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CBS' Zoo lets its animals go crackers

For three straight summers, CBS has introduced a “popcorn” miniseries with an otherworldly storyline. The latest is Zoo, which follows 2013’s Under the Dome and last year’s Extant, both of which are returning. Zoo, based on the James Patterson bestseller, gets underway on Tues., June 30th. And our review is here.

Also, Wednesday’s D-FW Nielsen ratings “snapshot” is posted.
Ed Bark

A disaffected youth is served in USA network's transfixing Mr. Robot

The USA network’s drama series generally are heavy on breezy banter. That decidedly changes in Mr. Robot, with Rami Malek personifying disaffected youth via a singular lead performance. Our review is here.

Also, Tuesday’s D-FW Nielsen ratings “snapshot” is posted, with a closing note on former CBS11 traffic anchor Tammy Dombeck.
Ed Bark

Reviewing Season 3 of Orange is the New Black after viewing all 13 episodes

Netflix’s third 13-episode season of Orange is the New Black began streaming earlier this month. There have been a lot of other new series in the interim. But now we have a review of OITNB after watching the entire new season. You can find it on the Network News & Reviews page.
Ed Bark

Father's Day U.S. Open ratings powered by Jordan Spieth win and mega-dramatic finish

The blotchy greens were bumpy and so was Fox’s first-time coverage of the U.S. Open. But Sunday’s final round couldn’t have been much more dramatic, with Dallasite Jordan Spieth emerging victorious after a crazy chain of events. We have all the D-FW ratings numbers on our Dallas-Fort Worth TV page.
Ed Bark

D-FW news director dean Susan Tully leaves NBC5 but remains in Peacock family

Susan Tully, NBC5’s vice president of news for the past 14 years, is moving up the NBC chain. Her new position, effective immediately, is president-general manager of NBC-owned WVIT-TV, which serves the entire state of Connecticut. More details are on our Dallas-Fort Worth TV page.
Ed Bark

HBO's The Brink is a well-played descendant of Dr. Strangelove

HBO’s trio of Father’s Day newcomers also includes The Brink, an “epic dark comedy series” modeled after Dr. Strangelove. It stars Tim Robbins and Jack Black -- and our review is here.

Plus, how did Fox do in prime-time with its inaugural coverage of the U.S. Open golf tournament? Well, it mixed in some bogeys and birdies Thursday in the D-FW Nielsen ratings.
Ed Bark

Second act: Brian Williams' return to beleaguered MSNBC could be very good for both

NBC News officially announced Thursday that Lester Holt is the official anchor of Nightly News while Brian Williams gets sent to MSNBC, where it all started for him in 1996. All the details and our assessment are on the Network News & Reviews page.
Ed Bark

Shooting "The Rock" at the height of his stardom in HBO's Ballers

The new HBO sports series Ballers couldn’t have a bigger draw at the moment. Still battling earthquakes in the blockbuster feature film San Andreas, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson brings his super-sized clout and swagger to Ballers, which premieres on Father’s Day. Our review is here.

Also, Wednesday’s D-FW Nielsen ratings “snapshot” is posted.
Ed Bark

Season 2 of True Detective gets down and dirty in L.A.

HBO’s much-anticipated second season of True Detective premieres on Sunday, June 21st. Don’t expect the same tingle. Instead, you’ll get a bad vibe. Our review is here.

Also, Tuesday’s D-FW Nielsen ratings “snapshot” spotlights the big ratings for ABC’s concluding Game 6 of the NBA Finals.
Ed Bark

ABC's compelling, truth-telling Astronaut Wives Club: out to launch but not out to lunch

The Astronaut Wives Club finally blasts off on Thursday, June 18th after a long gestation period. It’s far more than a breezy throwaway. And our review is here.
Ed Bark

CBS11 reporter Mireya Villarreal gets bumped up to network

Mireya Villarreal, an investigative reporter for D-FW’s CBS11, has been named a CBS network correspondent. She joined CBS11, which is owned and operated by CBS, on Jan. 2, 2013. More details are on the Dallas-Fort Worth TV page.

Plus, who won the ratings battle in D-FW Monday night between the deciding Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final and the Texas Rangers-Los Angeles opening inter-league game? Well, it was a split decision. Get all the numbers here.
Ed Bark

TNT's Proof may have only a ghost of a chance

TNT’s new programming head plans to ring out the old TNT with a “proactive makeover” built on edgier fare. The more conventional Proof, starring Jennifer Beals as a skeptical, self-important doc delving into the afterlife, had already been ordered by the old regime. So here it comes on Tuesday, July 16th. And our review is here.

