Syndication notes

- As reported here last week, CBS Television Distribution's new hour-long medical talk show The Doctors (working title) has cleared 50 percent of the country, and has been declared a firm go for next fall. It has been confirmed that Weigel's WCIU-TV has picked up the show, but in a surprise move, the program will air in Chicago at 5 p.m. The program is being targeted for morning time-periods.

WCIU is currently airing The Insider and Half & Half at 5 and 5:30, respectively.

- Speaking of CBS Television Distribution, the massive entity announced today it will not be at the NATPE convention in Las Vegas at all in January. This is a blow for NATPE, who has been trying to keep its convention afloat for several years with the absence of major syndicators and their booths at the show. In recent years, many syndicators made their presence in luxury suites. This comes one day after Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution announced that it would return to the NATPE convention floor.

- Tyra Banks has signed a multi-year deal with Warner Bros. to not only continue hosting her talk show, but also to develop scripted and reality fare for the studio, as well as a series-development deal with the CW though her Bankable Productions. The America's Next Top Model host is now based in New York, where her talk show and the 10th cycle and future cycles of Top Model now shoot.

The move of Top Model back to New York will hopefully improve the product and look of the show, which it has sorely lacked since it left the Big Apple after the first cycle. Since then, early episodes of each cycle has shot in Los Angeles. Hopefully, Ms. Banks will appear on Top Model more often than she is now.

If you have read this blog lately, then you know that yours truly gave Tyra Banks the first ever The Worst Person (or People) in Media This Week award, due to last week's episode of Top Model, where she railroaded a contestant. Hopefully, she doesn't win this again. You don't want to be in the same company with louts Bill O'Reilly, the FCC's Kevin Martin, and the Parents Television Council. Already, all three are nominees for this week's award, and it's just Tuesday.