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First-ever rain cancellation at 1-800-Ask Gary Amphitheatre aborts Jonas Brothers concert

deggans — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 00:14:08 +0000

TAMPA -- Sara Novak was so broken up, she could barely talk.

Tears streaming down her face, the 9-year-old waited nearly two hours at the 1-800-Ask Gary Amphitheater to see her musical heroes, The Jonas Brothers, only to learn that flooding caused by torrential rains had caused the band to cancel their show. According to venue officials, it was the first time a show had been cancelled there due to weather, but flooding of the orchestra seating area prompted organizers to conclude conditions had become unsafe.

About 14,000 tickets were sold for the show, which will not be rescheduled. Novak and her grandfather Eric Kruger were among those who stood outside the venue's gates for their entire wait, along with thousands of fans, after officials closed admittance to much of the crowd due to the flooding.

"They said it would be 15 or 20 minutes," said Kruger, 60, of Cape Coral. "Then after two hours, they just tell us to go home." (photo by Times photographer Willie Allen)

Taylor Bell, 15, of Valrico, had been to nine other Jonas Brothers concerts before this one, and was looking forward to enjoying the show from her fifth row seats. Brought to the concert by a family friend, she sat inside the venue while the adults were stuck outside, communicating with them by text message.

"I know they had technical difficulties, but they could have communicated better what was going on," said Patrick Tryon, 46, of Valrico, who brought Bell, a friend of hers, his wife and two other children to the show.

Workers at the venue weren't able to provide much information, as technicians struggled to handle flooding in the orchestra seats and backstage after torrential rains raked the area just before the 7 p.m. showtime. Though some limited amounts of people had been admitted to the site before rains drenched the area, staffers stopped admitting concertgoers before the scheduled start time, creating a massive pile up of fans in front of the venue gates.

The boys' father Kevin Jonas came out after 7 p.m. to assure the crowd that they were trying to deal with the flooding. Though the appearance brought screams of approval, the crowd stuck outside began chanting "let us in," drowning the administrative office's phones with calls to find out whatwas happening.

One father called, concerned that his daughter and her boyfriend was inside the venue and he was stuck outside. Another mother called, wondering how to track down kids she'd dropped off at the venue. Behind the scenes, workers traded rumors that a cancellation decision was coming shortly; the band's bodyguard Big Rob delivered the bad news to fans still inside the venue around 8:30 p.m.

Concert promoter Live Nation quickly issued a short press release: "Due to flash flooding in the Tampa area resulting in unsafe concert conditions at the venue, tonight's Jonas Brothers' concert at 1-800-Ask Gary Amphitheatre has been cancelled. Refunds will be available at point of purchase starting tomorrow morning."

New Pitchmen episodes pulled from Discovery Channel amid low ratings

deggans — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 20:12:06 +0000

After two weeks of ratings that averaged about half last year's totals, Discovery Channel has pulled original episodes of Pitchmen, the unscripted series featuring Tampa infomercial king Anthony "Sully" Sullivan.

Both Discovery and Sullivan said the channel is trying to find a new timeslot for the show, which averaged about 797,000 viewers over its two original episodes aired Aug. 19 and Aug. 26, according to The Nielsen Comapny. Those episodes were the first in the show's second season, filmed after the death of star and infomercial icon Billy Mays; last year, the show averaged 1.4-million viewers in 13 episodes featuring Mays and Sullivan as occasionally squabbling partners, according to Nielsen.

"I think they made the right call," said Sullivan, taking heart in the fact that Discovery didn't cancel the series outright. "You lose your star, you're lucky anyone tunes in. In my conversations with Discovery, they've behind the show and just want to find a good home for it."

Sullivan spent eight months assembling the new version of the show, which focused on his search for inventors and products to pull into the world of direct marketing. From the start, one of the biggest questions involved how the show might be received without Mays, who died in his sleep in his Tampa home last June.

Last Thursday, Discovery aired a rebroadcast of County Jail: Miami, with additional specials scheduled there for future weeks. Sullivan noted last year's episode got a boost airing at 10 p.m. Wednesdays behind popular series Mythbusters.

Piers Morgan confirmed as successor to Larry King at 9 p.m. on CNN

deggans — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 15:51:33 +0000

The latest worst-kept secret in TV was finally confirmed this morning, as CNN revealed that America's Got Talent judge Piers Morgan is set to succeed Larry King in CNN's weeknight 9 p.m. timeslot in January 2011.

No name was announced for the show, which will presumably follow a one-on-one interview format similar to the shows he has hosted in his native Britain. Morgan is also expected to continue writing columns for the British newspaper The Daily Mail along with occasional columns for CNN.com.

In order to secure the deal, CNN had to agree that Morgan's work with NBC on Talent would take precedence. So, although he's expected to be based in New York when the unscripted talent show isn't in production, he may tape his shows in Los Angeles during the months that Talent is in production.

The move is a big one for CNN, which has seen King's interviews serve as a fading flagship for years. Morgan, long considered a bright talented broadcaster, has guest hosted segments on the Today show and Live with Regis and Kelly but has little profile in the United States as an interviewer or television host.

The open question: How will CNN's brand change with a British reality show judge as its top new talent in prime time?

CNN has suffered serious ratings challenges in recent years, as its non-partisan reporting format has lagged against the consevative heroes on Fox News and MSNBC's growing liberal focus. Morgan has been known for snaring emotional, splashy interviews with celebrities and politicians in England, but the question of whether he can translate that into compelling TV for Americans also remains open.

Morgan comes with his own odd baggage. Made the youngest tab editor in the British journalism world at age 28, he had to leave his job as editor of the Daily Mirror in 2004 after the newspaper published photos purportedly of English soldiers abusing Iraqi prisoners which turned out to be fake. Read my earlier column on what this might mean for CNN's brand here.

Combined with the new 8 p.m. Parker Spitzer show starting Oct. 4, Morgan's hire may represent the biggest Hail Mary programming change in CNN's history. And although many TV insuders caution against underestimating the hard-working and super smart Morgan, he'll be taking over a fading broadcast with a relatively new lead-in show facing an audience that has mostly seen him judge jugglers and oddball singers

Below is a clip from one of Morgan's British chat shows.

CNN's press release is below:

Piers Morgan to Host Prime Time Interview Program on CNN

Global media personality and veteran newspaper editor Piers Morgan will host a candid, in-depth newsmaker interview program on CNN beginning in January, it was announced today by Jon Klein, president of CNN/U.S. The new program will air weeknights on CNN/U.S. at 9 pm ET/PT and will air worldwide on CNN International in more than 200 countries.

Known to United States viewers primarily for his role as a judge on NBC’s No.1-rated America’s Got Talent and as the winner of Celebrity Apprentice, Morgan has had a long career in journalism in the United Kingdom as a newspaper editor and, more recently, as the host of the popular television interview program Piers Morgan’s Life Stories. He will now bring his penetrating interview style and gift for unearthing the surprising detail to American television and to CNN viewers around the globe.

“Piers has made his name posing tough questions to public figures, holding them accountable for their words and deeds,” said Klein. “He is able to look at all aspects of the news with style and humor with an occasional good laugh in the process. He is a natural fit with Anderson Cooper, Eliot Spitzer and Kathleen Parker in our prime time line up, and the ideal choice to update the storied tradition of newsmaker talk on CNN.”

Morgan began his career as a reporter for The Wimbledon News and then as a columnist at The Sun. In 1994, when Morgan was 28 years old, Rupert Murdoch appointed him the youngest ever editor of the News of the World, and the youngest national newspaper editor in Britain for 50 years. Two years later he moved to the Daily Mirror, where he served as editor-in-chief from 1995 until 2004. The paper won numerous journalistic awards including Newspaper of the Year at the prestigious British Press Awards in 2002 for its coverage of the 9/11 terrorist atrocity in New York. After his controversial departure from the Mirror, Morgan went on to become a best-selling author, a regular media columnist, and host of his own interview programs on the BBC and ITV, as well as appear as a judge alongside Simon Cowell on the No.1-rated show Britain’s Got Talent.

“I am thrilled to be joining CNN, and very much looking forward to bringing my own style of interviewing to the world’s biggest, and best, TV news organization,” said Morgan. “As a young journalist in Britain, I watched CNN’s astonishing live coverage of the 1991 Gulf War, and felt enthralled by the courage and brilliance of the journalists involved in that coverage. Years later, I watched Anderson Cooper’s visceral reports from New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, and felt equally enthralled by his passionate and relentless search for the truth. Perhaps most pertinently, I have watched Larry King Live for much of the last 25 years, and dreamed of one day filling the legendary suspenders of the man I consider to be the greatest TV interviewer of them all. To now have the chance to work with Larry and Anderson, and to try and continue the outstanding journalistic legacy created by them, and so many others at CNN, is both a great honor, and a great challenge.”

After leaving the Daily Mirror, Morgan began writing a monthly interview column for GQ magazine where he interviewed some of the biggest names in global entertainment and politics. In 2004, he moved into television, co-hosting a Channel 4 current affairs show, Morgan & Platell, and two BBC interview shows, Tabloid Tales and You Can’t Fire Me I’m Famous. In 2008, Morgan joined ITV, where he hosted a documentary travelogue show called Piers On…, reporting from cities including Shanghai, Las Vegas and Dubai. He also developed a new talk show, Piers Morgan’s Life Stories, where he conducts one-on-one intimate and lengthy sit-down interviews with celebrities, business and political leaders, including Prime Minister Gordon Brown. It has been consistently the No. 1-rated talk show in Britain for the last two years.

Morgan will continue to write his two regular columns for the Mail on Sunday newspaper – one on sports, the other a weekly diary of his life, and he will also provide regular columns to CNN.com.

Morgan is an accomplished author, writing eight books including three best-selling volumes of diaries: The Insider, Don’t You Know Who I Am, and the recently published God Bless America.

He is also co-founder and editorial director of First News, Britain’s first ever national newspaper for children.

Morgan re-married in June, to Celia Walden, and has three sons from his first marriage – Spencer, Stanley and Bertie.

He will be based in New York, and also work from Los Angeles and London.

CNN's new 8 p.m. show Parker/Spitzer: Would you watch?

deggans — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 11:16:17 +0000

No, it's not fair to judge a show by a single, uncomfortable promotional spot.

And critics have had the knives out for CNN's new 8 p.m. gamble ever since the newschannel announced it was handing a prime time slot to a newspaper columnist with almost no TV experience and one of the most famous disgraced politicians in recent memory.

But with all that in mind, it's hard to understand why the cable newschannel would release such an awkward exchange as its first glimpse of Parker Spitzer, the new show debuting Oct. 4 featuring Pulitzer Prize winning columnist Kathleen Parker and disgraced former New York Gov. Elliot Spitzer.

Besides offering a name so easy to lampoon headline writers should pay CNN royalties, the spot tells little about what we'll actually see. The problem with prime time cable news shows is that by 8 p.m., most consumers already know the day's big news events. So snagging an audience is more about interpreting those events in a compelling way -- either through Bill O'Reilly's pugnacious conservatism on Fox News or Keith Olbermann's left-leaning Murrow impersonation on MSNBC.

So far, Parker Spitzer looks like two brainy TV neophytes joshing about news events they know are too boring to captivate an audience. I'm hoping CNN executives see a charisma the rest of us can't.

Check out the promo below; would you watch this show?

FX's biker drama Sons of Anarchy returns tonight with half the violence, twice the angst

deggans — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 20:14:55 +0000

LOS ANGELES -- Hard to describe what it feels like to stand on the set of a show you like as much as I dig FX's Sons of Anarchy.

Look left, and you see the wooden table with the fancy, carved Sons of Anarchy insignia, where Ron Perlman's Clay Teller told his trusted right hand man to kill conflicted member Harry "Opie" Winston (the attempt went wrong and killed Opie's wife instead). Look right and you see the bar where Sons members got a former member drunk, just before taking a blowtorch to his back in a bit of street justice.

Along the wall is the booking photo of lead character Jackson "Jax" Teller's dad John, who was dead by the time the show's action started, right next to a bronze-colored plaque reading "Brains Before Bullets."

I was glad I got to stop by the show's darkened clubhouse set when it wasn't in use, snapping photos like a giddy kid without worrying about avoiding people who actually work in the joint. As I would tell Perlman myself later, this fortysomething black guy is not going to spend much time hanging out with bikers; Sons gives me a chance to peek inside a heightened version of the subculture with no danger involved -- which has turned out to be an amazing thrill ride.

When we moved on to where the actors were actually working, we steeped into another soundstage where special sets have been built for scenes where the Sons crew chase after Jax's infant son Abel. Kidnapped by an Irish Republican Army gun runner who thought Jax' mother had killed his son, Abel becomes a focal point for the group, determined to reunite their family.

Without revealing too much, I can say that Perlman and star Charlie Hunnam. who plays Jax, were seated around a table along with many other Sons members and affiliate members (including Ryan Hurst, who plays Opie and Dominic Keating, who played security chief Malcolm Reed on the last Star Trek series, Enterprise)

My feature story on the Sons of Anarchy in Sunday's Floridian describes what the scene was like; in-between growling about tagging along on an illegal arms run, the actors talked about a classic Gene Hackman/Al Pacino picture and generally behaved in ways totally unlike you'd expect, given their killer biker look.

The cast and crew seem to hang together like a club of their own; just after their press conference at the TV critics press tour, the group stood together in an imposing clump to watch the preview clips of FX's new show Terriers. Their success on FX has brought increased attention -- co-star Mark Boone Junior would make headlines not long after my visit, arrested following an altercation with a cop during a traffic stop -- so everyone seemed a bit wary and curious about this guy scribbling notes in the corner.

I've seen the first few Sons episodes of the season, and it's a different pace, divided between Jax's attempts to find his son and the exile of club matriach Gemma Teller (Katey Sagal, at left), who killed a woman and is accused of killing a man. Guest stars this season include Hal Holbrook and Gemma's dad, Stephen King as the most bizarre biker you ever saw and Lost's onetime man in black, Titus Welliver.

But I can't wait to see the stories continue on a show I've called the quietest hit on television.

Islam-bashing Tampa Bay televangelist Bill Keller highlights disturbing trend in "Ground Zero Mosque" media coverage

deggans — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 12:40:57 +0000

During his time on Tampa Bay area TV, televangelist Bill Keller was criticized by sources diverse as Fox News Channel conservative pundit Bill O'Reilly and the Council on American Islamic Relations for his fiery denunciations of Muslims, Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormons and even GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney. Such controversies made it tough for him to stay on local TV stations, forcing him to shift his ministry online.

So it may be a sign of how bizarre the argument over the proposed Islamic prayer and community center near Ground Zero has gotten in New York City, that Keller has emerged as a new voice opposing the project by announcing the effort to build a 9/11 Christian Center in opposition.

According to the New York Daily News, Keller's Sunday prayer service at a nearby Marriott hotel drew about 40 people; hardly a groundswell of support. But anything connected to protests over the project is lapped up by media outlets eager for an incendiary story, so Keller's sharp words have shown up in the Daily News and the Today show this morning. On Keller's website, he says the service was covered by "most of the local New York TV news stations, ABC national news, the three major NY papers (the Post, the NY Times, and the NY Daily News), AP, AOL News, Salon.com, Newsweek, the Christian Post, TV networks from Sweden and the Netherlands, and others."

Indeed, this may be the most disturbing characteristic of the current debate, in which extremists who are normally marginalized now take center stage in alarmist stories centered on conflict. This morning's Today show story was a virtual cavalcade of such oddballs, including a talk show host I'd never heard of hoping the Islamic center was blown up and the Gainesville preacher who has earned prime space on CNN and elsewhere with plans to hold a Koran burning event.

Before this controversy, Keller had a hard time keeping a TV outlet in the Tampa Bay area. He drew a letter of protest from CAIR in 2007 and saw his show dropped by St. Petersburg CW affiliate WTOG-Ch. 44, after saying Islam was a "1,400-year-old lie from the pits of hell" and calling the Prophet Mohammed a "murdering pedophile." He also called the Koran a "book of fables and a book of lies."

He has also criticized Romney and Fox News host Glenn Beck for their Mormon religion, talk show host Oprah Winfrey for her new age spirituality and even President Barack Obama, who Keller says is not Christian, denouncing him as an enemy of God.

In 2008, Keller roiled a public forum I moderated at the Hillsborough Community College on press coverage of religion by refusing to back away from his controversial comments on Islam. Since the event was co-sponsored by CAIR and the local NAACP chapter, many in the audience objected to what they felt was an intolerant message; later, Keller would say he felt like he was "lynched" due to the criticism he received -- despite the fact that he knew long before the event that he would be facing a skeptical crowd.

Now his website's devotional message for today ends with a plea for help meeting a $20,000 shortfall from 2009, $7,000 needed to continue the prayer services in New York City and part of a $10,000 shortfall from last month.

