Enjoy “What’s on Dec” this week on ABC TV “Windy City Live!”

Click here to see Rockit Ranch CEO Billy Dec‘s inside scoop on the best parties, fests, games, concerts, events.. on his latest Thursday 9am weekly ABC TV segment called “What’s on Dec” on “Windy City Live!”

Tags: abc, billy dec, chicago, chicago events, chicago festivals, chicago suburb events, chicago weekend events, concerts in chicago, Entertainment Contributor, family events, news, Weekend, weekend events, What's on Dec, windy city live

Richard Roeper & Billy Dec to co-host an Oscar Viewing Party at Rockit!

**UPDATED** 3.1.12 :: Check out our Oscar Viewing Party Re-Cap Video!! See the exciting behind the scenes party footage, our amazing guests and who won the Oscar Challenge. Hint…it WASN’T the movie critic. Enjoy!!!

Oscars Party Recap from Rockit Ranch Productions on Vimeo.

UPDATE 2/21/12 by Amy:  Movie Critic Richard Roeper & Restaurateur Billy Dec go HEAD TO HEAD on Oscar Picks!  And guess what?!  The loser has to work for the other person!  Watch this video below to see it all go down!  By the way, you too can compete against them for some great prizes here: http://bit.ly/RockitOscars

Billy’s Oscar Challenge from Rockit Ranch Productions on Vimeo.

UPDATE 2/22/12 by Amy: Aw snap, Billy just got schooled by Richard Roeper with this response video below!  Who do you think is going to win?!

Make sure you join Richard & Billy at the event & in this competition! Below sample of some of the fabulous prizes you can win at the event!

-A pair of Roundtrip tickets valid for travel from the US to Europe, Central America or the Carribean from United Airlines

-Three Month Spa Membership at The Peninsula

-Autographed pennant from Chicago Bull Derrick Rose

-One Week of FREE Private Uber Car Rides

-Blackhawks Hockey Stick autographed by the team

-Two tickets for the Opening Night Performance and Post-Show Cast Party for EASTLAND at Lookingglass Theatre

-Two autographed baseballs from Chicago Cub Ryan Dempster

-Fitness Guru Andrea Metcalf’s Package: workout mat, ball, book, dvd and personal fitness consultation

-Burton Snowboard

-Two Premium Seats to March 14th “Show Boat” at the Lyric Opera

-Party at 10 Pin with food, beverage and bowling

-Autographed Lance Briggs Jersey

-Autographed Mike Ditka Book

MEDIA ALERT : February 9, 2012

Richard Roeper & Billy Dec to co-host an Oscar Viewing Party
To benefit the arts through After School Matters

CHICAGO – On February 26, co-hosts Richard Roeper & Billy Dec will hold their 2nd Annual Oscar Viewing Party. Guests will test their movie knowledge by putting their ballot predictions up against Richard and Billy for a chance to win fabulous prizes while hearing their commentary live throughout the telecast.

Tickets are priced at $50 each with a portion of the proceeds going to support After School Matters, a nonprofit organization that offers Chicago public high school teens high quality out-of-school-time opportunities to explore and develop their talents in the arts, while gaining critical skills for work, college, and beyond.

Tickets include delicious passed appetizers from Rockit Bar & Grill, creative “Oscar themed” cocktails from Belvedere and Moet Chandon champagne. Gift bags will be given to the first 100 ticket buyers. Red carpet coverage begins at 5 p.m. telecast begins at 6 p.m.

Click here to get your tickets : http://bit.ly/xsHKGo

About the hosts:
Richard Roeper is co-host of Roe/Roeper on WLS-AM. Sun-Times Columnist. Author of eight books. Former co-host Ebert/Roeper. Contributor, ReelzChannel. Reviews: Richardroeper.com.
Billy Dec is CEO of Rockit Ranch Productions, Emmy Award Winning Entertainment Correspondent, ABC’s “Windy City Live”

Tags: abc, Academy Awards 2012, After School Matters, arts, Author, billy dec, charity, Ebert/Roeper, Entertainment Columnist, fundraiser, Oscar, Oscar Viewing Party, oscars, Oscars 2012, Reelz Channel, richard roeper, rockit bar and grill, Roe/Roeper, sun times, theatre, windy city live, WLS-AM

Celebrate 41 Years Of The Hit Show “All My Children” With A Tribute To Pine Valley

Having a hard time dealing with the absence of All My Children on ABC? Then buy your ticket to A Tribute to Pine Valley and ask the cast of your favorite soap opera all the questions you’ve been waiting to ask for years! All My Children was an amazing and ground breaking soup opera that was filled with as many characters as there are people on the streets of Chicago, and now’s your chance to meet the cast.

