Spell Check, Please?
/Ring, Ring: "NBC graphics, this is _____________, can I help you?" "Yes, could you please come up to Mr. Lack's office? And he'd like you to bring your card key, ID, and NBC Stylebook."
Weather In The Toilet?
/We're not sure when it became acceptable for TV weather people to act like clowns on-air, but, some do. The latest poster child is WHTM meteorologist Brett Thackara. The video is pretty self-explanatory. What's not apparent, is why news directors continue to allow this to happen?
Weather Guy Makes Maypole from Scott Jones on Vimeo.
"F*ing Thug" on CNN
/
Covering 'Breaking News' can be unpredictable, unless you're covering highly emotional and racially themed events. Then, a reasonable person could predict that extreme caution should be taken when putting a LIVE microphone on someone who walks up off the street.
CNN Aviation and Government Regulation correspondent, Rene Marsh, learned the hard way during this morning's coverage of charges being brought against some Baltimore police officers. Let's roll the video:
F*ing Thug from Scott Jones on Vimeo.
So here's our question; why would you send your Aviation correspondent to cover a riot?
Nielsen Issues Threat?
/Nielsen sent a very strong warning to clients saying they would be violating the "permissible use" terms of their contract, if they disclose any of the 'impact' data it began releasing. 'Impact' data is supposedly part of Nielsen's aggressive ratings sample expansion plan.
Nielsen has been charging a ridiculous amount of money to stations for data that has been tabulated, in basically the same way, since 1950.
The diary people didn't say what the penalty would be if you get caught sharing the info.
Correspondent 'Out' At CNN?
/
We're being told by the folks at TKNN, that Erin McPike has quietly left CNN. I know, we had the same response at FTVLive World HQ, who is Erin McPike?
Evidently she appeared on Jake Tapper's, 'The Lead', so I guess that answers that question.
Here's the complete article on TKNN.
CNN The Latest Victim Of FHRITP
/You knew it was going to happen and CNN's Poppy Harlow was the latest victim. While reporting on the unrest in Baltimore, some idiot ran up to the camera and yelled, well, you know what he yelled:
Is it ironic this was during Don Lemon's show? Wait, did he yell, "Her"?
MSNBC's Al Sharpton vs Fox Reporter
/MSNBC's tax dodger, Al Sharpton, apparently has another job: muscle. Sharpton started running interference for Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, when she was being questioned by Fox' Leland Vittert.
It started verbal and then got physical. Here's the video
Does Baltimore pay into Sharpton's National Action Network? Andy Lack must be so proud.
Where's Bob Beckel?
/
If you're a fan of Fox', "The Five", then you know Bob Beckel has been missing for several months. Initially, word was Beckel was recovering from back surgery. Turns out, that's only part of the story.
Here's the official announcement from Fox PR:
"Bob Beckel has entered a rehab facility for treatment of an addiction to prescription pain medication. His relapse developed over the last several months as he tried to cope with extensive back pain before and after he underwent major back surgery. We hope our viewers and the public will respect Bob’s privacy during this difficult time."
We Report. You Decide.
Meredith Continues Cuts In Phoenix
/
Since purchasing KTVK from Gannett (er, Tegna), Meredith has been cutting staff in preparation for the big move into one building. They just dumped anchor Catherine Anaya, for bargain priced Kris Pickel.
Sources tell FTVLive that a couple of assignment desk people were shown the door at KPHO, and another at KTVK. You can bet there will be a lot more of this as the merger of the two newsrooms gets closer and closer.
Hey, they don't call it 'Meredeath' for nothing.
Stormy Weather For John Bolaris
/Embattled former Philly (and Playboy) meteorologist John Bolaris is once again out of a job. Bolaris had been forecasting for Philly.com. The website has decided to partner with WCAU for it's prognostications. Here's the announcement.
Never one to let a good media opportunity go by, here's Bolaris' final column.
It's Blooper Time!
/It just wouldn't be good TV, without good bloopers. Are you on here? Sit back and enjoy.
This Should Be Interesting
/
Meredith Local Media has hired a new VP of Digital: Matt Strait. Strait has been a VP at Worldnow, a CMS provider for TV stations.
The interesting thing here is that Meredith has been a Worldnow client for many years. Strait was Meredith's account executive.
So, when Meredith's contract with Worldnow comes up, there shouldn't be any conflict of interest, right?
Handing it over to the Intern
/
After posting the morning updates below, I'm about to do something I was never able to do in my 20+ year TV career during ratings.
I'm going to take a day off.
After posting the updates, I'm in the car and headed to the thriving metropolis of Ft. Myers, FL. There is a saying here, the old people live in Florida, their parents live in Ft. Myers.
I'm headed to Southwest SoFlo to play in a golf tournament and get just a bit of R&R.
It's been a longtime since a took a day off and it will be nice to be away from the computer for a bit.
But, don't worry, I'm handing the site off to the FTVLive Intern and he will be guiding the ship for the rest of Today and tomorrow.
I'll see you back here Monday morning.
Protestor Wants Geraldo and Fox News to Leave Baltimore
/While CNN's Don Lemon has set up his circus act in Baltimore, so has the ringmaster of circus acts, Fox News's Geraldo Rivera.
But, it seems at least one protestor is not happy that Geraldo or Fox News has set up shop in B-More.
Check out this video of Geraldo being asked to leave the city:
CNN's Lemon Wins the Demos
/
It was likely all for the wrong reasons, but viewers tuned into CNN circus act Don Lemon on Tuesday night.
Lemon was in Baltimore covering the unrest and he helped CNN pull in a rare win in the ratings demo at 10PM.
Mediaite writes that CNN had the highest-rated hour in the 25-54 demo across all of cable news with 1.144M viewers. During that same hour, Fox News’ Hannity came in second with 853K and MSNBC’s The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell was third with 280K. CNN beat Fox News in the primetime demo for the second consecutive night, 769K to 767K.
In total viewers, Lemon’s 2.719M came close to beating Sean Hannity‘s 2.782M.
It seems viewers are tuning into Lemon to see when the train will fall of the tracks. It also appears that even some harden Fox News viewers are growing tired of Sean Hannity's spewing of meanness and hate.
CNN's Chris Cuomo Seems to Have an Issue with Baltimore Police
/
Well, it sure does appear that CNN's Chris Cuomo has some issues with the entire Baltimore Police Department.
Cuomo was on Anderson Cooper's show reporting as the curfew drew near.
CNN Commentary writes that Cuomo said, “You have people in the public space, the curfew’s getting close […] Them being in the street is going to be a problem. I know they’re saying go home, they’re saying keep the peace, go home. But they’re in the streets. They’re walking toward the cops. You know walking towards the cops in the middle of the street, they’re going to come at you.”
A protester responded, “We’re going home… We’re going home… We’re not going towards them. We’re going home. We’re just keeping peace. […] We’re splitting up.”
“Just be careful, cuz you know how they are–” Cuomo cautioned him.
“Yes, sir,” the protester interrupted.
“–If you seem like you’re being provocative towards them, you know how things can go,” Cuomo finished.
“Oh, definitely… We’re going home, sir.”
When you paint an entire police department like this we have some advice for Chris Cuomo. Chris you might want to head back to New York and get out of B-More. You might run into some Baltimore PD and....well....you know how they are.
