Amanda Perez joins KPRC from KFSN

Amanda Perez

Amanda Perez returns to KPRC 2 from KFSN 30 Fresno; she likes Whataburger more than In-N-Out Burger too

UPDATE SEPTEMBER 17, 2014
Amanda Perez leaves KPRC 2 for Fort Bend ISD

Amanda Perez is coming back home to work as a KPRC 2 reporter. She has been working at ABC owned Fresno station KFSN 30 (sister station to KTRK abc13).

"After seven years at ABC 30, today I say goodbye and head back to Texas," Perez wrote on Facebook. "It has been an absolute honor to work with the members of the Action News team, who strive to produce the best newscast in the Valley every single day. You can't ask for better coworkers."

According to her bio, Perez arrived at KFSN in 2006 as a reporter. She became weekend anchor in 2008. Before California, Perez was in Texas at KAVU Victoria as an anchor/producer.

Perez graduated from Sam Houston State University. As a student, she was awarded with the school's Dan Rather internship. That gave her a chance to work at CBS News and 48 Hours.

What stands out to me is that before KAVU, Perez was an editor in Houston, at you guessed it, KPRC.

An internal KPRC memo obtained by mikemcguff.com says Perez starts at KPRC April 8th.

This is funny. When Perez said goodbye on Twitter, someone tweeted her, "When you get to Texas, can you have a @Whataburger for me, please?"

Perez responded she likes Whataburger better than In-N-Out Burger. So the official Whataburger account chimes in and says to Perez, "Thanks for choosing Whataburger, we look forward to serving you." How would Wannaburger have handled it?

Here is a KFSN Perez story I found online (embedded below):


UPDATE SEPTEMBER 17, 2014
Amanda Perez leaves KPRC 2 for Fort Bend ISD

Newsfix's Bun B guests on Tre9's new album Missionary Minded

I mostly write about people in the media. That means I don't often get a chance to write about Newsfix on KIAH CW39.

 But Newsfix contributor Bun B is featured on Tre9's new album. Houston-based Christian rapper Tre9 (c0-owner of DaSouth records) just released Missionary Minded where Bun B and Pyrexx make appearances.

This very personal album covers the true story of Tre9's wife's street life before becoming a Christian and footage of the birth of his first natural born child (he has a step-daughter and two adopted kids they discovered doing homeless outreach ministry in downtown Houston.)

dasouth.com
sketchthejournalist

Bob Allen and Sam Malone get uncorked

Sam Malone, Bob Fuller and Bob Allen (Photo credit: Wiredin.cc)

Philanthropy took center stage at the 4th Annual “Keels and Wheels Uncorked” event benefiting The Boys & Girls Harbor at the Wynden last Thursday evening. This year’s Honoree, sportscaster Bob Allen, and Master of Ceremonies, Sam Malone, along with 150 guests helped raise more than $26,000 for children and families in crisis while enjoying a variety of classic car inspired gourmet hors d'oeuvres and premium wine.

Five of Houston’s top restaurants created custom dishes and wine to complement a classic vehicle that will be featured in the upcoming Keels & Wheels Concours d’Elegance on May 4 & 5 at the Lakewood Yacht Club in Seabrook, TX.

Carmelo Mauro of Carmelo’s Ristorante Italiano’s combined a saffron risotto with salmon topped with pineapple sauce and Brunillo di Monalcino 2007 to match a 2007 Ferrari 430 owned by Bryan Baker. Ristorante Cavour Chef Renato de Pirro of Hotel Granduca created a braised oxtail stuffed ravioli with demi-glace and vegetable paired with a light Bandol Rose 2010 to match a 1932 STuTZ Bearcat owned by Richard Mitchell. A 1952 Allard K-2 Race Car, owned by Bob Weiner, was the inspiration for Masraff’s culinary creation of blue potato fish and chips accented with red pepper tartar sauce along with a brandy dessert and a Deep Sea Chardonnay 2008. Uncorked guests also had the pleasure of trying house made brioche toasts with bacon peanut butter spread top with plum preserves and a chocolate banana cake with peanut butter perra cotta paired with Perle d’Arche Sauternes 2005, with the Elvis themed décor from Mark Cox of Mark’s American Cuisine. Ryan Hildebrand of Triniti Restaurant created foie gras bangers and bone barrow mash topped with mushroom mustard gravy , tobacco onion and caviar with a refreshing glass of Perrier-Jouete Belle Epoque 2004 paired with a 1954 Jaguar XK 120 owned by John Osha.

All five restaurants were spotlighted for their creativity and efforts, but generosity took precedence during the live and silent auctions. Top auction items included a $3,000 ride on one of the last airworthy Texas Raider B-17’s, a $1,600 dinner at the Chef’s Table at Carmelo’s Ristorante Italiano, a $1,250 dinner at the Chef’s Table at Triniti Restaurant and a beautiful $1,000 painting created live during the evening by Scott Figuereido. Also on display was the sleek 2013 Mercedes-Benz donated by Alex Rodriguez Mercedes that will be raffled at the May event.

Concours chairman Bob Fuller and his wife Judy joined Mayor of Seabrook Glenn Royal and his wife Diane, Tim Ryan of Banfi Wines, Lakewood Yacht Club’s Commodore Carl Drechsel, Boys and Girls Harbor President Don Sweat, Hotel Granduca’s Mary Grace Gray, Tony Masraff, Russell Masraff, Dennis Debakey, Lavonne Cox, Paula Mott, Bryan Baker, Laura Power, Jim Sweeney, City of Seabrook City Councilmember Gary Johnson and wife, Lisa Johnson.

Gina Gaston supports the kids

Patricia Lopez, Event Chair Gina Gaston, Courtney Barajas

Gina Gaston of KTRK abc13 showed her support for a Houston institution this week.

Gaston, a long-time Children’s Museum of Houston board member, co-chaired the museum's 20th Annual Friends and Families Luncheon at the River Oaks Country Club on Wednesday.

The event featured New York Times best-selling author and clinical psychologist Dr. Wendy Mogel who spoke about how parents can navigate the teen years when a child’s sense of entitlement and independence grows.

Dr. Mogel is a frequent guest on shows including The Today Show and CNN and is regularly interviewed by The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post and NPR.

Luncheon proceeds will support the Museum’s early childhood and parenting programs which focus on building parenting skills, providing information on child development and engaging families in the joy of learning together.

Dave Ward leads celebration for Mickey Gilley

Dave Ward creates Honky Tonk Memories with Mickey Gilley

Kim Padgett, Mickey Gilley, Vicki Garcia and Dave Ward (Photo credit: Roswitha Vogler)

Dave Ward, longtime anchor of abc13 KTRK, was the Master of Ceremonies to honor a Houston-area legend. It was “a room full of roses,” yellow roses that is, as over 350 guests gathered for the Galleria Chamber of Commerce’s 11th Annual Texas Legends Gala honoring Texas country entertainer and recording artist Mickey Gilley on March 25, 2013 at the Omni Hotel at Riverway.

