An interesting item from TV Barn: Sunflower Broadband (or Cable, or whatever they want to be called), which serves northeastern Kansas, dropped two Hearst-Argyle owned Kansas City stations from its channel lineup because they were asking too much money from them to be carried on Sunflower's cable system. So Sunflower Broadband COO Patrick Knorr replaced departed ABC affiliate KMBC-TV from K.C. with Topeka's ABC affiliate, KTKA-TV. However, CW affiliate KCWE-TV was not replaced with another CW outlet (Oh, dear! No Gossip Girl or 90210. What's a young girl to do?)
Recently, KTKA was dropped by Dish Network in the Topeka area. Why? Because Sunflower Broadband - whose parent company is the owner of KTKA - was asking too much money from Dish Network to carry them! And guess who the general manager of KTKA is... Knorr's wife, who happens to fighting Dish on the comp issue. (Whaaa?) Gee, does Mr. Knorr sleep on the couch every night? He must scarfing down bags of Keebler cookies and Fig Netwons every day at work and browsing through Maxim during his "downtime" at his office with the door closed because we all know he ain't getting any... The hypocrisy is really, really getting thick in here...
In the words of The Score's Boers and Bernstein... Patrick Knorr, Who are you Crappin'?
Wednesday, January 07, 2009
Tuesday, January 06, 2009
"Odd Couple" returns to local TV
For the first time in... I don't know... many years, repeats of The Odd Couple are back on TV.
On Thursday (an odd day to start airing a TV show on a "strip" basis), WWME-TV (or Me-TV) began airing The Odd Couple weeknights at 11:30 p.m. The sitcom, based on the Neil Simon play (and also spun off a 1968 theatrical featuring Walter Mattheau and Jack Lemmon) debuted in 1970 on ABC and ran five years (with six time period changes) before going into off-net syndication in 1976.
The series featured Tony Randall (as Felix Unger) and longtime dramatic actor Jack Klugman (Oscar Madison) as mis-matched divorced roommates in New York. You know the deal, Unger was the neat photographer, Madison was the sloppy sportswriter and tried to co-exist without driving each other crazy (and as it would turn out, make great comedy.)
The television version was developed by Garry Marshall, who of course, went on to create one of the most successful programs of that era, Happy Days and Laverne and Shirley.
The show was a longtime staple of WGN-TV's lineup until 1987, when it moved to WPWR-TV for a even more successful run. Even though Me-TV recently picked up the show, it has been running for years at Tribune's WPIX-TV in New York, where it is still immensely popular (it drew a 4 household share last October in its 2 a.m. weeknight time slot.)
The Odd Couple, originally produced and distributed by Paramount, is now syndicated by CBS Television Distribution.
Now, if you thought the recent remakes of Knight Rider and 90210 were bad, take a trip back to 1982 and you'll find The New Odd Couple on ABC. Only this time the roles of Felix Unger and Oscar Madison were by black actors Ron Glass and Demond Wilson, respectively. It turned out some the scripts used in the new version of Couple were recycled from the original (I'm all for recycling, but come on...) The show expired after thirteen episodes.
On Thursday (an odd day to start airing a TV show on a "strip" basis), WWME-TV (or Me-TV) began airing The Odd Couple weeknights at 11:30 p.m. The sitcom, based on the Neil Simon play (and also spun off a 1968 theatrical featuring Walter Mattheau and Jack Lemmon) debuted in 1970 on ABC and ran five years (with six time period changes) before going into off-net syndication in 1976.
The series featured Tony Randall (as Felix Unger) and longtime dramatic actor Jack Klugman (Oscar Madison) as mis-matched divorced roommates in New York. You know the deal, Unger was the neat photographer, Madison was the sloppy sportswriter and tried to co-exist without driving each other crazy (and as it would turn out, make great comedy.)
The television version was developed by Garry Marshall, who of course, went on to create one of the most successful programs of that era, Happy Days and Laverne and Shirley.
The show was a longtime staple of WGN-TV's lineup until 1987, when it moved to WPWR-TV for a even more successful run. Even though Me-TV recently picked up the show, it has been running for years at Tribune's WPIX-TV in New York, where it is still immensely popular (it drew a 4 household share last October in its 2 a.m. weeknight time slot.)
The Odd Couple, originally produced and distributed by Paramount, is now syndicated by CBS Television Distribution.
Now, if you thought the recent remakes of Knight Rider and 90210 were bad, take a trip back to 1982 and you'll find The New Odd Couple on ABC. Only this time the roles of Felix Unger and Oscar Madison were by black actors Ron Glass and Demond Wilson, respectively. It turned out some the scripts used in the new version of Couple were recycled from the original (I'm all for recycling, but come on...) The show expired after thirteen episodes.
Crisis at RTN - Film at 10
A feud between Equity Media Holdings and Luken Communications left RTN off the air for close to four hours on Sunday morning. The spat came after a breakdown in an extension of an agreement on the use of Equity's automated system to uplink customized local schedules to RTN's 80+ affiliates.
After failing to come to an agreement, Luken officials decided to move master control operations from Little Rock, Ark. to Chattanooga, Tenn, therefore knocking the network off the air Sunday morning. Because of other issues of need to iron out, all RTN stations will be running the same satellite-fed schedule, at least for the time being.
However, Equity-owned stations (WPXS-TV in Mt. Vernon, IL, serving the St. Louis market and WNGS-TV in Buffalo) have dropped the RTN network entirely.
Equity owned RTN but it was sold to shareholder Henry Luken last spring. Equity recently filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection - the same day Tribune filed for theirs.
Retro Television currently carries a lineup of classic TV shows mostly from NBC Universal's library and formerly carried programming from CBS' library. But a dispute with CBS over unpaid debt led them to pull its show from the channel last summer.
After failing to come to an agreement, Luken officials decided to move master control operations from Little Rock, Ark. to Chattanooga, Tenn, therefore knocking the network off the air Sunday morning. Because of other issues of need to iron out, all RTN stations will be running the same satellite-fed schedule, at least for the time being.
However, Equity-owned stations (WPXS-TV in Mt. Vernon, IL, serving the St. Louis market and WNGS-TV in Buffalo) have dropped the RTN network entirely.
Equity owned RTN but it was sold to shareholder Henry Luken last spring. Equity recently filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection - the same day Tribune filed for theirs.
Retro Television currently carries a lineup of classic TV shows mostly from NBC Universal's library and formerly carried programming from CBS' library. But a dispute with CBS over unpaid debt led them to pull its show from the channel last summer.
Monday, January 05, 2009
Critic's corner: Yay, "Mad Men"
The semi-annual TV Critics Poll from TV Week is out, and it has AMC's Mad Men as the best show and Fox's Do Not Disturb as the worst. Yours truly has been reading lists from TV Week/Electronic Media for nearly 20 years, and its'always a fun read, whether I agree with them or not. Some observations:
- Cable made its presence known on the Best TV list, with eleven series representing.
- Also showing some muscle was CBS, with How I Met Your Mother and The Big Bang Theory.
- It appears J.J. Abrams still has the golden touch: His new sci-fi drama Fringe made a solid debut showing at No. 21. But the most impressive debut came from HBO's True Blood, which came in fifth.
- Can anyone tell me why Chuck shot all the way to number ten in the poll? It should have been lower.
- As for the worst shows, no arguments here, but why is Heroes missing? The chapter titled Villains was by far the worst piece of television to air this fall (through it's hard to argue against Do Not Disturb. Or if you live in Detroit, Lions football games.)
You can access both lists by clicking here.
Local area critics who took part in the poll included the Chicago Tribune's Maureen Ryan and the South Bend Tribune's Jerry D. Bonfigilo.
- Cable made its presence known on the Best TV list, with eleven series representing.
- Also showing some muscle was CBS, with How I Met Your Mother and The Big Bang Theory.
- It appears J.J. Abrams still has the golden touch: His new sci-fi drama Fringe made a solid debut showing at No. 21. But the most impressive debut came from HBO's True Blood, which came in fifth.
- Can anyone tell me why Chuck shot all the way to number ten in the poll? It should have been lower.
- As for the worst shows, no arguments here, but why is Heroes missing? The chapter titled Villains was by far the worst piece of television to air this fall (through it's hard to argue against Do Not Disturb. Or if you live in Detroit, Lions football games.)
You can access both lists by clicking here.
Local area critics who took part in the poll included the Chicago Tribune's Maureen Ryan and the South Bend Tribune's Jerry D. Bonfigilo.