Given such pressing financial issues, the publicity garnered by his public stand against the Park51 project would seem a gift, bestowed by an array of media outlets eager to draw viewers in the days leading to the ninth anniversary Saturday of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

See this morning's Today show report below:

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

ABC News president David Westin expected Tuesday to announce resignation

deggans — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 03:42:18 +0000

To be honest, this was a departure some expected years ago.

But ABC News president David Westin's email to colleagues announcing his departure from the network at the year's end instead comes after a period when the network has weathered many significant anchor changes with a fair bit of success.

There was the retirement of Charles Gibson from flagship evening newscast World News Tonight in late 2009, and the relatively quiet installation of Diane Sawyer as the new anchor. Sunday politics host George Stephanopoulos took Sawyer's place on Good Morning America, while Christiane Amanpour was lured from a foriegn correspondent's job at CNN to take over This Week on Sundays weeks ago. Toss in the addition of Bill Weir to Nightline as a replacement for departing anchor Martin Bashir and you have major changes in just about every ABC newscast over the past year or so.

But some of the biggest changes Westin faced came behind the scenes, as the network news division reduced its workforce by 400 positions, or 25 percent, using buyouts and layoffs to merge show staffs and develop "digital journalists" expected to write, report, and record footage for stories all on their own.

Westin got the job 13 years ago, succeeding TV news legend Roone Arledge and inspiring skepticism from those who wondered if a former lawyer could handle runnnig one of television's most star-studded news divisions.

He took flak after the death of lead anchor Peter Jennings from lung cancer, when anchors Bob Woodruff and Elizabeth Vargas were hired to serve as an anchor team -- a partnership that didn't last long, as Woodruff was injured by an explosive device in Iraq and Vargas found it difficult to maintain the show's ratings alone.

Critics also wondered about the decision to replace venerated nightline anchor Ted Koppel with a three-person team of anchors who would split the show into two or three stories each night. But the approach yielded higher and younger ratings. And ABC's lack of stars in the post-Arledge era seemed to be an issue at times, giving few options if Stephanopoulos hadn't agreed to move to GMA or requiring an outside hire to bring star power to This Week in Amanpour.

Perhaps Westin should have taken a page from American Idol star Kara DioGuardi and resigned on Friday before a sleepy three day weekend. As it is, the timing of this announcement is sure to bring more speculation: Is he leaving to avoid having to cut more? Is he being pushed out by higher ups? Is there any connection to the recent surprise resignation of ABC Entertainment chief Steve McPherson?

Let the speculation begin.

Here's the text of his email to colleagues today, courtesy of Broadcasting and Cable:

Dear Colleague,

A month ago I told Bob Iger and Anne Sweeney that the time has come for me to step down as President of ABC News. Leading you has been a great privilege and a solemn responsibility -- a responsibility that I tried to fulfill for over thirteen years by doing what I believed was best for this important news organization. I will root for your continued success long after I am gone.

I've always admired those few who know when it's time to move on. This is the right time for me. Over the last nine months, we've put in place new anchors on all of our programs. At the same time, we went through a very difficult transformation made necessary by changes in our business and its economics. I am confident ABC News is better positioned for the future than it has been at any time since I came here in March of 1997.

As rewarding as I've found my time here, there are some other things I want to do professionally -- things that I cannot explore while fulfilling my responsibilities here. I'm announcing my decision now so that I can pursue those possibilities, something I couldn't do in fairness to all of you until I'd told you of my plans to step down. I have agreed to remain your leader through the end of the year to ensure that Anne has the time she needs to find the right successor and that there is an orderly transition. So, I'm not going anywhere for the time being. I will need your support during this interim period to make sure that we continue to move forward.

I have only the highest regard for the company of which we are a part, for its leadership, and - most important - for all of you. I am grateful for your letting me be part of this great organization for so long.

David

Fall TV starts now, as I TiVo or Ti-NO Terriers, Nikita, Hellcats and Thintervention

deggans — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 18:18:00 +0000

Had your fill yet of the America’s Got Talent So You Think You Can Dance with Big Brother’s Real Housewives blur of reality TV and burnoff series filling summer?

Consider today’s column a tasty preview of the relief that’s coming. Most new fall network TV shows won’t debut until the week of Sept. 19, when we’ll devote that day’s Floridian to sorting the next Glees (very good) from the next Jay Leno Shows (not so good).

But there’s a few series, especially on youth-oriented underdog The CW, that show up a little earlier. So consider this column a preview Fall TV preview; a sweet glimpse of the choices that will come when the Big Brother house is aired out and summer TV is in the rearview for nine more months.

Nikita, debuts at 9 p.m. Thursday on WTOG-Ch. 44: This is the smart, forward-looking spies-and-slick shootouts series that Fox fumbled so spectacularly years ago in Joss Wheedon’s Dollhouse. Action star Maggie Q (Live Free or Die Hard) is sizzling as Nikita, a damaged street kid trained as a government assassin looking to take down her former handlers. ER alum Shane West is convincing as the dreamy, conflicted middle management guy who can’t decide whether to kiss Nikita or kill her. And if you can put up with stick-thin models tossing around beefy stuntmen like they tried blocking the door to a Loboutins sale, then this slick re-re-re-invention of the French La Femme Nikita film (after Bridget Fonda’s disastrous Point of No Return and USA Network’s Nikita series) will go down well. TiVo, if only to see Maggie Q in a swimsuit a few more times.

Terriers, premieres at 10 p.m Wednesday on FX: What would James Garner’s beleaguered private eye Jim Rockford look like in the new millennium? I’m betting he’d resemble Donal Logue’s Hank Dalworth, a one-time alcoholic-turned low-rent P.I. after getting ousted from the police force and losing his marriage. Logue’s Dalworth is a perpetually cashless, working class guy who somehow remains optimistic and on good terms with his knockout ex-wife (Rockford fans, this sound familiar?). When a good friend gets killed by a rich sleaze, Dalworth snaps out of his stupor and begins putting all his resources to work nailing the guy, assisted by his partner with a thieving past, Britt Pollack (True Blood’s serial killer, Michael Raymond-James). TiVo for the recession-friendly storyline; everybody loves when a street guy takes out the rich sleaze.

Hellcats, debuts at 9 p.m. Wednesday on WTOG-Ch. 44: It’s like a Frankenstein monster of different tween TV types; a mashup of Glee’s postmodern snark, Make It Or Break It’s teen girls squabbling drama and the same cheerleading squad immortalized in Bring It On. Still, Alyson Michalka is compelling and brightly bratty as a pre-law student forced into cheerleading to keep her scholarship. And they even let High School Musical’s perpetual villain Ashley Tisdale play someone with a pulse; a detail-oriented cheerleading captain who isn’t the baddest girl on the block. Ti-NO unless you fear withdrawal symptoms since Make It or Break It has wrapped its latest season.

Thintervention with Jackie Warner, debuts at 10:15 p.m. Monday on Bravo: Warner, once such a glorious ball of reality TV drama in the show centered on her Beverly Hills gym (Bravo’s Work Out), becomes a thin clone of bossy Biggest Loser trainer Jillian Michaels here. The show, which features Warner coaching eight people to weight loss in their own surroundings – kinda like Michaels’ summer show Losing It – doesn’t really spark until we spend time with the participants. Instead of Biggest Loser’s feel-good togetherness, we see a collection of backbiting knuckleheads so annoying you understand why Bravo might inflict Warner on them in the first place. Ti-NO, unless super-thin, super-driven, super nutty weight loss experts are your thing.

Mad Men recap: After the best episode of the season, Don Draper and Peggy Olson get emotionally naked

deggans — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 11:58:51 +0000

After the best Mad Men episode of this season, we now know this: Student/protege Peggy Olson is nearly the equal of her mentor/master Don Draper.

And there is no one in the world who knows Draper better than Peggy. Which may be the biggest tragedy of all.

We know this courtesy of Sunday night's episode "The Suitcase," an amazing showcase for Jon Hamm's Draper and Elisabeth Moss' Peggy that traps the two characters together in a boozy, unguarded evening where their defenses come down and they both see how similar -- and devastating -- their lives really are.

The setup was classic. With the entire firm headed to watch a theater broadcast of the Sonny Liston/Cassius Clay fight (the bout which would make a phenom of soon-to-be boxing legend Muhammad Ali), Draper avoids the discomfort of sitting in the seats alone among the firm's married couples by working on a campaign for Samsonite. (It was a delicious moment to see Draper instinctively pick the eventual loser Liston as his favorite fighter, standing behind the faded champion as a younger, more modern model rose to replace him)

Peggy, who still needs Draper's approval even as she's disgusted by his decline, avoids an uncomfortable evening with her boyfriend of convenience and the family she can't stand by staying with him in the office -- assuring herself in tones she couldn't have believed even in the moment, that this work session would be over soon.

What followed was the kind of soul-baring fights we haven't seen since The Sopranos, where Peggy points out Draper's usurpation of credit for their award-winning work together and Draper points out that's how the advertising business works -- especially for women trailblazing in a place where they have never worked before.

Creator Matt Weiner finally gives us fans something important and fulfilling; a clearing of the air between these two kindred characters who have been suffering in their own silos through the entire season. He reveals his boyhood past on a farm, watching his father die from a horse's hoof and fighting in Korea; she tells of watching her father die of heart attack and weathering the bruising office rumors perverting her connection to Draper.

A confrontation with a drunk Duck Phillips forces Peggy to admit her affair with the fired former Sterling Cooper executive (will Draper assume he is her baby's father?). And the phone call Draper has been avoiding for days is finally made, culminating with an admission to Peggy that the only woman who really knew -- and accepted him -- is dead.

In that moment, a torch passes and Peggy becomes that woman -- trusted with the secrets behind his Superman facade and fortified with a shared past just troubled enough that she can't judge. Watching Hamm play the final, shocking moment when Draper broke down in tears left you wondering if the wrong man didn't walk away with Emmy gold a week ago.

What is really interesting here: mastermind Weiner holds something back for each character. Draper doesn't tell Peggy that woman who died was his first wife, or that she knew he took the identity of a dead officer in the war to leave his humble past behind. And Peggy, of course, doesn't mention that the father of her baby was firm partner Pete Campbell, now having his own child with his own wife.

Like the best plot twists, Sunday's episode kicks off as many questions as it answered. Will the death of Anna Draper, which Don draper has been dreading for most of this season, finally push him into righting his life? Will Peggy pay a price for her connection to Phillips, now so desperate he's willing to sneak into Sterling Cooper and take a dump in an old office?

Whatever happens, these characters have acknowledged a bond viewers knew they had since the first season. And Draper knows his worst fear may not be true -- that any woman who knows everything about him couldn't possibly love him.

Fox finally admits on the eve of Labor Day weekend: Kara DioGuardi is leaving American Idol

deggans — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 00:27:39 +0000

Talk about trying to stay out of the news cycle!

Fox just issued a press release at 8 p.m. on the Friday night before Labor Day weekend to admit that the rumors are true and Kara DioGuardi is leaving American Idol.

The release quotes dioGuardi as saying "I feel now is the best time to leave Idol," perhaps to counter the widespread assumption that she'd been fired from the show when rumors about the new judging panel first surfaced in mid-July. Of course, the release never really says who's idea it was that now was the right time for her to leave; I'm suspecting it wasn't DioGuardi's.

Longtime followers of the show know that returning producer Nigel Lythgoe was never a fan of the show's four-judge format and had been critical of both DioGuardi and departed judge Ellen DeGeneres before he was brought back to the show earlier this month.

Critics and fans could be divided over DioGuardi, an ace singer and hit songwriter who never seemed to find a groove as a judge -- clashing with uber judge Simon Cowell in ways that weren't that entertaining. Too lucid to be the new Paula Abdul but not incisvie enough to out Cowell the bratty Brit, she was stuck for an identity at a time when change was in the air.

Toss in rumors that contracts for Aerosmith singer Steven Tyler and pop star Jennifer Lopez are signed or nearly so for next season, and it seems the burst of reporting that emerged in mid-July may be proven right -- with Idol's new judging trio consisting of returning judge (and Emmy performer) Randy Jackson, Tyler and J. Lo.

Given that the show's auditions before the celebrity judges are expected to start this month, it seems all the pieces are gliding into place just in time.

Which only leaves two questions: how wil Idol's notoriously dysfunctional producers manage to throw a wrench in this setup still?

And who is going to be the new Simon Cowell?

Watch DioGuardi's surprise appearance during last year's Idol finale and read Fox's press release below:

Kara DioGuardi is stepping down from her role as a judge on AMERICAN IDOL. DioGuardi joined AMERICAN IDOL as a judge in the series’ eighth season.

“I felt like I won the lottery when I joined AMERICAN IDOL two years ago, but I feel like now is the best time to leave IDOL,” said DioGuardi. “I am very proud to have been associated with AMERICAN IDOL – it has truly been an amazing experience. I am grateful to FOX, FremantleMedia and 19 Entertainment, as well as the cast, crew and contestants, for all they have given to me. I look forward to my next challenge, and want to thank everyone who has supported me. All the best to everyone on Season 10!”

“Kara was a great addition to our IDOL family,” said Mike Darnell, President of Alternative Entertainment, Fox Broadcasting Company. “I’ve been fortunate to get to know her well, and have always been amazed by her eye for talent and her commitment to developing and mentoring artists. She will be missed, and we wish her continued success.”

“Kara is one of the world’s best songwriters,” stated IDOL creator and executive producer Simon Fuller. “She has been passionate and committed to IDOL over the last two seasons. I will miss having her on the show, but I look forward to working with her in music for many years to come.”

“As one of the most proclaimed songwriters in the U.S., Kara brought a wealth of experience and a unique perspective to AMERICAN IDOL,” said Cecile Frot-Coutaz, IDOL executive producer. “We are very grateful for the time she spent on the show, and we wish her nothing but the best in all her future endeavors.”

“Anyone who knows Kara knows that she brings an unbelievable amount of passion, creativity and humility to everything she does,” added IDOL executive producer Ken Warwick. “It has been a joy working with her on IDOL for the past two seasons, and I’m looking forward to seeing what she does next.”

Visit americanidol.com for exclusive videos, interviews and photos of the finalists, as well as special behind-the-scenes information and all of your AMERICAN IDOL news.

AMERICAN IDOL is created and executive produced by Simon Fuller, Founder, 19 Entertainment; and executive-produced by Cecile Frot-Coutaz, CEO, FremantleMedia North America, Inc.; Ken Warwick, Executive Producer, FremantleMedia North America, Inc.; and Nigel Lythgoe, President, Big Red 2 Entertainment.

Contract impasse between Bright House, Time Warner and ESPN ends with new channels for customers

deggans — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 12:23:56 +0000

Contrary to the alarmist suggestions in ads run by competitor Verizon, Time Warner, Disney and Bright House concluded their talks on a new contract without interrupting service for customers, hammering out a deal that brings new channels and services.

The agreement and the way it was reached may provide a new example for cable service companies and program providers, which have seen negotiations over new retransmission contracts grow so contentious, they routinely involve advertising and public relations campaigns directed at the public to explain any possible outage.

Weeks before the Sept. 1 end of the Time Warner/Bright House/Disney contract, competitor Verizon aggressively ran a series of ads in print, TV and radio suggesting its rival cable providers might lose ESPN and customers might consider Verizon FIOS as an alternative. Starting in early July, the company ran several full-page ads in the St. Petersburg Times, along with ads in New York City; Syracuse, N.Y.; Buffalo, N.Y.; Los Angeles and Dallas.

Instead, the companies kept Disney channels on its systems past the contract deadline. (Time Warner routinely negotiates channel agreements for partner Bright House Networks, the Tampa Bay area's dominant cable TV provider; at left, one of Disney's ads warning customers about the possible impasse)

And the resulting agreement brought some new channels and services, including the Disney Junior channel for preschoolers (available in 2012); ESPN3.com (once known as ESPN 360), the live sports broadband network allowing access to coverage over the Internet; a new service allowing access to ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU online; ESPN Goal Line, a super highlight channel available to sports tier customers; ABC on Demand, a video on demand service featuring the network's programming; Disney branded on demand offerings; local sorts content from ESPN; the Disney Family Movies on demand service; ESPN 3D on Bright House channels and more.

This seems the best way to end highly-publicized contract negotiations; with no service interruptions and a suite of new channels and services for customers. The question left unanswered: How will consumers' bills be affected by any possible fee increases -- CNBC estimated a $110-million increase -- demanded by Disney/ESPN?

Look below to see the press release from Bright House:

Agreement Includes Several New Services for Subscribers, Including Disney Junior, ESPN3.com,
ESPN Goal Line, ESPN Buzzer Beater and Expanded VOD Offerings

BURBANK and NEW YORK— Disney/ABC Television Group, ESPN and Time Warner Cable today entered into a long-term, wide-ranging agreement that will provide Time Warner Cable and Bright House Networks cable customers the programming of ABC Family, Disney Channel, Disney XD, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNEWS, ESPNU, ESPN Classic, ESPN Deportes, and SOAPnet, as well as WABC in New York, KABC in Los Angeles, WTVD in Raleigh-Durham-Fayetteville, WTVG in Toledo, and associated HD cable networks. Subscribers will also have unprecedented digital access to online content and expanded Video On Demand services.

