Austin360 blogs > TV Blog > Archives > 2009 > February > 12
Thursday, February 12, 2009
“Survivor” debuts with Austin’s Joe Dowdle, KEYE-ex Nanci Wilson heading for KXAN
Joe Dowdle, a 26-year-old real estate broker from Austin, is one of the 16 castaways the new season of “Survivor: Tocantins — The Brazilian Highlands.”
He will join one of the competing tribes when the 18th season premieres tonight at 7 on CBS.
Dowdle is a University of Texas graduate and an official member of the Texas Cowboys, a service organization that acts as “ambassadors” for the school.
In his “Survivor” statement, Dowdle says he thinks he’ll win the competition because he is “dedicated, goal oriented” and plans to use a “persuade-and-evade” strategy to make alliances and win challenges.
We’ll keep track.
Nanci Wilson headed for KXAN
Nanci Wilson, who recently resigned from KEYE, will join KXAN when her six-month non-compete clause expires.
She will be heading up the NBC affiliate’s investigative team, which is similar to what she was doing at KEYE.
Good for KXAN and good for Austin news hounds. Now if KXAN would just pick up ex-KEYE capital ace Keith Elkins …
Permalink | Comments (2) | Post your comment Categories: Reality TV
“Idol” musings … ABC News on Campus expands
Last night’s two-our results show was excruciating, wasn’t it?
“American Idol” whittled its talent pool from 50 to 36, with the survivors called before the four judges to learn their fate.
Austin’s Kendall Beard made it. That’s good news.
But so did the annoyingly hysterical Tatiana Del Toro. Who cares if she can sing? If we’ve got to slog through all that screaming and crying, well, I don’t care if she sounds like Aretha Franklin. I can’t stand her.
Loyal blog readers know that every season, including the current Season 8, I vow to not get so wrapped up in this silly singing stuff that I’m glued to the TV two nights a week.
It’s embarrassing, and it’s not like I’m one of those tweeny-boppers who squeal over the prospect of voting on my shiny pink cell phone. Seriously, I’m a seasoned TV critic.
But apparently I’ve failed — again — to stay away. Last night I actually teared up (shoot me now!) when best friends Danny Gokey and Jamar Rogers got separated. The judges picked Danny to stay, Jamar to go. I cried. I’m sorry.
Kicking Jamar off and keeping sobbing silly-boy Nathaniel Marshall seems like a capital offense.
Next week we’ll begin whittling down to the dozen contenders who will actually perform live with viewers voting. It gets real serious real soon. I’ve got to get a better grip.
ABC News on Campus expands
ABC News on Campus, a partnership with the University of Texas and four other top journalism schools to mentor college students, has launched the new and improved ABCNEWSONCAMPUS.com.
The network is expanding the submission process beyond the current bureaus — which also includes Arizona State, Syracuse, University of Florida and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill — to universities around the world. The new website will include a “Roving Reporter” section that to give students the chance to pitch and possibly produce a story under the guidance of ABC News.
The new ABCNEWSONCAMPUS.com showcases two other new features: “One Hot Dish” and “Indie Rock.” “One Hot Dish” focuses on campus cuisine, with recipes created by students and weekly cooking segments hosted and produced by students. The “Indie Rock” section focuses on the collegiate indie rock music scene.
In the five months since its inception, ABC News On Campus has generated hundreds of original student-reported and produced stories. Covering local and national breaking news and features, students have provided content for “Good Morning America” and “World News,” “ABC News Radio” and ABC’s broadband news channel.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment Categories: American Idol
KEYE wins Your A-List poll for best newscast
“The Ron and Judy Show” topped our Your A-List poll for best local newscast.
KEYE, our CBS affiliate with evening news anchored by long-time vets Judy Maggio and Ron Oliveira, raked in 50 percent of readers’ votes.
In second place, with 41 percent, was KTBC’s Fox 7 News, anchored by Loriana Hernandez and Mike Warren.
Finishing a distant third and fourth were Austin’s top-rated stations, according to Nielsen: ABC affiliate KVUE (4 percent) and NBC affiliate KXAN (3 percent).
Also receiving votes in the A-List poll:
News 8 Austin (Time Warner Cable) with 1 percent
KAKW (Univision) with < 1 percent
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