Waterlogged KTRK abc13 viewers tuned in Halloween morning to find a TV trick or treat - a surprise new anchor.
That's right, new face Mayra Moreno, who I first blogged about last August, has come back home from KENS 5 San Antonio and made her official channel 13 weekend morning anchor chair debut.
Previously Moreno was an MMJ at KIAH 39 before NewsFix.
Apparently the bad street flooding played a trick on co-anchor Chauncy Glover and stalled his car, so Moreno started the Saturday morning broadcast by herself.
It was rumored that KTRK was looking for a new weekend morning anchor and Moreno would be that person when hired.
So now we know the truth.
That means longtime weekend morning anchor Elissa Rivas will not wake up viewers anymore on the weekend as she has been doing since 2003 (if I remember that start date correctly).
Apparently Rivas will be a reporter from now on as I have not heard if she will move on to anchor another show.
UPDATE
Since I posted this, I was reminded that Elissa Rivas has been filling for the expectant Rebecca Spera on afternoon traffic.
What is the future of the Houston Republican presidential debate to be held at UH in February 2016?
In a letter to NBC today, Republican National Committee chairman Reince Priebus suspended the party's planned February debate with partner NBC/Telemundo.
This after the party was critical of the moderators in sister station CNBC's Wednesday night debate.
“This is a disappointing development," NBC responded in a statement. "However, along with our debate broadcast partners at Telemundo we will work in good faith to resolve this matter with the Republican Party.”
So from the Houston angle, what does that mean for us? The debate was supposed to be held at the University of Houston.
Here is a statement issued by UH after the RNC letter.
"We're actively monitoring the situation between the RNC and NBC News/Telemundo regarding the Feb. 26 Republican presidential candidates' debate," said Vice Chancellor/Vice President of University Marketing, Communication and Media Relations Richie C. Hunter. "The University of Houston is proud to be selected to host this important national conversation, and looks forward to the spotlight the debate will bring to our community and the important issues at hand."
CNBC's Republican Presidential Debate was the most-watched telecast on television last night beating Game 2 of the World Series. Among adults 25-54 and adults 18-49, CNBC's Republican Presidential Debate was Wednesday's most-watched cable telecast.
CNBC's Republican Presidential Debate averaged 14.0 million total viewers, 3.9 million adults 25-54 and 3.4 million adults 18-49, making it CNBC's most-watched telecast in network history. Moderated by CNBC's Carl Quintanilla, Becky Quick and John Harwood, the debate was held at the Coors Events Center at the University of Colorado Boulder.
In the 6PM ET debate, CNBC averaged 1.6 million total viewers and the network's 7PM ET pre-debate show, "Your Money, Your Vote," averaged 3.3 million total viewers. The 11:30PM ET encore of the Republican Presidential Debate averaged 1 million total viewers.
The Republican Presidential Debate averaged 3.5 times as many total viewers and 1.8 times as many adults 25-54 as the previous record holder (2002 Winter Olympics telecast on 2/22).
The Republican Presidential Debate averaged 4.2 times as many total viewers and 3.9 times as many adults 25-54 as the 2011 CNBC Republican Presidential Debate.
KTMD’s 10 PM Local Weekday Newscasts Outranks All English-Language Competitors in the Market Among Adults 18 to 34 and Adults 18 to 49
Telemundo Houston/KTMD announced that the station has achieved its best weekday early news, prime time and late news among Adults 18 to 49 and 25 to 54. These ratings have been the highest October ratings delivery to date. The announcement was released today following the conclusion of the October 2015 survey period.
Specifically: Noticiero Telemundo Houston at 5p achieved a (0.6) among Adults 18 to 49 and (0.7) with Adults 25 to 54. During prime programming airing 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm Monday to Friday, KTMD delivered an average (1.6) with both Adults 18 to 49 and 25 to 54. KTMD’s Noticiero Telemundo Houston at 10pm attained a (1.7) with Adults 18 to 49 and (1.8) with Adults 25 to 54.
Telemundo Houston/KTMD also revealed that Noticiero Telemundo Houston at 10p outranked all other English-language local late news competitors in the market from Monday to Friday among both Adults 18 to 34 (1.7) and Adults 18 to 49 (1.7). In fact, October 2015 marks the seventh consecutive survey period in which Noticiero Telemundo Houston at 10pm has out-performed English-language local late news competitors with Adults 18 to 34.
"We are humbled and honored that viewers are turning to Telemundo Houston to receive the entertainment, news and information they want," said Tony Canales, President and General Manager, Telemundo Houston.
Isiah Factor: Uncensored returns to FOX 26 KRIV tonight for election time
Last August, I was standing with Houston TV journalist Isiah Carey after a live broadcast of his Isiah Factor: Uncensored show in the parking lot of the Ragin Cajun Restaurant when it happened. A guy drove up, leaned out the window and asked him about his infamous "bug in mouth" YouTube video.
In fact, the FOX 26 KRIV reporter says he gets asked about it everyday.
"I was walking along Hollywood Boulevard in LA one night while covering Empire and out of the blue two Californians came up to me [and] asked if I was the bug reporter," Carey told mikemcguff.com. "They were so excited and asked to take pictures. A third person also approached me in Los Angeles that same night with the same question. That video gets new life every month."
"It's a badge of honor now because it allows people to see me as a regular person just like them...a person who could also lose it from time to time," Carey told me.
In a time when local television news stations across the country race to show you the latest viral video, Carey is the viral video. But not in just the obvious way. It's also because Carey is very local. Check out his YouTube channel at "TheHoustonFactor" and you'll see Houston-area stories he's covered that have hundreds of thousands of views.
Local is a mindset that Carey embodies. When many TV stories are now about the latest diet crazes or plastic surgeries sweeping the US, Carey is all about the "L" word. When it hits quitting time, Carey doesn't stop working when he retires to his home in The Woodlands. Sometimes he covers a story with just his phone.
"It means keeping my phone on around the clock, taking time to hear any stranger on the street out, and most importantly following up," Carey explained. "It takes a lot of time and effort but it's worth it."
While originally from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Carey might as well hail from the Houston area in terms of sources and his caring attitude about his adopted community.
"I bought a cash SUV to use for carrying my news equipment and it also helps with taking some of the miles off my everyday car," Carey admitted.
"The Factor Mobile" as I just dubbed it, was at the Isiah Factor: Uncensored broadcast that hot August night. In its cargo bay were air conditioning units. Carey was in the process of organizing this donation for some elderly viewers to beat the summer heat. He was about to personally deliver them that weekend. This is why in the past I blogged Isiah Carey is the new Marvin Zindler.