This extensive and expanded rights package, Disney Media Network’s most expansive content agreement to date, provides for:
*    The recently announced Disney Junior, a new 24-hour basic channel for preschool-age children, parents and caregivers. Available to Time Warner Cable and Bright House Networks cable customers upon its debut in 2012, the new channel will feature animated and live action programming which blends Disney’s unparalleled storytelling and beloved characters with learning, including early math, language skills, healthy eating and lifestyles and social skills.
*    The addition of ESPN3.com, ESPN's live sports broadband network, which will be available to all Time Warner Cable and Bright House Networks subscribers who get ESPN. ESPN3.com gives Time Warner Cable and Bright House Networks fans a 24/7 online destination that delivers more than 3,500 live, global sports events annually as part of TV Everywhere. This addition also gives Time Warner Cable and Bright House Networks the rights to feature cleared content from ESPN3.com on its sports tier.
*    Access to a new authenticated service, which will give Time Warner Cable and Bright House Networks subscribers the opportunity to watch the linear networks ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU through their broadband services as well as mobile Internet devices, like an iPad. Details on the launch will be forthcoming.
*    A new service, developed with Time Warner Cable, called ESPN Goal Line; a super-highlight channel that will be available only to Time Warner Cable and Bright House Networks sports tier subscribers as early as September 4. ESPN Goal Line will take fans around the best matchups each Saturday during the NCAA football season. The once-a-week network will include live look-ins to game action focusing on scoring drives and up-to-the minute commentary from analysts and experts. A similar service called ESPN Buzzer Beater will be available for the college basketball season.
*    Expanded VOD services in many markets will include:
*    ABC On Demand, ABC’s fast forward-disabled VOD service which currently features a selection of primetime programming, including episodes of such popular ABC shows as “Castle,” “Grey's Anatomy,” “Private Practice,” and “Desperate Housewives.” Anticipated newcomers include “No Ordinary Family” and “My Generation.” Additionally, episodes of ABC News’ “Good Morning America” are available each week.
*    Disney-branded On Demand offerings for kids, including Disney Channel On Demand and Disney XD On Demand. Refreshed each month, the Disney Channel VOD offering will include episodes from such series as “Handy Manny,” “Mickey Mouse Clubhouse” and “Special Agent Oso” for preschoolers, as well as variety of episodes from “Wizards of Waverly Place,” “Hannah Montana,” “The Suite Life on Deck,” “Good Luck Charlie” and other popular series for older kids. Select episodes featured on Disney Channel On Demand will be available in multiple languages. Disney XD On Demand features a variety of episodes from such series as the Emmy Award-winning animated hit “Phineas and Ferb” and “Kick Buttowski – Suburban Daredevil,” as well as the upcoming sitcom “Pair of Kings.”
*    Locally relevant sports content from ESPN in several Time Warner Cable and Bright House Networks markets, including Los Angeles, New York, North and South Carolina, Tampa, Orlando, Texas and Ohio.
*    The subscription VOD service “Disney Family Movies” which features a selection of classic and contemporary films and animated shorts from The Walt Disney Studios.
*    A new transactional VOD service for select content from the Disney/ABC Television Group.
*    Inclusion of a variety of content from across the Disney Media Networks’ portfolio on Time Warner Cable’s and Bright House Networks Start Over and Look Back features.
*    The addition of ESPN Deportes HD to Time Warner Cable’s larger footprint.
*    The launch of ESPN 3D to Time Warner Cable and Bright House Networks’ systems.
*    A Time Warner Cable/ESPN Deportes co-branded, Spanish language sports website in Los Angeles.
*    Availability of ESPN Radio feeds in New York, Los Angeles and Dallas to Time Warner Cable’s video platform.
*    A plethora of ESPN-branded content made available on Time Warner Cable’s and Bright House Networks’ sports tier.

“We are pleased to have reached an agreement without any interruption in service,” said Glenn Britt, Time Warner Cable’s Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. “We thank our customers for their support, and we look forward to launching these new and innovative products and services.”

Co-chairs of Disney Media Networks George Bodenheimer and Anne Sweeney also commented on the announcement, stating, “The successful conclusion of this wide-ranging deal demonstrates our commitment to our distribution partners and our ability to work with them to provide consumers with an unmatched portfolio of national and local entertainment, news and sports content while continuing to strengthen both of our businesses.”
“We’re pleased that an agreement has been reached with no disruption in programming for our customers,” said Steve Miron, Chief Executive Officer, Bright House Networks.

Country comic Cledus T. Judd joins WQYK-FM morning show on Friday

deggans — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 20:03:11 +0000

Here's the press release from CBS Radio:

NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED COMEDIAN CLEDUS T. JUDD TO CO-HOST WQYK-FM MORNING SHOW

Tampa, Fla. – Thursday September 2, 2010, WQYK-FM has signed Cledus T. Judd to a multi-year agreement to co-host the WQYK Morning Show. “My whole life people have asked me what the ‘T’ in my name stands for,” Judd jokes, “Now I tell them the ‘T’ is for Tampa,”

Starting Friday September 3, Cledus will be joining current morning show host Dave McKay every weekday morning from 5AM-10AM ET. The new morning show can be heard on-air at 99.5, streaming online at www.wqyk.com and via a variety of mobile devices including the iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Blackberry, and Zune.

Judd returns to host the WQYK morning show after a two year absence. He is most known nationally for his Country Music Parody work, including I Love NASCAR” a spoof of Toby Keith’s “I Love This Bar,” “Paycheck Woman” in response to Gretchen Wilson’s “Redneck Woman,” and “It’s a Great Day to Be a Guy” for Travis Tritt’s “It’s a Great Day to Be Alive.” Judd has is a popular stand-up comedian at concerts and comedy clubs all across America and has sold over 2 million CD’s. Recently, Judd co-hosted Nashville Star and is a regular co-host for CMT’s Most Wanted Live.

Judd will be moving to Tampa and will continue his comedy and recording career with occasional concerts and new CD.

CBS Radio Tampa Operations Manager and WQYK Program Director Mike Culotta added, “It’s really exciting to have Cledus co-hosting mornings for us back home on WQYK where he belongs,” said Mike Culotta, Operations Manager/Program Director for WQYK.

WQYK-FM is owned and operated by CBS RADIO, one of the largest major-market radio operators in the United States. A division of CBS Corporation, CBS RADIO operates 130 radio stations, the majority of which are in the nation’s top 50 markets. CBS RADIO also owns and operates Play 98.7- WSJT, 92.5 Maxima-WYUU, 1010 Sports-QYK-AM, Q105-WRBQ, and WILD 94.1-WLLD in Tampa.

NBC News producer talks to Discovery Channel gunman during crisis; Did he cross an ethical line?

deggans — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 13:10:44 +0000

As the hostage drama was unfolding at Discovery Communications Wednesday, one NBC News producer landed the scoop of a lifetime, when the hostage-taker answered the company's main line as the journalist called to verify an emergency at the site.

Producer Rob Rivas told his story on the today show this morning, saying that gunman James Lee picked up the telephone at Discovery Channel's headquarters when Rivas called to see what anyone there knew about the emergency. When Lee picked up the phone, Rivas engaged him in conversation and asked several questions before the gunman hung up.

NBC didn't air the conversation until after Lee was killed by police. But the situation brings to mind a local incident in 1998 when gunman Hank Earl Carr was contacted by reporters from WFLA-AM radio and the St. Petersburg Times while holding people hostage after killing three police officers. Back then, journalism experts criticized media for tying up the phone lines and inserting themselves into a volatile situation.

So, was an ethical line crossed here?

To my mind, the fact that contact with Lee was accidental is key. Producers weren't necessarily trying to reach him when they called Discovery Channel, and getting him on the phone proved to be an awful, yet fruitful opportunity. Engaging him in conversation to find out his demands and assess the situation may have been risky, but also provided a window into the mind of a man who was later killed while engaging in an awful act of terrorism. And holding back on airing the interview allowed time to confirm the call was real and kept it from possibly inflaming the situation.

What do you think? Below, are the Today show and NBC Nightly News stories on the incident.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

See Jimmy Fallon's way cool Emmys opening here before it goes away

deggans — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 19:54:46 +0000

NBC didn't get the permissions to post copies of Jimmy Fallon's most-excellent opening number at the Emmy awards, so the version croppig up online are mostly put up by fans, according to my pal Mike Schnieder at Variety.

So check it out here before the musical powerrs that be get wise.

Apple TV to offer 99-cent series rentals from Fox and ABC/Disney in revamp

deggans — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 18:52:33 +0000

Even Apple CEO Steve Jobs had to admit the coolest technology company on the planet has dropped the ball in one area of its vast, media/entertainment empire.

Apple TV.

At a presentation in San Francisco, he admitted the device, which allows users to watch video stored in iTunes on their TV set, has "never been a huge hit," confirming long buzzed-about rumors that Fox and ABC/Disney will allow their television shows to be rented for 99-cents through a new version of the device, which will not allow users to buy content.

Besides the 99-cent rental, the Apple TV device itself will be streamlined, shrunk to a quarter its current size and the price similarly downsized to $99. users will also be able to stream rented videos from Netflix through the same device.

What I'm wondering -- why would you rent TV shows for 99-cents if you, presumably, already have cable TV?

As more video resources migrate online, technology companies should be looking for that "killer app" that will converge the active use of the Internet with the passive experience of TV. More televisions themselves are popping up with websurfing capabilities, but companies such as Apple are uniquely positioned to offer a range of services accessible through a few button clicks.

Jobs also announced all of Apple's ipods will be revamped in the largest redesign of the product ever. Most will get slimmer or smaller, with a new $49 iPod Shuffle, a lighter ipod Nano with a multi-touch user interface and an iPod touch with front and rear facing camera, sharper display and video editing capabilities.

Read more about Jobs' revelations by clicking here.

Valrico native Michael Cherry helps bring NASCAR to Black Entertainment Television

deggans — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 14:24:24 +0000

Every time he does an interview, questions swirl around how it feels to to be one of the few black men competing in NASCAR, where allegations of slurs directed against minority fans, slurs shouted at the few minority drivers and a $225-million lawsuit alleging racist and sexual harassment in 2008 have dimmed the sport's reputation.

But there was one thing Valrico native Michael Cherry said he'd never been asked until I brought it up: How do other black people react to seeing an African American man driving in NASCAR?

"To tell you the truth, it surprises a lot of (black people)," said Cherry. "They didn't know that I drove a race car, or that any African American drove a race car. They really don't have no one to cheer for...They don't have that connection. Now, they're my biggest fans."

That's the kind of transformation NASCAR officials hope will spread far and wide tonight, when Cherry is featured along with a host of other minority and female drivers in Changing Lanes, a reality TV show based the sport's Drive for Diversity program.

And instead of airing on ESPN or the Speed channel, creator Max Siegel took his idea to Black Entertainment Television, the black-focused cable channel that was looking to feature different kinds of programming in an attempt to reach new audiences.

"if you communicate the message in pop culture, people listen," said Siegel, who uses the racing team he owns to administer NASCAR's diversity program, selecting 10 minority and/or female drivers for a academy-style, yearlong schedule where drivers get racing time, workouts, time in the shop working on each other's cars and exposure to potential sponsors.

"I worked at Sony/BMG on the American Idol things," added Siegel. "By the time the company put a record out, fans were already bonded with (the singer's) brand. (For this show), I wanted to come up with a blend of The Apprentice and American Idol."

Cherry, who grew up in Valrico and has moved to Mooresville, N.C. for the program, snagged a sponsorship with Nationwide Insurance last year and logged his first win in NASCAR in June -- achievements he says never would have happened without NASCAR's program.

I wrote a longer feature on Cherry for today newspaper you can read here. A preview of Changing Lanes, which debuts at 8 tonight on BET, is below:

CBS Radio drops former smooth jazz station WSJT-FM to create Play 98.7

deggans — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 19:42:52 +0000

CBS Radio has just created a new station in the Tampa Bay area, dropping the onetime smooth jazz of WSJT-FM (98.7) to create a new station, called Play 98.7.

Out the window goes Kenny G., Lee Ritenour, Anita Baker and all the other mainstays of the pop/jazz fusion/R&B hybrid critics once derisively called Fuzak.

In its place, is a station focused on the Adult CHR (contemporary hit radio) format, with a slogan promising "today's best hits, without the rap." That means plenty of Katy Perry, Kings of Leon, Train, John Mayer, Maroon 5, and Rob Thomas, to draw adults aged 25 to 44. The change took place at 3 p.m. today.

"The smooth jazz format nationally has eroded, said Don Howe, Tampa market manager for CBS Radio, noting that they tried tweaking WSJT's format by playing more pop artists such as Michael Jackson, with no success. "For one reason or another, it didn't affect the station's ratings."

As Howe explained it, the new station, Play 98.7, is an attempt to serve a narrow niche competing radio stations aren't. Sure you can hear Katy Perry on Clear Channel's WFLZ, but you might also hear some rap; Rob Thomas pops up on Clear Channel WMTX-FM (100.7), but you might also hear some old U2.

Play is an attempt to thread that narrow needle with new songs aimed at an adult audience.

Howe said Play will have a new on air crew, all local, hired by program director Orlando Davis -- who is also the program director and morning personality at WLLD. Local radio industry types have buzzed for a while about the possiblity of a format change, ever since CBS Radio placed rap and dance station WLLD at WSJT's former frequency, 94.1, pushing the smooth jazz station to the less powerful 98.7.

Now WSJT's smooth jazz sounds will be relegated to its HD radio frequency, WSJT 98.7 HD2, and online streaming at www.wsjt.com, www.radio.com, AOL Radio, and Yahoo! Music. Howe said WSJT personality Alicia Kaye will remain doing part time and fill-in work.

The new station will play music comercial free through Labor Day weekensd, Howe expects the first new talent to appear in drive time next week.

Below is CBS Radio's press release:

Tampa, Fla. – Today, Tuesday, August 31 at 3:00 PM, ET, WSJT-FM will become Play 98.7™, Tampa’s new hit music station. Play 98.7 will broadcast “today’s best hits, without the rap” and feature popular music from artists such as Katy Perry, Kings of Leon, Train, John Mayer, Maroon 5, and Rob Thomas, among others. Play 98.7’s playlist and station information can be found at www.play987.com.

As of 3:00 PM today, Play 98.7 will be heard on-air at 98.7, streaming online at www.play987.com, and via a variety of mobile devices including the iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Blackberry, and Zune. Fans of the station can interact and stay up-to-date via Play 98.7’s social networking pages on Facebook and Twitter (www.twitter.com/play987). The station will also have the most current music related content and blogs that will be populated by the local Play 98.7 staff. In the neighboring community, the station will have a strong presence producing and partnering with lifestyle events and concerts. Play 98.7 will be programmed by Orlando Davis, current Program Director and morning show host for WLLD, WiLD 94.1. Davis is currently assembling the on-air staff, and will announce appointments and updates in the coming weeks.

CBS RADIO Tampa Senior Vice President and Market Manager Don Howe said, “Play 98.7 will connect a number of great artists to their local fans and diversify CBS RADIO’s offerings in Tampa. The station will provide the Tampa Bay Area with a great radio experience along with an integrated and interactive platform for Adult CHR music and its fans to be heard.”

Fans of WSJT’s Smooth Jazz format can access the programming on-air via the station’s secondary HD frequency, WSJT 98.7 HD2, or streaming online at www.wsjt.com, www.radio.com, AOL Radio, and Yahoo! Music. Smooth 98.7 HD2 will remain a dominant voice in the community and continue to hold and promote local events on-air and online.

WSJT-FM is owned and operated by CBS RADIO, one of the largest major-market radio operators in the United States. A division of CBS Corporation, CBS RADIO operates 130 radio stations, the majority of which are in the nation’s top 50 markets. CBS RADIO also owns and operates WYUU, WQYK-FM, WQYK-AM, WRBQ, and WLLD in Tampa.

Glenn Beck's news website: Can a guy who once said Obama is a Marxist run a "fair and balanced" outlet?

deggans — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 17:51:38 +0000

It seems somehow fitting that a guy who used to be a Top 40 DJ would establish a news and opinion website which shares its name with rock radio stations in Fresno, Calif. and Salt Lake City.

But days after drawing thousands to the National Mall for his Restoring Honor rally, Fox News pundit Glenn Beck has started The Blaze -- his own website aimed at promoting stories he says are under covered or not covered.

"Too many important stories are overlooked. And too many times we see mainstream media outlets distorting facts to fit rigid agendas," reads a message from Beck posted on the site, which said it developed in about two months. Later, he wrote: "The image of flame is a powerful. It has long stood for a burning truth. A truth that is not consumed. The Blaze will pursue truth."

