NBC 5, WVON partner for mayoral forum targeting Black community

Tired of all these mayoral forums yet? There are more to come. If you watch Survivor, then you know about Tribal Council, where the strategies and backstabbing come out in full play. The Chicago mayoral forums have been like Tribal Councils every single night with insults, personal attacks, and language that makes the last few Survivor seasons look peaceful by […]

Tyra Banks exits “FAB Life”

Departure comes after only two months on air Guess Tyra Banks wasn’t cut out for the “Fab Life”. After just two months as lead host and executive producer, the former supermodel and host of America’s Next Top Model is bailing out of the sinking ship known as The FAB Life, to focus on her recently-launched cosmetics line. In a statement, […]

T Dog’s Media Notepad: Richard Roeper returns to Fox 32

Catching up on media news: Sun-Times film critic Richard Roeper is returning to the Fox 32’s morning show: as first reported by Robert Feder Monday, Roeper has signed on as host of Good Day Chicago,  joining Corey McPharrin and Darlene Hill. Roeper will continue his role as film critic at the Sun-Times. The signing comes as current host Jon Kelley is departing […]

CW stays the course for fall

Only three new shows for next season – just one for fall The CW unveiled its 2015-16 schedule on Thursday at the upfronts and there’s not much change – unless you count a few shows moving around the schedule. Only ten hours are programmed a week in primetime – and with network brass satisfied with most shows, they decided to bring […]

Tyra’s back in new daytime show

New panel talk show called The Fab clears ABC-owned stations, including WLS-TV Guess who’s back in daytime? After a five-year hiatus, Tyra Banks is back as host of a new one-hour daytime talk show strip called The Fab from Disney-ABC Domestic Television Distribution, scheduled to debut next fall. The program also features four other co-hosts in a panel format. They are: […]

Strong returns for opening night

Everyone’s a winner in the first night of the TV season!  Well, almost… The first night of the 2014-15 got underway Monday night and judging by the numbers, DVRs are going to be working overtime this week. Despite heavy competition, many shows were amply sampled, including heavily-hyped new entries Gotham and Scorpion. Meanwhile, The Big Bang Theory dominated its competition on […]

CW hopes to continue momentum into 2014-15

But Tribune CEO throws cold water on party The CW unveiled its 2014-15 schedule to advertisers Thursday, but it was Tribune CEO Peter Ligouri who really stole the show. On the same day CW revealed its fall lineup, Ligouri said at the Moffer Nathanson Media and Communications Summit that he is “not pleased where the CW is” despite the fact […]

CW adds three new shows for 2013-14

Once again, The CW is shaking up its schedule with changes being made on all nights, adding three new series to the lineup and taking a more sci-fi-ish approach as opposed to the rich, lavish teen soaps that attract the 18-34 white female demo. The three new shows are Vampire Diaries spin-off The Originals; Reign, about a young Mary Queen […]

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 […]

T Dog’s Grab Bag: Bob Brenly exits Cubs broadcast booth (updated)

Brenly becomes new Arizona Diamondbacks color analyst The latest Grab Bag is here with a possible new classic TV channel on the way, two primetime network series renewed, and more: – Bob Brenly, who has been the color analyst for Chicago Cubs broadcasts alongside Len Kasper over WGN-TV broadcasts and Comcast SportsNet since 2005 announced he’s leaving the team to […]

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: […]

Welcome to Comic-Con

It’s finally here! On Thursday, the 43rd annual Comic-Con kicked off Thursday in San Diego. Once held in a basement of a downtown hotel, Comic-Con expanded over the decades and now takes place at the city’s convention center. Certainly, Comic-Con is a far better and more enjoyable experience to cover than some overrated, overblown, overhyped, and over-covered event that took […]