Access Atlanta > Entertainment > Radio Talk > Archives > 2007 > December > 03
Monday, December 3, 2007
12/4: CBS strike schedule for February
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
CBS is the first network to release its strike schedule for January and February. With the writers on strike the past month, production has ceased on most scripted TV shows and several shows are now out of fresh episodes. By February, most scripted dramas and comedies will be in reruns.
CBS relies more heavily than the other broadcast networks on non-serialized cop procedurals and comedies that repeat well. So overall, the lineup changes aren’t quite as extreme as they may end up being on NBC and ABC. Most of its regular lineup will simply be in repeats of “Criminal Minds,” the three “CSIs,” “Without a Trace,” “Cold Case,” “NCIS,” “Numb3rs,” “Moonlight,” “The Ghost Whisperer,” “How I Met Your Mother” and “Two and a Half Men.” “Cane,” a serialized new show which hasn’t done well in the ratings, is out. And “The Unit” isn’t on the schedule starting in February.
Drew Carey’s “Power of 10” is back starting Wed. January 2 in the slot where “Kid Nation” had been. Newsmagazine “48 Hours Mystery” will air on Jan. 22 and 29 in place of “Cane.”
A new sitcom “The Captain” starring Raquel Welch, Jeffrey Tambor and Chris Klein debuts on Jan. 28 in the slot that “Big Bang Theory” had been on at 8:30 p.m. And in place of “Rules of Engagement,” a new set of episodes of sophomore sitcom “New Adventures of Old Christine” are back the same day.
The new season of “Survivor” starts Feb. 7 at 8 p.m. And the first winter/spring version of “Big Brother” is set to air Tuesday at 9 p.m. Feb. 12 in place of “The Unit,” followed by seven episodes of the sophomore sci-fi drama “Jericho.” ‘” “Big Brother” will also air at 8 p.m. Sundays in the spot currently taken up by “The Amazing Race.”
A new game show “Do You Trust Me” is also in production though a date hasn’t been set.
12/3: 102.5’s stolen van is found
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Cops found the Grown Folks 102.5’s promotions van, which was stolen last week. The sky-blue 2003 Ford cargo van, which had morning host Steve Harvey’s face plastered all over it, was swiped from a Marietta St. downtown parking lot
Atlanta police found the van Friday with the two thieves in it. The perpetrators happened to have stolen air conditioner units with GPS tracking devices in them, which allowed the cops to locate the van in the West End, said promotions director Corey Punzi, en route to retrieve the van from the impound lot.
“Stupid is as stupid does,” cracked Si-Man, the night-time host.
I also spoke with Silas “Si-Man” Alexander about when he did a marathon on-air fundraiser, similar to the one Project 9-6-1 is doing. But when he did it in 2003, he was on air for 102.5 hours, more than twice the length of what “Giant” Brian Carothers and Shafee plan to do. At the time, then-morning host Si-Man and Classic Soul 102.5 raised more than $30,000 for the Hosea Williams Feed the Hungry campaign by staying on air for 102.5 consecutive hours on the roof of a local middle school.
“I was cool the first 24 hours,” said Si-Man, “but it started getting to me after 36.” He said it helped that he was outdoors and it was cold: “I drank a lot of coffee and walked around to stay alert. By the end, though, I was feeling pretty dizzy.” He also had a nurse check on him regularly. At the time, I visited him at the very end and he was visibly exhausted. He also occasionally messed up his words on air by the 102nd hour but that’s understandable.
Although he did an abbreviated version in 2005, a true encore is not forthcoming: “My doctor told me he’d divorce me as a patient if I ever did that again.”
12/3: Imus returns (not in Atlanta), Project 9-6-1 marathon starts today
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Don Imus is back on air after about eight months in exile on WABC-AM in New York. His new cast includes two black comics. Surprisingly, Imus brought back Bernard McGuirk, the producer who instigated the Rutgers comment and was fired as well.
While Imus pledged to use his new show to talk about race relations, he added:
“Other than that, not much has changed. Dick Cheney is still a war criminal, Hillary Clinton is still Satan and I’m back on the radio.”
More info about his comeback here..
Imus used to be on AM1230/1340. David Dickey, who runs those stations, has been using CNN Headline News instead. He hasn’t decided whether to pick up Imus yet or not. “We’re keeping our options open,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Giant Brian Show at Project 9-6-1 this morning at 7 launched its 50-hour marathon run to raise at least $50,000 to replace the toys stolen at City Hall East more than a week ago for the Empty Stocking Fund. The station will match up to $25,000 raised by individuals.
