“Runaway Radio” wins Houston Film Critics Society award!

I am happy to report that my 101 KLOL documentary, "Runaway Radio," won a Texas Independent Film Award (TIFA) for the best film made in Texas in the 18th annual Houston Film Critics Society awards!

Previous Texas Independent Film Award winners include Richard Linklater for Apollo 10-1/2: A Space Age Childhood and Sean Baker for Red Rocket.

Hey, I'm just as surprised as you! See, kids, there is a light at the end of the tunnel after devoting 14 years of your life to something. LOL!

I used to get messages online saying, "This film is never coming out!" People in real would tell me the same. And I'll be honest, there were times even I thought it would never come out.  

But thanks to everyone involved for helping me cross the very long finish line. It was very much a team effort! Go to Tubi, and you can see the long list of credits because so many people made a big difference that I don't want to leave anyone out here!

People ask me how my wife put up with this.  I told Dayna Steele in her podcast that my wife said she would have been upset with the length of production time if the movie had sucked.  

The Houston Film Critics Society is comprised of 38 members who work as film journalists on television, radio, online, and traditional print. Their critiques and commentaries on film reach millions of people each week across the United States. The organization’s mission is to promote the advancement and appreciation of film in the Houston community and beyond.

You can watch "Runaway Radio" via VOD, Tubi, or DVD (in Houston, buy in person at Cactus Music!).

https://houstonfilmcritics.com/

2024 Houston Film Critics Society Winners

Best Picture: Anora

Best Director: Brady Corbet, The Brutalist

Best Actor – Leading Role: Ralph Fiennes, Conclave

Best Actress – Leading Role: Mikey Madison, Anora

Best Actor – Supporting Role: Kieran Culkin, A Real Pain

Best Actress – Supporting Role: Zoë Saldaña, Emilia Pérez

Best Screenplay: Sean Baker, Anora

Best Animated Feature: The Wild Robot

Best Cinematography: Lol Crawley, The Brutalist

Best Documentary Feature: Will & Harper

Best Foreign Language Feature: Emilia Pérez

Best Original Score: Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, Challengers

Best Original Song: “Kiss the Sky,” The Wild Robot

Best Visual Effects: Dune: Part Two

Best Stunt Coordination Team: The Fall Guy

Best Ensemble Cast: Conclave

Texas Independent Film Award: Runaway Radio

Suzanne Stevens joins KRIS 6 Corpus Christi

Suzanne Stevens joins KRIS 6 News Corpus Christi as a senior reporter/MMJ.

Most recently, Stevens led the digital department for community newspaper owner Granite Media Partners.

Stevens's television news experience includes reporting for WFOR Miami.

Before that, she was an anchor for:

- WPBF 25 News West Palm Beach area 

- WTVX 34 West Palm Beach area 

- Local News 8 KIDK Idaho Falls, Idaho

The Brigham Young University grad started in TV as a producer-writer for KUTV 2 Salt Lake City, Utah.  

She interned with CBS5 KPIX San Francisco. 

Kyle Roberts leaves WFAA DFW

As Cassie Heiter joins WFAA 8 Dallas-Fort Worth, meteorologist Kyle Roberts announces he is leaving.

Here is a portion of what Roberts posted on social:

"After more than 8 years at WFAA, I’ve made the decision to step away and close this chapter of my career.

I watched WFAA growing up, then interned at WFAA, and eventually achieved the dream of working here. To say my career has come full circle would be an understatement. I’m so grateful for the experiences and opportunities this journey has given me.

My last on-air newscast may be on an earlier date, but my last day will be January 26th.

While I’m not quite ready to share what’s next, I’m truly excited for the future and the opportunities ahead.

Thank you to everyone who has supported me, shared kind words, or stopped me in person to say "hey"—it has all meant so much.

Here’s to new beginnings!"

Is it just me, or does Roberts resemble actor Christian Slater?  

Roberts joined WFAA, the station he grew up watching, in December 2016.

