NBC 5 Chicago is putting a spotlight on one of Chicago’s most recognizable weather families with the launch of Meet the Millers, a new feature celebrating the next generation of forecasting talent carrying on a Windy City legacy.
The campaign pairs longtime Chicago weather icon Jerry Taft alongside his son, NBC 5 meteorologist Kevin Jeanes, in a warm, conversational-style piece that leans into family history, forecasting culture, and the uniquely personal connection Chicago viewers have with their weather teams.
Branded as “Chicago’s First Family of Weather,” the spot positions the father-and-son duo as both familiar television personalities and symbols of continuity in a city obsessed with weather.
And honestly, if you grow up in Chicago, meteorologists become weirdly important figures in your life.
Snowstorms. Tornado warnings. School closings. Summer heat waves. Lake effect chaos. They’re practically local celebrities.
The campaign’s visual tone keeps things intimate and approachable, featuring the pair seated side by side in front of weather monitors as they reflect on forecasting, family, and life in Chicago television.
Jerry Taft remains one of the most beloved weather personalities in Chicago broadcasting history after decades on local television, while Kevin Jeanes has carved out his own following at NBC 5 with a more modern, digital-era presence.
Together, the campaign taps into something increasingly rare in local TV news: generational trust.
Not manufactured nostalgia. Actual lived-in familiarity.
The Meet the Millers initiative also reflects a broader trend among local stations leaning into personality-driven branding as audiences continue to shift toward streaming and social platforms. Rather than positioning meteorologists as interchangeable anchors behind a weather wall, stations are increasingly emphasizing authenticity, storytelling, and personal connection.
Chicago, especially, has always treated weather coverage differently.
Here, it’s practically a sport.
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