Aired on ABC from January 5, 1970 to September 23, 2011, All My Children (AMC) was the story of the people of Pine Valley, Pennsylvania. AMC was filled with heart breaks, death, disease, doubt, jealousy and revelations and entertained millions of viewers internationally. The show itself has won 33 Daytime Emmy awards, while its performers pulled in 30 Daytime Emmys. In its first season AMC ranked the #1 daytime show in America, and during most of the 80’s and early 90’s it held the #2 spot for most popular daytime show.

Now’s your chance to get up close and personal with six of your favorite Pine Valley citizens. Jackson, Kendall, Jesse, Ryan, David and JR will be at the Rosemont Theatre on January 15^th to reveal secrets, share never-been-told stories, and provide AMC trivia to get you back into Pine Valley. Tickets are only $125 and can be purchased here. The trip down memory lane starts at 3pm and runs for two hours, and will be followed up by an autograph and photo session that will go until 7:30pm. You’re only going to get one shot to meet and chat with your favorite AMC stars. Don’t miss it!

Wanjiku Kairu

Tags: 41, abc, All My Children, Characters, Daytime, emmy awards, Meet and Greet, Opera, Pennsylvania, Pine Valley, Rosemont Theatre, Soap, tribute

Chicago Band Map & Atlases at 1st A.V. Fest

Unless you’re some sort of magic snowman reading this blog in a Wi-Fi equipped freezer somewhere, you probably don’t want summer in Chicago to end. Part of the problem of losing the warm weather is it means we have to temporarily say goodbye to the gajillion music festivals that take place here. But before winter hits and the magic snowmen reclaim the streets, the pop-culture/entertainment website The A.V. Club is bringing us one more outdoor festival.

On September 10 and 11, the very first A.V. Fest will be held in Chicago. The fest, which features twelve indie rock bands, will take place outside The Hideout on Wabansia and Elston Avenues from 12pm to 10pm. Champaign, IL band Hum and North Carolina band Archers of Load are the headliners while local Chicago bands Maps & Atlases and Disappears will also be playing.

And the best part: IT’S FREE! But be sure to give the $10 suggested donation, a portion of which will benefit Rock for Kids. So go and enjoy some cool music in the city before you need to put on a parka to do so! For a complete schedule and to RSVP go to: http://www.avclub.com/fest/

David Lauer, Fall Intern

Tags: abc, archers of load, chicago, chicago bands, chicago charitable events, chicago events, chicago music festivals, disappears, free weekend events, hum, maps and atlases, music events, rock for kids, the a.v. club, the hideout, weekend events, windy city live

My 1st Katy Perry concert in Chicago was at The Underground over Lollapallooza weekend!

After I filmed my weekly segment on Thursdays at 9am on ABC TV’s “Windy City Live” today (click here to see it!), I had a ton of people asking me about my Katy Perry story that I told on air, saying she performed at one of our spots, The Underground, before she got BIG (before she even had a twitter account, now she has 8+million followers)! Totally true- here’s the video- it looks like she kissed me in it? I’m just saying…haha…

In case you don’t know, she is performing here tomorrow at All State Arena (the same time as Britney Spears at United Center?), and we are psyched to have her back! Enjoy the video!!!!!!

Tags: abc, abc's windy city live, allstate arena, billy dec, britney spears, chicago, chicago concerts, chicago summer concerts, chicago weekend events, katy perry, lollapalooza, the underground chicago, twitter followers, united center, windy city live

Behind the Scenes with Billy Dec – 5 Radio Shows, a Live TV Show on ABC & a PSA all in 5 hours!