Clearly KRIV management has noticed Carey's work ethic since they've given him his own news segment. It's a block of time where Carey covers what he wants and is usually getting help for viewers in need.
Fighting for the little guy...just like Marvin.
That segment led to the Isiah Factor: Uncensored which took over the last half hour of the station's 9pm newscast Friday nights last summer. The live show tackled the hot news stories of the day with general conversation and lively debates. The show returns tonight for election time.
"We usually pick the big story and dive in deep with colorful experts who are not the usual talking heads," Carey said.
The "Uncensored" title came from the fact the show is live and anything can happen.
"We are live from a restaurant/bar, and at times, guests will partake in food and drinks which loosens them up and has led to heated arguments," Carey said. "Rapper Willie D of the Geto Boys called Donald Trump an 'asshole' on air. People just seem to be very comfortable in the setting even though we're completely live."
The show has made some unforgettable TV moments for FOX 26 staffers.
"My favorite show moment was getting the brutal honest truth from a Houston billionaire about which races would be willing to do manual labor in one of his warehouses," Carey said. "That billionaire was Farouk Shami. He was brutally honest and said what he felt."
"Had to put my vote in for this on - Nikki Araguz on the HERO (Houston Equal Rights Ordinance) or more popularly known as the 'bathroom ordinance,' where trans-genders would be allowed to self-identify whether they choose to use the men’s or women’s public restroom," KRIV Vice President & General Manager D'Artagnan Bebel told mikemcguff.com.
FOX 26 KRIV assistant news director Howard Dorsey says he came up with the idea for the show more than a year ago.
"The show had to be gritty, relevant, and compelling," Dorsey told mikemcguff.com. "It had to have a dash of social media, the hot talker of the day, and some sports (we called it the two minute drill). The key ingredient would have to be the host of the show, if it was going to work. Isiah Carey was hands down the guy.
"I believe Carey’s range is unlimited. He wears many hats, and is an awesome storyteller. We sat down one day and hammered out a format to pitch to my News Director Bob Morford and the General Manager D’Artagnan Bebel."
The FOX Television Station believes this kind of programming is important to keep connected with Houston television viewers.
"We are facing ever increasing competition for peoples’ scarce time and their information consumption and behaviors have been radically altered with the advent of digital and social media," Bebel told me. "If we are to remain relevant to our consumers as a provider of information, we must innovate and have a strong brand in the digital and social space, or go the way of the dinosaurs.
"Isiah has been very successful in building a strong brand as a reporter. We simply recognized that and capitalized on it by coming up with a brand name for him (originally THE ISIAH FACTOR). As any smart brand does over time, it evolves and creates brand extensions. Initially the once a week segment in the newscast, and the summer run of half hour news specials."
Tonight, Isiah Factor: Uncensored returns in time for the Houston political season:
October 29th
Mayoral Debate with top 4 candidates only who we determined as: Chris Bell, Adrian Garcia, Bill King, Sylvester Turner
This will be on a Special Edition of summer show “ISIAH FACTOR: UNCENSORED”
9:30 p.m. – 10 p.m. LIVE on KRIV Fox 26
(This will be the last debate before Election Day, Nov 3)
In the event that no candidate receives 51% of the voters and it goes to a Runoff Election between the top two candidates on Dec 12, FOX 26 has planned the following Runoff Debates.
November 17th
Mayoral Runoff Debate in partnership with Texas State Senator Senfronia Thompson
Location: Forest Brook Middle School
Time: TBD
December 2nd
Mayoral Runoff Debate in partnership with The Marque Business Social Club
Location: The Marque Club
Time: TBD
So, which Houston media members are searched the most for on Google and other engines? That means we are seeing the big dogs in Houston TV and radio you are looking for to find my little old blog.
This will answer the question some have as to why I cover certain people so much. That's because the people have spoken!
Now, in reality the number one searched person is me. But that kind of makes sense when you consider my name gets folks to this destination. Strike the old McGuffer and fun variations of my name like "Mike McGruff" out of the mix.
So now on with the show!
1. Jennifer Reyna
Are you really surprised KPRC 2 morning traffic anchor Jennifer Reyna is the number one most searched person in Houston media on my blog? I'm not. Why? Because anytime I look at my live blog traffic stats, someone is searching for her. We're also talking about someone who had an entire Twitter feed dedicated to her at one point.
2. Dominique Sachse
Wow, look at that...KPRC 2 talent take the top two spots. Also, a no brainer even if a few commenters' heads will explode upon seeing Dominique Sachse on the list (I think Sachse bashing is a sport for a few out there). People demand to know why I cover Sachse a lot. Well here is your answer. If readers are Googling her this much, then there is demand for coverage. Simple as that. Here's a twist. If I combined Sachse's search numbers with her husband's, Nick Florescu, then these two would be number one. In fact, more people are searching for Florescu on this blog than most people actually in the media.
3. Sam Malone
When Sam Malone left 104.1 KRBE, the Internet exploded way before Kim Kardashian showed off her assets online. Then when he was let go from Mix 96.5 and 740 KTRH, the same thing happened. Malone is a true survivor in the Houston radio business. He now hosts a morning show at 1070 The Answer KNTH. When others come and go in this tough industry, Malone perseveres and thrives. Even when he is taking to YouTube challenging me to push up contests (more on that later).
4. Casey Curry
KTRK abc13 meteorologist Casey Curry dominated my top 10 blog post list of all time. No surprise people are searching for her. If I post about Curry, they will come.
5. Lisa Foronda
Former KHOU 11 anchor Lisa Foronda left the TV news biz in 2006. However, that didn't mean she left viewers' hearts. They still look her up and ask me about her all of the time. Last I heard, she is working for Memorial Hermann.
6. Lucy Noland
Foronda's successor, Lucy Noland, left KHOU in 2011. Wherever Noland goes, her viewers hit the search engines for more info and find my blog. Currently, Noland works for Philadelphia's FOX 29 WTXF. Last I heard, her co-anchor has a familiar name in Houston - former KPRC 2 anchor Iain Page.
7. Chris Baker
Remember AM talk show host Chris Baker? Sure you do. He started off at 740 KTRH in the early 2000s or so. Then he left for KTLK-FM Minneapolis. Then he came back to 950 KPRC. Then he was on the air at 700 KSEV. His listeners in both Houston and Minneapolis scoured Google for info during these years and found little ole me. It was such a big deal, I created a Chris Baker page that listed all of this stories.
8. Chita Johnson
KHOU 11 meteorolgoist Chita Johnson is searched for on search engines with all kinds of parameters. Most I cannot republish here since this is a PG blog. Yep, when Johnson first arrived, I forecasted a chance of popularity. That was met with 100% certainty.
