Tiffany Craig is married

Right before Thanksgiving, KHOU 11 consumer reporter Tiffany Craig announced she was engaged.

Then Craig and fiancé, KHOU 11 photographer Gregg Ramirez, jetted off to Sweden, stayed in an ice hotel and got married!

"We were 120 miles north of the Arctic Circle @ the ICEHOTEL in Sweden. It was 7 degrees. We’re defrosting now...," Craig posted on Facebook.

That's so James Bond like.

Congrats!

Houston Film Critics Society Announces TIFA Nominees

Houston film critics and Balcones Distilling to honor Texas-made films on January 2

Five Texas-made films have been named by the Houston Film Critics Society (HFCS) as nominees for its annual Texas Independent Film Awards (TIFA).

Nominees for the Best Texas Film of 2019 are:

- Bull
- Building the American Dream
- Nothing Stays the Same: The Story of the Saxon Pub
- Seadrift
- Sleeping in Plastic

“We wrap a strong year for films made in Texas with an impressive list of nominees,” observes Joshua Starnes, TIFA Coordinator and past president of the HFCS. “With three films presented in documentary-style fashion and two additional narrative works, these filmmakers give us history, social commentary and drama, each imbued with a taste of the Texas spirit. We are honored to shine the spotlight on such deserving films and the talented people who made them.”

Over a dozen films were screened and selected by a nominating committee of HFCS members. Final voting by the Society’s general membership will take place this week. The winner, as well as the recipient of the Texas Independent Film Visionary Award, will be announced at the HFCS’ annual awards ceremony, Thursday, January 2, 2020, at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. Special guests include
director Roger Corman, who will be honored with a lifetime achievement award by the HFCS, as well as Ellyn Needham, wife of the late movie stunts pioneer Hal Needham, who will present the Society’s inaugural award for Best Stunt Coordination Team.

The HFCS created the TIFA in 2014 to spotlight the quality of independent film in Texas. Each year, the HFCS welcomes submissions of films shot in Texas that have been financed outside the major studio system by small investors and/or independent production companies. For the second consecutive year, the HFCS TIFA program will be underwritten by Balcones Distilling of Waco, Texas, makers of such award winning whiskies as Baby Blue, the Original Texas Whisky.

A reception for the nominees, open to all Awards Show ticket holders, will be held just before the event in the lobby of the Hotel YLEM from 5:00 to 6:00 PM, 8080 Main St. in the heart of the Texas Medical Center. HFCS thanks the YLEM for being the official hotelier of the TIFA.

Tickets for the HFCS 13th Annual Movie Awards are available through the ticket portal on the MFAH website. Visit https://www.mfah.org/calendar/houston-film-critics-society-best-2019-awards/202001020630PM

About The Houston Film Critics Society
The forty-one members of the Houston Film Critics Society are working film journalists on television, radio, online and in traditional print. Together, they reach millions of people each week across the United States with their critiques and commentaries on film. The organization’s mission is to promote the advancement and appreciation of film in the Houston community and beyond. For additional information and a list of members, visit www.HoustonFilmCritics.com.

(This post was taken from a release sent to me by the Houston Film Critics Society)

Chita Craft has baby #2

KHOU 11's Chita Craft introduces baby Chita

KHOU 11 morning meteorologist for #HTownRush, Chita Craft, made her big baby announcement this afternoon.

"Meet Chita Ann Craft born 12.9.19, 9 pounds, 20 and 3/4 inches long. She is just a dream! Big brother Les is coming to meet her today. All of our prayers were answered! To all the mamas to be... Delivery with #2 is a lot easier," Craft posted on Facebook.

Craft left the channel 11 airwaves in late November for maternity leave.

When Craft announced her second pregnancy in June, she said the thought of having a girl seemed impossible since both sides of the family tend to have boys.

Les, the Craft's first born, came along in 2017.

See how we are doing on the Houston TV News baby boom of 2019.

RELATED
Stephanie Simmons returns to KHOU

1980s KLOL stories

Thanks to everyone who has contributed to the KLOL Documentary IndieGoGo campaign. It's not too late to support the film, but we are only days from the end of the campaign! SEE IT NOW.

Here are some stories from the Rock101movie.com website about KLOL in the 1980s.

Dayna Steele wouldn’t give up until she worked at KLOL
Houston’s “First Lady of Rock ‘n’ Roll,” Dayna Steele talks about how she got in the radio biz and ended up landing her dream DJ job at KLOL.

Eddie “The Boner” Sanchez origin
The origin story of Stevens and Pruett co-host Eddie “The Boner” Sanchez. Brian Shannon was the comic genius who kept the show together as its producer, and also voiced the now iconic S&P character.

Kevin Dorsey’s commentaries
Kevin Dorsey’s commentaries actually pre-date the Stevens and Pruett Show as you will hear in the interview. He later worked for Houston radio stations Z-Rock 106.9 KKZR and 93.7 The Arrow KKRW.


Grego recalls Outlaw Radio origins
Head Outlaw Grego remembers the beginning of 101 KLOL’s night show Outlaw Radio.

Colonel St. James remembers John Lennon’s murder
On December 8, 1980, John Lennon was murdered by Mark Chapman. Rormer 101 KLOL/97 Rock DJ, Colonel St. James, reflected on his time on the air during that tragic event.

RELATED
1970s KLOL stories

Houston social media stars November 2019

Share Rocket gives us data on how each Houston TV station and the corresponding air staff members performed on Facebook and Twitter.

Share Rocket is, "a social media ratings and audience solution providing media companies an easy way to quantify their social media equity, benchmark against peers and turn social market intelligence into insights that drive social success."

The numbers are pulled from station usage on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram using Share Rocket's "Share" measurement.