The featured stories seem to offer an odd mix of material divided between glorifying Beck and exploring conservative issues, which headlines like "Shocking Racism at Al Sharpton's MLK Anniversary," "The Ballooning Welfare State," "The Children of 8/28," "NY Times Columnist on Beck: 'I Underestimated the Man,'" and "Kurtz Defends Beck: He's Not Like Al Qaeda." There's also a story on liberal-oriented website Huffington Post's decision to scuttle a blogger's post offering $100,000 for a sex tape of Beck.

Mediaite reports that The Blaze editor is Scott Baker, a former employee of conservative blogger Andrew Breitbart -- who faced criticism in mid-July when he publicized an edited video incorrectly implying that USDA employee Shirley Sherrod was endorsing racism against white people.

Such connections leave little doubt whose truth will be splashed across the front page of the Blaze, which Time magazine has already described as a blend of the conservative-friendly news stories seen on the Drudge Report represented in a format similar to the liberal website Huffington Post.

Interesting to see this from a guy who already has his own bustling website, TV shows, speaking tours, radio show and best selling books -- to say nothing of his connection to Fox News, which has its own news-oriented website. It joins another website, The Daily Caller, that was established by conservative commentator Tucker Carlson.

Given the success of liberal pundit Arianna Huffington's Huffington Post, it only makes sense prominent conservative commentators would try creating their own versions of such a site, promoting their own personal brands and causes. Launching The Blaze in the immediate aftermath of Restoring Honor guarantees even more attention.

But Beck's habit of twisting facts, combined with input from a colleague of the blogger behind the Sherrod fiasco, makes me wonder just how much truth will come burning through this latest media platform -- beyond confirming the host's own glory, of course.

Bristol Palin, The Hoff and The Situation top tabloid-sized edition of ABC's Dancing with the Stars

deggans — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 03:20:25 +0000

Say this for the minds behind ABC's unscripted hit Dancing with the Stars: They learn quick.

When tabloid queen Kate Gosselin goosed the show's ratings -- despite dance moves so awkward and plodding she made 80something Buzz Aldrin look good -- producers took heed (didn't hurt that buzzed-about ESPN star Erin Andrews and tabloid mainstay Pamela Anderson were also along for the ride). So this fall's lineup of celebrity participants, announced Monday during The Bachelor spinoff Bachelor Pad, falls much closer to the tabloid side of town than we've seen before.

The big name gossip sheet-wise is Bristol Palin, a celebrity offspring who has made more money guesting on TV shows than she ever could if momma Sarah had actually landed in the White House. It also completes her sordid, hypocritical spiral through TMZ-fed celebrity -- getting pregnant out of wedlock as a teen, despite mom's abstinence values; breaking up with her baby's father, despite mom's conservative family values; getting back together with him, despite the obvious and bitter hatred he had for Momma Sarah and breaking up with him again after finding out he may have gotten another woman pregnant.

Even if she tangos like a dead moose, young Bristol will be good for oodles of US magazine covers and snippy TMZ exposes.

Alongside Palin is David Hasselhoff, whose drunken fumblings have dismayed his family and turned his name into an even bigger punchline. Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino, the Jersey Shore star who turned tight abs and a knuckleheaded attitude into a million-dollar, tabloid-fueled career. Audrina Patridge, a former star of MTV's scripted "reality" show The Hills. Brandy Norwood, the once-mega-famous R&B prodigy who got in a car accident which killed a man a few years ago. And Jennifer Grey, the Dirty Dancing star who mostly made headlines for getting a nose job many years ago that hobbled her acting career by turning her into just another generic L.A. beauty.

The other celebs cued up this year fit the typical types recruited by Dancing every year. There's the spunky, senior citizen showbiz veteran (former Brady Bunch matriarch Florence Henderson), the retired NFL legend (ex-St. Louis Rams quarterback Kurt Warner), the plucky tween star (Disney Channel star Kyle Massey), the bawdy comic (bawdy comic Margaret Cho), the other retired athlete (ex-NBA star Rick Fox), the aging boomer hero (bionic voiced pop star Michael Bolton).

Sorry tabloid addicts: Ryan O'Neal and Kirstie Alley, two buzzed-about early candidates, are not on board this time.

Forgive the downer attitude, but this may be another case of Dancing producers overdosing on a good thing (remember when they kicked off a season with 16 celebrities? Most of whom could barely tap their feet in time?) It's hard to imagine Dancing's core demographic -- middle-aged women, let's face it -- even know who Sorrentino and Patridge are. Here's hoping these non-actors, famous for appearing in unscripted show to supposedly be themselves on camera, have figured out how to perform better than Gosselin.

Otherwise, could be a very long fall season for ABC.

Below are key dates for Season 11 (dates and times subject to change):

•    “Dancing with the Stars,” two-hour season premiere performance show, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 20 (8:00-10:01 p.m., ET).
•    “Dancing with the Stars the Results Show,” two-hour season premiere, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21 (8:00-10:00 p.m., ET).
•    “Dancing with the Stars the Results Show,” regular time premiere, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28 (9:00-10:00 p.m., ET).
•    “Dancing with the Stars” 200th Episode Celebration, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 1 and TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 2 (Time is TBD)
•    “Dancing with the Stars,” final performance show, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 22 (Time is TBD)
•    “Dancing with the Stars” season finale, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 23 (Time is TBD)

Here's the bios ABC provided:

MICHAEL BOLTON – Michael Bolton has sold more than 53 million records, released 18 studio albums, won multiple Grammys® for Best Male Vocalist and countless other honors, all while selling out arenas worldwide. In 2002 the singer-songwriter earned a star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame. He has sung with Luciano Pavarotti and Ray Charles, written songs with Bob Dylan, Ne-Yo and Lady Gaga, penned hits for a diverse range of artists, including Barbra Streisand and KISS, played guitar with B.B. King and had his music recorded on a track by hip-hop superstar Kanye West (featuring megastar Jay-Z).

BRANDY – Brandy is a platinum-selling R&B and pop singer, actress, songwriter and record/television producer. In 1994, at the age of 15, Brandy released her eponymous debut album, selling over 6 million copies. Following a major success with “The Boy Is Mine,” a duet with singer Monica, which spent 13 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart, she won a Grammy® Award for Best R&B performance by a duo or group.

MARGARET CHO – One of the most successful stand-up comediennes of today, Margaret Cho’s performances have been seen by millions around the world. Having first performed stand-up in her native San Francisco at the age of 16, Cho’s best-selling tours include the off-Broadway hit/concert film “I’m the One That I Want,” “Notorious C.H.O.,” “Revolution” and “Beautiful.”

RICK FOX – Three-time NBA Champion with the Los Angeles Lakers, actor and producer Rick Fox has appeared in a number of film and television projects, sharing the screen with actors ranging from Whoopi Goldberg to Henry Winkler, Angela Bassett and Shia LeBeouf.

JENNIFER GREY – A beloved actress of both film and television, Jennifer Grey is best known for her starring roles in the iconic movies “Dirty Dancing” and “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.”The daughter of Tony® and Academy Award® winner Joel Grey, she resides in Los Angeles with her family, actor/director Clark Gregg and daughter.

DAVID HASSELHOFF – Listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as “The Most Watched TV Star in the World,” David Hasselhoff is an international superstar across all genres of music, television and film. Hasselhoff got his start in entertainment on the popular soap opera, “The Young and the Restless,” and was quickly pursued to play the lead role of the 1980’s cult favorite, “Knight Rider.”

FLORENCE HENDERSON – Florence Henderson is a multi-talented actress, talk show host, recording artist, author, Broadway veteran and philanthropist. Her career is as active today as when she first appeared as the “Today Girl” on “NBC’s Today Show,” and as the first woman to host “The Tonight Show.” She will always be best known in syndication worldwide as “America’s Favorite Mom” and matriarch Carol Brady on the classic hit TV series “The Brady Bunch,” which aired for five seasons (1969-1974), has never been off the air in this country, and currently airs in 122 countries around the world.

KYLE MASSEY – Kyle Orlando Massey stars as Cory Baxter in Disney Channel’s No. 1 hit sitcom, “Cory in the House,” Disney Channel’s first-ever spin-off. He originated the role of Cory in Disney’s “That’s So Raven,” the first show in Disney’s history to produce over 100 episodes.

BRISTOL PALIN – Bristol Palin, former first daughter of Alaska, first entered the national spotlight when her mother, former Governor of Alaska, Sarah Palin, was selected to be John McCain’s running mate in the 2008 Presidential election. After giving birth to her son, Tripp, and becoming a single teen mother in 2008, she became a spokesperson for the prevention of teen pregnancy and for other teen issues.

AUDRINA PATRIDGE – After starring in six seasons of the hit series “The Hills,” Audrina Patridge has joined the ranks of young Hollywood as one of the most sought-after and talked about talents on television. Patridge, who aspired to become an actress from a very early age, has been honing her skills with regarded coaches and private acting classes.

MIKE “THE SITUATION” SORRENTINO – Mike Sorrentino has become one of Hollywood’s emerging talents. Born in Staten Island, New York and raised in Manalapan, New Jersey, Sorrentino is most known for starring on the hit show “The Jersey Shore,” now in its second season on MTV.

KURT WARNER – Kurt Warner is the first quarterback ever to participate in “Dancing with the Stars.” In 1999 he emerged from obscurity to lead the St. Louis Rams to a victory in Super Bowl XXXIV. In that same year, Warner was named the NFL and Super Bowl Most Valuable Player.

Emmy awards recap: Mad Men and Modern Family win big in tug of war between cable and network TV

deggans — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 03:47:28 +0000

Here's the showbiz miracle that occurred during Sunday's Emmy awards:

Just about everybody who deserved to win an award, actually received one.

That means ABC's sidesplitting freshman comedy Modern Family took home major awards as best TV comedy and best supporting comedy actor for Eric Stonestreet. AMC's Mad Men took the big trophy for best drama, but its natural rival Breaking Bad won the top male drama acting awards for lead Bryan Cranston and supporting actor Aaron Paul (I wrote a column for Variety magazine last year recommending Paul for the Emmy back then; glad to see it only took the academy a year to catch up).

And another newbie comedy, Fox's Glee, took home awards for supporting actress in a comedy -- the house would have been burned to the ground if Jane Lynch hadn't won this one -- and a first-ever directing Emmy for mastermind Ryan Murphy.

Even in the ever-snippy land of network TV versus cable, there was a bit of balance -- with the broadcasters mostly owning the comedy categories and the cable guys taking drama, made for TV movies and miniseries. As it should be.

Of course, this made for bittersweet award ceremony for a snarky critic.

One the one hand, you had a game, energetic host in Jimmy Fallon, appropriate and well-deserved awards for newbies Glee and Modern Family alongside veterans Big Bang Theory and the Daily Show, and an opening number featuring Betty White teaching Mad Men’s Jon Hamm how to shake his naughty bits.

On the other, where’s the fun in snarking off about an awards show smart enough to start with a Glee-style take on Bruce Springsteen's Born to Run and cool enough to let comic Ricky Gervais have as much time as he wanted to make fun of Mel Gibson. Again.

“I’m saving all the really offensive stuff for the Golden Globes,” Gervais cracked just before making fun of eventual Emmy winner, Winter Olympics broadcast director Bucky Gunts. “I didn’t even know you could say that on television.”

Emmy voters even handed down a few surprises, naming The Good Wife co-star Archie Punjabi as best supporting actress in a drama, handing the best actress in a drama statue to The Closer's Kyra Sedgwick instead of long-favored Good Wife star Juliana Margulies and naming Sopranos alum Edie Falco as best comedy actress for Showtime's Nurse Jackie.

“This is the most ridiculous thing in the history of the awards,” said Falco, acknowledging comedy heavyweights such as Tina Fey and Julia Louis-Dreyfus in the category. “I’m not even funny.”

The biggest disappointment for critics came when former Tonight Show host Conan O’Brien lost best variety show award to The Daily Show. Sure Jon Stewart’s show has consistently nailed the absurdity behind America’s biggest challenges, but didn’t we all want to see O’Brien stroll onto his old network’s airwaves for one last appearance after getting fired from NBC?

A few other missteps: The show misspelled actress Julia Ormond's name when she rose to accept the best supporting actress award in a made for TV movie (Ormand? Really?); they cut off Mad Men producer Matthew Weiner when his acceptance speech went long (didn't they know; he always goes long); and the backstage "thank you cam" aired on NBC.com probably seemed like a good idea until you realize, that long string of names you never head of is the most boring part of most awards ceremonies.

Best of all, my own prediction average was better than past years. I called wins for Falco, Mad Men, Modern Family and Cranston, but did not see Jim Parsons winning best comedy actor for Big Bang Theory (though critics have been grousing about giving it to him for years) or Sedgwick acing Margulies.

And any award show that makes me look smart, has definitely got my thumbs up.

The genius of Glenn Beck: Pushing competitors to restore his ratings and media influence

deggans — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 16:47:32 +0000

One day after watching Fox News pundit Glenn Beck wrap himself in the mantle of the nation's greatest civil rights leader for a Restoring Honor rally which drew tens of thousands to the National Mall, the point is made once again:

Beck is a master media manipulator.

The rally itself was as apolitical as organizers promised, with speakers choosing instead to turn the massive platform into a religious revival meeting. Awards were handed out to various notables and speakers ranging from Martin Luther King Jr.'s niece Alveda King to Beck himself encouraged the audience to see God at the solution to the problems ailing the nation.

What problems? Beck was a bit vague on specifics; last November, when the host first announced this rally date from the Villages retirement community in Florida, his culprit was the nation's progressives. He was going to offer a series of educational conventions leading up to a massive rally on the National Mall to unveil his 100-year plan for thwarting Progressives' plan to turn America into a "socialist utopia."

Somehow, that plan never really got off the ground. Instead, amid criticism and controversy over using the anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.'s historic "I Have a Dream" speech to press an agenda directly opposite the ideals King fought for over his lifetime, Beck's Restoring Honor rally became a celebration of the power of religion to transform the nation. The politcal rally for his Tea Party became and opportunity to surround himself with a multicultural array of speakers who seemed far more diverse than the mostly white audience.

But by creating such a massively controversial event on a typically slow news day, Beck also pushed his competitors into a corner. If CNN wanted to keep its reputation as the fairest news outlet in cable news, it had to cover his rally significantly, despite the fact that it also gave significant, complimentary face time to one of the channels' biggest competitors.

Indeed, as the rally was unfolding Saturday, C-SPAN (which aired the rally uninterrupted) and CNN covered the rally more than Fox News, which stuck with its originally scheduled programming rather than devote special reports or continuous coverage. This meant Fox's competitors were spending a lot more time dissecting the massive crowd Beck brought the the Mall, presumably reaching viewers who might be interesting in checking out his show Monday to see more.

It's a sad development when political considerations keep a newschannel from covering an event which was talked about all week and was likely the biggest news event of the day. Often, media critics complain about politically-oriented newschannels overcovering events to serve their purposes; in the case of Beck's rally, you could argue Fox News undercovered it for the same reasons -- avoiding criticism for supporting one of its stars by downplaying an event of massive interest to its audience.

Why is a radio and TV pundit known for incisive political commentary hosting a supposedly apolitical rally starring conservative political star Sarah Palin? A cynical observer would suggest this rally channeled his fans' fear and need for a hopeful message while burnishing Beck's brand as figure who transcends politics. With Palin, one of the political right's most successful kingmakers at his side, the host leveraged powerful symbols of religion, civil rights achievement and martyrdom, reinforcing his dialogue with his masses of followers and discrediting pundits who predicted a massive desecration.

At a moment when ultra-conservative Tea Party activists need to look more mainstream to independent voters before a crucial midtem election, Beck just handed them the blueprint for keeping conservative supporters in the fold while downplaying their most divisive beliefs.

Of course, Beck being Beck, he also contradicted himself. "We must get the poison of hatred out of us," he said at one point. "We must defend those who disagree with us." But in the past, Beck has called the President of the United States a Marxist, whose health care policy amounts to "reparations," insisting he is a racist who hates white people. He said this morning on Fox News Sunday that "people aren't recognizing (President Obama's) version of Christianity." That sure felt like a veiled reference to persistent, mistaken beliefs that Obama is a Muslim, though Beck has criticized Obama's ties to controversial Chicago preacher Rev. Jeremiah Wright.

Maybe Beck's move toward elminating hatred could start with his own radio and TV appearances.

There will be the requisite conflicts over the size of each rally -- Beck cited estimates during his speech of up to 500,000 people. CBS News reported its own analysis at between 78,000 or 96,000, given the margin of error. Beck also announced his fundraising effort collected $5.5-million. But since the rally's expenses are to be covered first, it's unclear how much of that money will go to the Tampa charity designated as the beneficiary for the donations, the Special Operations Warrior Foundation.