9. Whitney Casey Whitney Casey hosted KHOU 11's Great Day Houston when it first hit the air. Then she left and wrote a book. I remember seeing someone from the Sirius Radio network looking at my blog the day before Casey was scheduled to be on The Howard Stern Show. If you listen to Howard, then you know Baba Booey and crew do lots of research. That means even down to the granular level of my little blog. Anyone know where Casey is now?
10. Sharron Melton
We've gone over this one numerous times, but here we go again. When abc13 KTRK anchor Sharron Melton was demoted to field anchor and then left the station, she very quickly became my number one post of all time! So no surprise she made an appearance in the top 10 searches. The only difference for Melton than from some of the others above is her stuff happened in the age of social media. That means my posts were shared on Facebook, Twitter...etc. and less people were actually searching for her. It's a changing world my friends. Plus, all this happened to Melton in just the last few years. Give her more time, she'll move up the list.
HONORABLE MENTION Pat Gray is next on the list. After all, he did leave 700 KSEV for the national airwaves of The Glenn Beck Show. Expect searches for him across the United States.
It’s official. 100.3 The Bull and CBS Radio Houston announce the most coveted country show line up in show’s history.
Ten of country music’s biggest artists on a single stage make for one HUGE night! And, the only way to be there is to win! On Tuesday, December 1st, 2015, 100.3 The Bull will present, “Ten Man Jam” featuring;
Jason Aldean, Darius Rucker, Gary Allen, Chris Young, Big & Rich, Lee Brice, Randy Houser, Tyler Farr, Jerrod Neimann and Maddie & Tae. The show will also include a surprise guest and an after party performance from one of the hottest new bands in county music!
The A-list artists scheduled to hit the stage at the House of Blues on December 1st have a combined 33 #1 songs, 65 top 10 songs, are ACM/CMA/Grammy Award winners, and have a combined 6 CMA nominations this year alone.
“10 Man Jam is the largest one day concert event in Houston. I’m so excited to be the only radio station offering tickets for people to win. Top to bottom this year is the best line-up in the history of 10 Man Jam. Every one of these superstars answered the call to come help The Bull raise money for The Lone Survivor Foundation,” said Bruce Logan, VP of Programming for 100.3 The Bull.
An evening filled with this caliber of stardom, in an intimate venue such as House of Blues, gives fans and listeners an experience to be forever remembered.
Lucky attendees will also be offered a silent and live auction filled with autographed artist memorabilia to bid on and take home. All proceeds benefit the Lone Survivor Foundation.
The Lone Survivor Foundation restores, empowers, and renews hope for our wounded service members and their families through health, wellness, and therapeutic support.
The Foundation continues to help America's wounded service members and their families adjust to the effects of their experiences and help them transition into what may be looked at as their 'new normal' – providing an understanding and acceptance of who they are as a person, a family, and a community.
Tickets for the concert cannot be bought; the only way to experience this incredible show is to win them by listening to 100.3 The Bull. Keep listening to Houston’s Country Concert Station and make sure your radio dial is set to 100.3 The Bull!
(This post taken from a release sent to me by CBS Houston)
Event to Benefit The Rose, Raise Awareness and Support for Breast Cancer Research
UPDATE OCTOBER 25, 2015
After sending a press release on Saturday that said this event would go on rain or shine, 100.3 The Bull posted on its Facebook page that it has now been rescheduled due to rain.
We are sad to say we have to reschedule tonight's #Pinktober event. The dangerous weather situations our city is facing...
As the presenting sponsor for PINKTOBER, PODS of Houston has also joined forces with 100.3 The Bull to host the 1st annual Survivors dinner. Throughout the last month, 100.3 THE BULL on air personalities asked listeners to share their stories of survival. 5 lucky winners (+ a guest) were selected to have an exclusive VIP dinner with Kelsea Ballerini and Cam.
Artist Kelsea Ballerini said of the upcoming event and Survivors Dinner, “I really believe in getting involved in great causes like this even as a brand new Artist, and Breast Cancer is something that affects everyone, whether it be someone close to you, or a friend of a friend. I'm so excited to be a part of this night with Cam and KILT to raise awareness and celebrate survivors.”
PODS® of Houston is placing a special PODS® Container, completely wrapped in pink, outside of the Hard Rock Cafe Houston beginning on Friday, October 23, 2015. The PODS® Container will feature breast cancer prevention tips and be a space for survivors and their families to share their stories.
To kick off the event, Hard Rock Cafe Houston will be doing a pink balloon release, where guests will be able to purchase a card and place it inside a balloon for the release. Additional pink products will be available for purchase during the event. All proceeds will benefit The Rose, an organization that helps reduce deaths from breast cancer by providing access to screening, diagnosis and treatment services to any woman regardless of her ability to pay.
Tickets are still available for $15, with 100 percent of the proceeds benefiting The Rose. Purchase tickets at www.Ticketfly.com.
(This post taken from a release sent to me by CBS Houston)
KHOU 11, a TEGNA Media station, has selected Recipe for Success Foundation as its partner for their 2015 USA TODAY Make A Difference Day project. Make A Difference Day is the nation’s largest single-day of community service, bringing together millions of Americans with a common mission - to improve the lives of others through volunteerism. This year, Make A Difference Day will take place on Saturday, Oct. 24.
“KHOU 11 is honored to partner with Recipe for Success Foundation on Make A Difference Day,” KHOU 11 President and General Manager Susan McEldoon said. “The organization provides vital educational and nutritional resources to children in this community, which enables them to adopt healthy lifestyles from an early age. Our team is proud to contribute to their efforts.”
Recipe for Success Foundation combats childhood obesity by changing the way children understand, appreciate and eat their food. On Make A Difference Day, employees from KHOU and their families will work at Briscoe Elementary School, one of the organization’s showcase schools. At Briscoe, through Recipe for Success Foundation’s Seed-to-Plate Nutrition Education (TM) Program, students learn about the entire cycle of food, including nutrition and how to grow and prepare healthy meals. The KHOU team will aid in this effort by building and cleaning garden beds, planting fruit trees and painting murals in Briscoe’s main courtyard.
This year, 3rd-5th graders at Briscoe are following the farmer marKIDS curriculum created by Recipe for Success Foundation to develop financial savvy, entrepreneurial skills and business experience. Through this curriculum, they prepare to operate their own small business and sell the fresh produce grown in their school, homes and community gardens. In addition to the gardening and painting projects KHOU will take on during Make A Difference Day, employees will also install a permanent farmer marKIDS stand at Briscoe, enabling the students to sell fresh produce to the community year-round. The public is invited to support Recipe for Success by donating online at www.recipe4success.org/donate.
