Media Rights Capital, who is buying time to program CW's Sunday night lineup, has canceled Valentine and Easy Money.
Both programs had achieved numbers usually seen for late-night infomercials and religious programming - really bad. And I mean WJYS-TV, Channel 62 bad.
Yep, you know you failed when your show can't even outdraw Joel Osteen and Paula White Today.
No word on any replacements, but with numbers these low, it's perhaps time to give Sunday nights back to the affiliates next season, as they can't be happy with these ratings.
Friday, October 31, 2008
Studs Terkel dies
A true Chicago treasure has passed away at 96. Louis "Studs" Terkel, the literary giant and Pulitzer Prize winner who had a radio show on WFMT for an amazing 45-year run, died Friday afternoon.
Terkel was a well-known author, activist, and Chicago icon. His latest book, P.S. : Further Thoughts From A Lifetime of Listening, was due out this month. His first, Giants of Jazz, came out in 1957. In all, he wrote eighteen books.
Terkel also contributed to Chicago's television history: In 1950, he hosted a unique talk show called Studs Place, which was basically set in a tavern. It was there people discovered his interview style, where he basically engaged in conversations with his guests.
Terkel was a well-known author, activist, and Chicago icon. His latest book, P.S. : Further Thoughts From A Lifetime of Listening, was due out this month. His first, Giants of Jazz, came out in 1957. In all, he wrote eighteen books.
Terkel also contributed to Chicago's television history: In 1950, he hosted a unique talk show called Studs Place, which was basically set in a tavern. It was there people discovered his interview style, where he basically engaged in conversations with his guests.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
"King of the Hill" canceled
After a run of fourteen seasons, King of the Hill is stepping down from its throne.
Fox officials confirmed the venerable animated series will end its long run during the 2009-10 season, which it is scheduled for thirteen episodes.
The program, created by Mike Judge, was about a propane salesman living in Texas with his wife Peggy and his son Bobby, along with niece Luanne and his three hapless buddies. Judge (who also created the controversial Beavis & Butt-head for MTV) voiced the lead character, Hank Hill in a voice similar to the Tom Andersen character on Beavis.
Hill debuted on January 12, 1997 and became a big success, but instantly faltered when it moved to Tuesday nights during the 1998-99 season, when it went up against ABC's Home Improvement. Hill moved back to Sundays in the 1999-2000 season, where it has been ever since.
Hill earned $3 million per episode in off-network syndication sales, but the program had been deemed a disappointment for stations, which thus far, has failed to measure up to the syndication success of The Simpsons. Hill is currently in its eighth season in off-net syndication.
Meanwhile, Fox has renewed American Dad for a fifth season, basically ensuring a place for the animated series at the syndication poker table.
Fox officials confirmed the venerable animated series will end its long run during the 2009-10 season, which it is scheduled for thirteen episodes.
The program, created by Mike Judge, was about a propane salesman living in Texas with his wife Peggy and his son Bobby, along with niece Luanne and his three hapless buddies. Judge (who also created the controversial Beavis & Butt-head for MTV) voiced the lead character, Hank Hill in a voice similar to the Tom Andersen character on Beavis.
Hill debuted on January 12, 1997 and became a big success, but instantly faltered when it moved to Tuesday nights during the 1998-99 season, when it went up against ABC's Home Improvement. Hill moved back to Sundays in the 1999-2000 season, where it has been ever since.
Hill earned $3 million per episode in off-network syndication sales, but the program had been deemed a disappointment for stations, which thus far, has failed to measure up to the syndication success of The Simpsons. Hill is currently in its eighth season in off-net syndication.
Meanwhile, Fox has renewed American Dad for a fifth season, basically ensuring a place for the animated series at the syndication poker table.
Emmis cuts positions in Chicago
The economic downturn has affected every corner of our economy, and the radio industry is no exception. Layoffs were prevalent today at Emmis' classic rocker WLUP-FM (The Loop) and WKQX-FM (Q101). A total of five individuals were laid off.
The causality list: WLUP Program Director Bill Klaproth; Imaging Director Kevyn Howrd; Marketing Director Tommy King; Sales Assistant Carly Keenan; and Webmaster Jessie Goodman.
Replacing Klaproth as PD at WLUP is afternoon jock Eddie Webb, and two others were promoted to promotions - Jeannine Moose and Jimi Hendrix (no, not that Jimi Hendrix...)
The causality list: WLUP Program Director Bill Klaproth; Imaging Director Kevyn Howrd; Marketing Director Tommy King; Sales Assistant Carly Keenan; and Webmaster Jessie Goodman.
Replacing Klaproth as PD at WLUP is afternoon jock Eddie Webb, and two others were promoted to promotions - Jeannine Moose and Jimi Hendrix (no, not that Jimi Hendrix...)
The six degrees of Chicago radio seperation
Patrick Kampert of the Chicago Tribune gives you six reasons why morning radio has become so tame (or lame... yeah, you saw that one coming.)
Among the factors include the absence of Howard Stern, the crackdown of lewd material by the FCC (which is one of the reasons Stern left terrestrial radio), and the maturing of the jocks themselves - not to mention the audience.
Then there's cost-cutting - another reason why don't see the "morning zoos" around anymore.
Mix all of these together and a you have a recipe for morning radio "jumping the shark."
