Merv Griffin dies

The legendary former talk-show host and producer, who basically put first-run syndication on the map with Dance Fever, Wheel of Fortune, and Jeopardy!, has died at the age of 82, due to a bout with prostate cancer. Mr. Griffin was a bandleader, singer, TV star, and a performer at KFRC-AM San Francisco before he became involved in the backside of […]

Steve Harvey the future of WGCI

In a rare Saturday column today, Phil Rosenthal interviews new WGCI morning star Steve Harvey, who is coming back to Chicago to do three shows from their studios this coming week. Harvey tells it like it is when it comes to working in TV. But is radio any better? Harvey thinks so. But don’t ask those who work in the […]

"Wheel", "Jeopardy!" to WATL (It’s true)

In a move that may be related to WTBS changing its format and becoming WPCH-TV, a thread on Radio-Info’s Atlanta TV board is stating that Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy!, now currently airing on NBC affiliate WXIA-TV, is moving to sister station WATL-TV this fall. Both stations are owned by Gannett. WATL is scheduled to air the game shows between […]

WJBK back in the news game at 11

We have The Ten, they will have The Edge. WJBK-TV, the Fox-owned station in Detroit, is returning to the 11 p.m. newscast race effective on September 24 named The Edge. WJBK had news in the 11 p.m. slot when it was a CBS affiliate, but was moved to 10 p.m. when the station was switched to Fox by then-owner New […]

Weigel buys WJJA

The television ratings show there was nothing “incredible” about WJJA-TV Channel 49 (in which they called themselves Incredible 49), so Chicago-based Weigel Broadcasting is doing something about it – they’re buying the station from Joel Kinlow Sr. for $7 million. WJJA is one of the few TV stations in the United States to be owned by an African-American. Weigel already […]

Tribune to do dirty work for rival

In a move that has some scratching their heads, the Chicago Tribune has agreed to deliver for its rival, The Chicago Sun-Times (except to newsstands and newsboxes within the city limits) It’s a groundbreaking move for the Daily Onion, who circulation lag behind several papers in town, including The Chicago Tribune, RedEye, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, […]

Eyewitness Weiner

Happened to be downtown today and saw the Oscar Mayer Weinermobile pass through State Street. Well, it turns out that a few minutes later, that same Weinermobile was ticketed for parking on North Michigan Avenue, a Chicago no-no.

More July numbers

Buffalo: CBS affiliate WIVB-TV and independent WNLO continue to dominate news viewing, according to Nielsen numbers for the July sweeps. WIVB won 5, 6, and 11 p.m. news ratings, while WNLO scored a 6.3 rating at 10 p.m. for its news – among the best in the country. NBC affiliate WGRZ-TV did pull a surprise in the morning news race, […]

The Viewer Alienation Plan

That’s what former Chicago Tribune television critic Steve Johnson said about WBBM-TV in the 1990s, for its tabloid-like newscasts. Today, the plan seems to be still pretty much intact. The CBS-owned turned in another pitiful performance in the recently concluded July sweeps according to Nielsen, with WFLD’s new 10 p.m. newscast tying it for third among adults 25-54 and finishing […]

Avoid this show?

Not since the debut of The Chevy Chase Show has a show has received such scathing reviews – and this program hasn’t debuted yet. Upcoming CBS reality show KidNation is coming under such scrutiny, this show could join My Mother, the Car, Me and the Chimp, and Cop Rock in the TV Hall Of Shame. Arthur Greenwald of TVNewsday (registration […]

He’s back….

Vince McMahon has “risen from the dead” and is assuming his role as Bill Wirtz Jr. : At the opening of Raw, he took on Congress and the media to a chorus of “Whats” from the fans (are these people still stuck in 2000?) Yep, things are back to normal (LOL) in WWE land. Unfortunately. And even worse, ratings are […]

Twist on out

McDonald’s dumped alleged rapper Twista, the biggest embarrassing export out of Chicago since Jenny McCarthy and Jim Belushi, from a concert that’s scheduled to take place today. Something about his lyrics? Thought it was about his talent, or lack thereof….

Veteran KTLA anchor dies

Hal Fishman, the legendary anchor at Tribune’s KTLA in Los Angeles, died this morning of colon cancer at the age of 75. Fishman was a mainstay at KTLA off and on for 42 years. Fishman anchored his last newscast on July 30, and collapsed at his home on August 1, in which he was hospitalized with a serious infection.

NBC stations dominate in late news

Remember when I said NBC stations get no help from their network lead-ins, hurting them? Turns out they don’t need them. NBC stations in Boston, Milwaukee, and Baltimore won the 11 p.m. late news races, according to recent July numbers from Nielsen. Among the highlights: Boston: NBC affiliate WHDH won the 11p.m. news race, but finished behind ABC affiliate WCVB-TV […]