Apr 2014
On the clock: 24 returns with just half as much time to re-save the world
04/30/14 11:10 AM
This wasn’t supposed to happen. But after plans for a feature film kept fizzling and Kiefer Sutherland’s followup Fox series failed, 24: Live Another Day launches on Monday, May 5th. Our review is here.
Plus, Tuesday’s D-FW Nielsen ratings “snapshot” includes a mini-seminar on the continued value of lead-in programming.
Ed Bark
Plus, Tuesday’s D-FW Nielsen ratings “snapshot” includes a mini-seminar on the continued value of lead-in programming.
Ed Bark
Mavs rule D-FW ratings in defeat
04/29/14 01:02 PM
Monday’s down-to-the-wire Game 4 of the Dallas Mavericks-San Antonio Spurs playoff series easily dominated the D-FW Nielsen ratings. We have the complete breakdown, with numbers for the TXA21 and TNT presentations, on the Dallas-Fort Worth TV page.
Ed Bark
Ed Bark
All shook up: TV's late night terrain keeps changing with Craig Ferguson's decision to call it quits
04/29/14 11:49 AM
Craig Ferguson announced Monday that he’ll be leaving his CBS’ Late Late Show after a 10-year stint. Details and a further look at the tumultuous late night picture are on our Network News & Reviews page.
Ed Bark
Ed Bark
John Oliver gets off to very funny but frenetic start in HBO's Last Week Tonight
04/28/14 04:57 PM
HBO smartly gobbled up John Oliver shortly after he drew raves for last summer’s stint as Jon Stewart’s substitute host on The Daily Show. His new Last Week Tonight with John Oliver premiered Sunday, and our review is here.
Ed Bark
Ed Bark
Ten takeaways from Mad Men's latest episode
04/28/14 03:25 PM
Episode 3 of Mad Men’s two-tiered final season is now viewing history for many. Our weekly 10 takeaways are on the Network News & Reviews page.
Ed Bark
Ed Bark
Complete D-FW sports ratings for big up/down weekend starring Mavs, Stars, Rangers
04/28/14 12:19 PM
The Dallas Mavericks’ instant classic buzzer-beating win over the Spurs Saturday contrasted with the Dallas Stars’ late-game meltdown on home ice versus the Ducks Sunday.
The first-place Texas Rangers played three weekend games while the Stars also faced the Ducks in Friday’s Game 5 of the Stanley Cup series. We’ve got the ratings highs and lows -- for all six games -- on our Dallas-Fort Worth TV page. Have a look.
Ed Bark
The first-place Texas Rangers played three weekend games while the Stars also faced the Ducks in Friday’s Game 5 of the Stanley Cup series. We’ve got the ratings highs and lows -- for all six games -- on our Dallas-Fort Worth TV page. Have a look.
Ed Bark
D-FW's ratings ups and downs for Day One of the May "sweeps"
04/25/14 11:53 AM
Two new prime-time series hoped to attract attention Thursday while D-FW’s local TV newscasts began playing for keeps again on Day One of the May ratings “sweeps.” Check out the numbers on our Dallas-Fort Worth TV page.
Ed Bark
Ed Bark
An evocative tribute: HBO's All About Ann
04/24/14 04:37 PM
The HBO documentary film, All About Ann: Governor Richards of the Lone Star State, comes calling on Monday, April 28th. Fans will be very pleased. As for detractors, well, it absolutely wasn’t made for them. Our review is here.
Ed Bark
Ed Bark
Mavs square off against Stars (ratings-wise) on momentous D-FW sports night
04/24/14 10:52 AM
D-FW sports fans hit the motherlode Wednesday night with key post-season games involving both the Dallas Mavericks and Dallas Stars. Both match-ups started at 7:10 p.m. -- and we have all the local ratings details on our Dallas-Fort Worth TV page.
Ed Bark
Ed Bark
CBS' version of Bad Teacher is more than a class clone
04/23/14 05:01 PM
The 2011 Cameron Diaz movie arrives in sitcom form Thursday with CBS’ Bad Teacher. Our review is here.
Ed Bark
Ed Bark
ABC's Black Box: a medical drama off its meds
04/23/14 01:16 PM
Scandal’s latest season is over, and ABC’s replacement part is the out-of-body medical series Black Box. Our review is here.
