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August 2009
KEYE to air Telemundo programming on Channel 42.2
KEYE is going bilingual.
The station will air Telemundo programming on Channel 42.2 beginning Oct. 1, displacing the Retro TV network. CBS shows will continue to be shown on Channel 42.1.
KEYE will produce two local newscasts in Spanish — airing weekdays at 5 and 10 p.m. — for the Telemundo signal. Anchors will be announced soon, according to president and general manager Amy Villarreal.
“Approximately 23 percent of viewers in Central Texas are Hispanic and this demographic continues to grow,” Villarreal said in a news release. “KEYE-TV’s Telemundo programming will ensure that the market’s Spanish speaking audience is both entertained and informed.”
Austin is currently the largest city in Texas — and one of the largest cities in the nation — without a Telemundo affiliate. Cable viewers, however, have been able to watch a national feed.
The Univision network, another Spanish broadcaster, can be seen locally on KAKW Channel 62. It, too, offers local news and has posted significant ratings gains in recent years. Telefutura, an offshoot of Univision, has a local presence as well, and KVUE will add the Estrella network on a digital subchannel soon.
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TV Profile: Michelle Valles
You might know them, but do you know what they watch? This week we hop on the couch with a friendly face from KEYE who is about to switch jobs. Check back each Monday to see who’s next.
Michelle Valles
Morning news co-anchor at KEYE 42
Number of years in this position: 11 years of broadcast journalism, 8 months at KEYE.
I love my job because: I get to interview incredible people and share stories with thousands of viewers (getting a press pass or access doesn’t hurt either)
Here’s what’s on my DVR: KEYE mornings shows, Austin City Limits featuring Willie Nelson and Asleep at the Wheel, and HBO series Weeds and Hung (my boyfriend recorded those)
My all-time favorite TV show is: Austin City Limits
You’ll never catch me watching: Soap operas ( unless they are mexican novelas) or Nancy Grace
If I have insomnia, the show that lulls me back to sleep is: Golf
A current show I never miss is: CBS Sunday Morning News
If my TV is on, it’s probably tuned to this channel: KEYE 42 or PBS (KLRU)
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This week’s TV picks
Andy and Dwight keep each other company at the company picnic on “The Office.”
Monday:
‘CMA Music Festival: Country’s Night to Rock’ 7 p.m., ABC: Featured performers include Trace Adkins, Martina McBride, The Judds and Kid Rock. Everybody — sing along with me: ‘One of these things is not like the others …’
‘The Soup Presents’ 9 p.m., E!: This episode spotlights TV’s most dysfunctional couples, including Jon and Kate Gosselin, and Regis Philbin and Kelly Ripa. Wow. I’m not sure which of those pairs should feel most insulted.
Tuesday:
‘Warehouse 13’ 8 p.m., Syfy: An artifact helps Claudia change a light bulb, which reminds me of a hundred old jokes.
‘Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien’ 10:30 p.m., NBC: Tonight Conan welcomes Norm MacDonald and Cheap Trick, two of my favorite things that won’t go away.
Wednesday:
‘Glee’ 7:58 p.m., FOX: In case you missed the hugely popular pilot episode of this new fall series, here’s your chance to catch up. It kinda’ goes downhill from here, but this episode’s a winner. Also, in case you skipped over the time, it starts at 7:58 p.m., so don’t miss the first two minutes.
‘Man vs. Wild’ 8 p.m., Discovery: Bear tests his survival skills in Texas’ Chihuahuan Desert. I hope he brings some Milk Bones.
Thursday:
‘The Office’ 8 p.m., NBC: The season 5 closer takes place at the Dunder Mifflin company picnic. In the midst of a fiercely competitive volleyball game, Michael has a sweet reunion with his former love, Holly.
Friday:
‘Making Over America with Trinny and Susannah’ 9 p.m., TLC: Apparently, in order to be a co-host on this makeover show (tonight working miracles on a frumpy Delaware innkeeper) you’ve got to have two n’s in the middle of your name.
‘Catch It Keep It’ 9 p.m., Science: An Xbox must be saved from flaming projectiles, a gasoline-soaked floor and a runaway car. Hmm. I just have to keep my teenage boy’s Xbox safe from soda cans, half-eaten Pop-Tarts and dirty socks.
Saturday:
‘Country Fried Home Videos’ 7 p.m., CMT: In one segment, a pigeon tricks a turtle. Hey, I’d like to sympathize, but anybody who doesn’t know how devious turtles can be just deserves what they get.
Sunday:
‘Amazing Wedding Cakes’ 9 p.m., WE: A bride wants her cake to match her dress. Somebody save me a piece of the train.
‘Reality Hell’ 9:30 p.m., E!: The title of this show is just redundant. That’s right; I went there. Seriously … is the fall season here yet?
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Be an extra on ‘Friday Night Lights’
OnlocationCating.net has put out the call for “Friday Night Lights” extras from the Austin area. The company is seeking to fill its general extras and featured extras positions with new faces who have never worked on the show before.
Specifically sought are:
• African American men, women and children, all ages
• Hispanic men, women and children, all ages
• Football players: 18-23 years old, all ethnicities especially African American and Hispanic, young looking, athletic, football experience helpful but not required, must know how to put on pads and uniform
• Pop Warner/Pee Wee football players: 5-12 years old, African American, some football playing experience is helpful
• Cheerleaders & dance team: female, 18-23 years old, all ethnicities especially African American and Hispanic, cute
• African American and Hispanic coaches: 28-60, athletic, previous coaching experience helpful but not required
All positions are paid, the company says.
Also sought are general extras (fans, teachers, students, restaurant patrons, townspeople, etc.). These roles are open to all ages and ethnicities, especially African Americans and Hispanics. No experience is required.
More information and application information can be found on the company’s Web site.
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Networks to air Kennedy funeral coverage
The major broadcast network and cable news channels have released their schedules for coverage of the funeral of Ted Kennedy. The Massachusetts Senator died Tuesday following a battle with brain cancer.
ABC, NBC and CBS all plan to air the funeral Mass Saturday morning, and ABC and CBS will resume coverage at 4:30 p.m. CT for Kennedy’s burial.
Fox News Channel, CNN, C-SPAN and MSNBC will all air coverage of both the funeral Mass and the burial at Arlington National Cemetery.
MediaBistro.com has details on the broadcast networks’ covergae here and the schedules of the cable networks here.
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FOX 7 features football on Fridays
Today, Austin’s FOX 7 (KTBC) kicks off HomeTeam Fridays. Each week throughout the 2009 high school football season, the FOX 7 News team will visit different towns and local neighborhoods around Central Texas.
Throughout the day, the station’s newscasts will feature the local school and its events, history, places and faces. Evening newscasts will include in-depth coverage of the featured school’s team as well as a look at their mascot, bands and fans. On location each week will be FOX 7 Chief Meteorologist Scott Fisher or Mike Warren, anchor of FOX 7 NEWS EDGE at 5:00 and 9:00 p.m.
This year, viewers can get in on the game: FOX 7 will let them vote for their school to be part of HomeTeam Friday in an online poll at MyFoxAustin.com. The poll is divided by district and the winners will be visited on 9/18 (5A), 10/9 (4A) and 10/30 (3A). At the site, viewers can also upload photos showing their team spirit.
This week, the focus is on Liberty Hill, where the Panthers take on the Giddings Buffaloes tonight. Here’s the schedule for September and early October:
8/28 Giddings @ Liberty Hill
9/4 San Marcos @ Bastrop
9/11 Austin @ Westwood
9/18 FIRST POLL WINNER - 5A
9/25 Lexington@ Lago Vista
10/2 McNeil @ Cedar Park
10/9 SECOND POLL WINNER - 4A
The FOX 7 team will be visiting the town listed in boldface.
