Disney's ABC Television Group to cut 5% of workforce

LA Times reports on the Disney/ABC TV layoff announcement. Anyone have a job for me if I get pushed out?

I made Tim Heller's blog!

Wow! I got a mention on Chief Heller's weather blog! It's about my social networking consulting for KTRK.

The 10 Most Embarrassing Award Winners in Automotive History

Even Car and Driver makes mistakes. Remember the Ford Merkur XR4Ti?

SEE THE TOP TEN

Go see new models that could be big flops one day.

(Thanks Brian!)

The best Guns N' Roses biography ever

I just had the pleasure of reading Watch You Bleed: The Saga of Guns N' Roses by Stephen Davis. Now here is THE defenitive biography of GNR.

Stephen Davis is also the author of Hammer of the Gods: The Led Zeppelin Saga and Walk This Way: The Autobiography of Aerosmith so you know he is no lightweight when it comes to rock bios.

It's obvious that Davis culled a lot of archives and did a lot of interviews to gather the early life of Bill Bailey (aka W. Axl Rose) in Lafayette, Indiana. Sadly, that is one messed up life. But the book doesn't just focus on Axl, although largely it does and that is why it is so interesting.

Once you start reading, you will remember many of the events that Davis writes about, but there is so much more explanation and detail offered.

For example, did you know that Izzy Stradlin appears to be the heart and soul of Guns N' Roses? In the early days, he was the leader of the band for the most part. Did you know we have those four opening shows for the Rolling Stones to thank for the what the band became during the Use Your Illusion tours? Also, that the tour GNR took in 2006 was done partly to finish Chinese Democracy? And do you know why the album has that title?

WFAA 8 lands Chris Flanagan as morning anchor

WFAA Channel 8 in Dallas - Fort Worth has a new Daybreak morning anchor reports David Elbert of the The Des Moines Register:

WOI TV news anchor Chris Flanagan has been hired as a morning anchor at WFAA TV in Dallas, where he will start work Feb. 27.

Flanagan’s last day on the air in Iowa will be Feb. 20, said WOI station manager Ray Cole. READ THE REST

Good luck to WFAA and Chris Flanagan. See Flanagan's bio .

(Image courtesy of WOI)

Twitter Tips for Beginners

Are you new to Twitter or just confused about what the heck it is?

Here is some help from David Pogue.

If you are looking for some fun on Twitter click here.

Glenn Beck on his 104.1 KRBE years

When I posted about Glenn Beck moving back to Clear Channel Houston at 740 KTRH, I mentioned how he had formerly worked at 104.1 KRBE. Well now he tells David Barron what he thought of  working there:

While Beck espouses an affinity for what he views as the Texas mindset, he has unhappy memories of his stint in Houston at KRBE when it was known as Power 104. He worked morning drive at the station , doing the voiceover for a character he called “Clydie Clyde.”
“It was the worst time in my broadcasting career, and I wish people would stop bringing it up,” he said. “It’s the most embarrassing thing I ever did on radio. If I could make everybody forget about my time in Houston, it would be good.
“I was probably at my most arrogant. I thought I could do no wrong. It was tough to beat my arrogance and lack of intelligence and talent at the time. ‘I’m invincible. Look at me.’ It was garbage.” READ THE REST

NASA camera technology captures awesome inauguration image

This is pretty cool. It is a giant photo of President Obama being sworn in where the user can zoom in and tag people in the photo. Can you find Oprah? What about Obi-Wan Kenobi standing behind Obama?

NASA spinoff technology from the Mars exploration rovers was used to capture a unique panoramic image of President Obama's inaugural address at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 20.

A photographer at the inauguration, David Bergman, used the Gigapan camera system to generate an image from a press platform. The resulting picture is a combination of 220 images with an overall size of 1,474 megapixels.

The Gigapan system is a NASA spinoff technology that can capture thousands of digital images and weave them into a uniform high-resolution picture of more than a billion pixels. The technology is the product of a two-year collaboration between NASA and Carnegie Mellon. The Mars rovers Spirit and Opportunity have used the Gigapan system to explore the Red Planet for more than five years.

To read a 2008 Spinoff story about the Gigapan technology click here.

Who is calling me?

Seriously...who is behind these numbers? More on these calls.

302-875-8634

651-784-4660

206-462-1796

800-219-7425

Kat Von D of LA Ink coming to Houston

Kat Von D of the TLC show LA Ink is coming to Houston:

Since 1998, Nuestra Palabra: Latino Writers Having Their Say has changed the way Latino literature is imagined and received. With the start of its 2009 and 11th season, NP continues in that tradition. Tuesday, February 3, 2008, 7 PM, at the Continental Club, 3700 Main @ Alabama, Houston, TX 77002, NP is thrilled to present Kat Von D as she launches her book HIGH VOLTAGE TATTOO. Admission: Attendees must buy a copy of the book that evening.


Not all fans of the TV show LA Ink realize the star of the show is Latina, of Argentine descent, born in Mexico. By the same token, she epitomizes the essential qualities of our culture: family, community, Baroque, and also epitomizes the essential qualities of American culture.

That is why LA INK was an immediate smash, becoming the number-one rated program on Discovery’s TLC. Fans of LA Ink could not get enough of Kat Von D, now one of the world’s most sought-after tattoo artists and owner of the popular Hollywood shop, High Voltage Tattoo. Now, Kat opens the door to today’s global tattoo culture in her book, HIGH VOLTAGE TATTOO.

Does this mean Nikki Sixx of Motley Crue will be coming back too ?

790 KBME hit by Clear Channel layoffs in a big way

We now know one casualty of the Clear Channel layoffs:

Although most of the Clear Channel cuts reportedly were in the sales and promotions areas, sports stations nationwide took hits as well.

In Houston, KBME lost its program director, Tim Collins, who spent 20 years with Clear Channel, helped launch the all-sports format and served as liaison with the Astros and other teams and schools that aired games on the station. MORE

OK I'll bite, what does this mean for the future of the Sports Animal on 790 KBME?

Twitter bad behavior

I don't want to pretend I am a total saint on Twitter, but there are a lot of Twitters acting worse than me.

Yeah, and there is a site that tracks it. It is called cursebird.com. Cursebird actually tracks all tweets full of foul language. (Thanks SerenaSays!) Oh yeah, this site is considered NSFW!!!!

If you think letting four letter words fly on Twitter is bad, you might want to help people stop being jerks overall on the social networking service. Read this:

Writing My Twitter Etiquette Article: 14 Ways to Use Twitter Politely (thanks Twitter_Tips)

There I did my good deed for the day.

Dean and Rog to move to 107.5 K-Hits KHTC

Looks like the rumor about Houston DJs Dean and Rog of 93.7 The Arrow KKRW leaving is true. FMQB says they are moving to 107.5 K-Hits KHTC:

Popular Houston radio duo Dean and Rog will move their morning show from Clear Channel’s KKRW to Cox Radio’s KHTC-FM, effective June 1. READ THE REST

Guess that Scott Sparks is out on the morning show.

UPDATE:
Looks like Suzi Hanks is moving to 107.5 KHTC to follow Dean and Rog. It just makes sense.

UPDATE:
Later on Tuesday The Houston Chronicle published a story .

WNBC hires bloggers to cover news

I was torn when I read the news that NBC Universal was hiring New York bloggers to cover news for WNBC's web site. The renegade blogger in me liked the idea. It's knocking down the MSM a notch and admitting this platform has some legs.

Then you have to consider it from a the corporate TV side of things. I can't imagine a lot of TV professionals liking the idea.

What if the blogger:
- Takes the snark too far?
- Libels someone and gets you in legal trouble?
- Stops writing after you set up the blog and promote them?
- Ends up just sucking?

I imagine this concept will grow.  It's already actually working out well in this case.

No word on the pay or amount of posts required.

Kodak Easyshare W1020 Wi-Fi picture frame

Is it possible to fall in love with a picture frame? Because I think I've fallen head over heels for the Kodak Easyshare W1020 Wi-Fi picture frame.