Attendees dressed in their Texas best mixed and mingled during the cocktail hour, which included a book signing with Mickey Gilley and JD Davis, author of Unconquered: The Saga of Cousins Jerry Lee Lewis, Jimmy Swaggart and Mickey Gilley and a big board live auction featuring a trip to Branson to visit Mickey at his namesake theater, a weekend stay at Deer Lake Lodge Spa and Resort and luxury car rentals from Platinum Motor Cars. Part of the proceeds from the evening benefited the Galleria Chamber of Commerce Scholarship Fund.

Chamber board members and gala co-chairs Kim Padgett and Vicki Garcia-Lehner welcomed Ward, who along with Pasadena Mayor Johnny Isbell, presented the guest of honor with a proclamation on behalf of both the City of Houston and Pasadena, officially naming March 25th as “Mickey Gilley Day.” Longtime fellow country stars and friends Neal McCoy and The Gatlin Brothers stopped by to congratulate Gilley on his evening via video projection.

Next on stage was the Texas Legend himself, Mickey Gilley, who regaled an audience of admiring fans with stories from his life as a recording artist, entertainer and business man. Guests seated at tables draped in red and black décor, highlighted by gorgeous Yellow Rose of Texas arrangements by Lexis Florist sang along with Gilley as he performed the classics “You Don’t Know Me,” “Stand By Me,” “Solitary Man,” and Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline.”

The surprise moment of the evening came when a giant, three-dimensional piano cake from For Heavens Cake was presented to Gilley in honor of his 77th birthday, celebrated earlier this month.

Guests for the evening included Galleria Chamber of Commerce Honorary Co-chairs Tony and Donna Vallone with Gala Auction Co-Chairs Brenda Cheney and Rhonda Schroeder, Harris County Precinct 4 Commissioner “Cactus" Jack Cagle, Chief of Staff of Mayor of Pasadena Johnny Isabel Richard Scott and Sandra Scott, City of Houston Council Members Helena Brown and Jack Christie, Honorable Harris County Clerk Stan Stanart, Chamber Board Members Arthur Mooradian, Brett Binkley, Fred Stumpf, Lee and Corrine Vela, Mary Grace Gray, JD Busch, Kathryn Mumaw and Gabriele Merrill. Also, seen swaying to the music Sidney Evans, sportscaster Bob Allen, Bruce Padilla, Edward Sanchez, Sonia Soto, KTRK Miya Shay, Catarina Cron, Roland Maldonado, Sue Habib, Tracy Orolin and her steady Harry Faulkner.

Kim Padgett, Dave Ward and Vicki Garcia (Photo credit: Roswitha Vogler)

Houston media folks ready to serve food, "Want fries with that?"

KHOU 11's Chita Johnson & Courtney Zubowski at last year's event

Lots of Houston media types will be on hand for the ESCAPE Family Resource Center's 32nd Annual ESCAPE Celebrity Serve Benefit including one really wealthy dude.

Texas energy tycoon T. Boone Pickens will serve as CEO (Celebrity Executive Officer) at the event where he will direct the Houston celebrity servers who will be mingling with guests to help raise funds to help prevent child abuse and neglect in the Houston area.

Joining Pickens will be: “Live” Auction Auctioneers KTRK-TV News Anchor Tom Koch and Houston PBS TV Host Ernie Manouse; Celebrity Servers KTRK-TV Reporter Sonia Azad and “Live Well Network ‘Deals’ Host Kat Cosley; KPRC-TV Anchor Andy Cerota; Bob Allen of Bob Allen Media; KHOU-TV Reporter Courtney Zubowski, Meteorologist Chita Johnson and Morning Traffic Reporter Katherine Whaley; KTRH Radio Morning Anchor Shara Fryer; Lopez Family Taekwondo Olympic Champions; The 9-5-0 Radio Host Michael Garfield, Astronauts Walt Cunningham and Gene Cernan; KRBE Radio/FOX 26 Personality Dave Morales; CBS Radio/FOX 26 Personality Cleverley Stone; Buzz Lady Roseann Rogers; “Delicious Mischief” Radio Host John DeMers, Celebrity Stylists Ceron, Todd Ramos and Edward Sanchez and Houston icons in the world of philanthropy and business, Lynn Wyatt and Robert Sakowitz.

The Celebrity Serve Benefit is a major annual source of funding for the 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and is held in April as part of National Child Abuse Prevention Month. ESCAPE, whose mission is to prevent child abuse and neglect before a child is harmed, helps promote happy childhoods by providing intervention, education and support programs to families in crisis. Founded in 1983 by the Houston-area chapters of The National Exchange Club, ESCAPE relies on private support to prevent and combat emotional, physical and sexual violence towards children.

Tickets to the “Color My World” ESCAPE Celebrity Serve Benefit start at $400 and table sponsorships range from $4,000 to $15,000. For those interested in purchasing tickets or tables, or donating to the live auction, please call Chris Rambeaux at 832-367-9117 or ESCAPE, Sandi Mercado, (713) 942-9500, ext. 14, or go to learntoparent.org and click on the “Celebrity Serve Benefit.”

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Houstonia Magazine hits Houston Thursday

Houstonia Magazine's first issue debuts this week

Houstonia Magazine has been a big topic on my blog. I posted the initial announcement of the magazine's existence in January and people haven't stopped reading that post since.

Tomorrow, the wait is over as Houstonia hits store shelves. I tweeted a photo of an upcoming teaser I noticed at a Randall's magazine rack last week.

I have the first issue already and it is very rich looking in appearance in content (and big time advertisers too). It is very much like a Texas Monthly for Houston with a mix of serious/feature reporting, humor and other interesting takes on the city. The staff is a who's who of Houston journalism and beyond.

Houston has had lots of magazines come and go. In fact last summer at my friend's wedding in the LA area, I met an executive producer of Desperate Housewives and writer for Frasier. Before I knew who he was, we were making small talk and when I said I was from Houston, his eyes lit up. Turns out Bob Daily lived in Houston in the 1980s and wrote for magazines here.

Daily told me there was actually a pretty decent amount of work for magazine folks here at that time. He ended up getting involved in Houston's Comedy Workshop, one thing led to another, and he ended up writing for shows in Los Angeles. This obviously has nothing to do with Houstonia, but it's a cool story and something you often don't hear associated with the Bayou City.

So coming full circle, Houstonia kind of tapped into that history when it found its office space. Scott Vogel, a former Washington Post editor and SagaCity’s cofounder and editorial director (the owner of Houstonia), told me big high rise Houston office space rent is pretty costly so they settled on a big old house in the Heights with a friendly atmosphere.

"We liked too how the house allowed us to connect with Houston’s history, which is no doubt going to be one of the ongoing concerns of Houstonia," Vogel told mikemcguff.com. "To succeed, these magazines really have to be welcoming publications, and if there’s one thing that a big old mansion in the Heights says, it’s welcoming."

The magazine held a big party Saturday night with a big crowd mixed of members of Houston's society crowd, media, PR and a bunch more. Clearly SagaCity is willing to spend money to promote itself here.

I'll be watching the company with interest to see how it is launching a venture like this in these odd media times. I'm also curious how it mixes the physical magazine world with the online one. Will all of its content be on both platforms?