Also, Tuesday’s D-FW Nielsen ratings “snapshot” is posted.
Ed Bark
Also, Tuesday’s D-FW Nielsen ratings “snapshot” is posted.
Ed Bark
Stars put biscuit in basket among advertiser-prized viewers
04/22/14 01:23 PM
The Dallas Stars broke through Monday night with the team’s first win against Anaheim in Game 3 of their Stanley Cup playoff series. The overall audience still fell below 100,000 D-FW viewers. But the pucksters muscled up where it counted, outdrawing both the Texas Rangers and an Oklahoma Thunder-Memphis Grizzlies overtime thriller among advertiser-coveted 18-to-49-year-olds. Get the numbers you won’t find elsewhere on our Dallas-Fort Worth TV page.
Ed Bark
Ed Bark
Growing ranks of women meteorologists: Fox4 adds Ali Turiano
04/22/14 12:16 PM
Fox4 has filled its weekend meteorologist vacancy by hiring Ali Turiano from an Orlando, FL station. In recent years, women weathercasters have been in ascendance at three of D-FW’s four major TV news providers. Details are on our Dallas-Fort Worth TV page.
Ed Bark
Ed Bark
Our weekly 10 takeaways from Mad Men's latest episode
04/21/14 02:31 PM
Mad Men offered another eventful hour Sunday night, with Kiernan Shipka’s Sally Draper making a bravura return while racial politics foamed over at Sterling, Cooper & Partners. Our 10 takeaways are on the Network News & Reviews page.
Also, see how the Dallas Mavericks fared in Easter Sunday’s D-FW Nielsens. Viewers could choose from the home call on TXA21 or TNT’s less subjective presentation.
Ed Bark
Also, see how the Dallas Mavericks fared in Easter Sunday’s D-FW Nielsens. Viewers could choose from the home call on TXA21 or TNT’s less subjective presentation.
Ed Bark
C'mon, get sappy with Hallmark Channel's Signed, Sealed, Delivered
04/18/14 01:56 PM
Hallmark Channel makes no apologies for being gooey. Its latest new series, Signed, Sealed, Delivered, is from producer Martha Williamson, who’s pretty much wandered in the TV wilderness since her Touched By An Angel left CBS in April, 2003. Our review of Signed, Sealed, which premieres on Easter Sunday, is right here.
Also, Thursday’s D-FW Nielsen ratings “snapshot” highlights the big numbers for ABC’s season finale of Scandal.
Ed Bark
Also, Thursday’s D-FW Nielsen ratings “snapshot” highlights the big numbers for ABC’s season finale of Scandal.
Ed Bark
WGN America gets bewitched with its first original scripted series, Salem
04/17/14 03:51 PM
WGN America, primarily known as the longtime home of the downtrodden Chicago Cubs, hopes to diversify with Salem. It’s the network’s first original scripted drama, and our review is here.
Ed Bark
Ed Bark
Orphan Black back
04/17/14 01:04 PM
Season 2 of BBC America’s Orphan Black launches on Saturday, April 19th. And Tatiana Maslany’s multi-character performances remain brilliant amid the sometimes preposterous goings-on. Our review is here.
Also, Wednesday’s D-FW Nielsen ratings “snapshot” highlights the Dallas Mavericks’ bullish numbers down the stretch of a tough overtime loss at Memphis.
Ed Bark
Also, Wednesday’s D-FW Nielsen ratings “snapshot” highlights the Dallas Mavericks’ bullish numbers down the stretch of a tough overtime loss at Memphis.
Ed Bark
Gettysburg here and now: The Address is PBS
04/15/14 11:24 AM
Far, far less than four score and seven years ago, your friendly content provider wrote a review of Ken Burns’ The Address. It premieres Tuesday, April 15th (on KERA13 in Dallas). And the review is here.
Plus, Monday’s D-FW Nielsen ratings “snapshot” includes numbers for TNT’s midseason finale of Dallas.
Also, a look at WFAA8’s new, heavily inclusive “We Share” image campaign, including some commentary from your cuddly provider.
Ed Bark
Plus, Monday’s D-FW Nielsen ratings “snapshot” includes numbers for TNT’s midseason finale of Dallas.
Also, a look at WFAA8’s new, heavily inclusive “We Share” image campaign, including some commentary from your cuddly provider.
