Changes to WLS-Channel 7's daytime lineup start Monday

Changes to WLS-Channel 7’s daytime lineup start Monday

By Lori Rackl

Starting Monday, a trio of daytime fixtures on WLS-Channel 7 will move back into the time slots they had for years.

Veteran soap opera “General Hospital,” which recently celebrated its 51st anniversary, returns to its 2 p.m. home, followed by “Inside Edition” and the popular quiz show “Jeopardy!” at 3 and 3:30 p.m., respectively.

“Rachael Ray” will join the ABC-owned station’s lineup at 1 p.m. starting a week from Monday, on Sept. 15.

This week, the 1 p.m. hour will be devoted to special editions of the Val Warner and Ryan Chiaverini-hosted local chatfest “Windy City Live,” which kicked off its fourth season this month in its regular 11 a.m. time slot.

WLS-Channel 7’s reshuffling of its daytime sked comes in the wake of the cancelation of Katie Couric’s syndicated talk show, which lasted only two seasons.

That would be one season more than Jeff Probst’s and Ricki Lake’s short-lived talkers, which launched around the same time as Couric’s.

Despite the high attrition rate, another former “Today” host is going to give the talk show gig a try. Meredith Vieira launches her eponymous program at 1 p.m. Monday on WMAQ-Channel 5.

In a statement issued by ABC 7, President and General Manager John Idler called the station’s roster “a solid lineup of programs for Chicago’s daytime audience.”

“Emmy award-winning, locally produced ‘Windy City Live’ is back at 11 a.m.,” he said. “‘Rachel Ray’ will be showcased in her new home at 1 p.m. as a perfect follow-up to ‘The Chew.’ And three popular daytime staples are returning to the time periods where viewers watched and enjoyed them for years: ‘General Hospital’ at 2 p.m., ‘Inside Edition’ at 3 p.m. and finally, ‘Jeopardy!’ at 3:30 p.m. leading into top-rated ABC 7 Eyewitness News at 4 p.m.”

WLS-Channel 7’s daytime lineup:

4:30 a.m.: ABC 7 EYEWITNESS NEWS THIS MORNING

7 a.m.: GOOD MORNING AMERICA

9 a.m.: LIVE! WITH KELLY AND MICHAEL

10 a.m.: THE VIEW

11 a.m. WINDY CITY LIVE (Special editions also running at 1 p.m. this week only)

12 p.m.: THE CHEW

1 p.m.: RACHAEL RAY (as of Sept. 15)

2 p.m.: GENERAL HOSPITAL

3 p.m.: INSIDE EDITION

3:30 p.m.: JEOPARDY!

4 p.m.: ABC 7 EYEWITNESS NEWS