Ryan Chiaverini

Ryan Chiaverini (born 1977)[1] is an American television personality, and Midwest Emmy Award winning co-host of Windy City Live (now Windy City Weekend) on ABC Chicago (WLS-TV). He is also the Lead Sports Anchor at ABC7 Chicago replacing Jim Rose who retired in September 2023.

Early life and education

[edit]

Chiaverini is from Corona, California.[2] His father, Eddie Chiaverini, is a professional guitarist and singer who was a member of the surf band The Lively Ones. Their most popular song, “Surf Rider” is featured in the 1994 film “Pulp Fiction” earning the band a platinum album. Ryan has four half-brothers[3] and is the twin brother of former NFL receiver Darrin Chiaverini (Ryan is 8 minutes older). They both attended the University of Colorado Boulder. Ryan was a “walk on” for the football team eventually earning a full athletic scholarship. Ryan earned a degree in broadcast journalism and has had a successful career in sports journalism and television hosting. Darrin was drafted by the Cleveland Browns (5th round) in 1999. He holds the Browns franchise record for catches in a single game by a rookie (11). He went onto play 4 seasons in the NFL (Browns/Cowboys/Falcons) and played professionally in the AFL for several years before becoming a college football coach.[4]

Career

[edit]

Chiaverini began his career as a weekend sports anchor at KFBB in Great Falls, Montana,[1] then at KTVQ in Billings. In 2002, he became a sports reporter at KUSA in Denver, Colorado.[4] He spent four seasons covering the Denver Broncos and served as a fill-in host for the Mike Shanahan Show and John Elway's Crush Zone. In 2006, he moved to WLS-TV, where he was promoted to sports anchor for the weekend news broadcasts and hosted the station's pre-game coverage of the Chicago Bears, the Chicago Huddle.[2][5]

In 2011, WLS-TV launched a 9:00 am weekday talk show with the working title ”Morning Rush” to replace the iconic and coveted Oprah Winfrey Show. After several rounds and months of auditions, Chiaverini was named co-host alongside Val Warner; more than 500 people had applied.[2][6] Ryan is credited with naming the show Windy City Live.[7]

In September 2021, after a successful 10 year daily run Windy City Live became a weekly program, Windy City Weekend; starting in 2022, Chiaverini also became a fill-in weekday sports anchor on ABC 7.[8]

In November 2023, Chiaverini was promoted to ABC 7 Lead Sports Anchor. He currently anchors sports on ABC 7's top rated newscasts weekdays at 5pm, 6pm and 10 p.m. [9]

Acting

[edit]

In 2021, Chiaverini played a lawyer in the Lifetime TV movie Switched Before Birth.[10] He has also had small roles on Showtime’s “Shameless” & ABC’s “General Hospital” along with other TV series and independent films.

Awards

[edit]

In 2013, Chiaverini shared the Chicago/Midwest regional Emmy Award for Program Host/Moderator;[11] he won the award outright in 2017.[12][13] Also in 2013, he shared in the regional Emmy for Interview/Discussion Programming awarded to Windy City Live for a special on violence,[11] and in 2020-2023 he was one of the recipients of the Chicago/Midwest regional Emmy for Special Event Coverage, for ABC7’s popular New Years Eve show Countdown Chicago. [14]

Personal life

[edit]

In 2011, New City named Chiaverini "best-looking male local TV personality",[15] and in 2012, Modern Luxury magazine named him among Chicago's most eligible bachelors.[16]

Chiaverini is a hobby singer/guitarist. Having lost his younger brother to suicide, in 2014 he wrote and recorded a song called "Chicago" to benefit the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.[3][17] In 2019, after his mother's death from cancer, he released "This Is Country" with a link for donations to cancer research.[18] He has also performed at a media charity event known as "Newsapalooza", in 2008 with Richard Marx[19]

He has continued to work for suicide awareness and cancer research, speaking at the annual Out of the Darkness Walk[3] and emceeing cancer fundraising events.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "Ryan Chiaverini". A Drink With. February 1, 2012. Retrieved October 3, 2023.
  2. ^ a b c "Ryan Chiaverini". ABC 7 News. Retrieved October 3, 2023.
  3. ^ a b c Jhabvala, Nicki (May 12, 2020). "'We need to talk about it': CU's Darrin Chiaverini, twin Ryan open up about loss". The Athletic. Retrieved October 3, 2023.
  4. ^ a b "Plati-'Tudes". University of Colorado Buffaloes. May 21, 2002. Retrieved October 3, 2023.
  5. ^ "Ryan Chiaverini's 2009 Chicago Huddle Blog". ABC 7 News. September 28, 2009. Retrieved January 31, 2013.
  6. ^ Feder, Robert (February 17, 2011). "ABC 7 picks Chiaverini & Warner as Oprah talk show replacements". Time Out Chicago. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016.
  7. ^ "Windy City LIVE" turns 10 on YouTube
  8. ^ Feder, Robert (March 3, 2022). "Robservations: Ryan Chiaverini turns up on sports; Reader honors 'Best of Chicago'; ABC 7 adds digital producers". Daily Herald. Retrieved October 3, 2023.
  9. ^ Malonepublished, Michael (November 10, 2023). "WLS Chicago Names Ryan Chiaverini as Lead Sports Anchor". Broadcasting Cable. Retrieved November 11, 2023.
  10. ^ Feder, Robert (April 7, 2021). "Robservations: Ryan Chiaverini moonlights as lawyer in Lifetime movie". Daily Herald. Retrieved October 3, 2023.
  11. ^ a b "2012–2013 Emmy Winners" (PDF). National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Chicago/Midwest Chapter. November 2013.
  12. ^ "2016–2017 Chicago/Midwest Regional Emmy Awards Winner List" (PDF). National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Chicago/Midwest Chapter. November 2017.
  13. ^ "ABC7 honored with 9 Midwest Emmy Awards". ABC 7 News. December 2, 2017. Retrieved October 3, 2023.
  14. ^ "Congratulations to the 2020 Chicago Emmy recipients". Reel Chicago. November 25, 2020. Retrieved October 3, 2023.
  15. ^ Hieggelke, Brian (December 14, 2011). "Best-looking male local TV personality". New City. Retrieved October 3, 2023.
  16. ^ Hurwitz, Gabrielle (April 3, 2012). "Most Wanted". Modern Luxury. Archived from the original on April 8, 2012.
  17. ^ Channick, Robert (August 12, 2014). "ABC 7's Ryan Chiaverini records song to benefit suicide awareness". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved October 3, 2023.
  18. ^ Feder, Robert (June 21, 2019). "Ryan Chiaverini to debut 'This Is Country' music video today". Daily Herald. Retrieved October 3, 2023.
  19. ^ "Richard Marx and Ryan Chiaverini - Newsapalooza". YouTube. Retrieved January 31, 2013.
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ryan_Chiaverini&oldid=1257635122"