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Up close and objective: Sweeps ups and downs from Night 19 (Tues., Feb. 27)
D-FW TV's long, winding, marathon road through the February sweeps hits the finish line Wednesday night. But unclebarky.com is still hiking it, so take a look at 10 p.m.'s two queen bees of tease. You also can check in on the latest local ratings, courtesy of the freshly stocked Dallas-Fort Worth TV page. There's a new TV Bulletin Board, too. Woo-hoo.
Ed Bark
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Up close and objective: Sweeps ups and downs from Night 18 (Mon., Feb. 26)
Who's prettier -- NBC5's Brian Curtis or CBS11's Ginger Allen? OK, we're stretching things here, but after 18 nights worth of 10 p.m. newscast watching, unclebarky.com is entitled to a little flight of lunacy. Also check out the latest ratings to see if NBC's new The Black Donnellys made much of an impression locally. Your venue is the Dallas-Fort Worth TV page. Also, look to Network News & Reviews for a closer look at Tuesday night's poignant Bob Woodruff special on ABC. And the final national Nielsens are in for Sunday's Oscars. See how they compare with other telecasts on TV Bulletin Board.
Ed Bark
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Up close and objective: Sweeps ups and downs from Night 17 (Fri., Feb. 23)
Sorry for the delay in posting, but the Oscars made for a long night Sunday and unclebarky.com occasionally has to re-fuel with more than diesel. The Dallas-Fort Worth TV page is now fully and freshly restocked, though. How'd the Oscars do in D-FW? Why are the Belo8 anchors so revved up on the air? C'mon, get cheeky.
Ed Bark
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What a pair: the Oscars and The Black Donnellys
The Network News & Reviews page is filled to the rim with looks at Sunday's Oscar-cast and Monday's new The Black Donnellys from previous Oscar-winner Paul Haggis. There are lots of nice pictures, too. Have a look.
Ed Bark
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Thanks and no thanks: Winners, losers and host Ellen DeGeneres get ready for their closeups
The 59th annual Academy Awards will be closing out the last Sunday of the February sweeps. See unclebarky.com's cute mini-preview, complete with fun facts and handy reference links. The host page is Network News & Reviews.
Ed Bark
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Up close and objective: Sweeps ups and downs from Night 16 (Thurs., Feb. 22)
Just four more nights to go before unclebarky.com heads for the funny farm. Check out our latest detailed looks at D-FW's February sweeps-fueled 10 p.m. newscasts. And see which high-powered show was Thursday's biggest draw -- American Idol or Grey's Anatomy. The Dallas-Fort Worth TV page again is ready to rock.
Ed Bark
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Up close and objective: Sweeps ups and downs from Night 15 (Wed., Feb. 21)
It's getting closer at 10 p.m. as we head down the homestretch of the February sweeps ratings period. See why one station went after nail salons Wednesday night. Hint: lots more women watch local newscasts than men, particularly in the key 25-to-54-year-old demographic. Unclebarky.com turns loose with more pointed commentary, welcoming all sexes and pets to read it on the newly reloaded Dallas-Fort Worth TV page.
Ed Bark
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American Idol's UNT singer of note
Former University of North Texas College of Music student Brandon Rogers (1996-'99) didn't wow the judges during Tuesday night's performances by American Idol's 12 male finalists. Then again, neither did anyone else, really. Brandon seems like a nice guy with a velveteen voice, though. So here's his likable audition tape in hopes it'll be a good luck charm for him.
Ed Bark