I woke up at 5am this morning for a BIG press day with Billy.  We had to do 5 radio shows, a live tv show & a PSA all in 5 hours when he literally just stepped off a plane from France, Hungary, and Austria 12 hours prior.  When he initially told me about how much press he wanted to do BEFORE he was live on Windy City Live- I thought it was absurd, but in all the time I have known him, I can say he pushes himself to work beyond what most people think is feasible.  The main purpose behind all this press was to talk about two events that are the very important to him to support art & theatre in Chicago & raise scholarships for kids -  The Madhatter’s Ball & The Piven Theatre Gala.

The schedule of the day went as follows:
6am – Picked up  Chicago Reader, heard BD won “Best Person to Follow on Twitter”                                                                                                                                          6:15am – Car Pickup

6:30am – Stop at Rockit to pick up Burgers
6:45am – Live on Kiss FM with Angi Taylor at Brother Fred
7:30am – J & Julian Show on B96
7:40am – Fresh with Scotty & Rebecca
7:50am – K-Hits with Eddie & Jobo
8:30am – Make-up & Producer’s Session for ABC’s Windy City Live
9-10am – Live on ABC’s Windy City Live
11am – Steve Dahl Show
11:30am – PSA Shoot for Chicago’s Go Do Good Campaign that Connects Art to Action
1-3pm – Work at Rockit Ranch Productions
3pm – Call in with Andy Giersher

I took my camera with me to show you guys what it’s like to be Behind the Scenes when you are live on radio & tv!!! It was a crazy, fun-filled day, and I was shocked to see that Billy was still even standing to make it out that night! (Billy attended a party for Factor Models and worked at Sunda later that night.  I, on the other hand, was asleep by 10pm)

By the way, for those who follow Billy on facebook & twitter – You may have seen the picture of the bird that he posted that seemed to be injured right outside his office on that day.  I’m very happy to report that by the end of the day, the bird was saved thanks to the help from the Chicago Bird Collision Monitors – we will post a video we took and share the whole story here tomorrow!

-Amy

Tags: abc, abc windy city live, Amy Shah, andy giersher, angi taylor, B96.3, billy dec, brotha fred, chicago, chicago bird collision monitors, chicago events, chicago reader, chicago reader best of 2011, eddie and jobo, facebook, fresh 105.9, fundraiser, j and julian, jeremy piven, k-hits, kiss fm, lookingglass theatre, madhatter's ball, piven theatre workshop, psa, Radio, rockit, rockit bar and grill, scotty and rebecca, steve dahl, theatre, twitter, windy city live

Billy Dec joining ABC’s NEW SHOW filling “OPRAH” time slot called “Windy City Live!”

Shocking title I know – someone who beat me to the paper just texted it to me! Just wanted to confirm its true and that I couldn’t be more excited! Although I’m sad to see Oprah leave on the 25th, I’m thrilled to join the on-air team for the NEW ABC morning talk show filling her time slot (9a) the very next day (5/26) with such a wonderful group of talent, execs, crew…I can’t wait!

I’m most excited for you all to see my every Thursday segment about Entertainment/Buzz/Social Media/Events (set your DVR’s now just in case!).. But don’t just tune in then, as you never know when or where I might pop up elsewhere on the show… not to mention everyone on it rocks!

As always, follow me on www.twitter.com/BillyDec & www.facebook.com/BillyDec not only for what’s happening behind the scenes  & what’s to come, but also to shoot me any events, trends, stories… you think I should share on the show!! Speaking of, be sure to follow http://twitter.com/#!/WindyCityLIVE &  http://www.facebook.com/WindyCityLIVE?sk=wall as well!!