The love affair started out innocently enough. It was simply a Christmas gift for my wife. Then I took it into the back bedroom/office and started configuring it. Yes it is sleek and pleasant to look at, but it also is Wi-Fi enabled. That means I don't have to hook it up to a PC to get photos inside (it does accept USB and memory cards though). It is all wireless. I can also view the latest news and weather through the frame.  One more thing that is trying to put me out of business.

Heck, I don't even have to look at my crummy old photos . Although I am not joking when the W1020 makes my photos look like someone who knows what they are doing took them! If you get sick of your own stuff, just wirelessly grab stuff of Flickr or any other RSS enabled site.

It's gotten to the point that I show off the touch screen operated frame to guests. I'm blushing just thinking about it.

SEE MORE

How Hot 95.7 is doing in the Houston radio ratings

Radio industry site FMQB interviewed Hot 95.7 KKHH's program director Mark Adams about his new gig in Houston. The article reveals some info on the birth of the new station. It also lets us know CBS is happy about waving goodbye to smooth jazz on that frequency:

On the station making an immediate impact…
Our December was very gratifying. We broke 1.1 million cume 6+ which puts Hot Top 5 in the market. We continued to post solid gains P18-34 and P18-49, beating KRBE W18-34 and tying them W18-49. Obviously that’s a big deal and we were all very happy about it. All of that said, I’m very much aware this is a marathon and not a sprint. Houston is a very competitive market and we face multiple direct competitors and some good radio stations. We’ve laid some solid groundwork and need to continue to build on that in 2009. READ THE REST

If you regularly read this blog at all you know I like rock music. However I find myself checking out Hot 95.7 because CBS seems to do a nice job with its stations. It feels like a fun radio station.

TV stations on Twitter

This is a great site to track which television stations arcross the country are on Twitter!

http://www.tvontwitter.com

You'll want to pay the most attention to @KTRKHouston though. Yeah, I'm a little biased though.

Sam Malone does Houston television

I've made it my thing on this blog to track Sam Malone. I've interviewed him about his career and he was nice enough to email me about his next gig...television. It's no surprise really. Sam has always dabbled in television while focusing on radio. Now he has swapped that a bit with a new show on KHOU Channel 11. Watch out Tom Bergeron:

Malone at 7:30 p.m. Saturday on KHOU (Channel 11) will host Sam Malone’s Cell Phone Theatre, a 30-minute look at the fun and occasionally bizarre things that Houstonians do with their mobile-phone cameras.

It’s the first of what could become a continuing series on Channel 11 and Malone’s first full-scale venture back into Houston media since he was let go by KHMX (96.5 FM) late last year as Clear Channel Houston was preparing to transfer ownership of the station to CBS Radio. READ THE REST 

Houston Auto Show Pictures

I had the pleasure of taking photos of the Houston Auto Show Sunday at Reliant Center. It's always fun seeing the new car, concept and classic cars that fill the massive floor.

I was shocked to see a new Hummer pickup truck called the H3T Crew Cab. Then I was on the floor after seeing the price tag of the Mercedes SL63.

SEE PHOTOS OF THE HOUSTON AUTO SHOW

James is a UT Longhorn

I thought I went to Baylor, but I found my son in burnt orange the other day! James wishes you a good weekend!

I was destined to join the media ranks

A childhood friend of mine recently found me on Facebook and we were recalling old times. I laughed out loud when I saw this part of his message:

I love that you're in the news industry now. I recall you interviewing me with a tape recorder as a kid. One time you asked me to say 'all the bad words' I knew. Unbeknownst to me you were recording all the great words I knew at that age. I remember being scared you would give it to my mother.

Wow! Even back then I sound like I was practicing to be a TV reporter/producer. Awesome. Years later I would end up strapping on a hidden camera and deck for a real story. Not as fun as it sounds...a little uncomfortable in this case.

XM's Boneyard is back with Eddie Trunk

It's not on XM 41 anymore, but The Boneyard returned this week on the newly reunited Sirius XM on Channel 53 (replacing AC/DC radio). And yes that means you have two 80s rock channels now with the Boneyard and Hair Nation still on 41.

It works like this:

Boneyard - heavier rock/metal - Judas Priest/Iron Maiden/Guns N' Roses/old Aerosmith
Hair Nation - hair metal - Poison/Cinderella/Warrant/Bon Jovi

Matt Davis and Eddie Trunk return (Eddie still on Mondays at 5pm CST).

I am very happy.

Former KHOU 11 reporter Carolyn Campbell gets new gig

The Insite clues us in on Houston television reporter Carolyn Campbell's new job with former city attorney Gene Locke. You may remember Campbell most recently from KHOU Channel 11. READ MORE

Pandora has ads now?

My wife was listening to her Cibo Matto Pandora channel on Monday and heard a commercial for American Idol in between songs. Anyone else heard this?

Funny thing, I was listening to my Pixies/Nirvana/Sonic Youth channel Sunday and it was still commercial free.

Belo: The history in a book

I thought his was strange. Belo who used to own the Dallas Morning News and WFAA, KHOU, KVUE, KENS and other stations until the newspapers and TV stations were split up has a book out about its history.

READ MORE

It's called 'Belo: From Newspapers to New Media' by Judith Garrett Segura.

Jack Bauer to see the end of 24

As the new 24 season debuts on FOX, Perez Hilton tells us Jack Bauer is nearing retirement:

Kiefer Sutherland revealed in a new interview that they're doing one more and then that's it!

He's also warned fans not to expect a happy ending for the character he's made so famous, Jack Bauer. READ MORE

I stopped watching the show a few seasons ago after I could start predicting the outcomes.

More Chevron Houston Marathon photos

I decided to look at the rest of my photos and put up new ones I took at the 2009 Chevron Houston Marathon. Lots of you enjoyed the pictures I put up Sunday so I figured you might like these too.

Houston Marathon photos

Go see the other ones.

KDFW and KXAS team up for Dallas/Fort Worth news coverage

Remember how I told you a few months ago that NBC and Fox owned and operated stations in the same market will team up to cover news?

Well it is already happening in the Dallas-Fort Worth market reports Broadcasting and Cable:

The plan for Fox and NBC to share video in markets where both own a station now includes Dallas, as KDFW and KXAS just completed their first week of sharing a helicopter. As is the case in Philadelphia and Chicago, managers from the Dallas stations are in talks about expanding the newsgathering partnership, and selling the content to other media outlets in the market. READ MORE

I also recently posted how the Dallas Morning News and the Fort Worth Star Telegram have teamed up on certain news coverage too. What's next? A bunch of radio stations in the market will be owned by the same company? Oh wait...

Social network for Britney Spears? Better not be stoopid

Want to run Britney Spears' social networking empire? You better be from the Ivy League my friend:

Britney Spears believes it's so important to get the right "online media manager" that she's narrowed the recruitment process down to Harvard graduates alone, according to a small ad she posted on the college's private message board. That's right: Britney thinks that only alumni from a university which counts 75 Nobel Prize winners among its affiliates could be up to managing her Facebook, YouTube, MySpace and Twitter profiles, plus her other personal websites. READ THE REST

The article goes on to mention that the pop star has around half a million followers on Facebook alone.  Who knows if this is true, but it explains why Kevin Federline didn't stay on to manager her digital empire.

Did rap group go too far on Fox 26 KRIV?

Matt Lavine gives us the scoop on how the Houston-area rap group Huntzville performed “Backpack Fulla Gunz” on Fox 26 KRIV's morning show.  He says some viewers didn't get crunk during the performance. READ MORE

Windows 7, Photoshop evolution, SEO and more

- Windows 7 beta version a leap ahead

- Photoshop toolbar evolution

- Just Say No to Bad SEO

- AT&T to Deliver TV, Radio to Vehicles

- TV Over the Web: Still a Fuzzy Picture

Clear Channel has layoffs

I told you Monday that Clear Channel was most likely going to layoffs. The reports were true:

The company, which employs 20,000 people across the United States, gave pink slips to 1,850 people in its corporate, Clear Channel Outdoor and Clear Channel Radio divisions, according to an internal memo obtained by the Houston Business Journal that was sent to employees Tuesday by chief executive Mark Mays.