Sunday, January 04, 2009
WLIT rocks around the PPM tree in December
Winners:
WLIT-FM (The Lite), WBBM-AM, WVAZ-FM (V103)
Losers:
Well, since this month's survey is an anomaly because of Christmas music, let's give this a pass.
WLIT dominated the PPMs in December with the Holiday Lite, a.k.a. Christmas Music. Their success pretty much lowered ratings for other stations in the Chicago market, with The Lite jumping five points from last month in 2+ numbers. WLIT also swept all major demos in the PPM survey.
Not only that, WLIT ranked first in the country with the most listeners for the holiday format among digital and Internet streams, according to Arbitron.
Whether this translates to more listeners for the station throughout the year remains to be seen.
While WLIT plummeted its competitors, a few did manage to increase their audience among 2+: WVAZ-FM, WGCI-FM, and public broadcaster WBEZ-FM.
To see the 2+ numbers for December, click here.
To read the breakdowns in the 18-34 demo, click here.
To read the breakdowns in the 25-54 demo, click here.
WLIT-FM (The Lite), WBBM-AM, WVAZ-FM (V103)
Losers:
Well, since this month's survey is an anomaly because of Christmas music, let's give this a pass.
WLIT dominated the PPMs in December with the Holiday Lite, a.k.a. Christmas Music. Their success pretty much lowered ratings for other stations in the Chicago market, with The Lite jumping five points from last month in 2+ numbers. WLIT also swept all major demos in the PPM survey.
Not only that, WLIT ranked first in the country with the most listeners for the holiday format among digital and Internet streams, according to Arbitron.
Whether this translates to more listeners for the station throughout the year remains to be seen.
While WLIT plummeted its competitors, a few did manage to increase their audience among 2+: WVAZ-FM, WGCI-FM, and public broadcaster WBEZ-FM.
To see the 2+ numbers for December, click here.
To read the breakdowns in the 18-34 demo, click here.
To read the breakdowns in the 25-54 demo, click here.
Winter Classic shoots and scores in ratings
The third annual NHL Winter Classic which featured an outdoor game played at Wrigley Field between the Chicago Blackhawks and Detroit Red Wings drew an 2.9 Nielsen overnight household rating for NBC on New Year's Day, up 12 percent from the 2007 Classic between Buffalo and Pittsburgh.
Here in Chicago, WMAQ-TV notched an 11.8 household rating and 21 share - the highest mark for a Chicago Blackhawks game locally in known memory (Hawks games averaged around a 3.5 rating locally on Fox in 1995 and 1996, the first two years of the network's contract with the NHL. Remember the glowing puck? Yikes.)
WDIV-TV in Detroit averaged a 10.5 household rating and 20 share, and the third highest-rating came in Buffalo, where WGRZ-TV notched a 10.1 rating and 20 share. The game was also carried in Canada by CBC, and additional viewers in Detroit and Buffalo may have checked the game out on the public broadcaster, given both cities' proximities to our neighbor to the North.
As for the broadcast, NBC did a great job on covering Thursday's game, with a professional looking presentation, and good job done by Dave Strader and Eddie Olczyk on calling the game. Wrigley Field looked great and it looked even better in HD. Even the intermission segments were terrific, especially the one where Blackhawk players went out of their way to pay their last respects to Hawks GM Dale Tallon's late father in the middle of a long road trip last fall. The only thing yours truly didn't like was the outcome: The Hawks lost 6-4.
Related link: Restore the Roar
2008's Toilet 10
I've noticed that hardly anyone has come up with a worst TV show list for 2008 (too easy, perhaps?) Maybe the economy was bad enough not to talk about any bad TV...
Anyhoo, here are the worst, the inane, the horrible, horrible, stench of what was left behind in 2008 in terms of media - and remember, we're not just listing TV shows here:
1. Heroes: Villains (NBC). After finishing second in the 2006 Excellent 10 list, it is no surprise this program finishes first among this year's worst media items. In just two years, it has gone from one of the best shows on TV to one of the worst, thanks to poor writing, abandoned storylines, bad acting, too many characters, shoddy special effects, and ratings half of what they were for Chapter Two, which aired in 2007. For all the money spent on this crap, Villains looked like a low-budget 1950's monster movie.
2. The FCC. From blaming Worlds of Warcraft on the college dropout rate to being a mouthpiece for right-wing groups, and from Chairman Kevin Martin's proposal for a porn-free broadband service to bungling the transition to digital TV, this is just more proof the agency is being run by incompetent idiots, with Martin being the biggest idiot of them all. These morons couldn't run a Dairy Queen let alone a major agency which handles our nation's telecommunications.
3. The Detroit Lions. Staff who get their jobs through nepotism, a front office who could care less about the public, and leaders who are complete clowns. No, this isn't Illinois politics we're talking about (but it ought to be), but the 0-16 Detroit Lions - the first winless NFL team in 32 years. This team is a complete utter embarrassment, even for Detroit. The people running this team (including head clown William Clay Ford and former coach clown Rod Marinelli) should be in jail with Mayor Kilpatrick for perpetrating this fraud of a team on the citizens of Detroit.
4. Rosie Live (NBC) This made The Star Wars Holiday Special look like Masterpiece Theatre.
5. Do Not Disturb (Fox) Yeah, a real cinch to make this list.
6. Nine-FM. After four years of failing to find an audience, what took Newsweb so long in pulling the plug on this inane format? (Nine-FM has returned to the airwaves on a Kankakee station.)
7. The Return of Mancow and Delilah. Radio's two answers to questions nobody asked - or want - return to Chicago. Oh, and Mike North's back as well, co-hosting a new show with Dan Jiggetts on Comcast SportsNet. All of this proves you don't need to have an advanced degree - or brains - to get on-air work in Chicago. Is Mariotti not too far behind?
8. The Cable News Networks (CNN, Fox News, MSNBC.) From "terrorist fist jabs" to "breaking news" regarding Obama breaking a nail, from using holograms to news personalities sniping at each other on-air... Good grief. Look, if you want serious journalism or serious analysis on World issues, go to NPR, the BBC, or even Channel 20 locally in Chicago - not these guys. The cable news channels offer little of any substance or anything remotely useful. Cable news' style and presentation is really no different from that of local news - loud and very annoying.
9. Retread Hell (NBC's Knight Rider and CW's 90210.) Who here really wanted these two shows back? And moreover, who really cares about Shannen Doherty and Jennie Garth and their aging, aloof characters anymore? Talk about being typecast. And now remakes of Melrose Place and The Partridge Family are in the works. Are you kidding me? No wonder the major nets are losing audiences. What's next, a new version of The Monkees? Wait a minute...
10. Momma's Boys (NBC). Outside of Flavor of Love, this has to be the worst reality show to ever air on television. Another dumb project green lighted by Ben "Bulls Ballboy" Silverman.
DISHONORABLE MENTIONS: According to Jim (ABC), Bret Michaels: Rock of Love (VH-1), Celebrity Family Feud (NBC), The Ex-List (CBS), I Survived a Japanese Game Show (ABC), Star Wars: The Clone Wars (Cartoon Network).
And here are some more dishonors:
YOUR DAD IS DEAD BITCH, SO GET OVER IT: Corrinne from Survivor: Gabon made a nasty comment regarding a fellow contestant's deceased father during Tribal Council. Asked during the reunion show, Corrinne refused to apologize for making the remarks.
Well, I guess her nasty attitude more than qualifies her to become a part of Mancow's Morning Madhouse - a gig just a step above the $5-an-hour job she currently holds at the local chicken shack. My prediction for 2009: Corrinne will join the cast of The View, where she'll sit beside "the ditzy blond" who is also from Survivor and also a pain in the ass.
TAKEN FOR A SAP, PART I: Sam Zell's purchase of the Tribune Co. Yours truly supported the move at first, thinking it would save jobs, improve local news coverage, and restore the media company to greatness. Well... Tribune filed for Chapter 11, hundreds of people were laid off, and introduced a moronic "Breaking News" section on all of its Chicago web properties - which features mostly crime blotter stories. Oops.
TAKEN FOR A SAP, PART II: Heroes creator Tim Kring criticized fans of his show who watched it "live" (a.k.a. watching it on your TV set every Monday night at 8 p.m.) as opposed to on DVD and DVR, calling them "saps" and "dipshits". So if Mr. Kring claims to be smarter than the rest of us, why is he still working in television?
SCROOGED: Radio companies who fire people before the holidays. Ask Lisa Greene, Eddie & JoBo, and Steve Dahl.
