Syndication notes

– As reported here last week, CBS Television Distribution’s new hour-long medical talk show The Doctors (working title) has cleared 50 percent of the country, and has been declared a firm go for next fall. It has been confirmed that Weigel’s WCIU-TV has picked up the show, but in a surprise move, the program will air in Chicago at 5 […]

Syndication Notes

– Warner Bros. new Bonnie Hunt Show has cleared 55 percent of the country, including WMAQ-TV in Chicago for next fall. Click here for a station list. Station groups clearing include NBC, Hearst-Argyle, Gannett, Belo, Tribune, Fox, Clear Channel, Young, and several more. – Litton is syndicating two off-MTV shows – Pimp My Ride and Cribs to broadcast TV stations. […]

"Dr. Phil" spinoff clears half of the country

CBS Television Distribution has cleared a spin-off of Dr. Phil called The Doctors in 50 percent of the country. Among station groups clearing the show include CBS, Belo, Gannett, Scripps, and Cox. Stations grabbing the strip include WCBS-TV in New York, KCAL-TV in Los Angeles, KYW-TV in Philadelphia, KTVU-TV in San Francisco, WSB-TV in Atlanta (which will likely replace Montel […]

"Wheel" spinning back to Chicago

Wheel of Fortune, syndication’s No. 1 show, is coming back to the Windy City to celebrate its 25th anniversary in nighttime. The long-running game show, hosted by South Lawndale/Little Village native and Columbia College alum Pat Sajak and letter-turner (or toucher)Vanna White, will be taping at Navy Pier in March of 2008 for three weeks’ worths of shows that will […]

"Insider "moved back to 5 p.m.

This move must have bombed in the ratings: WCIU is moving The Insider back to 5 p.m. from 6 and to 11 p.m. from 10:35 p.m. next Monday (Aug. 27) instead of waiting for Sept. 10 when newly syndicated repeats of The George Lopez Show takes over at 6 p.m. Girlfriends, which is being withdrawn from broadcast syndication nationwide on […]

"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 […]

"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 […]

"Insider" moves east

CBS Television’s nightly syndicated magazine show The Insider will have Los Angeles-based host Pat O’Brien move to New York to join Laura Spencer at the program’s Times Square studios. The program will also get an updated look comes Sept. 10, when the show begins its fourth season. The program has seen some good luck lately, with The Insider in New […]

WCIU upgrades "Insider", "King of Queens"

WCIU-TV has upgraded CBS’ entertainment magazine (and ET/Hard Copy clone) The Insider and Sony’s off-network King of Queens into access. The moves are being made so WCIU can become more competitive with other stations in town, as WGN-TV is ready to roll out Family Guy and Two And A Half Men this fall, and Everybody Loves Raymond shifts to WFLD-TV […]

She’s gone, so now we can gossip about her

Is this one of the the reasons Vanessa Minnillo is now a former correspondent for Entertainment Tonight? (another may be those controversial photos with gal pal Lindsey Lohan…) Interesting how she and boy toy Nick Lachey blast the tabloids – by speaking to one.

"Medium" renewed

The NBC show produced by CBS (yes, you heard me), has been picked up for a fourth season. Now if they can only move it to the 9:00 p.m. slot (CT) after Heroes….

You’re late on your rent for the last time…

Bob Vila is being evicted from his home at CBS – The syndication outfit has pulled the plug on Bob Vila’s Home Again, ending a 28-year run on television. Low ratings and sub par weekend time periods (i.e. between midnight and 8 a.m.) apparently are to blame. Bob Vila began hosting PBS’ This Old House in 1979, but was dropped […]

ET bumped for Bears

For those of you who need their Britney-Lindsey-Angelina-Rosie-Donald fix, move over: CBS-owned WBBM-TV is pushing Mary Hart out for a week to air “Mission Miami: Countdown to the Super Bowl”, which covers the Bears at the big game, all this week at 6:30pm. But those who need that fix can tune to Entertainment Tonight’s sister show The Insider, on WCIU-TV […]