Local stations, syndicators shuffle the deck As we enter year two in the post-Oprah era, things are finally changing in the syndication marketplace, as five new syndicated talk shows – the most in 17 years – make their debut. As for off-network sitcoms, the pickings are rather slim – just two new entries this year, compared to five in 2011. […]
The week before the upfronts are always crazy: you have networks canceling shows and picking up pilots to series for either this fall or for midseason. Welcome to The Upfronts Selection Show, where choices are made and bubbles are burst. Call this the television business’ version of March Madness. All of this hubbub this place before the big show kicks […]
CBS Television Distribution has picked up the syndication rights of TV Land’s original sitcom Hot In Cleveland to sell to broadcast stations, eying a launch in either 2013 or 2014. The multi-camera shot series, which stars Betty White, has been a surprise hit for TV Land, averaging 3-to-4 million viewers during its two-season run. TV Land has been branching out […]
Local stations nationwide are wasting little time when The Oprah Winfrey Show signs off on Wednesday. And ABC-owned WLS-TV isn’t the only Chicago station making changes Beginning this Thursday (yes, this Thursday), WLS is replacing Oprah at 9 a.m.with a local effort, Windy City Live. Oprah reruns will air on WLS at 11:05 p.m. until September 9. But WCIU (26.1) […]
Lots of items of note in today’s Grab Bag: – WCFS-FM (Fresh 105.9) has dumped morning man Mark LeBaron. Rick Hall will take over until a replacement is found. Is this a signal something big is coming? Or is the cancellation clock ticking for Fresh FM? – Speaking of which, the clock is up for The Beautiful Life, which CW […]
The off-net sitcoms are back. After a year without any new major off-network sitcoms debuting (aside from Tyler Perry’s House of Payne), three of them debut today in broadcast syndication – NBC Universal’s The Office, CBS Television Distribution’s Everybody Hates Chris, and Twentieth’s My Name Is Earl. Of these three, The Office is certainly the most successful, given its solid […]
Given all what’s going in Chicago lately, I guess there’s a need for another public-affairs program (one show can’t cover it all…) WTTW is debuting a new review-of-the-week show this Friday night at 8:30 p.m., aptly titled Rewind. The new program is hosted by WMAQ-TV anchor and reporter Anna Davlantes. Though the program plans to be somewhat similar to Chicago […]
Is the off-network sitcom drought about to come to an end in syndication? It very well may be. But stations may have other ideas. This story from TVNewsday reports on the off-network sitcom drought this coming season and the number of sitcoms coming down the pike in September 2009. For the first time in recent memory, there are no fresh […]
If you are a female between the ages of 18 and 34, let it be known: The CW wants you. The CW unveiled its female-friendly lineup on Tuesday, programming five nights with two comedies and lots of dramas. To see the schedule, click here (all times Eastern; programs air one hour earlier in Chicago and the rest of the Central […]
The CW is selling three hours on Sunday night (most likely the 6-9 p.m. slot Central time) to the Media Rights Capital production studio, and they will develop the programs and sell the ad time. The move means the two remaining original-episode programs on the schedule (Everybody Hates Chris and The Game) are likely to move to another night (with […]
And his name is John Nogawski, who’ll oversee the world’s largest syndication company as president of CBS Television Distribution, whose massive programming library runs the gamut from Everybody Loves Raymond to Everybody Hates Chris and everything in between. Nogawski steps into a role that was occupied by the legendary Roger King, who died on Dec. 8. Also, Robert Madden becomes […]
If you’re a fan of America’s Next Top Model, Everybody Hates Chris, Gossip Girl, One Tree Hill, Smallville, and Supernatural – good news – your show has been picked up for next season, though Top Model and Chris were renewed ahead of time. Left off the list (for now) are Reaper, The Game, and Aliens in America. Gone are WWE […]
As CW prepares its post-strike future, many of its popular shows (and I’m stretching “popular” quite a bit here) are returning with new episodes this spring, including Smallville, Supernatural, One Tree Hill, and Reaper, while others including Gossip Girl and Everybody Hates Chris will return with new episodes in the fall. But two shows won’t return at all: The ultra […]
The CW has pulled the plug on WWE Smackdown after nine seasons, after failing to come to an agreement on renewal. The program’s final CW airing is scheduled for September 12. The program began on April 29, 1999 as a one-shot special on UPN, and joined that network’s lineup on August 26, 1999. Smackdown originally aired on Thursday nights, but […]
Back after a hectic day yesterday – attended John Stroger’s funeral (R.I.P) at my church – not to mention battling a slight cold… But I’m back and ready to roll with a lot of stories for ya, so watch the blog today! First up… With the National Association of Television Executives convention set to get underway Monday in Las Vegas, […]