I felt saddest watching media coverage of the two rallies side by side, as CNN often provided. In Beck's massive showcase, run with the precision of a TV broadcast, a sea of mostly white faces sat watching him opine about Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy as a civil rights leader. Miles away, Al Sharpton led another rally packed with black people aimed at providing a counterpoint to Beck's efforts, which was not covered live by C-SPAN. How sad that, 47 years after King revealed his dream to the world, we're still divided.

This is the "unity" resulting from Beck's actions. It's a frightening vision of the ultimate consequences from his words as a pundit and provocative media figure.

Unfortunately, his fans seem so caught up in the talk of religious healing, they have overlooked the true lesson of Beck's history and actions.

Two days before the Emmy Awards, take a look at the Deggys

deggans — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 20:19:24 +0000

It’s the second most fun thing about this job, right behind the gargantuan TOLDJA SO! we delivered to NBC the moment Jay Leno’s 10 p.m. show imploded: Picking our own Emmy winners.

This hallowed space is reserved for what I would do if the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences were smart enough to turn over its awards show to a guy who has been watching them mostly get it wrong for more than a dozen years.

It’s time, once again, for The Deggys.

That’s right: I’m kicking over all the rules. No boundaries on when a show was supposed to air. I say what genre a show falls in. (which means, for one category, Glee is a drama; take that, Emmy academy).

Here are a few of my picks. Maybe next year, the Emmy folks will get wise and let me handle the big show.

Outstanding Lead Actress, Drama
The Deggy Goes To: Katey Sagal of FX’s Sons of Anarchy.
Sagal’s biker gang matriarch Gemma Morrow is tough enough to deliver a smackdown with a skateboard, then turn around and coddle her baby grandson. But last season she upped the ante, as Morrow was gang raped by neo-Nazis and kept it from her biker family for weeks (to keep them from rushing into a trap), eventually killing a woman involved in the incident. And it was all written by her real-life husband, the show’s creator. If Sagal was a TV-slumming movie star like Glenn Close, they’d be etching her name on a trophy already.

Outstanding Supporting Actor, Drama
The Deggy Goes To: Mike O’Malley of Fox’s Glee.
O’Malley’s good-hearted Burt Hummel has been an under-appreciated delight; a macho, working class hero struggling to understand his gay son Kurt’s emerging orientation on prime-time’s most gay-friendly show. The scene where Burt kicks football star Finn out of his house for using the three-letter f-word around his son — not realizing Finn was angry because he knew Kurt has a crush on him — should have earned a nomination instantly.

Outstanding Drama Series
The Deggy Goes To: HBO’s Treme.
A loving, detailed reminder of all that was lost and rebuilt in the wake of Hurricane Katrina’s flood, this amazing drama was a victim of America’s Katrina fatigue and Hollywood’s irritation with proud outsider David Simon. Like Emmy, I’m prone to award Deggys for passed opportunities missed, so this trophy also makes up for all the years Simon’s stellar police drama The Wire got snubbed.

Outstanding Lead Actor, Comedy - The Deggy Goes To: Ray Romano from TNT’s Men of a Certain Age.
Romano has managed something Jerry Seinfeld, Bill Cosby and Tim Allen could not, instantly following his career-making hit sitcom with another TV success in TNT’s mournfully funny rumination on middle-aged maleness. And the hangdog comic’s own performance has been a revelation, nailing the pathos of a guy whose gambling addiction cost him his family, while delivering enough humor to make him appealing and — dare I say it? — charismatic. If Emmy wasn’t so hung up on handing Monk’s Tony Shalhoub another nod, Romano would have had it in the bag.

The frightening prospect of letting Glenn Beck and Sarah Palin rewrite civil rights history

deggans — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 14:15:34 +0000

For another project, I found myself looking through some of the classic techniques of propaganda, curious to see how some modern media outlets may echo those well-established methods for dishonest persuasion.

High on the list: transfer (linking your cause to an already well-respected institution or idea), the bandwagon (urging people to do something because everyone else is doing it), fear (prompting swift action to avoid disaster) and historical revisionism (twisting the facts of history to serve your rhetorical arguments).

Which brought me to TV/radio host Glenn Beck's rally Saturday on the National Mall, an event expected to draw thousands starting at 10 a.m.

When Beck first announced this event last year, it was obvious to any student of propaganda what he was doing. In scheduling his rally at the site of a near-universally admired speech, on the 47TH anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.'s historic March on Washington and I Have a Dream speech, he has managed to invoke the bandwagon, fear, historical revisionism and transfer all in one, neat package.

Beck has since said that scheduling the date was a coincidence, a claim challenged by those who remember his early speeches in November announcing the rally, where he talked about the difficulty of securing the date. He's also said all net proceeds from the donations and merchandising of the events will go to Tampa charity the Special Operations Warrior Foundation, but only after the expenses of rally have been paid -- funding a high-profile event which will boost his media brand and the reputations of any conservative pundits who join him.

According to organizers, the rally is a non-political event aimed at honoring the nation's military. But its very title "Restoring Honor," implies that somehow an institution which gets lots of respect these days -- the soldiers fighting two wars halfway across the globe -- need their good name reclaimed by Beck. The host has also said this event will "reclaim the civil rights movement" from the nation's progressives.

In his talks on the issue, Beck says King's dream has been "massively perverted." But King's own positions are obviously at odds with Beck's conservative tenets. In 1965, the civil rights leader advocated repaying oppressed people for the advantages America has enjoyed from their labor, to the tune of $50-billion, in a massive Bill of Rights for the disadvantaged that would mirror the G.I. Bill and help poor white people as well. Does that align with Beck, who has criticized President Obama's health care plans as modern day reparations, though it does not have racial limitations?

"He sees America as an oppressor," Beck said this morning about Obama, as a criticism. Whether or not that is true of the president -- who Beck has called a racist for expressing concern about the arrest of a prominent African American professor -- that is certainly true of King.

King also criticized the Vietnam War and military actions in South America and Latin America, arguing that the money spent on the military could be better spent on anti-poverty programs in the U.S. In 1968, he worked with the Southern Christian Leadership Conference to organize the Poor People's Campaign, a demand that government rebuild its biggest cities and shore up programs aimed at helping the poor. All of this sounds like classic progressive thought; ideas Beck has dedicated himself to eradicating.

In this reclaiming effort, Beck has found an ally in Conservative star Sarah Palin, who contends that criticism of talk show host Dr. Laura Schlessinger for using the n-word many times on her radio show violates her 1st Amendment rights. Beyond the silliness of arguing that anyone has a 1st Amendment right to a nationally syndicated radio show, I wonder: doesn't telling critics they have no right to oppose her language violate their 1st amendment rights?

It seems Conservatives such as Beck, Palin and Andrew Breitbart are echoing a long-held belief by conservatives, that 1960s-era civil rights action may have been laudable, but its modern-day equivalent is used by hucksters to disadvantage white people. It's a view at odds with reality -- black people still earn 72 cents for every $1 earned by a similarly-educated white person, and are 445 percent more likely to be imprisoned, 527 percent more likely to be murdered.

But at a time of widespread economic pain and uncertainty, there is fertile ground for that message. And through their blogs, Twitter feeds, books, speaking tours, TV shows and, yes, rallies, Beck and his allies have built a mighty media megaphone to pass along this message.

As Beck's event unfolds Saturday, it would be advisable to keep the principles of propaganda in mind. Because the widespread admiration for King's message is a powerful tool; it makes sense to meet any attempt to invoke that legacy with a little skepticism and specific knowledge.

As usual, Jon Stewart and the Daily Show said it much funnier.

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart

Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c

I Have a Scheme

www.thedailyshow.com

Daily Show Full Episodes

Political Humor

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New Port Richey-raised Anand Vasudev among 16 downsized contestants on NBC's The Apprentice

deggans — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 22:10:49 +0000

When he was laid off last year from St. Petersburg real estate company Echelon LLC, Anand Vasudev had no idea it would lead to a starring role on one of NBC's most visible shows.

But his tale of surviving ejection from a job managing a $500-million real estate portfolio made the New Port Richey-raised Vasudev a perfect candidate for Donald Trump's revamped Apprentice -- the first version of the business-oriented competition to feature non-celebrities in two years. Centered on a field of players aversely affected by the tanking economy, Trump's show welcomed the 1997 graduate of Berkeley Preparatory School, who moved to New York after his layoff and hasn't taken a salary in a year.

Vasudev, 31, joined 15 other contestants in vying for status as Trump's Apprentice, finishing up filming on the show about a month ago. As a longtime fan, he said the competition this year was more intense, because all involved felt they were playing for their professional survival.

"I thought I was indispensable...until I got laid off," said Vasudev (officials from Echelon declined to comment on his departure). "When you're cast out to sea, it's very humbling. (But) I knew this show was the opportunity of a lifetime, and I had to take full advantage."

NBC this morning announced the cast of the show, which includes a real estate agent from Miami, an Olympic swimmer who couldn't get a job after college and a certified public accountant from Texas who had to sell most of his family's possessions after his economic setbacks.

Born in Gainesville, Vasudev moved to New Port Richey as a child when his father Dr. U.B. Vasudev started his dentistry practice. But he never would have landed on The Apprentice without the influence of his mother, Ponnamma, a die hard Donald Trump fan.

"I think she really has a crush on him," he said, laughing. "She always said it would be her dream if I ever got the change to work with him. So I figured, what the heck, let me try out. So now I can admit it: I did it for my mom."

Check out a couple of NBC promos featuring Vasudev and The Apprentice below:

Emmys host Jimmy Fallon asks audience to help write Sunday's show via Twitter

deggans — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 14:05:39 +0000

He's got six writers from Late Night with Jimmy Fallon working to craft his debut Sunday as host of the 62nd Primetime Emmy Awards.

But Jimmy Fallon wants his fans to weigh in on a crucial element, submitting introductions to at least 15 presenters by Twitter that he expects to read during the evening's broadcast.

Fallon's already turned Twitter into a serious resource for his show, tweeting info about guests after tapings and joining bandleader Questlove in posting pictures of the set and onstage action.

Now NBC is taking his online antics to their Emmy show, airing the program live coast-to-coast so all viewers can check out a backstage camera streaming online, and participate by Tweeting comments throughout the broadcast. in the process, they get a little free writing help from folks who don't need an on camera credit or Writer's Guild membership -- reality TV comes to the awards show space.

Fans can see their tweets (grouped via the hash tag "#imontheemmys") and a list of presenters at at www.nbc.com/imontheemmys/. The backstage camera is accessible through www.nbc.com/emmys/. And the show's Twitter page (hash tag "#emmys10") is accessible at https://twitter.com/NBCEmmys. 　

Fallon and his writers expect to comb through tweets before and during the broadcast. Here's NBC's instructions for how to get your tweets on air:

"Fans can sign in to Twitter while on http://www.nbc.com/imontheemmys/. After clicking on the presenter's name, users simply type in their submission -- such as "Jon Hamm is the handsomest guy of all time. #imontheemmys" -- and then click "Tweet" to enter.

Participants will notice "#imontheemmys" included in their tweets. They should not delete this "hash tag" on Twitter. It allows for groups of tweets with the same hash tag to be viewed as a list and will ensure that Jimmy and his team will see the entry."

Look below for Fallon's NBC promos, including a Mad Men spoof that got pulled because it aired while academy members could still vote.

Failed U.S. Senate candidate Jeff Greene blasts Florida media "character assassination" on CNN

deggans — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 21:38:54 +0000

Failed U.S. Senate candidate Jeff Greene blamed a "pattern of character assassination" in Florida media for hampering his campaign in an interview today with CNN, singling out the St. Petersburg Times and Miami Herald for special mention.

"As far as I'm concerned, I was under attack by the local media for nothing," said Greene, who faced controversy in his run for office over ties to boxer Mike Tyson, who was best man at his wedding, and his fortune, which was built in part on investments betting on widespread mortgage foreclosures.

The Times did run a correction for an Aug. 13 story, noting that "Boxer Mike Tyson's July interview with Sports Illustrated described his travels in Europe during the summer of 2005, not 2007 when he served as Jeff Greene's best man. In addition, Tyson has since made clear that the 2005 events he described to Sports Illustrated involving a drug dealer from Amsterdam did not occur aboard Greene's yacht and that he 'didn't do drugs on the boat.'.

Here's Greene's exit interview:

AMC's new Walking Dead raises the question: Are viewers ready for Zombieland, The Series?

deggans — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 16:53:20 +0000

After seeing the trailer for AMC's new show The Walking Dead, I'm wondering: Are TV audiences really ready for Zombieland, The Series?

Its pedigree is impressive. Shawshank Redemption/Green Mile director Frank Darabont and producer Gale Anne Hurd from the Terminator movies. It's based on a popular comic book. And recent films like Zombieland and The Crazies shows there's a little -- forgive the pun -- life left in zombie flicks.

But will folks return, week after week, to watch a cop who wakes after an unexpected gunshot wound to discover zombies have taken over the world? Even if he's embarked on a heart-rending quest to find his wife and kid?

Debuting on Oct. 31 -- Halloween, of course! -- the series also leaves me wondering how it fits in AMC's profolio of brainy, subversive series such as Mad Men, Breaking Bad and Rubicon. Perhaps with so many critically regarded brain busting originals, the onetime old movie channel is swinging for its version of a broad hit.

Here's hoping they cue up a festival of George Romero's Dawn of the Dead flicks to lead into this debut.

Media lesson from Tuesday's election: Money only wins if you've got a message

deggans — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 12:16:11 +0000

One cynic on my Facebook page summed up Tuesday's primary results with a rueful message: "$26-million isn't enough to buy an election -- it takes $50-million."

But while GOP gubernatorial winner Rick Scott certainly pulled out all the financial stops in blanketing Florida's pricey media market with his advertisements, he suceeded where Democratic billionaire Jeff Greene did not for another reason.

He had an effective message and a coherent campaign.

Scott's plainspoken image and crafty tapping of anti-establishment sentiment began early and was relentless across the airwaves, with commercials ridiculing opponent Bill McCollum's stance on anti-immigration legislaton and his ties to disgraced state Republican party leader Jim Greer. Green never had as strong a message, didn't really jump into the race until opponent Kendrick Meek had been campaigning for a long while, and had personal issues stemming from how he earned his forture and ties to controversial boxer Mike Tyson that didn't help.

Indeed, the ultimate message of Tuesday's results, given the Scott only won by 3 points, may be that you need $50-million to overcome the massive advantage of being an establishment candidate like Meek and McCollum.

For an election which turned on a blanket of media images, Tuesday's results reports were surprisingly fireworks free, beyond McCollum refusing to concede when the state's TV stations were poised to record it after 10:30 p.m.

"This is going to go into the wee hours," McCollum told supporters just before 11 p.m., blowing apart rumors on Twitter from the Washington Post and St. Petersburg Times that he was going to concede in time for Scott to give triumphant victory speech for the late night newscasts. Seconds after that speech, the Associated Press called the race for Scott and he gave that speech anyway; McCollum would concede later, away from the glare of continuous media coverage. (demerits to Tampa NBC affiliate WFLA-Ch. 8, which cut away from Scott's live victory speech to feature punditizing from Susan MacManus)

As has become the habit in today's media saturated age, Twitter was the place to be as the results flowed in, with high profile reporters such as NBC News politics wonk Chuck Todd posting messages ranging from odd results across the country to fake decriptions of a tight race in Vermont in the folksy style of ex-CBS anchor Dan Rather (dubbed "Ratherisms")

The big questions left: Will Florida GOP embrace an outsider candidate to keep control of the Governor's office, and will Scott accept them? Can candidates like Scott and GOP attorney general candidate Pam Bondi, who ran on Tea Party-friendly, hard right positions, moderate their stances enough to win the state's wide pool of indepedent voters?

Will Crist, who craftily avoids saying who he will caucus with if elected as an independent to the Senate (better to try convincing moderate Demcorats to vote for him as a realistic contender than long-shot Meek), get tired of the other question he'll hear evey day until November:

"Who you voting for, Sink or Scott?"

What will local TV stations do with the windfall of cash coming from these candidates battling it out over the airwaves in the next two months? And can any of us stand another eight weeks of attack ads blanketing local TV?

Say what you will about Florida elections, but they've never been boring. And the tradition continues.

Former WFLA-Ch. 8 anchor Gayle Guyardo to join national speaking tour with Kevin Harrington and Paula Abdul

deggans — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 16:56:59 +0000

Like a pitbull with ADD, Clearwater-based infomercial guru Kevin Harrington always seems to have a dozen projects in play at once.

While helping wrestler Hulk Hogan develop a new career as a pitchman, he's anticipating filming in October new editions of the ABC unscripted show Shark Tank, which has added comic/entrepreneur Jeff Foxworthy among the panel of business experts judging pitches.

And starting Aug. 31, he'll bring partner and former WFLA-Ch. 8 anchor Gayle Guyardo along on a 20-city motivational speaking tour for female business people, Empower 180, that also features former American Idol judge Paula Abdul.

