Once again, fans of daytime television were shaken with the announcement of yet another long-running series ending original production. On Friday, the 17-year-old RACHAEL RAY SHOW announced that this spring will see its final batch of original hours produced. In a press release issued by CBS Media Ventures, Ray made the following concession and bestowed … Read more
As someone who has been that proverbial old man yelling at cloud when it comes to media caring one iota about ratings, I have been more than a bit bemused by both the level of scrutiny and spin that we’ve seen from the CW, the LIV Golf Tour and its competitors about how successful-or not-the … Read more
My sincerest apologies upfront to anyone who may have been expecting some sort of media insight or astute observation today. As those of you who actually care already know, I’ve been mightily struggling to somehow make an earnest living from those skill sets, honed over decades of unique experiences having made companies billions and other … Read more
In 1976, Sylvester Stallone vaulted from obscurity as a struggling New York actor into international prominence with his portrayal of Rocky Balboa, a journeyman Philadelphia boxer who earns a shot at the heavyweight championship. The stirring Bill Conti soundtrack, the raw emotion that paralleled Stallone’s own personal journey through that of the earnest, family-loyal Balboa, … Read more
Did you know there were actually two animated situation comedies that premiered on broadcast TV networks in January, 1999? One you might have already known about was FAMILY GUY, which joined what was at the time the number one Sunday night TV destination, premiering following Super Bowl XXXIII, and later pairing quite well with a … Read more
You may think I’m a bit compulsive about many things, and there’s probably some very deep issues with roots in my childhood to explain some of them. One particular thing I freely admit to having a biopsychological need for is bonding, something that’s been exceptionally difficult for me to do in the nearly three years … Read more
Still more shocking revelations emerged from yesterday’s release of Rupert Murdoch’s testimony in the case that Dominion Voting Systems is mounting against his FOX News organization. As Katie Robertson and Jeremy W. Peters reported in The New York Times: Murdoch, chairman of the conservative media empire that owns Fox News, acknowledged in a deposition that … Read more
It’s been three decades since Woody Harrelson last tended bar at Cheers, where his character evolved from a country bumpkin cast in direct conflict with that of the veteran actor Nicholas Colasanto who he replaced upon that actor’s untimely death into a more nuanced, mature dispenser of advice and reason. And since then, Harrleson as … Read more
It’s clearly an era of transition for my former colleagues at Sony. Earlier this week it was learned that THE GOLDBERGS was sunsetting after a 10-season run, and tonight THE BLACKLIST will begin its tenth and final season on NBC. The show’s tenure has outlasted those of quite a number of its cast members, one … Read more
ABC announced earlier this week that THE GOLDBERGS, its longest-running situation comedy, will end this spring, news that honestly didn’t take me much by surprise. Its ratings this year have been modest and flatlined (essentially a 0.4 key demo rating and rarely the level of its lead-in THE CONNERS or its lead-out ABBOTT ELEMENTARY, not … Read more