Among the factors include the absence of Howard Stern, the crackdown of lewd material by the FCC (which is one of the reasons Stern left terrestrial radio), and the maturing of the jocks themselves - not to mention the audience.
Then there's cost-cutting - another reason why don't see the "morning zoos" around anymore.
Mix all of these together and a you have a recipe for morning radio "jumping the shark."
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
T Dog's Groovy Grab Bag
Another edition of The Groovy Grab Bag:
- A report in the New York Post states the long-running The Simpsons may be picked up for not one but three more years, taking the program through 2012. After this season, The Simpsons will become the longest-running scripted program in television history (the all-time champ is NBC's Meet the Press, which has been on since 1947.)
Also, CBS Television Distribution's daily strips Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy! have contracts running in syndication until 2012. Both have been running since 1975 (1983 in syndication) and 1984, respectively.
- Your tax money at work, or at least Canada's: The CBC (the nation's public broadcaster) is spending $24 million on HD broadcasting trucks. It's nice to know you can see the Toronto Maple Leafs lose on Hockey Night in Canada in glorious high-definition.
- The long national nightmare is over: Cloris Leachman is finally done with Dancing With the Stars. Okay everyone, it's safe to come out of your homes now.
- Another Monday, another rock-bottom ratings low for Heroes: The NBC drama finished fourth with a weak 4.9 household rating and a 7 household share, according to Nielsen. What the linked article doesn't tell you, is that Heroes tied for first in the 8 p.m. Central hour among adults 18-49 - but with only a 3.9 rating, a season-low and nabbed 8.15 million viewers, also a season-low.
Heroes won't air this coming Monday, but at least it gives people (including yours truly) a week off from griping about it.
- A report in the New York Post states the long-running The Simpsons may be picked up for not one but three more years, taking the program through 2012. After this season, The Simpsons will become the longest-running scripted program in television history (the all-time champ is NBC's Meet the Press, which has been on since 1947.)
Also, CBS Television Distribution's daily strips Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy! have contracts running in syndication until 2012. Both have been running since 1975 (1983 in syndication) and 1984, respectively.
- Your tax money at work, or at least Canada's: The CBC (the nation's public broadcaster) is spending $24 million on HD broadcasting trucks. It's nice to know you can see the Toronto Maple Leafs lose on Hockey Night in Canada in glorious high-definition.
- The long national nightmare is over: Cloris Leachman is finally done with Dancing With the Stars. Okay everyone, it's safe to come out of your homes now.
- Another Monday, another rock-bottom ratings low for Heroes: The NBC drama finished fourth with a weak 4.9 household rating and a 7 household share, according to Nielsen. What the linked article doesn't tell you, is that Heroes tied for first in the 8 p.m. Central hour among adults 18-49 - but with only a 3.9 rating, a season-low and nabbed 8.15 million viewers, also a season-low.
Heroes won't air this coming Monday, but at least it gives people (including yours truly) a week off from griping about it.
CBS, Tribune hook up for new T.D Jakes show
CBS Television Distribution has announced it has cleared a new talk show featuring preacher T.D. Jakes on the Tribune station group beginning in September 2009.
The Jakes project is being produced by Stage 29 Productions, who is headed by Jay McGraw, son of talk show host Dr. Phil. Already, Stage 29 is producing The Doctors for CBS.
T.D. Jakes is a pastor at The Potter House, a mega-church in the Dallas-Fort Worth area with about 30,000 members. He is also a successful author and has appeared on The Tom Joyner Morning Show (which is also based in Dallas.)
The program is expected to air on all the Tribune stations, including WGN-TV in Chicago. However, it is unclear what time period the show will end up. A possibility may be at 2 p.m., where The Steve Wilkos Show currently airs, if the show doesn't come back for a third season (Wilkos' season-to date rating is 0.9.)
It also remains to be seen how a show featuring a preacher will fit into a daytime lineup of a station group that features schlocky talk shows hosted by Maury Povich and Jerry Springer.
The Jakes project is being produced by Stage 29 Productions, who is headed by Jay McGraw, son of talk show host Dr. Phil. Already, Stage 29 is producing The Doctors for CBS.
T.D. Jakes is a pastor at The Potter House, a mega-church in the Dallas-Fort Worth area with about 30,000 members. He is also a successful author and has appeared on The Tom Joyner Morning Show (which is also based in Dallas.)
The program is expected to air on all the Tribune stations, including WGN-TV in Chicago. However, it is unclear what time period the show will end up. A possibility may be at 2 p.m., where The Steve Wilkos Show currently airs, if the show doesn't come back for a third season (Wilkos' season-to date rating is 0.9.)
It also remains to be seen how a show featuring a preacher will fit into a daytime lineup of a station group that features schlocky talk shows hosted by Maury Povich and Jerry Springer.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
T Dog's Groovy Grab Bag - The X Edition
- CBS X's out The Ex List - Yeah, the lead in this show is hot. And I mean very hot. But that alone won't bring the viewers to the set. CBS dropped The Ex List from its Friday after four episodes, and is being replaced by NCIS repeats. But man, I wish I was on her "Ex List"... Somebody, splash cold water on me!
- Beaumont's KBTV has X'd out NBC - Okay, where was I... oh - yes, the Nexstar-owned station in Beaumont, Texas announced it was switching to Fox effective on January 1, 2009. No word on who will assume the NBC affiliation. NBC currently ranks fourth in prime-time and has struggled out of the gate this young season. Earlier this year, Fox grabbed Tribune's KSWB-TV from The CW.