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KXAN launches 9pm newscast on The CW
From KXAN’s press release:
(Austin, TX) - KXAN-TV announced today that beginning September 28, 2009, the station will air KXAN Austin News at 9pm on KNVA-TV, The CW Austin (Time Warner cable channel 12 and HD cable channel 1550).
This expansion of local news and weather coverage an hour earlier furthers the KXAN Austin News commitment to serve Central Texas according to the viewers’ schedules.
KXAN Austin News at 9pm will better serve the Austin area through shorter and more concise newscasts. For example, Jim Spencer’s First Warning Weather forecast and all the day’s important stories will air in 30 minutes, as opposed to the standard 60-minute 9pm newscasts that air on other television stations.
“Our new 9pm newscast on The CW Austin offers great local news coverage and the area’s most popular local weather forecast in 30 minutes, 7 days a week,” says Eric Lassberg, president and general manager, KXAN-TV, KNVA-TV and KBVO-TV. “It reflects our ongoing commitment to provide viewers with more options and convenience.”
Veteran reporter, Shannon Wolfson has been chosen to anchor KXAN Austin News at 9pm. Wolfson has been a reliable, award-winning reporter for KXAN Austin News for the past three years.
KXAN Austin News at 9pm will be followed by episodes of The Office at 9:30pm Monday through Sunday.
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A&E Television acquires Lifetime
ABC News reports that A&E Television Networks is poised to acquire Lifetime Entertainment Services.
The A&E brand is owned by Disney-ABC, Hearst and NBC Universal.
The new venture will retain the A&E name and will include the A&E Network; History; Lifetime Television; Lifetime Movie Network; Bio; History International; Lifetime Real Women; History en Español; Military History; and Crime & Investigation Network.
ABC News has the whole story here.
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Michelle Valles announces new KEYE gig
Michelle Valles announced today via a posting on her page at the social media networking site Facebook that she is changing jobs at KEYE:
“Happy to announce I will co-hosting our new lifestyle show on KEYE TV beginning Sept. 14th at 4pm. No more 2am wake up calls! More details to come. Stay tuned:),” Valles wrote.
Valles joined KEYE on December 17, 2008, co-anchoring the morning newscast with veteran personality Fred Cantu. Previously, Valles had worked at KXAN.
In a follow-up conversation, she was scant on details, saying the new program would focus on lifestyle and community events and that she and co-host Jason Wheeler (KEYE weekend anchor) are trading news for entertainment reporting.
“We are taking a major leap of faith,” Valles said, “but knowing our personalities it is going to be a lot of fun! And it’s going to look different; we are going to dress very casual and hip, and there will be very little news.”
Valles’ Facebook posting drew dozens of congratulatory comments, including one which noted that Valles and Wheeler will be going head-to-head with Oprah Winfrey.
“Thanks amigos!! Your support means so much,” Valles wrote. “This is exactly what I want and I get to co-host with Jason Wheeler. Fred (Cantu) is solid and will hold the fort down solo for a while. I will of course miss the crew but not the crazy hours!”
In July, Austin360.com readers named Cantu and Valles the top morning news anchors with 45 percent of the vote.
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Networks slate Kennedy tributes
TV Guide has published a comprehensive list of televised tributes to Massachusetts Senator Ted Kennedy, who died Tuesday morning following a battle with brain cancer.
All of the major broadcast networks are airing Kennedy tributes either tonight or Thursday, in addition to coverage on cable networks CNN, MSNBC and BIO.
On a local level, KXAN will join other NBC stations across the country in airing a special, hour-long “Nightly News” from 5:30-6:30 tonight. “Austin News at 6” will air at 6:30 p.m. and “Wheel of Fortune” will be preempted.
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Snakes on a cane? ‘House’ drew that.
Leave it to a doctor to go viral. A curmudgeonly doctor named “House.”
A few weeks ago, I received a t-shirt in the mail with the symbol you see here, now commonly being referred to as “snakes on a cane.” No press release, no explanation … just the shirt. It didn’t take me long to put 2 and 2 together: I immediately thought of Hugh Laurie’s character on the popular FOX show.
But then I kind of dismissed the notion. Why would such a successful franchise, going into its 6th season, need a viral marketing campaign?
“We were really able to hit a wide range of people,” news service Reuters quotes Fox’s executive vice president of marketing and communications, Joe Earley, as saying. ” ‘House’ doesn’t need a teaser campaign, but given how brilliant it is, it’s intrigued people in a new way.”
The venture, which began with the introduction of the cleverly cryptic symbol (originally sketched by Laurie himself!) has included short, strange ads on FOX, chalk-drawn sidewalk renderings of the icon, print ads and, of course, t-shirts. Reuters says the campaign will culminate when a vintage ambulance marked with the symbol broadcasts show information on the streets of Los Angeles.
It’s smart, no doubt, but it seems like a lot of time, effort and money for a solid performer that’s not going anywhere.
Catch the 2-hour season premiere of “House,” which finds our doctor in the wrong side of a psychiatric hospital, Sept. 21 at 7 p.m. on FOX. The new season’s Web site is snakesonacane.com.
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Paula Abdul lands new hosting gig
This just in: America is officially running out of divas.
Returning after a four-year break, “VH1 Divas,” which has featured appearances by Whitney Houston, Aretha Franklin, Celine Dion, Mariah Carey and others — will return next month with a less stellar lineup, according to MTV.com.
September’s card includes Kelly Clarkson, Miley Cyrus, Adele, Leona Lewis and Jordin Sparks.
Miley Cyrus? Jordin Sparks? Isn’t this a little like that “Saturday Night Live” sketch that had Screech from “Saved by the Bell” appearing on “Inside the Actors’ Studio?”
The big news is that the whole affair will be hosted by Paula Abdul, who announced the gig Monday the same way she announced her departure from “American Idol” … via the micro-blogging service Twitter (I think if Paula got into a car accident, she would tweet before calling 911).
The article states that additional “Divas” performers will be announced soon. Who would you like to see? Sound off, below.
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Live chat: TV gripes
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TV Profile: Robert Hadlock
You might know them, but do you know what they watch? This week we hop on the couch with a familiar face from KXAN. Check back each Monday to see who’s next.
Robert Hadlock
Weeknight news co-anchor at KXAN Austin News
Number of years in this position: 19
I love my job because: I work with a great team on the air and behind the scenes. Plus, I’ve had opportunities to do some really neat things.
Here’s what’s on my DVR: 5 episodes of Man vs Food; the final episode of Friday Night Lights from season 3; a news blooper from a competing station; Big Brother (for Mrs. Hadlock); Fr. John Corapi; 3 or 4 movies that we were going to “finish watching later.”
My all-time favorite TV show is: Friday Night Lights
You’ll never catch me watching: The Daily Show
If I have insomnia, the show that lulls me back to sleep is: The Larry King Show
A current show I never miss is: The PGA Tour on NBC/CBS
If my TV is on, it’s probably tuned to this channel: KXAN (except for Kathie Lee and Hoda’s 4th hour of TODAY)
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This week’s TV picks
Eddie Murphy stars in “Bowfinger.”
Monday
‘The Closer’ 8 p.m., TNT: Kevin Bacon directed this episode, which hinges on a stabbing death perpetrated by a ninja. So it should only take you five steps to get to that episode of ‘Monk’ directed by Martin Scorsese.*
‘Property Virgin’ 7 p.m., HGTV: The search is on for a move-in ready home with a big yard in Austin. Big yard? Guess I’ll add this to the list of shows that didn’t film in my neighborhood.
