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Daily Archives : Nov 20, 2009

Oprah’s Absence Will Alter the Local News Battlefield

Many U.S. stations are reacting with panic to Oprah Winfrey’s decision to end her enormously popular syndicated TV talk show, which they have long relied upon to bring viewers to their local newscasts. In Upstate New York, for example, the…

Oprah Winfrey’s Mega-Success in Review

Media columnist Phil Rosenthal reflects on Oprah Winfrey’s daytime TV success while awaiting her announcement about her future in the Chicago Tribune. "[Her] success is a combination of the common and uncommon," he writes. "Her life story includes triumph over adversity…

What the Man Who Dated Oprah and Talked Her Into Entering Syndication Thinks

Veteran film critic Roger Ebert, who at one time dated Oprah Winfrey and claims to have influenced her decision to accept an offer for a syndicated show, has made an educated guess in the Chicago Sun-Times about what her next move might…

Chicago Mayor Has Own Ideas Why Oprah Called It Quits

Chicago Mayor Richard Daley has a theory why Oprah Winfrey is ending her syndicated talk show, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. He says complaints about the city shutting down North Michigan Avenue for two days at a cost of $54,832 in…

New Season of ‘Lost,’ Now on Tuesdays, Debuts Feb. 2

ABC will begin airing the sixth and final season of “Lost” Feb. 2, moving the series Tuesdays for the first time, reports The New York Times. A recap special covering past series developments will precede the two-hour season premiere, which…

‘Friday Night Lights’ Actress Cast in Hallmark Channel Movie

 Alicia Witt, who has a recurring role on the fourth season of the DirecTV/NBC drama "Friday Night Lights,"  has been signed to star in a Hallmark Channel movie with the tentative titled "Backyard Wedding," The Hollywood Reporter reports. The film centers on…

Tivo Teams With Miller Beer to Messages While Fast Forwarding Through Content

By Jeremy MullmanAdvertising Age In watching the chaos that time-shifted, ad-skipping viewing has rained down on primetime TV advertisers in recent years, many beer-marketing executives have expressed relief, roughly paraphrased, in something like these terms: "Thank goodness most of our…

Movie Veteran-Playwright to Star in Epix’ First Drama Pilot

Epix, a joint venture of Viacom, Paramount, MGM and Lionsgate that launched Oct. 30 with concert and comedy specials, has tapped Sam Shepard to star in its inaugural pilot, "Tough Trade," reports The Hollywood Reporter. Shepard will play the patriarch in"Tough Trade,"…

TiVo Teams with Major Advertiser To Show Commercials When Viewers Fast Forward Through Content

In a pioneering deal, TiVo has partnered with a major advertiser to show messages from the advertiser even when viewers fast forward, rewind, pause, or delete certain content, Advertising Age reports. When viewers perform these functions with NFL games, message…

Another Season of ‘Scream Queens’ for VH1

 VH1 has ordered a second season of Lionsgate reality competition series "Scream Queens," in which contestants are put through horror film boot camp to work with creatures and gore, according to Variety. Jamie King hosts the series, the new season…