..and other media news of note:
- Kevin Manno is exiting his afternoon gig at alt-rock WKQX-FM (Q101) to take a job hosting a yet-to-be named weekday show on MTV according to CRM. The new show debuts on September 20 and is scheduled to air weekdays at 5 p.m. Manno's old shift is being filled temporarily by James VanOdsol.
This marks the third Chicago radio personality to exit for a cable network in recent years. In 2007, former WPWX-FM (Power 92) midday personality Rocsi left to co-host 106 & Park for BET and former WLUP-FM afternoon personality Eddie Webb exited last year to host a syndicated radio show for VH1.
MTV, BET, and VH-1 are all owned by Viacom, Inc.
- Meanwhile, Mike North has a new gig as well - he has been added to the stable of hosts at Fox Sports Radio. North was recently co-host of the recently canceled Monsters & Money in the Morning.
- Also on the outs: Maureen Ryan, who recently exited her TV critic gig at the Chicago Tribune after thirteen years. As of next week, she will join AOL in the same capacity.
- As you know by now, former Governor Rod Blagoveich was found gulity on only one count on Tuesday at his corruption trial. Robert Feder of Vocalo has a wrap-up on how Chicago's TV stations covered the verdict and its aftermath. The stunner here is the lackluster coverage provided by Tribune CW affiliate WGN-TV - who usually is at the top of their game on breaking news events (Court Jester, you've done it again.) WGN's coverage was also panned on numerous message boards.
- To syndication: Access: Hollywood Live! announced its new costs Wednesday - current Access Hollywood host Billy Bush and former ESPN personality Kit Hoover. The daytime hour is being tested on twelve stations this fall, including NBC-owned WMAQ-TV. Yes, you get to see Billy Bush an extra hour a day.
- And the absurd item of the week goes to TBS' 90-episode pickup of new comedy Are We There Yet?, based on the movie franchise and produced by Ice Cube. The bland, generic sitcom was tested two months ago on TBS and drew two million viewers on average. Debmar-Mercury now plans to sell the show in broadcast syndication. You know the show is bad when even NBC passes on it.
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