Mar 2007
Just havin' fun or just plain sickening?
03/30/07 02:52 PM Ed Bark | Permalink
Bush administration uber advisor Karl
Rove "rapped" with comedians Brad Sherwood and Colin
Mochrie, and madcap NBC White House correspondent
David Gregory this week at the annual
Radio-Television Correspondents Association dinner in
Washington. It was a pretty depressing sight,
frankly. Not so much Rove, but Gregory, who also
slap-happily participates in cooking segments while
substitute hosting on Today.
In his Mr. Hardhitting Reporter role, Gregory occasionally has drawn criticism from the White House for his aggressive questioning at press conferences. Some think he's showboating, others have praised him for doing his job while colleagues shrink from it.
Why then, does Gregory regularly compromise himself? Aren't White House correspondents supposed to closely guard their public images? They're on serious missions, particularly in time of war. Wear a lampshade in private if you want. But be a full-tilt journalist in public when your beat is the American presidency.
Anyway, here's a video excerpt. Gregory's the grinning guy on the left, the one with the full head of silver hair.
Ed Bark
In his Mr. Hardhitting Reporter role, Gregory occasionally has drawn criticism from the White House for his aggressive questioning at press conferences. Some think he's showboating, others have praised him for doing his job while colleagues shrink from it.
Why then, does Gregory regularly compromise himself? Aren't White House correspondents supposed to closely guard their public images? They're on serious missions, particularly in time of war. Wear a lampshade in private if you want. But be a full-tilt journalist in public when your beat is the American presidency.
Anyway, here's a video excerpt. Gregory's the grinning guy on the left, the one with the full head of silver hair.
Ed Bark
|
Hair-brained scheme, and other TV hotspots
03/29/07 09:05 PM Ed Bark | Permalink
NBC's still the Peacock network, except when Fox's American Idol is. Write your own caption before clicking inside. The Network News & Reviews page has a review of Sunday's sumptuous Showtime series The Tudors, starring former Elvis impersonator Jonathan Rhys Myers as another king named Henry VIII. There's also a new Back Channels reprise, this one a 2003 pre-Iraqi war faceoff in Dallas between Bill O'Reilly and Chris Matthews. And find the latest local ratings highlights on Dallas-Fort Worth TV.
Ed Bark
Will the real Gordon Keith sign in, please?
03/29/07 12:22 AM Ed Bark | Permalink
Ch. 52's The Gordon Keith Show returns for another romp at 10 p.m. Thursday, with Uncle Barky doing a guest shot. Meet the conflicted host in a personal portrait on the Dallas-Fort Worth TV page. There's also a new dose of Ask Uncle Barky. And on Network News & Reviews, read about an actress/filmmaker's quest to wash away the stain of Woody Allen's rejection. There's also an American Idol update at the top of that page.
Ed Bark
Back in view
03/28/07 12:43 AM Ed Bark | Permalink
Unclebarky.com's hamster-powered
engine is humming again after a brief sojourn out of
town. See who's leaving a D-FW news team to be a
bigger fish in a much smaller pond. Check out the
latest local ratings highlights and read the Dallas
Police Department's common-sense plea for restraint
after the tragic Friday night shooting death of a
young officer. It's all on the Dallas-Fort Worth
TV page. Also, check out our two-pronged
Dancing with the Stars/American Idol update
before scrolling down to see how the latter show
again is fueling Fox's annual return from the
ratings dead. Your venue is Network News
& Reviews.
Ed Bark
Ed Bark
A brief time out
03/23/07 10:05 AM Ed Bark | Permalink
I'll be driving my daughter, Liz, to
Chicago Friday, where she hopes to get established in
theater after returning from a year in China. So
unclebarky.com will take a brief respite until its
one-person provider returns sometime on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, there's a review of Discovery Channel's
ambitious Planet Earth on the Network News
& Reviews page. You'll find Thursday's
D-FW ratings on Dallas-Fort Worth
TV. Also, scroll down to see the vintage 1979
promo of Fox4 anchor Clarice Tinsley. There's lots
and lots of material in the Archives and
elsewhere, too. And our search engines can find
just about anything for you. Remember to patronize
our advertisers, too. It all helps to keep
unclebarky.com reasonably healthy, though
certainly not wealthy.
