KTRK 13 reporter Miya Shay's big swearing in bash

Shelby Hodge of Culturemap.com reports on the big bash for KTRK 13 reporter Miya Shay. This was a party for her recent swearing in to become a U.S. citizen:

The party hosts decided to make it an all-American themed party with a red, white and blue dress code and purely-American food. Clifford reports that she and Bray spent the day running all over town picking up James Coney Island hot dogs. Little Bigs sliders, fried chicken, pasta salads from Central Market, cupcakes, and apple and cherry pies. Guests washed the fare down with American beer, Coke in small bottles and wines from Oregon and California.

Joining the Citizenship Celebration were more than 60 well-wishers including Robert Sakowitz, Gordon Bethune with Jessica Rossman, City Councilwoman Melissa Noriega, Channel 13 meteorologist Casey Curry, Miya's squeeze Matt Young, State Rep. Carol Alvarado, Harris County Tax Assessor Collector Leo Vasquez with SuZanne Feather and Fulbright & Jaworski partner Neil Thomas. READ THE REST

Hodge reports that Shay immigrated to the US from China at the age of 8.

RELATED
Congrats to KTRK 13's Miya Shay

33 KDAF says goodbye to newscast

Uncle Barky reports that CW 33 KDAF is picking Seth MacFarlane over Dallas-Fort Worth news:

CW33 news director David Duitch confirms that the Dallas-based station will be ending its 5:30 p.m. local newscast on May 10th, substituting repeats of Family Guy. READ THE REST

I guess that means this show is off the air?

KTRK 13 producer jumps in front of the camera

KTRK 13 news producer Stephanie Palmer is taking off for Aggie country to be on camera in the Bryan-College Station TV market.

"I am fortunate to have begun my career in Houston as a producer," she told the mikemcguff.com blog. "However, I am leaving KTRK to pursue my first love - reporting. I am especially happy to be working for KBTX [Channel 3]. As a Huntsville native, I am excited to tell stories where my family and friends can watch!"

Congrats to Stephanie. You'll be able to catch her on the Gray Television owned station the second week of May.

Fox 26 KRIV layoffs today

As we know the television industry is a changing one at this point. That being said, sources at Fox 26 KRIV tell me there have been four layoffs at the station today.

I understand these were all technical positions so that means more in the production/engineering areas of the station.

Fox Broadcasting had no official comment.

Will let you know if I hear more.

Mayor Annise Parker lands on 2010 TIME 100 list

Houston Mayor Annise Parker makes the 2010 TIME 100 list. READ MORE HERE

But here is a chance to watch how she says the Internet helped her win the election. WATCH HERE

RELATED
- VIDEO: The city of Houston social media architect
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The Billy Madison Show goes back to Tulsa

I told you how The Billy Madison Show had left the airwaves of DFW's 102.1 The Edge KDGE. Now FMQB lets us know where the show is ending up:

CHR KHTT/Tulsa makes some changes in the mornings, as Scotty Wylde & Lindsey Bauer exit after almost three years. Justin the Intern remains at the station part-time. The Billy Madison Show will take over mornings at KHTT, starting May 3. Billy Madison, along with Derek and Chubbs, returns to Tulsa after having most recently been at KDGE/Dallas. READ THE REST

RELATED
Billy Madison leaves 102.1 The Edge KDGE mornings

Rating KPRC 2's Jennifer Reyna Twitter feed hits roadblock

I have been alerted that the @RateReyna Twitter feed I featured on here in September could be going away. For those who don't know, this feed actually rates the clothes KPRC 2 traffic anchor Jennifer Reyna wears on air everyday.

Talk about commitment. It's the online Houston version of E!'s red carpet specials I guess. Maybe Joan Rivers is behind it.

Anyway the author tweeted he/she is moving out of state and won't be able to continue performing this important duty anymore. They are looking for a replacement in case you are interested. If you are more entrepreneurial in spirit, this could be your chance to take over the rating Reyna market with your own account. You know, get in early and squeeze the competition out.

I say if this person was really committed, they would keep watching KPRC's morning newscasts online or at least set up a Slingbox.

RELATED
- KPRC 2's Jennifer Reyna rated daily on Twitter
- I made Ken Hoffman's column in the Houston Chronicle!