Most of cuts were in the sales department, the memo said, but ultimately all departments within the company were affected. READ MORE

Word on the street is that around 40 staffers were affected in Houston. There are also higher numbers floating around. Ultimately at this point we just don't know. Good luck to those who were laid off. I realize this is the reality of today's media.

Coldplay is on Twitter

Coldplay the band is now on Twitter @coldplay.

Is KTRH's Michael Berry becoming a shock jock?

I never thought when I interviewed Michael Berry about his new job at Houston's Clear Channel I would see reports like this.

Craig Hlavaty of Hair Balls says that the 740 KTRH host is leaving politics aside at times to talk about Houston's hottest TV personalities:

Berry seemed to be salivating over the airwaves, using adjectives like the aforementioned "smoking", "knock-out", and the ever-popular "hottie." Anyone tuning in would think that Howard Stern and company had returned to terrestrial radio.

Of course, Dominique Sachse was high on everyone's list. She's like the Marilyn Monroe of Houston news, natch. The other local names included were the recently axed Wendy Corona from Sachse's KPRC Channel 2 news team. READ MORE

Guess Berry is looking to pick up some new topics.

Chevron Houston Marathon 2009 photos

See my photos from the 2009 Chevron Houston Marathon. It's becoming a yearly tradition that I wake up at 3am and head downtown for the epic work day. Is it a marathon for the runners or for me when I leave work at 7pm each time?

- Photos: Start of the 2009 Chevron Houston Marathon at the Elysian Viaduct
- Photos: The finish line of the 2009 Chevron Houston Marathon

Here is the full Chevron Houston Marathon section I built for this year's race.

I might add more photos that I haven't published this week.

- See my 2008 marathon photos
- See my 2007 marathon photos

Company buys KCEN 6 instead of KXXV 25 in Waco

Never trust the media. It was reported this summer that my old station in Waco, Channel 25 KXXV , was bought by London Broadcasting.

Now we know that is not true. The Waco Tribune-Herald reports that London bought competitor Channel 6 KCEN instead:

Officials with the Dallas media company announced late Thursday that they are buying KCEN from Frank Mayborn Enterprisies Inc., which is owned by Sue Mayborn.

The status of London Broadcasting’s plan to purchase another Central Texas station was unclear late Thursday.

In July, the company had announced that it was acquiring Waco ABC affiliate KXXV-TV, Channel 25, as part of a package deal from Drewry Communications. Carl Kornmeyer, London Broadcasting’s executive vice president and chief financial officer, said late Thursday that he could not comment on the status of the acquisition of Channel 25. READ THE REST

I am a bit confused as to how a company could buy both an NBC and ABC affiliate in a market unless one of these stations doesn't reach a lot of people.

(Thanks Ray!)

Metallica, U2, Indie 103's fall, Sonic Youth and more

- It's Official: METALLICA To Be Inducted Into ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME
- Metallica Want to Avoid “Drama of a Van Halen” at Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction
- METALLICA Guitarist Provides Foreword To First-Ever CLIFF BURTON Biography

- New U2!!!!!!
- U2 Reveal “No Line on the Horizon” Track List, Album Cover

- Behind the Fall of Indie 103: Music Director, DJ, Sex Pistol Steve Jones Speak Out

- The Hottest Rock Gadgets on the Horizon

- Sonic Youth Ready New Album

- YouTube Removing Audio From Thousands of Videos

- 95% of Music Downloads Are Illegal

Live KTRK tweets from Washington DC

I set up abc13 KTRK reporters Tom Abrahams and Laura Whitley (Laura already had a Twitter account) with Twitter and Facebook accounts to cover President-elect Obama's inauguration from Washington DC. What a great way to get a feel of what's going on in real time from where the action is happening!

Twitter inauguration coverage:
@lwhit
@tomabrahams

Facebook inauguration coverage:
Tom Abrahams on Facebook
Laura Whitley on Facebook

You also may have noticed that I quietly activated @ktrkhouston again.  More to come!

Clear Channel to have big layoffs say reports

While there will be big celebrations Tuesday across the country for President Obama, the staffs of Clear Channel radio stations around the country will be waiting to see if their jobs survive the day.

Many reports have been coming out saying that Tuesday will be a big layoff day for Clear Channel radio. More from the New York Post :

The company is also likely to move toward a "national programming" model that would require less local-level staffing, despite being criticized in the past for a similar action using centralized disc jockeys that made it appear as though they were broadcasting from local stations.

Sources said an initial round of layoffs is expected to commence next Tuesday - not coincidentally the same day President-elect Barack Obama is to be sworn into office. Clear Channel managers are hoping they can slip in the layoffs while the press is preoccupied with Inauguration Day festivities, sources said. READ MORE

I have already heard that Clear Channel Houston employees are bracing for the big cuts too. According to this board, some have already happened. You can guess that this is the reason Sam Malone is off the radio for now.

Which stations could be affected in Houston? Well, we know that Mix 96.5 KHMX and 101.1 KLOL now belong to CBS. That leaves Clear Channel with 93.7 The Arrow KKRW, 94.5 The Buzz KTBZ, Sunny 99.1 KODA, 740 KTRH, 790 KBME and 950 KPRC.

MORE
- Clear Channel Communications plans to lay off about 7 percent of its U.S. staff
- Clear Channel plans job cuts, news report indicates
- Clear Channel Communications, with five radio stations in Dallas, is about to do big layoff

Where has Mike McGuff been?

Sorry for the lack of posts lately. I switched back to a more normal work schedule...working days again after two years of being on nights. While I am happy to be back on days, the transition has wiped me out.

Also, this time of year has always been tough on me for reasons I have talked about before.

27 Blogging Secrets to Power Your Community

I don't usually like to link to the top 5 ways to increase your Twitter followers or the top 10 ways to improve your social networking skills with left handed dogs. The reason is these are usually 'duh' lists with nothing new or interesting to offer.

To me this crap is akin to the supermarket tabloids trying to get you to read about how Kate Hudson is now a top Hollywood movie producer or Colin Farrell is still relevant in America.

But get a load of this. Chris Brogan actually has some good tips...27 of them actually. I think that is a good number. Why? That means he wasn't just trying to fill up the slots to hit the Top 25 or Top 30 tips. These lists always stay with safe numbers like 5, 10, 15, 20...not a dangerous number like 27. So edgy.

READ HIS TIPS

You'll enjoy them if you still like blogs and haven't totally gone social networking crazy.

VIDEO: Jumping off cliffs in a wingsuit

Wingsuit base jumping looks very dangerous, yet amazing. It truly doesn't look real and could easily be something out of a James Bond flick. Not the new revenge oriented anti-Bond films mind you, something more like the Pierce Brosnan-era when it was more fantasy and amusing.

Seriously, you have to watch the video to believe that guys actually jump of cliffs wearing a wingsuit and fly around for the heck of it. Think they can get any closer to the wall? Guess not.

WATCH THE VIDEO

(Thanks Ryan)

The Top 7 Most Overrated Singers Of All Time

Just because they are popular doesn't make them good...right? That's what I take from The Top 7 Most Overrated Singers Of All Time by Dustin Sussman at Spike:

Hype is one hell of a thing. It’s pretty mind-blowing when die hard music fans treat certain artists as if they were some kind of God-like entity. This, in turn makes the artist believe that they are something special and deserve all of the love they are receiving. There are a few bubbles here that are in need of some serious bursting.

SEE THE LIST

(Thanks Brian)

Is Houston's new Smash Burger good?

SmashBurger is the latest burger joint to hit Houston. It's in the Medical Center area at 7811 Main. But is it any good? I've heard positive reviews personally.

But let's hand it over to Yelp reviewers to see what they think.

READ THE SMASHBURGER REVIEWS

VIDEO: Richard Simmons kisses (or eats?) CNN reporter's leg

Is Richard Simmons kissing or eating this CNN reporter's leg? You make the call.

