Booking it from the Today Show

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Today Show Booker Julie Gurovitsch is doing something that Brian Williams wanted to do.

She is moving from NBC News to The Tonight Show.

Gurovitsch was the coordinating music producer for NBC's Today Show. She was responsible to booking the music acts on Today. Now, she is headed to the Tonight Show to do the same thing. 

Since taking over for former booker Melissa Lonner at Today in early 2014, Gurovitsch oversaw a record 24 bookings for Today's Toyota Summer Concert Series last year.

In its 19th installment, the program hosted acts like 5 Seconds of Summer, Maroon 5, Ariana Grande, Iggy Azalea and Mariah Carey.

H/T Hollywood Reporter

Hamburglar Anchor Gets Surprise Visit

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5 days ago, FTVLive told you about a KTVI (St. Louis) Anchor tossed to his co-anchor, he called her the "Hamburglar" because of the stripped top she was wearing.

After FTVLive posted the story it went viral.

Well, props to McDonald's for giving KTVI Anchor April "The Hamburglar" Simpson a big surprise on this morning's newscast. live on Monday’s 9AM show.  Her reaction was priceless.

Let's go to the video: 

Haunted BriWi

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Earlier Today FTVLive told you the story in New York magazine about NBC and it's problems.

There was a a couple of paragraphs about Brian Williams having Tom Brokaw still around and a conversation Williams had with Chuck Todd. 

The show has been in freefall ever since the unexpected death of beloved “MTP” host Tim Russert in 2008. Chuck Todd eventually took over for David Gregory this past summer, prompting it of gallows humor from Williams, who still has Tom Brokaw lurking in his shadow.

“At least your ghost is dead. Mine is still walking in the building,” Williams told Todd, resumably referring to Russert, who died of a heart attack at age 58, ccording to New York magazine.

Behold the cover of Today's NY Post: 

New ND In Cleveland

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Almost a month ago, FTVLive reported that Fred D'Ambrosi was spotted in the WOIO newsroom.  Just a few moments ago, the station announced D'Ambrosi as its next ND, finally replacing Dan Salamone.

D'Ambrosi was most recently ND at Gannett's WUSA in Washington, DC. Prior to that, he spent a very long time at KFMB in San Diego.

FTVLive had reached out to D'Ambrosi when we first heard he was interviewing for the job. We're still waiting to hear back. In the meantime, we'll take Raycom's word for it.

Sorry ABC News...That is Not Correct

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It looks like the gang over at ABC News decided to recycle an old story that maybe they should have updated a bit. 

In a story posted online about what Same Sex Couples need to know when filing taxes, the last line of the story states, "There are now 18 states that recognize same-sex marriage."

That number is way off.

Last count showed that 37 states now recognize same-sex marriage, plus the District of Columbia.

ABC News has now deleted the last line and made no mention of their mistake or laziness on the rehashed story.

Here is a screen shot, before they made the change:

Welcome Eatman Media Services to FTVLive

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Not a week goes by where someone News Director or talent emails to ask me about finding a good agent?

If you're looking for an TV Agent that is honest and has integrity, just check out the Sponsors of FTVLive.com.

FTVLive will only align ourselves with companies that we can trust and know you can as well. FTVLive has actually turned down money from some agents that want to advertise on this website. There are not many websites out there that would turn down cold cash, but if we don't believe in the company, the Agent or their practices, their ad will not make it on FTVLive.com

With that being said, FTVLive is happy to announce a new sponsor that has come on board. Eatman Media Services is now a sponsor of this website. 

Eatman Media Services is a full service talent agency with offices in New York, Chicago and Los Angeles. With its staff of highly trained and experienced agents, EMS is uniquely equipped to serve the needs of elite talent.

Started in 1994, EMS quickly established itself among the top ranks of representation agencies and has since secured a formidable reputation based on principles of integrity, hard work, and professionalism.  All of EMS  agents are attorneys with extensive legal and negotiating backgrounds in the broadcast and entertainment fields.

Ross Eatman, Robert Eatman and Todd Foos make up Eatman Media Services and FTVLive is happy to have them on board as a sponsor of this website.

You can check out the EMS website at this link. 

BriWi Pitched CBS to Replace Letterman

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Brian Williams was suspended from NBC News for lying and one of his biggest lies was the one he told to David Letterman on CBS.

Williams told Letterman about his scary experience of being shot down in a helicopter in Iraq. Problem was the story was made up and it helped get Williams suspended (and maybe fired) from NBC News.

Now, after BriWi CBS Late Show story is surfacing and it is a doozy.

Word is that before his career spiraled into a punch line, NBC’s Lyin’ Brian pitched himself to CBS as a replacement for David Letterman. 

New York magazine reported unday that CBS chief Les Moonves declined Williams’ proposal befo tabbing Comedy Central political satirist Stephen Colber, the magazine say.

