Top 5 Holiday Hangover Cures

Jane Catherine Collins of The Houston Press offers the top 5 holiday hangover cures. SEE THEM

Stay safe out there tonight!

The Top 100 Videos of 2009 in Less Than 3 Minutes

Things move fast in the Internet video world, why not showcase it that way?:

Between pranks, sports, tech, video games, singing, dancing, and television— there was a lot to choose from. These are the top 100 videos that became famous on the web in 2009, all in less than three minutes. WATCH

(Thanks Brian)

Top mug shots of 2009

Why would I post this on New Year's Eve? OK, it totally makes sense. SEE THE LIST

(Thanks Brian)

Top 10 national TV developments of 2009

Uncle Barky ranks the top 10 national TV developments of 2009:

Icons dying off. Major players signing off or shifting venues. Scandals, buyouts, additions, subtractions. And that doesn't even include Tiger Woods, whose year-ending travails have yet to play out and technically aren't a television story per se.

So we're going to leave Tiger out of this TV year in review -- along with the White House State dinner-crashing Salahis and Palin family scourge Levi Johnston. Let the TV rag mags have at 'em -- again and again and again. SEE THE LIST

Top Mike McGuff abc13.com photo assignments 2009

You won't see much of these anymore since I left abc13.com KTRK, but enjoy some of my photo assignments from 2009. I got to flex my photo skills (and sometimes Flash work) in what I considered to be the favorite part of my job.

PICS: Body Art Expo Houston (tattoo photos)
This was like taking photos while balancing on a tight rope! I worked for a family friendly site, not The Houston Press.  There was a lot of stuff around there that wasn't necessarily family friendly! Don't worry, I think I pulled it off.

Houston Texans Cheerleader tryouts part 1-4
Every guy (and maybe some girls) enjoyed my week of award winning Houston Texas cheerleader tryout photography. The web traffic doesn't lie my friend.

X-treme skaters and BMXers
I went out to Magnolia High School and photographed some extreme sports dudes who have participated in the X Games (including Koji Kraft (Chicago, Illinois), Jay Eggleston (Denver, Colorado), Trevor Meyer (St. Park, Minnesota), Anthony Furlong (Tampa, Florida), Jay Stevason (Toronto, Canada) and Marc Englehart).

Buffalo Bayou Houston pictures
I took a history boat ride down Buffalo Bayou and discovered a hidden view of Houston. It's where nature meets urban life. We went only miles from downtown Houston, but from the photos you'd think we were in the middle of nowhere.

Historic Texas maps
One of my personal projects for abc13.com involved restored historical maps of Texas. That includes an early 1900s map of Houston and a late 1800s map of Harris County! If you love Texas history, you should like this.

Spring break on Galveston's beach
We saw how the Houston Chronicle was doing this and no doubt raking in the page views.

Remembering the Shamrock Hotel
For St. Patrick's day I decided to put together a multimedia project for abc13.com about the Shamrock Hotel. My parents used to take me there for dinner. Or at least we went once and I can remember looking out at the massive pool and diving boards. It was a special time. I gathered interviews with Tom Horan who was the PR guy, raw video and photos of the giant Houston hotel.

Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo photos
Always a fun time shooting the carnival and rodeo. I was down on the floor of Reliant Stadium and got some great action shots for not knowing what I was doing. Carnival photos | Rodeo photos

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

Chevron Houston Marathon 2009 photos
It became a yearly tradition for me to wake up at 3am and head downtown for the epic work day. Was it a marathon for the runners or for me when I left work at 7pm each time?

Mike McGuff on 950 KPRC today at 9am

Just want to let you know I will be on "The World According to Garf" on 950 KPRC (listen live online at the950.com) to talk about my Top Houston media moments of 2009 (also recently featured on CultureMap.com by Caroline Gallay). Tune in around 9:20am to hear this big event.

Do you think Garfield will want me to talk about my Top Houston media moments of 2009 PART 2?

Top 10 bonehead broadcasting decisions and trends of the decade

Randy Tatano offers the top 10 bonehead broadcasting decisions and trends of the oughts:

We've seen the biggest changes in the history of the business, bigger than when we went from film to video, from tape-to-tape to non-linear. TV News will never be the same, and if anyone is trying to predict what it will look like in the next ten years, well, fuhgeddaboudit. Meanwhile, time to look back at the decade, and we're going to start with the worst decisions of the past ten years.

SEE THE LIST

The 10 Biggest Non-Bummers Of The Decade In Houston

A more positive follow up to yesterday's bummer post. SEE THE LIST

Top 11 Houston Restaurant Openings of the Decade

Robb Walsh of The Houston Press breaks down the top 11 Houston restaurant openings of the decade. SEE THEM

Top Houston media moments of 2009 PART 2

A thing I saved for this week was the fact that Michael Garfield aka "The High Tech Texan" moved into all kinds of new endeavors this year.

First he went Monday through Friday on 950 KPRC from 9-11am.

Then he became a Houston Chronicle City brights contributor.

Now he is writing for CultureMap.

How does he find the time to do all of this? Don't forget his Saturday morning show which he graciously lets me appear on from time to time.

RELATED
- Top Houston media moments of 2009
- VIDEO: The view of a radio talk show host from 950 KPRC Houston
- AUDIO: Mike McGuff on 950 KPRC
- AUDIO: Mike McGuff's appearance on 950 KPRC
- Michael Garfield talks about marketing yourself with Mike McGuff

Twitter's Top 10 Tech Trends of 2009

The Twitterati have spoken:

Throughout 2009, a few tech topics got so much attention that they managed to make Twitter's trends. Google Wave was one of the most notable of these, obviously, but what were the other subjects of such interest to Twitter-using geeks? Twitter released a list of the top 10 technology-related trending topics of the year; here's what tweeps have been talking about.

SEE THE LIST

D-FW television's list of 2009 departures

Uncle Barky lists the television news departures of 2009 from the Dallas-Fort Worth TV market:

For now, though, we say a last goodbye and wish all of these people well. This alphabetical list of 2009's evictees, either by choice or force, is of on-camera personalities only. It is not meant to downgrade or diminish the efforts of the many who work behind the scenes to make these people look good.

