KPRC 2 anchors obsessed with Chicago?

What is it with KPRC 2 and its staff's obsession with Chicago? Could the Windy City be more important than the Bayou City to them? At news meetings, when someone says channel 2, does WBBM come to mind before KPRC?

I'm bringing this up because current and former KPRCers have recently been hired up there. Deep dish pizza anyone?

The latest is former KPRC 2 reporter Kris Gutierrez. Gutierrez will join CBS 2 Chicago WBBM as a morning anchor.

Gutierrez left KPRC in 2007 for Fox News. He is married to Krystle Gutierrez of Fox 4 KDFW who is obviously leaving for Chicago too.

Ready to take over NBC5 WMAQ mornings is current KPRC 2 weekend anchor Daniella Guzman. Yeah, right up against Gutierrez.

"I'll be heading to NBC 5 in March," Guzman told mikemcguff.com. "Opportunity knocked and I opened the door. I will miss Houston very much!"

That's not all of the KPRC crew in Chicago. In fact the most high profile talent seemed to have a television news death wish while working in Houston. KPRC viewers in the late 90s will remember TV stunt guy Rob Johnson, or the guy who sat next to Dominique Sachse.

Clearly his quest for sweeps stunt ratings paid off. Johnson went on to become a main anchor at WBBM Chicago (where Gutierrez was just hired). I just hope he doesn't have to drive a car into Lake Michigan and try to get out for the February ratings period. Brrrr.

KPRC is not the only station who has flirted with President Obama's former hometown. Fox 26 KRIV has sent some anchors there too.

Former Houston anchor Anna Davlantes has worked at several Chicago stations (currently Fox owned WFLD-Channel 32). Also at WFLD is former Fox 26 morning anchor Jan Jeffcoat.

Of course it could simply be that Chicago is market number 3 and Houston is market 10. The closer a market is to number 1 - the more pay and prestige for talent lucky enough to work there.

In these cases, the Chicago jobs were also steps up from what these folks were doing in Houston too.

Who knows, maybe KPRC morning anchor Jennifer Reyna could go to Chicago to become the next Oprah! (A shameless Reyna mention on my part to spike up my traffic. What, you think people read this blog for the good content?  Hah.) CONTACT: Leave me a Houston or Texas media news tip | COMMENT: Click to leave your thoughts on this post here