How does a news broadcast deliver highlights when none are available? If you\u2019re Josh Frydman and Jarrett Payton of Chicago\u2019s WGN, you improvise new highlights.<\/p>\n
As Frydman shared on X (formerly Twitter) noted, \u201cthe server that stores all of the station\u2019s video content\u201d was down. But the broadcast still had to show highlights of Thursday\u2019s Milwaukee Brewers vs. Chicago Cubs and Game 1 of a doubleheader between the St. Louis Cardinals vs. Chicago White Sox, which were both completed earlier in the day. Or, at least it had to show something vaguely resembling those games.<\/p>\n
So, while Frydman described what happened, Payton, to the best of his abilities, acted it out.<\/p>\n
It started with Payton in a Cubs jersey taking a left-handed batting stance. While Frydman said that Pete Crow-Armstrong hit his 20th home run, Payton took a swing at an imaginary pitch, then trotted around the \u201cbases.\u201d Then it came time for the not-so-good news, when Milwaukee\u2019s Caleb Durbin hit a home run against Chicago\u2019s Jameson Taillon. Payton mimed throwing the pitch, then watched it sail out of the park.<\/p>\n
Live TV waits for no one, including the server that stores all of the station\u2019s video content when it goes down. So what\u2019s a sportscast without video highlights? Improv theater with @paytonsun<\/a>!<\/p>\n More: https:\/\/t.co\/FCAiUYrnxB<\/a> @WGNNews<\/a> @RickTarsitano<\/a> @GNSportsTV<\/a> @WGNMorningNews<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/7BBAGGXjnP<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Josh Frydman (@Josh_Frydman) June 19, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n The Cubs ultimately lost the game 8-7. And unfortunately for Chicago\u2019s baseball fans, things didn\u2019t go any better for the White Sox, as we soon found out.<\/p>\n Payton, this time in a White Sox jersey, mimed Chicago pitcher Sean Burke, who struck out seven hitters. He also returned to the batter\u2019s box to demonstrate Michael Taylor\u2019s home run, which put the White Sox ahead. Payton then returned to the batter\u2019s box one more time, this time as St. Louis\u2019 Yohel Pozo, who delivered a go-ahead hit in the eighth inning, which stood as the game-winner. And while Payton was still wearing his White Sox jersey, the hit was indeed for the Cardinals.<\/p>\n White Sox highlights as well! @paytonsun<\/a> @WGNNews<\/a> https:\/\/t.co\/aErOUAZ8at<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/WfbGtYlFFA<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Josh Frydman (@Josh_Frydman) June 20, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n As is the case in so many fields, the best announcers are often the ones who can make things work<\/a> when the original plan falls apart. That\u2019s certainly what Frydman and Payton did here. They did the best impersonation of a baseball game that they could, given what was available, and made it entertaining in the process.<\/p>\n \t