The TV Guy

Rihanna interview bolsters ABC's '20/20' on Friday

halboedeker — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 14:54:11 -0500

There are a lot of Rihanna fans out there. Her interview with ABC's Diane Sawyer helped make "20/20" the most popular program last night with the 18-to-49 age group. The news magazine also drew 8.2 million viewers and edged CBS'...

'America's Most Wanted' focuses on Somer Thompson case

halboedeker — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 07:11:52 -0500

Tonight's top story on "America's Most Wanted" will be the story of Somer Thompson. She is the 7-year-old girl Florida girl who disappeared on her way home from school last month. Her body was found two days later in a...

Sunday morning: Former reporter Jayson Blair on 'Fox News Sunday'; Mikhail Gorbachev on CNN's 'State of the Union'

halboedeker — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 07:02:09 -0500

Jayson Blair, the former New York Times reporter who made up stories, will be a guest on "Fox News Sunday" this weekend. Blair is now a life coach, and his Web site says he helps clients dealing with bipolar and...

'Dancing With the Stars': Susan Boyle, Michael Buble to sing

halboedeker — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 20:03:45 -0500

The results show of ABC's "Dancing With the Stars" will have a couple of major lures next week. Grammy-winner Michael Buble will sing "Haven't Met You Yet." Scottish singer Susan Boyle will sing "I Dreamed a Dream" -- the song...

Orlando shootings: Who is the suspect? Fox News talks to former mother-in-law

halboedeker — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 18:40:19 -0500

A lot of details surfaced about Jason Rodriguez, the suspect in the downtown Orlando shootings today that left one dead and five injured. Some of the most eerie information from his former mother-in-law, who was not identified. She talked by...

Orlando shootings: How ABC, NBC approached the story

halboedeker — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:40:58 -0500

The Orlando shootings were briefly discussed on national broadcasts tonight. "World News With Charles Gibson" offered a one-hour broadcast with the focus on yesterday's shootings at Fort Hood. The telecast started at 6:30 p.m. on WFTV-Channel 9. After a series...

Oprah Winfrey's Karaoke Challenge: Orlando man makes finals

halboedeker — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:05:30 -0500

Here's a happy story. And don't we need one today? Robert Weddle of Orlando has made it to the finals of Oprah Winfrey's Karaoke Challenge. He is one of three singers who will perform on Thursday's "Oprah Winfrey Show." (The...

Downtown shootings: What did you think of coverage?

halboedeker — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:08:18 -0500

Breaking news is a real education for viewers. It's like watching sausage be made, and you can learn some not-so-appetizing details. Breaking news is a real test for reporters, who are scrambling to share accurate information. The shootings at the...

Orlando shooting suspect arrested, WFTV reports

halboedeker — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:28:23 -0500

Shortly after 2:15 p.m., WFTV-Channel 9 reported that the suspect in the downtown Orlando shootings had been arrested. Six people were shot at the Gateway Center, and one died. Kathi Belich reported that Jason Rodriguez had been arrested in his...

Oprah Winfrey: WFTV moves show to WRDQ today

halboedeker — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:15:26 -0500

WFTV-Channel 9 is scrapping its regular schedule this afternoon to cover the downtown Orlando shootings. But the station will show "The Oprah Winfrey Show" at 4 p.m. on sister station WRDQ-Channel 27. Winfrey is offering a karaoke contest, and Robert...

Downtown Orlando shootings: Six reported wounded

halboedeker — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 13:02:45 -0500

The Gateway Center shootings in downtown Orlando gripped the community this afternoon and prompted stations to clear their schedules. It was a national story, too: Fox News Channel, MSNBC, CNN and HLN all covered the story. And it was a...

Casey Anthony: Stations highlight insect, chloroform details

halboedeker — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 12:36:12 -0500

"Blockbuster new information in the case against Casey," WFTV-Channel 9 anchor Vanessa Echols said at noon today. Stations were racing through the latest documents released in the case against Casey Anthony. She is charged with first-degree murder in the death...

'The Mentalist' leads CBS to Thursday victory in viewers, but 'Grey's Anatomy,' ABC have most young adults

halboedeker — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:48:46 -0500

CBS had the most viewers Thursday night, but Disney-owned ABC had the most young adults. The night's most-watched series was CBS' "The Mentalist," with 16.2 million viewers at 10 p.m., according to updated ratings released this afternoon. In the same...

Caylee Anthony: Company trying to shut down Web site that used child's image

halboedeker — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:15:29 -0500

The image of Caylee Anthony is gone from a Zwinky Web advertisement. The ad isn't legit, says Mindspark, the White Plains, N.Y.-based company that owns Zwinky. (It is pictured at right.) But a faux Zwinky ad is still up on...

Oprah Winfrey unveils O cover with Ellen DeGeneres

halboedeker — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 10:59:11 -0500

Oprah Winfrey today unveils two covers of the December edition of O, The Oprah Magazine. One is for subscribers, the other will hit newsstands (pictured). She shares the cover with Ellen DeGeneres. Expect a love-in when Lady O interviews Ellen...

Big events for Capt. 'Sully' Sullenberger, Susan Lucci, Green Day, Pillsbury Doughboy, Mickey Mouse

halboedeker — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 08:45:19 -0500

Where has 2009 gone? Television is announcing plans for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day. Take a look: *** The grand marshal of the 2010 Rose Parade will be Capt. Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger III (pictured in Getty Images photo by...

Caylee Anthony: Someone is using her image, mortifying company

halboedeker — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 17:29:05 -0500

The Caylee Anthony saga takes still another bizarre turn. The company Mindspark, based in White Plains, N.Y., has been stunned to learn that someone has used its product Zwinky and inserted the murdered child's image in an ad. "We knew...

'60 Minutes': Andre Agassi asks for compassion about drug use, says he used to hate tennis

halboedeker — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 16:03:11 -0500

Andre Agassi shook the tennis world when he revealed in his book, "Open," that he used methamphetamine in 1997 when he was depressed. After the revelation, Martina Navratilova compared Agassi with Roger Clemens, the pitching great who has been reviled...

David Letterman welcomes New York Yankees Derek Jeter, Andy Pettitte, Jorge Posada tonight

halboedeker — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 14:25:47 -0500

New York Yankees fans will want to catch "Late Show With David Letterman" tonight. Yankees stars Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada and Andy Pettitte will visit. The trio helped their team win the World Series last night over the Philadelphia Phillies....

Comedy Central orders pilot based on 'The Onion'

halboedeker — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 13:13:33 -0500

Is "The Onion" ready for television? We should know soon. Comedy Central has ordered a pilot based on the Onion Sports Network online video series. There's no title for the proposed show, but the half-hour comedy will be scripted. What...