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Up close and objective: Sweeps ups and downs from Night 14 (Tues., Feb. 20)
Which was funnier at 10 p.m. Tuesday -- Comedy Central's The Daily Show or NBC5's newscast? Unclebarky.com twits, you decide. Also, the hotly contested 10 p.m. ratings race tightens a bit. See for yourself on the Dallas-Fort Worth TV page.
Ed Bark
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Changing partners: Heather Mills segues from Sir Paul to Dancing with the Stars
Tongues already are wagging with the news that Heather Mills will be among the 11 contestants on ABC's fourth edition of Dancing with the Stars. Get all the details and see who else is vying for Emmitt Smith's crown on the Network News & Reviews page.
Ed Bark
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Up close and objective: Sweeps ups and downs from Night 13 (Mon., Feb. 19)
All four of the 10 p.m. local newscasts again were viewed in their entirety Monday. But the focus this time is on ratings frontrunners Belo8 and NBC5, who caught these eyes with four stories from two entirely different disciplines. Hope that doesn't sound too weighty. Also, see how a Belo8 tactical misjudgment prohibited the station from widening its still narrow 10 p.m. lead over NBC5. Your venue is the Dallas-Fort Worth TV page, where the beat goes on with seven weekdays remaining in the February sweeps wars. Pant-pant, there's a fresh batch of Ask Uncle Barky questions, too.
Ed Bark
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Up close and objective: Sweeps ups and downs from Night 12 (Fri., Feb. 16)
Sports anchor Dale Hansen throws a bone at Bark. And the NBA All-Star game nets nothing but impressive ratings. Get all these details and much, much more on the Dallas-Fort Worth TV page.
Ed Bark
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Right from the start: Fox News Channel skewers the left in new comedy news show
Conservatively speaking, here comes Fox News Channel's satirical 1/2 Hour News Show. Read all about it on Network News & Reviews. You also can check out this clip of the show's Barack Obama sendup:

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Up close and objective: Sweeps ups and downs from Night 11 (Thurs., Feb. 15)
A peanut butter scare brought D-FW to its knees Thursday. At least that's the impression received from two of that night's 10 p.m. newscasts. See who spread it the thickest and also catch up on the latest local ratings highlights. Your jelly's waiting on the Dallas-Fort Worth TV page.
Ed Bark
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Ending an era: Tracy Rowlett retiring next year
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Outgoing and incoming: CBS11's Tracy Rowlett and Doug Dunbar

By ED BARK
Confirming rampant rumors and previously private communications, CBS11 anchor Tracy Rowlett announced Friday that he'll be retiring from TV news when his contract expires in July 2008.

Rowlett also will reduce his workload, anchoring just the 5 and 6 p.m. newscasts after the February sweeps ratings period. His replacement at 10 p.m., beginning in March, will be current early morning anchor Doug Dunbar.

"Retirement for me will just be a reassignment," Rowlett said in a statement released by the station. "CBS11 has been very supportive of my family and me, and I will remain part of the Channel 11 family always."

In later comments to unclebarky.com, Rowlett said, "Frankly, it's all good. It's easier for me to step away than one might think. (His wife) Jill and I are looking forward to more time with Michael (their son) and our grandchildren. And there's the quality of life."

Rowlett left Belo8 after a quarter-century to join Channel 11 just after CBS bought the station in 1999. A partially enforced non-compete clause kept him off the air until February 2000, when he began anchoring the station's 10 p.m. newscasts with Karen Borta. CBS11 currently is running third in the late night news ratings.

Dunbar has worked the 5 to 7 a.m. shift for the past three years.

"Tracy is a news icon in North Texas," he said. "I am honored to have his wisdom and support to build upon his tradition of excellence."

Dunbar also will replace the departing Jody Dean as co-anchor of the 4 p.m. newscasts with Maria Arita. The station hasn't yet named Dunbar's early morning replacement.

CBS11 president and general manager Steve Mauldin said the station "would not be where it is today without the presence of Tracy Rowlett. He has made, and continues to make, significant contributions toward the success of our news operation."
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No longer just "The Ticket": Gordo flies solo with Belo
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Gordon Keith gets a big push; weatherman Pete Delkus plays along.

By ED BARK
At least Belo Corporation's trying to loosen its corset a bit.

Irrefutable proof is The Gordon Keith Show, which premiered Thursday night at 10 on Belo8's baby brother, KFWD-TV (Channel 52). It's undoubtedly the company's first presentation to use the words, "Keepin' yo' ass in stitches." Does imperial Belo boss of bosses Robert W. Decherd even know this program is on? If not, don't tell him.