We'll find out Thursday.

88.7 KUHF to air new Houston talk show with Craig Cohen

Craig Cohen to host new 88.7 KUHF talk show

Craig Cohen

88.7 KUHF, Houston's NPR station, is busily creating a new public affairs talk show.

The hour long show's name has not been revealed yet, but will cover Houston-area and regional topics with the listener calls woven through the discussion the station tells me.

Craig Cohen has been hired as the host/producer. Cohen most recently worked as the Public Affairs Director for Illinois Public Media at WILL. Before that he was a host/producer at WITF, Inc. in the central Pennsylvania region according to his LinkedIn profile.

The station says two current reporters at the radio station, Shomial Ahmad and Edel Howlin, will also serve as producers for the show. The goal is to hire one more producer.

Emily Binetti, Director of Communications for Houston Public Media tells mikemcguff.com that feedback on the show's pilot program from a consultant found Cohen to be “a very good, comfortable interviewer" and the overall show to be “conversational, welcoming and energetic.”

The show will air live Monday through Friday when it debuts. More details will be revealed by the station soon.

As far as Houston shows, Houston Public Media also produces The Front Row for Classical 97.1 KUHA (it re-airs at night on KUHF).

Houston Texas AP TV winner 2013 breakdown

I featured the 2013 Texas Associated Press TV winners when they were announced at the beginning of March. Since then, I have been asked to give a breakdown of the Houston winners.

So here we go. The stations with the most amount of wins from top to bottom:

KHOU
18

KRIV
8

KTRK
8

KPRC
3

Some highlights of note.

Fox 26 KRIV had two winners for Weathercast:

1. KRIV, Houston. Jim Siebert. 9 p.m. Weathercast. Aired June 26, 2012
HM: KRIV, Houston. Mike Iscovitz. KRIV Fox 26 Houston. Aired June 26, 2012

KRIV also had two wins for its morning newscast:

Morning Newscast
1. KRIV, Houston. Shannon Dillon, Kevin Collins & Rhoda Chanette. FOX 26 News at 6 a.m. Aired June 26, 2012
News Anchor or Anchor Team
2. KRIV, Houston. Chris Stipes. Chris Stipes in Action

UPDATE
Fox 26 KRIV reporter Greg Groogan placed the most on the list of any H-town reporter. Fox 26 KRIV's Greg Groogan and KHOU 11's Kevin Reece tied for the most places - three times each.

Even though Wayne Dolcefino is no longer at KTRK 13, he and his 13 Undercover unit folks won a combined six awards.

Sports reporter Daniel Gotera won 1st and 2nd place in Sports Story:

1. KHOU, Houston. Daniel Gotera & Bob Luna. Pearland's Johnny Baseball
2. KHOU, Houston. Daniel Gotera & George Jensen. Riley's Story

KHOU swept the Specialty or Beat Reporting category:

1. KHOU, Houston. Scott Noll. Scott Noll Reports
2. KHOU, Houston. Jeremy Rogalski, Keith Tomshe & David Raziq. Keep 'em Honest
HM: KHOU, Houston. Andrew Horansky. Medical Reporting

Congrats to all of the winners.

Miya Shay and hubby Gene Wu are expecting

Miya Shay, KTRK abc13 reporter, and Democratic State Representative Gene Wu are expecting a baby

UPDATE SEPTEMBER 24, 2013
KTRK abc13's Miya Shay& Gene Wu delivers baby

Miya Shay probably shocked some party guests at husband's Gene Wu's 35th birthday party last weekend. The KTRK abc13 reporter announced her pregnancy to the 25 or so party guests participating in a casual family style meal at China Garden in downtown Houston.

The news went on to dominate Facebook news feeds of Houston TV folks all weekend.

Shay and Wu are expecting their bundle of joy in late September. To make the announcement, they held up a custom onesie that said "Future Voter." Under that it said "Eligible September 2031" which would be the date the baby would be 18 years old.

For those of you who do not know, Wu is the State Representative for the Texas Legislature, House District 137 hence the voting reference.

Congrats to the couple.

UPDATE SEPTEMBER 24, 2013
KTRK abc13's Miya Shay& Gene Wu delivers baby

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KPRC goes viral, Chronicle departures and more

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Dallas station relocates Argentina, entire ocean
CBS O&O KTVT-TV in Dallas/Ft. Worth, showed a map attempting to show viewers the location of Argentina...in Colombia.

Texas radio ratings
Radio ratings for Dallas and Houston.

Kabooyow! KPRC interview makes Brookshire resident internet sensation
When KPRC-TV, Local 2’s Morning Cam photojournalist Damon Sales was interviewing residents in Brookshire, Texas, who woke up to the sound of hail hitting the windows of an apartment complex, Michelle Clark had one word for what she said sounded like a shotgun blast: "Kabooyow!"

Chronicle Takes Two Big Hits As Loren Steffy, Terri Langford Leave
The empty desks at 800 Texas just got a little emptier, as two of the paper's mainstays -- business columnist Loren Steffy and investigative reporter Terri Langford -- are leaving for other, presumably greener, pastures.

Houston Radio Host Schooled After Calling NFL Star Vince Wilfork's Wife Ugly
Ted Johnson, who hosts a show part-time on KILT-AM 610 and a Sunday-night nationally syndicated show (who knew?), finds himself in the position of dealing with the fallout of a brain fart.

CSN Houston to carry 157 Astros games, launches new ‘we feel your pain’ ad campaign
Comcast SportsNet Houston will carry 157 of the Astros’ 162-game schedule in its first season as the team’s broadcast partner.

Smooth transition to 1230AM
The community appears to be embracing the new home of KCOH radio.
It was back on March 1 when the African American station made the big switch from 1430 to 1230 AM on the radio dial.

Could KTXH be jumping into the subchannel business?
There’s a hint that KTXH may be picking up “Movies!” and another digital channel.

Texas markets trail the field for NCAA Tournament ratings
To borrow a line from the play “Greater Tuna,” the NCAA Tournament on CBS and Turner Sports is drawing gangbuster Nielsen ratings … Texas not included.

Matt Musil goes 'Over the Edge' for YMCA
KHOU 11 Sports Anchor Matt Musil was one of the brave 85 people to rope and rappel down the Four Seasons Hotel.

News staffers return to WOAI offices
WOAI’s news personalities are set to return to their own downtown studios after two days of sharing space with sister station KABB.

WOAI producer loses 200 pounds
Joseph Lopez, the WOAI 10pm newscast producer, has lost 200 pounds in only a year - going from 430 pounds to 230 pounds.
- KSAT 12 grabs producer from KTRK 13

10 years in, risk paying off for Univision 62
A decade ago, Univision-owned KAKW Channel 62 took a chance, launching a Spanish-language local newscast targeted at Central Texans.

Bellacosa's Back in Brown
Keri Bellacosa of Fox 7 KTBC is an appreciated booted news anchor.