Ed Bark
Ed Bark
Clarice Tinsley: Now and way back then
03/22/07 09:20 PM Ed Bark | Permalink
Goodbye, "Larry"
03/21/07 10:38 PM Ed Bark | Permalink
By ED BARK
Calvert DeForest, whose Larry "Bud" Melman regularly and often hilariously popped in on David Letterman's vintage late night shows, has died at the age of 85.
Letterman, whose CBS Late Show is out of production for the rest of this week, issued a fond, farewell statement Wednesday.
"Everyone always wondered if Calvert was an actor playing a character, but in reality he was just himself -- a genuine, modest and nice man," Letterman said. "To our staff and our viewers, he was a beloved and valued part of our show, and we will miss him."
Letterman tried to tape a show on Tuesday, but fell ill with the stomach flu and belatedly gave way to Adam Sandler, who already had been booked as a guest. Wednesday night's firstrun show was taped on Monday before DeForest's death. Late Show will be preempted Thursday and Friday for NCAA basketball tournament coverage.
Sandler's hosting abilities took a severe lashing in some quarters, with George Dunham of "The Ticket" (1310 AM) leading the charge in D-FW.
"I really suck at this, by the way," Sandler acknowledged at one point.
Still, he had the foresight to interview his bulldog, Matzoball, whose deadpan reactions saved the show to some degree. Here's a rather elongated highlight reel, with Sandler's nervous laughter all too evident in spots. Let's remember, though, that he took this desk job on less than a moment's notice. He'll likely never do it again.
Good to go: Prison Break gets a third season
03/21/07 09:36 AM Ed Bark | Permalink
By ED BARK
Fox's Prison Break will be back for a third season, the network announced Wednesday.
It's becoming clearer that the series also will be back in North Texas for most of the filming.
Executive producer Paul T. Scheuring tells tvguide.com, "We'll still be based out of Dallas, with the occasional satellite crew in Florida and Louisiana."
Prison Break publicist Chris Alexander later said in an email, "The production will continue to call Dallas its home. However, we will be doing some shooting over the season in Florida and Louisiana."
In January on the TV Critics Association's midseason "press tour," Fox entertainment president Peter Liguori told unclebarky.com that a third season of PB is "very unlikely to be in Dallas, but we might shoot some stuff in Dallas."
Fox later clarified Liguori's statement, with Dallas-based producer Garry Brown saying, "We don't have any immediate plans to go to a different area for most of Season 3."
The escapist drama, starring Wentworth Miller and Dominic Purcell, has performed well in the national Nielsen ratings, but relatively poorly with D-FW viewers despite originating entirely from North Texas in its second season.
Monday's episode had a 1.9 Nielsen rating with advertiser-craved 18-to-49-year-olds, finishing fourth from 7 to 8 p.m. in D-FW. Nationally, PB had a 3.4 rating in that audience demo, placing third.
PB's second season finale is on Monday, April 2.
Fox's Prison Break will be back for a third season, the network announced Wednesday.
It's becoming clearer that the series also will be back in North Texas for most of the filming.
Executive producer Paul T. Scheuring tells tvguide.com, "We'll still be based out of Dallas, with the occasional satellite crew in Florida and Louisiana."
Prison Break publicist Chris Alexander later said in an email, "The production will continue to call Dallas its home. However, we will be doing some shooting over the season in Florida and Louisiana."
In January on the TV Critics Association's midseason "press tour," Fox entertainment president Peter Liguori told unclebarky.com that a third season of PB is "very unlikely to be in Dallas, but we might shoot some stuff in Dallas."
