I had a very busy week and a few things with Georgia ties fell through the cracks. Here's a summary of stuff I never got around to:
Credit: Rodney Ho
Credit: Rodney Ho
Savannah's queen of Southern cuisine Paula Deen is on a resurrection tour.
Last week, she spoke before sympathetic fans at the South Beach Wine & Food Festival in Miami Beach.
In a People magazine cover story, Deen said, "I feel like 'embattled' or 'disgraced' will always follow my name. It's like that black football player who recently came out [NFL prospect Michael Sam.] He said, 'I just want to be known as a football player. I don't want to be known as a gay football player.' I know exactly what he's saying."
Her empire took a beating last year over a discrimination suit (since dismissed) and alleged use of the N-word in the past. She lost a ton of endorsements.
But Americans love a comeback as much as they love a teardown. Two weeks ago, consumer distribution company Najafi Media has invested $75 million into Paula Deen Ventures to help her rebuild her business.
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Credit: Rodney Ho
Credit: Rodney Ho
Atlanta's Erin Andrews, the Fox Sports reporter, has replaced Brooke Burke-Charvet as a co-host on "Dancing With the Stars," which caught Burke-Charvet by surprise.
Andrews herself competed on the show and came in third season 10.
Emmy-winning Tom Bergeron remains. He has been there since the beginning in 2005. Andrews will be the show's fourth female host. The show will announce its 18th season cast on Tuesday. E! reported last week NeNe Leakes of "Real Housewives of Atlanta" may be part of the crew.
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Sam Champion, who moved to Atlanta in December to start working with The Weather Channel, will start a new morning show March 17.
He came from "Good Morning America." I am set to meet him for the first time on Thursday for a profile I'm planning to write.
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The two women who helm Comedy Central's "Broad City" were set to appear at Terminal West March 8 but when the show was renewed for a second season, their schedules changed so the entire tour has been pushed back eight months to November.
Abbi Jacobson and Ilana Glazer will be appearing instead at Terminal West November 8. If you already have tickets, you can use them then.
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The Atlanta Falcons local TV partner for preseason games and local Falcons-related programming has moved from CBS46 to CW69.
CW69 (WUPA-TV) will air four pre-season games plus two hours of local programs a week. Plus, they will do a recap of the upcoming 2014 NFL Draft, a Falcons training camp preview, a Friday Night Lights special, as well as mid-season and a season-in-review show.
Trey Fabacher of CBS46 said they chose not to pursue a new contract, noting it was a major commitment of time and resources they'd rather put into other priorities.
WUPA, which is owned by CBS, will receive support from CBS Sports in New York, which produce Falcons preseason game broadcasts.
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"Jeopardy" takes another break from the Arthur Chu show (the controversial Asian American dude who has won nearly a quarter million dollars) to do a week of contestants from the 1990s. One of them: Robin Carroll of Marietta. She will be on Wednesday.
Carroll won $249,100 back in the day and is back for more.
And on Thursday, Chamblee's Mark Dawson (winnings of $339,849 in 2001) will compete as well.
"Jeopardy" airs locally daily at 7;30 p.m. on 11 Alive. Watch video and photos of the 1990s contestants here.
This is part of a 30-year anniversary celebration for the show. A previous week folks from the 1984-1993 period already aired.
Preliminary rounds will continue March 31-April 4 with contestants from the third decade (2004-2013). The 15 winners from these rounds will return May 5-16 for quarterfinals, semifinals, and a two-day final. To learn more about the Battle of the Decades Tournament, please click here.
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