Keith is best known as the knuckleballing comedy relief pitcher on "The Ticket's" (1310 AM) Dunham and Miller morning drive program. His humor can be an acquired taste, but many have acquired it. Now he's takin' it to TV after being duly crowned in a cover story by Belo-owned Quick, for which Keith writes a weekly column.

Keith's first half-hour show, from the gleaming new Victory Park studios, had the rough-hewn feel of a well-earned hangover. Or something like that.

It began with a comedy caper involving Belo8 station manager Mike Devlin. He ranted at Keith about the show's inflated budget before climbing over his desk to chase the underling out of his office. This scene likely has been replicated several times in real life, so Devlin carried it off reasonably well.

Keith wound up on the air anyway, and he liked his new surroundings.

"It's a testament to man's abililty to engineer and a corporation's ability to spend," he marveled after welcoming his literal "audience of two," a young man and woman.

They weren't much of an audience, leaving the host to throw out one-liners into a void. Keith could have used Belo8 anchor Gloria Campos, a good, boisterous laugher who simply could have pretended he was Dale Hansen.

Opening night's highlight was the "Delkus Cam," described on WFAA.com as a "seedy portal into the life of America's favorite weatherman." Caught in the act of being himself, Pete Delkus primped into a compact mirror, clipped his toenails and worked out with miniature barbells among other things.

"It's really sickening to see your heroes fall like this," Keith cracked. But let's give Delkus credit for having more ham in him than the Iowa State Fair.

Keith's featured taped bit took him to Farmer's Branch, lately known as being highly inhospitable to illegal immigrants. Here's where he got away with tons of stuff that could never be broadcast or printed within the confines of any other Belo property.

An elderly man who said he was Brazilian had a hard time convincing Keith he wasn't Hispanic. "Are the spines different?" he wondered.

A young woman who spoke broken English -- Keith's favorite language -- was jokingly threatened with deportation.

"Where are your papers?" he asked.

Keith later pressed an aging white woman for answers.

If all illegals are evicted, "Who will water our lawns? Who will pour our concrete?"

"I have no earthly idea," she blubbered. Generic Mariachi music played throughout.

Keith's very special guests, the Dallas band Radiant, were welcomed to the studio's "love seat of love." They recently played on ABC's Jimmy Kimmel Live and tried to play along with their host. But the segment never picked up speed and ultimately played dead. It was funny, however, to see Keith encounter a barechested, pot-bellied cameraman enroute to the love seat of love.

Viewers are being encouraged to send in their own videos for future airplay. Keith offered one for starters, a "munkybutter" short in which a Dad inadvertently knocked his kid's head off with a baseball bat.

Then came the big finish, Gordo's annual reading of Valentines sent to "the 30 women that I stalk." Sample sentiment: "Anyone can get a tattoo. But a branding iron really says you're mine."

Keith signed off by urging viewers to "remember my signature catchphrase -- goodnight."

His show wasn't all that good for starters, but these things can take time. Keith is a very inventive guy, which he'll tell you. But seriously, let's give him a chance to find his way and let's hope that Belo will let him find it.

His announced guest next week is Dallas police chief David Kunkle, also known as Mr. Sarah Dodd. Sprinkle in a few more "Delkus Cam" highlights and it could be quite a show.
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Up close and objective: Sweeps ups and downs from Night 10 (Wed., Feb. 14)
Belo8 gumshoe Byron Harris aimed a surgical strike at D magazine on Wednesday's 10 p.m. newscast. So who's really guilty of malpractice? Our OR is on the Dallas-Fort Worth TV page. where you'll also find the latest local ratings highlights.
Ed Bark
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Dead from Los Angeles, it's Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip
NBC has all but canceled Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip with its announcement that a new series, The Black Donnellys, will supplant it a week earlier than first announced.