First we are looking at every Houston media company in the Share Rocket database and top personalities. Then I am looking at the top 5 on air staff members at each station in order of channel number.

RELATED
- Texas TV news and radio job moves November 2019
- Best TV News Bloopers November 2019
- Best Holiday TV News Bloopers

Houston Media

1. abc13 KTRK
2. KHOU 11
3. FOX 26 KRIV
4. KPRC 2
5. Houston Chronicle
6. Univision 45
7. Telemundo 47
8. Houston Press
9. Houston's 39
10. CultureMap Houston

Top 5 individuals

1. Isiah Carey - FOX 26 KRIV
2. Samica Knight - abc13 KTRK
3. Dominique Sachse - KPRC 2
4. Melissa Wilson - FOX 26 KRIV
5. Steve Campion - abc13 KTRK

KPRC 2

1. Dominique Sachse
2. Justin Stapleton
3. Amy Davis
4. Adam Wexler
5. Sofia Ojeda

KHOU 11

1. Brandi Smith
2. Chita Craft
3. Melissa Correa
4. Tiffany Craig
5. Bill Bishop

abc 13 KTRK

1. Samica Knight
2. Steve Campion
3. Erica Simon
4. Katherine Whaley
5. Mayra Moreno

FOX 26 KRIV

1. Isiah Carey
2. Melissa Wilson
3. Kaitlin Monte
4. Mark Berman
5. Ivory Hecker

CW39

1. Shannon LaNier
2. Maggie Flecknoe
3. Sharron Melton
4. Maria Sotolongo
5. Trey Serna

Univision 45 KXLN

1. Karina Yapor
2. Albert Martínez
3. Marcela Perez Barros
4. Deysy Rios
5. Laura Sierra

Telemundo 47 KTMD

1. Ubaldo Martínez
2. Carlos A. Robles
3. Antonio Hernández
4. Ruby Guzmán
5. Augusto Bernal

Houston Chronicle

1. Jonathan Feigen
2. John McClain
3. Joseph Duarte
4. Brent Zwerneman
5. Evan Mintz

DISCLAIMER: No Houston radio stations are listed in the Share Rocket database.

Stephanie Simmons returns to KHOU

Good news for all the people writing in asking me the whereabouts of KHOU traffic anchor/reporter Stephanie Simmons. She is back on channel 11 as of this morning.

Simmons was off the air for about a month. In November, Simmons told mikemcguff.com that she was dealing with a medical issue.

In a Facebook post today (embedded below), she went into more detail:


RELATED
Stephanie Simmons JOINS KHOU 11 from KCBS 2 Los Angeles

1970s KLOL stories

Thanks to everyone who has contributed to the KLOL Documentary IndieGoGo campaign. It's not too late to support the film, but we are only days from the end of the campaign! SEE IT NOW.

Here are some stories from the Rock101movie.com website about KLOL in the 1970s.

What music was KLOL playing in 1971?
I’ve been getting questions concerning what 101 KLOL Houston was playing in the 1970s. Thanks to what was called the K-101 “Music Sheet,” we have definite proof. The K-101 Music Sheet was a pamphlet that I guess was available for free at Houston record stores.

The crazy world of 101 KLOL in the Rice Hotel
The man who signed on KLOL, Pat Fant, talks about the early days of the legendary rock station. This is way before the AOR landed in Montrose where it remained for decades. When the FM rocker signed in 1970, it was located in the Rice Hotel in downtown Houston.

What did 101 KLOL sound like in 1979?
In November of 1979, the Iran hostage crisis started, Ronald Reagan announced his candidacy for US President and the Houston Astros signed Nolan Ryan to record 4 year $4.5 million contract according to onthisday.com. In the course of working on my 101 KLOL documentary, I ran into former DJ Greg Thomas who worked mid-days and afternoons on Houston’s legendary rock station back in November of 1979.

RELATED
1980s KLOL stories

Roula & Ryan make man's dream come true on 104.1 KRBE

KTRK abc13 reported on the dreams of a Cypress man, Johnny Gondesen, who wanted to hear his song "Christmas is Here" on the radio.

Now we know that 104.1 KRBE's Roula & Ryan made it happen.

Houston Public Media Selected to Participate in Digital Culture Accelerator Buddy Program

CPB taps 21 public media stations for the national digital initiative

Houston Public Media is one of 21 public media stations across the country participating in the Corporation for Public Broadcasting’s Digital Culture Accelerator Buddy Program.

This innovative program provides participating public media stations with guidance to implement digital-first processes and change station culture for the digital age, as well as mentoring from a fellow public media station.

“Our participation in this transformative initiative comes at a time when Houston Public Media is refreshing its brand, reimagining its television studios, and laying the groundwork for the future through a new station strategic plan,” said Lisa Trapani Shumate, general manager of Houston Public Media. “This is the next step we’re taking to make digital an integral component of all we do.”

This year’s announcement builds on a successful year-long pilot project that helped 20 public media stations increase engagement and membership revenue, while driving innovations in how the stations are serving their communities. Houston Public Media is paired with Rocky Mountain PBS, a public media station in Denver, Colorado, that completed the accelerator program.

“This has inspired a station-wide cultural commitment to experimentation and testing, one that tracks progress and successes using metrics,” said Don Geraci, director of content at Houston Public Media. “Our station vision statement now better reflects where we want to head, and we’ve set an inspirational goal of doubling our reach to three million people each week by 2025.”

The CPB-supported, hands-on program is customized for each station’s operations, helping senior leadership focus on the organization’s vision and alignment, new audience engagement strategies and new membership models.

To learn more about the Digital Culture Accelerator and CPB’s efforts to accelerate digital transformation across public media, click here.

(This post was taken from a release sent to me by Houston Public Media)

Best Holiday TV News Bloopers