Fox later clarified Liguori's statement, with Dallas-based producer Garry Brown saying, "We don't have any immediate plans to go to a different area for most of Season 3."
The escapist drama, starring Wentworth Miller and Dominic Purcell, has performed well in the national Nielsen ratings, but relatively poorly with D-FW viewers despite originating entirely from North Texas in its second season.
Monday's episode had a 1.9 Nielsen rating with advertiser-craved 18-to-49-year-olds, finishing fourth from 7 to 8 p.m. in D-FW. Nationally, PB had a 3.4 rating in that audience demo, placing third.
PB's second season finale is on Monday, April 2.
Start your day right with a nourishing unclebarky.com
breakfast or lunch
03/21/07 12:22 AM Ed Bark | Permalink
What local TV news anchor is likely to
be leaving soon? Check out the Dallas-Fort Worth
TV page. How did it go on American
Idol's's "British Invasion" show? Swim the
channel to Network News
& Reviews. There's a new TV Bulletin Board,
too. All for free.
Ed Bark
Ed Bark
Dancing with the Stars: 11 new celebrities, 21
legs and ABC's lovin' it
03/20/07 12:08 AM Ed Bark | Permalink
ABC's hottest show, Dancing with
the Stars, kicked off its fourth edition with a
two-hour opener Monday night. Who's gonna win? Who
really stinks? And how did Heather Mills fare? Check
out Network News
& Reviews, where you'll also find a review
of the new and very outrageous The Whitest Kids
U' Know on cable's fuse network.
Ed Bark
Ed Bark
Put on your high-heeled sneakers
03/19/07 05:59 PM Ed Bark | Permalink
New host Jerry Springer and casting
directors from NBC's America's Got Talent will
be in Dallas on Saturday, March 31 to see if you have
any.
The venue is the Hilton Dallas Lincoln Centre, 5410 LBJ Freeway, where auditions begin at 7 a.m. All ages and just about any talent are welcome, but prospective contestants under 18 must be accompanied by an adult or legal guardian and have parental permission. You'll also need a photo ID and must be a legal U.S. citizen, a legal permanent resident or have a current employment visa.
America's Got Talent, produced by American Idol judge Simon Cowell and FreemantleMedia North America, emerged as last summer's highest-rated new series. Its second season begins this summer, with Springer replacing previous host Regis Philbin. For more information, go here.
Ed Bark
The venue is the Hilton Dallas Lincoln Centre, 5410 LBJ Freeway, where auditions begin at 7 a.m. All ages and just about any talent are welcome, but prospective contestants under 18 must be accompanied by an adult or legal guardian and have parental permission. You'll also need a photo ID and must be a legal U.S. citizen, a legal permanent resident or have a current employment visa.
America's Got Talent, produced by American Idol judge Simon Cowell and FreemantleMedia North America, emerged as last summer's highest-rated new series. Its second season begins this summer, with Springer replacing previous host Regis Philbin. For more information, go here.
Ed Bark
A half-year old and still putting out.
03/19/07 12:29 AM Ed Bark | Permalink
Fledgling unclebarky.com hit the
six-month mark over the weekend. Thanks to all of the
readers who are keeping it growing.
I also want to thank Dawn Rizos, owner of The Lodge, for her continued support of the site. It's been said here before, but Dallas-Fort Worth is the country's sixth-largest TV market. And this is the only homegrown venue for independent local and national TV news coverage. No corporation is running this little show. Nor will there ever be a subscription fee, registration or urine sample required to log on.
You can help by telling a friend and/or thanking The Lodge in whatever way you choose. Also, please click through unclebarky.com if you're buying anything on amazon, itunes or the HBO, NBC, PBS or Apple stores. Small commissions come this way no matter what you buy. You don't have to purchase the products pictured. Additional advertisers also are welcome. Simply click on "Advertise on Uncle Barky" for details.