The Texas A&M grad previously worked as a meteorologist for:

- KOKH-Oklahoma City, OK (2013-2016)

- KETK-Tyler, TX (2011-2013)

- KMSS, KWKT, KFXK, KYLE (2011-2013)

He interned with WFAA and KWTX 10 Waco-Temple-Killeen. I'm not sure if this is the case anymore, but people used to call KWTX "WFAA South" or something similar.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Kyle Roberts (@kyleweather)

Live from UT Austin, it's the Saturday Night Live archives

I wouldn't have had this on my 2025 bingo card, but Saturday Night Live creator/executive producer Lorne Michaels is donating his archives to the Harry Ransom Center at The University of Texas at Austin.

With that donation comes a chance for us SNL fans to see part of the collection in the Fall of 2025 with the "Live From New York! The Making of Lorne Michaels" exhibition. Besides the expected photographs, artifacts, and scripts, the collection also includes items such as the behind-the-scenes rehearsal notes for SNL, Coneheads dailies, and annotated Mean Girls scripts.

“Lorne Michaels has kept us up late and laughing for 50 years,” said Ransom Center Director Stephen Enniss, “and I'm confident for years to come his archive will be studied by students and researchers looking for insight into the social, political, and cultural history of our time. We are deeply grateful to him for entrusting this rich legacy to us.”

The exhibition will be on view from September 20, 2025, through March 15, 2026.

“Live from New York and now home in Austin has a great ring to it,” said UT President Jay Hartzell. “Lorne Michaels changed entertainment and shaped generations of American culture, and we could not be more grateful and excited that he has selected UT and the Harry Ransom Center as the home to much of his life's work. Having five decades of Saturday Night Live on our campus creates unique learning and research opportunities for future generations, and especially our students. It also enhances UT as a destination for the arts, consistent with our vision and goals. We welcome Lorne and SNL to Texas.”

The collection is expected to be fully available for research in January 2026.

There is no word if Texas A&M will get the Saturday Night Live with Howard Cosell archives.  Joking aside, yes, that was a real show the same year as the NBC SNL you know today. The NBC version was first called NBC's Saturday Night when it debuted in October 1975.  

FOX 4 KDFW breaks ground on new state-of-the-art studio

Clarice Tinsley led the countdown Tuesday as FOX 4 KDFW Dallas—Fort Worth broke ground on a new state-of-the-art studio building in Irving's Las Colinas.

The FOX-owned station first announced the building project at 2203 West Royal Lane in August 2024. Construction is expected to take two years to complete. With its FOX 4ward construction webcam, the station's website lets you watch the building process live. 

I'd love to see the finished studio if I'm still around in two years!

The station says the new two-story, 60,000-square-foot building won't have the usual towers or antennas because it will broadcast via fiber. There will also be minimal satellite dishes. In addition to a modernized studio space and a new newsroom, the new FOX 4 operation will also house podcast studio suites and other necessities for a TV station to operate.

My guess is that the new FOX 4 studios won't have the longest hallway I have ever seen, which you can find at FOX 26 Houston KRIV.  I'm serious, it is the longest hallway I have ever seen in a business!

As Heather Hays, Steve Eagar, and Tinsley on the evening news, they are excited to have windows in the newsroom, which the longtime current downtown Dallas station on 400 N. Griffin Street does not have. Believe it or not, many other stations around the country don't have a source of natural sunlight either.

(credit FOX 4): L-R - Clarice Tinsley, FOX 4 - Matt Michel, VP real Estate, Fox - Jerry Reis, Property Advisers Realty - Jeff Gurley, SVP/GM KDFW - Rick Sopfer, Mayor of Irving - Al Zapanta, Irving City Council - Mark Cronenwett, City of Irving - Beth Bowman, Irving Business Development - Granger Hassmann, A & P Construction (he's behind Chris) - Chris Hillman, City Manager of Irving - Jim Corbin, KDFW engineering

(credit FOX 4) FOX 4 managers - L-R - Nicole Robles, HR - Jenniver Owen Scott,  Sales - Brian Kaefer, Finance - John Kukla, Creative Services - Jeff Gurley, SVP/GM of KDFW/KDFI - Jim Corbin, Engineering - Corbin Lewis, IT - Robin Whitmeyer, VP of News - Tim Joyce, SVP Engineering for all Fox Television Stations 

100.3 The Bull address listeners concerning morning show

 

100.3 The Bull Houston KILT addressed the "Bull Nation" via Facebook concerning its change from "The Morning Bullpen with George Mo and Erik" to the new "Frito and Katy Show."