(Thanks to Sketch the Journalist)

Former KHOU GM Diaz moves on up

Peter Diaz served as president and General Manager of KHOU 11 from 1999 to 2007. But that was then. Now he has been promoted to president/Media Operations of Belo, the company that owns KHOU. More

31 Cent Scoop Night back at Baskin-Robbins tonight

Get some cheap ice cream tonight at Baskin-Robbins:

The wait is over, 31 Cent Scoop Night is back at Baskin-Robbins! America's favorite neighborhood ice cream shop is sweetening the spring season by hosting its fourth annual 31 Cent Scoop Night celebration on April 28, 2010 from 5 p.m. - 10 p.m. at stores nationwide. During the event, the iconic ice cream brand is thanking its loyal customers by reducing prices of its 2.5 oz. ice cream scoops to 31 cents. In addition, Baskin-Robbins will again partner with the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) and the Baskin-Robbins Community Foundation will donate $100,000 to the organization in an effort to extend support to our heroes in the firefighting community.

Beaumont gets first HD news, Waco loses PBS

Local High-Def Coming To KBMT
London Broadcasting's ABC affiliate KBMT will begin broadcasting local news in high definition, the first station to do such in the Beaumont-Port Arthur, Texas market (DMA 141), according to the station. READ MORE

Waco television station KWBU to end June 1
KWBU, Waco's PBS affiliate, which is supported by Baylor announced Monday that it will no longer broadcast on-air beginning June 1. READ MORE

Offensive tweet gets Dallas radio host fired

Jeanne Jakle of the San Antonio Express News reports that Dallas-Fort Worth station Sportsradio 1310 The Ticket KTCK has fired a show host due to a racial slur he sent on Twitter:

Dallas sports talk station KTCK has fired producer/personality Mike Bacsik, who sent out the offensive tweet about "all the dirty mexicans in San Antonio" following Sunday's Spurs-Mavericks game.

His boss, KTCK/Cumulus market manager Dan Bennett, called to say the station originally had suspended Bacsik pending an investigation. But after examining the facts, Bennett said, "we decided to terminate his employment." READ MORE

KHOU and WFAA cover Pastor Ed Young and son

I found it interesting how BELO owned stations KHOU and WFAA both did expose type stories on the Young Family leading up to TV sweeps month.

First KHOU 11 took a look at Houston's Second Baptist Pastor Ed Young and raised questions about his latest activity.   Then WFAA did an investigation on his son's (also named Ed Young who is the pastor of Fellowship Church in Grapevine) use of a church leased jet.

Is this some kind of synergy between the stations?

Houston's The Breakfast Klub to be on Good Morning America

Weekend Good Morning America talent Marysol Castro and the ABC crew were in Houston today shooting a story about The Breakfast Klub in Midtown.





Clearly Castro was impressed.

Former Houston TV talent arrested for possession of crack cocaine and crack pipe

You might have heard that former WAGA Atlanta anchor Roy Hobbs was arrested for possession of crack cocaine and a crack pipe.

But I am told Hobbs also worked in Houston at KTRK 13 in the 1980s. Don't know if he was an anchor or a reporter at that time.

RELATED
- ABC 33/40 anchor Roy Hobbs on leave after drug arrest
- Former KSHB morning anchor Hobbs arrested

Rock 101 KLOL documentary in production

Since Ken Hoffman wrote about it in his Houston Chronicle column, it is time to announce I am working on a Rock 101 KLOL documentary:

KLOL's home was a dump of a building at 510 Lovett in [Montrose]. Yeah, but it was a legendary dump. Some of the greatest stars in rock history played live on KLOL. If the walls could talk, or if they had a security camera in the garage, there'd be plenty of people still apologizing for things that went on at 510 Lovett.
But nothing lasts forever, especially not in radio. Stevens and Pruett were let go, Steele became a mommy and a private entrepreneur, and Moby went country and moved to Atlanta. All the supporting characters, like Eddie “The Boner” Sanchez, Tubby Peckerwood and Locke Siebenhausen, gasp, took real jobs. READ MORE

I am taking freelance gigs to pay for the film and have already started shooting (if you know of a source that would be interested in funding this...please let me know).

Eventually I will build a website to talk more about it and post videos as interviews are shot. You will be able to track the progress and hear some amazing stories along the way there.

My blog will also be featuring more news on Houston and Texas documentaries. We have a lot of great stuff going on here that is flying beneath radar I have a feeling. Please contact me through email or social media about anything in the area documentary world.

RELATED
VIDEO: Houston street art documentary

Fox 26 KRIV could use a Fiona Gorostiza

Dallas-Fort Worth viewers wake up to Fox 4 KDFW's Good Day each morning and the wild exploits of Fiona Gorostiza. She is a feature reporter/weather person on the popular DFW morning show.

Since Fox 26 KRIV is now six hours in the morning (4 to 10am), I thought the Houston Fox owned and operated station might want to get a Fiona Gorostiza type of its own.

You can't ask for better material than this for a Fox morning show. The above video shows Fiona sinking a boat during a live shot. Here she is singing with a Fox 4 band. Here she is trying out for So You Think You Can Dance. These are great ways to entertain the audience and fill time. KRIV has six hours after all.