Guyardo (left) says she'll speak on the challenges of being a woman trying to succeed in two male-dominated worlds, referencing her early career local TV news and her current efforts to learn the infomercial business.

The event kicks off Aug. 31 at the LA Convention Center and comes with a hefty ticket price. Basic tickets are $99, but to pitch your product or invention before Harrington -- just like on his ABC show -- the price jumps to $299. The deluxe admission, which includes prime seating, access to a VIP reception with the speakers and $300 worth of DVD, books and audioo materials, reaches $799.

Such events seem another way to tap the entrepreneurial fantasies so many harbor in an economy filled with downsizing and pay cuts. Who wouldn't dream of being their own boss -- inventing that miracle product or business concept that vaults you into the ranks of he big players? It's the same desire Harrington and other informercial players tap in soliciting inventors for their direct marketing commercials.

Right now, the Empower 180 website doesn't list any dates in the Tampa Bay area, with Ft. Lauderdale and Orlando as the closest planned cities. There's only one other venue announced, the Colorado Covention Center in Denver on Sept. 22, according to the site.

Spike Lee emerges as the Ken Burns of Katrina filmmaking with powerful HBO documentary

deggans — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 18:36:13 +0000

As the fifth anniversary of the day Hurricane Katrina turned the Gulf Coast upside down approaches -- the actual day is next Sunday -- TV offers some amazing documentaries on the storm, its aftermath and its impact on us all.

Here's capsule reviews of the best, including Spike Lee's amazing return to New Orleans:

If God Is Willing and Da Creek Don’t Rise, airs at 9 tonight and 9 p.m. Tuesday, HBO: Like a band-aid ripped from a still-tender wound, Spike Lee’s four-hour documentary about the five years after Katrina’s impact pokes at every way in which the attempt to recover from the hurricane’s damage went wrong. From harsh assessments of former Mayor C. Ray Nagin (one on camera voice called him the worst mayor in the city’s near-300-year history), to allegations the police let a man die to cover a botched shooting, Lee’s unblinking cameras detail the awful struggle toward rebuilding, set to mournful score by jazz master and Nawlins native Terence Blanchard.

The piece starts hopefully enough, showing residents rejoicing in the Saints’ Cinderella story of a Super Bowl win. But before long, historian Douglas Brinkley is talking about the city’s historic inferiority complex – residents insist to everyone the place is the greatest spot on Earth, though they know deep down how screwed up everything is – seguing into stories about how high rents, lack of school facilities and the demolition of undamaged public housing has left nearly 40 percent of New Orleans’ black population still in exile.

Lee has become the Ken Burns of Katrina documentaries, piecing together dense films which explore most every element of the city’s decline and rebirth, beginning with 2006’s When the Levees Broke. Unlike his scripted films, race issues are less a bludgeon to get your attention than a constant, dreary backdrop – the weary reality that, in a city which is among the most diverse in the nation, too many issues boil down to differences in color and income.

More than 300 people face the camera for Lee’s film, including Nagin, Sean Penn, Brad Pitt, Dr. John, Condoleezza Rice, former Louisiana Gov, Kathleen Blanco, former FEMA director Mike Brown and Phyllis Montana-Leblanc, the city native whose powerful appearance in When the Levees Broke landed her an acting role in HBO’s fictional series about New Orleans, Treme.

Lee even forges a compelling connection to the Haiti earthquake, highlighting New Orleans’ historic connection to the country (he says the early Haitians persuaded Napoleon to sell Louisiana to America) and outlining how the botched aid efforts there echoed the problems in Katrina’s aftermath.

Powerful, tough to watch and filled with detail, Lee’s film is likely the best television project you’ll see on Katrina this week; a master filmmaker letting the weight of history make his points while the camera rolls.

New Orleans Rising, airs at 8 tonight on CNN: Correspondent Soledad O’Brien takes a different tack with her post-Katrina documentary, outlining how Treme star and New Orleans native Wendell Pierce pulled together a group of longtime friends to try rebuilding the middle class, black neighborhood Ponchartrain Park by themselves.

Turns out, this area is a legendary breeding ground for accomplished people of color, from musician Blanchard to former New Orleans mayor Mark Morial and current EPA administrator Lisa Jackson. But the area had the second-slowest rate of return of any New Orleans neighborhood, leading Pierce and his buddies to form a development corporation hoping to build refurbished homes in the area.

O’Brien spent time with a number of families from that area, profiling a 70-something couple who gutted their home themselves and as hardworking mailman ho signed a pledge to buy a new house, though his wife can’t bring herself to return from Baton Rouge.

The story takes a few too many detours – did we need to see the claims guy from the BP commercials watching his boyhood home knocked down? – and Pierce doesn’t open his first model home until just this past May. But O’Brien’s tale stands as a simple tribute to the power of hard work, close friendships and serious tenacity.

Witness Katrina, airs at 9 tonight on National Geographic Channel: Hard as it is to imagine people hefting cameras during the worst natural disaster in recent history, it turns out lots of folks documented their Katrina nightmare on video.

But it took National Geographic to pull all those videos into a single, chilling film, outlining the 72 hours spanning Katrina’s approach, landfall and the subsequent flooding in a compelling pastiche of stories. One moment, we see young twentysomethings having a hurricane party in Bay St. Louis, Louisiana (one well lubricated partier predicts cluelessly that the storm is overhyped), the next, we’re watching an anxious man try to drive out of the city hours before Katrina hits, only to be forced to take refuge at the Superdome.

Much of the drama here comes from the audience already knowing what’s to come. As antsy homeowners cover their windows with plywood we wince, knowing the approaching disaster won’t be held back by a few screws and pieces of wood. Seeing a storm chaser from hurricane.com set up his equipment, we know the show he’s about to witness.

Told largely through the voices of those doing the taping, Witness Katrina provides an intimate, fresh look at a calamity many of us thought we’d already knew well – which may be the greatest feat of all during the deluge of coverage centered around this historic anniversary.

Kendrick Meek gets endorsement from Bubba the Love Sponge, while Today show profiles opponent Jeff Greene

deggans — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 13:43:14 +0000

U.S. Senate Democratic primary hopeful Kendrick Meek picked up an unusual endorsement this morning; Tampa shock jock Bubba the Love Sponge Clem pronounced Meek to be "like one of us, a regular guy" in a near-hourlong appearance on his program.

As noted before, Clem has welcomed politicians ranging from Alex Sink, currently seeking the Democratic nomination for governor, to the state's current governor-turned independent Senate hopeful, Charlie Crist. Meek became the latest office seeker to try tapping Clem's audience of fans, often referred to as Bubba's Army, for help in a tough race.

Meek let Clem take the toughest shots at his opponent, as the shock jock denounced billionaire Jeff Grenne as a "scumbag" who wouldn't get his vote, regardless of the opposition. The candidate seemed most relaxed when talking personal stuff, less so when trying to answer a question about whether some legislation has too much "pork"spending in it. ("I like it fried," he quipped, before launching into an involved answer.)

NBC's Today show aired a short profile on billionaire candidate Greene, featuring correspondent Norah O'Donnell tooling around with him on a golf cart through his Palm Beach neighborhood. The story offered a quick look at how much money he's spent -- $23-million, according to her story -- and featured a couple of quotes from Meek criticizing how his opponent earned his fortune.

It's little more than a primer for folks who may not have been paying attention -- you probably know more about the race just from seeing the candidates' incessant attack ads against each other.

Still, it was a notable story on TV's highest-rated morning show the day before an important election.

See the story below:

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

R.I.P. Richie Hayward, Little Feat/Robert Plant drummer extraordinaire

deggans — Sun, 22 Aug 2010 13:59:15 +0000

I'm taking a brief break from all the media stuff for a small tribute to a player who influenced me tremendously and we lost all too soon: Little Feat drummer Richie Hayward.

Hayward died at age 64 on Aug. 12 after battling liver cancer for more than year. Musicians from around the world had been trying to help him handle the financial expense by holding benefit concerts; it was a stark reminder of how bad the health care system is in this country, when a founding member of world famous band like Little Feat needed such help to handle a major health crisis.

I first really paid attention to Hayward when he played on Robert Plant's mid-80s solo record, Shaken n' Stirred, powering some amazing album tracks such as Sixes and Sevens and Little By Little. For that record, he had an amazingly crisp style, with lots of power but an unerring sense of groove. He made the oddest tunes groove hard and rock hard at the same time -- and as a young player, I soaked it up like a sponge.

Hayward provided that service for a lot of great artists, including Robert Palmer, Joan Armatrading, Eric Clapton, Bob Dylan, Warren Zevon and many more. He died only days before Kenny Edwards, another amazing backing musician who played with Linda Ronstadt for years and worked on records with Zevon, Don Henley, Stevie Nicks, Brian Wilson, Emmylou Harris and more.

Heaven's house band just got two more great players. Check out Richie's work below:

Weekend funny: Jon Stewart takes apart argument against "Two blocks from ground zero mosque"

deggans — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 23:19:12 +0000

I wrote a column saying a lot of this days ago, but Jon Stewart says it much sharper and funnier, of course.

A peek behind the absurdity of making the Muslim faith another scary buzzword like socialism or Communism:

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart

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NBC anchor Brian Williams on new Hurricane Katrina documentary: "I'm going to make you sad and I'm going to make you angry"

deggans — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 15:12:06 +0000

More than any other national news anchor, Brian Williams has spent serious time covering the Hurricane Katrina story.

Five years ago, eager for the kind of career-defining coverage that makes great news anchors, the NBC anchor joined thousands inside the Superdome, riding out the arrival of Katrina, the massive flooding which followed and the five days of deprivation which followed bungled attempts by the government to aid those trapped by the floodwaters. After that, Williams vowed to keep returning to the area, hoping to keep public attention focused on preventing such a massive failure from occurring again.

He returned to those memories for Hurricane Katrina: the First Five Days, an hourlong look back that time airing at 7 p.m. Sunday as a Dateline NBC special. It kicks off a stream of coverage commemorating the disaster's fifth anniversary, from five days next week anchoring the Nightly News from New Orleans to high profile interviews with celebrities connected to the city such as Brad Pitt and Harry Connick Jr.

We talked Thursday about his experiences then and how the rush of documentaries looking at the five-year anniversary seem to conclude that things haven't gotten much better for the region.

What will we see in your documentary Sunday?

"It transported us right back to that week. You can feel the heat, you can feel the despair, the lawlessness, the panic. And I dunno, I find it very affecting to see it again. I can’t promise viewers a delightful romp. This is not going to be like sitting down and watching Entourage. This takes an emotional investment.”

Can you get viewers to pay attention to Katrina yet again?
“It’s a lot easier to watch Entourage. Jay Leno is a lot more fun every night than what I’ve produced here. I just find that especially in light what’s being asked of the people of Louisiana and Florida and Mississippi, after this oil spill; How much suffering can one region of this country bear? I think we’ve gotta go back and touch that third rail, just briefly. Remember how we felt about our government. And about each other. I’ve since been to Haiti, and there’s a shot of in our (Katrina) documentary of a water drop -- pallets of water dropping off a Black hawk helicopter. As it happens, a one-armed man is unloading the Black Hawk. And it’s a poignant scene. The last time I saw a scene like that, was in Port Au Prince. What keeps getting me angry. And what gets me exercised after living through these tapes again, is that this my country. This wasn’t a third world relief mission. And yet, it looked for all the world like one.”

After Katrina, there were all sorts of promises to ignite conversations on race and class and government laxity in emergencies. It doesn't seem that much of that actually happened.
“That’s exactly how I end the piece. I go into this little soliloquy that was recorded five years ago, once I got back from Katrina and I was still very raw. And I say ‘If five years from now we have not had a national discussion about race, and class and poverty and petroleum' – I don’t know why I threw petroleum in there, but I now sound prescient – 'we in the news media will have failed.' At the end of the documentary I say, that was then, what has happened since? We’ve elected our first African American president but petroleum came roaring back as an issue. And New Orleans has been transformed forever. If you can get everybody’s attention, let me know how. And I don’t mean that in a flip way. Because that’s the business I’m in. Every night, we get the unmitigated attention of between seven and 11 million people. And I’m happy for it – I’m flattered they spend a half hour with us. But any more than that is a frustration in an era where self-guided media is ubiquitous. It’s tough to maintain somebody’s concentration.”

These days, it seems the audience controls so much of where we can go with this issue. If people don’t want to hear about it…
“Right! This is my life -- would you be my therapist, I don’t have one? My long-suffering wife of 23 ½ years has to listen to this. We lament this all the time. The world you and I grew up in – I’m 51 years old. Three channels on TV. The president spoke, you didn’t watch anything else. You wouldn’t think about it. Men landed on the moon, a global event. I’d like to see what kind of audience share it would get today. Getting people’s attention is hard. It’s even harder, when all I can promise is, for brief parts of this documentary, I’m going to make your sad, and I’m going to make you angry. I’m also, hopefully, going to make you think.”

What stands out as a highlight?
“I’m going to go over to do Charlie Rose this afternoon, and one of the things I was going to say is this: I have in my bag here always with me my passport. It’s an incredible document. I’ve got what we in the media call the big Three visas – Afghanistan, Iran and Iraq. But I have no stamps to reflect the last two trips I’ve taken – the first to Iraq and the last, to Haiti. Because there was no government – nobody to check in with. Came into Iraq during the dark of night, came into Haiti, slept on the tarmac. That’s how I describe New Orleans that week,. It is a seared image in my head. We grow up pretty supervised in this country. We have a very strong sense of us. And there was no sense of anybody in charge that week. That’s the haunting part of it.

You have committed more time than any network anchor covering this story. Why?
“If you’d been with me in that Superdome – alongside me and met people who literally did not make it to the other end of the week. The same thing would have happened to you. It fused me to New Orleans. I’m a Jersey Shore kid. First visited New Orleans in 1981. Pilot of the Delta Airlines flight from Washington said, 'Welcome to New Orleans Louisiana, you are no longer in the United States of America.' I thought: Cool! This going to be fun. The only American city where you can walk down the street and hear something close to conversational French. It is so rich, it’s given us so much of our culture and music and so much of our wildlife. That’s why.”

Why does this region face this litany of problems?
“I’ve guessed aloud in the past that it’s classicism. A lot of East Coast hotshots don’t vacation in grand isle. They vacation in Nantucket and The Hamptons and Martha; Vineyard. Maybe if they did rent a hour in grand isle, were into sport fishing and Cajun food, they would feel more strongly about it. You’ve got to want to get down to places like grand isle and Venice – fly into New Orleans and you can drive a long way. Luckily, we want to go there. I work for a company that wants me to go and they’ve never turned me down. I don’t know why they’ve been asked to bear a special burden.”

Can Tampa infomercial king Anthony Sullivan continue Discovery Channel's Pitchmen without buddy Billy Mays?

deggans — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 17:39:59 +0000

He resists the idea -- partly because he is super sensitive about appearances on this issue, and partially because he still cares a lot about his old friend and rival.

But if Tampa infomercial king Anthony "Sully" Sullivan can successfully reboot discovery Channel's Pitchmen series tonight -- after the death of the show's biggest star, his friend and partner Billy Mays -- then the final transition may be complete.

Sullivan will, in a sense, have become the next Billy Mays.

Ask him about this, as I did during a brief video shoot for Pitchmen's second season in Sherman Oaks, Calif. a few weeks ago, and he will insist the "new Billy Mays" tag is an idea conjured mostly by media types like me -- looking for a convenient headline to draw in more readers and mouse clicks.

"The 'next Billy Mays' thing wore on me and wore on his family," he told me for a Floridian story that ran Sunday on Pitchmen's new season. "There's no replacing Billy Mays, and anyone who says that is reaching for a headline. I wanted to get away from that."

He's not wrong about the media end of this. But just like nature, the "direct response" TV selling game abhors a vacuum. And so Sullivan, who produced Mays' spots for years and has his own, urgently persuasive on camera pitching style, has picked up many pieces of Mays' empire -- including representing Mighty Brands products such as Mighty Putyy and Mighty Tape, along with OxyClean and Arm & Hammer.

Now his biggest task at hand is reinventing Pitchmen, a series which cruised to relative success on Discovery thanks to Mays cult hero status and the playful frinction between Mays and Sullivan. Decked out in trademark bluwe shirt and khaki pants, Mays became a symbol of infomercials' relentless pitching and growing pop culture profile.

Sullivan tackled that task by focusing more on the inventors and business people who create the products he and other pitchmen sell. There has always been a need in the infomercial world for new products, but Pitchmen created a high-profile platform to recruit new inventors and businesspeople -- a dynamic Sullivan has focused on even more in the show's second season.

He's also got a lot of local flavor on the show, from featuring a kid inventor from Pasco County to filming auditions of inventors at The Ritz nightclub in Ybor City last year and lighting himself on fire to demostrate a product while the Clearwater Fire Department looked on.