WORST EXECS OF THE YEAR: NBC's Ben "Bulls Ballboy" Silverman, The CW's Dawn Ostroff, Clear Channel Chicago's Darren Davis, Matt Millen, and anyone else running the Bears, Bulls, Lions, and Oklahoma City Thunder. Sure, I can list some more, but because of space limitations...
WORST TITLED TV SHOW: New York Goes to Hollywood. Huh?
WORST FALL: WGN-AM's shocking ratings slide in key demos after the new Portable People Meter became currency for radio measurement in Chicago.
MOVIE THAT REALLY, REALLY, LIVED UP TO ITS NAME: The flick Disaster Movie. Enough said.
THE RECORD BUYING PUBLIC. For making Britney Spears a success again, and the continued successful careers of Chris Brown and 'Lil Wayne. If anyone needs to rot in a jail cell besides Governor Blago and Mayor Kilpatrick, it's these fools who keep buying this crap they call "music".
AND THE LAST WORD: Sadly, 2009 could hold more of the same mediocrity in movies, music, government, and media. In other words, Momma's Boys will probably be renewed and we can expect a sequel to Disaster Movie. Happy New Year!
Anyhoo, here are the worst, the inane, the horrible, horrible, stench of what was left behind in 2008 in terms of media - and remember, we're not just listing TV shows here:
1. Heroes: Villains (NBC). After finishing second in the 2006 Excellent 10 list, it is no surprise this program finishes first among this year's worst media items. In just two years, it has gone from one of the best shows on TV to one of the worst, thanks to poor writing, abandoned storylines, bad acting, too many characters, shoddy special effects, and ratings half of what they were for Chapter Two, which aired in 2007. For all the money spent on this crap, Villains looked like a low-budget 1950's monster movie.
2. The FCC. From blaming Worlds of Warcraft on the college dropout rate to being a mouthpiece for right-wing groups, and from Chairman Kevin Martin's proposal for a porn-free broadband service to bungling the transition to digital TV, this is just more proof the agency is being run by incompetent idiots, with Martin being the biggest idiot of them all. These morons couldn't run a Dairy Queen let alone a major agency which handles our nation's telecommunications.
3. The Detroit Lions. Staff who get their jobs through nepotism, a front office who could care less about the public, and leaders who are complete clowns. No, this isn't Illinois politics we're talking about (but it ought to be), but the 0-16 Detroit Lions - the first winless NFL team in 32 years. This team is a complete utter embarrassment, even for Detroit. The people running this team (including head clown William Clay Ford and former coach clown Rod Marinelli) should be in jail with Mayor Kilpatrick for perpetrating this fraud of a team on the citizens of Detroit.
4. Rosie Live (NBC) This made The Star Wars Holiday Special look like Masterpiece Theatre.
5. Do Not Disturb (Fox) Yeah, a real cinch to make this list.
6. Nine-FM. After four years of failing to find an audience, what took Newsweb so long in pulling the plug on this inane format? (Nine-FM has returned to the airwaves on a Kankakee station.)
7. The Return of Mancow and Delilah. Radio's two answers to questions nobody asked - or want - return to Chicago. Oh, and Mike North's back as well, co-hosting a new show with Dan Jiggetts on Comcast SportsNet. All of this proves you don't need to have an advanced degree - or brains - to get on-air work in Chicago. Is Mariotti not too far behind?
8. The Cable News Networks (CNN, Fox News, MSNBC.) From "terrorist fist jabs" to "breaking news" regarding Obama breaking a nail, from using holograms to news personalities sniping at each other on-air... Good grief. Look, if you want serious journalism or serious analysis on World issues, go to NPR, the BBC, or even Channel 20 locally in Chicago - not these guys. The cable news channels offer little of any substance or anything remotely useful. Cable news' style and presentation is really no different from that of local news - loud and very annoying.
9. Retread Hell (NBC's Knight Rider and CW's 90210.) Who here really wanted these two shows back? And moreover, who really cares about Shannen Doherty and Jennie Garth and their aging, aloof characters anymore? Talk about being typecast. And now remakes of Melrose Place and The Partridge Family are in the works. Are you kidding me? No wonder the major nets are losing audiences. What's next, a new version of The Monkees? Wait a minute...
10. Momma's Boys (NBC). Outside of Flavor of Love, this has to be the worst reality show to ever air on television. Another dumb project green lighted by Ben "Bulls Ballboy" Silverman.
DISHONORABLE MENTIONS: According to Jim (ABC), Bret Michaels: Rock of Love (VH-1), Celebrity Family Feud (NBC), The Ex-List (CBS), I Survived a Japanese Game Show (ABC), Star Wars: The Clone Wars (Cartoon Network).
And here are some more dishonors:
YOUR DAD IS DEAD BITCH, SO GET OVER IT: Corrinne from Survivor: Gabon made a nasty comment regarding a fellow contestant's deceased father during Tribal Council. Asked during the reunion show, Corrinne refused to apologize for making the remarks.
Well, I guess her nasty attitude more than qualifies her to become a part of Mancow's Morning Madhouse - a gig just a step above the $5-an-hour job she currently holds at the local chicken shack. My prediction for 2009: Corrinne will join the cast of The View, where she'll sit beside "the ditzy blond" who is also from Survivor and also a pain in the ass.
TAKEN FOR A SAP, PART I: Sam Zell's purchase of the Tribune Co. Yours truly supported the move at first, thinking it would save jobs, improve local news coverage, and restore the media company to greatness. Well... Tribune filed for Chapter 11, hundreds of people were laid off, and introduced a moronic "Breaking News" section on all of its Chicago web properties - which features mostly crime blotter stories. Oops.
TAKEN FOR A SAP, PART II: Heroes creator Tim Kring criticized fans of his show who watched it "live" (a.k.a. watching it on your TV set every Monday night at 8 p.m.) as opposed to on DVD and DVR, calling them "saps" and "dipshits". So if Mr. Kring claims to be smarter than the rest of us, why is he still working in television?
SCROOGED: Radio companies who fire people before the holidays. Ask Lisa Greene, Eddie & JoBo, and Steve Dahl.
WORST EXECS OF THE YEAR: NBC's Ben "Bulls Ballboy" Silverman, The CW's Dawn Ostroff, Clear Channel Chicago's Darren Davis, Matt Millen, and anyone else running the Bears, Bulls, Lions, and Oklahoma City Thunder. Sure, I can list some more, but because of space limitations...
WORST TITLED TV SHOW: New York Goes to Hollywood. Huh?
WORST FALL: WGN-AM's shocking ratings slide in key demos after the new Portable People Meter became currency for radio measurement in Chicago.
MOVIE THAT REALLY, REALLY, LIVED UP TO ITS NAME: The flick Disaster Movie. Enough said.
THE RECORD BUYING PUBLIC. For making Britney Spears a success again, and the continued successful careers of Chris Brown and 'Lil Wayne. If anyone needs to rot in a jail cell besides Governor Blago and Mayor Kilpatrick, it's these fools who keep buying this crap they call "music".
AND THE LAST WORD: Sadly, 2009 could hold more of the same mediocrity in movies, music, government, and media. In other words, Momma's Boys will probably be renewed and we can expect a sequel to Disaster Movie. Happy New Year!
Friday, January 02, 2009
2008's Excellent 10
Happy New Year, everyone!
Instead of listing just TV shows, yours truly has decided to include items other than TV shows in the annual Excellent 10 and Toilet 10 lists across this year. Two history-making events happening in 2008 - Michael Phelps' Olympic Gold Medal run and Barack Obama's acceptance speech here in Chicago after becoming the first African-American President in history - made great television, even better than shows who didn't deserve to be on the list this year (notably Chuck, Family Guy and The Simpsons, who were Number One in 2007... and then this happened.) So, let's count them down... the best of 2008 (and yes, even two NBC shows made the list...)
10. The Big Bang Theory (CBS). Hey, we nerds can be funny too.
9. The Biggest Loser (NBC). This inspirational reality show (a rarity - and no Christian themes or sappy Ty Pennington to boot), this show definitely does not live up to its name.
8. Saturday Night Live (NBC) The election and Tina Fey as Sarah Palin gave this venerable late night show its' best ratings in years.
7. Mad Men (AMC) First critically acclaimed, now an Emmy winner. Now if the program can only get some viewers...
6. Battlestar Galactica (SciFi) What the frak? Hey broadcast networks, this is how a remake should be done.
5. The Mentalist (CBS) Though it gets no respect (because it features no hot chicks the press can fantasize about - or screw), this new show is clearly a smash hit with an average of 17 million viewers per episode.