In the end, though, readers of this site invariably want to know what's happened to the people who come into their homes. Some became quite famous during their stays here. Others were much less visible to viewing audiences. But virtually everyone built a following of some sort. So here's where they were -- and what they're doing now if information is available. READ THE REST

The 10 Biggest Houston Bummers Of The Decade

Richard Connelly of The Houston Press gives us a dose of reality when it comes to the last decade:

A lot of great things happened in Houston in the ten years of The Oughts, but a lot of bad things happened too. It's called "life," people. SEE THE LIST

Top 5 Houston grocery store openings and closings of the decade

Katharine Shilcutt of the Houston Press takes a look at how the grocery store scene has changed over the decade in Houston. She's right, Randall's is not the same.

Top 5 Grocery Store Openings of the Decade

Top 5 Grocery Store Closings of the Decade

10 Best Movies of the Decade

These are the 10 that deepened with time and dug their way into your head and heart. SEE THEM

(Thanks Brian!)

The 15 Funniest Local News Reports Of 2009

I haven't seen most of these, but we'll take buzzfeed's word for it. SEE THE LIST

(Thanks Michael P.)

Top Houston media moments of 2009

2009 was a wild year in the Houston media world. We saw top anchors leave television stations and big time radio DJs jump ship! I went through my blog to showcase some of the moments I thought were worth remembering. Click on the links to read the posts.

Where is KPRC's Wendy Corona?

Sam Malone of KRBE, KHMX talks to Mike McGuff

950 KPRC gets Chris Baker back, Walton and Johnson to 93.7 The Arrow KKRW

Mike McGuff's web sections win first and second place in the Texas AP awards

New Houston TV anchors...sort of

Where is Darby Douglas on Channel 11 KHOU?

Valet of KPRC Channel 2 skips out of Houston

Zakk United leaves 94.5 KTBZ The Buzz in Houston

Houston Chronicle layoffs coverage

CBS Radio in Houston appoints Purdy as VP/Market Manager

Giff Neilsen leaves Channel 11 KHOU

KLOL and KHMX are with CBS

Former Houston Chronicle fashion guy Clifford Pugh lands new gig

Mike McGuff wins an Emmy part 2

Dean and Rog on The New 107.5 The Eagle KGLK

Moving on from abc 13

Tom Doerr named Fox 26 KRIV news director

Pat Gray leaving Houston's 700 KSEV for Glenn Beck

KPRC and KIAH's Keith Northon and Ray Fisher leave their respective channels

Jack is dead at 103.7 FM in Houston

KTRK 13 Houston reporter Eric James carjacked/kidnapped

Lanny Griffith leaves Fox 26 KRIV Houston

Mike McGuff talking social media on Houston 8 KUHT PBS

KHOU 11 announces new early morning newscast at 4:30am

KPRC 2 Launches 4:30am newscast

KTRK 13 quietly debuts 4:30am show

Mike McGuff's 4am show pitch to Houston TV stations

39 KIAH Houston adds new newscasts

KPRC 2 and KRIV Fox 26 to share helicopter

Fox 26 KRIV adds more morning news

Mo' Bounce leaves Hot 95.7 Houston for Z100 New York

John Lopez leaves 790 KBME The Sports Animal, joins 610 KILT mornings

Will Dr. Phil return to Houston TV after 2011?

Houston Chronicle society columnist Shelby Hodge exits

Darby Douglas' near death experience, plus life after KHOU 11

KHOU 11 makes Net news for Wii traffic remote

KPRC Local 2 reporter Elizabeth Scarborough exits

Texas Tribune to debut in realm of nonprofit journalism

Houston is now on the Culturemap - Web site that is

KIAH 39 reporter Dennis Spellman leaves station

KTRK 13 reporter missing from TV

610 KILT's Matt Jackson and Adam Wexler are new 790 KBME morning show

KPRC 2 reporter Alana Gomez Dong leaves Houston for new job

A photo of Santa Claus in your living room

I told you about catch-santa.com/tonight last week and wanted to remind you about it for tonight. This site lets you insert a photo of Santa Claus right in your living room! CLICK HERE

It's the proof your kids want to see! I will make a percentage off your purchase if you use the above link.

KPRC Local 2 Loses Family Member

KPRC Channel 2 reports that it lost one of its newscast directors:

Anthony Harris, 42, was a director at KPRC for many years.

Anthony suffered a heart attack on his way home from work Tuesday night. READ THE REST

Houston radio and TV transmitters poking through the clouds

I was on a plane and saw the Houston radio and television transmitters sticking through the clouds. These are the Missouri City sticks.

I promise this is a real photo. The only thing I photoshopped was the color because the photo was taken through a window on a dreary day.

VIDEO: Come to Houston

The Greater Houston Convention and Visitor's Bureau produced a great video about all things Houston. You might actually want to come to visit one day after seeing it.

Sharpstown Mall gets new name

Nancy Sarnoff of the Houston Chronicle has a name check for an old Houston mall:

After nearly five decades, Sharpstown is going away. Not the mall, just the name.
The owner of Sharpstown Center, one of Houston's oldest regional shopping malls, is renaming the property PlazAmericas as part of a $10 million rebranding and revitalization project. READ THE REST

RELATED
- My life at Sharpstown Mall
- Sharpstown Mall looking for a revival

Former DFW meteorologist Kristine Kahanek writes children's books

Former KTVT and WFAA meteorologist Kristine Kahanek is now a children's book author reports the Plano Star-Courier:

Written and published by veteran broadcast meteorologist Kristine Kahanek, the “Katie and the Magic Umbrella” series is designed to teach children ages 4-10 about the science behind weather to help them overcome their fear of storms.

Using her family as inspiration, Kahanek began writing her first book, “Katie and the Magic Umbrella: A Stormy Adventure,” which she published in September 2008. In the book, Grace and Alex are afraid of storms. Katie, their guardian angel, appears and uses her magic umbrella to take them on an educational journey into a storm. The book teaches about cloud types, rain, lightning, thunder, hail, tornadoes, and where to go and what to do to stay safe.