It's a growing trend, locally and nationally: Kevin Harrington, a co-star on ABC's Shark Tank, enlisted former WFLA-Ch. 8 anchor Gayle Guyardo to develop his Inventors Business Center in Clearwater. And Forbes Riley, a TV actor turned pitchwoman who sells her SpinGym exerciser on HSN, hopes to open a studio in St. Petersburg to make infomercials.

With Pitchmen's premiere tonight, we'll see if Sullivan and Discovery Channel can keep the trend going without the industry's biggest figure.

Here's a clip from tonight's episode, which debuts at 9 tonight on Discovery, and a sample of the stunt where he lights himself on fire:

Former St. Petersburg Times reporter Thomas French joins the Colbert Nation

deggans — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 12:50:01 +0000

An author knows he's in trouble when an appearance on Comedy Central's sidesplitting Colbert Report begins with a journalists-out-of-work joke.

"I know you work at a newspaper, so I fired almost my entire staff today," Stephen Colbert told former St. Petersburg Times feature writer and Pulitzer Prize winner Thomas French Wednesday, when he stopped by the show. "Is there a breeding program?"

To his credit, Tom didn't try to keep up with Colbert in the funny department, instead struggling through laughter to talk about the process of writing his bestselling book, Zoo Story: Life and Death in the Garden of Captives. He spent six years researching the efforts to turn Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo into a big city zoo, first in a series for the St. Petersburg Times and later for his book, which Colbert had endless fun lampooning.

Check out the NPR story on Zoo Story here. Check Tom's 2007 series for the St. Petersburg Times here.

"I think you're burying the lead with this book, it should be called Escape From Monkey Island," quipped Colbert after hearing a story about how monkeys lammed out of an enclosure after officials failed to anticipate they could swim. "It's monkey madness mayhem."

"Tampa wanted a big city zoo...it is about ego," Tom said. "This idea...that our species has the right to gather other species from around the world and hold them in the place, says a lot about our assumptions of human supremacy."

Check out the full exchange, where Colbert asks whether former zoo leader Lex Salisbury ever mounted Tom, below:

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Peter Gabriel talks music and sings on DirecTV's new Guitar Center Sessions

deggans — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 17:08:41 +0000

As a stone Peter Gabriel fan, I'm going to indulge my jones and post a clip here from his interview/performance on Guiitar Center Sessions, a new interview/unplugged performance show debuting at 9 p.m. Saturday on DirecTV.

Like many successful artists, P.G. has gotten more adventurous and stranger as he's matured, leaving some of his U.S. fans behinsd in the process. I haven't yet picked up his new record, a collection of cover tunes featuring orchestra and voice called Scratch My Back. But his excursions into noise and sprawling compositions have always earned my respect, even if they didn't necessarily resonate with me as a fan.

He seems to have beome more of an international artist, as American tastes veered to the Jason Derulos and Katy Perrys of the pop culture universe. Doesn't help that he seems to take a millenium to put albums together, giving too many fans too much time to forget him altogether.

Here's a piano and voice version of Here Comes the Flood; click here to read part of the show's interview with him.

Even as she leaves her radio show in disgrace, Dr. Laura still doesn't get it

deggans — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 13:11:51 +0000

Even after slinging the n-word nearly a dozen times at a black caller, an avalanche of condemnation and a decision to finally spare listeners her tone-deaf advice by leaving the syndicated radio game at year's end, Dr. Laura still doesn't get it.

Announcing her intention not to renew her contract after this year on Larry King Live Tuesday, Dr. Laura Schlessinger made herself out to be the victim. "I want to regain my First Amendment rights," she told King. "I want to be able to say what’s on my mind and in my heart and what I think is helpful and useful without somebody getting angry, some special interest group deciding this is the time to silence a voice of dissent and attack affiliates, attack sponsors. I’m sort of done with that."

After so many years advising callers to take responsibility for their lives, it is curious to hear Schlessinger accept none for herself now. The First Amendment prevents government from limiting free speech; it does not not guarantee speech without consequence. And for Schlessinger, the consequence of releasing such ugly racial rhetoric on the radio has been a heartening deluge of criticism and advertisers reconsidering their sponsorships. (I wrote a column eight years ago about how negative reaction to Schlessinger's prejudice was not censorship.)

In truth, Dr. Laura was Exhibit A in a cautionary tale about the pitfalls of prejudice. She had decided what her black caller's problem was, before the woman had even opened her mouth, based largely on her skin color. Transfer that attitude to ideas about her intellectual ability, childrearing skills or ability to hold a job, and you have the root of the worst prejudice this nation has endured.

The biggest tragedy here: Schlessinger is too busy feeling persecuted to learn the right lesson.

Indeed, I was struck by how differently Schlessinger was treated than shock jock Don Imus, whose decision to call Rutgers University's women basketball team "nappy headed hoes" three years ago got him fired from both MSNBC and CBS Radio within about a week. Schlessinger's departure may not have been voluntary -- the situation reeks of a "quit or be fired" scenario -- but at least she was allowed to pretend the departure was her own decision.

Now Schlessinger insists that she is the victim; that those pointing out her own prejudice are "NAACP-ing" her. It'sa a disturbing glimpse into a bizarro world where racism is rationalized and those who aren't willing to tolerate her backward ideas are the ones with a problem.

This isn't the first time she's ducked criticism by ducking out. Eight years ago, when she tried to host a syndicated TV show, Schlessinger canceled an appearance at the TV Critics Association's summer press tour over controversies about her past stance on gay people -- she once called homosexuality a mistake and advocated against gay people adoptiing children, repeating a long-discredited stereotype that homosexuals were more likely to be child molesters.

Known for her sharp responses to wayward callers, Schlessinger even abruptly cancelled an interview on Tampa ABC affiliate WFTS-Ch. 28, alleging the anchors talked badly about her show before the segment started.

So it is small surprise that Schlessinger would step away from her radio show before the full consequences of her actions emerged. No matter how much she points fingers elsewhere, it seems obvious Schlessinger's biggest victimizer is staring back at her from ther mirror.

Three staffers depart Tampa ABC affiliate amid investigation into Tiger Woods mistress spoof video

deggans — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 18:00:08 +0000

Three staffers have left Tampa ABC affiliate WFTS-Ch. 28 amid the station's investigation into how a spoof video landed on the Internet reporting that an employee was one of Tiger Woods' mistresses.

Reporter/anchor/multimedia journalist Kerry Kavanaugh, who introduced the video as if she was anchoring a typical WFTS news report, was fired Monday along with her husband, photographer Jason Solowski. Reporter Karen Castillo (left) had already resigned on Friday, though a station official insisted her departure was not connected to the video controversy -- despite the fact that she also appeared in it.

WFTS general manager Rich Pegram would not detail what specific role each staffer played in producing the video, which featured the station's graphics and appeared to have filmed mostly at their studios. Pegram said about seven staffers total were disciplined for involvement in the video, with punishments ranging from suspensions to the firings.

"We decided there were different levels of participation," said Pegram, explaining the varying levels of punishment for staffers. "We're comfortable in how we've handled it."

Pegram also said the employee at the center of the spoof report -- photographer Delisa Walden -- was not offended by the video and wasn't aware of the spoof until it was completed, probably around January. At the end of the video, Kavanaugh wished Walden a happy birthday, suggesting the video was a prank or gift (Pegram would not say if Walden was disciplined).

Station officials became aware of the video Aug. 6, when a report about it surfaced on the industry website Newsblues.com. The video has appeared on some Facebook pages and was uploaded to YouTube, though station officials asked the site to take down the video.

The firings highlighted how seriously local TV stations are now taking such spoof videos, particularly when they surface on the Internet. Last month, four employees at KARK-TV in Little Rock, Ark. lost their jobs when two spoof videos filled with profanities surfaced on YouTube, featuring reporter Pete Thompson complaining in explicit terms about his job and slapping an interview source in the face. Warning, the video have lots of profanity; click here to see.

But the WFTS video was not so explicit and seemed to be presented as a good natured joke, recalling the time years ago when the area Society of Professional Journalists chapter presented its Battle of the Media Bloopers, screening joke videos and blooper reels assembled by local TV stations.

"This was a mock newscast that had the look and feel of the real thing," Pegram said last week, when the station was investigating the video. "We should not be doing that."

Kavanaugh (right) worked at WFTS for three years; Castillo had been at the station since 2008.

As media debate over so-called "Ground Zero mosque" grows more shrill, I wonder: Isn't this what terrorists want?

deggans — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 12:37:18 +0000

It was a big old, steaming pile of political mess the president stepped in this weekend -- a surprising mistake for a politician who once seemed so savvy about negotiating tough public issues.

But as I watch cable news pundits and opportunistic politicians hysterically decry the notion that our chief executive supported the right of Muslims to build a mosque within two blocks of the 9/11 attacks in New York, I wonder:

Isn't this what the terrorists wanted in the first place?

Sure, job one was to kill Americans, and job two was to make us fear homeland violence the way an Israeli might worry about a rocket launched from the West Bank. But one of the goals Islamic extremists have always had is to turn moderate Muslims against the West; to show them that we cannot be trusted to treat them fairly or consider their freedoms.

And they have had no better partner in that awful dance than our own religious fundamentalists. Extremists on any side understand each other well; terrorists understand that, despite all the talk of respecting Islam, some Christians need little urging to see our current conflicts and the holiest of holy wars, with little empathy or patience for tolerance.

This is why, in some ways, building a mosque within blocks of 9/11 would be the ultimate act of insurgency against those who hurt us worst.

They want us to turn Muslims in the U.S. into an oppressed minority. They want moderate Islamists to feel persecuted and unable to exercise their free rights. They want opportunities to recruit disappointed Muslims reduced to second-class status -- in the way France has seen its huge, often disaffected population of Muslims become a promising recruitment tool for extremists who note women can't even wear their hijab headgear in state schools.

A mosque within sight of the former World Trace Center site, especially if it is dedicated to peace, would seem an important antidote to that strategy; a pointed punch in the face to those who bet on Americans' worst instincts. Of course, as legendary showbiz opportunist P.T. Barnum probably pointed out at some point in his life, nobody ever went broke betting on American hardheadedness.

Salon magazine documented how the controversy over this mosque project, which was developed with the knowledge and approval of city officials, didn't kick in until conservative-oriented blogs and newspapers began shrill criticism of the notion, which coincidentally grew louder as the GOP looked for controversial issues to hammer Democrats in the approaching midterm elections.

A spin through TV coverage Monday showed outlets feasting on the conflict during a slow news season like a starving man at a smorgasbord. On MSNBC, a panel of mostly liberal commentators decried the controversy; on the morning news shows, conservative politicians were trying to square the notion that Muslims have all the religious freedom they want, as long as they don't exercise that one right to build a mosque too close to the former World Trade Center site (the New York Times .

But media-fed political food fights to build ratings aren't a surprise. Neither is opportunistic efforts by politicians to distract with a controversy which won't affect 99 percent of the country's population, just to find an issue which might drive angry voters to the polls.

What I don't understand, is how President Obama stepped in the middle of it all. Surely he knew politicians and pundits would seize on his statement Friday that "as a citizen, and as president, I believe that Muslims have the . . . right to build a place of worship and a community center on private property in Lower Manhattan, in accordance with local laws and ordinances,” as support of the mosque project. Surely he understood that cynical opportunists would twist his words and passionate advocates on either side of this contentious issue would hear what they wanted?

Surely he understood that hedging on the statement a day later, refusing to comment on the "wisdom" of building the mosque close to the WTC site, would only serve to anger the people who weren't upset by his seeming support a day earlier?

In the bubble of the presidency, Obama seems to have forgotten how quickly nuance is lost in a hard-fought election and how quickly people will give in to fear and hysteria. Frankly, I agree with those who say our president had no choice but to support the mosque project -- mostly because its a legal project and doing so sends the strongest message possible that our current wars against Islamic terrorists are not wars against Islam.

If we really believe our war isn't with Islam, its our only choice. Instead, we have gotten hedged statements and hysterical protests aimed at telling Muslims that, in New York after 9/11, there are some lines you can't cross, legal or not.

Just like the attackers wanted.

Retired WFLA-Ch. 8 anchor Bill Ratliff comes back to TV...on rival WTSP-Ch. 10

deggans — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 18:45:16 +0000

Former WFLA-Ch. 8 anchor Bill Ratliff, who retired at Tampa's NBC affiliate last year after the station proposed cutting back his work hours and salary, will return to local TV as an analyst for 2010 election coverage.

But he's doing it for rival CBS affiliate WTSP-Ch. 10.

The move makes sense: Ratliff built up a tremendous amount of viewer loyalty during 12 years as an anchor on WFLA's morning show and 27 years' total at the station. Long before he took that job, he spent a year covering the 1986 race for the U.S. Senate between Bob Graham and Paula Hawkins.

"The one thing I know about Florida politics, is that no one is an expert," said Ratliff, 61. "But a couple of people over here recommended me, they called and now I'm really excited to get back to it."

Ratliff said he had no non-compete contract clause keeping him from work at other stations when he left WFLA last year. But he needed time to decompress after 12 years of rising at 3 a.m. to work the morning shift. "If (WFLA) had called, I probably would have said yes to them.," he added. "But they never did."

WTSP news director Pete Roghaar said Ratliff will make his first appearance today, in their 5:30 p.m. newscast, and is expected to appear two to three times each week over the next three months. Right now, he'll be talking over political issues inside the studio; Roghaar hopes if the next three months go well, it may be the beginning of a long-term association which could last at least until the GOP convention comes to Tampa in 2012.

"Bill has a lot of equity in this market," said the news director, who said he called Ratliff to ask if he'd be interested in working at WTSP. "It's great to have somebody like that at your beck and call in an important election season."

This development marks another interesting twist in the evolution of local TV in the current economic climate. With a fair number of anchors retired or laid off during harsher ecomonic times -- Bill Murphy and Frank Robertson at WTVT-Ch. 13, Al Keck at WFTS-Ch. 28, for example -- there's a pool of talent with local name recognition whose non-competes are probably running out.

Click below for WTSP's press release:

Bill Ratliff to Join 10 News Election Coverage.

St. Petersburg, FL: August 16, 2010: Veteran Tampa Bay journalist Bill Ratliff has agreed to join the 10 News team as a contributor to its in-depth coverage of the 2010 elections.

Ratliff has covered the people and events of Tampa Bay for over 27 years. He was most recently the co-anchor of WFLA-TV’s morning newscast. Over the course of those 27 years, Ratliff developed a strong reputation through his coverage of Florida and Tampa Bay politics.

“We are thrilled to have Bill join our team. He brings so much experience and so many personal connections to state and local politics,” say Peter Roghaar, Director of News and Information at 10 News.

Ratliff will join the 10 News team live in studio over the course of this year’s election campaign to provide his uniquely well-informed perspective.

10 News is the brand name for WTSP-TV, the Gannett Co, Inc. owned CBS affiliate serving the Tampa Bays Region.

Mad Men's "The Rejected" crystallizes what I dislike most about this season: Don Draper's breakdown

deggans — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 13:13:02 +0000

If there is a theme to this season's batch of Mad Men episodes so far, it's a simple one: Humbling the womanizing Superman at the show's heart, Jon Hamm's Don Draper.

But that storyline, which must have seemed so tantalizing and full of promise on paper, has served to mostly rob the show of its vital heart -- the seemingly teflon machinations of Draper's wholly invented life. Who knew watching the show answer the question it posed at the start of this season -- "Who is Don Draper? -- could be so, well, boring?

Last night's episode, "The Rejected" continued that pattern, outlining the bereakdown of Allison, the secretary Draper slept with in a drunken impulse earlier in the season. As a longtime Mad Men fan, I kept wondering why Draper kept her around after their tryst, which clearly meant much more to her than it did to him.

Old school Draper would have pulled Christina Hendricks' super savvy office manager Joan aside and made his discomfort clear, getting her assigned to the mailroom or some other spot where he didn't have to see her face.

But our new, so much less improved Draper endures her uncomfortable questions about a mysterious photo from California and even tries to comfort her when she breaks down during a focus group of young secretaries at the firm, who turn a discussion of beauty tips into a sad session on the mysteries of keeping men interested. Even after Allison heaves a small metal globe at him, incensed that Draper can't even be bothered to write her recommendation for a new job himself -- does this woman need to get hit over the head herself to get a clue? -- he hesitates to tell Joan she's gone for good.

If this is Draper with a conscience -- almost writing an apology letter to Allison, living in a skeezy apartment he can barely stand to sleep in -- perhaps we'd all be better off if he got his amoral A game back.

Directed by co-star John Slattery (Roger Sterling), "The Rejected" had lots of odd touches: Peggy looking over a wall to spy on Draper after his confrontation with Allison; firm geezer Bert Cooper eating an apple in the reception area for no discernable reason; Pete Campbell giddy over being a new father when he hasn't figured himself out yet.

