T Dog’s Grab Bag: Exit, stage left…

..and other media news of note: – Kevin Manno is exiting his afternoon gig at alt-rock WKQX-FM (Q101) to take a job hosting a yet-to-be named weekday show on MTV according to CRM. The new show debuts on September 20 and is scheduled to air weekdays at 5 p.m. Manno’s old shift is being filled temporarily by James VanOdsol. This […]

FlashForward… to your demise – for real this time

Law & Order’s fate hanging in the balance It was a day for cancellations. In a move that does not surprise anyone, The Thursday night science-fiction series’ ratings declined significantly throughout the season in the key adults 18-49 demographic. Last Thursday’s airing of FlashForward finished in last place among adults 18-49 in its time period, even behind CW’s Vampire Diaries, […]

BET revives "The Game"

(Note: This is a refurbished and retooled version of a post yours truly wrote on July 1, 2009 – updated to include more recent information, including today’s announcement of “The Game” returning to television. Yes, I’m now recycling posts!) BET announced today at its upfront presentation to advertisers in New York that canceled CW comedy The Game will make a […]

What’s next for Conan O’Brien

So now that Conan O’Brien has wrapped up his tenure at NBC in late night after sixteen years, what’s next for the once low-key talk show host? Mr. O’Brien could have offers from other competing networks from several cable networks  and at least one broadcast network. And he may have helped his cause on Friday night: Ratings for his final […]

T Dog’s Groovy Grab Bag – The TCA edition

More from the bi-annual gathering in Pasadena, with cable on display: – BET had its presentation and is introducing two new programs: a new reality docu-drama featuring R&B singer Monica, and one featuring comedian Monique Ines-Jackson (better known as Mo’Nique.) Broadcasting & Cable also had an interview with BET Chairman Debra Lee. Click here to read. – National Geographic is […]

"Futurama" voice cast settles with Twentieth

We knew how all of this would come out at the end. The voice cast of Futurama has agreed to a pact with the show’s producers and Twentieth Television on their salaries. The cast includes Billy West, Katey Sagal, Tress MacNeille, Maurice LaMarche, and John DiMaggio. The group was to appear at the Futurama Comic-Con panel last week, but was […]

T Dog’s Four Pack

The best and worst of the last three weeks: Good. – The Michael Jackson Memorial Service. Tasteful and dignified. – America’s Got Talent. Once again, the hit of the summer season with an average of 11 million viewers. And it still hasn’t found its Susan Boyle! – Casey Kasem. Tip of the hat to the man who practically invented counting […]

BET to revive "The Game"?

Could canceled CW comedy The Game make a return? According to TV Guide, CBS Television Studios (formerly CBS Paramount Television) and Black Entertainment Television (BET) are negotiating a lower license fee so CBS can produce the series for cable. If negotiations are successful, The Game would become the first former live-action network sitcom to be revived on basic cable since […]

TCA News

From the Winter Press Tour: – BET isn’t going to pass up a history-making event as this one. The network is going to be there front and center for President-elect Barack Obama’s Inauguration. BET will air special programming beginning this Saturday, including extended coverage of Obama’s Inauguration on Jan. 20. Click here to read more. – HBO is launching a […]

Smiley’s successor found

No, this isn’t a replay of Saturday’s post regarding Roland Martin, but the Tom Joyner Morning Show has found its successor to departed commentator Tavis Smiley. Make that two successors. Because of fan voting that left the contest between Jeff Johnson and Stephanie Robinson practically tied, TJMS has decided to bring both on as commentators.This comes after Friday’s announcement of […]

PTC to Hip-Hop: You’re next

The boisterous group is now targeting MTV and BET, in a really pathetic attempt to act like they care about the African-American Community (but it might not help given the Parents Television Council is also targeting the equally grating Tyra Banks and her “reality” show.)

WADL steps up in the Motor City

After years of crummy programming (infomercials, home shopping, etc.), Adelll-owned WADL-TV in Detroit is making a serious bid to compete for those TV advertising dollars with the other stations in town – by targeting the market’s African-American population. The station, which signed on in 1985, had been airing mostly paid religious fare and infomericals. At one time, the station was […]

"Girlfriends" syndication runs to end

Star Trek’s weekly run to get better time slot in the NYC This despite the fact that The CW renewed the sitcom for another season on Monday nights (it’s not on WWOR’s weekday fall schedule – scroll down to see). CBS Paramount has decided to end local station deals on Sept. 7, meaning it’s going to be buried on BET’s […]

"Hot Ghetto Mess" a mess

State Farm and Home Depot have pulled their advertising from Hot Ghetto Mess, a new show about racial stereotypes that premieres on BET on July 25. Rats. And this comes one day after the critics’ polls for worst show comes out…. Makes them look silly for picking 24 as 2nd-worst show in TV Week.

She’s worked…. there?

Hard to believe that a fine-looking woman like Rocsi Diaz – who’s now on 106th & Park on BET -once worked for Power 92 (WPWX-FM) in that dumpy neighborhood in Hammond (The station’s studios is right off Calumet Ave. – the only notable building on the entire street. I often pass it on my way to get ripped off at […]