Ed Bark
Ten takeaways from Mad Men's Episode 1 of Season 7
04/14/14 01:51 PM
AMC’s Mad Men has returned to the Sunday night TV conversation. Rather than voluminous recaps, unclebarky.com is launching a weekly series of 10 talking points. The first batch is on our Network News & Reviews page.
Also, the weekend D-FW Nielsen ratings spotlight Sunday’s Justin Spieth-sparked final round of The Masters.
Ed Bark
Also, the weekend D-FW Nielsen ratings spotlight Sunday’s Justin Spieth-sparked final round of The Masters.
Ed Bark
FX's Fargo is up to challenge of 1996 original
04/11/14 12:37 PM
Billy Bob Thornton chose wisely in making his TV series debut in FX’s Fargo. But his isn’t the only bravura performance. Our review is here.
Ed Bark
Ed Bark
That wacky HLN
04/10/14 04:29 PM
A newly rebranded HLN (formerly Headline News) took further steps Thursday toward being “the first TV home for the social media generation.” But yikes, the network’s new slate of programming sounds like a 24-hour parody. Details are on our Network News & Reviews page, along with some new CNN programming announcements.
Plus, Wednesday’s D-FW Nielsen ratings are in.
Ed Bark
Plus, Wednesday’s D-FW Nielsen ratings are in.
Ed Bark
Colbert's the one: he'll replace Letterman as Late Show host
04/10/14 01:42 PM
CBS acted fast in naming Stephen Colbert to replace David Letterman after he retires on a yet to be announced date next year. The host of Comedy Central’s The Colbert Report had been widely rumored as the front-runner to become CBS’ second host of Late Show. Details are on our Network News & Reviews page.
Ed Bark
Ed Bark
Mad Men's final season arrives -- in two limited doses
04/10/14 12:23 PM
Mad Men, the bravura drama series that put AMC on the map, returns on Sunday, April 13th. A limited dose of seven episodes will be doled out before the series returns at roughly this time next year with its final seven. Our spoiler-free but not entirely generic review is right here.
Ed Bark
Ed Bark
Fox4 adds reporter Zahid Arab
04/09/14 10:50 AM
D-FW’s latest incoming TV reporter is Zahid Arab, hired Wednesday by Fox4 from KING-TV in Seattle. More details are on the Dallas-Fort Worth TV page.
Plus, Tuesday’s D-FW Nielsen ratings “snapshot” shows some eye-popping numbers for the first hour of CW33’s early morning Eye Opener.
Ed Bark
Plus, Tuesday’s D-FW Nielsen ratings “snapshot” shows some eye-popping numbers for the first hour of CW33’s early morning Eye Opener.
Ed Bark
NCAA hoops finally hit ratings promised land in D-FW
04/08/14 10:57 AM
Monday’s NCAA championship basketball game from Jerry’s Palace finally lit up the local ratings scoreboard after a month’s worth of indifference in these parts to the college game’s showcase tournament. All the numbers are on our Dallas-Fort Worth TV page.
Ed Bark
Ed Bark
Big twang theory: ACMs on CBS outdraw Final Four on TBS
04/07/14 11:33 AM
Sunday night’s Academy of Country Music awards telecast easily had more D-FW viewers than either of the NCAA’s Final Four games Saturday from Jerry’s Palace. But Jerry Jones can still thinly grin, because the ACMs will originate from his temple next year.
We have the complete weekend Nielsen ratings wrap-up on the Dallas-Fort Worth TV page.
Ed Bark
We have the complete weekend Nielsen ratings wrap-up on the Dallas-Fort Worth TV page.
Ed Bark
Hear ye, hear ye: Game of Thrones returns to HBO
04/04/14 11:36 AM
HBO’s 10-episode Season 4 of Game of Thrones launches on Sunday, April 6th. Be prepared for some major developments. That is all. Our “spoiler”-free review is here.
Also, Thursday’s D-FW ratings “snapshot” highlights the numbers for the night’s preemptive weather coverage.
Ed Bark
Also, Thursday’s D-FW ratings “snapshot” highlights the numbers for the night’s preemptive weather coverage.
