Logo

Author Page

Chuck Ross 38,865 Entries
Chuck Ross

Chuck Ross is the managing director of TVWeek.com. He's been involved in the TV business ever since he sold cable TV subscriptions in Santa Monica, Calif., door-to-door in the mid-to-late 1970s. He's had regular gigs reporting and/or editing about TV and advertising for Cablevision magazine,The Hollywood Reporter, the San Francisco Chronicle, Inside Media and Advertising Age. He first joined the predecessor to TVWeek, Electronic Media, in 2000.

Early Leader Crowned in May Sweeps, While One of the Big 4 Nets Battles to Avoid Slipping to Fifth Place

One of the big four broadcast networks has established a huge early ratings lead for the May sweeps period while another one is struggling to stay in the top four. Media Life reports that ABC is well out in front…

Actress From Early TV Era Dies

An actress who was a baroness and a Broadway star, and who appeared on TV in its early days, has died. The New York Times reports that Betsy von Furstenberg died April 21 at her home in Manhattan. The German-born…

Lorne Michaels Lands New Sitcom on HBO — ‘SNL’ Actress Also on Board

A new comedy series with connections to NBC’s “Saturday Night Live” has been picked up by HBO. The Hollywood Reporter’s Live Feed reports that the pay cable channel gave a series order to “Brothers in Atlanta,” from “SNL” mastermind Lorne…

How Much Does Diversity on Local TV Newscasts Still Matter?

So reads a headline in today’s Washington Post, as the newspaper talks about two white people who will be anchoring a top local newscast in the Washington area. The article says: “Anchor changes are usually ho-hum affairs, particularly in an…

Viacom Picks a Measurement Service — and It’s Not Nielsen

Competition may be heating up in the measurement space, where alternatives to the traditionally dominant Nielsen appear to be gaining ground. In the latest example, TVNewsCheck reports that Viacom Media Networks signed a deal with Rentrak for TV ratings and…

Obama Books His Final ‘Letterman’ Appearance — Guest Lineup for Next Week Announced, as Dave’s Last Few Shows Count Down

President Obama is set for a return to CBS’s “Late Show with David Letterman” as the host enters the home stretch before his retirement later this month. The network announced that Obama is scheduled for a spot on the Monday,…

E! Dives Deeper Into Scripted: Modern Cinderella Story From ‘Mad Men’ Producer Gets Green Light

E! Entertainment continues its push into scripted originals, with the cable channel greenlighting the drama pilot “The Arrangement,” from “Mad Men” producer Jonathan Abrahams. TheWrap.com reports that the order comes on the heels of the channel’s launch of its first…

Industry Leaders Named to TV Academy Executive Committee

The Television Academy announced the appointment of five industry leaders to the organization’s executive committee. Variety reports that Academy Chairman Bruce Rosenblum made the announcement Thursday. “The five appointees are Bela Bajaria, exec VP of Universal Television; David Nevins, president…

CNN Anchor Apologizes Over Baltimore Comment — Here’s the Clip That Got Her in Trouble

A CNN anchor has offered an apology for a comment she made during coverage of the Baltimore rioting. The New York Daily News reports that Brooke Baldwin issued the apology Wednesday after getting blowback over a comment some observers found…

‘Friends’ Co-Creator Explains Why a Reunion Won’t Happen

The co-creator of NBC’s hit sitcom “Friends” says a “Friends” reunion won’t happen, and explains why that’s a good thing. In an interview this week with Entertainment Weekly, Marta Kauffman says she understands that the show’s fans want to see…