
Now if only that other bobblehead would quit too. You know, the one that shakes her head like she has Parkinson’s when she speaks.