WATCH THE VIDEO

SXSW, GNR, NIN, Dr. Dre, Prince and more

- Tour Tracker: Initial SXSW Lineup, Thievery Corporation and George Thorogood

- The Doors Documentary To Debut At Sundance Festival

- High-Definition Nine Inch Nails Concert Footage Surfaces

- GUNS N' ROSES: 'Chinese Democracy' Officially Passes 500,000 Sales Mark In U.S.
- Welcome to the Jungle 8-Bit Remix (Thanks Groovehouse)

- Excerpts From 'The 100 Greatest Metal Guitarists' Book Posted Online

- JIMMY PAGE's Manager Defends Decision To Tour And Record Without ROBERT PLANT

- QUEENSRŸCHE Confirmed For SOUTH TEXAS ROCK FEST
- QUEENSRŸCHE: U.S. Tour Dates Announced
- Geoff Tate Houston interview

- Is the Zune About To Become Extinct?
- Apple’s iTunes Adds Three Major Labels For DRM-Free Songs, Sets New Prices
- iPod Touch, Music and Games Device, Cutting Into iPhone Sales

- New Dr. Dre Song Possibly Destined For “Detox” Leaks

- Prince Plots Three New Albums for 2009: “This Music Is Nasty, But It’s Not Dirty”

- Filter 'The Very Best Things' Compilation Due In March

Carl's Jr. coming to Houston

Carl's Jr., a big staple in California, is coming to Houston reports the Houston Business Journal :

CKE Restaurants Inc., an operator of franchise and company owned Carl's Jr. restaurants, has inked a deal with RWJP Star Enterprises to bring another 121 Carl’s Jr. fast-food franchised locations to markets in Texas, including Houston, over the course of the next 10 years.

"The franchisee hasn't done a site selection yet so it will be closer to the end of the year before anything opens in Houston," said Beth Mansfield, a spokeswoman with CKE Restaurants. READ MORE

You might remember the burger chain from the infamous Paris Hilton car wash television commercial.

(Image courtesy of Flickr user bandoi)

VIDEO: Who says TV anchors have no moves?

Wow. And here I thought anchors just sat in their chairs quietly during commercial breaks of television newscasts. Not so in Chicago at super station WGN-TV reports headcandy of the Chicago Tribune.  There they have dance routines:

WGN-TV weekend anchors Robert Jordan and Jackie Bange do a little dance number each Saturday and Sunday night during their telecast's first commercial break. Word is that it started out as a short 10-second dance, but now they have choreographed it into the full 2:40 of the break. READ MORE

Don't believe the article? WATCH THE VIDEO for yourself.

Fox Sports Houston comes alive

It's no secret that Fox Sports Southwest mostly transmits out of Dallas (although the networks entire master control originates from The Woodlands). Sure it covers Houston but is kind of Dallas-centric.

Not anymore.

The Houston Business Journal reports that Fox Sports Houston becomes a full network Jan 12:

The new feed allows the station to provide more local content and have its own identity, as well as show replays of Houston Rockets and Astros games, which the station had not been able to do before, according to Ramon Alvarez, spokesman for Fox Sports Houston. Previously, Fox Sports Southwest’s feed was carried in Houston for most non-event programming.

“There was a need to have a separate operation for Houston because it is a Top 10 market and because of the Rockets and Astros,” he said. READ MORE

From what I understand those two teams were a big reason for the stand alone Houston network. Why? They were contemplating starting their own combined sports network! I doubt that will happen now.

The Office theme song as a rap...yo

Did you ever think The Office theme song works as a rap? Someone tried it. You be the judge...

WATCH IT HERE

This is not the first time The Office has inspired someone.  We've seen it as:
- A Harry Potter inspired mashup
- A Japanese show
- Real pranks at actual offices

Former anchor Sherry Williams heading to KHOU Channel 11?

Yesterday I posted that rumors are going around saying Sherry Williams, who used to anchor at Channel 39 KIAH, was about to resurface on Houston morning TV.

Good morning friends and neighbors?

Lots of folks responded to me with the news she is going to work for Channel 11 KHOU. Sounds like she will be a morning reporter type.

Could be a good gig if true. Congrats Sherry.

Rebecca Miller permanent at 33 KDAF Dallas

Rebecca Miller, the former NBC 5 KXAS Dallas morning meteorologist is now the main meteorologist at Channel 33 KDAF reports Uncle Barky.

Congrats to Rebecca. Miller is one of the biggest searches on this blog. In fact the Rebecca Miller leaves KXAS post was my number one entry of 2008!

Barky reports that Bob Goosmann still remains at 33 KDAF too.

(Rebecca Miller image courtesy of startelegrameditwriters.typepad.com )

Sam Malone of KRBE, KHMX talks to Mike McGuff

8/2009 update
Listen to Sam Malone again here!

Sam Malone is a morning radio institution in Houston. He's the voice you've had a cup of coffee with on 104.1 KRBE or 96.5 KHMX on the way to work for more than 15 years!

I caught up with Malone since he left Mix 96.5 KHMX to talk about if he'll ever hit the Houston airwaves again, why he left 104.1 KRBE and if he and Maria Todd are on speaking terms.

Mike McGuff: So first of all, everyone's going to want to know - what happened at Mix 96.5 KHMX? Why did you leave the morning show?

Sam Malone: Well, the station was put up for a forced sale. It was forcibly sold by (requirements of) the DOJ (Department of Justice). It demanded Clear Channel, say if you want this leveraged buyout to go through, you've got to divest of six stations around the country. Because Bain Capital and Thomas H Lee Partners (private equity firm that had agreed to acquire parts of Clear Channel) have interests in stations already in the market (Houston) so they already have a piece of, like my old station, 104. So, that's why they designated stations that must be sold. So, when stations didn't sell, they got into a little panic mode.

As they told me, it was a business decision, but you could tell it was like, OK, get rid of Sam; get rid of the contract. Now, it never sold. It ended up being swapped .




Mike: But, at this point, we don't know what's going to happen with KHMX and KLOL. I mean, the new owners, CBS, says it’s not going to change formats, but of course anything can happen at this point.

Sam: Oh God, yeah, anything. People always say, "We're not going to make any changes right now. We're happy with what we have."
I was at one station that was a Top 40 station. First got started in '88, and it was great. We had a downfall. Everything was OK, and boom, we went oldies [format]. I mean, I think when I left Friday, it was a Top 40 and Monday it was the oldies station.

Mike: Is that the scary thing about the radio industry, because there is a lot of uncertainty?

Sam: I think, the main thing scary about the radio industry, just a lot of people, they're very nervous. A lot of mangers get very nervous, and a lot of managers make very quick decisions on what they think they're going to need for today or tomorrow.

That oldies station crashed. And if you read the trades and you look at all the format changes, you'll see a lot of those, they'll change again. They'll change again. So they might try this format du jour, that format. You know, they might go to this whatever the format, like the jammin' format was real hot for a while and then that's gone.

There's a lot of uncertainties in accounting, a lot of uncertainties in sales, computer sales, a lot of uncertainties in retail, you know, automotive. But, nobody ever walks in and changes a Chevrolet into a plane. You know what I'm saying? Let's make planes today!

Mike: So, why weren't you able to say goodbye?

Sam: I don't know. I have no idea. I mean, literally, I remember doing a show, I think it was a Thursday, and I talked to Mark Steines. He was an old friend from Entertainment Tonight and then one of the actors from Grey's Anatomy, the new guy, the army major.

And I remember walking out of the studio and our operations manager was like, "Can we talk to you?" and I'm like, "Yeah, whatever." I was saying what's it about and he said, "Today's your last day. We're letting you go." And I remember saying, "OK, well, I'm going to say goodbye to coworkers," because we've had a wonderful relationship, but they're like, "No."

"Why not?"
"We have to leave now."
I'm like, "Well, I'm going to say goodbye to my crew."
"No, you have to leave now."
I'm like, "Well, I'll just go back to my office and email. I'll just leave."
"No, we've already locked you out."