We also have a new page, Back Channels, that occasionally will reprise articles I've written over the past quarter-century or so. The first one dates to the dawning of The Simpsons. Hope you find it evocative.
There's also a new Making a List, with a Top 10 countdown of the prettiest and cutest newsies in D-FW television. Yes, that means both men and women. And to see who's leaving Fox4 for a bigger opportunity, check out the Dallas-Fort Worth TV page. Oh, and you might have missed Chris Rock's opening political commentary on the St. Patrick's Day edition of Saturday Night Live. It's back in play on Network News & Reviews.
Thanks again.
Ed Bark
I also want to thank Dawn Rizos, owner of The Lodge, for her continued support of the site. It's been said here before, but Dallas-Fort Worth is the country's sixth-largest TV market. And this is the only homegrown venue for independent local and national TV news coverage. No corporation is running this little show. Nor will there ever be a subscription fee, registration or urine sample required to log on.
You can help by telling a friend and/or thanking The Lodge in whatever way you choose. Also, please click through unclebarky.com if you're buying anything on amazon, itunes or the HBO, NBC, PBS or Apple stores. Small commissions come this way no matter what you buy. You don't have to purchase the products pictured. Additional advertisers also are welcome. Simply click on "Advertise on Uncle Barky" for details.
We also have a new page, Back Channels, that occasionally will reprise articles I've written over the past quarter-century or so. The first one dates to the dawning of The Simpsons. Hope you find it evocative.
There's also a new Making a List, with a Top 10 countdown of the prettiest and cutest newsies in D-FW television. Yes, that means both men and women. And to see who's leaving Fox4 for a bigger opportunity, check out the Dallas-Fort Worth TV page. Oh, and you might have missed Chris Rock's opening political commentary on the St. Patrick's Day edition of Saturday Night Live. It's back in play on Network News & Reviews.
Thanks again.
Ed Bark
See inside for more details
03/16/07 05:53 PM Ed Bark | Permalink
An extraordinary National Geographic
Channel special, Galapagos, premieres Sunday
night in high-definition. Read the inadequate words
on the Network News
& Reviews page. And on Dallas-Fort Worth
TV, see the D-FW ratings for Thursday's
opening round of the NCAA basketball tournament
and three network series premieres.
Ed Bark
Ed Bark
Made in Japan: Kiefer's Jack Bauer rescues a soft
drink
03/15/07 10:59 PM Ed Bark | Permalink
Today's insider
03/15/07 06:48 PM Ed Bark | Permalink
The jarring documentary film TV
Junkie has some strong Texas ties and a powerful
message for all. Get a clearer picture on the
Network News
& Reviews page. The latest D-FW ratings
highlights also are in. Did the Mavericks-Suns
game outpoint American Idol? Know the
scores on Dallas-Fort Worth
TV. And check out some odd American
Idol tidbits on TV Bulletin Board.
Ed Bark
Ed Bark
Take a peek inside
03/15/07 12:13 AM Ed Bark | Permalink
Two new TV detectives are joining
NBC's Thursday night lineup. But will you buy either
Andy Richter or Jeff Goldblum as offbeat
crimesolvers? Get the particulars on the Network News
& Reviews page. Also, Donald Trump and
Vince McMahon will be the mane attractions on an
April Fool's Day per-per-view event. See what the
stakes are on TV Bulletin Board.
And let the Dallas-Fort Worth
TV page clue you to some of the intriguing
viewing habits of D-FW's 12-to-17-year-olds.
Ed Bark
Ed Bark
American Idol: The double agony of defeat
03/14/07 11:26 PM Ed Bark | Permalink
By ED BARK
Life comes at you fast, never more so than when you're standing next to American Idol's biggest loser as one-half of the show's Bottom 2.
Brandon Rogers probably had that sinking feeling after a less than notable performance Tuesday night. Still, he only had Sanjaya Malakar to beat on the night after. And Sanjaya is to singing what Andy Dick is to tact.
