Who is Tom Skilling? Iconic Chicago weatherman makes 'The Bear' cameo
Hannah HudnallThe final season of "The Bear" wrapped with a special guest appearance from a Chicago icon.
Joining formidable "Star Man" Dearborn (or so the team thinks) on one of the most hectic days of The Bear's existence, real-world weatherman Tom Skilling got to experience the restaurant's delicious courses – while oblivious to the nearby chaos in the kitchen.
"Cousin, Tom Skilling is here," Richie announced in Episode 7, to which Carmy responded, "I have no clue who that is."
Cutting in, Syd said, "I love him," speaking for many long-time Chicago natives.
Who is Tom Skilling?
Skilling joined Chicago's WGN-TV in 1978, serving as chief meteorologist on WGN Midday News for more than 30 years.
"Known for his in-depth reports, enthusiasm, and use of state-of-the-art technology," Skilling became somewhat of a leading authority on weather in the Chicagoland, according to his WGN bio.
From his position at WKKD Radio in Aurora at age 14 to his first television job at WLXT-Channel 60 at 18, Skilling dedicated nearly his entire teen and adult life to weather.
Some of his notable accomplishments include helping coordinate the Tribune Weather Center, hosting a Tornado and Severe Storms Seminar at Fermilab for over 38 years and being the voice behind the Chicago Tribune's "Ask Tom Why" weather column.
He was also recognized by the Illinois Broadcasters Association as its 2018 Broadcast Pioneer.
After appearing on WGN for over 45 years, Skilling retired in February 2024.
Despite this, Skilling continues to speak at events across the Chicagoland, posts about local weather on Facebook and even makes occasional appearances on WGN to discuss severe weather events, as some Chicago Reddit users gushed in recent weeks.
"The Bear" truly showed its cultural knowledge about the Windy City in its inclusion of Skilling in the penultimate episode of the series.
Watch 'The Bear' Season 5 on TV, streaming
All eight episodes of the final season are available to binge on Hulu, with the show also airing weekly episodes on FX through Aug. 6.
The show will also air on FX starting with two episodes on Thursday, June 25 at 9 p.m. ET/PT followed by weekly episodes through August 6.
Watch 'The Bear' Season 5 on HuluCONTRIBUTING: Saman Shafiq, USA TODAY
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