And I'm like, "Well, I happen to have a beautiful big office with lots of stuff in it, so what about that?" "We'll have the movers ship it to your house." I'm like, "Well, what do I do?" They said, "Leave." And they walked me out. They had a guy walk me out to my car. And I'm like, "Do I look like a nut bag or something?"

Mike: What is that like? I mean, you're standing there hearing this. I guess, you're just kind of stunned at that point, right?

Sam: Well, you're stunned, but I made a lot of money for this station. We just hit phenomenally. We hit number one. The August book came out, and 30 days earlier I was like, "I'm number one in 18-49 women and number two in 25-54 women."

That's really good. I was surprised, I was like, "What? What?" So I mean, and I have a wonderful relationship, even with the operations manager, the guy who fired me. I was like, "Are you sure? All right. Well, I'll see you later. I'll talk to you later." Because he's such a nice guy.
I was really shocked to be let go and not to be able to say goodbye. I don't know. I don't get it. I don't know. And then they wiped me off the website right away, like 9:05 or 9:10, whatever, early that morning, like I didn't exist.

Mike: So, that day, it was already done?

Sam: It was already pre-planned, you know, whatever. And I remember people were like, "Oh, my God. You're off the website." And it's almost like the radio station was like, "Well, he never worked here. We have no idea who he is."

I don't know. I would let people say goodbye. I think it would have been a great cume builder to have a sponsored goodbye tour, introduce the new morning show.

I did that in Buffalo when I left. We had a 30 day goodbye thing, and it was tons of media and just sold the hell out of it. And then the new morning guy came on my show on the last day and I welcomed him. His name was Bruce. I said, "Good luck. I'm going to Houston." And it was TV cameras, members of the Buffalo Bills. It was just a good vibe.

And the listeners were appreciative because it's like, "Hey, I'm going now, but you're taking over." And here in Houston, it was like, "We don't know who he is. He doesn't exist. He's off the web page."

Mike: So, you've worked in Buffalo. Where else have you worked?

Sam: I started in Philadelphia for three years, and then went to Sarasota Park for three years. And then Buffalo for three years. And then here, it was 16 years.

Mike: For people who really don't know much about radio…that is an incredibly long time for someone to be in one city.

Sam: I think it's the record, at least in Houston. It's impossible to stay. I mean, we jokingly sat down with one of the trades and counted all the morning shows when I got here in '93. And the list was long. And there were names that we couldn't like, sometimes we would remember. Oh yeah, I remember! Oh, wait. So, sixteen years is a long time. It's going to be longer.

Mike: What do you owe that? How have you managed to survive?

Sam: I don't know. Lack of competition. You know, the one thing is we've never had really dominant, huge morning shows in this town, which is why I came here. You know, I'm not that great, it's just that nobody else was really that good.

And the other thing is I love the city. I really do. I mean, I love Houston. And when people get here, they're like they are the next market. Well. it's just a stopping ground, “I'll be two or three years in Houston, then I'll be in New York or L.A.”

And I just love the city. So, when you love it and you come on the air and you talk about the Rockets or the Texans or the mayor or the news anchor or people are doing goofy things, it's like you have a personal interest. I think, the people pick up that you have an interest in it, and they dig it, you know?

Mike: What do you like about the city?

Sam: It's so damn friendly. My hometown is Philadelphia and everyone is just mean. I mean, when you are driving, people are expressing themselves if they don't like your driving. Nobody looks at you in the elevator.

In Houston, they're just, "Hey! How are you doing?" You get on the elevator, "How are you doing? What floor?" You know, it's just a friendly city. It's just a great place to raise your kid and live.

Mike: Another station obviously that everyone associates you with is 104 KRBE. What made you leave there? Because that was obviously an incredibly successful run.

Sam: [laughs] It was. It was 12 years. And Clear Channel, as they told me, their line was, "We're just tired of getting beat by you. Would you just come work for us?" That's pretty much how they laid it out. Guy named Ken Charles.

Mike: So, that's a great compliment then.

Sam: Yeah, it was. So, they just made an offer that was just ridiculous. And I went to KRBE and I said, "My contract's up. You have right of first refusal. Here is the offer from Clear Channel, in writing." And they just said, "We cannot match this." So, I said, "See ya!" [laughs]

Mike: Speaking of that, where did your classic trademark line come from? How did that happen? Where did the "See ya" come from?

Sam: That is high school. That's Philadelphia high school talk. Tough guys don't ever say, "Take care. Look forward to going out and doing it again tomorrow for more beer and broads." It was always, "See ya!" And then you punch the guy when you say it. So, when we'd be out, you don't say, "Good-bye," because that's not very macho. It was always, "See ya!" And you'd just punch the person in the shoulder. Well, obviously, I can't walk around punching people. And that just became the way. In Philly, "Good-bye"? [laughs] I couldn't do that.

Mike: It's kind of like, I guess, the "howdy" here, right?

Sam: Howdy. Right. And if somebody went up north and did a morning show, they'd, "Howdy? Where the hell did you pick that up, redneck?"

Mike: How much of Philadelphia is still in you? I mean, how much of what we see of the Sam Malone on air do we kind of attribute to growing up in Philadelphia?

Sam: A lot. Philly, I grew up in a very blue-collar, tough neighborhood, so I really don't take a lot of gruff from people. I hang up on bad interviews. I hung up on Heath Ledger, hung up on Carmen Electra. I don't really have patience for bad manners and bad attitude. I can fly back to Philly and get that. So, a lot of times in radio, hosts are afraid and get uncomfortable when a guest sucks. It's like, "OK. You've got to go." So, as a Philly guy, I have no problem, [laughs] absolutely no problem, with Heath Ledger: "Dude, you're out. You're done. We're done with you. Good-bye."

Mike: What was he doing?

Sam: He was being a real jerk in an interview. I asked him about... He was dating, I think, Heather Graham at the time, and he goes, "I don't want to talk about Heather Graham." He says, "I'm here to plug my movie [he says in Australian accent]." Well, I said, "Good-bye" and hung up. And I remember Carmen Electra had that same attitude. So, being from Philly, you just don't have a lot of patience for bad manners, especially from a guest. That's the other thing. I throw people out of the studio. I mean, I have no problem with that. The sidekick, she's always like, "Oh my God!" [laughs] Get out. Get out of the studio. You're done.

Mike: It makes great radio, right?

Sam: [laughs] I always left the mike on when I throw people out of the studio. [laughs] Just in case.

Mike: [laughs] What's the audience reaction like when you kick those big stars off?

Sam: OK, how's this? When Heath Ledger died, the next morning I remember coming on the air, right? For like an hour, all people talked about was, "I remember when you hung up on Heath Ledger." So, for an hour, "I remember..." And I don't know if it's one of those things. I don't know if you actually heard it or heard about it, but it lasted - I mean, gosh, that was years ago, and he just passed away this past year. And the other thing is, people agree. They were like, "He was rude. And we're glad that you got him off the show because we don't want our children to get that kind of bad attitude."

I always feel, if you're coming on my show, you're selling something. Nobody goes on Letterman because they like Dave. They go on because they have a new movie, TV, whatever. You should at least be gracious, like, "Thanks for the exposure to come on your show and plug my movie or my whatever." That's when the Philly comes out of me. That's when it gets rowdy.

Mike: There are some morning shows, like in Houston, people would know Stevens and Pruett were kind of the shock jocks. But, you've been on top-40 stations, family stations. How much do you think about that when you're putting on a show? I mean, obviously, you do have, probably, kids in the car listening with mom or dad. How much does that play a part when you're planning the show?

Sam: Well, two things my wife has said, because we were talking about Howard Stern once, and I think he had signed, at that point, like a $20-million-a-year deal. This was a while back. And I said, "Wouldn't that be cool?" And she said, "No, I would never want you to do that, because I never want to be embarrassed by what you do." Right? And all the stuff. Obviously, it really led to a very strong marriage that he had with Alison (Stern's ex-wife).