Shoutout to all on our team…President & General Manager Emily Barr, Executive Producer Marlaine Selip, Supervising Producer Cindy Patrasso, Senior Producer Hank Mendheim, Co-Host Ryan Chiaverini, Co-Host Val Warner, Producers Dan Barbossa, Mary Hynes, David Plummer and Matt Knutson, Producer/Editor Jared Hoffa, Director Greg Klazura, Associate Producers Jessie Kalin, Dawn Watkins, Ji Suk Yi and Lynne Wisnesfski and the Producer for my segments Emerald-Jane Hunter (who was my Producer when I Hosted her show on NBC!), all our fabulous interns Anna Simovska, Chelsea Collins, Courtney Mosley, Dana Weems, Myke Marinkovich, Steven Hurn… And the many many many other great people on set and behind the scenes that I can’t even name because the list is so long and wonderful.. Hope you all tune in and support!

Tags: abc, abc's windy city live, billy dec, chicago events, entertainment, facebook, last show, morning talk show, NBC, new show, news, oprah, oprah finale, oprah replacement, oprah show, oprah time slot, oprah winfrey, rockit, rockit bar, rockit bar and grill, rockit ranch, rockit ranch productions, ryan chiaverini, social media, sunda, twitter, underground, united center, val warner, windy city live

Billy Dec Eating Human Breast Milk Cheese on NBC's Today Show with Kathie Lee & Hoda

if following me on twitter you probably saw all the behind the scenes pics of me joining Sunda chef on set for his killer cooking demonstration on nbc’s the today show on what happened to be our first Sunda birthday!

well after we were done, we wandered on to The Today Show with Kathie lee and hoda set- and I heard “is someone hungry” so knowing me I raise my hand- proceeded to get directed to Kathie Lee and Hoda live on camera – and told to eat some cheese – which after found out it was human breast milk cheese! you must see the end – where this video cuts into the next day where they bring me up again!!!

Omg omg omg omg oh well- we sure represented chitown’s culinary loving scene!!!!!!!! True fans right?!??! omg. Cant take me anywhere – Happy 1st Birthday Sunda!

Tags: abc, breast milk, breast milk cheese, hoda kotb, kathy lee gifford, today show

chicago 2016 olympics w/ abc family's "greek" scott michael foster

love when i get to meet people living and working in other cities that were born and raised in random parts of illinois! not sure why? maybe its the midwest humble hardworking respect vibe traveling thru areas with a total different set of strengths (and weaknesses)? definitely felt that way when a girl in my office said i had to meet scott in los angeles because he really wanted to show support for 2016! enjoy! 

Btw, Its getting really crazy that my celebrity interview blog posting a day until I get to Copenhagen on oct 2nd is almost coming to an end… we only have 15 days left!!!!  Now more than ever we all need you to share these videos by phone, face to face, email, facebook, twitter… anyway possible to let the world know how great chicago (& the usa in general) is and how much we want to welcome the world for the greatest sport, cultural and friendship making event in history!

Tags: 2016, abc, abc family, chicago, chicago 2016, chicago 2016 olympics, greek, olympics, scott michael foster

chicago 2016 olympics w/ ben lyons & ben mankiewicz of abc's "at the movies"

just heard ben & ben just got dropped from the show! dang, too bad, such good guys….glad disney took some responsibility for their role backing my boys as professionals fulfilling their direction. http://tr.im/wWAD in honor of their contribution & efforts, i’m still honored to post this. i think they rock & had great things to say about our city & country that must be shared! 

i also am excited about this interview because “at the movies” is and always will be “a chicago institution” as ben says here, from the first days of the great gene siskel, and my man roger ebert! which by the way, i enjoyed having dinner with his wife chaz ebert a couple nights ago and she was telling me roger has a great new show in the works….congrats ebert family! i can’t wait to see it! 

remember all, how can you show your love for the chi (& the usa as a whole?) take one minute today to tell all your friends and contacts by email, twitter, facebook, phone calls, whatever….& ask all to listen to these wonderful personalities share their stories so the rest of the world knows how great our city (& country) is and how much we want to share & strengthen friendships with the rest of the world! don’t forget, i am posting one new celeb interview per day here until the oct 2nd announcement that chicago (& the usa) will be the home of the 2016 olympics! so keep checking out who’s next! thx and….best of luck to all!

Tags: abc, at the movies, ben lyons, ben mankiewicz, chicago, chicago 2016, chicago 2016 olympics, olympics