Tuesday
‘Michael McDonald Q Sessions Live’ 8 p.m., QVC: Grammy-winning McDonald hawks his holiday CD, ‘This Christmas’. Hey, it’s never too early to — no, wait … it’s August, right? Okay, too early.
‘Flipping Out’ 9 p.m., Bravo: Business expansion goals lead a designer-and-remodeler to attend a client’s pajama party. Does that excuse really work?
Wednesday
‘Wipeout’ 7 p.m., ABC: Obstacles in tonight’s episode include Swinging Cereal Killer, Ballsy-Go-Round and Mesh Mosh Run. Incidentally, those are also the names of my three favorite rap artists.
‘Lottery Changed My Life’ 7 p.m., TLC: A Texas lottery winner spends millions on a tepee-themed motel. I’ll best the top floor rooms are really small and coney.
Thursday
‘Futurama’ 8 p.m., Comedy Central: The ha-ha network is airing, back-to-back-to-back-to-back, the four episodes that comprise the direct-to-video movie ‘The Beast with a Billion Backs’. Bonus: David Cross is the beast.
‘Monk’ 10 p.m., USA: In this rerun, guest Daniel Stern is wrapped up with a girl’s disappearance and a UFO sighting. I’m not sure, but I don’t think this is the Scorsese one I was talking about.
Friday
‘Bowfinger’ 7 p.m., ABC: Yet Eddie Murphy didn’t get an Oscar nod ‘til ‘Dreamgirls’.
Saturday
‘Mega Shark Versus Giant Octopus’ 8 p.m., Syfy: Lorenzo Lamas and Deborah Gibson star. They’re probably not, but it would be really cool if they played the titular characters.
‘The Serpent King’ 7 p.m., NGC: Snake freaks track the threatened venomous King Cobra into the jungles of India. It’s a shame they’re in trouble, because the Earth really can’t have too many gigantic, venomous snakes.
Sunday
‘Your Kid Ate What?’ 7 p.m., TLC: I don’t even care what they ate — I’m watching, because this show has the best title of the week.
*This is a joke. To the best of my knowledge, Martin Scorsese never directed an episode of “Monk.”
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Of papas and pole dances
I recently took some heat on Twitter for a post I made in advance of MTV’s Teen Choice Awards.
Word leaked that tween idol and Hannah Montana alter-ego Miley Cyrus’ live performance would include a pseudo pole dance on top of an ice cream wagon. This news broke on the same day that the Internet exploded with naked photos of another Teen Choice nominee, “Twilight’s” Ashley Greene (who plays Alice Cullen in the series notably popular with teen girls and their moms).
“Miley pole dancing? That ‘Twilight’ actress whose naked pics just broke on the net? I think my daughter will be skipping Teen Choice Awards,” I wrote.
“Yea! And don’t let her play video games, they cause violent behavior!,” a follower replied. “Keep her locked in a closet between school days to be safe.”
I thought that reply was a little sarcastic and extreme, and not particularly helpful. But maybe I’m wrong. Because now Miley’s own dad, country music personality Billy Ray Cyrus, is defending his daughter’s performance, according to US Magazine.
“You know what? I just think that Miley loves entertaining people,” the mag’s Web site quotes Miley’s dad. “I always tell her to love what you’re doing and stay focused for the love of the art and not worry so much about opinion.”
“I give my kids a lot of freedom to make the art they wanna make, and make it in their own voice. I think it’s important,” he added.
Although the performance turned out to be relatively mild, does anybody really think that pole dancing on an ice cream wagon was Miley’s idea and not strategic packaging by parties interested in publicity and the continued shedding of her Disney-clean image (already tarnished by risque Internet pics and suggestive photos in Vanity Fair)? To me, that exploitation is the most obscene part of this whole mess.
Is this the type of thing you’d want your 11-year-old daughter exposed to? Watch the video, then tell me what you think:
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Rebecca Diamond, Ingrid Hoffmann to speak at leadership event
A couple of familiar TV faces are among the speakers at next weekend’s Hispana Leadership Summit at the Hyatt Regency Lost Pines.
Rebecca Diamond (right) is a host on the Fox Business show “Happy Hour” and a former Texan.
Ingrid Hoffmann is host of “Simply Delicioso” on Food Network and “Delicioso” on Univision/Galavision.
The event runs Aug. 27-29. It’s hosted by Hispanic Magazine and State Farm and is aimed at Latina professionals and entrepreneurs.
Rebecca Diamond image courtesy of Fox Business
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‘Friday Night Lights’ adds another cast member
More casting news from Austin-filmed “Friday Night Lights”: Jurnee Smollett (“The Great Debaters,” “Gridiron Gang”) is joining the show as Jess. According to zap2it.com, the character is “the daughter of a former NFL player who helps her dad raise her younger siblings.”
Related posts:
‘Friday Night Lights’ needs extras
‘Friday Night Lights’ adds 2 cast members
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‘60 Minutes’ creator Don Hewitt dead at age 86
Television newsmagazine pioneer Don Hewitt has died at age 86. CBS said Hewitt died of pancreatic cancer at his home in Bridgehampton, N.Y.
Here are some facts culled from Hewitt’s “60 Minutes” biography page:
Hewitt created CBS’ “60 Minutes” in 1968 and stepped down as its executive producer in June 2004.
He was the recipient of numerous awards over his television and journalism career, including the Edward R. Murrow Award from Washington State University in 2007 and the second annual Lifetime Achievement Emmy presented by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences in September 2003.
For his groundbreaking work on and continued stewardship of “60 Minutes,” Hewitt was awarded the Founders Emmy by the International Council of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences in 1995. Presenting this award to Hewitt, then-ABC News President Roone Arledge said, “His real monument is 60 Minutes. He is truly an innovator in this business. I still believe Don deserves the credit for it (the idea of the newsmagazine format); it is an innovative format no one had done before. It’s been copied all over the world, including several times by us. He’s been a leader in our industry. He has inspired all sorts of people.”
Like many veteran television journalists, Hewitt began his career in newspapers. He was a copyboy for the New York Herald Tribune and, during World War II, served as a war correspondent in the European and Pacific theaters.
Hewitt is survived by his wife, Marilyn Berger, three children from two marriages, and an adopted daughter.
You can read the Associated Press story here.
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SXSW winner on HBO2 Wednesday night
A son sets out to make a portrait of his eccentric father but instead ends up exposing the secrets of his entire family in “In a Dream.” The documentary, which took home the Emerging Visions Audience Award at this year’s SXSW Film Festival, premieres tonight at 7 p.m. on HBO2.
Cinematical’s Scott Weinberg called it “one of the most unexpectedly touching documentaries I’ve ever seen.”
From the HBO press release:
The film follows artist Isaiah Zagar and his muse and gallerist wife Julia who are fixtures in the South Philadelphia art scene. They have enlivened the city with their stunning work for decades. Their home and other properties around the city are covered in elaborate mosaics of tile and mirror fragments, documenting Isaiah’s love for Julia and for his two sons, Zeke and Jeremiah. But the fantasy world Isaiah constructs through his murals cannot completely hide the darker reality that threatens his relationship, sanity, and family.
The movie’s Web site is here. Check out the trailer:
IN A DREAM: Theatrical Trailer from Herzliya Films on Vimeo.
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Joe Jonas to be ‘Idol’ judge in Dallas
Joe Jonas of the Jonas Brothers will be a guest judge for “American Idol” auditions in Dallas, “Entertainment Tonight” reports.