Plus, the weekend D-FW Nielsen ratings “snapshot” spotlights Game 5 of the NBA Finals and Saturday morning’s breaking news coverage of the attack on Dallas Police Department headquarters by a lone gunman.
Ed Bark

Lopsided Game 4 of NBA Finals doesn't dent D-FW ratings

The Golden State Warriors pulled away in the 4th quarter to rout the Cleveland Cavaliers 103-82 in Game 4 of the NBA Finals Thursday. Even so, it hit a ratings high mark in D-FW. All the details are on our Dallas-Fort Worth TV page.
Ed Bark

Making of the Mob: New York gives AMC its first Mafia ties

Ray Liotta is home on the range as narrator for AMC’s new eight-episode The Making of the Mob: New York, which premieres on Monday, June 15th. Our review is here.
Ed Bark

CNN's The Seventies begins by leaving little impact on the subject of TV's impact

Last summer, CNN’s The Sixties kicked off with a chapter titled “Television Comes of Age.” This time it’s “Television Gets Real,” but with the same quick once-over. End result: a fairly entertaining talking heads/clip show that again has trouble tackling a very large topic in such a short time. Our review is here.
Ed Bark

Fox4 investigator Becky Oliver talks about ending a 24-year career

As previously posted, Fox4 investigative reporter Becky Oliver will be leaving the Dallas-based station on June 29th after 24 years of tracking down and confronting alleged wrong-doers. In an interview with unclebarky.com, she talks about why she left and what she’ll be doing next.
Ed Bark

Soon departing: longtime Fox4 investigative reporter Becky Oliver

Becky Oliver, Fox4’s featured investigative reporter for the past 24 years, will be leaving the station later this month. Details are on our Dallas-Fort Worth TV page.

Also, Tuesday’s D-FW Nielsen ratings “snapshot” highlights the continued punch of the NBA Finals.
Ed Bark

TCU's marathon baseball win hangs on to a few sleepy eyeballs

TCU became the last team to qualify for the eight-team College World Series field with a 16-inning win over Texas A&M that stretched all the way to 1:02 a.m. Tuesday.

How many D-FW viewers hung in there -- or at least had the game on while they passed out on their couches? Our Dallas-Fort Worth TV page has the ratings essentials.
Ed Bark

Weekend D-FW ratings for the NBA Finals, Belmont Stakes, Tonys and more

Sunday night’s Game 2 of the NBA Finals outdrew Game 1 in D-FW while Saturday’s history-making Belmont Stakes also made a big haul during the time the race was actually run. Also, CBS11’s 6 a.m. newscast Friday achieved very rare ratings air. In fact, it likely was a first. All the details are on our Dallas-Fort Worth TV page.
Ed Bark

NBA Finals a big swish in D-FW ratings

Game 1 of the NBA Finals bounced all competing programs to the curb Thursday night in D-FW. And they also again proved their worth among advertiser-prized 18-to-49-year-olds. All the details are on our Dallas-Fort Worth TV page.
Ed Bark

Buying in -- Breaking Bad: The Official Book

The Breaking Bad finale originally aired in late September, 2013. If you still haven’t seen it, then Breaking Bad: The Official Book probably isn’t for you. But for hardcore fans, it’s pretty much a treasure trove, with its hundreds of pictures and illustrations sometimes making more lasting impressions than its words. Our review is here.

Also, Tuesday’s D-FW ratings “snapshot” in part charts the continued momentum of the Texas Rangers, who now are winning some Nielsen numbers games, too.
Ed Bark

Selling new CBS11 anchor Russ McCaskey as a homeboy through and through

Although he spent the last 15 years anchoring in Tulsa, new CBS11 A.M. anchor Russ McCaskey is a bonafide North Texan. The stations goes to unusual lengths to hammer this point home in a 30-second spot heralding McCaskey’s re-arrival. Check out our Dallas-Fort Worth TV page.

Plus, Monday’s D-FW Nielsen ratings “snapshot” is posted.
Ed Bark

Russ McCaskey dawns as new early morning anchor for CBS11

Anchor Karen Borta’s new A.M. desk mate, Russ McCaskey, made his debut on Monday, June 1st. We look him over on the Dallas-Fort Worth TV page.

Also, the Texas Rangers are resurgent in the D-FW Nielsen ratings as well.

Plus, Fort Worth-based NBC5 is losing one reporter, but has added another. Details are here.
Ed Bark