Kahanek’s character, Katie, is inspired by the daughter she lost 10 years ago, proving that one can triumph over tragedy and provide hope that can help others. READ THE REST

http://www.kristinekahanek.com/

The day the Laffter died in Houston

Houston comedy club The Laff Stop has closed down according to Dusti Rhodes of The Houston Press:

​The Laff Stop is closed ... forever. On Saturday, the legendary club -- that gave rise to national names such as Sean Rouse, Brett Butler and Ralphie May -- ended it's nearly-three-decade run of comedy in Houston. In other words, it's now The Laff Stopped. (What? Too soon?) But seriously folks. READ THE REST

This was the club located off West Gray for a long time that recently moved.

RELATED
- La Strada on Westheimer closes
- Hollywood Video splits from Tower Theater in Montrose

Matt Lavine talks about KHOU 11 gig

As I told you Sunday, Matt Lavine (former Fox 26 KRIV morning meteorologist) was back in Houston on KHOU 11 this weekend doing the weather. He told me earlier this year (after filling in at KHOU) that he was moving to Seattle. Here is what Lavine said to me via email about his TV work this past weekend:

"Yes, as you can see I'm back on the air at KHOU. What can I say...I love working at Channel 11!

News director Keith Connors and Chief Meteorologist Gene Norman invited me back while visiting family and friends in Texas. I'm having a blast celebrating my 20 years "on air" in Houston, and

I really enjoy working with KHOU anchors Allison Triarsi and Shern-Min Chow as well as the entire Channel 11 staff.

I can't say much more than that, but I will say that you can take the boy out of Texas, but you can't Texas out of the boy. I love living in Seattle, but I still proudly call Texas home."

Well based on all of the Web surfers looking for information on you this weekend, some Houston weather watchers love themselves some Matt Lavine!


RELATED
- Matt Lavine resurfaces on KHOU 11 in Houston
- Matt Lavine back on Houston TV...for now
- Weatherman Matt Lavine on Channel 39 KIAH
- Matt Lavine, formerly of Fox 26 KRIV gets a blog and more
- What happened to Matt Lavine formerly of Fox 26?

Charlie Gibson's goodbye from ABC's World News

I am a little late on this but it is still great video. Charles Gibson left ABC's World News on Friday for the retirement life and the staff put together an amazing goodbye video from some pretty large figures.

I interviewed Gibson a few years ago and found him to be a very nice person. He was much like he is on TV. I once met Peter Jennings and felt totally intimidated to put it into perspective.

RELATED
Diane Sawyer takes over ABC newscast

Worst Christmas album covers ever

You just have to look at these. SEE THEM

(Thanks Brian)

Changes for CBS stations

CBS owned and operated stations are combining radio and TV power in new strategy:

I noticed that here in New York WCBS-AM and WCBS-TV have two very similar Web sites. They both do news and information. Any thought about combining those into one site?

Guitano: Yes. What we're going to do is we're going to aggregate the sites and come up with one site in each market that will incorporate the news, sports, weather. We want to make it hyperlocal, equivalent to the best local paper with all the local information and then have links to our assets outside of the local areas such as CBS News.com, CBSSports.com, etc.

I count at least 14 markets where you have TV and radio stations. In how many of those markets will you merge your local sites?

Anton: We would do it in all 14 markets. READ THE REST

Someone needs to start thinking outside the box and more strategically when it comes to local news Web sites. We'll see if this makes any difference for the company and possibly the news Web world too. We won't see any result of this in Houston, but we most certainly should in Dallas/Fort Worth.

RELATED
DFW's KTVT boss moves to LA's KCBS

Matt Lavine resurfaces on KHOU 11 in Houston

You never know who will show up on Houston TV during the holidays. Meteorologist Matt Lavine (formerly of Fox 26 KRIV) was performing weather duties on KHOU Channel 11 again this weekend. This is surprising since he told me last May (the last time he was on 11 KHOU) that he was moving his family to Seattle. I guess the Bayou City is hard to resist.

Either way its good to see him back and as usual, whenever he gets on Houston TV, viewers start hitting my blog looking for information on him.

RELATED
- Matt Lavine back on Houston TV...for now
- Weatherman Matt Lavine on Channel 39 KIAH
- Matt Lavine, formerly of Fox 26 KRIV gets a blog and more
- What happened to Matt Lavine formerly of Fox 26?

Santa dumps loads of money off at Sunny 99.1 KODA due to Christmas music

 
Every year Sunny 99.1 KODA (some in the past have referred to the station as KOMA because it used to play really slow music) plays Christmas music at this time. KIAH 39 reporter Steve Simon takes a look at how Clear Channel rakes in the cash during this season because holiday music is hot:

The most requested song this year: The Christmas Hippotamus Song. It was recorded in 1953 by 10 year-old Gayla Peevey.

An old song you won't hear this year: Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer. The station says it's time to give grandma a rest.

The holiday songs will continue until 12:01am December 26th. READ THE REST

VIDEO: New Iron Man 2, Alice In Wonderland and Robin Hood trailers

As we all know, Hollywood really likes remakes and sequels. A new decade is not changing that just yet.

Watch the trailers for some big ones coming up:
- Iron Man 2 trailer
- New Alice In Wonderland Trailer
- Ridley Scott's Robin Hood Has Arrived

* Bonus
First Look At The Runaways!

Jet Blue vs TMZ

"Jet Blue has LA covered better than TMZ." I saw this billboard as soon as we landed in Los Angeles last week and had to laugh.

Mike McGuff gets called out by future city council member

Don't look to me for picks on political winners. I made the prediction that Roseann Rogers aka The Buzz Lady (former KPRC 2 and current KTBU 55) had a great shot at winning the race for Bellaire City Council, Position 3.

With her years on Houston television, I figured she had good name ID and a leg up on her competitor Corbett Parker. Boy was I wrong. Parker got almost 72% of the vote in last Saturday's runoff.