While I am playing armchair quaterback for Fox 26 with ideas no one has asked for or even wants for that matter...I would like to see hard news breaks at the top and bottom of the hour in the later hours of its morning block. This could be done with an anchor sitting at the news desk in the newsroom and would follow a network morning program local break format. Some quick news headlines, traffic and weather. The show could then open in the news studio as usual for the Extra segments.

I would also like to see a more informal set added. Sure that costs money, but a couch and rug in the corner of the studio (or secondary studio) can't cost that much. If the news in the later hours goes lighter, why not a lighter feel to it?

RELATED
- The Fox 26 KRIV 4am anchor shuffle
- VIDEO: Fox 26 KRIV anchor Natalie Bomke on air

KPRC 2 anchor Bill Balleza honored

KPRC 2 ace reporter Mary Benton lets us know that anchor Bill Balleza was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award given by the Houston Association of Hispanic Media Professionals:

Bill has been covering news in the Houston area for more than thirty years. He is a true professional, always calm and credible on the air, and behind the scenes he is a warm and friendly person.

He is not only the “face” of Channel 2, Bill is also a true reporter. He never hesitates, especially during breaking news, to roll up his sleeves and do whatever is necessary to bring the latest information to viewers. READ THE REST

PICS: Houston Texans cheerleader tryout photos 2010 - 3

Mike McGuff teams up with .




Another Monday, another Houston Texans cheerleader tryout 2010 photo set for you!

VIEW THE NEXT BATCH

RELATED
- PICS: Houston Texans cheerleader tryout photos 2010 - 2
- PICS: Houston Texans cheerleader tryout photos 2010

Former Houston news director in federal trouble

It was around this time last year I posted about former News 24 Houston news director Jeff Alan. He was making news in Oregon for his interesting life story.

That story has become more notorious. The Oregonian reports Alan has the feds coming after him:

The charges against Alan include making five false statements to three banks, along with false statements to multiple government agencies related to what investigators say was his use of a false Social Security number since at least 1992. READ THE REST

RELATED
Former News 24 Houston news director featured in newspaper for 'colorful existence'

(Thanks Carol and Ed)

Fox 26 KRIV photographer is hardcore

The Insite has news on Fox 26 KRIV photographer Joe Lanford. Seems this television photojournalist really likes his New Orleans Saints and has permanently cemented that love forever! SEE MORE

97.9 The Box KBXX and The Krackernutz split

All Access is reporting that The Krackernutz night show on 97.9 The Box KBXX has left the building for good. READ MORE

Rick Perry for Prez 2012?

Texas Governor Rick Perry seems to be getting a much larger national profile these days. Newsweek has come sniffing around Austin for him and it is making the local journos take a closer look. Perry's team insists he has no plans to run for president in 2012.

Heck, Perry has even invaded the world of NASCAR. Check out what photographer Kevin Greer snapped a picture of last weekend for me at The Samsung Mobile 500 Weekend at Texas Motor Speedway! A "RickPerry.org" ad was emblazoned on Terry Labonte's car. (BTW, the Corpus Christi, TX Native came in 23rd.)

RickPerry.org sure is generic though. It wasn't RickPerryforTexas.org or PerryforTXGov.org. Maybe Newsweek is on to something.

Former WFAA 8 anchor arrested, charged with lewdness

UPDATE June 2010
DA rejects charges against former WFAA 8 anchor

Dallas media is reporting that former WFAA 8 anchor Brad Hawkins is facing a charge of public lewdness over an incident that occurred Monday near his Dallas home. READ MORE

Mr. Hawkins' attorney told the Dallas Morning News his client is not guilty.

Uncle Barky has the incident totally covered including the former anchor's mug shot.  Meanwhile The Dallas Voice has more coverage and the arrest report.

Mr. Hawkins left WFAA 8 for a public relations gig at Southwest Airlines a few years ago.

RELATED
WFAA Channel 8 anchor Brad Hawkins leaves Dallas TV

(Thanks Murdock)

39 KIAH news director gets new job

I told you how 39 KIAH news director KyAnn Lewis put in her resignation this past Monday. Now we know why. It wasn't the overexposure to Gossip Girl on the CW like I first thought.

News Blues is reporting that Lewis will be the new VP of Lifestyle Content for Fisher Broadcasting...whatever that means I am not sure.

You've probably read my posts about KPRC 2 promotions producer JL Watkins before. That's Lewis' husband. Don't worry, he has a new job too. News Blues says he has been hired as Director of Digital Content also for Fisher. Still not sure what that title means either, but both titles sound important. The husband and wife TV team will be based in Orlando. They can make lots of visits to the Mouse Kingdom. Read more on his blog.