These auditions will be for contestants who made it through the preliminary round in Dallas back in June. For pictures from the June auditions, visit the Collective Vision blog.
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Aymond installation Mass to be televised
EWTN Global Catholic Network will televise the Mass of Installation of Gregory Aymond as he becomes the 14th archbishop of New Orleans, according to a news release from the network.
The Mass will air live starting at 2 p.m. Thursday. It will be rebroadcast starting at 11 that night.
Aymond had been bishop of the Diocese of Austin since 2000
In Austin, EWTN is available on Time Warner Cable, Grande Communications and AT&T U-verse systems.
Update: EWTN is Channel 297 on Time Warner Cable, 191 on Grande and 562 on U-Verse. The broadcast will also live-steam at the EWTN Web site. Click on “Multimedia” at the top of the page and then “Multimedia Home” on the drop-down menu. EWTN is broadcast in Spanish on U-verse Channel 3077 and Time-Warner Channel 649.
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‘Friday Night Lights’ needs extras
If you’re a “Friday Night Lights” fan, here’s your chance to be part of the show.
The Austin-shot series is seeking paid extras for its fourth season, which will be filmed between Sept. 2 and Dec. 21.
No acting experience is required, but all applicants must be U.S. citizens and have valid photo ID and Social Security cards, according to On Location Casting.
The casting agency says a variety of extras are needed. Here’s the section from the agency’s news release on specific types it’s seeking:
“— Football Players: ages 18-24, all ethnicities especially African American and Hispanic, male, athletic types preferably with some football experience
“— Cheerleaders: ages 18-24, all ethnicities especially African American and Hispanic, MUST have previous cheerleading experience
“— Football Sideline Trainers and Managers: ages 18-24, male and female, all ethnicities, athletic types
“— Pop Warner Football Players: ages 5-12, all ethnicities, with Pop Warner experience
“— Football Coaches: ages 35-65, male, all ethnicities especially African American and Hispanic, athletic types
“— High School Students: ages 16-23 and College Students: ages 18-28
“— Teachers, Boosters, Parents, Townspeople
“— Prisoners: ages 18-60, all ethnicities, tough criminal looking types”
Interested? Apply at the On Location Web site. For more information, e-mail fnl_extras@yahoo.com.
Earlier today:
‘Friday Night Lights’ adds 2 cast members
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Political columnist Robert Novak dead at age 78
Political columnist and television personality Robert Novak has died at age 78 after a battle with brain cancer, according to his newspaper, The Chicago Sun-Times.
With Rowland Evans, he started a political column called “Inside Report.” Later, they took their act to television as “Evans and Novak.” He also created CNN’s “The Capitol Gang” and co-hosted that network’s “Crossfire.” In addition, he appeared as a panelist on Public Television’s “The McLaughlin Group.”
Novak, who the Sun-Times reports relished his “Prince of Darkness” public persona, was famously involved in the Valeria Plame incident in 2003.
On a somewhat personal note, Novak was born and raised in Joliet, Illinois — about thirty minutes away from my childhood home. His first newspaper job was at the Joliet Herald-News, a paper for which I once worked, and I grew up reading his work.
You can read the entire Sun-Times story by clicking here.
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Obama to speak at Cronkite memorial
President Obama will be among the speakers at the memorial service for Walter Cronkite on Sept. 9 in New York, according to the New York Post.
Also on the list to speak at Lincoln Center are former President Bill Clinton and Buzz Aldrin.
Cronkite died July 17 at age 92.
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‘Friday Night Lights’ adds 2 cast members
Take a look at the two guys in this link. You might be seeing them around town soon.
Matt Lauria and Michael B. Jordan have joined the cast of the Austin-filmed NBC series “Friday Night Lights.”
Lauria appeared on the defunct series “Lipstick Jungle,” while Jordan’s credits include “All My Children” and “The Wire.” The two will play football players at East Dillon High, where Coach Taylor (Kyle Chandler) is now working.
“Friday Night Lights” will start airing its new season on DirecTV in October and on NBC next summer.
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“Dancing” Tom Delay: “I’m in it to win it.”
Former House Republican Whip Tom DeLay, an upcoming contestant on “Dancing with the Stars,” told ABC’s “Good Morning America” today that he’s “in it to win it,” the Associated Press reports.
Th Sugar Land, Texas native, who earned the nickname “Hammer” for his persuasive tactics in keeping party members in line, claims that wearing sequins or sporting an open-shirted look would require some “negotiations.” He did not state whether he would be negotiating for or against those possibilities.
“Dancing with the Stars” is known more for impressive dance moves than political maneuvers, but who knows? Delay’s own brand of fancy footwork could come in handy.
Perhaps he could redistrict the judging panel to get a more favorable voting result, as he did for Republicans with the Texas congressional districts in the early 2000s. (Though he pled not guilty, Delay was forced to resign from his position as Majority Leader following indictment by a Texas grand jury that he had conspired to violate campaign finance laws during that same period.)
It strikes me that “Dancing with the Stars” and other reality shows are a little like ’70s staples “The Love Boat” and “Fantasy Island,” but in reverse: On those cheesy Aaron Spelling classics, actors such as Sonny Bono and Fred “Gopher” Grandy would parlay recurring appearances into political careers. Now, perhaps, reality TV is the place where washed-up politicos go to kick-start entertainment careers (former Chicago Governor Rod Blagojevich was prevented by a judge from joining the cast of “I’m a Celebrity: Get Me Out of Here!” leaving his wife, Patti, to go in his place).
Do you think Delay will be successful on the show? Who would you rather see?
Season 9 of “Dancing with the Stars” premieres Sept. 21.
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TV Profile: Dutch Rall
You might know them, but do you know what they watch? This week we hop on the couch with the producer of “In Context” and the new “Stage Left.” Check back each Monday to see who’s next.
Dutch Rall,
Producer/Director, KLRU
Number of years in this position: 4
I love my job because: Being a PBS station, KLRU allows me to create things for the right reasons.
Here’s what’s on my DVR:
I don’t own one.
My all-time favorite TV show is: Watching Ali fights over at my grandfather’s when I was little.
You’ll never catch me watching: Daytime courtroom reality shows. They’re embarrassing for everyone involved, including the viewer.
If I have insomnia, the show that lulls me back to sleep is: Some old classic on AMC.
A current show I never miss is: “Mad Men” … it’s pretty much perfect.
If my TV is on, it’s probably tuned to this channel: Q - KLRU’s 18-3
Dutch Rall photo by Eli Reed
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‘Mad Men’ premiere party tonight!
Brian Solis photo, www.briansolis.com
I’m getting ready for the big “Mad Men” Season 3 premiere party we’re hosting down at the Belmont, 305 W 6th St., tonight. Fortunately, while none of my clothes are particularly stylish, all of them are from the ’60s! Sadly, I was an infant then, so they’re probably not going to fit real well.
We’re going to have trivia contests and prizes; and the Belmont is serving signature cocktails for the event, including a Classic Mad Men Martini, a Mad Men Manhattan and Kir Royale.
The fun starts at 7 p.m. and we’ll be watching the premiere at 9 p.m.
See you there!
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This week’s TV picks
Monday:
‘Cake Boss’ 9 p.m., TLC: A fireworks-themed cake is created, which really makes me nervous about the whole ‘blowing out the candles’ part.
‘Hoarders’ 9 p.m., A&E: This series profiles people with obsessive-hoarding disorder, including a woman who hoards food in two freezers and four refrigerators. Should I be worried that I plan to keep every single episode of this show, along with back-up copies, in big piles of VHS tapes?