In a funny tweet to me Parker wrote:

@CorbettParker @mikemcguff Luv blog and sic'em Bears but Roseann didn't have it in bag. Leave politics to @miyashay. Thx 4 motivation in http://tiny.cc/LP1XO

You know Corbett, I will and congrats on the big win. I will also leave the Christmas tree decorating advice up to Miya Shay too. Hey Corbett, can you get me out of a ticket if I get nailed for going 1 mph over in Bellaire?

Is the government looking to kill TV?

Is President Obama's FCC looking to kill TV stations' over the air broadcasts? Harry Jessell of TVNewsCheck reports the administration is bringing in a Duke law professor on sabbatical who wrote a paper on this subject:

Benjamin first makes the argument that we've heard elsewhere: Broadcasting is an inefficient use of spectrum because most people (he says 14 percent of homes) no longer receive broadcast signals off air, but rather get them via cable or satellite. Taking back the spectrum and auctioning it would generate "hundreds of billions of dollars" in revenue for the government and put it to better use.

Benjamin concedes that there would be costs to ending over-the-air broadcasting, notably for "people too poor" to afford cable and satellite. But they can be shifted to cable or satellite for less than $10 billion, "a small fraction of the value of broadcast frequencies, as reflected in the value of those frequencies at auction once they could be used for any service." READ THE REST

I don't think the government has to interfere with this. From what I understand everything is going in this direction on its own.

RELATED
Kill TV Paper Blasted As 'Abomination'

Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo named North America's top attendance getter

The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is a massive event in this city. It's one of the few things still Texas about Houston. It made the top of a fair attendance list based on its crowd size according to carnivalwarehouse.com:

Surging to the top spot on the list this year was the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo with a record-breaking attendance of 1,890,332, an increase of 5%. They gained the number one spot for the first time, succeeding the perennial #1, Texas State Fair, which was hampered by rain. Texas had a carnivalwarehouse.com estimated attendance of 1,818,825.

"The 2009 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo was a great success," said Skip Wagner, Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo president. Speaking about the success of the world's largest stock show he said, "It's a great value, and there's something for the whole family."

You can read more here.

Insert a Santa Claus image into your living room

Houston based catch-santa.com/tonight lets you insert an image of Santa Claus into a photo of your living room (or anywhere else you want him). Oh the possibilities.

So if I wanted to digitally Santa Claus in a photo of me getting a colonoscopy, it could be done via this site. Suddenly this post is turning into a strange fetish-like thing. Maybe this could be a whole separate site. Wanna-be entrepreneurs...start working. I will make a percentage off your purchase if you use the above link.

- catch-santa.com/tonight
- Video

Baylor Magazine features my work

I get a mention in this month's Baylor Magazine but not by name. In the Baylor Homecoming Parade history timeline section of the issue, 107.1 KWBU gets a mention for the first parade broadcast via the Internet in 1998. I was the program director of the station, an anchor for the broadcast that year and one of the folks who got the stream ready for the Web (No doubt Dr. Michael Korpi, David Cox and Michael Bettersworth had a big hand too).

Glad to see someone remembers that. Here is the original article in the Baylor Lariat:

For the past 10 years KWBU carried the parade exclusively on the radio, but this year they decided to broaden their listening audience through technology.

The broadcast is an opportunity for students to get hands-on radio experience outside the studio.

'It's challenging to students because we are doing what's normally done on television except without the pictures,' said Michael McGuff, program director for KWBU. 'It forces us to be more vivid and descriptive about each parade entry.' READ THE REST

You can read more about my wild college radio days in the Baylor Lariat archive.

And if you have read all the way to this point of this post, then you might be interested in a Baylor/Waco radio article where the legendary Voice of the Baylor Bears, Frank Fallon, is mentioned.

RELATED
- VIDEO: Mike McGuff prank call as 'Shazzy'
- Why 107.1 KWBU Radio Free Waco is no more

VIDEO: We got that b-roll

If you work in television news and do stories on non-local topics, then you know how hard it is to come by good b-roll (think of it as stock footage for non-TV types). In this parody ad, a business actually provides you any b-roll you want with 80s cheesiness.

Is KDAF's Candice Crawford engaged to Cowboy Tony Romo?

Is DFW sports reporter sensation Candice Crawford of KDAF 33 (she is also the sister of Gossip Girl's Chace Crawford) engaged to Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo?

That rock on her hand is getting some talking, but the reps say there has been no official deal made. Oh well.

- Tony Romo-Candice Crawford: Engaged or not?
- Candice Crawford Not Engaged to Tony Romo... Yet
- Candice Crawford

RELATED
- KDAF 33 reporter Candice Crawford dating Tony Romo?
- KDAF 33 hires Chace Crawford's sister/Miss Missouri

Car filled with Christmas lights on the inside

KPRC Channel 2's Ryan Korsgard reports on a Houston woman who decorates the inside of her car with lights and other items for Christmas. Talk about an Art Car in reverse I guess:

It started with an inverter to power the lights and it grew. Now there are about 100 Christmas lights, just as many cotton balls and enough white stuff to cover a queen-sized bed. Even the window sills have a coat of snow.

Brown's daughter, 8-year-old Elora Blackburn, said, "It just makes me think about Christmas a lot and it fills my heart! "

Usually there's a little snow scene beside Elora in the back seat, complete with a lighted Christmas tree, Santa and Frosty. But on Sunday, Baby Jesus, Mary and Joseph were on parade. READ THE REST

WATCH THE VIDEO

I think it is time that Internet Broadcasting Systems allows users of click2houston.com to embed its video. Come on, everyone else is doing it!

'Ghostbusters 3' spoilers from Sigourney Weaver

There is probably nothing worse for a fimmaker than an actor/actress doing publicity for a movie and revealing secrets about your upcoming flick that doesn't even have a final script. That is, unless you want leaks.

Doing press for Avatar, Sigourney Weaver reportedly revealed some plot points for Ghostbusters 3 to the UK media:

"I know that my little son Oscar -- who was kidnapped from me -- I think he has grown up to be a Ghostbuster.

