“Tonight with Lou Canellis” presented by Toyota – Premieres Monday, September 14 at 6:30 PM CT
Chicago, IL (September 9, 2026) – NBC 5 Chicago (WMAQ-TV) has announced it will launch Tonight with Lou Canellis presented by Toyota, a live, half-hour weeknight Chicago sports, entertainment, pop culture, and special guests program hosted by veteran Chicago media personality / NBC 5 News sports anchor Lou Canellis. Tonight with Lou Canellis presented by Toyota will debut on Monday, September 14 at 6:30 p.m. CT.
Canellis, one of Chicago’s most popular media personalities throughout his more than 40-year career, will bring his signature passion, insight, and love for the city to the new Monday-through-Friday program. Each night, Canellis will lead lively conversations on the day’s hottest topics while welcoming current and former athletes, coaches, celebrity entertainers, newsmakers, and other special guests for timely, engaging discussions. Plus, Tonight with Lou Canellis will take viewers directly to the heart of the action with select live remote editions from some of Chicago’s biggest sporting, entertainment, and cultural events.
On-air contributors to Tonight with Lou Canellis presented by Toyota will include former Chicago Bears head coach / NBC 5 Sports Sunday Bears/NFL analyst Dave Wannstedt, who will appear in Monday editions recapping the Bears’ previous game and on Thursdays with a preview of the team’s upcoming game. In addition, viewers can look forward to regular appearances by members of the award-winning NBC 5 News team throughout the week. Friday editions of Tonight with Lou Canellis will be hosted by veteran Chicago sports media personality / 104.3 “The Score” host Laurence Holmes.
In addition to Canellis’ candid monologue on the day’s biggest stories to open the show, recurring featured segments on Tonight with Lou Canellis will include “Opening Drive,” a fast-paced look at the night’s leading topics; “Extra Points,” in which Canellis answers questions submitted by viewers and fans through social media; “Who Ya Got?” offering expert analysis and perspectives on upcoming matchups; and “By the Numbers,” spotlighting the statistics behind the headlines. The program will also feature expanded breaking news coverage, flashback segments on the biggest moments in Chicago history, viewer trivia questions and more.
“Chicago isn’t just my hometown, it’s the only home I’ve ever known,” said Canellis. “I was born here, raised here, went to high school and college here, and spent my entire sports broadcasting career here, so the opportunity to host a show that celebrates the people, stories and experiences that make this city so great is truly a dream come true.”
“Lou has built a special connection with Chicago audiences through his authenticity, passion, and deep love for this city,” added Kevin Cross, President/General Manager, NBCUniversal Local Chicago. “Whether it’s sports, entertainment, culture, or the people who shape our community, Lou brings a perspective that resonates deeply with Chicago viewers. We’re excited to build a show around his passion for our city and his ability to connect with audiences every night.”
NOTE: Tonight with Lou Canellis presented by Toyota can also be viewed on the NBC 5 Chicago News live streaming channel, NBCChicago.com and the NBC Chicago mobile app. The NBC 5 Chicago News live streaming channel is also available for viewing on Peacock, Roku, Samsung TV Plus, Amazon Fire TV, Xumo Play, Google Play, Freevee, TCLtv+ and Local Now.
ADDITIONAL SEPTEMBER PROGRAMMING NOTES: Immediately following the Monday, Sept. 14 premiere of Tonight with Lou Canellis, NBC 5 will present live coverage of the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards beginning at 7:00 p.m. Also beginning Sept. 14, NBC 5 News at 11am will expand to a full hour on weekdays, airing from 11:00 a.m. to noon, while NBC 5’s popular entertainment and lifestyle program, Chicago Today, will move to a 30-minute format, airing weekdays from noon to 12:30 p.m.
ABOUT NBCUNIVERSAL LOCAL CHICAGO
NBCUniversal Local Chicago, a part of NBCUniversal Local, is the home of NBC 5 (WMAQ-TV) and Telemundo Chicago (WSNS-TV). Together, the duopoly serves diverse English- and Spanish-speaking audiences in the third largest U.S. television market. The NBC and Telemundo-owned stations deliver the latest local news, consumer, and investigative reports across multiple platforms, including linear TV, streaming, and digital. Their coverage includes Chicago’s most accurate forecast, extensive local sports coverage, original documentaries and series, and lifestyle and entertainment programming through “Chicago Today.” All original content is available on-air, digitally via NBCChicago.com and TelemundoChicago.com ,and via the stations’ mobile apps. Viewers can also access the NBC 5 Chicago News 24/7 live streaming channel on Peacock, Roku, Samsung TV, Amazon Fire TV, and other supported platforms.
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MEDIA CONTACT
Jeff Nuich
jeff.nuich@nbcuni.com