REMEMBERING

Houston radio legend Rick Roberts dies days after attack
Roberts, a native Houstonian, was well known at the city's radio stations dating back to the 1960's at KYOK-AM. He later worked for Texas Southern University's radio station KTSU-FM before retiring.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
- Newy Scruggs of KXAS to go national on NBC Sports Radio
- Where is Cindy Burbano of Telemundo Houston KTMD?
- Michelle Merhar, Fox 26 KRIV, delivers baby girl
- 93Q tribute celebrates John Lander and top 40 1980s radio
- Comcast increasing Houston Internet speeds
- Eric King jumps to KXAS from WLKY

KUHT 8 broadcasts spelling bee final live

UPDATE:

6th grader from Pearland ISD and 7th grader from Clear Creek ISD win 2013 HoustonPBS Spelling BEE

Shobha Dasari, a student of Pearland ISD and Syamantak Payra, a student of Clear Creek ISD will represent the Southeast Texas region at the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C.

Houston, TX (March 23, 2013) – Shobha Dasari, an 6th grader at Leon Sablatura Middle School in Pearland ISD, and Syamantak Payra, an 7th grader at Westbrook Intermediate School in Clear Creek ISD, are co-champions of the 2013 HoustonPBS Spelling Bee by spelling the winning words – “oolemma” and “ogival.” Both students advance to the Scripps National Spelling Bee, the prestigious climax for the nation’s best spellers, after a tough marathon competition with 55 spellers from 42 counties in the HoustonPBS Bee televised live for over 4 hours on Channel 8, Saturday, March 23, 2013.

With the victory in the HoustonPBS Spelling Bee, the two winners receive an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C. to represent the Southeast Texas region at the Scripps National Spelling Bee from May 28 – May 30, 2013. They will face 277 contestant spellers from across the country, aiming for victory and prizes worth more than $40,000.

==========================================================================

The HoustonPBS Spelling Bee, now in its fifth year, is the third largest local Bee in the country with 1,040 participating schools.

“Hosting and televising the Houston region’s Spelling Bee is a natural fit,” Houston Public Media Executive Director & General Manager, Lisa Trapani Shumate explains. “Houston Public Media is committed to education and to giving all children the tools they need to learn as well as showcasing their successes. We appreciate the students, parents, teachers and volunteers who help make this possible.”

For more information on the HoustonPBS Spelling Bee, visit www.houstonpbs.org/spellingbee.

The 2013 HoustonPBS Spelling Bee will be televised live from the HoustonPBS Channel 8 Studios at 2pm on Saturday, March 23, 2013.

The top 55 spellers from 1,040 schools in 42 counties, from East Texas to Austin, will contest at the Melcher Center for Public Broadcasting in the University of Houston, Main Campus to win the opportunity to participate in the Scripps National Spelling Bee, the nation’s long-standing educational promotion since 1925.

Eager spellers advance from a challenging series of school, district, and regional spelling bees that have over 100,000 competing students from the elementary to 8th grade level. HoustonPBS is the first public broadcaster and the third largest local sponsor of the Scripps National Spelling Bee. This is the fourth successful year of the HoustonPBS Spelling Bee.

The final champion of the HoustonPBS Spelling Bee wins an all-expenses-paid trip for two to Washington, D.C. to represent Houston at the Scripps National Spelling Bee during Bee Week, May 28 through May 30, 2013. The grand prize of the 2013 national contest carries a prestigious victory along with over $40,000 in cash and other prizes.

The Spelling Bee aims to enrich the language skills of students across the nation with a focus on better spelling, richer vocabulary and correct English usage –skills that will take them to better opportunities in life. Bee participation also provides confidence-building experience in public-speaking skills.

To view the complete list of finalists visit click here.

(This post is from a release sent to me by Houston PBS KUHT)

Astrodome video offers rare, dreamy views inside

Astrodome Tour / Astrodome✶Tomorrow from HD Home Movies on Vimeo.
In light of the latest Houston Astrodome demolition desires, here is a beautifully haunting video of our former domed stadium. This dream like glimpse inside, and even from on top of the domed roof, was from a 2012 tour with Astrodome Tomorrow. A group that seems to have as much of a dream like vision for the Dome as was featured in the video.

As a native Houstonian, I'd like to see the Astrodome restored in some way, but that is probably not going to happen. As I wrote last fall, the place is falling a part and my guess, it's a bureaucratic waiting game...keep the ideas coming, deny them and let the place crumble all by itself to the point it has to go. Problem solved and no hard feelings come election time.

I actually covered Hurricane Katrina relief in 2005 at the Astrodome and wrote back then that it was like being captured in a time warp since it looked just the same as the day they shut it down...except for the disrepair part.

The Eighth Wonder of the World has been featured in films and in the last few years was proposed to actually become a movie studio itself.

Stay strong old friend.

Eric King jumps to KXAS from WLKY

Eric King joins KXAS NBC 5 DFW from WLKY Louisville, Ky

Eric King

Eric King is a new face on NBC 5 KXAS in Dallas-Fort Worth. He started reporting at the NBC owned station last week.

"I set a goal when I was 6, and here I am," King said on his Facebook page.

King just arrived from WLKY Louisville, Kentucky where he was a noon anchor and a reporter since 2009. He is also from the area.

According to his bio, King's first on air job was as the 10pm anchor for NBC Montana in Bozeman. After that he landed at a station in Jackson, Mississippi and then onto a station in Memphis, Tennessee. He graduated from the University of Louisville.

Clearly King is ready to do some reporting from around the world. His bio says he is fluent in French and working on Russian and Portuguese. Hear that NBC network types?

Comcast increasing Houston Internet speeds

Comcast let me know it is speeding up its customer's Internet experience for the XFINITY Blast! and Extreme 50 plans in Houston.

For no additional cost, Comcast customers with those plans will get twice as fast speeds. Also at no additional cost, the company is increasing the speed of its Performance plan by more than 60%.

“As customer demands and technology evolve, we continue to increase our broadband speeds to deliver the best, fastest and most reliable Internet experience possible for our customers,” said Doug Guthrie, senior vice president for Comcast’s Houston region. “Whether chatting, surfing, streaming, gaming, skyping or downloading, families will get the super fast, high-performing Internet service they need, with no extra charge.”

The Blast! plan is increasing download speeds from up to 25 Mbps to speeds up to 50 Mbps and upload speeds from up to 4 Mbps to up to 10 Mbps, while Extreme 50 customers will receive download speeds up to 105 Mbps (formerly 50 Mbps) and upload speeds up to 20 Mbps (formerly 15 Mbps). The Performance plan is increasing to speeds up to 25 Mbps from 15 Mbps downstream and to 5 Mbps from 2 Mbps upstream.

The company says this is the 11th time it has increased its Internet speeds for customers. It adds it's also the third year in a row the FCC has shown XFINITY is delivering speeds that are even faster than advertised.

To activate the new speeds, customers need to re-start their cable modems.

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93Q tribute celebrates John Lander and top 40 1980s radio

93Q's John Lander and top 40 music love fest on 93qclassic.com

Remember the Rock 101 KLOL tribute site I wrote about last July?  Well, I have learned it planted seeds in another Houston radio fan's mind.