No matter. Voters punched Brandon out, sending the former University of North Texas student on spring break as the first evictee from Idol's Final 12. He only had time to say, "I'm just glad to be here" before his goodbye song went down for the count, too. No sooner had Brandon grabbed the mike than Idol ran out of time. They really know how to hurt a guy.
Brandon's departure again underscored the perils of being the show's leadoff singer. After a while, viewers forget you were there unless you wow the judges with an opening round knockout punch. His performance of "You Can't Hurry Love" hardly did that. It didn't plumb the depths of Sanjaya's "Ain't No Mountain High Enough." But it was disappointing nonetheless, a standard-issue vocal soured by botched lyrics.
The week's worst Idol performance wasn't by any of the contestants, though. "Miss" Diana Ross saw to that with her Wednesday night rendition of "More Today Than Yesterday."
Turning 63 on March 26, the onetime Motown diva showed she no longer can turn back the clock. The song's high notes eluded her like a kitty cat being chased by a tortoise. A showy entrance in a bright red, low-cut ball gown could only take Lady Di so far. It's something Sanjaya might want to consider, though.
American Idol: Back in a grinding gay gear
03/13/07 09:13 PM Ed Bark | Permalink
By ED BARK
American Idol had a major flashpoint Tuesday night, and it wasn't another electrifying performance by Melinda Doolittle.
The crowd favorite innocently ignited the fuse, though, while answering a viewer question on what's the hardest part of the show for her.
The high heels and form-fitting dresses, she said, proclaiming herself a sneakers and sweatpants girl. Then host Ryan Seacrest set himself up for a vicious right hook by the show's designated heel and truth-teller, judge Simon Cowell.
"Simon, any advice on the high heels?" Seacrest asked.
"You should know, Ryan," he replied.
Pause, one-two for studio audience murmuring. Then Seacrest foolishly riposted, "Stay out of my closet."
"Come out," Cowell snapped back.
It wasn't pretty and the crowd seemed more than a little put off by the sudden gut-punching. Seacrest briefly gathered himself before telling Cowell that Idol was about the show's 12 finalists, not Cowell's "desires."
The two of them have sharply parried before, and it's not the first time that Cowell has twitted Seacrest's sexuality on a live Idol telecast. But this went well beyond previous exchanges and boundaries, taking the show down a road that's really nobody's business. It'll give Rosie O'Donnell something new to blab about on The View, though, unless grande dame Barbara Walters finally slams the door shut on her mouth.
The singing competition -- oh yeah, that -- again was dominated by the women. Doolittle, who can do little wrong in this view, is shaping up as perhaps the most appealing and talented performer in Idol history. Performing second, she grand-slammed "Home" from The Wiz, which isn't exactly one of guest mentor Diana Ross's most memorable hits.
"You made a very boring song fantastic," Cowell enthused after Paula Abdul wept.
Several finalists forgot some words, including opening act Brandon Rogers, the former University of North Texas hopeful. His vocal on "You Can't Hurry Love" otherwise was average at best, prompting Cowell to lash him for a lack of star quality or originality.
For some reason I'm still expecting big things from Rogers. And there were worse renditions Tuesday night, with in-over-his-head Sanjaya Malakar again stinkin' it up.
Ross is "gonna freak when she hears that," Cowell said of Malakar's "Ain't No Mountain High Enough." Judge Randy Jackson called it "almost unlistenable."
Still, I'll pick Phil Stacey to take the gas on Wednesday night's elimination show, even though Rogers, Malakar, Chris Richardson, Chris Sligh and Gina Glocksen all prompted harsher criticisms from the judges.
San Antonio's Haley Scarnato was her own worst critic, telling Seacrest, "I messed up my words (to "Missing You"). I feel like such a schmuck."
But Cowell of all people had some positive words to deposit, telling Scarnato, "You had real presence up there."
