TCA: CBS tries to stay on top

It was CBS’ turn at the mic at the Television Critics Association press tour last Tuesday, and it featured a surprise cameo appearance from CEO Les Moonves, who filled in for Entertainment president Nina Tassler at the last minute. – Moonves didn’t really get into details regarding the retrans dispute between CBS and Time Warner Cable, hoping it would be […]

TCA: CW, Showtime wrap it up

The CW recently took the stage as the TCA tour winds down: CW President Mark Pedowitz addressed critics at the press tour, including updates on current shows and those in development. Pedowitz said CW is in the reality business to stay despite two of those series – Breaking Pointe and Oh Sit are drawing few viewers. As far as renewals […]

TCA: NBC hopes to keep its momentum

After a few lean years, NBC is back in the ratings ballgame, thanks to the success of The Voice, Revolution, Sunday Night Football, and to a lesser extent Go On. With the former two programs out until spring, can NBC keep its momentum going? Can network chief Robert Greenblatt (who I already like more than his predecessors) steer the network […]

Showtime, CW at TCA: Dexter and the Beast

The CW and Showtime – both owned by CBS Corporation – held their presentations at the Television Critics Association Press Tour on Monday, featuring shows about a serial killer, a superhero, and a beast (don’t get these guys in the same room.) – CW executive session: CW network chief Mark Pedowitz has to make the best of many bad situations: […]

TCA: CBS looking to stay on top

The  semi-annual Television Critics Association Press Tour got underway this week at the Beverly Hills Hilton Hotel in this upscale section of Los Angeles. Many critics complained about the air conditioning in the ballroom and lackluster wi-fi connection, which rivals the poor signal one usually gets at the Harold Washington Library in the Loop. The only difference is the security […]

T Dog’s Four pack – The Santa edition

Ho! Ho! Ho! Merry Everyone! Terry Claus is here to deliver some goodies to the good little children… and coal to those who are not-so-good! Who won and who lost… Gifts under the tree – The Doctors. Christmas came early for the one hour medical talk show strip with seasons three and four cleared in 85 percent of the country.  […]

T Dog’s Four Pack

A week of shock and awe – literally. A Halloween edition of T Dog’s Four Pack: Treats – White Collar. USA had a lot of goodies in its bag – to the tune of 5.3 million viewers for the debut of its new Friday night drama White Collar. With the continued success of Dexter on Showtime, being a criminal has […]

The offical Comic-Con post game show

The comic book and pop culture gathering in San Diego every July called Comic-Con ended on Sunday. Over 100,000 people attended the four-day geekfest, drawing more bodies than a Nationals-Padres three-game series would’ve drawn – or any homestand involving the Padres. Comic-Con has grown to be a important marketing vehicle for Hollywood studios – its now seen as an important […]

Comic-Con: Day 2

Media-related news and notes from Comic-Con Day 2: – It isn’t Comic-Con without manatees: Seth McFarlane had a panel featuring Family Guy and its new spinoff, The Cleveland Show. MacFarlane talked about Family Guy’s upcoming season – a Sliders take off, another episode where Brian and Stewie travel back to 1939 Poland – and accidentally drag Mort Goldman with them […]

PTC idiots at it again

The Parents Television Council, a.k.a. The Pricks Tofu Crud, is considering boycotting CBS’ sponsors if they go ahead and air some Showtime programs such as Weeds and Dexter as replacement fare for shows affected by the Writer’s Strike (the programs are being edited to adhere to broadcast standards.) For your information, if boycotts truly worked, Jerry Springer, Maury Povich, and […]