News Blues goes on to trash the 39 KIAH on air marriage proposal I posted about Sunday. I still have no problem with that event. Heck, it made one of my reader's cry (in a good way).

It was at the end of a Saturday night newscast. That's where the kicker (or fluff piece) airs to end all newscasts on a light note (if a station hasn't dumped it for a weather recap that is). It was not the lead story! The stunt got KIAH a lot of national attention. Does that help its ratings? That part is unclear.

So congrats to KyAnn Lewis and JL Watkins and thanks for getting back to me. From now on I am known as the Director of Digital Content, Lifestyle, Engagement and overall badassness for this blog.

Meanwhile over at Channel 39, the soon to be news director-less staff is pretending to be hard at work, but we know what is really going on with the prospect of no boss!

(Thanks Ed)

UH video game program students hit national competition

The University of Houston gaming program is excited to be the only school in the US to have two teams participate in this weekend's US Imagine Cup in Washington DC. The two teams will vie for an $8,000 grand prize against competition from Yale, USC and other schools:

Team Ifrit Salsa is comprised of graduate student Daniel Biediger and undergraduates Alaa Gharandoq, Jesus Hernandez and Arifur Sabeth, who qualified with their game RoboRecycler. The team’s mentor is computer science instructor Chang Yun.

RoboRecycler is a game centered around the idea of sometime in the future developing a recycling robot. Gamers play a character that controls a robot armed with a claw and poker that collects paper, glass, plastic and metal and then sorts them into appropriate bins for each. The recyclable items differ in point value and ease of collection, so gamers have to play smart to maximize their point totals. Up to four players compete to collect the most trash, with each level presenting a different setting, such as a park or a beach. The students wanted to reward in-game behaviors that would possibly translate to players recycling outside of the game, teaching children that recycling is easy and fun. They plan to develop the game further beyond the Imagine Cup competition, one day hoping to eventually create an actual recycling robot.

Graduate student Yu-Chao Chen and undergraduates Reggie Tye, Paul Diaz and Syung Whan You, known as Team Level 13, created a game called Antitoxin Squad. The team’s mentor is computer science instructor Jose Baez-Franceschi. In Antitoxin Squad, the goal is to destroy pollution through bioremediation, where biological agents, such as algae or plants, are used to neutralize contaminants in polluted soil or water. They basically react with pollution to change it into something that is less harmful to the environment.

“Players fire cleansing plant seeds at crawling, dirty globs of pollution while dodging the toxic goo the globs are throwing their way,” said Tye. “At each level, the pollution globs become more powerful, while the players acquire more potent weapons. The game’s seven levels reflect the planet’s seven continents, and the graphics and game elements on each level reflect that particular region.”

The Imagine Cup is an annual competition that draws thousands of tech students competing in several software categories such as game development. The best will continue the battle in the International Imagine Cup later this year in Poland.

Since 2007, UH has offered computer science students courses in interactive game development and graphics. Not a stranger to this competition, a UH team finished in the top 20 in the international round in 2008.

http://www.imaginecup.us

KTRK 13 gets a new meteorologist?

Who is that figure sitting in the background of KTRK 13's weather shot? Is it a new meteorologist?

No. It's actually Action 13 Consumer Reporter Jeff Ehling. Maybe he is telling Tim Heller how to save money on something or fight his property taxes. Who knows?

I totally feel like I ripped this post off a segment on Access Hollywood. "Is this photograph showing a Jonas Brother buying a wedding ring for his girlfriend? No, it is him buying her a fake ring from a gum ball machine."

UPDATE
Make sure to read what Jeff was really talking to Tim Heller about in the comment below. If you like ABC's Lost, then you will really want to know!

VIDEO: b-roll.net's Kevin Johnson interview from NAB

If you are a TV news photographer, then chances are you have read b-roll.net at least once in your career.

Photog extraordinaire Lenslinger caught up with Kevin Johnson, the site's founder, at NAB and conducted a great interview about the future of the television photojournalist. WATCH IT ABOVE

Lenslinger also interviewed KSHB-TV news director Peggy Phillip and Poynter's Al Tompkins. These two had different feelings on who would make a better one man band - the photog or the reporter. Phillip went with photog, Tompkins said reporter. I'd say it depends on the person but tend to side with Phillip.

http://lenslinger.blogspot.com

RELATED
VIDEO: TV reporter gets funny revenge on live shot crashers

Houston TV journalists honored

The HISD Board of Education trustees nominated 14 Houston reporters and media executives to the Texas Association of School Boards’ annual statewide Media Honor Roll for their balanced and accurate coverage of the district. They are:

* Mary Benton, reporter, KPRC-TV
* Larry Blackerby, general manager, KPRC-TV
* Craig Bland, general manager, Univisión
* Isiah Carey, reporter, KRIV-TV
* Cynthia Cisneros, reporter, KTRK-TV
* Margaret Downing, editor, Houston Press
* Patricia Gras, anchor/producer, KUHT-TV
* Steve Mark, reporter, Examiner Newspaper Group
* Khambrel Marshall, anchor, KPRC-TV
* Rick McFarland, news director, KPRC-TV
* Daniel Morales, anchor/reporter, Telemundo
* Rod Rice, reporter, KUHF Public Radio
* Melinda Spaulding, anchor/reporter, KRIV-TV
* Kathy Williams, assistant news director, KPRC-TV

But that is not all. 39 KIAH producer Travis Sattiewhite was honored with the Stellar Communications Award from Texas Southern University. READ MORE FROM THE INSITE

RELATED
Open Door Award winners from the Fort Worth Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists

39 KIAH news director KyAnn Lewis departs

Sources inside KIAH 39 tell me that the station's news director, KyAnn Lewis, has resigned from the CW affiliate. The announcement was made to the staff Monday.

Lewis had been in the ND chair for almost two years. An RTDNA profile on Lewis said she joined Channel 39/KIAH-TV from WHNS-TV in the Greenville-Spartanburg, SC-Asheville, NC television market. Before joining WHNS-TV as News Director, she held news management and producer positions at KPTV-TV and KGW Northwest Newschannel 8, both in Portland, Oregon. She is a graduate of the Journalism School at the University of Oregon

I asked for comment from KIAH 39 and Lewis earlier this afternoon but have not heard back from either at the time of this posting. Will let you know if I do.

RELATED
VIDEO: KIAH 39 anchor proposed to live on air

Houston radio's Laura Morris to the academic world

Laura Morris is a big name in Houston radio. She was the Vice President and General Manager at 740 KTRH/790 KBME and then in charge of the CBS radio stations in Houston (100.3 KILT, SportsRadio 610..etc).

She just announced on Facebook that she is moving into a new chapter in her life:

"Second Half Reinvention" update: I'm joining Lone Star College System as Associate Vice Chancellor, Marketing & Communications. Lone Star is the #1 producer of 2 year degrees and the fastest growing community college in TX w/ 63,000+ credit students. I'll be leading all marketing, communications, media relations, publications, web and public relations activities plus some legislative and government affairs work.

So congrats to Laura.

http://www.linkedin.com/in/lauramorris1

UPDATE
I want to make it clear that I asked for Morris' permission (and received it) before posting something here from her Facebook account.

VIDEO: Fox 26 KRIV's Sibila Vargas opens "The Wendy Williams Show"

Fox 26 KRIV anchor Sibila Vargas opened "The Wendy Williams Show" on Monday morning. How you doin'? WATCH ABOVE

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FOX 26 Anchor Visits 'The Wendy Williams Show'

Minverva Perez and Latina Voices goes weekly on KUHT 8 PBS

Former KTRK 13 anchor Minerva Perez has let me know that her show Latina Voices is now a weekly program on KUHT 8 PBS in Houston. It airs Sundays at 2:30pm.

Perez along with co-hosts Sofia Adrogué and Patricia Gras had the first sit down interview with former U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez this season. SEE IT HERE

http://www.latinavoices.com





RELATED
Former KTRK 13 anchor Minerva Perez talks to Mike McGuff about new show, U2

New RATT album Infestation out today

People get excited when I mention RATT around here. That means I feel obligated to point out the band's latest album Infestation is out today.

I have Infestation and it sounds like classic RATT! That is a good thing as a RATT fan. Stephen Pearcy's voice is holding up.

You can buy the special edition with more songs and live performances of three classics - You Think You're Tough, Tell The World and Way Cool Jr (Live from the Rockline Studio).

LISTEN TO ALBUM

Open Door Award winners from the Fort Worth Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists

The Fort Worth Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists handed out the Open Door Awards last week. The winners include KPRC 2 Houston, The Houston Press, KTVT 11 Dallas - Fort Worth, Texas Watchdog and more. SEE THE WINNERS

Houston's SnapStream introduces world’s largest DVR at NAB

Steve Safran of the Lost Remote shows us SnapStream's latest video server that the Houston company took out to NAB last week:

It can record 50 channels simultaneously and store up to 13 years of programming – the equivalent of about 325 TiVo boxes. (And you thought your DVR library was getting backed up.) No, it’s not on the consumer market. SnapStream says it’s just a way of demonstrating its recording and search tech. READ THE REST

RELATED
- Searching keywords on TV programs, then blogging it
- SnapStream Mini offers video search for the individual
- VIDEO: Rakesh Agrawal of Snapstream on BarCampHouston3 TV

PICS: Houston Texans cheerleader tryout photos 2010 - 2

Mike McGuff teams up with .





