Nov 2010
Former launcher of KDAF-TV newscasts takes new post in Texoma
11/30/10 04:56 PM
Ex-CW33 news director Anthony Maisel,
who launched prime-time local newscasts on the
station when it was still a WB affiliate, is
returning to the TV news biz at KXII-TV in the Texoma
area. Get all the details on our Dallas-Fort Worth TV page. Plus,
your friendly content provider's latest locatetv.com dispatch takes an
up-close look at the Oscar ceremony's
unconventional host pairing.
Ed Bark
Ed Bark
CBS shuffles Early Show deck (chairs)
11/30/10 12:01 PM
CBS is parting ways with its entire
early morning roster of personalities in hopes of
somehow making its long-struggling waker-upper
competitive with NBC's Today and ABC's Good
Morning America. Get all the details on our
Network News & Reviews page.
Plus, the latest D-FW Nielsen ratings are in.
And at our home away from home, locatetv.com, check out a selective
list of upcoming Christmas specials and episodes.
Ed Bark
Ed Bark
Nip/tuck 10 p.m. November "sweeps" news races go to WFAA8 while CBS11 scores first-ever 6 p.m. win
11/29/10 12:08 PM
We're back from a Thanksgiving week
sojourn and returning to business with a painstaking
breakdown of how WFAA8 nipped CBS11 at the November
"sweeps" tape to win D-FW's marquee 10 p.m. local
news wars. Runnerup CBS11 also is celebrating its
first-ever win at 6 p.m. while Fox4 has regained the
early morning crowns. That leaves the Peacock
plucked. Get all the details on the Dallas-Fort Worth TV page.
Ed Bark
Ed Bark
Happy Thanksgiving to all!!!
11/21/10 07:07 PM
Thanksgiving Day is nearing, and unclebarky.com will be out and about and off for this week.
Have a fine, fun holiday, everybody!!! And many thanks for your continued readership.
Ed Bark
NBC5 makes it five meteorologists
11/21/10 07:00 PM
Fort Worth-based NBC5 has hired a new
meteorologist who's making a big jump in market size
and has a weather-ready surname. Get the details here.
Ed Bark
Ed Bark
Lennon recalibrated in two standout PBS specials
11/21/10 12:40 PM
John Lennon returns up close and
personal in Lennon Naked and LENNONYC.
Our reviews are here.
Ed Bark
Ed Bark
Idol moves to new night while made-in-Dallas The Good Guys gets moved out in Fox's new midseason scheme of things
11/19/10 08:08 PM
Fox announced its new midseason lineup
early Friday evening. The many changes include a new
night for American Idol's results show and a
goodbye to The Good Guys, which was nice
having in Dallas for its 20 episodes. Get all the
details on our Network News & Reviews page.
Ed Bark
Ed Bark
Up-close and objective: Nov. 18th's late night D-FW newscasts
11/19/10 04:28 PM
Our concluding November "sweeps"
compendium looks at a rare species lately making a
comeback -- anchors who actually get out and report.
One station is still lashing its marquee news readers
to their TelePrompTers, though. And their identities "may shock you," as they
used to say in the biz, but not so much anymore.
Also, Joe Scarborough is the latest MSNBC personality to join the suspension carousel. And the latest D-FW Nielsen ratings show CBS and CBS11 on rolls. Finally, check out our cheeky discourse on People magazine's "Sexiest Man Alive!" 25th anniversary on our home away from home, locatetv.com.
Ed Bark
Also, Joe Scarborough is the latest MSNBC personality to join the suspension carousel. And the latest D-FW Nielsen ratings show CBS and CBS11 on rolls. Finally, check out our cheeky discourse on People magazine's "Sexiest Man Alive!" 25th anniversary on our home away from home, locatetv.com.
Ed Bark
Up-close and objective: Nov. 17th's late night D-FW newscasts
11/18/10 12:57 PM
Our latest compendium spotlights a gem
of a human interest story by WFAA8 reporter Gary
Reaves and an oversell by one of his colleagues.