"I might be in it; I see nothing wrong with being in it, although I don't think I will have a big part. I think Bill Murray has a little more to do with it -- I think he might be a ghost." READ MORE

RELATED
Why Ghostbusters 3 has been so slow to come out

(Thanks Will-E)

Houston gets Comcast Fancast Xfinity

Get ready for 12,000 hours of online content on demand from Comcast reports the Houston Business Journal:

Comcast Corp. on Tuesday is making available its On Demand Online experience to Houston customers as part of a nationwide rollout.

The 1 million Houston customers who have both a digital cable and Internet subscription with the Philadelphia-based communications company can access Fancast Xfinity TV for free at home or on-the-go via their computers. READ THE REST

VIDEO: The Necky is the new Snuggie

Looks like The Snuggie started a craze:





https://www.buynecky.com

(Thanks Michael P.)

KISS in Houston, Guns N' Roses Tour, Big 4 Thrash, Beach Boys and more

KISS photos from Houston concert
- KISS Houston show review
- More KISS photos
- KISS Snubbed By ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME

METALLICA, SLAYER, MEGADETH And ANTHRAX To Share Stage In Europe
- SLAYER, MEGADETH, ANTHRAX Members Comment On 'Big Four' European Festival Appearances

John Frusciante Leaves the Chili Peppers Again?

GUNS N' ROSES: CHINA TIMES Video Report On Taipei Concert Available
- GUNS N' ROSES In Taiwan: More Video Footage Available
- Axl Rose Issues Statement About LAX Scuffle With “Unruly” Paps
- Ex-GUNS N' ROSES Guitarist IZZY STRADLIN To Release New Album

Smashing Pumpkins release first of 44 free songs, 'A Song For A Son'
- BILLY CORGAN Calls SMASHING PUMPKINS Split A 'Mistake'

The Beach Boy's Wouldn't It Be Nice a capella - no music, just vocals

'Miss Box Of Junk' From 'That Metal Show' Found Dead

Courtney Love Loses Temporary Legal Control of Frances Bean

PHOTOS: ROB ZOMBIE AT THE HAMMERSTEIN BALLROOM, NEW YORK CITY
- ROB ZOMBIE: Uncasville Footage Available

The Rolling Stones Plan 2010 World Tour

MORTIFICATION: 'Break The Curse' 20th-Anniversary Expanded Edition Artwork Revealed

In Wishing Ronnie James Dio a Speedy Recovery

How Tom Morello, Isaac Brock, Lars Ulrich and more stars - plus the RS editors - ranked the 2000s

Remembering John Lennon: Classic Photos and RS Interviews

ZAKK WYLDE Says Losing OZZY OSBOURNE Gig Was 'No Big Deal'

10 of the Best Facebook Apps for Music Lovers

Axl Rose Interview @ Howard Stern's Radio Show circa 1989:

One hit wonders of the 2000s

Looking back on this list makes me realize the 2000s were no different than any other decade...we had a lot of crappy music in the last 10 years:

They came, they conquered... they were never heard from again. After reaching the Hot 100's Top 10 with their very first singles, none of these acts managed to crack the Top 25 for the rest of the decade. But hey, four minutes of fame is better than nothing. The one-hitmakers on this list have been ranked by how high their big song climbed on the chart compared to how far down the tally their subsequent highest-charting effort peaked.

SEE THE LIST

(Thanks Brian!)

DFW's KTVT boss moves to LA's KCBS

I told you how KTVT general manager Steve Mauldin aims to make CBS 11 number 1. Well I guess he did a good job and now CBS has moved him to KCBS-TV Channel 2 and KCAL-TV Channel 9 in Los Angeles says the LA Times:

CBS picked Mauldin partly because of his experience managing multiple stations. Los Angeles is the largest market where CBS owns two outlets. Corporate brass were also impressed that under Mauldin's leadership its main Dallas station finished last month's sweep period in first place in late news for the first time. READ MORE

The Times also said that Mauldin worked in Houston in the past.

RELATED
KTVT general manager Steve Mauldin aims to make CBS 11 number 1

Back from rainy LA

I am back from Los Angeles where I escaped the rainy and 60 degree weather of Houston to only find the exact same stuff in California! Ironically I was also stopped in two hour traffic on I-10 East (known locally as The 10 or Santa Monica Freeway) and Normandie too (there is a Normandy street in Houston).

For those of you who follow me on Twitter/Facebook, you read how I saw actress Patricia Heaton (The Middle, Everybody Loves Raymond) at The Grove in LA. But the celeb sightings did not stop there. I also saw Brian Posehn (The Sarah Silverman Program), Faith Ford (Hope and Faith, Murphy Brown) and some dude from ABC's Brothers and Sisters. Honestly I noticed his model/actress girlfriend more than him. The tweets stopped because I thought all of this would get really annoying after awhile.

After my Grove tweet, it was nice meeting mikemcguff.com blog readers from California over social media.

Cowboy Stadium giant screen goes 3D

Cowboy Stadium can now boast to have the first live 3D broadcast shown on a giant screen:

The first live 3D broadcast ever to be shown on giant video screens at a major sporting event was unveiled at Cowboys Stadium, electrifying over 80,000 fans who were given 3D glasses upon entering the stadium. Beginning with the second half kickoff of the Dallas Cowboys-San Diego Chargers football game, the enormous center-hung display in the spectacular new stadium was converted from high definition 2D, enabling fans to view both live action and instant replays in 3D.

Measuring 160 feet in length and 72 feet in height on the sideline boards--the largest video board installation in the world--the four board video cluster, suspended 90 feet directly over the center of the playing surface, stretches from the 20-yard line to the 20-yard line. Its massive size allowed fans on all levels in the stadium to view the game in crisp, clear 3D images during the second half.

The technology that made the conversion from 2D to 3D possible was created by HDlogix of Edison, NJ. It was probably the best part of the game for Cowboys fans.

