The New Tonight Show Logo

Speaking of NBC's Tonight Show, soon to be host Jimmy Fallon tweeted out the logo for his new show. 

Wow! I'm guessing the graphics department really put in some overtime on this:

Bill O'Reilly's War Rages On

Bill O'Reilly has declared victory on the "War on Christmas" but, he might need to tell his bosses at Fox News that.

For years, Fox News host Bill O'Reilly has been trying to save Christmas from all the "pinheads" who want to destroy the country by wishing people "Happy holidays." He has called the greeting "insulting to Christian America" and bemoaned the "'Happy holidays' syndrome."

But during his show on Tuesday night, just as he was declaring victory in this War on Christmas, his own network was joining the ranks of the despicable secular progressives. During a commercial break, Fox News aired this graphic wishing viewers "Happy holidays":

Oops! Looks like the war is still going.

H/T HuffPo

Robin Roberts Inks Deal with GMA

Word is that “Good Morning America” anchor Robin Roberts has quietly closed a long-term contract with ABC.

The deal is said to be worth between $13 million and $14 million a year. Still far behind Matt Lauer's $25 million dollar deal. 

ABC reps declined to discuss the value of the deal — or even if one has been signed. However, a source close to the network Tells Page Six the pact is only in the “high-seven figures,” or just less than $10 million.

“Over a month ago, they quietly inked a new, long-term, very high seven-figure deal with Robin that will keep [her] at the company for years to come . . . it was a friendly negotiation,” said an insider. “Robin’s been [at ABC News] for over 20 years . . . and will be a leader there for a very long time to come.”

The source said that Roberts — who was on leave for six months after a bone marrow transplant — “was extremely grateful for the kindness and love shown by everyone while she was sick.

“She made it clear to her reps that she wanted them to drive a fair deal but didn’t want to create any kind of bidding war,” our source said.

So whether it is $9 million or $14 million, the bottom line is.... Robin Roberts makes a boatload more money than you and I. 

Just saying.... 

You Have a Better Chance to be Murdered

TV stations went more than overboard on their coverage of the mega millions jackpot as it soared north of $600 million bucks.

Talent all talked about how they bought tickets (and showed them on Twitter) and of course you had the those typical reports where people are asked what they would do with all that money?

It was a feel good story that let everyone escape from reality and dream for a bit about winning the lottery. 

Then there was WPIX's Arthur Chi’en.

Chi’en is the guy that shows up at the party and throws up in the punch bowl. 

Chi’en did the old story about the very high odds of winning the jackpot, but he took it a step further. 

He took the common angle is to show the odds of winning the lottery as compared to other events. The veteran reporter pointed out that you were “50 percent more likely to be struck by lightning.”

But Chi’en took it to another, more inappropriate level, saying you were “8,000 times more likely to be murdered.”

Really? It's a story about winning the mete millions and you have to throw being murdered in there?

So much for the feel good story. 

Thanks Arthur. 

H/T Tuned In

The Blooper Lives on and on for Dallas Anchor

Anchorman 2 stars Steve Carell and Will Ferrell enjoyed and old blooper from now Dallas Anchor  Cynthia Izaguirre. 

The blooper has been around for years, but it was the first time seeing it for Carell and Ferrell. 

As for Izzy? She doesn't think it's that funny. 

Let's go to the video:

That's the Holiday Spirit

The crew from WFSB in Hartford news car broke down and they were in need of a jump. The gang of at WTNH were kind enough to step in and lend them a hand.

It's nice to see that competitors can work well together.

Nancy Grace Inks Deal to stay at HLN

While Jeff Zucker and the gang are blowing up and taking the news out of Headline News, Nancy Grace is staying to report on missing kids and white women for a while longer. 

The NY Post says that contrary to reports, Grace has inked a new deal.  

The host of HLN’s long-running “Nancy Grace” has signed a new, multi-year deal to remain the centerpiece of the network’s prime-time lineup through at least 2017.

Grace tells the NY Post that she was approached back in July about a contract extension by CNN chief Jeff Zucker, who also oversees sister network HLN. (Zucker brought in Albie Hecht as HLN’s EVP/GM in September.)

“I’m overwhelmed, happy and really looking forward to working with Albie and Jeff,” she said. “I’m all about crime and justice and that part of my show will stay the same. We might change [the show] up a bit, but my goal has and always will be helping to find missing people, especially children, and helping solve homicides and highlight [criminal] cases I think people should know about.”

Sometimes the News Comes to You

When you work in TV News, more often than not you need to go out and cover the news. But, every once and awhile the news comes to you.

Chattanooga police were chasing a suspect and he ending crashing right in the WDEF parking lot. We're guessing that the station was the first in town on the scene.

Let's go to the video:

The Evolution of the News Set

For years the news set was nothing more than an Anchor with plastic hair, sitting at a plastic desk, in front of a plastic cutout of the city's skyline. 

But, over the years, news sets have change dramatically and KSAZ's set in Phoenix is the next step in that evolution.

KZAZ new high definition set redefines how news operations will use sets moving forward.  The old paradigm considered sets as a visually interesting, static background to compliment what was going on at the Anchor Desk.