To make sure we all have a good start to the new week, let's look at 50 new Houston Texans cheerleader tryout photos!

SEE THE PHOTOS

RELATED
- PICS: Houston Texans cheerleader tryout photos 2010

VIDEO: KIAH 39 anchor proposed to live on air

 

KIAH 39's Leticia Juarez got quite the surprise Saturday night as she co-anchored the 9pm newscast. Her boyfriend Mark Annas proposed to her live on the air. SEE VIDEO ABOVE.

It was perfect that the The Bridal Symposium was taking place in Houston this weekend as the lead in story to the big on air question.

(Thanks Bryan)

PIC: Houston TV photographer "going the extra mile"

An unnamed KIAH 39 photog is shown on reporter Hailey Frances' twitpic "going the extra mile."

UPDATE
I have been told this is 39 KIAH photographer Michael Barbagallo.

RELATED
- TV stations that have photographers win
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WOAI brings in WTVJ meteorologist John Gerard

Jeanne Jakle reports that WOAI has already picked a replacement for the departing meteorologist Jennifer Broome:

He's John Gerard out of Miami's NBC (WTVJ) station. The silvery blonde meteorologist will debut as 5, 6 and 10 p.m. weathercaster May 10. Broome's last day on the air is May 7, WOAI general manager Jackie Rutledge confirmed. READ THE REST

RELATED
WOAI 4 Meteorologist Jennifer Broome leaving station

820 WBAP picks up Neil Sperry's Texas Gardening

In February I reported that North Texas gardening expert and radio show host Neil Sperry was leaving 1080 KRLD. He is still at KRLD but will leave that station July 5th and be picked up immediately at 820 WBAP/96.7 FM:

The iconic North Texas horticulturist announced today that his weekend radio show, Neil Sperry's Texas Gardening, will be heard on WBAP, starting July 10.

In a news release, station president and general manager Keri Korzeniewski said, "WBAP has always been dedicated to the community, and our new partnership with Neil Sperry helps solidify that dedication. We're thrilled to have Neil as part of the WBAP family." READ THE REST

RELATED
- 1080 KRLD gardening expert Neil Sperry to leave station
- Platinum 96.7 KPMZ is now the second 820 WBAP

VIDEO: Teacher pranks class with screen tomfoolery

This is the best math teach ever!

RELATED
- See his Halloween prank
- How to do this yourself

VIDEO: Fox 26 KRIV anchor Natalie Bomke on air

Fox 26 KRIV morning anchor Natalie Bomke is one popular search on this blog. In fact I could tell the day she debuted on the 4am news based on user keyword searches.

So in case you don't get up early enough to see how Ms. Bomke is on air - I have a video clip above of her on air work from this week.

I think Natalie will make a splash in Houston. In fact I actually got an email from a mikemcguff.com Sacramento, CA reader (she just left Fox 40 KTXL in that city) with this subject line:

"Thanks Houston for stealing Natalie Bomke from us!"

By the way, I cut this clip using Redlasso.

RELATED
- New Fox 26 KRIV anchor/reporter is Natalie Bomke from Fox 40 KTXL
- The Fox 26 KRIV 4am anchor shuffle

Free cup of coffee at Starbucks if you bring the tumbler today

If you provide the tumbler, Starbucks will give you the coffee for free:

Starbucks is giving customers around the world a bold incentive to swap the paper cup for a more eco-friendly option. On Thursday, April 15, the company will reward customers who bring a reusable tumbler into participating stores with a complimentary brewed coffee. This effort is just one of the ways Starbucks is collaborating with customers to reduce environmental impacts. The company has offered customers a discount for tumbler use since 1985. READ MORE

I have read elsewhere that this does not have to be a Starbucks branded tumbler either.

www.starbucks.com/thebigpicture

RELATED
More free food offers on tax day

VIDEO: Dale Hansen blasts WFAA 8 on its newscast

Uncle Barky has a full report on Dale Hansen's commentary regarding WFAA 8's decision to air secret video of Cowboy's owner Jerry Jones. READ STORY

UPDATE
- VIDEO: Jerry Jones Talks About Cellphone Video
- Hansen unplugged: the sequel
- NFL will not investigate Jerry Jones

Niko Niko's, Galleria eats and The Strokes singer's H-town lunch spot

Niko Niko's set to open new spot in downtown Houston
Another location is needed. Went there a couple of weekends ago and it was packed as usual
- VIDEO: Guy Fieri at Houston's Niko Niko's Greek restaurant

Top 10 Restaurants in the Galleria Area
Not in the mall, but around it.