Joe [no last name given] tells me he has started a 93Q/79Q tribute site that celebrates when KKBQ was a top 40 station in the 80s.

Back then in the decade of excess, 93Q and Power 104 KRBE battled it out to bring us the latest Madonna and new wave hits of the day. John Lander and the Q Morning Zoo dominated mornings in Houston (against Glenn Beck at 104 KRBE). I remember being excited when the Tookie Bird visited my school! And Club 6400 took the Richmond Strip by storm playing wild music that freaked out parents.

[WATCH: 93Q and the Q Morning Zoo with John Lander TV commercial]

I asked Joe, who works in the legal field, some questions about his 93qclassic.com site and he sent back answers that flowed so well together, I'm just giving them to you as is. Clearly this tribute site is a passion project if I've ever seen one:

"Back in the early 80s, Houston radio was a wasteland of boring garbage. Then along came 79Q -- a station so entertaining that folks were willing to endure the poor sound quality of the AM band == not to mention all the sizzling/crackling every time a thunderstorm came along -- just to hear good music and entertaining personalities. And, of course, a year later they added 93Q. (FM - "No Static At All.")

KKBQ was more than just a radio station. John Lander brought some kind of indescribable magic to the airwaves of Houston. It was fun to listen, entertaining -- it made me HAPPY! I had a Sony Walkman and 93Q went with me EVERYWHERE! When call in contests would come on, I'd rush to the nearest payphone and start dialing. I still have my collection of T-Shirts and the Q Zoo greatest hits album autographed by John Lander and Jackie Robbins.

When John Lander departed Houston, management at KKBQ tried to save the format, but never could duplicate the magic. When the format flipped to rock, it was a depressing time. I was no longer a listener by the time it went country, but it felt like a slap in the face. For all of us who remember the original format, just associating the name 93Q with redneck music is BLASPHEMY!

Now, here in 2013, Houston radio is even worse than the early 80s. Thus, last year It really caught my interest when some guy put up a website and a stream on tunein.com dedicated to Rock 101 KLOL. KLOL was a good station, but it doesn't even come close to the greatness of 93Q. Over the last few months I've been going through my tapes and records. My computers skills are somewhat limited, but the motivation is strong."

I remember being upset by the switch too, although I've read the station had a ratings decline at the end. After the ephemeral rock phase, KKBQ eventually switched formats to "Easy Country" and then to standard country where it has stayed with success to this day.

If all this makes you want to hear Scritti Politti or Peter Gabriel, there is also streaming music on the site through Live365 from the classic 93Q era.

Joe is not finished with websites though. As a tribute to his friend Kim Fullilove, a Power 104 KRBE Dj who was murdered, he has built power104.net.

Believe it or not, this is not the first 93Q tribute site I've written about.

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Michelle Merhar, Fox 26 KRIV, delivers baby girl

Michelle Merhar, Fox 26 KRIV, goes from Traffic Authority to Diaper Authority

Michelle Merhar of Fox 26 KRIV mornings and hubby deserve a big congratulations this morning after getting a new arrival to their family.

 The station's Facebook page says Baby Abigail came into the world at seven pounds and 14oz. That's all that was reported at this time.

Over the weekend, I posted how Merhar officially went on leave from the Fox owned and operated station for baby watch.

Houston Radio One's Ayana Mack is filling in for her.

Where is Cindy Burbano of Telemundo Houston KTMD?

UPDATE 6/2013
Cindy Burbano lands at Mega 101

Cindy Burbano of Telemundo Houston is off the air right now

Cindy Burbano

Cindy Burbano of Telemundo Houston 47 KTMD is the type of anchor that makes me wish I could speak Spanish. However lately, I've been getting emails from her viewers wondering where the heck she is.

Well, Burbano confirms to me she has indeed been off the air.

"I have been off TV and at the moment I am doing lots of traveling and taking a well needed vacation," Burbano told mikemcguff.com. "In respect to future projects, I am currently considering a couple of options still in the industry but until I make a final decision, I can't disclose the details."

According to her Facebook page, Burbano has worked in Texas, Georgia, Florida and California. Based on Burbano's above answer, I'm not sure to put this in the present/past tense, but she anchors Telemundo Houston's morning news followed by Breves AM. She reports for the stations 5 and 10pm newscasts. Nationally she is the Texas correspondent for Un Nuevo Dia and Al Rojo Vivo which both air nationally on Telemundo.

She tells me that she loves her viewers and hopes to be with them soon.

UPDATE 6/2013
Cindy Burbano lands at Mega 101

Newy Scruggs of KXAS to go national on NBC Sports Radio

Newy Scruggs of NBC 5 KXAS Dallas-Fort Worth to go national on NBC Sports Radio

Newy Scruggs

Newy Scruggs, the NBC 5 KXAS sports director, is adding a new job to his day.

The station reports "Voices of the Game with Newy Scruggs" premiers around the country Monday, April 1st, on NBC Sports Radio which I didn't know even existed.

"I am excited to bring NBC Sports Radio listeners and my North Texas fans into daily conversations with some of the most honest, opinionated and in-the-know people in American sports," Scruggs said on nbcdfw.com. "I want our listeners to feel like they are sitting at their favorite watering hole getting the inside scoop on the biggest topics and sports opinions of the day."

The show will air 11am to 2pm Monday through Friday from Dallas. As for NBC Sports Radio, it will launch 24/7 talk programming lineup on April 1, 2013, can currently be heard at nbcsportsradio.com.

KXAS teases that Scruggs will be joined every day by a "renowned and recognizable sports voice” during the second hour of the show.

Smart move on Scruggs part. Let's face it, the more you can do as a sports anchor, the better off it is for your career these days.

newdawg.com/

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Fire at WOAI, Brad Watson to leave WFAA and more

MORE VIDEO
- Weatherman gets punked
- KYOU News
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Veteran WFAA journalist Brad Watson to resign
In 1979, Brad Watson walked into the WFAA-TV newsroom in downtown Dallas and debuted the deep voice that would inform North Texans and question public officials for the next 34 years.
- After 34 years Brad Watson is leaving Channel 8 to become Luminant’s chief of communications

A Moment From KTVT’s History
KTVT has a rich history going back to the day when an eccentric oil millionaire named Sid Richardson flipped the switch on its transmitter on September 11, 1955 and signed it on as KFJZ-TV (the KTVT call letter came a few years later).

Wayne Dolcefino for Katy ISD School Board
On Wayne Dolcefino's new Facebook page, he says he doesn't want to be a politician, just watch the Katy school board.

New dueling statements from CSN Houston, DirecTV
Let the spin begin.

Whatever happened to Patti Smith?
While most of the faces you recall from Fox Sports Houston have migrated to Comcast SportsNet Houston, Patti Smith soldiers on as the final remnant of Fox Sports Southwest presence.

Meteorologist Chita Johnson wins camel race
Horse-racing is tough as it is, but it is even harder on a camel. KHOU 11 News Meteorologist Chita Johnson did just that.

Blaze rips through WOAI news station in downtown San Antonio
Firefighters were called to the WOAI news station on Tuesday morning as flames could be seen leaping from a second story window.
- Fire knocks WOAI-TV off the air

WOAI gets serious about selling its local newscast
No more funny promos for WOAI.