4. South Park (Comedy Central) Sorry, Family Guy and Simpsons, but with episodes like Guitar Queer-O and Major Boobage, Matt and Trey's brand of satire reigns supreme this year by a large margin.
3. Michael Phelps. An amazing Olympic performance with a record breaking eight Gold medals. Watching him swim made great TV.
2. Survivor: Palau (CBS) Hands down, one of the best editions ever.
1. Barack Obama's acceptance speech. As newly-elected President Obama said, "We are not a nation of red states and blue states." I couldn't agree more, and his speeches are always must-see TV.
Honorable Mentions: The Amazing Race (CBS), The Doctors (syndicated), Ugly Betty (ABC), King of the Hill (Fox).
Here are more honorable mentions...
BEST TEAM: The Boston Celtics. The 2008 NBA Champions are even more dominant this year, thanks to the play of Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, and ex-Chicagoan Kevin Garrett. Doc Rivers (another ex-Chicagoan) is doing a great job as head coach. I see another NBA Championship in 2009 in the cards...
BEST PODCASTS: Tie between Football Today (ESPN) and Buzz Out Loud (CNET). Though excessively long at times, both are entertaining and fun to listen to. If you're a fan of football and technology, this makes your workday - or any day - a lot more fun. A close third is Marc Berman's Programming Insider Podcast, which is especially good when Michael Burgi is on.
BEST PROMOTION: Those "campaign" ads featuring Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane of the Chicago Blackhawks dueling with each other while getting out the vote for the upcoming NHL All-Star Game. And I approve this message.
BEST FIRINGS: Joe Ahern getting canned at CBS-owned WBBM-TV and Jay Mariotti leaving the Sun-Times. May they never return.
BEST MOVE BY A CHICAGO RADIO STATION: They haven't started yet, but WBBM-FM's pairing Jamal "J-Niice" and Julian Nieh for a new morning show replacing the legendary Eddie & JoBo (in fact, it's the ONLY good move made by a local radio station ALL YEAR.)
BEST MEDIA OUTLETS: ABC-owned WLS-TV continued its dominance in Chicago's Nielsen ratings, but The Drive (WDRV-FM) takes the crown thanks to their ratings surge under Arbitron's new Portable People Meter system.
Coming up next: The Worst of 2008.
Instead of listing just TV shows, yours truly has decided to include items other than TV shows in the annual Excellent 10 and Toilet 10 lists across this year. Two history-making events happening in 2008 - Michael Phelps' Olympic Gold Medal run and Barack Obama's acceptance speech here in Chicago after becoming the first African-American President in history - made great television, even better than shows who didn't deserve to be on the list this year (notably Chuck, Family Guy and The Simpsons, who were Number One in 2007... and then this happened.) So, let's count them down... the best of 2008 (and yes, even two NBC shows made the list...)
10. The Big Bang Theory (CBS). Hey, we nerds can be funny too.
9. The Biggest Loser (NBC). This inspirational reality show (a rarity - and no Christian themes or sappy Ty Pennington to boot), this show definitely does not live up to its name.
8. Saturday Night Live (NBC) The election and Tina Fey as Sarah Palin gave this venerable late night show its' best ratings in years.
7. Mad Men (AMC) First critically acclaimed, now an Emmy winner. Now if the program can only get some viewers...
6. Battlestar Galactica (SciFi) What the frak? Hey broadcast networks, this is how a remake should be done.
5. The Mentalist (CBS) Though it gets no respect (because it features no hot chicks the press can fantasize about - or screw), this new show is clearly a smash hit with an average of 17 million viewers per episode.
4. South Park (Comedy Central) Sorry, Family Guy and Simpsons, but with episodes like Guitar Queer-O and Major Boobage, Matt and Trey's brand of satire reigns supreme this year by a large margin.
3. Michael Phelps. An amazing Olympic performance with a record breaking eight Gold medals. Watching him swim made great TV.
2. Survivor: Palau (CBS) Hands down, one of the best editions ever.
1. Barack Obama's acceptance speech. As newly-elected President Obama said, "We are not a nation of red states and blue states." I couldn't agree more, and his speeches are always must-see TV.
Honorable Mentions: The Amazing Race (CBS), The Doctors (syndicated), Ugly Betty (ABC), King of the Hill (Fox).
Here are more honorable mentions...
BEST TEAM: The Boston Celtics. The 2008 NBA Champions are even more dominant this year, thanks to the play of Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, and ex-Chicagoan Kevin Garrett. Doc Rivers (another ex-Chicagoan) is doing a great job as head coach. I see another NBA Championship in 2009 in the cards...
BEST PODCASTS: Tie between Football Today (ESPN) and Buzz Out Loud (CNET). Though excessively long at times, both are entertaining and fun to listen to. If you're a fan of football and technology, this makes your workday - or any day - a lot more fun. A close third is Marc Berman's Programming Insider Podcast, which is especially good when Michael Burgi is on.
BEST PROMOTION: Those "campaign" ads featuring Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane of the Chicago Blackhawks dueling with each other while getting out the vote for the upcoming NHL All-Star Game. And I approve this message.
BEST FIRINGS: Joe Ahern getting canned at CBS-owned WBBM-TV and Jay Mariotti leaving the Sun-Times. May they never return.
BEST MOVE BY A CHICAGO RADIO STATION: They haven't started yet, but WBBM-FM's pairing Jamal "J-Niice" and Julian Nieh for a new morning show replacing the legendary Eddie & JoBo (in fact, it's the ONLY good move made by a local radio station ALL YEAR.)
BEST MEDIA OUTLETS: ABC-owned WLS-TV continued its dominance in Chicago's Nielsen ratings, but The Drive (WDRV-FM) takes the crown thanks to their ratings surge under Arbitron's new Portable People Meter system.
Coming up next: The Worst of 2008.
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
J Niice and Julian named new B96 morning hosts
Contemporary-hit music outlet WBBM-FM (B96) has named Jamar "J-Niice" McNeil and Julian Nieh as the station's new morning hosts, replacing Eddie Volkman and Joe Bohannon, who were let go from the CBS-owned radio station on Novemeber 21.
McNeil had previously been the station's midday jock, while Nieh was working on the evening shift.
Both men are alums of WIHT-FM in Washington, D.C., where they once worked together. McNeil later worked for Clear Channel's WHYI-FM (Y-100) before moving to the midday slot at B96 this past spring, while Nieh was named B96's evening host two years ago.
The move is already drawing praise from many on Internet message boards, given the two men show more proise than the current afternoon duo (Stylz and Roman), who, according to some, were also considered for the job.
Rebecca Ortiz is replacing McNeil in the midday slot for the time being, and Andrew Wojtowicz fills in for Nieh on an interim basis in the evenings.
J Niice & Julian On The Radio airs weekdays from 5:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. beginning Monday on both B96 and B96.com.
Thought: Certainly, Chicago radio has made so many wrong moves in 2008. This isn't one of them (surprise!) Given both men - who knew each other beforehand in D.C - is going to work in their advantage. While they have big shoes to fill, McNeil and Nieh should have no problem getting up to speed quickly.
Though J Niice and Julian will have to prove themselves in morning drive, they have a very good chance to be better quality-wise than the tired Eddie & JoBo show (especially with Erica "Cousin Oliver" Cobb in the mix.) Don't me wrong - yours truly didn't like the way they were shoved out the door - but it was time for them to go.
Here's to the J Niice and Julian morning era at B96! Hopefully, they'll find the same success Eddie & JoBo have had in their long careers in the same morning slot.
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
T Dog's Grab Bag - The Christmas Edition
The last bag before Christmas - unfortunately, it contains some not-so-groovy items:
- Majel Barrett Roddenberry, who was a part of Star Trek as much as her husband Gene, died last week at the age of 79. Barrett appeared in all five Star Trek shows and did voiceover work on Star Trek: The Animated Series and as the voice of the USS Enterprise in most Star Trek movies.
- Midday personality Lisa Greene is out at WCFS-FM (Fresh 105.9.; scroll down.) The CBS-owned radio station cut her for budget reasons, and it leaves just two personalities at the beleagured outlet.
On a few lighter notes:
- The Washington Post Co. has called off its purchase of WTVJ-TV in Miami after the FCC stalled on the deal and the current economic climate worsened after the deal was announced last July. The deal also faced opposition from three congressional South Florida members of Congress.
Washington Post already owns ABC affiliate WPLG-TV and planned to buy WTVJ from NBC to create an English-language duopoly - the second such one in the market.