(This post was taken from a release sent to me by KHOU 11)
ANNOUNCER: "Tonight at 10...mikemcguff.com gives you sweeps ideas that will save you time and money."
I have TV news staffers from all over the country hitting my television news sweeps idea posts. We must be getting close to a ratings period!
For a few television news sweeps periods I was pumping out story ideas. Then I got bored of doing it. Maybe if I was getting a salary for it, the creative juices would start flowing again. Some story ideas were actually newsy, others way (way) over the top and most are pretty evergreen and should last a few years.
Depending on your manager, you should be covered if you have to show up with ideas in your pocket.
Former 101 KLOL Stevens & Pruett producer John Jacob Ray, always known as "Jake," was born October 15, 1975, and died on October 19, 2015
Jake Ray
At the age of 12, former 101 KLOL Stevens and Pruett producer Jake Ray was told he wouldn't live past his 18th birthday. Early Monday, he lost his life just days after his 40th.
"With him being told at a young age that he wouldn't live past 18, he treated every day after that age like it was a bonus," friend and former 101 KLOL/93.7 The Arrow KKRW DJ Steve Fixx told mikemcguff.com.
You might not recognize his name in Houston, but Groove Dawgs will know Ray as "Tito Smallberries," a name that is uniquely Stevens and Pruett.
Let's not take this chance to mourn Ray, but to celebrate his full life and incredible beating of the odds. Ray struggled with cystic fibrosis. It was a battle that friends and family say never got in the way of his life and love of radio.
After Mark Stevens was fired, Ray left to work at stations in Seattle and Atlanta. He landed in New York producing Nick Cannon's CBS show. But it was his last job as the executive producer of the Hot 97 morning show in New York that was no doubt the biggest in terms of the radio industry. It was there, he got to helm one of the top morning shows in the US, interviewing countless celebrities, sports stars and even four US Presidents.
Outside of radio as a stand up comic, Ray was elected as a member of the prestigious New York City Friar's Club.
Never to lose sight of what's important, according to his obituary, Ray helped raise money for CF research by producing rock music concerts and more than $1 million for the children's hospital in Atlanta. The double lung transplant recipient even took the chance to have a little fun related to his condition on a National Geographic special.
Back in 2014, I got a chance to interview Ray for my upcoming 101 KLOL documentary. We ended up spending much of the day together talking KLOL, Hot 97 and radio in general. Even caught lunch at the old KLOL hangout, Griff's.
At the time, Ray was about to have surgery, but he didn't treat it as a big deal like some of us might. You can tell he had been through a lot of health concerns, but certainly did not wear that on his sleeve. He seemed to truly enjoy radio and loved to work.
The day of the interview, I found him sitting on his couch producing radio phone interviews for a client.
"I met Jake working in Austin radio, he was the 96.7 KHFI morning show producer and I was the overnight jock at Hot AC Key 103 (KEYI)," Fixx added. "We became friends and were roommates for a while, he was instrumental in encouraging me to take a shot at my first full-time radio job. We both grew up listening to Houston radio and dreamed of working at the legendary KLOL. Jake and I were hired separately, with him eventually becoming S&P Producer and me the night jock."
Ray passed away five years after his mentor, Mark Stevens.
UPDATE MARCH 14, 2017
I broke the exclusive on my Facebook page first, but I have confirmation that Katie McCall is leaving Houston TV news. Turns out McCall will be an anchor at 10News WTSP the CBS affiliate in Tampa.
EXCLUSIVE: Reporter/anchor Katie McCall to leave FOX 26 KRIV and television news for family
Katie McCall
I started getting lots of tips Monday that longtime Houston TV journalist Katie McCall is getting out of the television news biz. Sure enough, the current FOX 26 KRIV reporter/fill-in anchor is leaving the station for her new family.
"I'm trying to plan my wedding and expand our family," McCall told mikemcguff.com.
You had read it right here last month, that McCall was becoming the future Mrs. David Noll. Now, in addition to wanting children of her own, McCall is also helping to raise her finace's two kids.
"My future stepchildren are asking me when I'm quitting so I can pick them up from school," she added.
That also means she'll be available to take them to tennis lessons in a post TV world.
"I'm a little conflicted because I do love reporting when you know the story is going to help someone, but I don't want my life to just be about me, I want my life to be about other people," McCall admitted to me. "What I do in news requires me to be gone a lot. We would love to sit down together and have dinner on a weeknight, which we've never done."
McCall says she gives 100% of herself to her journalism career. And she also wants to do that for her stepchildren and future kids. Realizing that will be a juggling act she personally does not feel she can handle, McCall is ready for more family time. That desire for more time also extends to her own family in Chicago.
"Since 1998, (when she started in TV) I have not been in control where I've been on Thanksgiving and Christmas," she said.
With the holidays coming up, McCall is looking forward to having a normal schedule for the first time in a long time. Working weekends and nights meant she missed her nieces' and nephews' birthdays and other life milestones.
The first time Houston viewers laid their eyes on McCall was back in 2000 at the then KHCW 39 (now KIAH). After channel 39, McCall was a bureau chief at Chicago's WBBM. She started her on air TV career at KGUN Tucson, AZ.
McCall tells me she is excited to get married and become a wife and mom. She'll leave KRIV in the coming days.
Today, we look back at "Irv Harrington's" past and I'm talking even before Hames took over the role. For the last five years, Hames has been writing a book about the beloved characters and show which aired across Houston for many decades.
"Houston's Morning Show: The True Story of Hudson & Harrigan" chronicles the beginning of it all and offers many behind the scenes looks into a show that had been running years before Randy Hames and Fred Olson became the last folks to play the famous duo. Just thing about it, in all of its years, that one show existed under a Top 40, rock and country format.
Hey Groove Dawgs, 101 KLOL fans will remember that Stevens and Pruett tackled the roles in the mid-1970s and you'll read how the future shock jocks were already pretty shocking even back then!
Hames let me pre-read the book this summer and I highly recommend it. The following is our conversation about the book which hits Amazon, November 1, 2015.
Mike McGuff: What made you want to write a book?