UPDATE
Russell Holliman points out what this release leaves out...the experiment got boos and had to be shut off in minutes.

Houston-area movie theater gets motion seats

According to a press release I received, Santikos Theatres' Silverado 19 in Tomball will get some movie theater seats that move with the film's action:

With its unique, patented technology, « D-BOX Motion Code™ » uses motion codes specifically programmed for each film, TV program or video game, which are sent to a motion generating system integrated within either a platform or a seat. The resulting motion is perfectly synchronised with all onscreen action, creating an unmatched realistic immersive experience.

See it first hand December 25 for the opening of "Sherlock Holmes." This film looks like a British tale mixed with a Michael Bay like twist.

VIDEO: The view of a radio talk show host from 950 KPRC Houston

The High Tech Texan Michael Garfield gave me a tour of the 950 KPRC studio in Houston. See what a radio talk host sees during a show.

RELATED
AUDIO: Mike McGuff's appearance on 950 KPRC

PIC: The baby and the snow

As soon as I could, I grabbed a camera last Friday and started photographing the rare snow event in Houston. I am never excited about my photos, but I really dig this one.

Places closing in Houston

Famous NASA area bar Outpost Tavern is closing reports Swamplot. This place was featured in the movie Space Cowboys. READ MORE

And Houston is set to lose some bookstores. Certain Borders stores and Waldenbooks (yes some still exist) locations are going bye bye. READ MORE

VIDEO: Surprised kitten

This kitten is surprised because he heard the cats next door lived in this.

Westbury is a hot neighborhood says Financial Times

The Houston Press tips us off to an article in the Financial Times about how hot of a neighborhood Westbury is:

Momentum is building in Westbury, a 20-minute drive from downtown. Here the tree-lined streets sell suburbia: they are quiet, close to good schools (both public and private), the Medical Center – a key employer in Houston – and the Galleria shopping mall that anchors Houston. Yet they are set back from the highways and urban sprawl that characterise any big US city.

Before Westbury hit the radar of local estate agents it was Meyerland, which followed Bellaire, which followed West University, as the circle of sought-after areas around downtown Houston steadily widened. READ MORE

Most people in Houston don't know where this neighborhood is I've found.

KTVT CBS 11's Bennett Cunningham exits

Looks like salary cuts at CBS owned and operated station KTVT sends an investigative reporter packing:

Facing a salary cut and a shaky local television news landscape, CBS11 investigative reporter Bennett Cunningham on Friday decided to leave the station to pursue a career in law.

[snip]

Cunningham, 41, said he saw a dim future ahead of him at the CBS-owned station after being offered a 10 percent pay cut that would have reduced his annual salary by $17,000. His contract with CBS11 had expired on Thursday. READ THE REST

VIDEO: Abby's Book Corner a success

Nice update by Lindsay Wilcox of NBC 5 KXAS in DFW on my goddaughter's book drive. There are thousands of books on the shelves in Abby's Book Corner at Medical City Children's Hospital of Dallas, all donated in the name of Abby Kearney.

RELATED
- Abby’s Book Corner Book Drive 2009
- Update on Abby's Book Drive
- A Dallas baby’s death inspires giving — one book at a time

Christmas tree that looks nice and easy to take down

Miya Shay had a great idea. Instead of chopping down or buying a Christmas tree, she painted one!






Cleanup would only require a sponge and water.

And if you are one of those people who have a neighbor that goes WAY out on the Christmas lights here is your way to keep up with minimal effort!

Free Whataburger food through December

You know me, I like free food and I like Whataburger. What can I say, I'm a Texan...I will not apologize for it. Well two things I like have come together for the holidays:

Sign up today and you'll receive a coupon for free food valid every other day until December 24th, 2009. It could be anything from a shake, to French fries, to a Whataburger®. And it's free just for sharing the holiday season with us. SIGN UP

Hopefully you get a free dessert because this ad says you need more sugar in your life.  Am I signing up? No. I don't care to participate in marketing stunts...oops too late. Just beware you might get some email ads in the future.

Not to be outdone, Burger King is handing out dollar bills!

(Thanks Michael, Tim and Matt!)

AUDIO: Mike McGuff on 950 KPRC

I was back with Michael Garfield The High Tech Texan this past Saturday on 950 KPRC Houston and this time Laurence Simon/Crap Mariner joined in the fun!

We had a lot of guests on like former KTRK anchor Mark Garay, Marc Nathan soon to be a former Houston Technology Center employee and more. We even helped a caller pick a TV to "pimp out his pimp-plex." His words, not mine!

LISTEN
- Hour 1
- Hour 2
- Hour 3

RELATED
- Links to my 950 KPRC appearance Saturday
- AUDIO: Mike McGuff's appearance on 950 KPRC

When Vladimir Putin met President Ronald Reagan?

According to Iconic Photos, President Ronald Reagan allegedly met an undercover KBG agent (future Russian president) named Vladimir Putin on a 1988 Moscow trip! There is a photo that could be the proof - if it is real.

Meanwhile no one is disputing the appearance of super heroes and villains in historic photos.

Texas radio roundup

Todd and Don show returns to airwaves of 590 KLBJ
After a five-month suspension from Austin’s airwaves, the Todd and Don Show is back on the radio.

Boller exits KTSA morning show; female successor hired
Big news on San Antonio's talk radio front: Trey Ware's longtime morning buddy Brent Boller did his last show on KTSA amid tears, cake and lovely remembrances.

Another Austin radio change: 92.5 FM
The oldies format has returned to Austin's FM airwaves, courtesy 92.5 KXXS. Less than a month ago, the station switched, along with its simulcast partner, 104.9 KTXX, to sports/ESPN; now, the station has adopted Scott Shannon's True Oldies Channel (ending its simulcast with KTXX). (thanks Super Dave!)

Saturday Night Live Tiger Woods sketch

This past weekend's episode of Saturday Night Live proved to have a "controversial" skit poking fun at the Tiger Woods story. Here is the video.