The Strokes singer Julian Casablancas goes for Pho at Les Givral's
His solo album is a winner. Casablancas even covers the SNL Christmas song if you buy the extra tracks on iTunes.

NBC 5 KXAS gets new meteorologist

NBC 5 KXAS in Dallas-Fort Worth announces a new meteorologist in Grant Johnston from Oklahoma City's KFOR:

NBC 5 named meteorologist Grant Johnston to North Texas’ top team of weather professionals where he will anchor weather coverage on NBC 5 News each weekend afternoon and evening.

Johnston has been freelancing for NBC 5 in recent weeks and has held several on-air meteorological positions. For the past seven years, he was forecasting at NBC affiliate, KFOR-TV, in Oklahoma City, OK. READ THE REST

RELATED
- KXAS 5 lands Native Houstonian Julie Tam as new reporter
- Scott Friedman morning anchor for NBC 5 KXAS
- Deborah Ferguson of NBC 5 KXAS wins Gracie Award
- New KXAS NBC5 anchor team review
- Sneak into KXAS NBC 5 anchor Jane McGarry’s home
- KXAS 5 morning anchor Brendan Higgins exits

VIDEO: Texas TV newscast opens

Texas television newscast opens from the 1980s on up. Wow, we have come a long way.

The secrets of Blue Bell Ice Cream

KUHF 88.7's Ed Mayberry talks with Blue Bell president Paul Kruse about the ice cream business and how it is faring in this economy. We learn about how the company ships ice cream, determines flavors, the failed flavors and of course the hits.

LISTEN HERE

RELATED
- Making Texas Cows Proud
- Blue Bell Ice Cream: A Century at the Little Creamery in Brenham, Texas 1907-2007

PICS: Houston Texans cheerleader tryout photos 2010

Mike McGuff teams up with .




Years ago I declared myself the best web producer in Houston. This was before I won two EMMY awards and swept the Texas AP Broadcasters Best Online/Special Content category in 2009 however.

How could I make such a claim before winning the gold? Because I posted lots of cheerleader photos just for you. But do you really think I would let you down this year? Of course not.

I teamed up with the good folks at Local 2 KPRC and click2houston.com to bring you my more than 200 photos from last Saturday's Houston Texans cheerleader tryouts 2010. It was exhausting work, but someone had to step up and photograph these beautiful women.

SEE MY FIRST 50 PHOTOS

More pictures on the way in the coming weeks. Consider the month of April your Houston Texans cheerleader month!

ABC gets a look over by The Mouse

Why is Mickey Mouse looking at ABC that way? Interesting pair of articles out this week examining the future of ABC and Disney.

Showdown at ABC
Disney chief Robert Iger has turned his attention to his flailing network, ABC, and its president, Stephen McPherson, sources tell The Daily Beast’s Peter Lauria. Is a sale on the horizon? READ IT

Is Disney’s Chief Having a Cinderella Moment?
Robert A. Iger has defied expectations since taking over Disney. Many feared he would be a stuffed suit; instead, he is fighting corporate inertia to take his media behemoth into a new era.

I didn't realize the ABC network had fallen so much in the ratings.  Keep Modern Family!

New Houston approved yard waste bags

For those of you not in the Houston city limits, as of April 5th us residents now have to throw away yard waste in city approved bags. You buy them at the hardware store like Home Depot.

These are biodegradable composting bags and if you don't use them, then you're facing a fine of $50 to more than $1,000. Wow. The new bags can range anywhere from .60 to to a dollar on up depending on where you shop.

All of this cost is to encourage residents not to send this material to landfills. The city reminds us that Houstonians can choose the free alternative to bagging their leaves and lawn clippings by using a mulching mower for “grasscycling” or making their own personal compost pile.

Here is a greener reason to go with this new system. The city says it can save at least $1.5 million dollars annually by diverting this material from area landfills.

www.houstonsolidwaste.org/

Control your TV from an iPhone app - a mikemcguff.com product review

I'm sure most people can relate to losing a TV remote control at least once in a lifetime. Most likely a lot more than that probably. Now that I have a toddler who loves remotes, I can really relate to this.

Enter RedEye (no not the Fox News overnight show). A product by a company called ThinkFlood, RedEye is a device that lets you control your TV, cable box, stereo...etc from an iPhone or iPod Touch. There is an app for everything now right?






RedEye works by plugging in a small piece of hardware near your entertainment system (retail $190). This device reads the TV oriented signals you are sending over your Wi-Fi network from the iPhone and then sends the same signal a remote would to your devices. So basically the drink coaster size box - that simply plugs into an electrical outlet and not to your entertainment system boxes - becomes a universal remote control you operate from your iPhone or iPod Touch via a free app. Got it?

