After a surprising twist, Smollett’s case blends the issue of race, homophobia, politics, and media all into one – and we’re just getting started There’s a lot at stake after Jussie Smollett’s arrest on Thursday. As you know by now, the 36-year old Empire actor who is African-American and gay, surrendered to Chicago Police after he allegedly staged an attack […]
Year marked by scandals, futility, and other things 2018 wasn’t exactly a repeat of the last two horrendous years in the media world, but scandals and deceit still ruled the roost. Though not topping 2017’s Disney-Fox deal, 2018 had some mega transactions – though the second-biggest merger of 2017 went bust as Sinclair Broadcasting’s $4 billion deal to buy Tribune […]
Tim Allen’s move to Fox a successful one (Note: All ratings are adults 18-49, unless noted.) In 2017, ABC canceled Last Man Standing mainly due to financial issues as Twentieth Television produced the show for the Disney-owned network. In a vertical integration play, Fox (whose shares the same corporate parent with Twentieth) acquired the Tim Allen vehicle a year after […]
Plus: L.A. Times, San Diego Union-Tribune sold; Mike Flannery gets his own Fox 32 news show; This week in Chicago bashing; White Sox snubbed again (Editor’s Note: Contains strong language. Reader discretion is advised.) The opening ceremonies of the 2018 Winter Olympics from South Korea dominated the ratings as expected for NBC, and even performed stronger than expected. According to […]
As expected, WFLD-TV news anchor Bob Sirott today made it official: he is leaving the Fox-owned station effective Sept. 5. Sirott is expanding his role at WGN-AM next month as he and wife Marianne Murciano will host a midday show in a yet-to-be determined time slot. WGN made room in the schedule by moving Mike McConnell to a secondary online […]
…and other local media items of note – Chicago radio veteran Bill Gamble is out of another radio job. He was canned as program director of CBS’ WCFS-FM (Fresh FM) and country WUSN-FM (US 99) on Tuesday, lasting a little over eight months. While US 99 continued to chug along nicely at the station, it was the troubles of Adult […]