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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.

‘I Am Your Father, Oprah’: Vet Claims He’s Winfrey’s Dad

An 84-year-old World War II veteran is claiming he’s Oprah Winfrey’s father and wants her to submit to a paternity test to prove his claim, the New York Post reports.  According to the article, Norh Robinson is a "dirt-poor Mississippi…

What Makes the Conan-TBS Deal So Appealing

Money and various promises are nice, but it’s not what makes the Conan O’Brien-TBS so appealing, writes Bill Carter in the New York Times. The correct answer, according to the article, is that TBS has a "a substantial and remarkably…

It’s Official: Major ESPN Sportcaster Signs Extension

ESPN’s Six-time National Sportscaster of the Year has signed a contract extension, the network has announced. The sportscaster is Chris Berman, who joined ESPN duing its first month of launch back in 1979. ESPN Executive Vice President, Content John Skipper said…

Jennifer Love Hewitt, Cybill Shepherd Sign for Cable Movie

Jennifer Love Hewitt and Cybill Shepherd will appear together in an upcoming cable movie, the Hollywood Reporter reports. The movie, for Lifetime, is still untitled. Shepherd has been cast as a body waxer at a beauty salon who discovers her daughter,…

New Format on Cable: Split Screen Keeps Program Going When Commericials Run

Here’s an interesting twist: "Program Placement" during commercials, as opposed to "product placement" during a program. It’s being tried on CNN, according to Advertising Age. According to the article, "With marketers now paying for TV ad time based on the…

CBS Developing New Show With One of the Most Beloved, Popular Formats of All Time: the Candid Camera; Popular Comic-Game Show Personality Would Likely Host

CBS has a huge hit many years ago with its hidden camera show "Candid Camera." The network is at it again, developing a hidden-camera show with Drew Carey that’s been given the working the title "WTF!", reports the Hollywood Reporter. But…

New CNBC Shows From Jim Cramer and David Faber?

CNBC is planning on slimming down its two-hour "Power Lunch" program to make room for a new half-hour show hosted by David Faber and a possible second program helmed by Jim Cramer, the New York Post reports. But "Mad Money"…

FCC Hits the Pause Button on Comcast-NBCU Deal Review

The Federal Communications Commission has suspended its 180-day "shot clock" on its merger review of the Comcast-NBCU deal to give more time for public comment, B&C reports. The decision to delay the process comes after the companies said they wouldn’t…

Sumner Lovin’: Big Paychecks for Moonves and Dauman

Last year was a good one for CBS Corp. Chief Executive Leslie Moonves and Viacom Chief Executive Philippe Dauman. The Los Angeles Times reports that, according to SEC filings, Moonves was awarded a total compensation package of $43.2 million in 2009, while…

While ‘Food Revolution’ Ties for Tops on Friday, Ratings Inch Down

It’s a good-news, bad-news story for "Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution," TVbytheNumbers.com reports. The ABC program beat out the competition in the 9 p.m. timeslot on Friday with a 1.4 rating in the 18-49 year-old demographic, yet that represents a .2…