Maybe Idol's producers had a real talk with Cowell and Seacrest after the show. Their verbal bout Tuesday night just can't be all part of the act. And if it is, then double shame on them.
Anyone else got anything to say?
Weathering the "Strom"
03/13/07 06:06 PM Ed Bark | Permalink
Was working out at a close-to-home fitness center Tuesday when CBS11's 4 p.m. newscast alerted viewers to a big "Strom Watch."
Hmm, thought he had died back in 2003. But it said "Strom Watch" right there in big, bold print. Maybe CBS11 had decided to subliminally promote its network's Ghost Whisperer series?
Then again, it was getting very overcast outside and soon the rains came. Duh, so that's what they were trying to say! Whew, beats a Strom Watch.
On a related front, CBS11 is presenting a special "Weather School Day" on Monday morning, May 14 at Ameriquest Field in Arlington, where the Texas Rangers will play that day at 1:05 p.m.
Area school children with game tickets will be admitted free to the event, which begins at 10:15 a.m. with the arrival of the station's Storm Team in the official CBS11 Storm Chaser Vehicle. Team members scheduled to take the field are Kristine Kahanek, Mike Burger, Julie Bologna, Jeff Jamison and Garry Seith.
Hey kids, you can get game tickets at half-price by calling 817-273-5100, ext. 3. Or email here.
Ed Bark
Mavericks rule the D-FW ratings despite schooling by
Golden State
03/13/07 03:45 PM Ed Bark | Permalink
Don Nelson's Golden State Warriors put
a big hurt on the Dallas Mavericks late Monday night,
ending the team's 17-game winning streak. But you'd
never know it from the ratings, which will jump out
at you on the Dallas-Fort Worth
TV page. Also, check out a review of Comedy
Central's new and very funny Halfway Home
series on Network News
& Reviews. And TV Bulletin Board is
freshly loaded with lots of items.
Ed Bark
Ed Bark
Love, American style
03/12/07 04:40 PM Ed Bark | Permalink
The synergistic D-FW partnership
between Pegasus News and Fox4 is over almost before
it started. A corporate level cheese from afar
squelched it, according to a very detailed account from Pegasus main man Mike
Orren.
Unclebarky.com, whose weekday local ratings reports are posted gratis on Pegasus, knows the pain of corporate interruptus. That's why this site remains a renegade lone wolf for the most part. Or a mad cur dog if you prefer. Had enough of that Belo poker game. In the end, one corporate naysayer held all the cards. And it didn't and still doesn't matter whether or not he's playing with a full deck.
Making business deals with "Big Media" can be hazardous to one's independence, let alone their coping mechanisms and overall mental well-being. Orren says he's learned that painful lesson anew, and won't be fooled again.
That said, I also should say this. Fox Broadcasting was one of the "early adaptors" to unclebarky.com, and has sent press materials and review DVDs from Day One. In fact, all of the major broadcast and cable networks have been most cooperative in feeding this growing little enterprise, which turns six months old on St. Patrick's Day.
In return they don't expect favorable treatment or reviews. They just want a fair shake. That's an old-school term, but it still applies. Just be wary of those handshake deals. The best-laid plans and partnerships can be waylaid in a finger snap when somebody way up there doesn't like you, know you or "get it." Got it?
Ed Bark
Unclebarky.com, whose weekday local ratings reports are posted gratis on Pegasus, knows the pain of corporate interruptus. That's why this site remains a renegade lone wolf for the most part. Or a mad cur dog if you prefer. Had enough of that Belo poker game. In the end, one corporate naysayer held all the cards. And it didn't and still doesn't matter whether or not he's playing with a full deck.
Making business deals with "Big Media" can be hazardous to one's independence, let alone their coping mechanisms and overall mental well-being. Orren says he's learned that painful lesson anew, and won't be fooled again.