One great moment: Copywriter Peggy heading to lunch with her newly-made bohemian friends, stealing a glance at Campbell palling around with bigshots bringing new business to their firm. In the moment they trade glances, sharing the secret of a surrendered love child between them, you also see two worlds passing -- the youth-centered new world of '60s-era freedom and the old, moneyed roles bred in the 1950s.

Second great moment: Draper arguing with a psychologist who used the focus group to conclude women use beauty aids mostly to land a man. His point - people don't know they like a new idea until they are presented with it -- sounds like an argument for the brave new society emerging at that moment from the ashes of 1950s-rigid society.

Or maybe it just felt good to see old school Draper -- brash, self-confident and disdainful of foolish provincialism -- finally bursting free.

SELECTED SCENES

ABC Action news anchor welcomes new baby as station debuts new set

deggans — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 12:10:26 +0000

Lots of change in the air at Tampa ABC affiliate WFTS-Ch. 28, as anchor Wendy Ryan welcomed a new baby daughter days before the station debuted a new set for its newscasts.

Ryan announced the arrival of Raquel Ryan Ritchey on her Facebook page, celebrating the 7:54 p.m. Wednesday birth of the baby at nearly 4 lbs. and 16 inches long.

Her coworkers celebrated the news while introducing viewers to their new set Friday, featuring darker colors and shades of burgundy and red. (H/T to Florida News Center for the photo). Anchors led shows from a virtual set while the new environment was being built, sitting in front a green screen while a computer-generated backdrop similar to the old set was recreated for viewers.

WFTS also plans a new segment starting noon Thursday as a partnership between the ABC Action News station and Tampa Bay Parenting magazine. Called Parents In Action, the segment will feature the stations anchors and Angela Ardolina, editor-in-chief of Tampa Bay Parenting, talking about issues and trends. WFTS anchors and reporters will also contribute to the magazine.

Precious star Gabourey Sidibe may be best thing about Showtime's The Big C. (full episode here)

deggans — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 22:49:22 +0000

LOS ANGELES -- She’s been nominated for an Oscar, hosted Saturday Night Live and shared a stage with Oprah Winfrey.

But when it came time to trade barbs with Laura Linney in Showtime’s latest twisted suburbanite dramedy, The Big C, Gabourey Sidibe found herself in an unusual position: playing the student.

“I never got the chance to go to acting class and so every scene that I’m in with her…I just watch her like a total freak,” said Sidibe, noting Linney’s status as an Emmy and Golden Globe winning actress herself. “I try to be as good as people say I am and…I know it’s weird, but I try to be good for her, you know? Because she’s, like, an amazing actress and I don’t want to mess up her scene.”

Sidibe needn’t worry. Turns out her character, ascerbic high school student Andrea, gives the show’s first episode one of its best scenes – pushing Linney’s exasperated high school teacher Cathy Jamison into delivering the most devastating put down any instructor ever laid on a wayward pupil. (Check it below, full episode further down)

Only the viewer knows the real reason why Linney’s character is so free with sharp opinions; Jamison’s been told by her doctor that she has an advanced skin cancer and less than two years left to live.

The Big C continues Showtime’s tradition of casting actresses of a certain age in bold dramedies featuring supremely dysfunctional families; from Mary-Louise Parker’s drug-dealing suburban mom in Weeds to Toni Collette’s multiple personality mom in The United States of Tara and Edie Falco’s pill-popping, unfaithful mom in Nurse Jackie.

But the biggest danger in such highwire acts is that the characters may seem so selfish, self-centered and grasping, that viewers don’t really care what happens to them. And that, in a short sentence, is what ails The Big C. See if you agree by watching the full episode below, and catch my full review on the ETC page in Sunday's Times.

ABC Action News investigating staff-created joke news video reporting employee as one of Tiger Woods mistresses

deggans — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 19:37:12 +0000

Management at Tampa ABC affiliate WFTS-Ch. 28 is still deciding how to handle staffers who created a joke news video which later hit the Internet, reporting that an employee had been revealed as one of golfer Tiger Woods’ many alleged mistresses.

The video, fronted by multimedia journalist Kerry Kavanaugh and featuring several other staffers, looked like a typical newscast report featuring graphics from the station and seemingly filmed at the Tampa studios of WFTS, also known as ABC Action News. But the content centered on satirical allegations that photographer Delisa Walden was connected to Woods, concluding with Kavanaugh wishing Walden a happy birthday.

WFTS general manager Rich Pegram said station officials discovered the video last week, after it surfaced on Facebook and YouTube. The station immediately requested the video be removed from the sites and one link to the YouTube video shows the content had been removed over a “terms of service violation.”

Pegram said Kavanaugh, Walden and the other staffers are still working at the station, pending further investigation by officials and a decision on how to discipline them. About seven to 10 people total were involved in making the video, said the general manager, who declined to reveal details on how it was filmed or distributed.

“Credibility is what we live off of — the average person who would see that on YouTube might not know it was fake,” said Pegram. “It was not authorized by any (official) at the station. And once it goes viral, it can go anywhere.”

Indeed, WFTS officials realized the video existed because it was linked on the local TV industry website Newsblues, which has also posted stories on joke videos created at other stations.

In July, four employees at KARK-TV in Little Rock, Ark. lost their jobs when two spoof videos filled with profanities surfaced on YouTube, showing reporter Pete Thompson complaining in explicit terms about his job and slapping an interview source in the face.

The KARK videos were pulled from YouTube, but Gawker.com kept up copies of the clips, which includes scenes filmed inside the TV station’s newsroom. Warning, the video have lots of profanity; click here to see.

In years past, TV stations kept “blooper reels” of mistakes and pranks pulled in the office, usually for display at Christmas parties or staff celebrations. But the rise of YouTube, Facebook and other websites have provided an easy way to distribute the material beyond staffers in the know.

Deborah Potter, a journalist and educator who once worked as a correspondent for CNN and CBS, said such incidents may be surfacing more now because production in TV newsrooms is simplified, allowing fewer people to collaborate on such spoof videos.

“It used to take a roomful of people to create a newscast, and now just a few people can do it,” she said. “I find it astonishing that people in a business that is so public and basically intrudes into people’s lives would not exercise better judgment. If you’re in the news business, you don’t produce fake news…and people in this business should recognize that anything you put on your Facebook page isn’t private.”

Pegram agreed. “The tone, tenor and context were all inappropriate,” he said of the video. “I can’t tell you what rationale was used to justify doing this.”

Why Dr. Laura's saying the n-word to a black caller wasn't necessarily her worst mistake

deggans — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 15:42:56 +0000

It sounds like an awful anecdote from a bygone age: Overheated radio bully slings the n-word at a black caller after accusing said caller of being too sensitive about racial jokes.

But a listen to Dr. Laura Schlessinger's awful recent diatribe on this issue shows that slinging the n-word more than six times in one segment may have been the least of her transgressions.

Her first mistake, particularly for someone hosting a call-in advice show, was not listening to the caller. As is her habit, Schlissenger barely allowed the person calling in to describe her problem before launching into her bizzare diatribe. It's an odd advice show indeed that doesn't allow those seeking advice any space to actually describe their problems (of course, if you're a black person turning to Dr. Laura for sage advice on race issues, maybe your biggest problem isn't getting shouted down by a talk radio lunatic).

Schlessinger also references a few Greatest Hits from the racism denial handbook: She describes playing basketball with her black bodyguard (because white guys can't jump, of course), and says using the n-word must be okay because black comedians and kids on the street do it. So can we expect to see conservative icon Dr. Laura in baggy pants and a doo rag soon?

Of course, the audio of the segment makes it clear that Schlessinger already had her mind made up, anyway. It was ironic to hear the radio host accuse her caller of having a chip on her shoulder; the biggest grudge here seemed to come from Schlessinger, who was convinced her caller was being hyper-sensitive before she'd even heard a full explanation of the woman's problems.

In the end, Schlessinger's vile use of the n-word - which she apologized for in a blog post later -- proved her caller's point more elquently than anything. Yes, there are a lot of people who have scrwed up attitude about race and don't know or admit it. And those attitudes only get worse when coupled with a disregard for others' perspectives -- which provides a perfect breeding ground for prejudice.

Check out Dr. Laura's amazingly awful segment below:

Tampa's Mary Delgado, winner on ABC's The Bachelor, arrested on drunk driving charge

deggans — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 20:30:51 +0000

Former Bachelor winner Mary Delgado was arrested at 12:45 a.m. this morning on a misdemeanor charge of driving under the influence, according to police records -- her third arrest.

Booked under the name Maribel Delgado, the 42-year-old was arrested at Kennedy Blvd. and Westshore Plaza and later released on $500 bond, according to the police report. The former Tampa Bay Buccaneers cheerleader listed as her employment working as an agent for the real estate company Century 21, the report said. She also refused a breathalyzer test, the report said.

First made famous during a 2003 stint as a contestant on ABC's unscripted dating show the Bachelor, Cuba native Delgado earned national headlines in 2004 when she returned to the show and earned a marriage proposal from professional bass fisherman Byron Velvick.

But the couple earned new headlines in 2007 when Delgado was arrested for domestic battery in Pinellas County after allegedly punching Velvick. Back then, the couple told Inside Edition the fight happened after watching an episode of The Bachelor at a friend's home and disagreeing on whether to leave.

A year later, Delgado was arrested in Del Rio, Texas, for public drunkenness, resisting arrest and disorderly conduct. According to reports published in 2008 by TMZ and the Associated Press, Delgado refused to leave a bar and then got belligerent when police moved in to arrest her, though she has disputed the police account.

Velvick reportedly told Us Weekly magazine last year that the two had split up.

Traffic reporter Alicia Roberts to leave WFLA-Ch. 8 as station begins 4:30 a.m. newscast

Eric Deggans — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 23:04:52 +0000

A new raft of changes are coming to the morning crew at Tampa NBC affiliate WFLA-Ch. 8, who will say goodbye to traffic reporter Alicia Roberts just days after starting a new, 4:30 a.m. newscast.

Roberts, who has worked at WFLA since 2006, said she will be leaving the station Sept. 30 to pursue new career opportunities. The station decided to scale back the traffic reporting position to a part-time job and she was reaching the end of a one-year deal, so the timing worked for all involved, Roberts added.

Her departure will come just after the planned Sept. 20 start of a new 4:30 a.m. newscast, featuring anchor Rod Carter and forecaster Leigh Spann. WFLA will push the Early Today show up to 4 a.m., dropping the syndicated program 1st Business.

The station also hopes to hire a second anchor to team with Carter from 4:30 a.m. to 7 a.m.; Roberts didn't know if she would appear on the new show in her final days at the station.

Rival WTVT-Ch. 13 began a 4:30 a.m. newscast in April 2009, echoing a trend around the country. Morning hours have become the most competitive newscasts in local television, as later working hours and expanding media habits have chipped away at the audience for evening broadcasts.

"Lifestyles are changing and it seems the audience may be moving to earlier hours," said WFLA news director Don North. "When advertisers are beating down our door for that audience, I want to be able to say we're there, and have been there a while."

WFLA, once one of the area's most stable stations, has seen a number of changes come to its morning show in recent years, from the departure of longtime anchor Bill Ratliff in June 2009 to the departure of Ratliff's longtime partner Gayle Guyardo (left) in February and the hiring of former WFLA reporter Carter as her successor. In May's sweeps ratings period, WTVT beat WFLA in morning hours among key viewers.

"Morning is a very habit-driven time period," said North, acknowledging that the loss of longtime anchors has hurt ratings a bit. "We had to go through that, and our ambition is to build our strength now."

North now has two jobs to fill, a secondary anchor slot in morning and Roberts' job as traffic anchor. Though she reported feature stories and occasionally filled in as an anchor for Guyardo, Roberts actually was an employee of Traffic.com, the same service which provides traffic reporters to rival WTSP-Ch. 10.

Seeking to expand her career beyond traffic, Roberts hopes to announce a new venture soon.

Daily Show's Larry Wilmore says America's race card is maxed out in a black presidency

Eric Deggans — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 17:56:55 +0000

I always love how comedy writer Larry Wilmore punctures the absurdity of Americans' fight over race as the Daily Show's "senior black correspondent." (the joke there when he started: he was the ONLY black correspondent. Before they hired Wyatt Cenac)

In this clip below, he riffs on how some black folks caught in wrongdoing try to bring up race persecution as a defense (I would, however, not agree that the Henry Louis Gates belongs in that category. But it sets up his joke about Obama refusing to defend Charlie Rangel so well, I know why Wilmore went there).

Doesn't meant there aren't plenty of race-related issues worth taking a look at in media and politics. But it does show how absurd some of these issues can get sometimes. Check it below:

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart

Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c

Race Card Is Maxed Out

www.thedailyshow.com

Daily Show Full Episodes

Political Humor

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Tampa Fox affiliate WTVT-Ch. 13 gets new general manager, as current GM heads to Atlanta

Eric Deggans — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 15:27:59 +0000

Tampa Fox station WTVT-Ch. 13 will see a changing of its executive guard later this month, as a new general manager takes the helm and its current top executive heads to Atlanta.

Bill Schneider will leave his job as general manager at WTVT and start work Aug. 23 in that capacity for WAGA-TV, the Fox-owned affiliate in Atlanta. Schneider worked there as head of sales years ago.

On the same day Schneider starts in Atlanta, WTVT's current ad sales chief Jeff Maloney rises up to replace him in Tampa -- completing one of the most seamless top executive transitions the local market has seen in quite a while.

Atlanta's a larger TV market so it certainly seems a promotion for Schneider, who faced everything from the untimely arrest of morning anchor Russell Rhodes to the transformation of WTVT into a graphics hub, performing graphics work for Fox-owned stations across the country from its Kennedy Blvd. studios.

I'll be talking with Maloney and Schneider later today to get a few more details on the transition. But until then, there's a few more details in the press releases provided by Fox.

Click below for details:

FOX TELEVISION STATIONS NAMES BILL SCHNEIDER VICE PRESIDENT AND GENERAL MANAGER OF WAGA FOX 5

NEW YORK – Bill Schneider has been named Vice President and General Manager of WAGA FOX 5 in Atlanta, announced Jack Abernethy, Chief Executive Officer, Fox Television Stations (FTS). Effective Monday, August, 23, 2010, and reporting directly to Abernethy, Schneider will be responsible for overseeing the station’s business and operations.

In making the announcement, Abernethy stated, “During his nearly thirteen years with the Fox Television Stations, Bill has proven time and again that he is an excellent leader who gets results. Bill has moved several times for FTS and we are happy that he can finally go home.”

Schneider previously spent five years with WAGA FOX 5 as Vice President and Director of Sales. Most recently, he spent two years at WTVT FOX 13 in Tampa, where he also held the position of Vice President and General Manager. Prior to this, he spent nearly six years as Vice President and General Manager of KDVR FOX 31, the then FTS owned-and-operated station in Denver. Before joining FTS, Schneider was with Turner Broadcasting, where he was Director of Corporate and Broadcast Sales for the Atlanta Hawks. Earlier in his career, he spent more than a decade in sales capacities for WTBS-TV and WZGC Radio in Atlanta.

Added Schneider, “I am honored for the opportunity to work alongside the talented team at WAGA FOX 5 and look forward to taking on this new role.”

A graduate of Mercer University in Atlanta, Schneider holds a degree in communications.

The Fox Television Stations is one of the nation's largest owned-and-operated network broadcast groups, comprising 27 stations in 18 markets and covering nearly 37.21 percent of U.S. television homes. This includes six duopolies in the top 10 markets: New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas, Washington, D.C. and Houston; as well as duopolies in Minneapolis, Phoenix and Orlando.

# # #

FOX TELEVISION STATIONS NAMES JEFF MALONEY VICE PRESIDENT AND GENERAL MANAGER OF WTVT FOX 13

NEW YORK – Jeff Maloney has been named Vice President and General Manager of WTVT FOX 13 in Tampa, announced Jack Abernethy, Chief Executive Officer, Fox Television Stations (FTS). Effective Monday, August 23, 2010, and reporting directly to Abernethy, Maloney will be responsible for overseeing the station’s business and operations.

In making the announcement, Abernethy stated, “Over the last fifteen years, Jeff has proven himself to be a valuable asset to the Fox Television Stations sales team. It is fortunate when succession planning allows for the best candidate to come from within. ”

Most recently, Maloney has served for seven years as the Vice President of Sales at WTVT FOX 13. Prior to this, he spent nearly ten years in sales positions of increasing responsibility for KSTU FOX 13, the then Fox-owned station in Salt Lake City, including National Sales Manager, Local Sales Manager and eventually, Vice President and General Sales Manager. Previously, he was with Katz Communications in Los Angeles for nearly four years. He began his television sales career as a Senior Broadcasting Negotiator for advertising agency, J Walter Thompson.

Added Maloney, “It has been a pleasure to work with the excellent team here at WTVT FOX 13 for the past seven years. I am excited for the opportunity to lead our station as we continue to do great things here in Tampa Bay.”

A graduate of Pepperdine University, Maloney holds a Bachelor of Arts in Speech Communication.