Tuesday:
‘More to Love’ 9 p.m., Fox: A group date to a spa and one-on-one dates to a castle and a Moroccan restaurant help Luke cull the remaining ladies to six. Is it right for Fox to put this show on right after ‘Hell’s Kitchen’?
‘Nova scienceNow’ 8 p.m., PBS: Tour a Texas algae farm where researchers work to make biofuel from algae. I’ll be taping this show, too, to use in a future argument with my wife about why not cleaning the shower could actually turn out to be a shrewd investment.
Wednesday:
‘Extreme Collections’ 7 p.m., Travel: Tonight’s episode features collectors of shoes, tarantulas, Barbie dolls and body piercings. Watch out, people … it’s a short drive from collector to hoarder.
‘Survive This!’ 8:30 p.m., Cartoon Network: Sometimes the title of a show writes the mini-review all by itself.
‘Black Gold’ 9 p.m., TruTV: Season 2 of this series following Texas oilmen starts tonight.
Thursday:
‘Real Housewives of Atlanta’ 9 p.m., Bravo: The ladies unwind at a King Tut cocktail party. Seriously, King Tut. Somebody’s running out of party themes. And unwinding is never a good idea when there might be mummies around.
Friday:
‘Psych’ 9 p.m., USA: James Brolin guest stars when odd occurrences threaten to close an Old West tourist attraction.
‘A Haunting’ 9 p.m., ID: A strange aura and a shadowy figure plague a home in Tucson. Where’s James Brolin when you need him?
Saturday:
‘Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern’ 7 p.m., Travel: Andrew comes to Texas and checks out the NASA kitchens. He’s supposed to sample a nitrogen-frozen dessert, chocolate bacon and fried alligator. I’m thinking he’s spending some time outside of NASA, because only one of those items sounds remotely like space food. Although, really … chocolate bacon has gotta’ be good anywhere.
Sunday:
‘The Simpsons’ 7 p.m., Fox: Back-to-back reruns from 2009’s resurgent season feature Moe dating a woman he met in an online chat room and Lisa’s experience on anti-depressants. Some of her smiley-faced visions rank among the best visual gags this series has ever produced.
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‘Mad Men’ premiere party update
I’ll be hosting a premiere party for “Mad Men’s” new season at 7 p.m. Sunday, August 16. The party will be at the ‘Mad Men’-ish Belmont, 305 W 6th St. We’ll have trivia questions and raffle prizes, and the Belmont is creating a signature drink for the event. They’re also featuring happy hour pricing all night! So dress up in your best ’60s inspired outfits and join us as we kick off season 3.
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Jenna Fischer sets new detective show in San Antonio
Are you ready to see bad guys being chased down the Riverwalk?
Jenna Fischer (Pam from NBC’s “The Office”) is developing a show for that network based on the exploits of Charlie Parker, a real-life San Antonio private eye, according to mysanantonio.com.. The site says Fischer, as producer, claims the show will be a Columbo- or Magnum, P.I.-like comedy/drama.
The script is still being written, so it’s a long way from getting on the air. But let’s keep our fingers crossed — maybe Parker can head over to the Alamo and help Pee Wee Herman find his stolen bicycle.
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Live in Austin? Ty Pennington wants to fix up your house
ABC’s “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” is looking for Austin abodes to upgrade.
From the ABC press release:
“We are looking for the deserving people and inspiring families that America can really root for,” says Casting Supervisor Morgan Fahey. “We’re looking for those special people who have amazing strength of character and never give up. Whether it’s keeping their chin up in really tough circumstances or going out of their way to help others. We want to help people whose stories have really affected their community or made a big difference in other people’s lives.
“There are a lot of people who are heroes to those around them because of the way they inspire others and quietly serve their communities on a daily basis,” Fahey added.
The “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” producers are looking for families whose homes desperately need to be rebuilt. “We really want to help families whose homes present major problems for the family, those big issues that affect the family’s quality of life on a daily basis. We want to find deserving people who just don’t have the resources, ability, or time to fix those serious issues without our help.”
To be eligible, a family must own their own single family home and be able to show producers how a makeover will make a huge difference in their lives. Interested families should e-mail a short description of their family story to casttexas@gmail.com
Nominations may be submitted by the family or by a member of their community. Each nomination must include the names and ages of every member of the household along with a description of the major challenges within the home. Anyone submitting a nomination should be sure to explain why the nominated family is deserving, heroic, and/or a great role model for their community. If possible, include a recent photo of the family. All nominations must include a contact phone number.
The deadline for nominations is August 25th, 2009. For more information on how to apply visit ABC’s website.
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More from the ‘Bachelorette’ reunion
Five contestants from the last season of “The Bachelorette” reunited Monday night at Ranch 616 in Austin to talk with fans about the show and what’s happened in their lives since filming wrapped.
Mike Stagliano The former break-dance instructor, says he was heartbroken for more than two months after he was booted from the show before reaching the final four men fighting to win Harris in the end.
Then, at a wrap party following the show’s “Men Tell All” episode, Stagliano says he met his true love: “Bachelor” alum Holly Durst.
“I’m gonna marry her,” the 25-year old says with a smile on his face.
Stagliano said Durst, who appeared on “The Bachelor” as a potential suitor for Matt Grant, has met his parents and they love her.
For now, the two are commuting to see each other, Durst from her Los Angeles area home and Stagliano from his home in Queens.
Stagliano, who is a children’s book author as well, says sales for his “Wesley’s Stories: Afterschool Adventures,” have picked up since his appearance on the show. He’s now working on his second book.
“I’m so thankful,” Stagliano said.
Jesse Kovacs Kovacs, who comes from a winemaking family, says life has stayed busy since he left the show’s filming, and hasn’t slept in the same bed for more than three days.
His family received 75 wine orders the day after an episode showing Kovacs booted from the show aired.
The Carmel Valley, Calif. resident says that for now he’s spreading himself thin doing appearances and traveling, because he knows this won’t last forever.
He’s also doing his part to promote Kovacs Brothers wine, offering samples at Ranch 616 last night.
“It’s been crazy since the show ended,” he said.
David Good Much like Austinite Wes Hayden, Good, 33 has been on his own mission to clean up his name, after he was portrayed as angry and often drunk on the show.
Good says he and Hayden had something in common: They were raw with their comments, which made for good television.
“People can hate on Wes and I, but we tell it like it is,” he said.
Good said he’s also working on a book about the “man code,” a heavily discussed topic on this past season’s “Men Tell All” episode.
At one point, Good told host Chris Harrison not to mention the phrase anymore after a debate on whether it was appropriate to let Harris in on details about other men possibly having girlfriends.
But now, Good claims that there’s a lot more to the “man code,” and it’s about doing what’s right “for your family, your country and your friends.”
But Good still takes time out to bash some of his former castmates from the show, including Jake Pavelka, who came across as a squeaky-clean pilot from Dallas.
“Jake is a complete fake person,” he said. “People don’t like you (referring to Jake), because you’re a nerd!”
Tanner Pope Pope has left his contract position as a project manager for a financial firm in Dallas and has hired a publicist to look into doing television work or endorsement deals. Fans might wonder if that means becoming a nail-polish spokesman. After all, Pope was portrayed as the foot-fetish fiend on the past season of “The Bachelorette.”
The Dallas native, however, says there is more to him than a foot obsession, however. Pope says he’s 30, and he’s ready to find true love. Pope said he got off on the ‘wrong foot’ with Harris, talking to her about other men on the show. Pope is nephew of Austin developer Tom Stacey.