- TV Week has the eight stories that shaped TV in 2008, and not surprisingly, the lead story was the collapse of the pathetic Heroes, whose most recent season is equivalent to the Detroit Lions' 0-15 record (likely soon to be 0-16). You know something's wrong when Tim Kring hires Lions coach Rod Marinelli as the show's head writer.
- One quick Bah Humbug: You know those Lexus ads where you have kids telling us how their back-in-the-day Christmas gifts (Big Wheel, Atari, ponies, etc.) were "the best presents ever" and then flash to the present day as adults and say the exact same thing - about a Lexus?
Oh, spare me. Whoever wrote this unimaginable crap should also write for the Lions' PR department.
Let's hope Lexus doesn't go to Washington begging for a bailout. Based on these dumb commercials, it's just another reason to get a DVR. Now that makes a better Christmas gift than a stupid Lexus (and you don't have to look at some dumb kid bragging about great his Big Wheel was. And who gives cars as Christmas presents in this fragile economy when people aren't buying them? Get real.)
The T Dog Media Blog is off for the Christmas Weekend, but will resume Monday with the latest happenings in television, radio, media, and more - not to mention the annual Top 10 list of the best and the worst in media of 2008. Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and Happy Kwanzaa!
- Majel Barrett Roddenberry, who was a part of Star Trek as much as her husband Gene, died last week at the age of 79. Barrett appeared in all five Star Trek shows and did voiceover work on Star Trek: The Animated Series and as the voice of the USS Enterprise in most Star Trek movies.
- Midday personality Lisa Greene is out at WCFS-FM (Fresh 105.9.; scroll down.) The CBS-owned radio station cut her for budget reasons, and it leaves just two personalities at the beleagured outlet.
On a few lighter notes:
- The Washington Post Co. has called off its purchase of WTVJ-TV in Miami after the FCC stalled on the deal and the current economic climate worsened after the deal was announced last July. The deal also faced opposition from three congressional South Florida members of Congress.
Washington Post already owns ABC affiliate WPLG-TV and planned to buy WTVJ from NBC to create an English-language duopoly - the second such one in the market.
- TV Week has the eight stories that shaped TV in 2008, and not surprisingly, the lead story was the collapse of the pathetic Heroes, whose most recent season is equivalent to the Detroit Lions' 0-15 record (likely soon to be 0-16). You know something's wrong when Tim Kring hires Lions coach Rod Marinelli as the show's head writer.
- One quick Bah Humbug: You know those Lexus ads where you have kids telling us how their back-in-the-day Christmas gifts (Big Wheel, Atari, ponies, etc.) were "the best presents ever" and then flash to the present day as adults and say the exact same thing - about a Lexus?
Oh, spare me. Whoever wrote this unimaginable crap should also write for the Lions' PR department.
Let's hope Lexus doesn't go to Washington begging for a bailout. Based on these dumb commercials, it's just another reason to get a DVR. Now that makes a better Christmas gift than a stupid Lexus (and you don't have to look at some dumb kid bragging about great his Big Wheel was. And who gives cars as Christmas presents in this fragile economy when people aren't buying them? Get real.)
The T Dog Media Blog is off for the Christmas Weekend, but will resume Monday with the latest happenings in television, radio, media, and more - not to mention the annual Top 10 list of the best and the worst in media of 2008. Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and Happy Kwanzaa!
Saturday, December 20, 2008
T Dog's Think Tank: How NOT to promote your new host
Dr. Jeremy Levitt, we hardly knew ye.
WVON-AM's choice to replace Roland Martin as morning drive-time host was mysteriously replaced last week by fill-in hosts Matt McGill and Perri Small, at least temporarily.
According to Chicagoland Radio and Media's website, the person they hired to replace Martin turned out to be owner Melody Spann-Cooper's brother-in-law and Pervis Spann's (Melody's father) son-in-law.
When Leavitt left to go on vacation two weeks ago, McGill & Small filled in for him, until December 12. Last week, the vacation became permanent and the duo were still "filling in" for him, though Dr. Leavitt was not mentioned on-air anymore and his profile was removed from the station's website.
Usually when a new on-air personality debuts on a station, the show is promoted intensely. But in a rather odd departure, WVON decided to keep the new name of the host a secret - even up to the very day the individual debuted (October 20) and hoped the suspense would build.
But the gamble didn't payoff. When listeners found out it was someone they never heard of before, they were proabably turned off - especially if the person was replacing someone with the name recognition of Roland Martin, who left to join the syndicated Tom Joyner Morning Show. And the person already had to fill those shoes Martin left behind.
Even worse, Martin's successor may have been a result of nepotism - after all, how else can you explain the Leavitt was related to the Spanns? It may work in Chicago politics (believe me, it does), but not in radio, which has its own image problems.
WVON officials flunked Marketing 101 in radio and television programming by forgetting a simple rule: don't keep your listeners and/or viewers in the dark about anything, especially when it comes to new talent. It's like a major network announcing they have a new show featuring a "mystery A-list star". When the audience tunes in for the first episode and the finds the "A-star" is not Brad Pitt or George Clooney but Tom Arnold, they'll flee for the exits faster than you can say canceled, and they'll feel alienated and disappointed. It's just bad marketing, and if you plan to do something like this, you can also plan to send your resume out.
When WVON looked at those November PPM numbers - they knew it was over for Leavitt as quickly as it began. You can't fool the audience. And despite his crednitals, they don't apply in broadcasting. The audience just doesn't care. What matters is being engaging enough to bring in an audience and keeping them. Sure, Geena Davis is a Mensa member, but her status didn't bring viewers to her Geena Davis Show, whose brand of comedy was about as dumb as Caroline in the City.
But the good news is, Matt McGill and Perry Small are a promising duo and have a fresh perspective on the news every morning and what the African-American community is talking about (and believe me, there is a lot to talk about.) Though the numbers are likely to remain low, they'll likely bring in more listeners than Dr. Leavitt brought in. And that may be enough to keep them in the morning slot permanmently.
WVON-AM's choice to replace Roland Martin as morning drive-time host was mysteriously replaced last week by fill-in hosts Matt McGill and Perri Small, at least temporarily.
According to Chicagoland Radio and Media's website, the person they hired to replace Martin turned out to be owner Melody Spann-Cooper's brother-in-law and Pervis Spann's (Melody's father) son-in-law.
When Leavitt left to go on vacation two weeks ago, McGill & Small filled in for him, until December 12. Last week, the vacation became permanent and the duo were still "filling in" for him, though Dr. Leavitt was not mentioned on-air anymore and his profile was removed from the station's website.
Usually when a new on-air personality debuts on a station, the show is promoted intensely. But in a rather odd departure, WVON decided to keep the new name of the host a secret - even up to the very day the individual debuted (October 20) and hoped the suspense would build.
But the gamble didn't payoff. When listeners found out it was someone they never heard of before, they were proabably turned off - especially if the person was replacing someone with the name recognition of Roland Martin, who left to join the syndicated Tom Joyner Morning Show. And the person already had to fill those shoes Martin left behind.
Even worse, Martin's successor may have been a result of nepotism - after all, how else can you explain the Leavitt was related to the Spanns? It may work in Chicago politics (believe me, it does), but not in radio, which has its own image problems.
WVON officials flunked Marketing 101 in radio and television programming by forgetting a simple rule: don't keep your listeners and/or viewers in the dark about anything, especially when it comes to new talent. It's like a major network announcing they have a new show featuring a "mystery A-list star". When the audience tunes in for the first episode and the finds the "A-star" is not Brad Pitt or George Clooney but Tom Arnold, they'll flee for the exits faster than you can say canceled, and they'll feel alienated and disappointed. It's just bad marketing, and if you plan to do something like this, you can also plan to send your resume out.
When WVON looked at those November PPM numbers - they knew it was over for Leavitt as quickly as it began. You can't fool the audience. And despite his crednitals, they don't apply in broadcasting. The audience just doesn't care. What matters is being engaging enough to bring in an audience and keeping them. Sure, Geena Davis is a Mensa member, but her status didn't bring viewers to her Geena Davis Show, whose brand of comedy was about as dumb as Caroline in the City.
But the good news is, Matt McGill and Perry Small are a promising duo and have a fresh perspective on the news every morning and what the African-American community is talking about (and believe me, there is a lot to talk about.) Though the numbers are likely to remain low, they'll likely bring in more listeners than Dr. Leavitt brought in. And that may be enough to keep them in the morning slot permanmently.