Randy Hames: I didn't really start out trying to write a book. The day Fred Olson (Hudson) and I were fired from KILT, I went home and just wrote what had happened. It was originally a cathartic exercise, intended to relieve some of the tension the events of the day had created. After all, I hadn't just lost a job, I'd lost part of myself - a persona I'd spent 30 years building. Most people in Houston didn't even know my real name - Randy Hames - they simply knew me as Irv Harrigan. So, without trying to sound too terribly maudlin, stripping that away was pretty emotionally draining. The effort to chronicle that day became the epilogue for the book. As it began to take shape I realized a lot of misinformation (and I do mean a lot) had been written, spoken and circulated about how the show was born and grew into one of the longest-tenured, continuously aired major market morning shows in American broadcasting history (43 years). I decided I wanted to set the record straight, so I embarked on what I thought would be a few months work, which turned into a five-year labor of love. In the process of carefully researching the subject through hundreds of interviews with dozens of the principles, I discovered even some of my own conceptions about the show's history were just dead wrong. That's the reason the subtitle is "The True Story of Hudson & Harrigan."
MM: Do other shows exist around the United States that ran as long and with a rotating cast like Hudson & Harrigan?
MM: Which Hudson & Harrigan character or segment was your favorite?
RH: Given all the different bits and characters we created over the decades, it's impossible to narrow it down to my one-and-only favorite segment, but among them would include the many different parodies we did on former Mayor Kathy Whitmire (Driving Miss Kathy, alternate lyrics to the Country classic song by John Anderson "Swingin', etc.), our sports commentator Tyrone Tyrone Tyrone and of course, The First Book of Aggie by Jim Bob Jumpback. Jim Bob's contributions literally made the show, and without his twisted, distinctly redneck view on current events, we would never have been as successful in the ratings as we were. I used to introduce Jim Bob each morning as, "...the real star of the Hudson & Harrigan Show..." and that was as accurate a description of him as was ever uttered.
MM: Do you miss doing Hudson & Harrigan each morning?
RH: I do indeed greatly miss doing the H&H Show every morning! It was my dream job come true. I grew up listening to George Carlin as a DJ on KXOL in my native Fort Worth, doing one hilarious bit after another. As such, I wanted to be a DJ like him when I was as young as 11 or 12. The H&H Show was the perfect opportunity for me to fulfill those aspirations, and I miss it a lot! Most of all, I miss working with Fred Olson, who was a masterful voice impersonator and comedic genius. He and I have been like brothers for forty years, dating back to when we worked together at KNUS in Dallas, and the creative exchange and comedic chemistry between us was nothing short of magical. Fred and his wife Beverly live on "Rattlesnake Ranch," just outside Columbus, and he still uses his amazing talents to do voiceover work and audiobooks.
MM: Was Gordon McLendon (former KILT owner) one of the best radio operators of all time?
Gordon McLendon was without a doubt one of the greatest radio minds of all time. It would not be an exaggeration to say he perfected the Top Forty format, and some of the most talented and wildly successful broadcasters in radio history learned at his feet, while working at his stations. Fred and I were privileged to be among them, and I simply would not have enjoyed the kind of career I had without his influence on me, when I worked at KNUS in Dallas. He and his son Bart McLendon propelled me into a lifetime of laughter and accomplishment, and I owe them both a debt of gratitude which can never be repaid.
I hope that fans of H&H and radio history buffs will enjoy the book, which I think is fun and entertaining. It was never meant to be a "tell-all," it's just a light-heartedly romp throughout the golden years of radio - may they rest in peace!
'The Drones World Tour' will see Muse perform for the first time "in the round" from the middle of the arena
Today Muse announced more cities of the US Leg of their Drones Tour in support of their critically and commercially acclaimed album Drones.
'The Drones World Tour' will see the band perform for the first time "in the round" from the middle of the arena. The band are known for pushing boundaries in terms of their stage production and the Drones World Tour will be no exception. This stage design and configuration will give fans a true 360 degree audio/visual sensory experience. Muse's tours have been described by the international press as "epic", "amazing" "ambitious" and this time will be no exception. The band has just completed a spectacular Summer European Festival run which saw some of the best reviews of their career.
In select markets the band will be supported by X Ambassadors (X) and in other select markets Phantogram (P)
What the Press Say about Muse Live:
"Thunderous and visually dazzling" - The Guardian , 4*
"Muse captured the spirit of Download better than anyone else" - The Times
"an endless buildup, heading for one peak after another - is what a Muse concert sets out to deliver by every means available, musical and visual. - THE NEW YORK TIMES
Fan club presales will begin on October 21st and general on sale is October 23rd.
Since their debut in 1994, Muse have released seven studio albums selling upwards of 17 million albums worldwide. Drones, the group's seventh album, topped the UK charts for two weeks in June, whilst simultaneously topping the charts in the USA, a first for the band. In total the album reached No 1 in a staggering 23 countries including France, Japan, Australia, Netherlands and Switzerland.
Tour dates announced today are:
December 1 Houston, TX Toyota Center with Phantogram
December 2 Dallas, TX American Airlines Center with Phantogram
December 6 Las Vegas, NV Mandalay Bay with Phantogram
December 12 Seattle, WA Key Arena with Phantogram
January 14 Detroit, MI Joe Louis Arena with X Ambassadors
January 16 Toronto, ON Air Canada Centre with X Ambassadors
January 20 Montreal, QU Centre Bell with X Ambassadors
January 25 Boston, MA TD Garden with X Ambassadors
January 27 Brooklyn, NY Barclays Center with X Ambassadors
January 31 Philadelphia, PA Well Fargo Center with X Ambassadors
February 1 Washington DC Verizon Center with X Ambassadors
Previously announced dates:
December 10 Vancouver BC Rogers Arena
December 13 Portland, OR Moda Center
December 15 Oakland, CA Oracle Arena
December 16 San Diego, CA Valley View Casino Center
December 18 Los Angeles, CA Staples Center
December 19 Los Angeles, CA Staples Center
January 23 Quebec City, QU Le Centre Videotron
Please stay tuned to muse.mu for information on further dates and announcements.
(This post was taken from a press release sent to me by BB Gun Press)
Dave Crockett, CEO of the Dave Crockett Production Group LLC (DCPG)
In a nondescript office building in west Houston, former Houston morning radio show host, Dave Crockett, is voicing a ton of car commercial ad copy that will air on stations across the US. The niche was a happy accident.
"When I started out, I was marketing myself to everyone and anyone, really trying to land anything - I started to get call-backs from agencies who asked if I would do automotive spots for their clients," Crockett, who is the CEO of the Dave Crockett Production Group LLC (DCPG), told mikemcguff.com. "I just voiced a regional Honda TV commercial this morning that will air in 10 western states starting next month."
The first time I ever wrote about Crockett was way back in 2005! Houston radio listeners will know his voice from 93Q KKBQ's morning show and 95.7 KIKK's afternoon drive. Crockett, who has been on the cutting edge for a while, was one of the first I know of to dive into the Internet radio thing. Alas, he was waaayyyy ahead of his time, but with a little career pivot, now he has a voice over career with a brand spanking new recording studio and a quickly developing niche.