Ed Bark
Mike Judge's Silicon Valley a comedy killer app for HBO
04/03/14 06:40 PM
Mike Judge seldom goes wrong when deciding to act upon something he thinks is funny. The creator of Beavis & Butt-head, King of the Hill and Office Space makes another strong move with HBO’s Silicon Valley, which premieres on Sunday, April 5th. Our review is here.
Ed Bark
Ed Bark
Letterman leaving -- on a retirement date yet to be announced
04/03/14 06:36 PM
David Letterman surprised his audience and pretty much everyone else for that matter by announcing during a taping of Thursday’s show that he’ll be retiring sometime in 2015. Details and our commentary are on the Network News & Reviews page.
Ed Bark
Ed Bark
AMC's Turn spies on the Revolutionary War
04/03/14 12:26 PM
After its latest season finale of The Walking Dead, AMC hopes to keep at least a decent-sized chunk of that show’s viewers with the new Revolutionary War drama Turn. Not gonna happen. Our review is here.
Also, Wednesday’s D-FW Nielsen ratings are in.
Ed Bark
Also, Wednesday’s D-FW Nielsen ratings are in.
Ed Bark
Another paucity of Peabody Awards for the Big Four broadcast networks.
04/02/14 11:32 AM
The Peabody Awards were announced Wednesday morning, with a record total of 46 handed out this year. ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC collected a combined three while PBS flexed with 12.
Our look at this year’s winning field is on the Network News & Reviews page.
Plus, Tuesday’s D-FW Nielsen ratings “snapshot” highlights the numbers for down-to-the-wire Rangers and Mavericks games plus SMU’s comeback win to make basketball’s NIT final.
Also, take a look at Conan O’Brien in training as a Mary Kay Cosmetics beauty consultant. It aired during the first portion of Tuesday night’s Conan from Dallas. And it’s a riot.
Ed Bark
Our look at this year’s winning field is on the Network News & Reviews page.
Plus, Tuesday’s D-FW Nielsen ratings “snapshot” highlights the numbers for down-to-the-wire Rangers and Mavericks games plus SMU’s comeback win to make basketball’s NIT final.
Also, take a look at Conan O’Brien in training as a Mary Kay Cosmetics beauty consultant. It aired during the first portion of Tuesday night’s Conan from Dallas. And it’s a riot.
Ed Bark
Conan does Dallas: on site for opening night (plus how it did in the D-FW Nielsen ratings)
04/01/14 01:54 PM
By ED BARK
Can Fox regurgitate the Osbournes and get away with it?
They're gonna try -- and soon. The premiere of Osbournes Reloaded, billed as a one-hour trip on the "Crazy Train," is set for Tuesday, March 31st following that night's American Idol performance show.
Ozzy, Sharon, Jack and Kelly will preside over a variety hour that "unlike any other series on television features audience interaction, rowdy comedy and hilarious stunts that will shock and amuse."
Yeah, such as what? Such as this, says Fox: "Whether it's Sharon unveiling a stripping grandmother, Kelly and Jack bringing an unsuspecting playboy face-to-face with his ex-girlfriends or Ozzy soaking the entire studio audience with foam, TV's most outrageous family is guaranteed to rock the house."
Another recurring feature, "Littlest Osbournes," will feature "pint-size, potty mouthed" versions of Sharon and Ozzy reprising vintage Osbourne moments -- "in all their four-letter glory."
Frankly, that sounds reprehensible. After the premiere, Osbournes Reloaded will return later in the season as a series of periodically scheduled specials, says Fox.
Their MTV series, The Osbournes, ran from 2002-'05 before running out of bleeped expletives and dog poop.
***Fox also has an air date for the previously announced Glee, which likewise will get a post-Idol launch on Tuesday, May 19th.
The scripted comedy series, from Nip/Tuck creator Ryan Murphy, depicts a high school teacher trying to form an old-school glee club. It's billed as "uplifting with biting humor."
***NBC has tabbed Al "Do you believe in miracles?" Michaels to host the network's weekday and weekend daytime coverage at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.
Michaels last participated in the Olympics in 1988, when he called hockey games in Calgary for ABC. Bob Costas will continue to host NBC's prime-time Olympics coverage.
***Comedy Central has renewed The Sarah Silverman Program for a third season after a reported tiff with the star over decreased license fees. It'll debut in early 2010, with 10 episodes ordered, the network says.