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Baskin-Robbins sprinkles more stores in Houston

The Houston Business Journal reports that ice cream shop Baskin-Robbins is opening seven new stores but is looking to open even more:

Approximately 40 new stores could be supported throughout Houston and the surrounding area, and would be scheduled to open over the next several years, according to the company.

Baskin-Robbins operates more than 6,000 stores in 35 countries and approximately 15 locations in the Houston area. READ THE REST

Top 10 most-watched shows of the decade

I can't believe that after 2006, no TV shows have made the most watched list. Tells you something about the state of television I guess:

A list of the most-watched TV episodes of the decade reads like an exercise in nostalgia. Only one telecast aired after 2006. With the increasingly fractured TV universe, we probably won't see a list quite like this again. Excluding duplicate titles, here are the Top 10 TV series episodes since 2000. READ MORE

Next decade this list will be the most watched shows on the Internet.

Willis resident wins big on Wheel of Fortune

Willis, TX resident Nicole Lambeth just won big on Wheel of Fortune:

During the actual taping Nicole was amused when host Pat Sajak mispronounced the name of her hometown. “He called it Willies,” she said.

Nicole chose not to correct him, but did pronounce Willis correctly when he introduced her on the program.

Sajak immediately caught his error, asking Nicole to spell the name for him, which she did with a smile. READ MORE.

If Facebook existed in the Star Wars universe

If Luke Skywalker and Han Solo had Facebook accounts, it might look something like this...
SEE IT

Why Buc-ees is so popular

I think this photo I took of a sign over a Buc-ee's gas pump explains why this place has a cult-like following in Texas.

Demoted TV journalists going to court in effort to get jobs back

Former KPRC 2 anchor Wendy Corona is mentioned in an American Journalism Review article on demoted television journalists going to court against their old stations:

Taking legal action against your employer and going public about it used to be rare in TV news. Rick Gevers, an agent who has represented on-air talent for more than a dozen years, has never had a client file a discrimination case, but he knows what his advice would be. "I would caution them that it's a small industry and it could be difficult to find that next job because of that" complaint.

So what's changed? The economy, for one thing. Discrimination complaints always jump during a recession; according to the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, complaints in all industries were up 15 percent last year compared with 2007, the latest data available, and age discrimination charges increased 30 percent. READ THE REST

Bigfoot creature on the loose in San Antonio

WOAI has been aggressively covering the story of a bigfoot-like creature on the loose in San Antonio:

Police said the 'Bigfoot-type' creature was spotted in the area around Highway 151 and Loop 1604. A caller told police a large, tall, hairy creature dragged a deer carcass into the woods. Officers searched the area, but said they did not find anything.

"If one sighting is real, then that means something is out there," said Rick Tullos, who is a member of the Gulf Coast Bigfoot Research Organization. READ MORE

Hold me...I'm scared of the Alamo City right now.

RELATED
Callers say 'Bigfoot' creature spotted on West Side

More changes at 790 KBME

I told you about 610 KILT hosts Matt Jackson and Adam Wexler leaving for the new 790 KBME morning show. We also heard current Sports Animal host Ted DeLuca might do middays.

Now for what really happened:

Former Houston talk show host Matt Thomas will return to his hometown next month to host a midday talk show on KBME (790 AM), and longtime radio fixtures Tom Franklin and David Dalati and talk show host Ted DeLuca are no longer with the station, it was announced today.

The changes announced Thursday represent an almost total revamp of the Clear Channel-owned sports talk station, which earlier this week hired Matt Jackson and Adam Wexler, formerly of KILT (610 AM), as its new morning drive team in an effort to gain traction in Houston’s four-station sports talk derby. READ MORE

RELATED
610 KILT's Matt Jackson and Adam Wexler are new 790 KBME morning show

Katie Couric, will you dance with me?

CBS' Katie Couric is not only one of the big three anchors, but she is clearly the best dancer of all the network journalists. TAKE A LOOK AT THESE PHOTOS!

Houston's Bush Intercontinental Airport gets high marks

I've been to various airports around the world and always find Houston's Bush Intercontinental Airport to be near the top of the list. Been to LAX anyone? Yikes.

Well Tina Brown's Daily Beast says that IAH is actually very good. SEE THE RATING

The place must be pretty good. Channel 39 named its call letters KIAH after it.

(Image courtesy of mega web guy eschipul)

Only two of the top 30 grossing films of the 2000s are original

Creativity is alive and well in Hollywood:

Wikipedia has a list of the highest grossing films of this decade so far, and kottke noticed that of the top 20 films at the box office, only one movie was not based on a past film or tv show (remake/sequel), or an adaptation of an established property (be it a comic, book, play, toy…etc).SEE THE LIST

I know the movie industry has traditionally remade films, but this is ridiculous. But then again, movie goers are still flocking to see this so maybe it really has nothing to do with the studios. They are simply being populist and giving the people what they want.

(Thanks Brian)

“Local TV news is already dead"

LocalNewser: Michael Rosenblum on the Death of Local News from Mark Joyella on Vimeo.



The man many TV station employees love to hate, consultant Michael Rosenblum, says in a video that “local TV news is already dead."

By the way, the reason he is hated in television newsrooms is because Rosenblum preaches and trains stations to get rid of the photographers and train reporters to be one man bands (AKA multi-media journalists, VJs).

My dream in the TV business was to help get the industry to the next era. That's why you watched me experiment with blogs, social media, web only content and video at KTRK. I think there is still hope, but no doubt the current model will have to change or it's all over.

RELATED
Former Houston TV anchor offers why TV news is in decline

Texas TV station sweeps month ratings are in

All the blood, sweat, tears and gin has paid off for TV newsroom staffers during the month of November. We now know sweeps month ratings results for Houston, Dallas-Fort Worth, San Antonio and Austin.

HOUSTON
Channel 13 leads in most November sweeps dayparts

DALLAS - FORT WORTH
Channel 11 earns top spot with 10 p.m. newscast
KTVT/Channel 11 wins at 10 p.m. for first time

SAN ANTONIO
News 4 greets new boss; can he raise low ratings?