While Williams’ embarrassing admission that he embellished war stories brought a dark cloud to NBC, it was only the latest in a string of catastrophes to have shaken up the once respected 30 Rock news divisio, New York report.

NBC News president Deborah Turness has been so disturbed by the descent of venerable “Meet The Press,” she’s given thought to off-the-wal, even radica ideas to revive it.

She’s wondered out loud about booking more politically active celebrities like Angelina Jolie, using a live studio audience and having musi — such as blasting the ’80s ska grou The Special’ “Free Nelson Mandela” had th Sunday morning talk show ever scored an interview with the late South African icon.

The show has been in freefall ever since the unexpected death of beloved “MTP” host Tim Russert in 2008.

Chuck Todd eventually took over for David Gregory this past summer, prompting it of gallows humor from Williams, who still has Tom Brokaw lurking in his shadow.

“At least your ghost is dead. Mine is still walking in the building,” Williams told Todd, resumably referring to Russert, who died of a heart attack at age 58, ccording to New York magazine.

If NBC let's Brian Williams come back, then are are even more stupid than anyone can imagine.

Just saying....

H/T Page Six

Oops!

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How screwed up are things inside 30 Rock? 

CNN says that last weekend, workers at NBC's Rockefeller Center headquarters briefly wiped away promotional photos of Brian Williams. They removed the photos from a wall and painted over the words under them: "He's been there, he'll be there" -- a tagline for a celebration of Williams' 10th anniversary on the "NBC Nightly News."

The next day the workers returned and put the pictures back up. 

The official word was that the temporary exhibit had been accidentally taken down two weeks early, and that's why it was restored. 

Although it is likely that no one inside 30 Rock believes that for a second. 

Andy Lack sure does have his job cut out for him.

Sorry.... That's Not Exclusive

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KVIA (El Paso) Reporter Pilar Arias thought she had an exclusive story, but did not.

The station opened their newscast with one of those hyped “Only on ABC 7” lead-ins.

The story was about a proposal from El Paso Independent School District to essentially merge Vilas Elementary in Sunset Heights with Mesita Elementary in Kern Place (yeah I know, not exactly earth shaking stuff).

Arias closed her report with, “I would like to thank the El Paso ISD public information team for giving me this information tonight to give it to you first before you hear it anywhere else,” she said.

Since when does a journalist thank a “PR team” for doing what they’re supposed to do, which is provide the media with information?

So her "exclusive" came from the PR department? Not exactly hard breaking investigative journalism there.

But, there was another problem. 

The El Paso Times had posted the story well before the station's newscast. No word if Arias now wants to retract her thank you. 

KVIA Managing Editor Eric Huseby said the station doesn’t claim a story to be “exclusive” unless a source tells them it is so, but that they’re still working to figure out the sequence of events that led to the news story.

Huseby and KVIA General Manager Kevin Lovell said it’s not station policy to thank sources or PR teams for information, and are not sure why Arias did so.

Ahhhh...local TV news. 

H/T El Paso Times

NY Anchor's Son is Arrested For Stealing Purse

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The son of WNYW Anchor Rosanna Scotto was busted over the weekend for swiping a Chanel purse at NY bar.

Cops busted Louis Ruggiero, 20, after seeing him tuck a purse under his jacket as he was walking out of the 10th Avenue club at around 1:20 a.m., law-enforcement sources said. 

Ruggiero admitted he didn’t know to whom the purse belonged, the sources said.

He allegedly also was found carrying a small amount of cocaine and a false ID, the sources said.

He is charged with grand larceny, criminal possession of a controlled substance and possessing a forged instrument. Police were questioning Ruggiero about a similar purse-theft pattern in the neighborhood.

Police were able to find the frantic 40-year-old owner of the swiped Marquee purse, who had already called 911 when Ruggiero was being stopped outside the club. She told cops she’d placed it down on the bench behind her, and when she turned to look for it 10 minutes later, it was gone.

Ruggiero’s mother, Rosanna Scotto is co-anchor of WNYW's morning newscast. Scotto is also the daughter of Anthony Scotto, a former boss in the Gambino crime family.

Fired Disabled Employee Sues Houston Station

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Gerald Caldwell worked as a video editor at KHOU in Houston until he was fired.

Caldwell claims the station sacked him  just prior to surgery for a medical disability. Caldwell’s imminent surgery was intended to address a condition stemming from having had bone cancer as a child and involved reconstruction of his leg, the suit says.

After working 18 years at the station, Caldwell has now filed a lasuit alleging wrongful termination.

The lawsuit states that shortly before his scheduled surgery, Caldwell was told his position had been eliminated due to restructuring and that no explanation was given.

He alleges violation of the ADA, disability discrimination, and violation of the Family and Medical Leave Act.

Caldwell seeks actual and compensatory damages, lost pay, attorney fees, expenses and costs.

H/T Southeast Texas Record