Of course, this isn't the first time an affiliate dumped a Big 3 network. In a deal that shocked the broadcasting world in 1994, New World Communications switched twelve of its Big 3 network affiliates to Fox, with CBS losing eight stations.
NBC went through the same phoenoemon in the late 1970's and early 1980's (when they were in the third place), with affiliates in Atlanta, Minneapolis, Charlotte, San Diego, and Green Bay jumping ship to ABC, with Baltimore's station jumping to CBS (though CBS actually cut ties with then-affiliate WMAR-TV, and hooked up with NBC affiliate WBAL-TV in 1981, because of too many network pre-emptions. NBC returned to WBAL in 1995 after WMAR dumped NBC for ABC and WJZ-TV became a CBS affiliate. WMAR's pre-emptions would continue, with the station keeping The Tonight Show off the air for a few years.)
WPIX brings back the X- WPIX-TV in New York is returning to its "PIX" branding, effective in December. The Tribune-owned station, which signed on in 1948, is joining other Tribune stations de-emphasizing its CW branding. The station branded itself as "WB 11" (when it was a WB network affiliate) and later "CW 11" before deciding to return to its "PIX" branding, last used in 1994.
The re-branding effort is in no way a retraction from The CW, which has enjoyed ratings gains and buzz from Gossip Girl, One Tree Hill, and 90210 this young season.
The move also bring back its classic "Circle 11" logo, which had been used for decades, and is re-branding its newscasts "PIX Morning News" and "PIX News at Ten."
In addition to its CW programming, WPIX airs syndicated fare such as Maury, Jerry Springer, Judge Mathis, The Honeymooners, The Jeffersons, Family Guy, Two and a Half Men, The Odd Couple, According to Jim, and the return of a longtime staple - Star Trek. The stations also airs New York Mets games. (Check out the comments section here.)
- Beaumont's KBTV has X'd out NBC - Okay, where was I... oh - yes, the Nexstar-owned station in Beaumont, Texas announced it was switching to Fox effective on January 1, 2009. No word on who will assume the NBC affiliation. NBC currently ranks fourth in prime-time and has struggled out of the gate this young season. Earlier this year, Fox grabbed Tribune's KSWB-TV from The CW.
Of course, this isn't the first time an affiliate dumped a Big 3 network. In a deal that shocked the broadcasting world in 1994, New World Communications switched twelve of its Big 3 network affiliates to Fox, with CBS losing eight stations.
NBC went through the same phoenoemon in the late 1970's and early 1980's (when they were in the third place), with affiliates in Atlanta, Minneapolis, Charlotte, San Diego, and Green Bay jumping ship to ABC, with Baltimore's station jumping to CBS (though CBS actually cut ties with then-affiliate WMAR-TV, and hooked up with NBC affiliate WBAL-TV in 1981, because of too many network pre-emptions. NBC returned to WBAL in 1995 after WMAR dumped NBC for ABC and WJZ-TV became a CBS affiliate. WMAR's pre-emptions would continue, with the station keeping The Tonight Show off the air for a few years.)
WPIX brings back the X- WPIX-TV in New York is returning to its "PIX" branding, effective in December. The Tribune-owned station, which signed on in 1948, is joining other Tribune stations de-emphasizing its CW branding. The station branded itself as "WB 11" (when it was a WB network affiliate) and later "CW 11" before deciding to return to its "PIX" branding, last used in 1994.
The re-branding effort is in no way a retraction from The CW, which has enjoyed ratings gains and buzz from Gossip Girl, One Tree Hill, and 90210 this young season.
The move also bring back its classic "Circle 11" logo, which had been used for decades, and is re-branding its newscasts "PIX Morning News" and "PIX News at Ten."
In addition to its CW programming, WPIX airs syndicated fare such as Maury, Jerry Springer, Judge Mathis, The Honeymooners, The Jeffersons, Family Guy, Two and a Half Men, The Odd Couple, According to Jim, and the return of a longtime staple - Star Trek. The stations also airs New York Mets games. (Check out the comments section here.)
Yeah, I'm making a lot of friends...
Click here and scroll down.
And I actually found myself defending Philadelphia. Ewwww.... (only kidding.)
And maybe yours truly needs to tone down the know-it-all rhetoric a bit. It really gets you nowhere in life (if I want to make myself look like an ass, I'll do it here and not on other boards...)
And I actually found myself defending Philadelphia. Ewwww.... (only kidding.)
And maybe yours truly needs to tone down the know-it-all rhetoric a bit. It really gets you nowhere in life (if I want to make myself look like an ass, I'll do it here and not on other boards...)
Monday, October 27, 2008
"This" launches Nov. 1
What's "this" you ask? This TV.
The new classic movie digital channel from MGM and Weigel finally debuts on Saturday on WCIU digital channel 26.4, WDJT digital channel 58.3 in Milwaukee, and in 30 other markets.
The channel features movies from MGM libraries (not the pre-1986 library, which is owned by Warner Bros./Turner Entertainment) as well as a handful of programs from MGM's library of TV shows, including The Addams Family and Daktari. The schedule is flexible (much like Retro Television Network) and affiliates can move around programs to fit their needs.
