After Monday’s announcement of The CW shifting to WPWR, where does these channels stand? Back in 2008, WGN-TV aired a retrospective of its 60th year in broadcasting. Hosted by Jim Belushi, the special looked back on the station’s local programming such as Garfield Goose, Ray Rayner, and Bozo. Airing on a Sunday night, the special did better in the ratings […]
Welcome to NATPE 2014! The 51st annual gathering got underway in Miami Monday, as syndicators, programmers, producers, and content creators converged in Miami for the three-day conference. Here’s what went down on Monday: – During NATPE’s opening keynote speech, Twitter managing brand of global brand strategy Jean-Phillippe Maheu said his social media platform would influence this spring’s TV upfronts, as […]
Like it broadcast sister, FX is banking on some high quality shows (well, some of them are), to increase its audience. The network had its own presentation at the recent TCA Winter Press Tour: Like other network chiefs, FX Networks President John Landgraf addressed the television violence issue, saying the industry should study it more. Landgraf pointed out the U.S. […]
With the pitiful ratings they get, Fox Chicago’s duopoly of WFLD and WPWR could use some Anger Management – not to mention a “winning” formula. Debmar-Mercury and Fox announced Wednesday it has secured a deal for all nine of its O&O duopoly markets to carry reruns of Anger Management beginning in 2014, including Fox’s duopoly of WFLD and WPWR here […]
Oh Oh. Charlie Sheen’s “winning” again. FX and Debmar-Mercury announced on Wednesday the ninety-episode pickup of Sheen’s new sitcom Anger Management, with production beginning in September and new shows airing in January. With the pickup, the series is now being prepped for an off-network broadcast syndication debut for 2014. In order to get the ninety-episode pickup, Management had to meet […]
It was The Church Of Tisch’s turn at the Death March With Cocktails (translation: CBS’ day at the Television Critics Association Press Tour) on Sunday, introducing five new shows – and most of them were unimpressive. Here’s what went down: – CBS exec session: CBS Entertainment President Nina Tassler began the session walking out with a stuffed monkey, obviously mocking […]
FX held its panel at the Television Critics Association Press Tour on Saturday, and this is what went down: – Charlie Sheen appeared in front of the press during the Anger Management panel – in front of many of the same critics who’ve ripped his new show (Anger has only a 44 Metacritic score.) Even though the program’s ratings have […]
It’s safe to say this now: FM News 101.1 is the biggest bomb in the history of Chicago radio. But you knew that already, right? Merlin Media pulled the plug on its all-news stations Tuesday at WIQI-FM (101.1) here in Chicago and WEMP-FM (101.9) in New York City, nearly a year after their underwhelming debuts, which saw them still stalled […]
– Robin Robinson is going to stay at Fox-owned WFLD after all: first mentioned by Robert Channack at the Chicago Tribune last Thursday and verified by Time Out Chicago’s Robert Feder the following day, Ms. Robinson has signed a one-year contract extension to continue co-anchoring the station’s 9 p.m. newscast alongside Bob Sirott. According to the Tribune, the deal was […]
A bunch of items in this week’s Grab Bag: – Is Robin Robinson on her way out at Fox-owned WFLD? Sure looks like it: According to a report surfacing a little over a week ago at Chicagoland Radio and Media, Robinson is expected to depart when her contract expires later this year. Robinson is the longest-tenured anchor at WFLD, being […]
Some sad news to start off this edition of notations: Emmy-award winning actress Kathryn Joosten died on Sunday after a long battle with lung cancer at the age of 72. She was best known for her portrayal of presidential secretary Mrs. Landingham on The West Wing, and most recently, the nosy neighbor on Desperate Housewives. Born in Eustus, Fl. in […]
The 49th annual National Association of Television Programming Executives closed its three-day run on Wednesday from the Fontainbleau Hotel in Miami. The gathering attracted many attendees from the around the globe, especially from South American countries, who were seeking Spanish-language programming. In addition, NATPE had a growing digital contingent, thanks to the growing influence (and clout) of Amazon, Hulu, and […]
The Winter TCA Press Tour concluded last weekend with many panels dedicated to cable. Here is a brief roundup of what went on, grouped in alphabetical order: AMC To the delight of critics (and fans), AMC announced it was extending the third season order of hit series The Walking Dead from thirteen to sixteen as the second season with thirteen […]
Allen Gregory: Worst. Sitcom. Ever. Welcome to the 6th annual T Dog Media Turkey Awards! Every year around Thanksgiving, yours truly hashes out the worst in the media business – in television, radio, and sports. So bring out the stale stuffing and expired cranberry sauce! It’s time to go gobbling! And the “winners” are… […]