Syndication update
As the NATPE convention draws closer and closer (next month in Vegas - assuming it doesn't snow), you'll be seeing these updates more and more here. So, here we go...
- TNT's The Closer has been sold to all Fox-owned stations for weekend play, including WFLD/WPWR here, as Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution hopes Closer's success on TNT will translate into syndication. Closer's track record is an impressive one: It is the highest-rated original cable hour drama of all-time, according to TNT.
- NBC Universal's Law & Order: Special Victims Unit is converting from a weekend off-net offering to a daily one next fall. The off-net strip has been sold to 92 percent of the country, including WPWR. The other Law & Order strip in syndication (Criminal Intent) is being offered for a second cycle in syndication next fall.
Hopefully, NBC Universal could also serve up the original Law & Order in syndication as soon as it is able to.
- Program Partners is bringing back Degrassi: The Next Generation for not just one, but two years through 2011: The program has been renewed in nine Tribune markets, including WGN-TV here for weekend plays. Degrassi has also been renewed on ACME-owned outlets and CW Plus stations, for total coverage thus far to 60 percent of the country.
Degrassi provides these stations E/I programming, which the FCC requires broadcast outlets to air three hours a week.
Degrassi has its roots in The Kids of Degrassi Street (1982-86), Degrassi Junior High (1987-89) and Degrassi High (1989-91), all three of which aired on CBC in Canada and the latter two series airing on PBS (often edited for content) in the U.S. New episodes of Degrassi: The Next Generation currently airs on CTV in Canada and on The N in the U.S.
- TNT's The Closer has been sold to all Fox-owned stations for weekend play, including WFLD/WPWR here, as Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution hopes Closer's success on TNT will translate into syndication. Closer's track record is an impressive one: It is the highest-rated original cable hour drama of all-time, according to TNT.
- NBC Universal's Law & Order: Special Victims Unit is converting from a weekend off-net offering to a daily one next fall. The off-net strip has been sold to 92 percent of the country, including WPWR. The other Law & Order strip in syndication (Criminal Intent) is being offered for a second cycle in syndication next fall.
Hopefully, NBC Universal could also serve up the original Law & Order in syndication as soon as it is able to.
- Program Partners is bringing back Degrassi: The Next Generation for not just one, but two years through 2011: The program has been renewed in nine Tribune markets, including WGN-TV here for weekend plays. Degrassi has also been renewed on ACME-owned outlets and CW Plus stations, for total coverage thus far to 60 percent of the country.
Degrassi provides these stations E/I programming, which the FCC requires broadcast outlets to air three hours a week.
Degrassi has its roots in The Kids of Degrassi Street (1982-86), Degrassi Junior High (1987-89) and Degrassi High (1989-91), all three of which aired on CBC in Canada and the latter two series airing on PBS (often edited for content) in the U.S. New episodes of Degrassi: The Next Generation currently airs on CTV in Canada and on The N in the U.S.
Friday, December 19, 2008
Rick Dees heads to ABC Radio Networks
Venerable radio personality Rick Dees is heading back to ABC Radio Networks after signing a development deal with the company.
Dees, who was the morning personality at Top 40 outlet KIIS-FM in Los Angeles for 23 years (until he was replaced by Ryan Seacrest in 2004) and now is in the same capacity at Emmis' KMVN-FM (Movin 93.9), will develop original content for a varied set of demos, including the 18-49 audience.
As part of the deal, Rick Dees' longtime countdown show (The Weekly Top 40) is being syndicated by Citadel-owned ABC Radio Networks. The program was previously syndicated by Dial Global, which has handled distribution since 2005.
The move is actually a homecoming of sorts for Dees as ABC Radio (then under Capital Cities ownership) purchased The Weekly Top 40 in 1994 to replace the then-ailing American Top 40, which was canceled by the network as a result (Shadoe Stevens was the host of AT40 at the time, which steadily lost affiliates after host and creator Casey Kasem left the show six years earlier in a contract dispute with ABC.)
When KIIS was acquired by Clear Channel Communications in 1998, the company's Premiere Radio Networks took over syndication of The Weekly Top 40 and distributed it until 2004, when Dees left KIIS. Ironically, Premiere also took over the second incarnation of American Top 40 two years later (whose hosting duties were taken over from Casey Kasem in 2004 by - you guessed it, Ryan Seacrest.)
Did you know?: Before he signed with ABC Radio in 1994, Dees had a short-lived turkey of a late night show on the television side of the network titled Into the Night with Rick Dees, which he hosted from July 1990 to July 1991, and then staggered on for three months as Into the Night after Dees left.
Into the Night of course, is in the prestigious T Dog Media Blog TV Hall of Shame. Is your show a member? Ryan Seacrest - oh, there's that name again - get ready for your new lame reality show to be inducted...
Dees, who was the morning personality at Top 40 outlet KIIS-FM in Los Angeles for 23 years (until he was replaced by Ryan Seacrest in 2004) and now is in the same capacity at Emmis' KMVN-FM (Movin 93.9), will develop original content for a varied set of demos, including the 18-49 audience.
As part of the deal, Rick Dees' longtime countdown show (The Weekly Top 40) is being syndicated by Citadel-owned ABC Radio Networks. The program was previously syndicated by Dial Global, which has handled distribution since 2005.
The move is actually a homecoming of sorts for Dees as ABC Radio (then under Capital Cities ownership) purchased The Weekly Top 40 in 1994 to replace the then-ailing American Top 40, which was canceled by the network as a result (Shadoe Stevens was the host of AT40 at the time, which steadily lost affiliates after host and creator Casey Kasem left the show six years earlier in a contract dispute with ABC.)
When KIIS was acquired by Clear Channel Communications in 1998, the company's Premiere Radio Networks took over syndication of The Weekly Top 40 and distributed it until 2004, when Dees left KIIS. Ironically, Premiere also took over the second incarnation of American Top 40 two years later (whose hosting duties were taken over from Casey Kasem in 2004 by - you guessed it, Ryan Seacrest.)
Did you know?: Before he signed with ABC Radio in 1994, Dees had a short-lived turkey of a late night show on the television side of the network titled Into the Night with Rick Dees, which he hosted from July 1990 to July 1991, and then staggered on for three months as Into the Night after Dees left.
Into the Night of course, is in the prestigious T Dog Media Blog TV Hall of Shame. Is your show a member? Ryan Seacrest - oh, there's that name again - get ready for your new lame reality show to be inducted...
Andy Shaw retires
Longtime political reporter Andy Shaw is retiring from ABC-owned WLS-TV after 25 years.
Shaw has covered the political beat at WLS since 1983, when he covered Harold Washington's rise to history when he became Chicago's first African-American mayor and ending with Barack Obama becoming the first African-American President - not to mention the fall of Governor Rod.
Shaw began his television career at NBC-owned WMAQ-TV in 1976 as an education reporter and editorial director. He left the station in 1982.
Shaw has been part of WLS's rise to dominance in local news. When he joined WLS in 1983, the news operation was a distant third place. Shaw became well known by many Chicago politicans - and he wasn't afraid to ask them a harsh question or two.
For a short time, Shaw even worked on the crime beat at WLS in addition to his political reporting duties.
With Shaw retiting, WLS' new politcal reporter is Charles Thomas, a sixteen-year veteran who has been a general assignment reporter.
Shaw has covered the political beat at WLS since 1983, when he covered Harold Washington's rise to history when he became Chicago's first African-American mayor and ending with Barack Obama becoming the first African-American President - not to mention the fall of Governor Rod.
Shaw began his television career at NBC-owned WMAQ-TV in 1976 as an education reporter and editorial director. He left the station in 1982.
Shaw has been part of WLS's rise to dominance in local news. When he joined WLS in 1983, the news operation was a distant third place. Shaw became well known by many Chicago politicans - and he wasn't afraid to ask them a harsh question or two.
For a short time, Shaw even worked on the crime beat at WLS in addition to his political reporting duties.
With Shaw retiting, WLS' new politcal reporter is Charles Thomas, a sixteen-year veteran who has been a general assignment reporter.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
T Dog's Groovy Grab Bag
From the bag today:
- Comcast SportsNet announced it is splitting its signature sports news show SportsNite into two half-hours at 10 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. (Yours truly thought they were already separate.)
- It looks like an Obama-led FCC could steer the focus away from indecency, which has been the focus of the agency over the last few years. Under the "leadership" of Kevin Martin, the FCC has become nothing more than a PR agency for the Parents Television Council.