The move comes as three digital networks folded shop in the past year. NBC's Weather Plus recently closed, while music-video channel The Tube shut down in September 2007 and the World Championship Sports Network went away last spring after being bought out by NBC Universal (which relaunched as Universal Sports. The closures however, have opened a door of opportunity for others, such as LATV (seen on WGN-DT 9.2), .2 ("dot" 2), and RTN.
Already, Weigel has the low-power WWME-TV and WMEU-TV (MeTV and MeToo, respectively) on digital channels 26.2 and 26.3 in Chicago, and WBME-TV in Milwaukee (MeTV Milwaukee) on digital channel 49.1. WBME was formerly known as WJJA-TV until Weigel purchased the station last year.
This TV in Chicago launches officially Saturday, but a sneak preview may be planned for Friday, with some Halloween movies from the MGM library.
To give you an idea of what programming This TV will air, here is a list of film libraries MGM currently owns. Among the libraries MGM owns include include films produced by Orion and the post-1952 United Artists catalog.
The new classic movie digital channel from MGM and Weigel finally debuts on Saturday on WCIU digital channel 26.4, WDJT digital channel 58.3 in Milwaukee, and in 30 other markets.
The channel features movies from MGM libraries (not the pre-1986 library, which is owned by Warner Bros./Turner Entertainment) as well as a handful of programs from MGM's library of TV shows, including The Addams Family and Daktari. The schedule is flexible (much like Retro Television Network) and affiliates can move around programs to fit their needs.
The move comes as three digital networks folded shop in the past year. NBC's Weather Plus recently closed, while music-video channel The Tube shut down in September 2007 and the World Championship Sports Network went away last spring after being bought out by NBC Universal (which relaunched as Universal Sports. The closures however, have opened a door of opportunity for others, such as LATV (seen on WGN-DT 9.2), .2 ("dot" 2), and RTN.
Already, Weigel has the low-power WWME-TV and WMEU-TV (MeTV and MeToo, respectively) on digital channels 26.2 and 26.3 in Chicago, and WBME-TV in Milwaukee (MeTV Milwaukee) on digital channel 49.1. WBME was formerly known as WJJA-TV until Weigel purchased the station last year.
This TV in Chicago launches officially Saturday, but a sneak preview may be planned for Friday, with some Halloween movies from the MGM library.
To give you an idea of what programming This TV will air, here is a list of film libraries MGM currently owns. Among the libraries MGM owns include include films produced by Orion and the post-1952 United Artists catalog.
Friday, October 24, 2008
Lions knocked off TV
And the first NFL blackout of the year goes to... the Motor City (and not Oakland for a change...)
The Detroit Lions game against the Washington Redskins won't be seen in the Detroit area on Sunday over WJBK-TV, the market's Fox affiliate (an O&O - or owned and operated.)
WJBK will air two reruns of Cops and a movie instead in the 1 p.m. time slot originally reserved for the game.
The blackout also has a domino effect - The CBS singleheader game, originally scheduled for 4 p.m. on CBS-owned WWJ-TV, has now moved to 1 p.m. (Jets-Chiefs.) Had the Lions game sold out, a CBS game would have aired at 4, to avoid competitng with a home game on TV.
The Lions are winless this year, and the team rcently fired its clown of a GM, the oft-maligned Matt Millen.
Usually, an organization or the TV station carrying the game would step up and purchase the remaining tickets to avoid the blackout. But that's not the case this time, given the current economic conditions.
The Lions had a streak of 51 straight sellouts.
And if you think you're going to drive out of town and see the game at a motel - think again. Since the blackout is in a 75-mile radius, the Lions game is also blacked out on Fox affiliates in Toledo (WUPW), Flint (WSMH), and Lansing (WSYM). Though given the way the Lions are playing, it's something fans wouldn't be itching to do anyway. They can stay at home and watch another NFL team (the Chiefs) screw up and not waste any gas.
The Detroit Lions game against the Washington Redskins won't be seen in the Detroit area on Sunday over WJBK-TV, the market's Fox affiliate (an O&O - or owned and operated.)
WJBK will air two reruns of Cops and a movie instead in the 1 p.m. time slot originally reserved for the game.
The blackout also has a domino effect - The CBS singleheader game, originally scheduled for 4 p.m. on CBS-owned WWJ-TV, has now moved to 1 p.m. (Jets-Chiefs.) Had the Lions game sold out, a CBS game would have aired at 4, to avoid competitng with a home game on TV.
The Lions are winless this year, and the team rcently fired its clown of a GM, the oft-maligned Matt Millen.
Usually, an organization or the TV station carrying the game would step up and purchase the remaining tickets to avoid the blackout. But that's not the case this time, given the current economic conditions.
The Lions had a streak of 51 straight sellouts.
And if you think you're going to drive out of town and see the game at a motel - think again. Since the blackout is in a 75-mile radius, the Lions game is also blacked out on Fox affiliates in Toledo (WUPW), Flint (WSMH), and Lansing (WSYM). Though given the way the Lions are playing, it's something fans wouldn't be itching to do anyway. They can stay at home and watch another NFL team (the Chiefs) screw up and not waste any gas.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
T Dog's Four on the Floors - Edition 9
One more on the floor! I've decided to add an extra item to both the Fab Floor and the Flop Floor this week, so instead of Four on the Floor - it's Five. And when was the last time you saw both Family Guy and South Park on the same floor?