That said, I also should say this. Fox Broadcasting was one of the "early adaptors" to unclebarky.com, and has sent press materials and review DVDs from Day One. In fact, all of the major broadcast and cable networks have been most cooperative in feeding this growing little enterprise, which turns six months old on St. Patrick's Day.
In return they don't expect favorable treatment or reviews. They just want a fair shake. That's an old-school term, but it still applies. Just be wary of those handshake deals. The best-laid plans and partnerships can be waylaid in a finger snap when somebody way up there doesn't like you, know you or "get it." Got it?
Ed Bark
Leading off: The Riches
03/12/07 08:32 AM Ed Bark | Permalink
This is a big week for network series
premieres. Unclebarky.com will look at them all,
beginning with FX's new Monday night entry, The
Riches. Do Eddie Izzard and Minnie Driver cut it
as con artists who luck into a high-priced spread?
See the Network News
& Reviews page for a detailed report.
Ed Bark
Ed Bark
Presenting your next American Idol winner . .
.
03/09/07 12:11 AM Ed Bark | Permalink
American Idol finally got down
to basics Thursday night with the selection of the
show's 12 finalists. Who's going to win? Who might
come close? See unclebarky.com's predictions and then
add your comments on the Network News
& Reviews page.
Ed Bark
Ed Bark
Going Hollywood (maybe) by way of Dallas (definitely)
03/08/07 01:23 PM Ed Bark | Permalink
Hoping to make their first big score, CBS11 reporter Jay Gormley and his filmmaking partner, John Venable, are in the closing stages of shooting Karma Police in Dallas. Go behind the scenes on the Dallas-Fort Worth TV page. Wednesday's D-FW ratings highlights are also in the house.
Ed Bark
Caveman mentality
03/07/07 01:52 PM Ed Bark | Permalink
Hungry for a comedy hit, ABC has ordered a pilot for a potential series drawn from the Geico auto insurance caveman commercials. It got Uncle Barky to thinking. What other advertising icons could've been contenders? This latest Making a List compendium turned out to be so simple a caveman could do it. Also, Rosie O'Donnell and American Idol are trading punches. See our scorecard on Network News & Reviews.
Ed Bark
Dig in, there's plenty
03/06/07 06:20 PM Ed Bark | Permalink
A new locally produced entertainment
show hosted by a former American Idol
contestant gets a thumbs up from unclebarky.com on
the Dallas-Fort Worth
TV page, where you also can scope out the
latest local ratings. And Ask Uncle Barky is
freshly loaded with lots of your questions.
Ed Bark
Ed Bark
Scott Gordon's greatest hits, volume 2: NBC5 reporter
has another national scoop
03/05/07 10:43 AM Ed Bark | Permalink
By ED BARK
NBC5's Scott Gordon has been on quite a tear lately. On Valentine's Day, the veteran night ranger led the Peacock's 10 p.m. newscast with a live dispatch on the peanut butter recall by Peter Pan and Great Value. NBC's Today show ran with it the next morning, using footage from Gordon's report. It became a big national story.
Now Gordon's got another biggie -- video confiscated by Watauga police of two-and-five-year-old pot smokers being taught to inhale by their laughing 17-year-old uncle and an 18-year-old friend. NBC5 anchor Jane McGarry called it "sickening" at the top of Friday's 10 p.m. newscast. Today then featured it prominently on Monday's program.
When Gordon asked the since-jailed uncle how he could do such a thing, "he responded with expletives we can't put on TV," Gordon told viewers. He had video of that, too -- expletives deleted.
Via email Monday, Gordon explained how he nailed down another nationwide tongue-wagger.
"I had dealt with the Watauga police chief on previous stories," he said. "And when he told me about the video, I couldn't believe it. When I went to his office to look at it, my mouth dropped. It was one of those videos that is so shocking, I knew right away it would become a national story.