Ticket 760 to broadcast Houston Astros games in 2013
Clear Channel’s KTKR-AM (Ticket 760) says it has locked in a renewal deal to broadcast the Houston Astros’ 2013 season.

Former KTEN News Anchor Randy Garsee Dies at 50
Former KTEN news anchor Randy Garsee has passed away.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
- KPRC 2 has lots of open jobs for you
- 950 KPRC will lose its Mojo?
- Houston being invaded by WFLA meteorologists
- Casey Curry drops weather for fashion
- Brian Collister of WOAI replaces KTRK's Wayne Dolcefino
- Dave Cody leaving Fox 7 KTBC
- Watch 3,500 episodes of 100 TV series from 30 networks for free
- DIY Network Houston house casting call for America's Most Desperate Landscape
- Adam Clanton joins SportsTalk 790 KBME
- Houston TV anchors celebrate St. Patrick's Day 2013
- Michelle Merhar takes leave from Fox 26, Ayana Mack fills in
- KPRC AM 950 debuts
- 93Q alerts you when your favorite song is playing with Q On Demand
- Mark Greenblatt to Scripps TV stations
- Casey Curry gets married

Casey Curry gets married

Casey Curry marries fiance Carl Hahn in Hawaii

courtesy: caseyweather.com

UPDATE JANUARY 31, 2014
Casey Curry delivers baby girl

Casey Curry and her engagement to Carl Hahn have kept people talking since it happened last October.

The popular abc13 KTRK morning meteorologist was even asked about the marriage date while lecturing a University of Houston's Jack J. Valenti School of Communication class.

The word on Facebook is the Curry and Hahn wedding ceremony went down today in Waikoloa, Hawaii.

"Carl and I are so thrilled to share our wedding day with you," Curry wrote on her website. "We tied the knot on Monday morning, March 18th at Mauna Lani Bay Hotel on the Big Island of Hawaii. We couldn’t have asked for a more perfect day! Beautiful blue skies, a light ocean breeze and the love of our friends and family reaching us all the way in Hawaii."

Congrats to the couple!

"Carl and I were actually set up by Eyewitness News Reporter Kevin Quinn and his wife, Elizabeth," Curry told mikemcguff.com last October. "Needless to say, Elizabeth is very proud of her matchmaking skills!"

Hahn, proposed to Curry in Michigan (where he is from), on a trip to see the Michigan vs Illinois game for homecoming weekend.

Curry writes on her site that she will be back on abc13 KTRK next Monday morning.

You can see more wedding photos at caseyweather.com.

*updated with more info 3/20/2013

Mark Greenblatt to Scripps TV stations

Mark Greenblatt, former KHOU 11 investigative reporter, leaves ABC News for Scripps TV stations

In January 2012, KHOU 11 investigative guy Mark Greenblatt went to ABC News. Now we learn he is leaving the network and going back to local with Scripps TV stations:

Award-winning investigative reporter Mark Greenblatt, will join The E.W. Scripps Company (NYSE: SSP) as a national investigative correspondent for the Scripps Howard News Service in Washington, D.C., effective April 15.

Formerly with ABC News as a national correspondent, Greenblatt specializes in computer-assisted reporting and the mining of public data through the Freedom of Information Act. His goal is compelling multiple-platform content that results in reform and broad benefit for communities.

"The Scripps Howard News Service is a journalism powerhouse committed to investigative reporting and video story-telling with both a national and local perspective across all of our media platforms and for all of our local TV and newspaper markets," said Brian Lawlor , senior vice president of Scripps television. "Mark is an amazing addition to the team. He is tenacious, yet patient with his investigations. He is thorough and resourceful and is widely respected for his abilities to hunt down a story that enacts change."

With ABC News, Greenblatt contributed to Good Morning America, World News and Nightline. He also wrote stories for ABCNews.com, filed live and taped radio reports for radio stations across the country and reported live for ABC affiliates nationwide and the BBC.

Before moving to network news, Greenblatt spent seven years as an investigative reporter at KHOU-TV in Houston, Texas. He received numerous national awards for his investigations including the Livingston Award, duPont-Columbia, two national Edward R. Murrow Awards, the George Foster Peabody Award, National Headliner, National Emmy and an IRE Medal.

He also gained experience working at WBBH-TV in Fort Myers, Fla.; KOAA-TV in Colorado Springs, Colo.; and KOMU-TV in Columbia, Mo.

He graduated in 2000 from the University of Missouri's School of Journalism.

Greenblatt and his wife, Regina, will move to D.C. where he will base his work for SHNS. He is the co-director for a national program to mentor investigative reporters and editors. He has volunteered for arts organizations and a program to motivate children to make a difference.

93Q alerts you when your favorite song is playing with Q On Demand

You'll hear listener complaints that FM radio station's don't always keep up with technology, but some Houston radio stations are trying to change that.

Starting today, 93Q KKBQ is offering Q On Demand. The radio station's audience will have a chance to choose their favorite songs and get texted or emailed when they are coming on the air.

KKBQ's Cox Media Group owned sister station 107.5 The Eagle KGLK (and 106.9) has already been experimenting with another high tech way to reach out to the audience. The 3 o'clock pick me up turns the station over to the audience at 3pm. Listeners go to the station's site and pick music from an expanded list of songs.

Houston Cox Media Group Vice President/Market Manager Mark Krieschen tells mikemcguff.com that the company has been excited by the feedback from KGLK's 3pm segment and is looking forward to the reaction from KKBQ's new Q On Demand.

Krieschen tells me a Cox station in Tampa, WSUN 97X is programmed by the audience throughout the day.

KPRC AM 950 debuts

I told you last week how it looked like the 9-5-0 was losing its Mojo. Well Sunday the Mojo was lost.

That longtime Houston radio station is now KPRC AM 950 - Houston's more stimulating talk radio.

Weekday Schedule:

5a-6a Best of Joe Pags
6a-10a Joe Pags
10a-12p Glenn Beck
12p-2p Michael Garfield
2p-5p Matt Patrick
5p-7p Janine Turner
7p-9p Outlaw Dave
9p-12a Andy Dean
12a-3a Phil Hendrie
3a-5a Mancow

Looks like "The Janine Turner Radio Show - All American Common Sense" (of Northern Exposure fame) and "America Now with Andy Dean" are the new additions to the schedule.

It has a new website at kprcradio.com too.

(Thanks MH)

Michelle Merhar takes leave from Fox 26, Ayana Mack fills in

Michelle Merhar, the FOX 26 KRIV Traffic Authority, goes on maternity leave, Ayana Mack fills in

Michelle Merhar

UPDATE 3/20/2013
Michelle Merhar, Fox 26 KRIV, delivers baby girl

Michelle Merhar left Fox 26 KRIV last Friday to go on maternity leave. I told you in December that Merhar was expecting a girl in March.

"I am so blessed to have some amazing friends that I get to work with every morning," Merhar wrote on her Facebook page. "Caitilin Espinosa is sending me off on maternity leave with a bang."