T Dog's Fab Four (make that Five)
Lindsey Lohan cut from Ugly Betty. It looks like there was more than Lohan's and America Ferrera's alter egos from Ugly Betty getting into it. Lohan and Ferrera were at each other's throats outside their roles as well. As a result, Lohan's stint was cut from six episodes to four. Look, if Lohan didn't like it there, she should've have guest-starred on Heroes instead. Medicore actress fit for a mediocre show - sounds good to me.
Gary Unmarried. The program continues to grow in the ratings on Wednesday night for CBS. Here's an idea - why doesn't CBS move Gary to Mondays after Two and a Half Men and move Worst Week to Wednesdays? (Believe it or not, CBS is trying Gary out on Mondays for one week.)
Deal or No Deal (Syndicated). The program recently hit another season-high - 1.7. But time will tell if this will rank with Wheel and Jeopardy - or even Ellen as syndication hits.
Family Guy. After what a certain political party tried to do to three Northwest Indiana cities over the last several weeks regarding early voting, the joke where "that button" showed up was so dead-on.
South Park. Another winner. And a multi-story arc to boot. Can't wait until next week! Viva Craig!
T Dog's Flop Four (make that Five)
TV Week. This article on Wednesday night's ratings. Philadelphia is a small market? (It's the fourth largest TV market in the country, with more than two million people.)
World Series whiners. Okay, this World Series between Philadelphia and Tampa Bay won't be the highest-rated ever, with ad exces wanting a Red Sox-Dodgers series. But if the ad community really knew what's best for television, then they wouldn't have wasted millions in ad spending at the upfronts last spring on a whole bunch of lousy prime-time programs this season.
Heroes (again.) Here's another critic jumping off this train wreck of a show as St. Louis Post-Dispatch's Gail Pennington takes Heroes to tack, as the formerly cool show hit another ratings low this week. Earlier, Tribune critic Maureen Ryan threw in the towel. Heroes is now nothing more than a lousy run-of-the-mill Saturday morning cartoon.
NBC renews Knight Rider for a full season. And this is one of those lousy prime-time shows I'm talking about. This era of NBC programming is making past blunders such as Pink Lady and Jeff, Supertrain, and Hello, Larry look like major successes. They're partying like it's 1980 over there at NBC.
The return of the radio zombies. Just in time for Halloween, those wonderful bedrocks of quality - Mancow and Delilah - are returning to the Chicago media scene on Monday. My fear is Jay Mariotti may not be far behind.
T Dog's Fab Four (make that Five)
Lindsey Lohan cut from Ugly Betty. It looks like there was more than Lohan's and America Ferrera's alter egos from Ugly Betty getting into it. Lohan and Ferrera were at each other's throats outside their roles as well. As a result, Lohan's stint was cut from six episodes to four. Look, if Lohan didn't like it there, she should've have guest-starred on Heroes instead. Medicore actress fit for a mediocre show - sounds good to me.
Gary Unmarried. The program continues to grow in the ratings on Wednesday night for CBS. Here's an idea - why doesn't CBS move Gary to Mondays after Two and a Half Men and move Worst Week to Wednesdays? (Believe it or not, CBS is trying Gary out on Mondays for one week.)
Deal or No Deal (Syndicated). The program recently hit another season-high - 1.7. But time will tell if this will rank with Wheel and Jeopardy - or even Ellen as syndication hits.
Family Guy. After what a certain political party tried to do to three Northwest Indiana cities over the last several weeks regarding early voting, the joke where "that button" showed up was so dead-on.
South Park. Another winner. And a multi-story arc to boot. Can't wait until next week! Viva Craig!
T Dog's Flop Four (make that Five)
TV Week. This article on Wednesday night's ratings. Philadelphia is a small market? (It's the fourth largest TV market in the country, with more than two million people.)
World Series whiners. Okay, this World Series between Philadelphia and Tampa Bay won't be the highest-rated ever, with ad exces wanting a Red Sox-Dodgers series. But if the ad community really knew what's best for television, then they wouldn't have wasted millions in ad spending at the upfronts last spring on a whole bunch of lousy prime-time programs this season.
Heroes (again.) Here's another critic jumping off this train wreck of a show as St. Louis Post-Dispatch's Gail Pennington takes Heroes to tack, as the formerly cool show hit another ratings low this week. Earlier, Tribune critic Maureen Ryan threw in the towel. Heroes is now nothing more than a lousy run-of-the-mill Saturday morning cartoon.
NBC renews Knight Rider for a full season. And this is one of those lousy prime-time shows I'm talking about. This era of NBC programming is making past blunders such as Pink Lady and Jeff, Supertrain, and Hello, Larry look like major successes. They're partying like it's 1980 over there at NBC.
The return of the radio zombies. Just in time for Halloween, those wonderful bedrocks of quality - Mancow and Delilah - are returning to the Chicago media scene on Monday. My fear is Jay Mariotti may not be far behind.
More on Mancow
Here's some more info regarding Erich "Mancow" Mueller's new gig at WLS-AM from 9 to 11 a.m.:
- Mueller's contract is for two years.
- Mueller's syndicated show will continue but is now on a tape-delayed basis for its affiliates. The program begins taping at 5a.m. and wrap up at 8:55 a.m. - just in time to start his WLS show at 9:05 a.m. As stated before, WLS is not carrying his syndicated show.