Plus, the latest D-FW Nielsen ratings are in.
And lo and behold, a new "Ask Uncle Barky" entertains
several questions, including the current
whereabouts of former Fox4 anchor Baron James.
Ed Bark
Ed Bark
Up-close and objective: Nov. 16th's late night D-FW newscasts
11/17/10 03:58 PM
Which D-FW news anchor got some
"exclusive" backstage time with George W. Bush at
Tuesday's groundbreaking ceremony in Dallas? And why
should it come as no surprise? Our latest compendium is here.
Ed Bark
Ed Bark
Dubious achievement for CBS11 sports anchor and former NFL QB Babe Laufenberg
11/17/10 11:41 AM
Former Cowboys backup QB Babe
Laufenberg, now the veteran CBS11 sports anchor,
scored very high on a new deadspin.com list. If any
publicity is good publicity, perhaps he'll take it.
Get the details here. Also, the latest D-FW Nielsen ratings show
CBS11 punching back at 10 p.m.
Ed Bark
Ed Bark
Up-close and objective: Nov. 15th's late night D-FW newscasts
11/16/10 04:37 PM
WFAA8 sports anchor Dale Hansen's
"suspension" tops our in-depth look at Monday's ratings "sweeps"
activities. Or to put it another way, Hansen
and weathercaster Pete Delkus played in the sand
again, but to a degree not seen before. Also,
Monday's D-FW Nielsen ratings show
that WFAA8 may have profited at 10 p.m. from its
earlier prime-time tomfoolery. Plus, on my home
away from home, locatetv.com, there's a
late-breaking look at all things Palin.
Ed Bark
Ed Bark
Institute of lower learning: TBS has clunker in college-set Glory Daze
11/15/10 05:33 PM
The promos have been incessant. Now
it's time for TV critics to take aim at TBS' Glory
Daze. Our review is here.
Ed Bark
Ed Bark
NBC chases made-in-North Texas Chase to new night, launches all-comedy lineup on Thursdays
11/15/10 03:44 PM
You really will need a scorecard to
divine all the midseason changes NBC is making.
Consider it done on our TV Bulletin Board page.
Ed Bark
Ed Bark
Up-close and objective: Nov. 12th's late night D-FW newscasts
11/15/10 11:04 AM
A Braum's ice cream shop in Greenville
partly blew its top Friday, sending D-FW newscasts
scurrying to cover another weather "event." Our
latest summation is here. Plus, the
Dallas Cowboys' big win Sunday at New York under
new head coach Jason Garrett paid big dividends in
the D-FW Nielsen ratings, too.
Ed Bark
Ed Bark
Up-close and objective: Nov. 11th's late night D-FW newscasts
11/12/10 04:07 PM
Here we go again, with lots to say
about Thursday's late night newsers on Fox4, NBC5,
WFAA8 and CBS11. You can find it all here during our
continued deep sea dive into what's news -- and
what shouldn't be.
Also, WFAA8 reporter David Schechter continues to excel as both a gumshoe and stylist. We extoll his virtues while also providing a look at a recent instant classic about a deceased man and a dog that just won't let him go.
Ed Bark
Also, WFAA8 reporter David Schechter continues to excel as both a gumshoe and stylist. We extoll his virtues while also providing a look at a recent instant classic about a deceased man and a dog that just won't let him go.
Ed Bark
Ongoing battles for D-FW newscast supremacy at midpoint of Nov. sweeps
11/12/10 10:07 AM
WFAA8 and CBS11 again are in a
too-close-to-call heavyweight fight at 10 p.m. while
CBS11 is trying to win the 6 p.m. newscast ratings
competition for the first time in its history. For a
closer look at the halfway point of the November
sweeps ratings wars, go here.
Also, Thursday's D-FW Nielsen ratings are in. And there's a tasty menu of tidbits on the TV Bulletin Board page.