Mike: Yeah. Right. [laughs]

Sam: And so she always said that: "Don't ever embarrass me."

And the other thing is now I'm a daddy. So my little boy's been in the car for years. He calls the show all the time. I know he's listening. You just can't say things that are blue or overly obvious. If you want to make a double entendre remark and you can mask it well enough that educated people can pick up on it and not kids, right? It'd be like if you have a kid and he's in a car and he's listening to some schmuck DJ saying, and your kid goes, "Daddy, what does that mean?" You're like, "Oh!"

That's what made us number one with women in the morning in Houston is by just being funny. But be as clean as possible. And if there's anything that may be questionable, let the guests say it. Let the guest be the one who says whatever and you go, "Hey, hey, hey. Family show." That's what I used to say all the time. [laughs] It's a family show. [laughs]

Mike: What makes a good host? Why do people listen to one person over another?

Sam: The research has found that the reason people listen is because they can relate quickly to that person. There's a million disc jockeys - well, maybe half a million after next week. [laughs] You're in a car, and a woman's in a car, and they listen. They like the voice, but then like, "Oh, OK. They're talking about things like, 'Hey, I was shopping at the mall, and, oh, yeah! I remember that person-in-line story."

And it's just being relatable. It's just telling stories that everyone can relate to, as often as possible. Sometimes they'll never be relatable, but they're enjoyable stories. Regis on "Regis and Kelly" will tell a story about he lives in a high-rise with Donald Trump. Nobody can relate, but it's an enjoyable story.

But, for the most part, Regis is relating. So, I always try to relate. And once in a while, you're going to tell a story about you and Elton John, or you're at the White House, or you on a private jet with somebody, and you'll just share it so they can enjoy the story.

Mike: How much of the show is spontaneous, and how much is planned out? Because I think people wouldn't realize how much you put into the show outside of the time you're on the air. It's not like you just kind of walk in and go.

Sam: No. You can't. There's a guy I worked with, though in Philly [laughs] who tried it. It didn't last.

The show, I always say - this is my opinion - is about 70 percent planned from the day before. Right? Like I'm here at the gym. I have my text, and I'm watching ESPN, and I'm like, "Oh, my God. Get Kris Brown on. He's going to kick. Make sure the Mayor is on and call Mary Hart” - because you're constantly thinking, but you walk in and Ken Lay dies. [slaps hand on table]

So, you have to be ready to throw out everything. That 70% should be what I call in the can. All morning I’ll be on the phone with the producer the whole time - you know, the kids at the station. It's this and that. Do we have the big sound bite from Britney Spears? Is the - whatever - survey ready? Do we have the video to put up on the web? [snaps fingers]. It's impossible to really walk in and do four hours. You can do it by one day - unprepared. You can't do it five days a week, 20 days a month.

Mike: Speaking of shows, I think everyone will associate Maria Todd with Sam Malone in this city.

Sam: Yeah.

Mike: You two were a big team.

Sam: My wife?

Mike: Exactly. Your work-wife. Right? How come you two work so well together? Is it just immediate chemistry that you can't explain or is there more than that?

Sam: I have no idea. I hired Maria in September of 1990 and we didn't get along. She was my news girl. She was just angry. Oh, my God she had so much anger. She had such a chip on her shoulder. At that point, I would wear nice sweaters and Dockside, whatever. She would have her Malcolm X shirt on and her Malcolm X hat on. She'd look at me and I was like, "Could we be anymore opposite?"
Something made her laugh one day. I said something and she'd just look at you like she wanted to fight, and she smiled. She has a beautiful smile. We were laughing and she started coming out of her shell. I don't know what it was. We just clicked at Buffalo in '92 or something. We realized that - as different as we are - we had so much in common intellectually. We love the same television shows. We love the same food. We love to eat. We both could eat a whole pig [snaps fingers] like that. [laughs] We both love this kind of movie. We both dig Laugh-in, Dick Van Dyke, Hill Street Blues, Bill's football, whatever.

We joined forces on the things that we liked. She is so talented. It wasn't even work with her. You could just say anything - packet of sugar. "Oh, let me tell you something about a packet of sugar." I would jump in and she would jump in. She was really good, really talented. I've been talking to her a lot. She's real sweet. She cracks me up.

Mike: So, she's now in San Francisco? Is that right?

Sam: Yeah.

Mike: How is she doing up there?

Sam: She's bitching about how expensive it is. I miss her and she misses me, because we just have that. Our old station manager called it "lightning in a bottle." It never happens in radio or TV where two people just click.

Mike: Yeah, because you can go through your whole career and never have another Maria Todd.

Sam: Yeah, she's just one-of-a-kind. She's self deprecating, which is so enjoyable. I put myself down like "I'm just a fat loser with a red mustache." She'd go, "Oh, no you aren't fat, but I look, you know. I'm 72 pounds too heavier than I was." It's just enjoyable.

When she tells stories about dating - women in radio want to be the know-all, the end-all, the prettiest, the smartest, "I don't know nothing."

[laughter]

Even if you open up the paper, "Let me see what it says. Oh my God, look who got married." She was an artist. She was a real radio artist. Good girl.

Mike: There was probably a lot of heart-ache when you left for MIX and you had to leave her behind.

Sam: It was tough. Our contracts were staggered so she couldn't leave. I told her I was going to do it. I said, "Listen, I can't turn this down. This is it."

Mike: Yeah.

Sam: When the contract is up, I'm pretty much a by-the-book-guy. So, it would be no hanky, panky with the contract. I just said, "When your contract is up, let me know." We have got to rock and roll together. They may want her to stay after this part.

It was tough, but we're still pretty close. It was just tough to getting away from having her on the radio. She's so talented.

Mike: When you first moved over to Clear Channel, you were doing KTRH, which was a new Sam for us. Right? You're doing news, you're doing commentary. Did you enjoy that?

Sam: I loved it. That's one of the things I really went over there for, aside from the benefits package, was the ability to do a two-hour AM talk show. It was unheard of from when I got out. Unheard of - not like it ever happened again, but they said, "You sound like you could do talk radio. Why don't we give you a show too." I'm like, [pause]. It was so cool to do that and - as I always say - continue the conversation. You can continue the conversation with your listeners, I'll be at 740, whatever. Aw! That was fun!

Mike: People might not understand that that's a big station; 740 has a booming signal. That's a big heritage news station.

Sam: Huge! I was blown away. When Ken Charles was putting together the package and said, "We think we have something for you in Talk." I was like, "Wow! Talk". It just opens you to a whole new avenue. Like here I used to be #1 with moms, but dads weren't really listening to me in the morning - not the kind of shows for them. They're more rock and roll kind of guys.

Then all of a sudden I'm talking to all these dads on AM Talk Radio. Now, I'm talking to moms in the morning and the dads during the midday - almost talking to the family. So, you hear callers say, "Well, my wife heard you say that this morning."

Mike: You've got the whole family.

Sam: I'm like, "Yeah, you know, it's amazing!"

Mike: What's next for Sam Malone?

Sam: Well, I have to get to my kid's school, but other than that... [laughs]. I have to sit out my non-compete (clause in contract that says host will not work at another Houston radio station for a determined period of time) which I did last time, and then I'll be back. The non-competes are immensely strict to the point where the whole [deal with the new station] could just collapse if you say the wrong thing.

Mike: Right.

Sam: So, all I'm going to say is, "I'll be back real soon.” [laughs]

I am enjoying this break. It's so refreshing. I feel stronger than ever, faster than ever, better than ever. I've had a chance to travel a lot. I want to travel again. I was able to go to Geneva, Switzerland, which who the hell has time to go Geneva? [laughter] It's one of those things like, "I don't know - Geneva?"

It's so nice. I've spent all this time, I take my boy to school every day. It's just so nice! I was at Tony's yesterday, having lunch with friends. I'm having lunch tomorrow. It's just one of those things. It's like I’m sure you get busy and you always think, "I would like to have lunch with that person. If only I had time. If only I could get to New York for Christmas and see the Spectacular and walk Madison Avenue, Fifth Avenue, or something like that."

