So it appears Memorial Day weekend is a delineation point for talk show history again. Just like Johnny Carson did when he stepped down from the TONIGHT SHOW thirty years ago today, yesterday Ellen DeGeneres ended her 19-year run as a daytime talk show host, bringing back first show guest Jennifer Aniston, appearing emotional when … Read more
So we’ve somehow made it to the precipice of the summer of ’22, which for the past couple of decades has meant that the broadcast television networks shifted into cost-cutting mode and put their scripted series strategy on hold to introduce schedules primarily made up of game and competition shows. This coming summer, there will … Read more
The Media Insights and Engagement Conference of 2022 is winding down, and I’m told they exceeded their attendance goal. And from the looks of the happy faces, most of which we could actually see, and the many business cards and swag in my suitcase, I can attest it feels like there is some degree of … Read more
So you know how I am on milestones, and it appears we’re at about the one year mark with this endeavor. What began as essentially needed therapy that was limited to my own computer has now evolved into a (somewhat) more polished outlet for expression, reflection and even some calls to action, and I’m blessed … Read more
During the earliest days of the pandemic when I was being considered for open positions I had a few occasions when I was being vetted by the team I would theoretically take leadership of, under the watchful eye of the department head who had I had impressed enough to get to this point. Of course, … Read more
So ABC and CBS–er, Disney Media Networks and Paramount Global–actually did in-person upfront presentations this week just like old times. ABC, now under the expert leadership of Hulu czar Craig Erwich,announced only two new series for the Fall 2022 schedule, both brand extensions. A weekly primetime CELEBRITY JEOPARDY and THE ROOKIE: FEDS will debut, and … Read more
You probably hadn’t heard of Dr. Helen Papagiannis before this; I know I didn’t. As we head into the home stretch leading up to next Monday’s Media Insights and Engagement Conference in Nashville, I noticed Helen’s name was added as a keynote speaker for the conference’s key middle day. So I clicked on her agency … Read more
If you’ve yet to discover the joys of the tweets and reflections of The Masked Scheduler, you should. Long since unmasked as the brilliant Preston Beckman, the former head of scheduling for both NBC and FOX and a fellow graduate of the same Queens high school that gave diplomas to me, a couple of other … Read more
I suppose I was destined to become a fan of NBC news programming because Channel 4 had a better signal than did Channel 2 (a local news we actually preferred but had trouble seeing clearly), and because they had several five-minute updates dropped into their all-day game show lineup which was the soundtrack of my … Read more
Back at year’s end time when I was feeling particularly isolated and snarky, I actually went out on a limb for a change and offered up a series of predictions for the media landscape for 2022. One of my somewhat ballsier prognostications was this: The CW will take a significant step toward ceasing to exist … Read more