And the latest absurdity from the FCC came recently, when commissioner Deborah Tate blamed the online game sensation World of Warcraft addiction for the huge college drop-out rate. Um... maybe because it has something to do with high tuition and the struggling economy instead? (as a caller on Boers and Bernstein would say... Deborah Tate, Who Ya Crappin?) Please Obama, get Martin and his merry band of twits out of here!
- A problem with its analog transmitter may force Fox-owned WFXT in Boston to go all-digital early, while KCWE-TV in Kansas City has already pulled the analog plug. The digital transition happens February 17, when all full-power analog signals shut down forever.
- Howard Stern on his former boss (Kevin Metheny), who landed a new job as program director of WGN-AM:
"Pig Virus landed on his feet again. I don't spend my day thinking about Pig Virus, but it is amazing how guys we know who are pretty unoriginal keep landing on their feet. … Pig Virus really undermined everything I tried to do at NBC and hated me. And then after he got bounced from NBC and the other places he worked, he started programming radio stations and tried to replicate what I did on the radio."
Remember the old saying "time heals all wounds"? Not in radio, my friend.
- Comcast SportsNet announced it is splitting its signature sports news show SportsNite into two half-hours at 10 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. (Yours truly thought they were already separate.)
- It looks like an Obama-led FCC could steer the focus away from indecency, which has been the focus of the agency over the last few years. Under the "leadership" of Kevin Martin, the FCC has become nothing more than a PR agency for the Parents Television Council.
And the latest absurdity from the FCC came recently, when commissioner Deborah Tate blamed the online game sensation World of Warcraft addiction for the huge college drop-out rate. Um... maybe because it has something to do with high tuition and the struggling economy instead? (as a caller on Boers and Bernstein would say... Deborah Tate, Who Ya Crappin?) Please Obama, get Martin and his merry band of twits out of here!
- A problem with its analog transmitter may force Fox-owned WFXT in Boston to go all-digital early, while KCWE-TV in Kansas City has already pulled the analog plug. The digital transition happens February 17, when all full-power analog signals shut down forever.
- Howard Stern on his former boss (Kevin Metheny), who landed a new job as program director of WGN-AM:
"Pig Virus landed on his feet again. I don't spend my day thinking about Pig Virus, but it is amazing how guys we know who are pretty unoriginal keep landing on their feet. … Pig Virus really undermined everything I tried to do at NBC and hated me. And then after he got bounced from NBC and the other places he worked, he started programming radio stations and tried to replicate what I did on the radio."
Remember the old saying "time heals all wounds"? Not in radio, my friend.
Detroit's papers to cut back on delivery
Detroit's two main newspapers (The Free Press and News) are scaling back their delivery due to the worsening economic conditions.
Beginning in March, both papers will be delivering to homes only three days a week, while being exclusively on newsstands and retail outlets the other four in a slimmed-down version. Both papers are refocusing on their respective online sites, with an emphasis on offering more on the Web.
Both The Free Press and News are published jointly, but owned by different companies. (Gannett owns The Free Press; The News is owned by MediaNews.)
The move is expected to open up opportunities for Detroit three local television news operations, including grabbing more available advertising dollars. However, those dollars are becoming harder and harder to come by as many national advertisers have stopped buying local spot time in the market. According to TVNewsday, local spots make up a whopping 65 to 70 percent of a station's revenue in the Detroit market.
Fox-owned WJBK dominates in the morning, while NBC affiliate WDIV and ABC affiliate WXYZ-TV slug it out in other time periods throughout the day. Under Fox's current ownership, WJBK has become a bigger player in news, more so than the days when it was a CBS affiliate when its newscasts would often lose to The Jetsons in the ratings (I'm not making this up.)
CBS-owned WWJ-TV still does not have a news operation. WWJ (on Channel 62) became a CBS outlet in 1994 after the Fox-New World deal ousted CBS from its longtime home at WJBK, which was owned by New World at the time. WWJ shut it news operation in 2002.
Meanwhile, WMYD-TV (My Network TV) launched a new 10 p.m. newscast last July to compete with WJBK's, but it's produced by Independent News Network in Iowa.
Detroit's economy has been battered for decades, and has gotten worse in the last few years, thanks to the Big Three automaker's woes, massive job losses, and a political scandal featuring the city's mayor which gave Detroit a black eye nationally (though the recent pay-for-play scandal featuring Governor Arrogant hurting Chicago's image may even top that.)
Worse, political spending froze after John McCain condeded Michigan to President-Elect Barack Obama in the recent election.
And, the Detroit Lions may become the NFL's first 0-16 team. On the other hand, the Detroit Red Wings won the Stanley Cup last June, the Detroit Tigers went to the World Series two years ago, and the Detroit Pistons remain competitive on the hardwood four years after winning their third NBA Chamionship.
With the auto industry in decline, Detroit's stations has had to refocus on other ad categories. While media outlets have been successful in filling holes left by the automakers, the revenue coming in is nowhere near what the car companies brought in. Like newspapers, local television and radi outlets are hoping a beefed-up online presence will ease the revenue pain.
While the economic slowdown is hurting cities from coast-to-coast, this is proof it is hurting more cities than others.
Beginning in March, both papers will be delivering to homes only three days a week, while being exclusively on newsstands and retail outlets the other four in a slimmed-down version. Both papers are refocusing on their respective online sites, with an emphasis on offering more on the Web.
Both The Free Press and News are published jointly, but owned by different companies. (Gannett owns The Free Press; The News is owned by MediaNews.)
The move is expected to open up opportunities for Detroit three local television news operations, including grabbing more available advertising dollars. However, those dollars are becoming harder and harder to come by as many national advertisers have stopped buying local spot time in the market. According to TVNewsday, local spots make up a whopping 65 to 70 percent of a station's revenue in the Detroit market.
Fox-owned WJBK dominates in the morning, while NBC affiliate WDIV and ABC affiliate WXYZ-TV slug it out in other time periods throughout the day. Under Fox's current ownership, WJBK has become a bigger player in news, more so than the days when it was a CBS affiliate when its newscasts would often lose to The Jetsons in the ratings (I'm not making this up.)
CBS-owned WWJ-TV still does not have a news operation. WWJ (on Channel 62) became a CBS outlet in 1994 after the Fox-New World deal ousted CBS from its longtime home at WJBK, which was owned by New World at the time. WWJ shut it news operation in 2002.
Meanwhile, WMYD-TV (My Network TV) launched a new 10 p.m. newscast last July to compete with WJBK's, but it's produced by Independent News Network in Iowa.
Detroit's economy has been battered for decades, and has gotten worse in the last few years, thanks to the Big Three automaker's woes, massive job losses, and a political scandal featuring the city's mayor which gave Detroit a black eye nationally (though the recent pay-for-play scandal featuring Governor Arrogant hurting Chicago's image may even top that.)
Worse, political spending froze after John McCain condeded Michigan to President-Elect Barack Obama in the recent election.
And, the Detroit Lions may become the NFL's first 0-16 team. On the other hand, the Detroit Red Wings won the Stanley Cup last June, the Detroit Tigers went to the World Series two years ago, and the Detroit Pistons remain competitive on the hardwood four years after winning their third NBA Chamionship.
With the auto industry in decline, Detroit's stations has had to refocus on other ad categories. While media outlets have been successful in filling holes left by the automakers, the revenue coming in is nowhere near what the car companies brought in. Like newspapers, local television and radi outlets are hoping a beefed-up online presence will ease the revenue pain.
While the economic slowdown is hurting cities from coast-to-coast, this is proof it is hurting more cities than others.
T Dog's Groovy Grab Bag
- NATPE Time: It's that time of year again - the annual programming conference is taking place next month in Las Vegas, though scaled down in size from recent years because of the economy. Here's a list of projected programs (courtesy of TV Week) due out in syndication for 2009 and beyond. Among the list of shows offered for next fall is a second cycle of Law and Order: Criminal Intent and a return of Star Trek: The Next Generation repeats to broadcast syndication (yes!)
- Despite some reports some first-run syndicated strips may get axed because of ultra-low ratings, NBC Universal has renewed The Martha Stewart Show for a fifth season next fall covering 60 percent of the country despite averaging a rating of 0.7 in November, down from last year. So, can anyone tell me how the economic model of this show works with a rating this low? Is it the same one that somehow keeps Q101 around?
- Good news for fans of Dr. Horrible: The DVD version of Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog is available Dec. 19, just in time for Christmas, featuring the Rodney Dangerfield of mad scientists. The bad news: It's not available in stores or even though an 1-800 direct marketing offer from Time-Life (get a free Hoveraround chair with each order!) It's only available though Amazon. But it has a boatload of extra features including two commentary tracks and "A Making Of..." featurette. So order yours today and watch the mailbox...