Studio 60 is slated to return "later this season on a date to be determined," NBC says. But the show's high production costs and sinking ratings clearly have killed its chances for a second season.

Donnellys, which now will step in for Studio 60 on the last Monday of the February sweeps (Feb. 26), is co-created and produced by Paul Haggis, director of last year's Oscar-winning Crash. Its title characters are four working class Irish brothers caught up in New York's organized crime scene.
Ed Bark
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Up close and objective: Sweeps ups and downs from Night 9 (Tues., Feb. 13)
Pant-pant, we've finished another round of 10 p.m. news viewing. Only 11 more weeknights to go before checking into a rest home. Check out the new 10 p.m. ratings leader, and see whose reporting stood out -- like a sore thumb or otherwise. The Dallas-Fort Worth TV page appreciates your patronage.
Ed Bark
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Up close and objective: Sweeps ups and downs from Night 8 (Mon., Feb. 12)
It's all knotted up at 10 p.m. after eight nights of D-FW's February "sweeps" wars. See how they're running on the Dallas-Fort Worth TV page, where you also can read about some surprising prime-time preferences Monday night. Also, former NFL star Tiki Barber has a new TV home and North Texas-trained comedian Bill Engvall is getting his first sitcom. Your venue is the TV Bulletin Board. And we're breaking through that backlog of Ask Uncle Barky questions. Check out the new Q&A.
Ed Bark
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Anna Nicole's death: What's its shock value?
The sudden demise of Anna Nicole Smith prompts a top 10 ranking of shocking celebrity deaths, excluding political figures and athletes. Where does she rate? And man, compiling the top four turned out to be really tough. Your comments are welcome. The launch pad is Making a List.
Ed Bark
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CBS11/TXA21 have a new news director
ducas
Incoming news boss Regent Ducas

By ED BARK
CBS11 and sister station TXA21 have named Regent Ducas as their new vice president of news operations.

Ducas, scheduled to arrive in March, has been news director at CBS affiliate KCTV-TV in Kansas City for the past five years. He also oversaw the news operation at sister station KSMO-TV.

"We love Regent's energy and enthusiasm," CBS11 and TXA21 president and general manager Steve Mauldin said in a statement Monday. "But beyond that he is a smart, savvy newsman and an excellent communicator."

CBS11 has improved its ratings in recent years, but is still running third at 10 p.m. and a distant fourth at 6 a.m., the two key battle zones in the D-FW news wars.

"There has been a tremendous amount of work done here, so it's not as if we have to start over," Ducas said. "I understand the mission, and if I didn't think it was attainable, I wouldn't take it on."

CBS11 and TXA21 initially had hired Greg Easterly from Fox-owned WJW-TV in Cleveland. But Easterly belatedly backed out, citing personal reasons.
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Submitted for your approval
Somebody here really liked Sunday night's Grammys. Did you? Tune in the Network News & Reviews page for a lumpen TV critic's opinion. And check out Dallas-Fort Worth TV to see what local station is claiming exclusives that really aren't. Night 7 of the ongoing February sweeps is in the books and on our radar.
Ed Bark
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Up close and objective: Sweeps ups and downs from Night 6 (Thurs., Feb. 8)
The death of Anna Nicole Smith and the rise of Wade Phillips were big topics on Thursday's 10 p.m. D-FW newscasts. Contrast and compare on the Dallas-Fort Worth TV page, where you'll also find the latest "sweeps" ratings results. Hint: someone's creeping up on top dog NBC5 at 10 p.m. And this time it's not a purse-snatcher.
Ed Bark
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Two exits: CBS11 anchor Jody Dean and Belo8 reporter Bert Lozano are saying goodnight
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Leaving home screens: CBS11's Jody Dean and Belo8's Bert Lozano.

By ED BARK
Jody Dean is downsizing to one job. He'll keep his morning drive spot at KLUV radio (98.7 FM), but is leaving CBS11 after a decade as an anchor and former morning TV personality. His last scheduled day is March 2nd.