It's a chance to do it. Sleeping late isn't too bad.

(Image courtesy of sammalone.com)

Former Channel 39 anchor Sherry Williams returns to TV?

The Insite hears rumors that former KHCW CW 39 anchor KIAH Channel 39 anchor Sherry Williams could be coming back to Houston television. Good for her. I'll take a guess and say Fox 26 KRIV?

Channel 39 or whatever it calls itself these days is a great lesson for broadcasters.  If you have good call letters like KHTV don't dump them for call letters like KHCW to reflect your network.  The good ones like KHTV will probably be snapped up by the time you want to go back so you have to go with something like KIAH.  It is amusing to hear how much people in broadcasting complain about those new calls. What about 39 Gold?

Sorry for the aside, back to Williams.  The former 39 anchor has a new business you can see more about here.

(Image courtesy of little b shows)

Would These Ten Stars Have Made It With Their Real Names?

Yahoo has a top 10 list of musicians who changed their names. Would Flavor Flav of Public Enemy have made it as William Jonathan Drayton, Jr? What about Jane's Addiction's Perry Farrell with this birth name Peretz Bernstein?

GO SEE THE LIST

(Thanks Brian!)

Is Sam Malone returning to Houston radio?

You know Sam Malone as the longtime morning show host of 104.1 KRBE and later at Mix 96.5 KHMX.  But after leaving Mix 96.5 will Sam Malone return to Houston radio?

Find out as he sits down for an interview with mikemcguff.com!  Read it Wednesday morning right here.

READ THE SAM MALONE INTERVIEW HERE 

Whitney Casey: From KHOU to sex expert?

Remember Whitney Casey who hosted Great Day Houston on KHOU Channel 11 in Houston? Sure you do. Well now Whitney Casey is now getting better coverage than my little blog can offer. She was just on the Howard Stern show talking about her new book the Man Plan!

The Inquisitr has all of the juicy details about the Whitney Casey and Howard Stern chat:

Whitney Casey told Stern she dated Jason Sehorn from the ages of 19 to 24, after which they got married. She says the never consummated the relationship during the entire time period prior to their marriage. (Stern, of course, didn’t let it go at that — Casey eventually admitted she did, uh, perform in other ways.) As for the end of the Whitney Casey-Jason Sehorn relationship, Casey said the “mental chemistry” wasn’t right.

Casey also discussed her relationships with Lance Armstrong — also not consummated, she said — and TV chef Rocco Dispirito. She did go into great detail about her physical relationship with Dispirito, including his, shall we say, assets, referring to a particular part of his anatomy as a “Viagra version of the statue of David.” READ MORE

Who would of thought! The Inquisitr reports that the Whitney Casey tour continues to the Today Show on NBC Wednesday but I doubt that appearance promoting the Man Plan will be this interesting. Will Casey show up on KHOU Channel 11 in Houston? Probably not.

Anyone know if she still has a radio show on 1070 AM KNTH which is a Christian leaning news talker? Will Salem, who owns the station, like the Howard Stern chat?

See more about the Man Plan on Amazon .

http://www.whitneycasey.com/

(Image courtesy of htexas.com )

Is Cooliris the coolest web search add on ever?

If you want to see an awesome visual search add on, then get Cooliris:

Cooliris.com, is a free accessory for Web browsers like Firefox and Internet Explorer. To help search through images and video on the Web, it transforms the browser into a shiny, black 3-D wall and scroll bar. Tap the bar and you’re zooming past an endless assortment of images that, when clicked, take you to the Web pages on which they typically appear.

A search for, say, cowboy boots becomes a fly-by scan of every online image with the word “cowboy boots” in its caption or file name. Click on a boot and you’re back at your regular browser window displaying the Web site that sells them. READ MORE

GET IT HERE

(Thanks Ted)
(Image courtesy of Flickr user EF-Lcrazy...Exploring new frontiers)

740 KTRH dumps some news

Richard Connelly at Hair Balls points out that Houston's Newsradio 740 KTRH is dumping some hours of local news.

READ IT

In the hours from 9-11am starting February 2 will be former 104 KRBE morning show host Glenn Beck. OK, I bet you didn't expect me to introduce the conservative talker and new Fox News host that way, but yes he used to work in Houston in top 40 radio.

(Image courtesy of texasequusearch.org)

Classic Cool Radio debuts on 650 AM in Houston

650 AM KIKK has been a lot of formats lately.

When I first started paying attention to it again it was a business format.  The people behind that format have since jumped to another signal. Next it was a guy talk kind of format so CBS could please Howard Stern (that didn't work out).  Next it became a CNN retransmission.  TV news on the radio, how can that be a format winner?  But I guess people still listen.

Now the station seems to be changing again...sort of.  Now at 4pm Monday through Friday longtime Houston radio personality Ronnie Renfrow and crew will take over the microphone for Classic Cool:

The new year brings a new format to Houston radio.  Beginning Monday, January 5, 2009, “Classic Cool” will reunite Houston listeners with the Rat Pack, Harry Connick Jr., Diana Krall, Michael Buble, and Norah Jones.  Hosts Ronnie Renfrow and Tom Richards will join listeners for the drive home beginning at 4pm, Monday through Friday.

Longtime Houston radio personality Ronnie Renfrow and his Classic Cool team have created a format that is unique not only to Houston, but to the national radio scene as well.

“This is by far the biggest programming void in radio.  The artists of Classic Cool are selling millions of CD’s annually, but listeners have had nowhere to go on the dial – until now,” Renfrow said.

“This is definitely not a nostalgia format,” Renfrow stressed.  “Classic Cool is far removed from that approach in that we will feature new music from contemporary artists who are all over the Billboard charts.”

Classic Cool will present a blend of singers, classic jazz, Latin, and blues.  Stars of the show include Frank Sinatra, Michael Buble, Ella Fitzgerald, Harry Connick Jr., Gloria Estefan, Tony Bennett, Diana Krall, and B.B. King, to name just a few.

The format’s web site – classiccool.com - is the first of its kind, exploring music both new and vintage.  Visitors to the site can register to win rare and valuable prizes, including musical collectibles.  Listeners will also be able to participate in online exchanges with the hosts, who are experts on the artists and the music.  Additionally, the web site will be a resource for information on live music performances in Houston. READ MORE

My guess is that the Classic Cool team is buying airtime on the station from CBS and selling the ad time.  I believe Renfrow and crew already had Swinging 650 on the weekends for a while which is a similar theme.

Good luck to this new format, sounds inventive to say the least.

More blog coverage
- Cool Out on Your Commute
- Houston Radio Gets Classic Cool

What the heck is Joe Cocker really singing?

Joe Cocker sings With A Little Help From My Friends with a lot of passion. But what is he really singing? Eddie Vedder might be able to tell us. Maybe.

Someone has finally translated the lyrics and scrolled them on the screen for us. Taken straight from Cocker's immortal Woodstock performance in 1969.

WATCH IT

(Thanks Ed!)

Where is KPRC's Wendy Corona?

Someone wrote in and asked me where KPRC Channel 2 anchor Wendy Corona is on Houston TV.

I went to KPRC's web site looking for the 4pm and 6pm anchor on the news team page and Wendy Corona is no longer listed. Her bio is still live on the Internet though. She is also listed as anchoring with Jerome Gray on his bio page.

What is going on?

UPDATE
This is now a topic on TVspy (thanks satchdog)

UPDATE 2
The Houston Chronicle confirms our fears later in the day here:

Wendy Corona has been laid off at KPRC (Channel 2), where she has worked as an anchor since April 2006, as the station moves to tighten its budget.

Skip Valet, Channel 2’s news director, said Corona’s departure “was an economic decision.” He said Corona’s position on the payroll will not be filled, but Rachel McNeill and Dominique Sachse will work alongside anchor Jerome Gray on the station’s 4 and 6 p.m. newscasts until a permanent co-anchor is named. READ MORE

(Image of Wendy Corona with Houston Dynamo Brian Ching courtesy of the buzzlady )

Dallas and Fort Worth newspapers team up, is this next for TV?