Stacey bought Pope a classy, Versace-laden wardrobe from Austin store Keepers for his appearance on the show, Pope said.
He said that after a scene with Pope stripping down to his undies in front of the other men and Harris, he got an offer to do porn, which he turned down.
For now, he’s enjoying the attention he gets.
“I get recognized now,” he said. “So it’s cool.”
Wes Hayden Weeks after Hayden launched his own public-relations fight to save his name, the Austinite says all has gotten better for him.
Hayden was portrayed as the ultimate villain on this season’s “The Bachelorette,” and he and the show went their separate ways after he began publicly criticizing his treatment on the show.
He use to receive hundreds of hate-mail messages, which have now all but ceased, he said.
He’s also resumed his music career with his band, and run into little trouble, especially since tales of Swiderski dating other women surfaced.
“Everything is really good,” he said. “I’m happy, music is great, and everything has changed.”
Hayden, however, won’t hesitate to take another shot at the show. Referring to Swiderski’s situation, he said “that just goes to show you the show is bull(expletive).”
Below, Wes Hayden, left, and David Good pose with ‘Bachelorette’ fan Helen Chu.
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ESPN chats with Porter of ‘Friday Night Lights’ today
ESPN is hosting a live chat with “Friday Night Lights” actor Scott Porter at 2 p.m. today.
Porter’s character, Jason Street, was last seen on “Friday Night Lights” moving to New York. Porter also appears in the Austin-filmed movie “Bandslam,” which opens Friday.
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‘Bachelorette’ men reunite in Austin
Several men from this season’s “The Bachelorette” said Monday that show winner Ed Swiderski had an extraordinary advantage: access to a computer and cell phone during filming.
The men, in Austin on Monday night for a mini-reunion appearance, said they were all banned from having the items during filming, but somehow Swiderski had access. They now say reports that Swiderski was in relationships with two more women during filming are pretty damning.
“I think I saw it coming,” said David Good, the Ohio transportation business exec who was portrayed as angry and often drunk on the show. He just missed the cut for the final 10.
Good — who joined Austinite Wes Hayden, Dallas resident Tanner Pope, New Yorker Mike Stagliano and winemaker Jesse Kovacs at downtown hotspot Ranch 616 - met Austin fans and reminisced about the past season of the ABC show, and subsequent fallout. The event was in part the brainchild of Austin publicist Pam Blanton, a fan of the series who helped get the men together in Austin.
Reached Tuesday, Warner Horizon, the show’s production company, had no comment about what the men said during the reunion.
In recent weeks, reports have surfaced that Swiderski, who proposed to Bachelorette Jillian Harris on national television this summer, was involved in relationships with two Chicago women during and after the filming of the show. This week, celebrity mag US Weekly detailed timelines and e-mails and text messages exchanged between Swiderski and the women, even after the proposal.
Good said only two of the men from this season’s “The Bachelorette” were actually “into Jillian”: Stagliano and Reid Rosenthal.
Good, who says he was recruited for the show, says he believed Melissa Rycroft of the preceding “Bachelor” season would be the next “Bachelorette.” But a week before filming, he learned it was Harris instead, and he was disappointed.
“If I saw Jillian in a bar, I would not approach her,” he said. “I mean, Melissa to Jillian, c’mon! That’s why I was drunk the whole time!”
The men agreed that while Hayden, the Austinite, was portrayed as a “bad guy” with a girlfriend, Swiderski was shown much more favorably, which they now question.
“The truth always comes out; you can only hide it for so long,” said Hayden, who once fended off weeks of hate mail for his appearance on the show.
Stagliano, who is now in a serious relationship with an alumna from a previous “Bachelor” season, said he went on a triple date with Harris and Swiderski and had a good time.
He said that since new details have emerged about Swiderski, he has texted the newly engaged couple with support and prayers. He heard back from Swiderski, who didn’t deny the claims, but has yet to hear from Harris, he said.
“I couldn’t say a bad thing about Ed,” he said. “He’s a blast, a good guy. But maybe he got caught up with the other girls.”
Kovacs says he was also recruited by a casting director. He says he had a genuine connection with Harris and that the Swiderski reports are disconcerting.
“Maybe Jillian trusts people too much,” he said. “Maybe Ed has some explaining to do.” Pope says he was the closest to Swiderski of all the men during taping, and yet was surprised to hear rumors about other women.
Pope said his friend was the only one who had access to a cell phone and laptop, but thought perhaps that Swiderski had negotiated the terms into his contract.
Pope said he was one of the few men to predict Swiderski would win Harris’ heart. Now, however, he says the details of the other women are disconcerting.
“It’s hard for me to dispute that,” he said. “There’s proof, e-mails. It’s hard to negate that. I feel bad for my boy Ed. …If he really had a girlfriend, I wish he was there for the right reasons.”
Previously:
Wes Hayden defends his reputation
More from our Wes Hayden interview
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‘King of the Hill’ series finale to air after all
TV By the Numbers reports that Fox will air the final two episodes of “King of the Hill” in a special 1-hour series finale beginning at 7 p.m. CT Sunday, September 13. As recently as last week, Fox president Kevin Reilly had called the airing of any remaining episodes “unlikely.”
This isn’t a finale on par with, say, “The Sopranos” … it’s just Fox burning off remaining episodes. Still, it’s nice to see an institution like “KotH” get a decent send-off.
From Fox’s press release:
After 13 seasons of beer, barbecue, bickering and bonding, the Hill family delivers a Southern-style send-off in a one-hour series finale episode of KING OF THE HILL airing Sunday, Sept. 13 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX.
Since its debut in 1997, KING OF THE HILL has followed the life of HANK HILL (Mike Judge), his wife, PEGGY (Kathy Najimy), their 13-year-old son, BOBBY (Pamela Adlon), their 18-year-old niece, LUANNE (Brittany Murphy), her husband LUCKY (Tom Petty), their newborn baby girl GRACIE and his beer guzzling neighborhood buddies, DALE (Johnny Hardwick), BILL (Stephen Root) and BOOMHAUER (Judge).
In the series finale episode, “The Boy Can’t Help It” / ”The Honeymooners,” Bobby becomes quite the ladies’ man when several girls in his class consider him a potential date for the Homecoming dance. When he realizes the girls are just playing with his emotions and are not really that interested, he asks his pal Connie to the dance. Also in the episode, Hank is shocked when his mother announces she is marrying a man she has only known for a few weeks. Soon after, the newlyweds celebrate by purchasing an RV and heading to Hank’s. When Hank’s mom and new stepfather have a heated argument, she takes off with the RV and Hank is left to rescue his mother once again.
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TV Profile: Scott Fisher
You might know them, but do you know what they watch? A prominent meteorologist kicks off our series of local personalities and their viewing habits, but it could be anybody: a television personality; a politician; that oxymoron of a couch potato from your health club. Check back every Monday to see who’s next.
Scott Fisher,
Chief Meteorologist, KTBC FOX 7
Number of years in this position: Nine Years
I love my job because: I love talking to people and telling stories. You name the topic … I love to talk about it! As a FOX 7 meteorologist, I get to tell stories about the weather — it’s my perfect television job in what I think is the perfect city! The fun for me is each and every day finding new and interesting ways to explain what is happening, why it’s happening, what may lead to weather changes and when and how those changes (even subtle ones) may occur.
Here’s what’s on my DVR:
Family Guy
American Dad
Loads of History Channel Stuff (which is interesting, as I dreaded history in high school)
Forensic Files
South Park
Baseball’s Greatest Games and Heroes
Modern Marvels
My all-time favorite TV show is: Seinfeld but Family Guy is my favorite when it comes to what’s still on the air.