"My choice. No major intrigue here," Dean said in an email.

KLUV, where he replaced the legendary Ron Chapman in June, 2005, "opened my contract early and made it possible to have just one job for a change," Dean said. "I haven't been able to say that in more than a decade. I love CBS11 . . . but I'm also now 47."

Dean, who's been anchoring the 4 p.m. newscast on CBS11, is a born-again Christian who recently authored Finding God in the Evening News. Last year he was inducted into the Texas Radio Hall of Fame.

It's possible he'll return to CBS11 at some point, Dean said. "Meanwhile, I'm gonna play with my wife and daughter, and watch my sons become men."

Belo8 reporter Bert Lozano also has decided to put TV behind him. His last day at the ABC station will be Friday, Lozano said in an email.

He joined Belo8 in January 2004 after a five-year stint at KSAT-TV in San Antonio. Lozano said he already has a new job. He'll be joining the global Weber Shandwick public relations firm, which has a Dallas office.
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Up close and objective: Sweeps ups and downs from Night 5 (Wed., Feb. 7)
Belo8's 10 p.m. newscast took some strange turns Wednesday night. How strange? Check out our latest sweeps critique and also see how Lost fared in D-FW after its return from a three-month layoff. It's all served fresh and crispy on the Dallas-Fort Worth TV page.
Ed Bark
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He's David Caruso -- and you're not
OK, this is a genius compilation. Bet you can't watch just one, or two, or 20 of David Caruso's open-and-shut one-liners on CSI: Miami. His off-and-on shades share top billing. And it just keeps getting better and better.
Ed Bark

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Up close and objective: Sweeps ups and downs from Night 4 (Tues., Feb. 6)
Tracy jabs at Dale. American Idol hopeful Baylie Brown's slick Web site vanishes like the wind after the Krum kid gets her ticket to Hollywood Tuesday night. Somehow this is all intertwined in unclebarky.com's latest sweeps update. So you'd better get on over to the Dallas-Fort Worth TV page, where hell's a poppin'.
Ed Bark
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Long-lost Lost returns
ABC hopes absence will make hearts grow fonder for Lost, which returns Wednesday (Feb. 5) after three months in hiding. Find an interview on the Network News & Reviews page with actor Josh Holloway, who plays down-and-dirty James "Sawyer" Ford. We'll also spell out a few particulars about Wednesday's return engagement, but not enough to spoil anything.
Ed Bark
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She's goin' to Hollywood: Baylie Brown of Krum ain't exactly no hick
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American Idol hopeful Baylie Brown,16, already has a glossy Web site.

By ED BARK
Packaged as a down home baby Britney on Tuesday's American Idol auditions from San Antonio, 16-year-old Baylie Brown of Krum isn't quite a Southern-fried neophyte.

Her very polished Web site bills her as a "seasoned professional" whose CD, Big Trouble, is readily available for purchase. Not that appearances are ever quite what they seem on Idol. But the show's so-called "Texas Rose" clearly is more a slickly packaged commodity than a wide-eyed ranch kid/"city girl at heart."

She played the part well, though, and already has a leg up after singing Faith Hill's "Stronger" for the judges. Simon Cowell positively cooed, deducing that Baylie is "probably born to be a pop star . . . You are commercial with a Capital C."

Baylie then asked whether that's a good or a bad thing. The kid's a good actor, and likeable, too. She even said, "Hi, ya'll" in greeting the judges. But don't believe for a second that she's a full-blown rube from "little bitty" Krum, population 1,542. She's goin' to Hollywood with moxie to burn.

Her winning audition was greeted with a prototypical "Yee hah!" from the folks outside closed doors. Then Paula Abdul said, "I want my name to be Baylie."

Twenty-three-year-old Akron Watson of Dallas also made it to the next round, or so he thought. According to a Pegasus News story last week, Watson belatedly got disinvited after initially receiving one of Idol's coveted gold tickets.