Dear Bull Nation,

We understand change can be hard, and we know how much you care about the shows and voices that have been a part of your mornings.

 

Your connection to The Bull means the world to us and we deeply appreciate the memories we've shared with you over the years.

 

As we move forward, we're excited to introduce a new morning show that we believe has the heart, humor and energy to start your mornings.

 

Both Frito and Katy are born and bred Texans (Frito from Bryan and Katy grew up in Spring) and that connection with giving back to our community is genuine; they believe radio should be deeply rooted in service to others. 

 

As Frito and Katy get settled, we hope you'll give them a try and have some fun with them. Our goal has always been, and always will be, to bring you the best country music experience for Houston. And of course, we will continue to do the community service efforts that our station has dedicated itself to, plus more.

 

Thank you for being a part of our community, we can't wait for you to hear what's next.

Shelby Ebertowski joins KSAT 12 San Antonio

Shelby Ebertowski joined KSAT 12 San Antonio as a meteorologist/weather producer in January 2025.

Ebertowski returns to Texas from Valley News Live KVLY Fargo, North Dakota where she was a weather forecaster while attending the University of North Dakota for you guessed it...Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology.

It's a return to the Lone Star State for Ebertowski since she attended high school in Sugar Land. During this time of her life, Hurricane Harvey hit and her interest in the weather began.

Samica Knight returns to ABC13 with Tamron Hall?

Viewers have been asking me "Where is Samica Knight on abc13 KTRK 2025?" 

Well, after missing from the channel 13 Houston morning newscast for around a month, Knight returned Monday, January 13, 2025!

And guess who she was photographed with?  Talk show host Tamron Hall!

But the search party doesn't end there.  Today I received my first email asking "Where is Anthony Yanez?"

Here we go again...

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by 🌺E☀️L⚡️I✨T🌈A🦄 (@elitaloresca)

Atiana San Miguel joins FOX 7 Austin

Atiana San Miguel joined FOX 7 Austin KTBC "Good Day Austin" as a traffic anchor from KAMC Lubbock in January 2025.

Here is what Sam Miguel posted on Instagram:

"After two incredible years at KAMC in Lubbock, where I’ve had the honor of anchoring, reporting, and forecasting the weather, it’s time to turn the page. 

I appreciate all of the opportunities that were given to me to be a full-rounded candidate in my career pool & allowing me to connect to this wonderful community.

As a Texas Tech alum, West Texas will forever hold a special place in my heart. Thank you to all the amazing fans who welcomed me into their homes on their big screens. 

With that being said, this Sunday will be my last show here. But I’m thrilled to announce that I’ll be continuing my journey as a morning traffic anchor in Austin, Texas starting January 2025."

San Miguel joined KAMC as a weather forecaster in 2023.

Houstonians might recognize the Texas Tech and High School for the Performing & Visual Arts grad since she has been in numerous commercials, print ads, and billboards in her hometown and beyond since age 7. In 2016, San Miguel was in a Super Bowl ad. 

San Miguel takes morning traffic duties over for Jane Lonsdale, who left FOX 7 Austin in October 2024.

Another TV journalist arriving in Austin will be new KVUE hire Brianna Perez.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by ATI (@atianasanmiguel)

 

Joe Sayre AKA Colonel St. James has passed away

Joe Sayre, widely recognized as Colonel St. James from his days at the legendary 101 KLOL Houston and beyond, has passed away.

A 2009 inductee into the Texas Radio Hall of Fame, he was still on the air up until his final day, hosting the afternoon shift at Cypress Radio 103.5.

READ THE COLONEL ST. JAMES TRIBUTE HERE

Goodbye and Rest in Peace, radio legend Colonel St James- kind, talented, funny - from afternoon drive sportscasts to Galveston beach parties- working with him was the highlight of my time at 97 Rock in Houston. 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻 pic.twitter.com/TnnGLE6jPg

— Hannah Storm (@HannahStormESPN) January 11, 2025