That send off from Espinosa included cupcakes and a fruit salad.

Ayana Mack

So who is filling in for future Mama Merhar starting Monday? It's Radio One Houston superstar Ayana Mack who you can hear regularly on 97.9 The Box KBXX, Magic 102 KMJQ and News92 FM KROI.

"I'm very excited for Michelle and happy to join the Fox team," Mack told mikemcguff.com. "They are like family over there."

Mack should know. She used to fill-in for Erin Anthony on the Fox 26 traffic green screen.

BTW, Mack left Mix 96.5 KHMX for Radio One Houston in July of 2012.

Congrats to Merhar and family.

Houston TV anchors celebrate St. Patrick's Day 2013

Happy St. Patrick's Day 2013. Just because it's Sunday doesn't mean that Houston TV types aren't showing off their green. Clearly they do not want to get pinched.



KPRC Local 2 meteorologist Mary Lee and anchor Courtney Zavala were spotted on Facebook showing off their St. Paddy's spirit.


Over at abc13 KTRK, Bob Martin aka "The Accountant to the Stars" sported a green tie.


And finally at Fox 26 KRIV, meteorologist Caitilin Espinosa and anchor Sally MacDonald showed they had the luck of the Irish on their side, but their was something holding them back.

"Sadly, I could only wear green earrings and bangles because I work with the green screen," Espinosa wrote on Facebook.

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Houston TV newscasts full of lovely ladies

Adam Clanton joins SportsTalk 790 KBME

Adam Clanton announces his new radio home is SportsTalk 790 KBME

No doubt Adam Clanton got a raw deal over at 1560 The Game Yahoo! Sports Radio KGOW. He left KPRC 2 in August 2012 to team up with John Wessling and then the station let them go in less than a year.

Today, Clanton took to Twitter and Facebook and simply said hello to SportsTalk 790 KBME with a few words and images. His fans figured out what he was saying, congratulated him and he went back and starred those tweets.

UPDATE
Bryan Erickson, Clear Channel Houston AM Operations Manager for KTRH/KPRC/KBME, tells me Clanton will be in the Monday through Friday 7 to 9pm slot starting next week.

(Thanks BZ)

DIY Network Houston house casting call for America's Most Desperate Landscape

Is your Houston home ugly enough for DIY Network's America's Most Desperate Landscape?

The DIY Network really wants to find some truly horrible Houston front yards for its show America's Most Desperate Landscape.

"We're looking to transform super sized, super desperate front yards and Houston gives us an opportunity to do larger front landscapes," executive producer Jay Shatz told mikemcguff.com. "In the spirit of 'bigger is better,' this is a transformation that will really help a desperate homeowner."

Licensed contractor Jason Cameron and crew have been around the country making yard transformations. They bring all the tools, paint, plants and heavy machinery to get the job done.

The show tells me homeowners need to only bring the landscape, plenty of personality from friends/neighbors and sweat equity to get the job done.

"Jason Cameron and our team made dramatic changes in some Austin neighborhoods a few months ago and we'd like to bring those same results but on a much bigger scale to Houston," Shatz told me.

Click here to apply to the casting call.

TV folks will be interested in the fact that show EP Shatz was formerly a local TV reporter at WCPO-TV channel 9 Cincinnati. According to his site, in 2000 he left the station, took some co-workers with him and started JayTV Inc. which produces the show.  "Thirteen years later, this aging yet agile team now gets much joy watching other people do live shots during snowstorms," the site says.

Watch 3,500 episodes of 100 TV series from 30 networks for free

XFINITY Watchathon Week will deliver free access to more than 3,500 episodes of 100 TV series from 30 networks

Comcast let me know its Xfinity customers are getting a free pass to what the company calls the biggest TV catch-up in TV history.

From March 25-31, XFINITY Watchathon Week will deliver free access to more than 3,500 episodes of 100 TV series from 30 networks. This includes every episode of every season of series like Game of Thrones, Downton Abbey, Dexter, Girls, Spartacus and Duck Dynasty, plus full, current or most recent seasons of Mad Men, Revolution, The Walking Dead, Touch, Chicago Fire, Psych, Parenthood and The Americans.

Watchathon Week will also offer almost the entire on demand TV libraries of HBO, SHOWTIME, STARZ and CINEMAX, including the critically acclaimed shows that kick-started the TV catch-up phenomenon, like The Sopranos, Sex & The City, Dexter and The Wire. The event will also give viewers a chance to catch up on hit series Game of Thrones, just prior to its third season debut on HBO, March 31. All Video On Demand (VOD)-enabled Xfinity TV customers will have access to this content, and across multiple screens when available.

Among the programmers participating in Watchathon Week include Premium networks HBO, SHOWTIME, STARZ and CINEMAX; Broadcast networks ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC and PBS; and Cable networks A&E, AMC, BBC America, BET, Comedy Central, Discovery, FX, HISTORY, IFC, Lifetime, LOGOTV, MTV, mun2, National Geographic, Syfy, TBS, TNT, Travel Channel, TV Land, USA and WE.

Viewers can catch every episode of every season of Banshee, Battlestar Galactica, Big Love, Boardwalk Empire, The Borgias, Boss, Californication, COPPER, Crossing Jordan, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Deadwood, Dexter®, Masterpiece Classic: Downton Abbey, Duck Dynasty, Enlightened, Entourage, Episodes, Flight of the Concords, Game of Thrones, Generation Kill, Girls, Hollywood Confidential, House of Lies, Hung, Hunted, Magic City, Nurse Jackie, Oz, Parenthood, Psych, Rome, Sex & The City, Six Feet Under, Spartacus, Strike Back, The Newsroom, The Sopranos, Torchwood: Miracle Day, Treme, True Blood, Ugly Betty, Veep, and Web Therapy.

Additionally, full, current and most recent seasons of the following series will also be available during Watchathon Week: Archer, Awkward, Bates Motel, Boston’s Finest, Braxton Family Values, Bridezillas, Chicago Fire, Dance Moms, Deadliest Catch, Deception, Diggers, Doctor Who, Elementary, Go On, Grimm, I Love Jenni, King of the Nerds, Legit, Mad Men, Portlandia, Raising Hope, Real Husbands of Hollywood, Revolution, Smash, Swamp People, The Americans, The Bachelor, The Layover, The Mindy Project, The Voice, The Walking Dead, Top Gear, Tosh.0, Touch, Undercover Boss, Vikings, Whitney and Wicked Tuna.

After Watchathon Week concludes, Xfinity TV will launch the “Catch-Up of the Week” on April 1. This ongoing effort will offer a mix of current and past seasons of hit shows on a specific network, or a different, popular TV series each week through the end of 2013, allowing viewers to continue to stay on top of some the best shows on TV regardless of their subscription level.

To help sort through the additional thousands of hours of TV shows, Xfinity TV will launch a Watchathon Week microsite offering a full list of available content across Xfinity On Demand, Xfinity.com/tv and the Xfinity TV Player App. Visitors also will discover special news, trivia, behind-the-scenes features and a Watchathon sweepstakes.