A Fox representative confirmed the story, but said no reason would be given for why Watson suddenly was a no-go. Judges weren't overwhelmed by his initial song choice, Sam Cooke's "A Change is Gonna Come."

"There is just a massive personality/charisma problem here," Cowell said before Watson rebooted and performed Marvin Gaye's "Let's Get It On." That more or less won Cowell over, as Idol showed on Tuesday's show. So Watson leapt jubilantly into the arms of his likewise unemployed cousin, William Green, who minutes earlier had been used for comic relief.

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Dallasite William Green's sleepy time baritone didn't quite cut it.

Green performed "Amazing Grace" in a very slowly unfolding bass voice that had the added disadvantage of being off-key. It left judge Randy Jackson convulsed and Cowell repulsed. But the Brit broke up after Green then asked whether it now was time to prototypically trash the judges on his way out the audition room door. Go ahead, they said. So he did while the cameras rolled merrily along.

A total of 22 San Antonio auditioners, now minus Watson, were invited to Hollywood. They include Tuesday's final auditioner, 23-year-old Jimmy McNeal of Waxahachie, who performed another Cooke hit, "Cupid."

"You're like a little fun Ruben (Studdard), aren't you?" Cowell said approvingly.

Wednesday's final pre-Hollywood edition of Idol's sixth season will showcase the worst of the worst and best of the best, host Ryan Seacrest said before signing off.

Bet on seeing far more of the former. In the meantime, enjoy the Dallas cousins' decidedly different auditions:

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Up close and objective: Sweeps ups and downs from Night 3 (Mon., Feb. 5)
A mouse trap in a purse made for the biggest story in town on one D-FW station's 10 p.m. newscast. Did you take the bait? Also, see the latest local ratings, where CBS11 finally scored at 10 p.m., but not as big as it should have. Your venue is the Dallas-Fort Worth TV page, where unclebarky.com is tracking all 20 weeknights of the ongoing February sweeps.
Ed Bark
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Wedding bell coos and Super Bowl XLI's final nat'l stats
Uncle Barky gets in touch with his rugged feminine side by reviewing an In Style wedding special on Network News & Reviews. And see how Sunday's Super Bowl XLI fell just a bit shy of the all-time record set during one of the Dallas Cowboys' wins. It's all on TV Bulletin Board.
Ed Bark
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Up close and objective: Sweeps ups and downs from Night 2 (Fri., Feb. 2)
CBS11 deserves larger audiences for its quality 10 p.m. newscasts, but D-FW continues to buy NBC5's scare tactics. See what we mean and also find out how the Super Bowl played in the local Nielsens. Your venue is the Dallas-Fort Worth TV page.
Ed Bark
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Life is just a Bowl of X highlights
D. Letterman and O. Winfrey were in uniform for Sunday's big Super Bowl XLI. See our Top X impressions and also catch a review of the new CBS sitcom Rules of Engagement on the Network News & Reviews page. And since it's newly available, here's the 10-second Dave-Oprah love spot. Cracks me up.
Ed Bark

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Frozen asset
Release us, oh icy grip. Spare us your arctic blasts, wintery mixes and shivering TV correspondents on overhead passes. But you did give us one of D-FW's all-time cold weather comedies on the night of Nov. 24, 1992. That's when former Belo8 correspondent Valeri Williams reported from blustery, sub-freezing Hedley near Amarillo. Her lips were gloriously numb, to the considerable amusement of toastily warm anchors Chip Moody and Tracy Rowlett. So return with us now to that chilling day of yesteryear, courtesy of this full-blown clip:
Ed Bark
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Up close and objective: Sweeps ups and downs from Night 1 (Thurs., Feb. 1)
Deep throat? The mystery behind NBC5 weatherman David Finfrock's coughing fits led to plus-sized ratings for the station's Thursday 10 p.m. newscast. Ready or not, we'll be charting the highs and lows of all 20 weeknight competitions during the just-started February sweeps. For your first dose, and a companion ratings snapshot, check out the Dallas-Fort Worth TV page.
Ed Bark
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