"I have always been comfortable in the studio, which explains why I currently spend nine plus hours a day in my studio at DCPG as a voiceover actor and audio producer," admitted Crockett. "The reality was unless I won the lottery or married rich, I would be using my voice and production skills to earn a living. So, really I knew what I was going to be doing with my life from the time I was 14."
But lest any current radio DJs out there think starting a voice over career is as easy as hooking a microphone up to your home computer. Crockett says gone are the days where you hang out your shingle and become an overnight success.
"After my radio career ended in 2006, I really started to focus on the more competitive (and better paying) national voice over market," Crockett told me. "I hired some really great coaches and worked hard at my craft. In fact I still use Marla Kirban out of New York to keep me sounding my best!"
Outside of his heavy auto work, Crockett has lent his voice to companies ranging from Kay Jewelers, the NFL Hall Of Fame ring campaign, to Moen Faucets and Halliburton. With his phone ringing off the hook (or maybe better said today, his email box filling up) Crockett is even hiring outside voices to help out.
Usually voice over folks brag about working from home, but the growth in clients has pushed Crockett out of his spare bedroom into a new office with two studios.
"Working from home is fine, but I found myself working seven days a week," Crockett admitted to me. "It was driving my wife nuts!"
The competitive nature of the industry also led to this two-man shop (Travis Nevill handles managerial duties) branching out in other areas such as custom jingles and custom 3D animation.
Wearing many hats has also become Randy Hames' life too.
In Sugar Land, Hames, who played Irv Harrington for nearly 30 years on 100.3 KILT's Hudson and Harrigan show, presides over Edgewater Recording Studios. Along with his son and daughter (Derek and Schuyler), Hames is involved with recording voices and bands, plus a whole lot more. In fact, read about his new book Houston's Morning Show: The True Story of Hudson & Harrigan.
"We are well-qualified and equipped to provide the highest quality audio, video, photography and graphic design projects for everyone from large corporations to small companies," Hames told mikemcguff.com. "We've already produced several label-ready music projects for artists in genres ranging from hard rock to country to inspirational to urban."
Last summer, I voiced the narration for my 101 KLOL documentary at Edgewater. I recorded in the smaller studio which was extremely quiet thanks to the double layered door and two pane glass window. When not in front of the microphone, I marveled at the larger studio where bands record albums. You feel pretty humbled looking at the massive recording console which faces a soundproofed room full of instruments.
Hames says he has never been busier. Building the studio and the business are more than full-time jobs, and since it's a legacy to his children and grandson, it's a labor of love, but he emphasizes the labor part.
"I love working with my kids, but it is also very humbling," Hames told me. "For years, I was the expert, and now they are the mentors, and I am the student - learning new techniques under their guidance. I was always the one who could make money and provide, and now it's their time to shine. I still provide oversight, but I'm decidedly less capable when it comes to new technologies. I've learned to do things I never did in broadcasting, such as Social Media Management, and both my children have taught me a great deal about 'New Media.'"
Speaking of new media, one current morning radio guy is leading the cutting edge over at City Center. Sam Malone is still on the radio every weekday morning on AM 1070 The Answer KNTH, but you can also watch the former 104.1 KRBE host do his current show live on Facebook.
He broadcasts the show at his new 512 New Media studios, which looks more TV than radio since Malone is live streaming video. In fact, Malone uses a virtual desk and set just like some television stations.
"At 10am, the radio set, which is on wheels, moves off to the side, and the commercial video production begins," Malone told mikemcguff.com.
It was at Phonoscope Cable where Malone was President of New Media that he started entering the world of video production after broadcasting each morning. A year ago, Malone left the Houston-based cable company, raised investor capital and opened up his own company and studio.
"You'd be surprised how many radio people have quietly visited," Malone admitted.
Not to be left out of the video world, Crockett has started dabbling in the world of TV commercials as a talent.
"Last January I got a phone call from Cindi at Pastorini & Bosby about a national spot for DishNet," Crockett said. "They were casting Texas talent for the project. I had some free time so I went on the audition for the casting director."
Crockett didn't think the audition went well, but got a call back. Next thing he knew, he was in Austin shooting the commercial with his pretend wife and kids. You'll also be able to catch him in a series of KHOU 11 promos where he plays a sports caster.
"Since then I have been approached to do other things on-camera but have not had time," Crockett added. "I guess I have one of those faces? Somebody told me the other day I look like the governor on The Walking Dead series. [But] audio production and voice over is our bread and butter."
For the techie gear heads
Dave Crockett Production Group LLC (DCPG) tech specs:
Pro Tools 12
Avalon 737-SP Preamps
Avid C|24 Control Surfaces
10 Terabytes of storage and server space
Two studios, Conference room, kitchen, lobby and two offices
FCC is willing to pay TV stations millions to go off the air or move channels
Our thirst for mobile data might trump our desire for local television signals. Today, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has announced its long awaited local TV station opening incentive auction bid prices.
There are so many devices, like the smartphone in your pocket, that need lots of signal to quench our thirst for wireless internet. Therefore the FCC wants to use parts of the signals television stations use to broadcast to your TV antenna. And the federal agency is willing to pay up for it with this auction.
So what does this mean for us TV viewers?
As reported in TVNewsCheck, there are three options:
- A station can relinquish its license (and sign off).
- A UHF station move to either a high or low VHF channel.
- A high VHF channel can move to low a VHF channel.
So for example, KPRC 2 could be paid $294,282,000 to go off the air! KTXH 20 could be paid $284,918,400! Those are some of the higher prices offered in Houston because those two stations have good channel placement.
No, there is no indication any Houston stations will take the money and run so to speak, but they might take the millions to move channels. Could this be why some TV station groups have been on big buying sprees lately?
Click here to see the full list of opening incentive auction bid prices for Houston, Texas and the rest of the nation.
TV stations have until mid-December to decide if they will participate.
Houston Independent School District resolution honors FOX 26 KRIV for Isiah Carey television special on bullying
News Director Bob Morford, Isiah Carey, VP GM D'Artagnan Bebel (credit: FOX 26)
FOX 26 KRIV was honored by the Houston Independent School District last night at its board meeting.
Reporter Isiah Carey, General Manager D'Artagnan Bebel and Vice President of News Bob Morford were issued a resolution by HISD for their efforts in addressing bullying with students in the community.