You’ll never catch me watching: C-SPAN but C-SPAN2 is AMAZING (just kidding)
If I have insomnia, the show that lulls me back to sleep is: Antiques Roadshow
A current show I never miss is: Family Guy, South Park, 24, The Mentalist, Prison Break (alas, just canceled) and any METS baseball game.
If my TV is on, it’s probably tuned to this channel: Comedy Central or of course, FOX 7
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This week’s TV picks
Hey, ‘Mad’dicts … you’ve only got a week to go. AMC photo
Monday:
‘Great American Road Trip’ 7 p.m., NBC: The remaining families head for Vegas, where they take in a show by comic magicians Penn and Teller. Personally, I’d rather watch Penn and Teller than watch other people watching Penn and Teller, but you’ve got to take your Penn and Teller where you can get it.
‘Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien’ 10:30 p.m., NBC: Quick — somebody sound the ‘weird hair’ alarm! Conan and Lyle Lovett will be sharing the same stage at the same time!
Tuesday:
‘Playing for Change: Peace Through Music’ 10 p.m., PBS: A Grammy-winning producer creates a cool mash-up by recording local musicians covering the same tunes worldwide, then mixing their individual performances into one song.
Wednesday:
‘MLB Baseball: Phillies at Cubs’ 7 p.m., WGN America: Go, Cubs!
Thursday:
‘NFL Football Exhibition: Cowboys at Raiders’ 9 p.m., CBS: Go, Cowboys!
Friday:
‘Woodstock: Now & Then’ 8 p.m., VH1 Classic: Admit it … aren’t you really just interested in the ‘then’ part?
‘Wizards of Waverly Place’ 7 p.m., Disney: Justin asks a vampire girl to the prom and Alex is surprised when real zombies turn up at a zombie-themed dance. Meanwhile, my 11-year-old daughter memorizes every line spoken.
Saturday:
‘NFL Football Exhibition: Texans at Chiefs’ 7 p.m., CW: Go, Cubs!
‘It’s Me or the Dog’ 8 p.m., Animal Planet: Okay, I’ve never actually seen this show, in which an expert helps families with their unruly canine pets, but I’ll bet I bellow its title at my house about 50 times a day.
‘The Terminators’ 8 p.m., Syfy: What? You think this direct-to-video release in which humans battle earth-conquering cyborgs is a rip-off of James Cameron’s “Terminator” franchise? Really? Did you miss that “s” at the end of the title? Shame on you.
Sunday:
‘Who Wants to Be a Millionaire’ 7 p.m., ABC: Connie Chung is tonight’s expert lifeline. Maybe the contestants should go with phone-a-friend.
‘Mad Men’ 9 p.m., AMC: Pete and Ken find themselves in an unexpected situation at Sterling-Cooper; Sal and Don head out on a business trip and blah, blah, blah who cares what happens? I’d spend the hour watching Betty wash the dishes! ‘Mad Men’ is back everybody! It’s finally back!*
*That reminds me: I’ll be hosting a premiere party for “Mad Men’s” new season at 7 p.m. Sunday, August 16. The party will be at the “Mad Men”-ish Belmont, 305 W 6th St. downtown. We’ll have trivia questions and raffle prizes, and the Belmont is creating a signature drink for the event! Dress up in your best ’60s inspired outfits and join us as we watch the great first episode of season 3.
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Kate Gosselin speaks in Austin
Speaking in Austin on Saturday, Kate Gosselin said that the very public end of her marriage this year has rivaled being pregnant with sextuplets as the toughest time in her life.
“There have been days I have not wanted to get out of bed,” Gosselin, the star of the TLC series “Jon and Kate Plus 8,” told the audience at the Balance Expo for Women at the Palmer Events Center. The Gosselins are parents of a set of twins and a set of sextuplets. They announced their separation in June.
She said a focus on her children keeps her going, and that she and the children have gotten closer than ever this summer.
“They are happy, they are healthy, they are loved,” Gosselin, who’s also the author of “Multiple Bles8ings: Surviving to Thriving with Twins and Sextuplets” and “Eight Little Faces.”
She asserted that the media scrutiny on her family would not go away if they ended the show, which she said helps provide for the children and is a healthy and normal part of life for them.
Gosselin made frequent references to Jon in relating stories about her family, but took only gentle digs.
“We always joked that when we met we should have walked the other direction,” she said early in her talk, acknowledging the events of the past few months.
Gosselin said she grew up dreaming of being a mother one day, and of especially wanting twins. She had her own twins, Mady and Cara, at 25, what she felt was an advanced age for having her first children.
She devoted a large part of her talk to relating stories of her pregnancy with sextuplets and was frank about the physical and emotional difficulties. “It was like a jail sentence,” she said of her long hospitalization during the pregnancy. Unable to work herself and with her husband out of a job, she described “that terrible guilt that you’re bringing these babies into the world and you can’t provide for them.”
Gosselin said she started allowing news coverage of her family to update all those who had helped them in caring for the children about how the kids were doing. She cited her faith frequently in talking about getting through the pregnancy and the first years of the sextuplets’ lives.
With the dissolution of her marriage and the tabloid attention, she said she felt she was being tested again, but that it renewed for her the goal of being the best mother possible.
“The decisions that I make are not taken lightly,” she said.
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More Tyra on ‘Friday Night Lights,’ but not until season 5
Adrianne Palicki is taking a break from “Friday Night Lights.” Dean Hendler photo/NBC
Adrianne Palicki won’t be back on “Friday Night Lights” until season 5, the Chicago Tribune reports.
We’ll see the “goodbye arcs” for Minka Kelly’s and Zach Gilford’s characters Lyla and Matt when NBC airs season 4 in summer of 2010 (DirecTV subscribers will get to watch this October) but “Palicki has some work lined up for the next few months,” Maureen Ryan reports on the Tribune blog, The Watcher. “She’ll be in the remake of ‘Red Dawn’ and she’s also in the third episode of ‘Supernatural’s’ fourth season. As a result, we won’t get Tyra’s farewell arc until Season 5.”
Read the entire story here.
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Kate Gosselin will be on ‘Today’ 2 days after Austin visit
Kate Gosselin will give her first TV interview since her separation on the “Today” show Monday, NBC has announced.
The star of the TLC show “Jon & Kate Plus 8” is scheduled to be in Austin this weekend to speak at the Balance Expo on Saturday.
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Sample Julia Child nostalgia online
Nora Ephron’s cinematic Meryl Streep/Amy Adams dish, “Julie & Julia,” doesn’t open until Friday. In the meantime, you can satisfy your hunger for Julia Child nostalgia at PBS.org. The Web site has posted classic cooking shows from the late culinary icon for online viewing on their video portal.
Web surfers can learn Julia Child’s tricks of the trade and find tips and recipes. In addition, PBS welcomes viewers to share their own “Julia” stories.
Cooking shows were the original reality television. I remember hearing Julia’s distinctive voice on the television in my childhood home (as if I needed any prodding to cultivate an obsession with food).
Do you have a favorite Julia Child memory? Post it below.
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NBC talks ‘Friday Night Lights’ and ‘Chuck’
Gail Pennington reports on the St. Louis Dispatch’s Tube Talk blog that “Friday Night lights” just isn’t that important to NBC.
“It just doesn’t have the ratings that we need it to have to justify it being on our fall schedule,” Pennington quotes NBC Entertainment president Angela Bromstad saying. “Our plan is to use it as a premier summer program.”