- Survivor: Gabon concluded Sunday with Bob winning the million and another $100,000, awarded by fans of the show via Sprint. While Gabon was not as good as the previous edition of Survivor, it was still entertaining and better than the glorified crap served up as Survivor: China last year. But the group of people in this edition are the most pathetic bunch of losers I have ever seen assembled on any reality show, particularly Randy and Corrinne.
Corinne became the ultimate heel after making nasty comments about a contestant's dead father. She has the kind of crappy attitude that makes her more than qualified to become the next Governor of Illinois. And when she's elected (because we all know how smart Illinois voters are), she'll wind up going to jail. Works for me!
- Despite some reports some first-run syndicated strips may get axed because of ultra-low ratings, NBC Universal has renewed The Martha Stewart Show for a fifth season next fall covering 60 percent of the country despite averaging a rating of 0.7 in November, down from last year. So, can anyone tell me how the economic model of this show works with a rating this low? Is it the same one that somehow keeps Q101 around?
- Good news for fans of Dr. Horrible: The DVD version of Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog is available Dec. 19, just in time for Christmas, featuring the Rodney Dangerfield of mad scientists. The bad news: It's not available in stores or even though an 1-800 direct marketing offer from Time-Life (get a free Hoveraround chair with each order!) It's only available though Amazon. But it has a boatload of extra features including two commentary tracks and "A Making Of..." featurette. So order yours today and watch the mailbox...
- Survivor: Gabon concluded Sunday with Bob winning the million and another $100,000, awarded by fans of the show via Sprint. While Gabon was not as good as the previous edition of Survivor, it was still entertaining and better than the glorified crap served up as Survivor: China last year. But the group of people in this edition are the most pathetic bunch of losers I have ever seen assembled on any reality show, particularly Randy and Corrinne.
Corinne became the ultimate heel after making nasty comments about a contestant's dead father. She has the kind of crappy attitude that makes her more than qualified to become the next Governor of Illinois. And when she's elected (because we all know how smart Illinois voters are), she'll wind up going to jail. Works for me!
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Restore the roar
Yes, it's still hard to believe, but it's amazing how the Chicago Blackhawks have changed their fortunes - on and off the ice.
At a time when a few NHL teams are struggling financially and the Arena Football League is ceasing operations for the 2009 season, the Blackhawks are thriving at the gate. After years of being in the bottom five in total attendance in the league, the Hawks has bolted first so far this season, with season ticket sales zooming from 3,400 last year to more than 14,000 this season. Ratings are also up this season on Comcast SportsNet.
All of this is due to marketing - a sport team's best friend. After owner Bill Wirtz died last year, the team was taken over by his son Rocky - and he implemented a marketing plan that took effect almost immediately. This included hiring John McDonough away from the Cubs to run the marketing department, centering around the team's two young stars - Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane, and televising all the team's games for the first time - including home games, something Bill Wirtz staunchly was opposed against. The team also struck a deal to carry games on WGN-TV and brought back Pat Foley as play-by-play.
The team's media coverage has increased as well, with both the Tribune and Sun-Times recently introducing blogs on the Blackhawks.
And the team is playing better since coach (and former Hawks player) Dennis Savard was dropped for Joel Quinnville.
Now the Blackhawks are getting ready to hit the big time - they will play their arch nemesis Detroit Red Wings in the NHL's second Winter Outdoor Classic on January 1 from Wrigley Field, airing on NBC in the U.S. and CBC in Canada. Bob Costas is anchoring the event, with Mike Emerick and Hawks commentator Eddie Olczyk calling the game. Last year's inaugural Winter Classic between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Buffalo Sabres at Rich Stadium in Orchard Park, N.Y. - the first regular-season game held outdoors in the U.S. - was a ratings hit.
This year's classic will likely do better, given the fan bases of Detroit and Chicago and their longtime rivalry.
Kiernan named news director at WBBM-TV
Jeff Kiernan has been named the new news director at CBS-owned WBBM-TV (CBS 2), being charged of cleaning up the mess former news director Carol Fowler left.
Kiernam is a native of nearby Munster, Ind., and has been in charge of news operations for CBS O&Os stations in Minneapolis (WCCO-TV) and Boston (WBZ-TV.) While at WCCO, Kiernan kept WCCO competitve with NBC affiliate KARE-TV, often dueling for the number one spot. In Boston, Kiernan improved WBZ-TV's news ratings, which had been lagging since its switch from NBC to CBS in 1995.
Kiernam is a native of nearby Munster, Ind., and has been in charge of news operations for CBS O&Os stations in Minneapolis (WCCO-TV) and Boston (WBZ-TV.) While at WCCO, Kiernan kept WCCO competitve with NBC affiliate KARE-TV, often dueling for the number one spot. In Boston, Kiernan improved WBZ-TV's news ratings, which had been lagging since its switch from NBC to CBS in 1995.
Monday, December 15, 2008
Tribune bankruptcy could affect syndication business
The ongoing saga of Tribune bankruptcy will have a big effect on the syndication business.
Tribune owes four major syndicators money: Warner Bros., NBC Universal, Disney-ABC, and Twentieth. As a result of the Chapter 11 filing (with Tribune restructuring debt), the studios aren't going to see a dime of the cash anytime soon.
This puts some stress on the studios' bottom line, which may force them to write-off the payments they were supposed to receive.
And if other broadcasting groups file for Chapter 11, they will likely ask for the same thing, according to experts close to the matter.
Tribune is a major buyer of syndicated fare for its' 23 television stations, including WGN-TV in Chicago. Programming includes Two and A Half Men, Jerry Springer (though not on WGN), Who Wants To Be A Millionaire, Live with Regis & Kelly, Family Guy, and The Simpsons. One show it bought for its station group (CBS' T.D. Jakes project) has now been put on hold and may not launch as planned.
Despite the filing, Tribune has plenty of cash on hand to help with operating expenses and to pay the bills. But it may not shop aggressively for first-run and off-network programming as in years past.
Of course, this isn't the first time a station group filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, though Tribune may be the biggest. In 1986, Grant Broadcasting, owners of three TV stations (including WGBO-TV here) filed Chapter 11 after spending too much money on programming and not seeing any successful returns from them - particularly from WGBO, whose ratings were disastrous (WGBO's average total-day share in 1988 was a 2.) The three stations later went into receivership, with creditors running the stations under the name Combined Broadcasting.
WGBO was sold to Univision in 1994 and flipped to Spanish-language programming, while Paramount (now CBS Corp.) bought the other two stations (WGBS-TV in Philadelphia, now WPSG and WBFS-TV in Miami) in 1995.
Though its unlikely Tribune will face the type of situation Grant Broadcasting did, it nonetheless make the studios quite nervous.
Tribune owes four major syndicators money: Warner Bros., NBC Universal, Disney-ABC, and Twentieth. As a result of the Chapter 11 filing (with Tribune restructuring debt), the studios aren't going to see a dime of the cash anytime soon.
This puts some stress on the studios' bottom line, which may force them to write-off the payments they were supposed to receive.
And if other broadcasting groups file for Chapter 11, they will likely ask for the same thing, according to experts close to the matter.
Tribune is a major buyer of syndicated fare for its' 23 television stations, including WGN-TV in Chicago. Programming includes Two and A Half Men, Jerry Springer (though not on WGN), Who Wants To Be A Millionaire, Live with Regis & Kelly, Family Guy, and The Simpsons. One show it bought for its station group (CBS' T.D. Jakes project) has now been put on hold and may not launch as planned.
Despite the filing, Tribune has plenty of cash on hand to help with operating expenses and to pay the bills. But it may not shop aggressively for first-run and off-network programming as in years past.
Of course, this isn't the first time a station group filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, though Tribune may be the biggest. In 1986, Grant Broadcasting, owners of three TV stations (including WGBO-TV here) filed Chapter 11 after spending too much money on programming and not seeing any successful returns from them - particularly from WGBO, whose ratings were disastrous (WGBO's average total-day share in 1988 was a 2.) The three stations later went into receivership, with creditors running the stations under the name Combined Broadcasting.
WGBO was sold to Univision in 1994 and flipped to Spanish-language programming, while Paramount (now CBS Corp.) bought the other two stations (WGBS-TV in Philadelphia, now WPSG and WBFS-TV in Miami) in 1995.
Though its unlikely Tribune will face the type of situation Grant Broadcasting did, it nonetheless make the studios quite nervous.
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