A T Dog Media Blog Flashback Okay, a lot has been made about last Sunday’s episode (The Greatest Story Ever D’ohed) which turned out to be the worst Simpsons produced since That ’90’s Show, when the writers completely rewrote the backstory to give us another wonderful Homer- f’s- up – Marge-gets-mad storyline for the sake of attracting more younger viewers. […]
…and other local media items of note – Chicago radio veteran Bill Gamble is out of another radio job. He was canned as program director of CBS’ WCFS-FM (Fresh FM) and country WUSN-FM (US 99) on Tuesday, lasting a little over eight months. While US 99 continued to chug along nicely at the station, it was the troubles of Adult […]
Are these guys worth $4 million per episode? You bet your behind it is. Is the high-priced off-network sitcom on its way back? With the upcoming sale of The Big Bang Theory, we may soon find out. Not since the days of Friends, Seinfeld, The Simpsons, and The Cosby Show have we seen a sitcom come close to the $4 […]
The balcony is closed. Forever. (have I said this before?) And yes, it’s for good this time. After 24 years, Disney-ABC Television Distribution , the half-hour weekly movie review show once fronted by Chicago movie reviewers Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert. The most recent incarnation was hosted by Chicago Tribune film critic Michael Phillips and New York Times critic A.O. […]
(Updated at 23:59) Note: These are based on 6+ numbers only. Also, check out yours truly’s rant on our town’s AC stations below – they need to have their “AC” fixed. Click here to see February’s numbers, as well as those for the last two months. Click here to see a demo breakdown of the numbers, including adults 25-54. Winners: […]
This was a week to get angry – from vicious hits on the ice to vicious insults on the Capitol steps, not exactly a feel good week. But there was some good, too – and March Madness did not disappoint. What worked for yours truly – and what didn’t: Winners:Rosie may be coming back to daytime. Okay, before you beat […]
A lot of television news and notes for a Monday: – Fox’s duopoly in Chicago (WFLD and WPWR) has acquired Meredith’s Better for airing this fall. The acquisition of the lifestlyle magazine show was a part of a deal that also included Fox duopolies in Orlando (WOFL/WRBW) and Houston (KRIV/KTXH). The program was also renewed at NBC affiliate WTMJ-TV in […]
In a follow-up story on the Tribune story on Monday, the group’s trio of talk shows are having a resurgent year in daytime syndication. And Maury is one of those shows reaping the benefits. In this B&C article from last week, Maury Povich talked about how his program has reactivated itself since moving to new facilities in Stamford, Connecticut from […]
It may be over for FlashForward. The ABC sci-fi drama did not generate any interest Thursday night, averaging only a 1.9 rating among adults 18-49, and 6.5 million viewers according to figures supplied by Nielsen and The Wrap. While the program fared better in households, the 25-54 demo, and even made Trending Topics on Twitter during the 8 p.m. hour […]
Tribune-owned WGN-TV is expanding its weekend local programming offerings by adding a new lifestyle-oriented magazine show. Titled Chicago’s Best, the program examines the best restaurants and lifestyle choices in the Chicago area and is hosted by Chicago TV veteran Ted Brunson, Second City alum Sarah Spain, and Brittany Payton, who is the co-founder of the “Youth for Life” foundation (to […]
You’d think with recently disposed former NBC talk show host Conan O’ Brien possibly headed to Fox, you think the news would thrill affiliates, right? Well, think again. With news yesterday of Fox and O’Brien negotiating a deal to host a late-night talk show – something the network hasn’t had on a nightly basis since the debacle of Chevy Chase’s […]
ABC is relaunching FlashForward this Thursday night after a nearly four month hiatus. But does anyone care? The sci-fi drama debuted last September 24 with the premise of the everyone in the world blacking out for two minutes and when everyone woke up, chaos ensued. The event gave the FBI a mystery to solve: What caused the blackout? Who’s behind […]
While the Tribune Co. is struggling with the antics of CEO Randy Michaels and Chapter 11 bankruptcy, its TV division is actually taking care of its own business – despite the struggles of The CW – the network which thirteen of its stations (including WPIX in New York, KTLA in Los Angeles and WGN-TV in Chicago) are aligned with, in […]
Last week, A memo Tribune CEO Randy Michaels sent through WGN-AM News Director Charlie Meyerson, had a list of 119 words and phrases his employees at WGN should not say on the air in order to “improve the product”. And if they say any of these “forbidden” words, other employees can “rat them out” by noting the precise date and […]
In honor of the month we all go basketball crazy, we salute the three-point buzzer beaters and the airballs of the last week-and-the-half: March Madness! The Bears spend like no tomorrow. Bears sign Julius Peppers and two other free agents last Friday (March 5.) The Bears had a good week last week, hoping to get the team back to Lakers-like […]