Ed Bark
Also, Thursday's D-FW Nielsen ratings are in. And there's a tasty menu of tidbits on the TV Bulletin Board page.
Ed Bark
Up-close and objective: Nov. 10th's late night D-FW newscasts
11/11/10 05:36 PM
We accentuate the positive -- with
some snide helpings of snide -- in unclebarky.com's
lingering looks at Wednesday's flagship newscasts on
Fox4, NBC5, WFAA8 and CBS11. It's all right here.
Ed Bark
Ed Bark
Country's big night a yee-haw for ABC/WFAA8
11/11/10 10:53 AM
Oldies George Strait (and narrow) and
Loretta Lynn shared stage time Wednesday night with
hosts Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley on ABC's CMA
awards. In D-FW, the three-hour show twanged its
magic twanger before WFAA8's 10 p.m. news likewise
picked and grinned in the ratings. Get the details here. Plus, CNN names names for the first time
in a "Keep 'em Honest" promo aimed at its two
partisan cable news rivals, Fox News Channel and
MSNBC. And on my home away from home, locatetv.com, see what Tracy Morgan
had to say about his upcoming HBO special and
making a movie with Al Pacino.
Ed Bark
Ed Bark
Up-close and objective: Nov. 9th's late night D-FW newscasts
11/10/10 03:34 PM
WFAA8 investigator Byron Harris struck
again Tuesday night while Fox4 took reporter
"involvement" into the station's lunch room. Our
latest look-see is here. Also,
Tuesday's D-FW Nielsen ratings are in the
books.
Ed Bark
Ed Bark
The selling of George W.'s book, with Oprah buying in and Hannity rolling over
11/10/10 08:49 AM
George W. Bush appeared in disparate
venues Tuesday as his book tour gained steam. How was
he received on The Oprah Winfrey Show? And did
Sean Hannity genuflect during their time in Crawford,
TX? Our extended look is here.
Ed Bark
Ed Bark
Up-close and objective: Nov. 8th's late night D-FW newscasts
11/09/10 03:55 PM
Oh no you didn't. Oh yes we did. Our
ratings "sweeps" scrutiny of D-FW's four principal
late night newscasts returns for a limited
engagement. The first chapter is here.
Ed Bark
Ed Bark
TBS' Conan stirs late night pot, complete with parting shots at NBC
11/09/10 09:21 AM
Conan O'Brien returned to the late
night battlefield Monday night after TBS floated an
incessant blimp-centric promotional campaign. Our
review is here. Also, the latest D-FW Nielsen ratings show
how well he did in D-FW.
Ed Bark
Ed Bark
MSNBC's suspension of Olbermann is like disciplining a monkey for eating a banana
11/06/10 10:59 AM
Wow, Keith Olbermann contributed money
to Democratic candidates!!! And MSNBC cites NBC News
"policy and standards" in suspending him!!! What a
joke. Our take is here.
Ed Bark
Ed Bark
Texas guv does Morning Joe in interests of selling new book. Period
11/05/10 02:50 PM
Texas Gov. Rick Perry, triumphant anew
after his rout of opponent Bill White, showed up on
MSNBC's Morning Joe Friday to push his new
book, Fed Up!. He also let it be known that he
prays daily for President Obama, who he referred to
as simply "Obama." But let's get to the book, the
buttoned-up guv insisted. Our review is here.
Ed Bark
Ed Bark
Bearded ladies, laddie on CBS11; uncommon Elvis impersonator on Letterman
11/05/10 01:06 PM
The anchors of CBS11's early morning
show paid up their World Series bet with a San
Francisco station Friday morning. It involved beards
and very bad singing. Check it out. Also, rescued Chilean
miner Edison Pena made a very memorable appearance
Thursday on Late Show with David Letterman.
The video, on our Network News & Reviews page, is
a great way to start your weekend. Plus, the
latest D-FW Nielsen ratings give
CBS11 another big boost at 10 p.m.