- Other co-hosts may pop-in from time to time to join Mueller. Pat Cassidy is joining Mancow the first week.
- There will be no characters from Mancow's Morning Madhouse on the WLS show.
- Jerry Agar - the previous occupant of the 9 a.m. slot - has been let go.
- Mueller's contract is for two years.
- Mueller's syndicated show will continue but is now on a tape-delayed basis for its affiliates. The program begins taping at 5a.m. and wrap up at 8:55 a.m. - just in time to start his WLS show at 9:05 a.m. As stated before, WLS is not carrying his syndicated show.
- Other co-hosts may pop-in from time to time to join Mueller. Pat Cassidy is joining Mancow the first week.
- There will be no characters from Mancow's Morning Madhouse on the WLS show.
- Jerry Agar - the previous occupant of the 9 a.m. slot - has been let go.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Mancow to return to Chicago radio
Feder called it.
Erich "Mancow" Mueller, who left alternative rock WKQX-FM in 2006, is returning to Chicago radio.
Beginning Monday, Mancow will front a new morning talk show running from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Citadel's WLS-AM. For the first week, he'll be paired with WBBM-AM alum Pat Cassidy.
Mueller replaces Jerry Agar, who has been dropped from the station's weekday lineup.
Mueller is expected to continue to do his syndicated radio show, which won't air on WLS.
As you recall, Mueller was dropped from WKQX (Q101) in July 2006 after a eight-year run, when station management decided he was no longer a good fit with the station's music format - not to mention Mancow was not advertiser-friendly to Q101, or so they say.
Since then, Mueller has continued to do commentary on Fox News Channel and for WTTW's Chicago Tonight.
In Robert Feder's final column for the Sun-Times last Friday, he boldly predicted that Mueller would soon return to Chicago radio and to WLS.
Mueller is not the only familiar face to return to Chicago's media scene after a prolonged absence. On Monday, Clear Channel's Adult Contemporary WLIT-FM announced the return of Delilah's syndicated show to evenings after a year off the air.
Erich "Mancow" Mueller, who left alternative rock WKQX-FM in 2006, is returning to Chicago radio.
Beginning Monday, Mancow will front a new morning talk show running from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Citadel's WLS-AM. For the first week, he'll be paired with WBBM-AM alum Pat Cassidy.
Mueller replaces Jerry Agar, who has been dropped from the station's weekday lineup.
Mueller is expected to continue to do his syndicated radio show, which won't air on WLS.
As you recall, Mueller was dropped from WKQX (Q101) in July 2006 after a eight-year run, when station management decided he was no longer a good fit with the station's music format - not to mention Mancow was not advertiser-friendly to Q101, or so they say.
Since then, Mueller has continued to do commentary on Fox News Channel and for WTTW's Chicago Tonight.
In Robert Feder's final column for the Sun-Times last Friday, he boldly predicted that Mueller would soon return to Chicago radio and to WLS.
Mueller is not the only familiar face to return to Chicago's media scene after a prolonged absence. On Monday, Clear Channel's Adult Contemporary WLIT-FM announced the return of Delilah's syndicated show to evenings after a year off the air.
Warner Saunders to retire
Warner Saunders, a veteran of NBC-owned WMAQ-TV's news team for 28 years, is expected to retire in May 2009.
Saunders currently anchors the 5, 6, and 10 p.m. newscasts with Allison Rosati, and they've been anchoring at 10 p.m. since 1997, when both Ron Magers and Carol Marin exited WMAQ after the Jerry Springer debacle (Marin has since returned.)
Saunders will relinquish his 5 and 6 p.m. duties in December, and exit the 10 p.m. newscast after the May sweeps.
No word on a replacement for Saunders, but there is strong speculation that Bob Sirott may be considered for the early fringe newscasts. Sirott appeared on the station's 6 p.m. newscast Monday, in a segment on managing finances.
Saunders currently anchors the 5, 6, and 10 p.m. newscasts with Allison Rosati, and they've been anchoring at 10 p.m. since 1997, when both Ron Magers and Carol Marin exited WMAQ after the Jerry Springer debacle (Marin has since returned.)
Saunders will relinquish his 5 and 6 p.m. duties in December, and exit the 10 p.m. newscast after the May sweeps.
No word on a replacement for Saunders, but there is strong speculation that Bob Sirott may be considered for the early fringe newscasts. Sirott appeared on the station's 6 p.m. newscast Monday, in a segment on managing finances.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
EliteXC knocked out
Meet the latest victim of Floptober (a.k.a. Darkmane strikes again.)
In the end, it wasn't Kimbo Slice, Seth what's-his-name (McFarlane? nah...), and UFC that knocked EliteXC out. It was a foe that has been knocking everything out left and right as of late:
The weak economy.
Due to a lack of funds, Showtime Networks and ProElite have shuttered the Mixed Martial Arts league, effective immediately. EliteXC was home to ultimate fighters Kimbo Slice and Ken Shamrock and the league had their events broadcast on pay-per-view, Showtime, and on CBS (CBS and Showtime areboth owned by CBS Corp.)
Three EliteXC events aired on CBS this year, providing mixed rating results. Two of the events featured Slice, which garnered the highest ratings. However, Slice lasted just fourteen seconds in the main event in the last prime-time special on October 4, being knocked out by unknown fighter Seth Petruzelli, who was a last-minute replacement for Ken Shamrock, who was ordered not to fight by medical personnel.