But this stunning, Devlin Design Group creation is a vibrant and dynamic interactive news presentation area that enhances and drives story-telling, made possible by the versatility engrained in the conception and design of this forward tech HD set.

The dynamic environment of this set keeps anchors engaged and upbeat since the talent is no longer chained to a desk.  This capability is enhanced by daily choreography meetings meant to maximize the set’s various story telling venues.

“Some people might suggest sets don’t drive ratings, but coincidentally, ratings are up for KSAZ since they debuted this set in September.  One explanation from the people at KSAZ is that the forward leading, interactive design is the spark plug that re-energized and reinvented how the station approaches each program. DDG is proud to be part of the team that has redefined story telling in the Phoenix market,” said Dan Devlin, Creative Director, Devlin Design Group

F-Bomb Wichita Anchor Headed to the Springs?

FTVLive was the FIRST to report that KSNW had let go Anchor Justin Kraemer after he threw down the F-Bomb at the end of Saturday night's newscast. 

KSNW has remained silent on the incident and has connected YouTube, asking them to pull the video because it violates copyright laws.

While KSN tries to censor the video, new versions continue to pop up YouTube.

As for Kraemer he may have had one foot out the door already. 

Word is that he had interviewed for an anchor job at KOAA in Colorado Springs and is close to landing the gig. FTVLive reached out to Kraemer and asked if he has the job and is going to KOAA? "Not sure at this point," Kraemer tells FTVLive.

As for his swearing on Saturday Night's newscast? "I'm an idiot," he says.

But he might soon have a new job, which will put him months ahead of AJ Clemente.  

Now that guy is an idiot. 

Is it Time for 60 Minutes to Shutdown?

Is it time for CBS to pull the plug on 60 Minutes?

That's what the website Gawker says they should do. 

After highlighting some of the news mags missteps over the past few weeks, which include Lara Logan's Benghazi report, the Amazon commercial and the puff piece on the NSA, it might be time.

Gawker writes 60 Minutes is a strange show in today’s media market. It’s the most-watched show in the history of television, yet is subsidized almost entirely by advertising aimed at retirees. And despite its archive of high-profile snafus, it enjoys a permanent Important Organ of Journalism status. It’s an even stranger show within the confines of CBS, where 60 Minutes producers have long operated out of their own special silo, away from the rest of CBS News. They even have their own Midtown studio, across the street from the news division’s headquarters.

Creating a massive broadcast success out of a tiny bubble is a high-wire act, though, and 60 Minutes keeps on tumbling down. That’s one reason Dylan Davies managed to trick the show’s producers: They never bothered to ask their CBS News colleagues with better government intelligence sources to vet his story. 

60 Minutes has produced fantastic journalism, won hundreds of well-deserved awards, and otherwise worked very hard to create a space for serious journalism in a medium that rewards maximum vapidness. But those accomplishments can only be described in the past tense. Nothing is forever. It’s time to tear it down and build something new.

Ouch!

The Public Doesn't Trust TV Reporters

When you take you car into an Auto Mechanic, more often than not you feel like he is going to tell you something needs to be replaced that doesn't.

Many feel that Mechanics are going to rip you off every chance they get.

Well, it might shock you to find out that in a poll down by Gallup, that Auto Mechanic is trusted more by the public than TV Reporters. So are Bankers. 

In fact TV Reporters are so low on the list they are tied with Lawyers. Ouch!

In a survey taken of more than 1,000 adults in the U.S., only 20 percent rated TV reporters "high" or "very high" for honesty and ethical standards, putting it 6th from the bottom of Gallup's list of professions.

If you're looking for some good news? TV reporters still rank ahead on Lobbyists.

The list:  

Bumped out in the Burgh

WPXI has told sports reporter Rich Walsh that they are not renewing his contract and he will be gone by the end of the month. 

"I was told my position was eliminated, that it was a budget issue," Mr. Walsh told the Pittsburgh Post Gazette. "I had a good time and there were a lot of good people I worked with. I don't have anything bad to say about the the station."

"While we don't have any plans to announce a replacement, our commitment to covering Pittsburgh sports won't diminish," said Ray Carter, WPXI vice-president and general manager. "In this world of ever-expanding technology and delivery platforms, broadcasters have to sometimes hit the 'pause' button and re-evaluate where they have their people and resources.

"That's in essence what we are doing. Rich is a terrific talent and has been a valuable team member. We're going to miss him."

"I felt like I was blindsided by it, a little, but it is the nature of the business," said Mr. Walsh, 36, a Penn Hills native and University of Pittsburgh alum. "I'm going to pursue anything that's available come January. I've already had interviews out of state, but I don't necessarily want to leave Pittsburgh." 

He's been at the station as a Reporter since 2005.

Props to NBC's Chuck Todd

FTVLive has pointed out some of Chuck Todd's not so brightest moments in the past, but this time we're in full agreement with him. 

Donald Trump is making noise that he is "seriously" considering a run for Governor of New York.

Of course, Trump won't run and he's just upset that no one is mentioning his name.

Yet, some media have never learned that Trump is nothing but an attention whore and they are starting to run with the "Trump might run for Governor" story.

Which brought NBC's Chuck Todd to Tweet this: 

We could not agree more Chuck, we could not agree more.