KRIV was approached by HISD Trustee Wanda Adams in March 2015 to cover student bullying. The station responded by producing a town hall meeting with Westbury High School students. The station says it was shocked at the students' honesty concerning pain caused by bullying.
When Carey returned to the station with the video, Bebel called for a half hour special report on the subject.
"We do more hours of local news than any other station in the Houston market," Bebel said on the station's newscast. "And as such, we have the ability to go deeper. I know it's corny sounding, but in reality, it's something we want to do, and we have done in the past."
The now 2015 Lone Star EMMY nominatedDiversity in the Classroom aired in April 2015 and has since been shown in classrooms across the Houston region. Some schools even added the program to their curriculum to address the bullying problem.
"When we come across a story like this that needs to be told, that begs to be told, this is something that's not only an honor, it's a duty to get this sort of story out there," Morford said added.
October is National Bullying Prevention Month. For more info, go to stompoutbullying.org.
Among the key findings, Sylvester Turner garnered the most support with 20% of the vote. Four other candidates, including Bill King (14%) and Adrian Garcia (13%), are in the running to advance to a runoff election in December.
In addition, regarding Houston’s Proposition One, The Houston Equal Rights Ordinance, the result is too close to call with 20% of likely voters still undecided.
The summary of results from SurveyUSA is here:
In an election for Houston Mayor today, 10/15/2015, 19 days until votes are counted, no candidate approaches the majority required to win the seat outright and avoid a runoff, according to this latest SurveyUSA poll conducted exclusively for KPRC-TV in Houston.
Today, State Representative Sylvester Turner finishes just ahead of the rest of the pack of 13 candidates with 20% of the vote; attorney Bill King gets 14%, neck-and-neck with former Harris County Sheriff Adrian Garcia at 13%, former US Representative Chris Bell with 12%, and City Councilmember Stephen Costello at 11%. Two other named candidates are in single digits; 3% would vote for one of the other candidates on the ballot; 22% today are undecided.
Turner leads by 6:1 among African Americans and is strong among older voters and Democrats. King is strong among those most concerned with the city budget. Garcia leads by more than 2:1 among Hispanics and edges out Turner among those voters who say city taxes and fees will be the most important issue in determining their vote for mayor.
25% of likely voters identify the economy and jobs as the most important issue in this election, and Costello leads among those voters. 17% say the city budget is the most important issue; King holds a significant lead among those voters. The 15% of voters who say the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance is most important split their support between Turner and Bell.
Voting on Houston's Proposition One, the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance, is too close to call at this hour. Today, 45% of likely voters would vote yes on the ballot measure; 36% vote no. 20% of voters are undecided. Younger voters, whites, blacks, and Democrats support; Republicans, independents, and Hispanics oppose; older voters are divided.
The questions posed to likely voters and the results are as follows:
In the election for mayor of Houston, how do you vote? (Candidates rotated) Ben Hall? Sylvester Turner? Adrian Garcia? Bill King? Marty McVey? Steve Costello? Chris Bell? Or some other candidate? (504 likely voters)
CANDIDATE ALL
Ben Hall 4%
Sylvester Turner 20%
Adrian Garcia 13%
Bill King 14%
Marty McVey 1%
Steve Costello 11%
Chris Bell 12%
Other 3%
Undecided 22%
*Margin of Sampling Error: ± 4.5%
Houston voters will also vote on Proposition 1, the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance. On Proposition 1, do you vote yes? Do you vote no? Or are you not certain? (504 likely voters)
ANSWER ALL
Yes 45%
No 36%
Not Certain 20% *Margin of Sampling Error: ± 4.5%
*Percentages have been rounded
SurveyUSA Filtering: 675 Houston adults were interviewed by SurveyUSA 10/12/15 through 10/14/15. Of the adults, 567 were registered to vote. Of the registered voters, 504 were determined by SurveyUSA to be likely to vote in the 11/03/15 general election. This research was conducted using blended sample, mixed-mode. Respondents reachable on a home telephone (61% of
likely voters) were interviewed on their home telephone in the recorded voice of a professional announcer. Respondents not reachable on a home telephone (39% of likely voters) were shown a questionnaire on their smart phone, tablet or other electronic
device.
A link with the composition of likely voters surveyed will be released by SurveyUSA on Friday, October 16th.
The seven candidates in the KPRC2/SurveyUSA poll will have a chance to reach the more than 20% of undecided voters on issues like HERO and more during KPRC Channel 2, Telemundo Houston, and the League of Women Voters of Houston’s "Decision 2015: Houston Mayoral
Debate" on Friday, October 16 at 7 p.m.
The live event happening just three days before the start of early voting is being held at Houston Baptist University's Linda and Archie Dunham Theater located at 7502 Fondren Road, Houston, TX 77074. It will be carried live on KPRC2, Click2Houston.com and TelemundoHouston.com.
(This post is taken from a release sent to me by KPRC 2)
Former KTRK abc13 morning anchor Sharron Melton gets new website
As you saw yesterday in my top 10 mikemcguff.com posts ever piece, Sharron Melton made the top spot. So, from now on, if the former KTRK abc13 morning anchor so much as sneezes, I'm writing about her! You demand it!
Actually Melton does have news this week in the form of a new website.
At the site, you can see some of the big-time celebs Melton has interviewed over the years, her volunteer work and a sample of her anchoring.
What might excite Melton-ites (I think I will start using this term regularly) the most is her beauty pageant page. You're used to seeing Sharron Melton the TV anchor, but wait till you see Sharron Melton aka Miss New Mexico in 1993.
And before you ask, no, I don't know anything about her return to television news.
Collaboration with Houston Public Media and Free Press Houston aims to engage young voters
KHOU 11, Houston Public Media and Free Press Houston are bringing seven of Houston’s mayoral candidates to the stage for HOU Decide: The Final Debate, airing live at 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17 on KHOU 11. This debate will give Houstonians a final chance to hear the contenders square off before early voting begins on Monday, Oct. 19.
“We’re making a special effort to reach younger voters with a lively format,” said KHOU 11 Executive News Director Philip Bruce. “It’ll encourage the candidates to collect their thoughts and answer questions quickly and directly. We’re not allowing room for filibustering.”
Chris Bell, Steve Costello, Adrian Garcia, Ben Hall, Bill King, Marty McVey and Sylvester Turner have all agreed to participate in the debate. Topics addressed will include public safety, traffic, the city’s pension problem and education.
“The debate is called HOU Decide because questions will primarily come from social media engagement allowing Houstonians to participate in asking questions through their mobile devices, “ said Capella Tucker, Director of Content for Houston Public Media. The public is invited to submit their questions for consideration via social media using the hashtag #HOUDecide starting now.
