Ugly Betty’s "blog"

(Back when I started this blog in 2006, I promised at least a satire piece on the industry. Well, after nearly four years and 1,844 posts later, I finally deliver!) I came across this blog “written” by Betty Suarez, who “works” at “Mode magazine” in New York. Strangely enough, it was found on ABC’s website. It’s titled Be inspired, whatever […]

People of Earth: Conan says no to late-night move

His future at NBC now in very serious jeopardy Oh, it’s on. Conan’ O Brien rejected NBC’s for him to move The Tonight Show he hosts  to 11:05 p.m. (12:05 a.m.) Central to make room for a half-hour version of The Jay Leno Show, which is being bumped out of prime-time after the Winter Olympics. Mr. O’Brien said moving Tonight […]

It’s official: "Leno" out of prime-time

In news predicted by me (and just about anyone else) since Thursday, NBC announced it is moving Jay Leno’s prime-time show back to late night (at 10:35 p.m. Central) and cutting it to a half-hour. The move also means Conan O’Brien goes to 11:05 p.m. and Jimmy Fallon heads to 12:05 a.m. The moves begin after the Winter Olympics. The […]

Is Leno coming back to the "Tonight Show"?

It’s been an interesting day on the buzz and speculation front regarding the futures of Jay Leno’s prime-time show and Conan O’Brien’s Tonight Show. First, NBC denied a report suggesting the network has canceled The Jay Leno Show. In fact, network officials released a statement this morning saying they were in full support of the show and working with affiliates […]

KPRC changes doctors

Your station has a ratings problem. So if the person in charge of the time period isn’t doing the job of tending to it, what would you do? Change doctors. That’s what KPRC did. KPRC-TV, Post-Newsweek’s NBC affiliate in Houston, has replaced CBS Television Distribution’s Dr. Phil, with Sony Television’s new hotcomer Dr. Oz at 3 p.m., which was effective […]

T Dog’s Four Pack – The Jay Leno edition (updated)

(This was supposed to been up Tuesday night, but somehow it didn’t get up here. – T.H.) UPDATED: See below. It’s a special Jay Leno Show edition of T Dog’s Four Pack – here are the highlights and lowlights from night one of the show, plus other relevant information ( I was flipping back and forth between Leno and Star […]

For Leno, it’s time to put up – or shut up

You’ve heard about this for the last nine months. And it arrives tomorrow night. For the first time in the history of television (and excluding special stunts, like Millionaire or Deal or No Deal), there is a five night a week strip in prime-time on a major broadcast network on a regular basis. The Jay Leno Show debuts Monday night […]

WBBM-TV’s news ratings continue to lag

Spent so much time on WFLD lately (Mike Barz’s firing and the station’s 10 p.m. newscast cancellation), now there’s a story of Chicago’s other ratings-losing news operation – CBS-owned WBBM-TV. But while both news stations are still trying to find an audience, NBC-owned WMAQ-TV’s 10 p.m. newscast has seen a 13% increase in household ratings since January and is now […]

T Dog’s Four Pack

The list of winners and losers are back! Yes, they can! Conan. As Conan O’ Brien is settling down in his new Tonight Show role, he has more than proven himself as a successor to Jay Leno (or… maybe not.) Futurama returns. Six years later after Fox canceled this underrated show, Comedy Central comes to the rescue with 26 new […]

"Conan" is ready to go (Updated)

Now that the Jay Leno era has come to a close, it’s time for Conan O’Brien to step in. Beginning tonight, Conan O’Brien becomes the fifth host to front The Tonight Show in the program’s 55-year history, following Steve Allen (and Ernie Kovacs, who hosted the Monday and Tuesday episodes of “Tonight” during the Allen era), Johnny Carson, and Jay […]

T Dog’s Groovy Grab Bag

Another edition of T Dog’s Groovy Grab Bag: – As you know by now, Jay Leno’s final Tonight Show was last night. Courtesy of TV Barn, here’s a short transcript of Leno’s monologue from his final program, and here’s an article on how Jay Leno’s reign of The Tonight Show didn’t change much during its 17-year run. And the best […]

T Dog’s Four Pack – Liars, losers, and Joaquin Phoenix

Didn’t do one last week, so this is for the last two weeks: The winners and losers… Fab Four – Survivor. Another winning edition of Survivor, both in the ratings and in quality. And it drew more viewers in the 18-49 demo than its’ lead-out, CSI Thursday night – a first. – The Simpsons in HD. Had the look and […]

TCA Notes

The major broadcast networks made their presentations at the Television Critics Association’s Winter Press Tour this week. Among the highlights: NBC – NBC announced Conan O’ Brien’s final night on Late Night will be on Feb. 20, just three months before he is scheduled to take over The Tonight Show from Jay Leno in Los Angeles. Replacing him is Jimmy […]

Jay Leno to stay with NBC – at 9 p.m. Central

And that’s 9 p.m. every weeknight. In a stunning and historic announcement, NBC is keeping Jay Leno by giving him a hour a night – in primetime. Leno is expected to take over the 9 p.m. time slot (that’s 10 p.m. Eastern and Pacific) every weeknight as a strip beginning next fall. Excluding special events (and My Network TV’s short-lived […]