The stunning upset was even more shocking (at least to yours truly) than the Los Angeles Dodgers' sweep over the Chicago Cubs in the first round of the National League Divisional Series, which occured on the same night. But it will be the baseball playoff that'll be remembered far more longer than a fourteen second main event fight in a now-defunct MMA league.
In the end, it wasn't Kimbo Slice, Seth what's-his-name (McFarlane? nah...), and UFC that knocked EliteXC out. It was a foe that has been knocking everything out left and right as of late:
The weak economy.
Due to a lack of funds, Showtime Networks and ProElite have shuttered the Mixed Martial Arts league, effective immediately. EliteXC was home to ultimate fighters Kimbo Slice and Ken Shamrock and the league had their events broadcast on pay-per-view, Showtime, and on CBS (CBS and Showtime areboth owned by CBS Corp.)
Three EliteXC events aired on CBS this year, providing mixed rating results. Two of the events featured Slice, which garnered the highest ratings. However, Slice lasted just fourteen seconds in the main event in the last prime-time special on October 4, being knocked out by unknown fighter Seth Petruzelli, who was a last-minute replacement for Ken Shamrock, who was ordered not to fight by medical personnel.
The stunning upset was even more shocking (at least to yours truly) than the Los Angeles Dodgers' sweep over the Chicago Cubs in the first round of the National League Divisional Series, which occured on the same night. But it will be the baseball playoff that'll be remembered far more longer than a fourteen second main event fight in a now-defunct MMA league.
Tower involved in plane crash wasn't WBIG's
It turned out the radio tower involved in a deadly plane crash that killed four people last week did not belong to Aurora's WBIG-FM, but an old tower once used by the former WYSY-FM (107.9), according to Radio-Info's Tom Taylor (through his newsletter, which is subscription-only.). WYSY is now Spanish-language WLEY-FM, which does not use the facility.
Meanwhile, those lights on the radio tower - which some said wasn't working when the plane crashed into it - turned out to be working after all.
Meanwhile, those lights on the radio tower - which some said wasn't working when the plane crashed into it - turned out to be working after all.
Monday, October 20, 2008
T Dog's Groovy Grab Bag
- The ALCS Game 7 between the Boston Red Sox and the Tampa Bay Rays on TBS last night drew a record-setting 13.4 million viewers, making it the highest-rated baseball game in cable TV history. Boston made a historic comeback in Game 5 being down 7-0 and winning the game 8-7, and winning Game 6. But the Rays beat Boston in Game 7, so its the Rays and the Philadelphia Phillies in the World Series.
- Not so groovy news: The economic downturn has now arrived at television's doorstep. My Network TV affiliate WBFS-TV in Miami has canceled its morning show Jim and Jade in the Morning, which featured former WBBM-TV sportscaster Jim Berry and Jade Alexander. The CBS Corp.-owned station (in a duopoly with sis station WFOR-TV) has cut back on local programming, and laid off several staffers, including Dr. Sean Kaniff, who participated in the first season of Survivor.
For those of you who remember, WBFS used to a sister station to WGBO-TV here in Chicago and WGBS-TV (now WPSG) in Philadelphia when they were owned by the late Milt Grant, and were transfered to Combined Broadcasting when the stations went bankrupt in 1987. WGBO was sold to Univision in 1994; WBFS and WGBS were sold to Viacom in 1995, which the duo split off to CBS Corp. in 2006.
- Program Partners' new courtroom strip Family Court with Judge Penny has added clearences in a few key metered markets, including KSTC-TV in Minneapolis, WBFS in Miami, and Nashville (WNAB-TV) among others. The program has also added double runs in Milwaukee (WMLW) and Birmingham (WIAT-TV.) The additions of new markets and double runs in existing ones should help boost its low rating number.
- Finally, I made a permanent link for J.P. Kirby's NFL TV Distribution maps on The Sidebar, so you can see where your game is showing in your area every Sunday afternoon. You can find it on the right.
- Not so groovy news: The economic downturn has now arrived at television's doorstep. My Network TV affiliate WBFS-TV in Miami has canceled its morning show Jim and Jade in the Morning, which featured former WBBM-TV sportscaster Jim Berry and Jade Alexander. The CBS Corp.-owned station (in a duopoly with sis station WFOR-TV) has cut back on local programming, and laid off several staffers, including Dr. Sean Kaniff, who participated in the first season of Survivor.
For those of you who remember, WBFS used to a sister station to WGBO-TV here in Chicago and WGBS-TV (now WPSG) in Philadelphia when they were owned by the late Milt Grant, and were transfered to Combined Broadcasting when the stations went bankrupt in 1987. WGBO was sold to Univision in 1994; WBFS and WGBS were sold to Viacom in 1995, which the duo split off to CBS Corp. in 2006.
- Program Partners' new courtroom strip Family Court with Judge Penny has added clearences in a few key metered markets, including KSTC-TV in Minneapolis, WBFS in Miami, and Nashville (WNAB-TV) among others. The program has also added double runs in Milwaukee (WMLW) and Birmingham (WIAT-TV.) The additions of new markets and double runs in existing ones should help boost its low rating number.
- Finally, I made a permanent link for J.P. Kirby's NFL TV Distribution maps on The Sidebar, so you can see where your game is showing in your area every Sunday afternoon. You can find it on the right.
