“Rachael Ray” to end after 17 seasons

Ray shifts focus to new venture Updated May 23, 2023.  On September 18, 2006, The T Dog Media Blog was launched – coincidentally on the same day The Rachael Ray Show did. Now after seventeen seasons, it’s Rachael who’s calling it a career – at least in daytime television.  “In my more than 20 plus years in television I have had […]

“Dr. Oz” exits for “The Good Dish”

The Good Dish takes over Oz’s old slots in January As expected, The Dr. Oz Show is ending after the host announced a run for U.S. Senate. On November 30, Memhet Oz announced he was running for the Pennsylvania Senate as a Republican for a seat now occupied by the retiring Pat Toomey, even though he currently lives in New […]

FCC approves Tribune, Nexstar deal

Move ends 95 years of local control  I guess this is another way for the Trump administration and Republicans to stick it to Chicago. In another… all together now – partisan divided vote, the FCC approved the transaction of Nexstar Broadcasting, swallowing up Chicago-based Tribune Media for $6.4 billion. This gives Nexstar over 100 stations in 114 markets with a […]

The Media Notepad: Chicago TV production on the rise

Plus: WGN Radio’s Todd Manley promoted; Anthony Adams’ prime-time show get cut; WTTW strikes deal with WYCC; Classic sitcoms shift; While “President” Trump continues to bash Chicago on a regular basis for (and outright lying) about the city’s homicide and crime rate, his blabber hasn’t discouraged businesses from investing here – particularly the film and television production industries. A feature […]

Sony cancels “The Nate Berkus Show”

Sony Pictures Television and Harpo Studios announced on Friday it was not going forward with a third season of The Nate Berkus Show. The series will finish out the current season and produce all episodes it was contracted for. The cancellation was first reported on Broadcasting & Cable’s website early Friday evening. Nate Berkus rose to fame as Oprah Winfrey’s […]

TCA, Part 3: We OWN you

Obviously the biggest highlight of the Winter version of Television Critics Association Press Tour was a rare appearance by the Queen of Talk, Oprah Winfrey. She was at the press tour to promote her new cable network, The Oprah Winfrey Network, or OWN, which launched January 1 in place of Discovery Health. Discovery Communications owns half of the new joint […]

Judge Karen’s Court to stay in session

Santa was great to Judge Karen Francis-Mills this holiday season as her courtroom strip Judge Karen’s Court has been picked up for a sophomore season by Litton Entertainment with renewals from Chicago’s WCIU and New York City’s WPIX. In addition, WCIU upgraded Karen last month from an overnight slot to 9 and 9:30 a.m. on its weekday morning schedule, replacing […]

T Dog’s Four Pack – Don’t fumble it away

In honor of the Super Bowl this weekend, this is who scored the touchdowns this week –  and who fumbled it at the end zone. Touchdown! – WGCI and WVAZ gives back. Clear Channel’s WGCI-FM and WVAZ-FM (V103) are launching the Raise A Hand Campaign to encourage young people to perform good deeds for their schools and their community via […]

T Dog’s Four Pack -The Oprah Winfrey Edition

Welcome to a special edition of T Dog’s Four Pack (special because this is a bit serious in tone.) On Thursday, Oprah Winfrey announced she was leaving her syndicated daytime talk show after 25 years and ending the program on September 9, 2011. She is focusing on launching her new cable network with Discovery Communications, which goes live in January […]

Off to see the doctor… The Wonderful Doctor of Oz

The early returns for Dr. Oz have been positive and Sony Pictures Television and Harpo Productions hope Oz can lead the company down the Yellow Brick Road to riches. The three day average of Dr. Oz – a new medical talk show hosted by Mehmet Oz which premiered on Sept. 14 – had a three day average of a 1.7 […]