For more details on Watchathon Week visit www.xfinity.com/watchathon. Join the Watchathon Week conversation on social media with hashtag #Watchathon.

Dave Cody leaving Fox 7 KTBC

After 28 years, Dave Cody leaving Fox 7 KTBC Austin

Dave Cody

Sportscaster Dave Cody is leaving Fox 7 KTBC Austin after 28 years he announced this week.

A FOX Television Stations rep tells me Cody is leaving to take care of his elderly parents in Alabama.

"Thanks to all for the kind words, I have enjoyed 28 years at KTBC and have grown to know many of our viewers in a personal way and look forward to spending even more time with you," Cody said on his Facebook page. "I will continue to live in Austin but spend more time in Alabama to assist my parents."

"Dave has been a sports icon in this market for the last 28 years," VP and News Director Pam Vaught said in a statement. "There is no one that knows this city and the sports history we've shared better than him. He will truly be missed.”

Cody's last day on the air will be June 5th.

Brian Collister of WOAI replaces KTRK's Wayne Dolcefino

Brian Collister of San Antonio's WOAI replaces Wayne Dolcefino at KTRK abc13


UPDATE APRIL 02, 2014
Brian Collister exits KTRK abc13 for KXAN

Brian Collister

Brian Collister, the leader of the News 4 WOAI San Antonio Trouble Shooters team, will replace KTRK 13's Wayne Dolcefino in the 13 Undercover unit David Barron is reporting.

According to his Bio, Collister has specialized in investigative reporting for most of his career since graduating from Sam Houston State University with a degree in broadcast journalism.

His bio does not mention any previous stations he's worked for.

“I am thrilled and honored to join 13-Eyewitness News and to be a part of one of the most prestigious investigative teams in the country,” Collister said in a statement issued by Channel 13 to the Houston Chronicle. “I look forward to adding to its legacy.”

Collister is also a licensed private investigator which I don't think I've ever seen before in an investigative reporter. He is also a multiple Emmy award winner.

Wayne Dolcefino's exit from the station last November was one of the biggest stories of the year for my blog. He has since started Dolcefino Communications LLC and is running as a Katy Independent School Board candidate.

His investigations had such impact on Houston that he will be hard for some people to forget.

This reminds me, we still have not seen KTRK sports anchor Tim Melton on the air since my last blog post wondering about his status.


UPDATE APRIL 02, 2014
Brian Collister exits KTRK abc13 for KXAN

Casey Curry drops weather for fashion

Casey Curry (Photo credit: Fulton Davenport)

KTRK 13 morning meteorologist Casey Curry served as the Mistress of Ceremonies for the Second Annual “What to Wear to that Equestrian Affaire” Fashion Presentation and Luncheon put on by the Pin Oak Charity Horse Show and The Houston Polo Club.

 The event, held at The Wynden in late February, had 168 supporters of children's charities in attendance. It grossed more than $55,000 for three non-profit organizations: Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston’s Ronald McDonald House Family Rooms and Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Family Alliance.

Other media in attendance included Roseann Rogers for Prime Living, Marcy de Luna for Houstonia Magazine, Wendy Reeves for Health & Fitness Sports Magazine, Catherine Anspon for PaperCity and Lara Bell for Absolutely Memorial and Absolutely Katy magazines.

Lynn Walsh, president of Pin Oak Charity Horse Show, welcomed guests and supporters to the event. Alexis Caruselle, Janine K. Iannarelli, and Elizabeth Wood served as co-chairs. Tootsies provided a variety of upscale casual and equestrian looks that were worn by guest models, all of whom have an association with Pin Oak Charity Horse Show and/or Houston Polo Club.

Pin Oak Charity Horse Show is a 501c non-profit corporation. Established in 1945, Pin Oak Charity Horse Show is one of the oldest and most prestigious horse shows in the nation. Roxanne Cook is the executive director. The Pin Oak Charity Horse will be held March 20-30, 2013, at The Great Southwest Equestrian Center in Katy. Spectators are welcome, and admission to most events is free.

www.pinoak.org

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Houston being invaded by WFLA meteorologists

Megan Hatton

Megan Hatton will follow fellow WFLA meteorologist Brooks Garner to Houston

I first reported Monday that Brooks Garner is coming to KHOU 11 from WFLA News Channel 8 Tampa, but he's not the only WFLA meteorologist that will make a move to Houston.

In what Garner referred to as the "Texodus" on Facebook, his colleague, weekend morning meteorologist Megan Hatton, will be following her husband who has been working as a KTRK abc13 director for the past few months according to WFLA. The station's news management must be thrilled about losing two weather folks at the same time.

Hatton posted this message on her Facebook page about future life in Houston:

"March 31st will be my last day on the WFLA airwaves. My husband accepted a job in Houston this past October and we've been living apart since then. It's time for me to join him and start our new life in Texas. I can't express enough gratitude for the opportunities I had here. This was a dream come true for a science-loving-small-town-Ohio girl who only visited the beach once a year. The last 6 years have taught me lessons I'll never forget. My husband promised I could take some time off once I moved, so I don't have any cool job to brag about just yet. In the meantime I'll be rehabbing my sweet puppy after she undergoes her double hip procedure tomorrow."

According to her bio, Hatton joined WFLA in 2007 as a weather producer and fill-in meteorologist. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from The Ohio State University with a Bachelor of Science in Atmospheric Science. The Northeast Ohio native developed a passion for weather at the age of nine after a she received a book about thunderstorms.

Hatton will have to keep checking my Texas TV jobs page to see if there is an open television meteorologist position in town.

950 KPRC will lose its Mojo?

UPDATE 3/18/2013
KPRC AM 950 debuts

I've been blogging long enough to have seen KPRC-AM go from Talk Radio 950 to The 9-5-0 Radio Mojo.

Now it seems we are seeing another format change for the nearly 90-year-old station. Yes 9-0.

Word on the street is that there will be some kind of re-branding of the Radio Mojo theme.

 What I can tell you for sure is that Northern Exposure actress Janine Turner will start doing the 5pm shift next Monday. This will be the debut of her new show, "The Janine Turner Radio Show - All American Common Sense," which will also air on SiriusXM 166 according to Turner's site. I imagine this means current 5pm show host Outlaw Dave moves back to a later hour.

Turner's site also offers us a glimpse of a possible new KPRC 950 AM logo too.

I asked Clear Channel Houston for more information, but have not heard back from a representative.

KPRC 2 has lots of open jobs for you

I was checking on my Texas TV jobs page and I noticed that KPRC 2 Houston has opened up some new jobs you might want to check out.

News Assignment Editor Full Time
News Assignment Editor Part Time
Web Managing Editor
Digital News Editor, Part-Time
News Editor Special Projects
Television News Video Editor - Part Time
Brand Producer
Promotion Manager
Television News Investigative Reporter
News Reporter
IT Specialist/Broadcast Maintenance
Local Sales Manager
Associate Producer/Entry Level Producer
News Operations Technical Manager


Head on over to read more about these television employment opportunities and maybe you can get yourself a new gig. If you do, remember to send me a fruit cake or something for pointing these out to you.