There is lots of buzz in newspaper land about the sharing of content between rivals The Dallas Morning News and the Fort Worth Star Telegram:

Just a dozen years ago, newspapers on either side of Arlington, Texas, fought fiercely for every reader in the fast-growing city, spending millions of dollars to expand their staffs and cover the smallest meetings and sporting events. So it came as a surprise that The Dallas Morning News and the Fort Worth Star-Telegram started sharing photos and concert reviews in November. READ MORE

Will this happen more in publishing? My guess is yes. Will it happen in TV? Already happening. I posted a few months ago about how Fox and NBC owned and operated stations are sharing photographers and helicopter resources. That agreement exists in Dallas/For Worth too, but not yet in Houston that I know of.

One of my college professors made the prediction in class more than a decade ago that there will eventually be one newspaper and one TV station in each market that do local news.  Most likely they will be partners.  Stay tuned...

(Thanks Michael Penix)

David Lee Roth soundboard

I love soundboards and I love the supposed David Lee Roth raw vocals from Runin' with the Devil released last year! Here is where I posted about those vocals.

Now someone has combined the vocals with a soundboard so you get to control Diamond Dave. Your coworkers and family better watch out and not make you mad now!

PLAY IT

(Thanks davidherrold)
(Image courtesy Flickr user laduylam5150)

Channel 2 KPRC still hopeful and old

David Barron at the Houston Chronicle reminds us that Channel 2 KPRC is the oldest television station in the city (originally known as KLEE-TV). It started broadcasting 60 years ago January 1st.

He also points out the challenges the station is currently facing.

READ IT

Is it time to bring back Radar the Weather Dog?  I'm just asking...

(Image courtesy of Missouri City)

The Best/Worst of SkyMall

This is from 2008, but still funny. SkyMall is that fascinating magazine you find on airplanes. It is full of some really odd items for sale. Well urlesque took the best/worst products (depending on you I guess) and lists the top 10.

SEE IT

(Thanks Brian!)

If you like this, you might want to check out the Sky Maul book.

Big Houston media figure talks to mikemcguff.com this week

You will most definitely check the mikemcguff.com on Wednesday to see which big Houston media personality sat down with me for an interview. I have a feeling a lot of people will want to hear from this person.

In the meantime you can read some of my other big Houston interviews:

- Michael Garfield talks about marketing yourself with Mike McGuff
- Ed Brandon announces retirement on the mikemcguff blog
- Michael Berry talks to Mike McGuff about his new radio role, leaving politics
- Ken Hoffman of the Houston Chronicle talks to Mike McGuff
- Houston radio's Laurie Kendrick talks to Mike McGuff
- David Sadof talks to the Mike McGuff Blog
- Wes Hohenstein talks to the mikemcguff blog about TV weather
- White House Correspondent Julie Mason talks to mikemcguff blog

No GNR tour?, top Houston artists, Beastie Boys and more

Before we being with the music linkage, did anyone catch Rock of Love Bus with Brett Michaels Sunday night on VH1? I watched the first season, skipped the second but might actually watch the third. It was wild. Some of it might have been filmed at Rock the Bayou in Houston too. We'll have to watch and see. The season suffered a tragedy while taping unfortunately.

- Guns n’ Roses Guitarist Denies “Chinese Democracy” Tour Rumor
Just days after telling a St. Louis newspaper that Guns n’ Roses were planning a two-year tour set to embark in March, guitarist Richard Fortus is now saying he was “misquoted” in the article.
- Is a certain drummer holding up the release of the Guns N' Roses Better video?

- Top Houston CDs of 2008
Joey Guerra of the Houston Chronicle's Handstamp features artists Glenna Bell, Miss Leslie, Carrie Ann and the Apocalyptics, Katie Armiger, Mechanical Boy, Nosaprise, John Evans, Johnny Falstaff, Amber Digby and the Mighty Orq.

- Bid on Motley Crue's backup Mac server

- Beastie Boys To Reissue “Paul’s Boutique” With Original Artwork, Song Commentaries

- Robert Plant Remains “Great Friends” With Jimmy Page, Still Plans To Do “Different Things”

- Biographer Claims Michael Jackson Seriously Ill, MJ’s Reps Deny It

Former KPRC weather guy Byron Miranda at KCRA

I feel like I've been following Byron Miranda's meteorology career ever since he left mornings at KPRC Channel 2 in Houston. Why? Because readers keep me updated.

After KPRC, he went to:
KTVU in San Francisco
NBC WeatherPlus
KIRO in Seattle

And now [insert drum roll] Mr. Byron Miranda is forecasting the weather at KCRA Sacramento! And guess what? That signature mustache is gone. It went down the drain one day.

Here is some video a reader sent in of Miranda in action (hopefully the station does not erase it). Congrats to Byron.

Follow the comments and read more about Byron Miranda here.

(Image courtesy of Ron Fineman)

Thanks to the mikemcguff.com top contributors

I post a lot of odd stuff on this blog and there is no way I could do it all myself. This is the time of year I must thank the top mikemcguff.com contributors.

Without your countless hours of surfing, this blog would suck even more than it already does! Thank you:

Brian H.
Murdoch
Ed B.
Will-E
Michael Penix

What does it take to become a top mikemcguff.com contributor? A special degree? Money? No, just the will to drop me an email.

You can email me on the right hand side of the blog.
Or send me messages via:
Twitter
Facebook

Remember John Lander of Houston's 93Q KKBQ Morning Zoo?

John Lander was a big Houston morning radio guy. He led the Morning Zoo when 93Q KKBQ was a dominate top 40 station in a big battle with 104.1 KRBE in the 1980s. (Read what the Houston Chronicle's Ken Hoffman says about him here or listen to Hoffman talk about Lander here)

WATCH: 1989 Radio Station 93Q (92.9FM) KKBQ-FM Houston TV Commercial with John Lander and The Q-Morning Zoo

Well Lander left and I'm not sure Houston morning radio has ever really been the same in some ways. Fast forward to today where we learn Lander has left his 12 year gig at Mix 98.5 WBMX in Boston. The Boston Herald reports his contract was not renewed.

Imagine if Lander returned to Houston. Would the magic still be there?

[Thanks Patrick!]
(Image courtesy of Airchexx.com )

1560 The Game KGOW has top morning show

David Barron tells us that 1560 The Game KGOW has the top sports morning show in Houston:

KGOW (1560 AM), which reunited Granato and Zierlien in November 2007 after both left longtime sports talk market leader KILT (610 AM), topped the December Arbitron ratings among men 25-54 with a 1.7 audience share in morning drive.
KFNC (97.5 FM) was second at 1.5, KILT was third at 1.0 and KBME (790 AM) brought up the rear with a 0.5 share. READ IT

Barron says December was the first full ratings book KGOW’s signal was encoded to register on Arbitron’s portable people meters.

Top mikemcguff.com posts of 2008

It's that time of year again where I take a look at the posts on mikemcguff.com you wanted to read the most.

1. Rebecca Miller out at NBC 5 KXAS in Dallas/Fort Worth
2. Where is KTRH's Chris Baker?
3. Sam Malone out at Mix 96.5 KHMX
4. Whitney Casey leaves KHOU for KNTH
5. Is felonspy.com a big joke?
6. Chris Baker to KTLK-FM Minneapolis
7. The Weather Channel's Jennifer Lopez replaces Rebecca Miller at NBC 5 KXAS Dallas-Fort Worth
8. Where is Kristine Kahanek of DFW's CBS11 KTVT?
9. KHOU Channel 11 anchor Lucy Noland tells all (This was a 2007 post but didn't go away)
10. Hot 95.7 replaces Smooth Jazz 95.7 The Wave KHJZ in Houston

Wow, it is obvious out of all the stuff I blog about, there is one subject that dominates all others. Should I even bother with non-media posts?

Tops for 2007
Tops for 2006