By RODNEY HO/rho@ajc.com, originally filed Dec. 24, 2014
From changes at CNN and the Weather Channel to zombie craziness on "The Walking Dead" to ratchet behavior on "Real Housewives" and "Love and Hip Hop," Atlanta was packed with drama, real and not so real.
Here are the top TV stories of the year with Atlanta connections:
Deadly in a good way: "The Walking Dead," shot in metro Atlanta, finished season four strong and continued to keep fans glued to their seats with season five this fall. It remains the No. 1 cable drama and most popular show in America among 18 to 49 year olds. More than 20 million people check out each episode, counting DVR and on-demand usage.
Credit: Rodney Ho
Credit: Rodney Ho
Reunion attack No. 1: Porsha Williams on "The Real Housewives of Atlanta" reunion taping at the Biltmore attacked Kenya Moore and knocked her to the ground. Porsha ended up getting a very pretty mug shot and a full-time gig on "Dish Nation." Moore got to play victim, her favorite role.
Credit: Rodney Ho
Credit: Rodney Ho
Reunion attack No. 2: Joseline Hernandez didn't take kindly to insinuations by Benzino and Althea she was high on drugs and attacked them during a "Love and Hip Hop Atlanta" taping. Unlike Porsha, she has never turned herself in and wasn't punished in anyway. In fact, the folks she went after Benzino and Althea are no longer on the show.
Credit: Rodney Ho
Credit: Rodney Ho
Paul Lynde wants his schtick back: USA bestowed us with Atlantan metrosexual Todd Chrisley, who is part of a family reality show called "Chrisley Knows Best." Sure, his bankruptcy issues are duly ignored on the sitcom-ish program. He simply plays the eye-rolling, constantly annoyed but ultimately loving aphorism-spouting dad to his kids. Two seasons are already over and a third is forthcoming.
Credit: Rodney Ho
Credit: Rodney Ho
Tsunami of changes in Atlanta meteorologists: Three of the four local TV networks lost their chief meteorologists this year. 11 Alive axed Mike Francis and gave Chris Holcomb the job. CBS46's Markina Brown voluntarily left and the powers that be gave the gig to Jim Kosek . Fox 5's Ken Cook retired after 35 years. His job is still open after several months, with the logical pick David Chandley , who left Channel 2 Action News in July but is awaiting his non-compete clause to end in January. Even Atlanta-based The Weather Channel got into the act, bringing Sam Champion over from "Good Morning America" to helm the morning show.
Credit: Rodney Ho
Credit: Rodney Ho
Headquarters in name only: Atlanta still employs more CNN employees than anywhere else but its title as "world headquarters" is becoming a bit difficult to justify because the primary decision makers are now based primarily in New York. None of CNN's weekday anchors are based in Atlanta either after Carol Costello and Brooke Baldwin shifted to New York over the summer.
Rupert lurking: CNN this fall cut about 300 employees due to Turner-wide cutbacks. This happened, coincidentally or not, after Time Warner outright rejected a sale to Rupert Murdoch, which would have necessitated CNN to be sold off anyway.
Credit: Rodney Ho
Credit: Rodney Ho
Stop! In the name of love: After dropping out of the running to be Juan Pablo's squeeze on "The Bachelor," Fulton County district attorney prosecutor Andi Dorfman became "The Bachelorette" over the summer. She played cute on dates in Europe and the Dominican Republic while picking UGA grad and jock Josh Murray over the intense and intensely unpleasant Nick Viall. She also stepped down from the D.A.'s office though she said she intends to go back to law.
Credit: Rodney Ho
Credit: Rodney Ho
Biggest oops on air: CBS46 morning host Michelle Burdo, during a segment related to hair, used the dated phrase "colored women" more in an accidental way than a disparaging way. Still, it was caught on camera and she had to apologize.
Credit: Rodney Ho
Credit: Rodney Ho
Identity crisis: HLN earlier this year said it wanted to be the network for Millenials with a social-media focus. But wholesale changes haven't happened and Time Warner even dangled the network in front of Glenn Beck and Vice Media to no avail. For now, it remains the home of Nancy Grace, Dr. Drew and Robin Meade.
Credit: Rodney Ho
Credit: Rodney Ho
Yo Vinnie! Crime specialist Vinnie Politan left HLN to stay in Atlanta and work early mornings on 11 Alive. It was a quixotic career choice for someone with a national imprint but he insists he loves Atlanta and wants to build a life here.
DirectTV vs. The Weather Channel: The Weather Channel in January was taken off DirecTV in an ugly carriage fee dispute. DirecTV disparaged the Weather Channel's reliance on reality programming and said changing viewership habits have made the station less important. The Weather Channel went full force in its campaign against DirecTV, citing its relevance. But after three nasty months, the two sides signed a new agreement and the Weather Channel apologized for its harsh words against DirecTV, an unusual public concession for any company.
Credit: Rodney Ho
Credit: Rodney Ho
Atlanta-produced TV shows leaving: BET's"The Game" won't air its final episode until 2016 but production wrapped this year after nine seasons. Its sister show "Let's Stay Together" ended after four seasons. Lifetime's "Drop Dead Diva" took a trip to heaven after six seasons. VH1 killed "Single Ladies" after three seasons but sister station Centric picked it up - and moved the production to Toronto.
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