Delilah out at the Lite... check that... make that back IN at the Lite
She's back...
Adult contemporary station WLIT-FM ("The Lite") has fired John Symons (poor guy, can't catch a break in the Chicago market) and replaced it with the returning syndicated Delilah show. As you recall, her show was removed from WLIT's nighttime schedule last Novemeber (and this blog celebrated... a little too much, perhaps) and replaced by John Symons' "Love Notes", a program he hosted at WILV before they showed him the door.
Delilah returns on October 27, and will air from 7 p.m. to midnight.
Look it at this way, Chicago media fans... it least it's her and not Jay Mariotti returning to work in any capacity in the Windy City.
Adult contemporary station WLIT-FM ("The Lite") has fired John Symons (poor guy, can't catch a break in the Chicago market) and replaced it with the returning syndicated Delilah show. As you recall, her show was removed from WLIT's nighttime schedule last Novemeber (and this blog celebrated... a little too much, perhaps) and replaced by John Symons' "Love Notes", a program he hosted at WILV before they showed him the door.
Delilah returns on October 27, and will air from 7 p.m. to midnight.
Look it at this way, Chicago media fans... it least it's her and not Jay Mariotti returning to work in any capacity in the Windy City.
Nine-FM says goodbye
Since radio stations changing formats don't say goodbye on the air anymore, the best way to do so is through an e-mail to your listeners. This was posted on Chicagoland Radio and Media's website earlier today, as well as on Nine FM's own website. I've said my piece on Nine-FM, so I'll let the now-defunct station have the floor:
This is a difficult letter to write to our most loyal listeners. Over four years ago, our local company invested millions of dollars in purchasing the three FM frequencies that make-up 9FM. We gave Chicago radio listeners a choice in music that they did not have and over those years, we believe we did succeed in building a wonderful listening experience.
However, the competitive landscape has been changing with radio stations that broadcast from the big downtown buildings. We found ourselves with new stations that suddenly adopted music that was not all that different from what we play. Although we think that we do it better than the other guys do, the simple fact is that there are so many music stations in Chicago, we simply cannot compete effectively for the ad dollars.
At the same time, we put a new Progressive Talk radio station on the air, on a daytime-only AM station. In the midst of an historical political, cultural and economic climate, our little daytime-only station has been alone, spreading a message against two full-time Conservative Talk radio stations. It is simply not fair to the hundreds of thousands of listeners who have to wait until 7:00 in the morning for Chicago's only Progressive Talk radio voice to sign-on, while at the same time, there are over thirty FM music stations broadcasting to the Chicagoland area.
Thus, we have made the decision to move WCPT-AM's programming to the three stations that have been the home to 9FM. Everyone from the programming, promotions and sales staffs fought the good fight, but given the state of the competition on both the AM and the FM dial we feel that Chicago needs more alternatives to the voices from the Conservative spectrum. It is never easy to say goodbye. However, the one thing that remains constant in radio is change and it would not surprise us if at some point down the road, there will be another, "We Play Anything" radio station for the Chicago area. Until that time, we invite you to listen to Progressive Talk radio on the former 9FM radio stations from 5:00 am until 9:00 pm. And if you have been a fan of the "Dance Factory" show, we invite you to continue to listen to that program on 92.5-FM, 92.7-FM and 99.9-FM seven nights a week as you have in the past. We are proud of what we have accomplished and want to thank you for listening.
All the best,
The Staff of 9FM
This is a difficult letter to write to our most loyal listeners. Over four years ago, our local company invested millions of dollars in purchasing the three FM frequencies that make-up 9FM. We gave Chicago radio listeners a choice in music that they did not have and over those years, we believe we did succeed in building a wonderful listening experience.
However, the competitive landscape has been changing with radio stations that broadcast from the big downtown buildings. We found ourselves with new stations that suddenly adopted music that was not all that different from what we play. Although we think that we do it better than the other guys do, the simple fact is that there are so many music stations in Chicago, we simply cannot compete effectively for the ad dollars.
At the same time, we put a new Progressive Talk radio station on the air, on a daytime-only AM station. In the midst of an historical political, cultural and economic climate, our little daytime-only station has been alone, spreading a message against two full-time Conservative Talk radio stations. It is simply not fair to the hundreds of thousands of listeners who have to wait until 7:00 in the morning for Chicago's only Progressive Talk radio voice to sign-on, while at the same time, there are over thirty FM music stations broadcasting to the Chicagoland area.
Thus, we have made the decision to move WCPT-AM's programming to the three stations that have been the home to 9FM. Everyone from the programming, promotions and sales staffs fought the good fight, but given the state of the competition on both the AM and the FM dial we feel that Chicago needs more alternatives to the voices from the Conservative spectrum. It is never easy to say goodbye. However, the one thing that remains constant in radio is change and it would not surprise us if at some point down the road, there will be another, "We Play Anything" radio station for the Chicago area. Until that time, we invite you to listen to Progressive Talk radio on the former 9FM radio stations from 5:00 am until 9:00 pm. And if you have been a fan of the "Dance Factory" show, we invite you to continue to listen to that program on 92.5-FM, 92.7-FM and 99.9-FM seven nights a week as you have in the past. We are proud of what we have accomplished and want to thank you for listening.
All the best,
The Staff of 9FM
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