Upfronts review: More legal dramas, less multi-cam laughs

Also: fewer new shows The 2019-20 season is going to be more dramatic and less comedic. That’s the analysis of the five major network’s fall schedules, containing perhaps the fewest number of new shows in memory. The major networks don’t really invest in pilots anymore, thus there are fewer programs to look at as replacements. Ratings aren’t really important as […]

“Murphy Brown” rises from the dead

The latest in reboot fever Get ready… she’s going to be firing secretaries again. CBS and Warner Bros. Television announced Wednesday a thirteen-episode order of Murphy Brown featuring the woman who played her, Candice Bergen. According to the press release, Bergen reprises her role “set in a world of cable news, social media, fake news, and a very different political […]

2017 in review: Hold our beers

This Bud’s for you – 2017 a carbon city of 2016 2016: The worst year ever. 2017: Hold my beer. Yes, you saw this type of “hold my beer” exchanges this year as 2017 turned out to be lousy as advertised. For one thing, American Idol is coming back thanks to ABC. This and host Ryan Seacrest appearing on TV […]

T Dog’s Media Notepad: B’s rule

News on Blackhawks; Bob’s Burgers, and Bethenny Frankel. Oh, and the soda tax is dead. Are you ready for some hockey? Chicagoans sure are. Thursday night’s home opener against the Stanley Cup-defending champion Pittsburgh Penguins drew a eye-opening 5.1 Nielsen household rating for the newly renamed NBC Sports Chicago channel (formerly CSN Chicago). The number is impressive given the amount […]

T Dog’s Media Notepad: Megyn Kelly stumbles, bumbles in premiere

If you are employed during the day, be extremely grateful you don’t have to witness the battle of the mediocre at 9 a.m.: September 25th saw the premiere of Megyn Kelly’s new talk show on NBC competing with Live With Kelly and Ryan on ABC affiliates in most markets, including nine of the ten largest with programs actually tying each […]

“Will & Grace” shines in return; NFL, Bears fall flat

Strong start for veteran sitcom – and oh yeah…Chicago’s NFL Lakefront Team was also in action The return of Will & Grace to NBC Thursday night went better than expected. The “season nine” comedy – starring Eric McCormick and Debra Messing premiered with a 3.0 adults 18-49 rating – better than any season eight episode eleven seasons ago (in 2005-06) […]

NBC at TCA: Will & Grace renewed for a second season already

And other peacock network notes It was NBC day at the Television Critics Association press tour and the show everyone was talking about of course was the return of Will & Grace after 11 years off the air, while another big draw as This Is Us. Ahead of the Will & Grace presentation, NBC renewed the series for a second […]

NBC makes changes to Tuesday, Thursday fall lineups

This Is Us remains on Tuesday; new Will & Grace avoids showdown with Big Bang Theory The month of June hasn’t arrived yet, and we already have our first change in the 2017 fall schedule. NBC announced Tuesday it was keeping This Is Us in its regular Tuesday slot after all, keeping it as a lead-out of The Voice. Meanwhile, […]

NBC releases 2017-18 schedule

Must-See TV is back – and so is Will and Grace In the “innovative” world of television, there must be something about resurrecting a brand dominant in the 1980’s and 1990s. Thus, the return of “Must-See TV”. NBC released its fall schedule Sunday in advance of its upfront presentation, scheduled to take place Monday in New York, and the biggest news: […]

TCA: Improvements on the horizon at NBC

NBC opened the network leg of The Television Critics Association press tour recently, taking place at the Beverly Hills Hilton in Los Angeles. – Executive session: NBC Entertainment President (and Rockford native) Robert Greenblatt talked to the press, coming off a yo-yo season (first in adults 18-49 in November to fifth in February), and looked ahead to the future – […]

NBC unveils 2013-14 schedule

After a season which went through extremes (first place in November 2012 in adults 18-49 to fifth in February 2013), NBC is completely overhauling its primetime slate in 2013-14, with eight new dramas, five new comedies, and three “alternative” reality series. The new schedule was announced Sunday afternoon, a day before NBC’s upfront presentation. Only eight series from this past season […]

CBS new 2012-13 primetime schedule

CBS unveiled its 2012-13 primetime schedule Wednesday morning in advance of its upfront presentation later in the afternoon. The Tiffany network introduced four new shows – three drams and just one new comedy, along with two new midseason series. But the biggest news is the move of longtime Monday stalwart Two And A Half Men to Thursday night after The […]

Turner’s 2011-12 Upfront – what could possibly go wrong?

Adult Swim adds three new series Leave it to Turner to have an upfront presentation that leaves a lasting impression – even if its an unusual one. Turner’s cable networks rolled out their presentations Wednesday to advertisers and media buyers. Things were going smoothly until a power surge hit during a live video chat from L.A. featuring Conan O’Brien. Turner […]

T Dog’s Fridge Pack: The dirty dozen of the decade

The 2000s brought with us a decade of change on how we consume media – whether if its at home or on the go. But it also brought a decade of  flops – some which you have to see – or hear – to believe. Here are the T Dog Media Blog’s twelve biggest media blunders of the decade, in […]