Ed Bark
Ed Bark
Letterman whips Leno in three major ratings food groups for first time since NBC's Tonight reclaimed him (but that's not all)
11/04/10 02:13 PM
David Letterman is late night's new
king for a week -- at least among the broadcast
network /jokers/talkers/greeters. But someone else
has spanked both of them for the first time among
advertiser-craved 18-to-49-year-olds. And no, it's
not Nightline. Get the details on our Network News & Reviews page.
Ed Bark
Ed Bark
New look for CW33 news -- which actually looks better content-wise, too (for at least one night)
11/04/10 11:52 AM
Dallas-based CW33 has a sparkling new
set for its 9 p.m. local newscasts. And with a purge
at the top of its owner, the Tribune Co., maybe the
content will get a chance to shine a bit, too. We
take an extended look here. Plus, the
latest D-FW Nielsen ratings also
are in the house.
Ed Bark
Ed Bark
All hail The Larry Sanders Show in a new complete series set
11/03/10 04:46 PM
Greatness is where you find it. And
you can pretty much find it in each and every episode
of HBO's The Larry Sanders Show, which made 89
of them before bowing out in 1998.
A new Complete Series boxed set from Shout! Factory revisits the treacherous, behind-the-scenes late night terrain that Larry Sanders made famous before NBC turned it into an art from with its Conan O'Brien/Jay Leno dance of death. Our re-review is here. Also, the TV Bulletin Board page has some tasty new tidbits. And the latest local Nielsen ratings "snapshot" shows which networks drew the biggest and smallest crowds for Tuesday's mid-term election coverage.
Ed Bark
A new Complete Series boxed set from Shout! Factory revisits the treacherous, behind-the-scenes late night terrain that Larry Sanders made famous before NBC turned it into an art from with its Conan O'Brien/Jay Leno dance of death. Our re-review is here. Also, the TV Bulletin Board page has some tasty new tidbits. And the latest local Nielsen ratings "snapshot" shows which networks drew the biggest and smallest crowds for Tuesday's mid-term election coverage.
Ed Bark
Technical knockout (but unclebarky.com now back on feet)
11/03/10 12:33 AM
The big rubber band broke and the
hamster ran out of gas.
Actually, the router box at unclebarky.com central suddenly went dead Saturday. And a replacement (from a provider rhyming with horizon) didn't arrive until late Tuesday afternoon. That meant no Internet, email access or publishing capability for what seemed like an eternity.
But we're back in play now, giving you the complete local ratings for the last three World Series games plus the Cowboys' Sunday afternoon debacle against Jacksonville. The Texas Rangers-powered Series obviously was a blockbuster in these parts, but not so much nationally. We've got those numbers, too.
As another month goes into the archives, many continued thanks to our varied and growing readership. It's also time for another brief notation that any amazon purchases made after first clicking through the ads on unclebarky.com will provide yours truly with a small percentage of the proceeds. Patronage of our other advertisers is also encouraged. It all helps. Thanks again, and here's hoping this new router will be a permanent keeper.
Ed Bark
Actually, the router box at unclebarky.com central suddenly went dead Saturday. And a replacement (from a provider rhyming with horizon) didn't arrive until late Tuesday afternoon. That meant no Internet, email access or publishing capability for what seemed like an eternity.
But we're back in play now, giving you the complete local ratings for the last three World Series games plus the Cowboys' Sunday afternoon debacle against Jacksonville. The Texas Rangers-powered Series obviously was a blockbuster in these parts, but not so much nationally. We've got those numbers, too.
As another month goes into the archives, many continued thanks to our varied and growing readership. It's also time for another brief notation that any amazon purchases made after first clicking through the ads on unclebarky.com will provide yours truly with a small percentage of the proceeds. Patronage of our other advertisers is also encouraged. It all helps. Thanks again, and here's hoping this new router will be a permanent keeper.
Ed Bark