We didn’t expect the Austin area-filmed “FNL” would be back ‘til next summer; now we know why.
There was some hope among the creators of the network’s “Chuck,” the blog post reads, that it would be moved up to a fall slot in the wake of new property “Parenthood’s” postponement. Bromstad says no.
Read the whole story — including Bromstad’s take on Austinite Ben Mackenzie’s “Southland,” here.
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Who should replace Paula on ‘American Idol’?
This photo illustration shows what the ‘American Idol’ panel could look like next season, if they move judge Kara DioGuardi over to the right of Randy Jackson (and crop her out of this picture) and if Cyndi Lauper were made a new judge and her head became abnormally large. Photo illustration by Dale Roe from Associated Press photos.
So … Paula Abdul, FOX and The Associated Press all say contract negotiations were unsuccessful and that “American Idol’s” original loopy, female judge will not be back.
“With sadness in my heart,” Abdul notified her Twitter fans in a surprisingly lucid tweet, “I’ve decided not to return. I’ll miss nurturing all the new talent, but most of all being a part of a show that I helped from day 1 become an international phenomenon” (actually, that must have been a couple of tweets).
FOX and the show’s producers noted that the “tremendous talent” that is Paula has been “an important part of the ‘American Idol’ family over the last eight seasons and we are saddened that she has decided not to return to the show.”
Wow.
Can you imagine an Abdul-less “Idol?” Was evil Kara DioGuardi brought on to force Paula’s hand and get her to leave? Could you honestly sit and watch Simon and Kara square off every week? I’m not sure it works for me — isn’t “Idol” pretty much the “Simon and Paula Show?”
I’m hoping that this is all just posturing or a stupid, awful sideshow befitting the “Idol” circus. After all, we heard the same thing about the voice cast of “Futurama” weeks ago and that drama ended happily ever after.
But, just in case nobody steps in and fixes this mess (Bill Clinton, are you reading this?), we need an additional female judge on the panel. I’ve seen the name “Cyndi Lauper” bandied about on Twitter and Facebook (okay, I’ve actually joined in on the bandying; I have bandied). I think she’d be okay, but she’s probably too rational and savvy (and, anyway, she’s not “so unusual” any more).
Who would be your pick to replace Abdul? Let me know, below.
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Is ‘As the World Turns’ the next soap to go?
Hot on the heels of the announcement that “Let’s Make A Deal” is replacing “Guiding Light” comes speculation from CBS president Nina Tassler that “As the World Turns” could be next, according to the New York Post.
“It is also having ratings challenges. It is hard to say (if it is safe),” the paper quotes Tassler as saying. “It is one of those things where you watch and you talk. All of daytime is a challenged daypart.”
“The Guiding Light” debuted in 1952 with “As the World Turns” following four years later. The final episode of “GL” will air on September 18. “Let’s Make a Deal’s” new incarnation will find genial celebrity Wayne Brady taking the host mantle famously created by Monty Hall, who is consulting on the show.
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FOX Austin eliminates ‘7 On Your Side’ unit
Who’s watching out for the watchdogs?
Fox Austin, KTBC, has laid off its “7 on Your Side” unit.
Casualties of hard economic times, six full time positions were cut last week according to a source who asked to be referred to only as a station spokesperson due to FOX policy: two graphic artist technicians, three camera operators and one investigative producer were let go.
“In addition to that, investigative reporter Chris Coffey’s contract was not renewed,” the spokesperson confirmed.
Coffey anchored the consumer watchdog “7 on Your Side” reports for KTBC. The series reported on unethical business practices and scams, including door-to-door alarm system sales; comp time versus overtime pay; credit report scams; and false charity donation solicitors.
“Investigative reporting will continue to be handled by the rest of the news team,” according to the spokesperson.
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TV critics honor ‘Battlestar,’ ‘Big Bang Theory,’ ‘Mad Men’
“Battlestar Galactica” wowed the Television Critics Association this year.
SyFy’s “Battlestar Galactica” was named Program of the Year at the annual Television Critics Awards ceremony Saturday in Pasadena. The award is notable because the popular series concluded its run this year and was completely snubbed by the Emmy folks. It’s also an odd category, neither best drama nor best comedy.
Those honors went to “The Big Bang Theory” (CBS) and “Mad Men*” (AMC). “Bang,” as a whole, was not nominated by the Emmy voters (although cast member Jim Parsons, who won the best actor in comedy trophy from the TCA, also nabbed a nomination in that Emmy category) while “Mad Men” took home an armload of Emmy trophies last year.
HBO took home the most TCA awards, with three. That doesn’t sound like many, but the critics, being stingy with praise, only dole out ten awards. The pay cable network’s “True Blood” took home best new program, “Grey Gardens” won for best miniseries, and “The Alzheimer’s Project” took top honors in the documentary category.
Bryan Cranston of “Breaking Bad” (AMC) was recognized as best performer (the TCA gives out only one award, as opposed to separate honors for men and women); Nickelodeon’s “Yo Gabba Gabba” was named best children’s program and, finally, NBC’s “ER” won the critics’ Heritage Award.
More than 200 television writers from the United States and Canada vote on the awards.
*Reminder: I’ll be hosting a premiere party for “Mad Men’s” new season at 7 p.m. Sunday, August 16. The party will be at the “Mad Men”-ish Belmont, 305 W 6th St. downtown. We’ll have trivia questions and raffle prizes, and the Belmont is creating a signature drink for the event! Dress up in your best ’60s inspired outfits and join us as we watch the first episode of season 3.
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This week’s TV picks
Discovery’s “Air Jaws” is a lot less cuddly than Disney’s hoops-shooting “Air Bud,” and he’d probably pop the basketball anyway.
Monday
‘Air Jaws: Sharks of South Africa’ 7 p.m., Discovery: Shark week started last night, so if you turn on Discovery any night this week you’re probably going to see sharks. The creatures profiled in this particular show leap out of the water, hunting seals. Also, 27 of them devour a whale carcass. Sharks are awesome.
‘Obsessed’ 9 p.m., A&E: An OCD-afflicted woman plucks out her eyebrows; another woman can’t stop picking at her skin; a TV critic compulsively checks what’s on other channels right now.
Tuesday
‘Paris Hilton’s My New BFF’ 9 p.m., MTV: Paris chooses one of two remaining hopefuls as her new BFF, which begs the question — what’s that final “F” for if she’s choosing a new one every year?
Wednesday
‘True Hollywood Story’ 9 p.m., E!: Farrah Fawcett gets the bio treatment and I reminisce about that poster I won at the school fair in middle school.
‘Make My Day’ 9:30 p.m., TV Land: This new hidden-camera series follows unsuspecting participants who are set up with the best day of their lives. I thought this show was following me last week when I went to get a Snickers bar from the vending machine and two fell out instead of one.
Thursday
‘So You Think You Can Dance’ 7 p.m., FOX: Season 5’s winner is announced.
‘World’s Wildest Vacation Videos’ 7:30 p.m., truTV: No program description was available but, just to be safe — I can totally explain that weekend in Myrtle Beach.
Friday
‘Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader’ 7 p.m., FOX: Tonight, general-knowledge grade-school questions are posed to a surfer who lost an arm to a shark. Okay, I know it’s Shark Week, but c’mon.
Saturday
‘George Lopez: Tall, Dark and Chicano’ 9 p.m., HBOe: Popular comic Lopez filmed this stand-up special in San Antonio.
‘Dirty Sexy Money’ 9 p.m., ABC: This is the series finale, so that means it’s your last chance to catch the Darlings (as in ‘not viewer darlings’).
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