"We first heard about it on Thursday, but the chief wanted to blur the kids' faces before giving the video to us, so it had to wait until Friday. We happened to be at the police station when they brought in the suspect (who cursed him)
"Today I hear from Child Protective Services that the kids are doing well in foster care and that doctors don't expect t hem to have any long-term health damage. Still, it can't be good for kids that age to smoke a cigarette, let alone a marijuana cigar."
In an email exchange last month, Gordon detailed how NBC5 broke the salmonella-laced peanut butter story.
"Through our reporting, we learned directly from ConAgra (makers of the two brands) shortly before news time that they had decided to issue a massive recall," Gordon said. "We reported it well before it hit the wires or, so far as we know, any other news outlet . . .Everyone else in the country followed up on it. In my opinion, this was a valid 'Health Alert,' an important story that directly affected many thousands of our viewers, and could have prevented people from getting very sick. "
Everyone else in the country is following up on this latest Gordon scoop, too. Unclebarky.com has been relentlessly critical of NBC5's flash-and-trash approach to TV news. But in this case, Gordon again has the goods. He must be doing something right. Here's the video of his story:
Friday night lights out: Tracy Rowlett leaves the 10
p.m. scene
03/04/07 09:20 PM Ed Bark | Permalink
Tracy Rowlett, dean of D-FW anchors, ended 32.5 years as a 10 p.m. mainstay Friday. Unclebarky.com revisits the night in words and pictures on the Dallas-Fort Worth TV page. Hope to see you there.
Ed Bark
Got more of what you're looking for
03/02/07 06:39 PM Ed Bark | Permalink
Two new prime-time series, Fox's
The Winner and BBC America's Robin
Hood, premiere this weekend. Check out our takes
on the Network News
& Reviews page. Also, TXA21 is launching a
new homegrown entertainment series hosted by a
former American Idol semi-finalist. See who
it is and get the latest local ratings on the
Dallas-Fort Worth
TV page. There's a new TV Bulletin Board,
too, with specifics on a Dallas casting call for
an upcoming mother-daughter reality series on the
CW network.
Ed Bark
Ed Bark
Sams in the running for vacant CBS11 morning anchor
spot
03/01/07 01:02 PM Ed Bark | Permalink
By ED BARK
Hoping to jump-start its early morning news program, CBS11 had an audition scheduled Thursday with former Belo8 anchor Scott Sams.
No one at CBS11 would talk on the record, but sources say the station is seriously considering Sams as a replacement for Doug Dunbar, who will begin anchoring the 10 p.m. newscasts on Monday. Later Thursday, a CBS11 spokesperson confirmed that Sams is "one of the candidates" for the morning vacancy.
Sams currently is anchoring at Denison,TX-based KTEN-TV, an NBC affiliate. He joined the station last spring.
There's still bad blood between Sams and Belo8, where he worked for almost 20 years before the station decided to go "in a different direction" in September, 2004. At the time Sams had been anchoring the ABC station's morning show. He later filed a discrimination suit against Belo8, claiming he had been dropped due to his age, religion, gender and race. An arbitrator awarded Sams a partial judgment in January, with both sides claiming victory.
Sams fed the gossip mills during his last days at Belo8 by reportedly calling traffic reporter Alexa Conomos a "Greek bitch" off-camera He otherwise is a self-proclaimed devout Christian who before joining KTEN expressed interest in hosting a Christian radio talk show.
CBS11 badly needs a boost in the early mornings after finishing a distant last in the February sweeps in both total homes and with 25-to-54-year-olds, the key advertiser target for news programming.
Peacock dethroned: Belo8 wrests crown at 10 p.m. and
also gives competition a morning jolt
03/01/07 11:50 AM Ed Bark | Permalink
The four-week February sweeps are
over, and Belo8 may be springing for an ice cream
social. See whose numbers are up and down on the
Dallas-Fort Worth
TV page. Wednesday night's ratings highlights
also are in the house. And for one last time, the
10 p.m. newscasts get a going-over in our daily
sweeps "ups and downs."
Ed Bark
Ed Bark