That means I can be outside, and as long as I am connected to the house Wi-Fi network, can control the entertainment system through the free app. Now that is a great prank to play on my wife.

Wife: "Hey honey, when you went outside the TV shut off and turned on and the cable box kept changing channels."
Me: "Oh really? How strange! (wink, wink to the audience - play canned sitcom laughter)"

Before you toss your remote, click on this. I found the system a little difficult to configure. It took me twice to get it set up. But once I got it going, it was fairly easy. You have to do a little configuration on your iPhone with your Wi-Fi network and the RedEye network emitting from the product's device. Then you need to tell the app what devices you have (ie Sony TV, Comcast Scientific Atlanta box - one of the most popular for the RedEye by the way). It was cool being able to change the channel from the iPod Touch, but not every cable box command immediately worked for me.

Also, my living room is not set up correctly for this product to work.  That little RedEye device is your new remote control signal.  That means it needs to be facing and point at your entertainment system.  I don't have anywhere to put the device where it wouldn't be in the way. This is where you need a table and an electrical outlet next to your couch. BTW, the RedEye device is also an iPhone docking station so you can charge your batter with it.

ThinkFlood tells me that there is an app coming out for the already legendary iPad and updates for the current iPhone app. Eventually you will be able to access your on screen programming guide through your iPhone. Now that's when this becomes really useful. I imagine forgetting to DVR the latest season of The Real World and being able to do that from the kitchen or bedroom with my iPod Touch. Hey, it beats walking into the living room.

* Thinkflood's PR rep contacted me and sent me a review unit so I could write this review.

http://thinkflood.com/products/redeye/what-is-redeye/

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Sam Malone starts on KSEV 700 mornings

The big day is here. Sam Malone starts mornings on KSEV 700 today. The viral video campaign has been launched.

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VIDEO: Texas Stadium comes down

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VIDEO: Abby's Book Corner opening ceremony

I've been talking about this for a while now and the day has finally arrived. Abby's Book Corner opened at Medical City Children's Hospital in Dallas yesterday! READ FULL STORY

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The 117 Words We Cannot Say on TV

Hilarious video put together by WPIX's new anchor Larry Mendte (he was in the news recently). Mendte uses the 117 words and phrases boss Randy Michaels forbid Tribune stations from using on the air. Watch KIAH 39 and KDAF 33 and make sure staffers don't break the rules. (Thanks Ed)

Astros vs Rangers in the money game plus Colt .45s history

As we come to the close of the first week of the 2010 baseball season, let's take a look at the value of MLB teams. The Houston Astros and Texas Rangers sure are neck and neck in this world. SEE THE FULL LIST (Thanks Brian)

The Houston Business Journal reports that the Houston Astros will take the field April 10th against the Philadelphia Phillies with both teams wearing their 1965 uniforms. These will be similar to the ones worn in the first regular season game ever at the Astrodome. READ MORE

Earlier this week I posted video related to the Astros. Check out two great pieces on the team's predecessors the Colt .45s. In these videos you will find out about the team's struggles and ballpark filled with some annoyances (you'll understand why The Astrodome was built).

While we are at it, see how fast a Houston TV reporter can run the bases at Minute Maid Park.


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Houston music scene gets Dallas media attention

The Dallas Morning News came down I-45 to visit Houston's music scene. Nice article and accompanying video:

This is a city's city: standing proud, happy and bright at the center with a rugged ring around the middle. Traffic never seems to end; people never seem to sleep; and zoning seems to be nonexistent. Houston literally hums.

That's never more apparent than when speaking with its residents. Each one has a particular favorite place to go, a place that usually involves the universal equalizer: music.

From what might be the nation's oldest recording studio to a world-class family business, music seems to be at the heart of the city, steadfastly holding the populace together. Still, most residents seem surprised that anyone outside their hometown has bothered to notice.

"What an amazing array of extremely talented artists here in any genre you could name," says Chris Gray, music editor of the weekly Houston Press. "And everybody around here knows it. ... But we kind of like that it's a secret. At the same time, we'd like some of those people to get the success and recognition they deserve." READ FULL STORY

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TV stations that have photographers win

Randy Tatano The Grape is back arguing for TV stations to keep the photographers and dump the one man band idea:

Now let's look at this from a bottom line angle. Station A uses one-man-bands. Station B does not. Both have a reporter opening. Both have the same candidate as their number one choice. The reporter takes the job with the photogs, even for less money. Take this scenario out a few years into the future, and Station B has a world class reporting staff while Station A continually has to settle for second best.

Which translates into better ratings for Station B. Which means more profits for Station B. READ THE REST