AUSTIN
The 'sweeps' are in
Local ratings results for the November sweeps

Know ratings results for any other Texas TV markets? Send 'em in.

Houston's 8 Ugliest Buildings

Katharine Shilcutt of the Houston Press, who I dedicated a song to when I was on KPFT's Technology Bytes, rates Houston's eight ugliest buildings. I think she and the Press' Twitter followers nailed this one.

SEE THE LIST

Although I do like the inside of the new Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in downtown Houston. I chronicled the cathedral's construction for abc13.com and watched it transform. Maybe that is the reason.

RELATED
The Ten Ugliest Buildings in Downtown Houston

(Image courtesy of the baldheretic)

New FTC blogging guidelines in effect

If you are a blogger and receive free products from companies to rave about, the Federal Trade Commission is watching! I mentioned this was coming about a month ago.

Some bloggers are crying foul about the new rules. But then again a blogger somewhere is always crying foul about something.

Here are the full rules posted by the FTC (thanks to @drassin for the link).

I don't have to worry about the new rules and my blog.  Companies send me free products, read my blog and then send me a bill for double what the freebie is worth!  Can't get no respect...

RELATED
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President Obama-shaped Ecstasy pills seized in Texas

On the Mexico border in Palmview, TX police found drugs in the shape of President Obama:

The Ecstasy caused some concerns, because it was brightly-colored and made to look like popular cartoon characters like Homer and Bart Simpson, the Smurfs, and even President Barack Obama. READ THE REST

This is out of KRGV in the Rio Grande Valley. There is video on the click through. I was unable to get the video embed code to work.

Houston getting more yogurt shops

I first went to Pinkberry in Los Angeles back in 2007. I thought it would be in Houston by now honestly. Don't fret though, Houston has plenty of yogurt places and according to Swamplot, we're soon to get more. SEE THE LIST

The story of FarmVille and Mafia Wars

Lots of people ask me why I don't play FarmVille or Mafia Wars on Facebook. The truth is I waste most of my online time on this blog. I don't need anymore Web distractions unless it is something shocking like this.

Time Magazine's Belinda Luscombe has an article on the company behind the popluar games Zynga got its start. It might be more Mafia Wars than FarmVille:

FarmVille is the most popular game on Facebook--65 million unique monthly players and growing. It is also the furthest place imaginable from the seedy underbelly of the Internet. It's a hamlet where the sun always shines, crops always grow and your friends drop by to do chores accompanied by plinky guitar music. Its astonishing popularity is a testament to the potential of gaming on social networks. Social games promise the golden pork-chop combo of the addictiveness of computer games with the communality of Facebook and MySpace. And they generate some of their revenue from product come-ons, which is where Michelle--and FarmVille's owners--has run into trouble. READ THE REST

Oprah's Houston history

Former KTRK 13 anchor Mark Garay launches his Examiner.com page with the history of Oprah in Houston. You always hear how Oprah is on the ABC stations, but why not in Houston? MARK EXPLAINS

RELATED
- Former KTRK 13 anchor Mark Garay's new biz - Professional Tributes
- VIDEO: Oprah anchoring WFAA 8's newscast

Wishzilla.com wants to stop bad gifts

If you are tired of receiving sucky gifts, the folks at wishzilla.com want to help. You can use your Facebook account to log in and create a wishlist to distribute to friends and family. It is not for the bashful at heart.

I created a profile and asked for the The Beatles Stereo Box Set (stereo only for me please).

I could then send out gift requests via Facebook or we could become friends through the wishzilla site and see the list that way.  Being that times are economically tough, it appears you can ask for non-material gifts like a "clean the garage gift" or "I'm feeling lazy, can you write a few blog posts for me so I can gawk at The City finale with the TV volume off?"

Since you can see other folk's wishlists, you can probably steal gift ideas or just get a voyeuristic thrill from other people's desires.  That sounds so dirty but then again so does my second non-material gift wish.

88.7 KUHF's Eric Ladau plays classical overnights for Houston

When I read this article in the Chronicle about 88.7 KUHF's Carl Eric Ladau, I couldn't believe an actual DJ was on duty overnight in Houston anymore:

Most nights of the past 22 years, classical music fans have called Eric Ladau, who — as KUHF-FM (88.7)'s all-night host — plays classics by request from midnight to 5 a.m. It's rare these days for any station to have a live host overnight, since most of them use pre-recorded spoken bits spaced around pre-programmed music. The by-request format, especially for classical music, is rarer still. KUHF is Houston's only classical radio station, and Ladau's shift is its sole time devoted to requests. READ MORE

I also checked the masthead of the Web site to see if I was on the Houston Press' Web site. This is one long article for the Chron!

(Special thanks to the Chronicle's Kyrie O'Connor for pointing out I originally gave Mr. Ladau the wrong first name! As an editor she must be very disappointed in my sloppiness. And an apology to Mr. Ladau as well.)

10 worst predictions of this decade

This is why I don't even bother being a prognosticator (unless I get a DeLorean time machine that is - then I'm taking a sports almanac back to 1955 baby!)

SEE THE LIST

(Thanks Brian!)

La Strada on Westheimer closes

Places in Montrose are dropping like flies. The Houston Press reports that La Strada has closed its doors after 22 years.  When I went to Mangos in October La Strada was lighting up Westheimer. Guess you never know.

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KPRC 2 reporter Alana Gomez Dong leaves Houston for new job

KPRC Channel 2 reporter Alana Gomez Dong is leaving Houston for WBZ-TV in Boston. She'll be in a training program that could lead to a network correspondent gig with CBS:

"It's called the News Development Program, and although it may lead to a correspondent position someday, for now I will be working at the local CBS affiliate WBZ and receive training from those at CBS Network," Alana Gomez Dong told the mikemcguff.com blog. "There is no guarantee this will lead to anything beyond a GA position at WBZ for now."

Sounds like a good position! Congrats to Alana.

RELATED
- KIAH 39 reporter Dennis Spellman leaves station
- KPRC Local 2 reporter Elizabeth Scarborough exits