HOU Decide: The Final Debate will be moderated by KHOU 11 News Anchor Greg Hurst, while KHOU 11 News Reporter Doug Miller, Free Press Houston’s Omar Afra and Houston Public Media’s News Anchor Laurie Johnson will serve on a panel curating questions for the candidates.
In addition to airing on KHOU 11 and TV8 at 7 p.m. Saturday, the debate may be viewed on KHOU.com, houstonpublicmedia.org and freepresshouston.com, as well as each partner’s social media pages. The debate will also be broadcast on News 88.7 at 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 18.
(This post was taken from a press release sent to me by KHOU 11)
The debate, sanctioned by the Republican National Committee, is slated to be the final GOP debate before the crucial "Super Tuesday" primary contests in Texas, Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Massachusetts, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Vermont and Virginia on March 1. Alaska, Minnesota and Wyoming also will award delegates on that same day. All candidates who qualify are expected to participate in the debate, which will be presented in partnership with National Review.
“Diversity is more than our demographics at the University of Houston – it’s our commitment to expression, varied viewpoints, and the belief that challenging the status quo produces the strongest innovation,” said University of Houston System Chancellor and UH President Renu Khator. “This debate comes at a pivotal moment in the election cycle. We’re delighted to host a national conversation with real-life impact on our community and country, and welcome an evening of engaging discourse to our campus.”
Along with the primetime nationwide broadcast by NBC News and Telemundo, there will be extensive pre- and post-debate coverage originating from the UH campus, along with live digital coverage across nbcnews.com and telemundo.com.
Additional event details including debate location, campus programming, activities and logistics will be announced at a later date. Please visit uh.edu/debate for information and updates.
(This post is taken from a release sent to me by Telemundo Houston)
The top 10 posts ever, as chosen by readers, on mikemcguff.com
So who in the Houston media world has made my blog's top 10 posts of all time category? You've seen me mention the list, but never post it. So in honor of mikemcguff.com's 10 year existence, here are the top posts of the last decade! And to no one's surprise, Houston TV and radio are dominate with one exception.
The reason these posts are in the top 10 is by page views, so they are what readers clicked on the most.
1. Why is Sharron Melton a KTRK abc13 'field anchor' now?
No duh...huh? I've admitted the August 2014 post about Sharron Melton becoming a KTRK abc13 'field anchor' has been my number 1 post of all time for a while now. And it still remains there by leaps and bounds. From what I understand after leaving channel 13, Melton is still in Houston, but has not popped up on another station...yet.
2. Casey Curry is pregnant
There seems to be a trend of former KTRK abc13 morning folks appearing in my top spots of all time. Based on your reaction, KTRK abc13 meteorologist Casey Curry's birth announcement was akin to the royal family declaring the coming arrival of an heir to the throne. You couldn't stop reading! So I kept updating you through the whole event. Windsor "Winnie" Curry Hahn was born January 30, 2014.
4. 93.7 The Beat Houston replaces 93.7 The Arrow KKRW
I always thought that the then named Clear Channel Houston (now IHeartMedia) switched classic rocker 93.7 The Arrow KKRW to 93.7 The Beat KQBT just to mess with Radio One's 97.9 KBXX because the latter company took on 740 KTRH with News 92 KROI. Then people will tell me to take off my tinfoil hat. Either way, things in the Houston radio ratings world haven't been the same since. I personally will remember my family waiting for me to get off the computer on New Year's Eve Day 2013 as I live blogged the big 93.7 format flip. Oh, the sacrifice of the blog.
5. Casey Curry takes a fall on KTRK abc13's 11am newscast
It just happened last month (September 2015), but when Casey Curry took a fall on KTRK abc13's new set live on TV, the post almost immediately made my top 10 list. The mega-popular meteorologist has lots of concerned fans. I'm no chief weather guesser, but I can predict Curry will return with lots of warm well wishes from channel 13 viewers.
6. Casey Curry and Travis Herzog to switch places on KTRK abc13
I know, enough about Casey Curry, but I can't help it if she's the one you want to read about non-stop! When station management swapped her schedule with mid-day met Travis Herzog in July 2015, viewers stormed my blog looking for details.
7. Elita Loresca joins KTRK abc13 after LA's KNBC 4
Clearly Elita Loresca made a big splash when she arrived at Houston's KTRK abc13 in June of 2015. Just before the Bayou City, she was working mornings in Los Angeles at KNBC NBC4's “Today in LA.” I still have loyal Southern California TV viewers on my blog looking for information about her.
8. KPRC 2's Anthony Yanez heading to KNBC LA
Speaking of Los Angles TV weather, it broke many Houston TV viewers' hearts when KPRC 2 morning met Anthony Yanez announced in October 2014 he was heading west to Loresca's old stomping ground of KNBC NBC4. KPRC knew it had to gently send him off with an ad campaign that lasted till January 2015 when he officially signed off in Houston. KPRC morning weekender Britta Merwin took Yanez's spot in Houston.
9. Jane Slater & Mark Elfenbein off 105.3 The Fan KRLD's “Elf & Slater”
What! A Dallas-Fort Worth post made my top 10 of all time list? Oh the horror! Just kidding, DFW is my second biggest area in terms of readers. This was very true in September 2013 when Jane Slater and Mark Elfenbein of 105.3 The Fan KRLD mid-day show “Elf & Slater” were taken off the air. DFW sports fans were outraged apparently.
10. Katherine Whaley leaving KHOU 11
If I were a real journalist/writer, I would take a page from Bill Carter's The Late Shift: Letterman, Leno, and the Network Battle for the Night and write a book about the KHOU 11 morning traffic job. It seems like a compelling story right off the soap opera screen! First, you have popular traffic man Darby Douglas who is seemingly let go overnight in 2009 which makes channel 11 viewers madder than being stuck on 290 in afternoon rush hour. Then Katherine Whaley takes his place and develops a following of her own. Suddenly in the summer of 2014, we get notice the erstwhile traffic man Douglas is back and Whaley will become a channel 11 reporter. So, a few months later, Whaley heads for the exit ramp and to no one's surprise lands at KTRK abc13 where longtime traffic dude Don Nelson is ready to change career lanes himself and retire. Maybe one day you'll be able to read my self-published insider tell-all "The Morning Drive: Douglas, His Hair, Whaley and KHOU 11's battle for Houston commuters."
Coming up...in the last 10 years, which Houston media members were "Googled" the most to get to my blog? Even I was shocked by this one.
and write a book about the KHOU 11 morning traffic job. It seems like a compelling story right off the soap opera screen! First, you have popular traffic man Darby Douglas who is seemingly 
