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Long goodbye for Fox4's Henderson

Fox4 devoted much of Friday's four-hour Good Day to a "Mega Megan Celebration" in honor of departing co-anchor Megan Henderson. Also, the latest D-FW Nielsen ratings are in. And unclebarky.com slumps to five out of six after missing on one of Thursday's selections to American Idol's top 12 finalists. Plus, CBS has a new Jesse Stone movie Sunday night, with Tom Selleck again in fine form as a weather-beaten small-town cop. Check out our review here.
Ed Bark

Good Day re-percolates

Dallas-based Fox4 will go an unconventional route -- at least in the short-term -- after co-anchor Megan Henderson signs off Friday from the station's early morning Good Day. Read our report here. Also, Jerry Seinfeld is returning to NBC as creator-producer of a new comedy-reality series about marital discord. The TV Bulletin Board page has details on this and more. And on the Network News & Reviews page, see what new shows are coming in March -- and which Big 4 broadcast networks are leading the ratings pack.
Ed Bark

Jury duty done

Uncle Barky, jury foreman? Yes, that actually happened Wednesday. But the justice system presumably survived, and we're back in business after a day-long trial and buildup. Check out our picks of which three contestants will survive Thursday's American Idol vote-off. Also, the latest D-FW Nielsen ratings are in for both a President Obama-infused Tuesday and Idol's delayed Wednesday sing-off.
Ed Bark

Gotta go

Two words: Jury duty.

So cornfed unclebarky.com will be out of commission for at least part of Wednesday.
Ed Bark

Wake up and smell the ratings

Megan Henderson's impending departure from Fox4 and the imminent arrival of a new guy at WFAA8 make early mornings a fertile field for NBC5. Also, the latest D-FW Nielsen ratings are a grim reaper for NBC's fallen Heroes. And woo-hoo, it's gonna be Conan and Andy together again. Get the details on our TV Bulletin Board page.
Ed Bark

Oscar audience grows from last year's low

Sunday night's Oscar ceremony topped last year's all-time low in the national Nielsens, but still is no blockbuster on the all-time list. Also, Mel Gibson resurfaced deep into the night on Jimmy Kimmel's post-Oscar show. Check out the movie spoof he brought with him.
Ed Bark

It's official: Henderson leaving Fox4

Megan Henderson, co-anchor of Fox4's Good Day since August 2003, is heading West to KTLA-TV. Get the details here. Also, check out our review of Sunday's Oscar-cast. And the latest D-FW Nielsen ratings take a look at how Oscar performed in these parts.
Ed Bark

P(l)ay ball: A record number of Rangers games will be on Fox Sports Southwest

The Texas Rangers have just announced their TV schedule, which mostly will be out of reach for fans without cable or satellite packages. Get our play-by-play here. Also, the new BBC America series Mistresses has both sex appeal and substance.
Ed Bark

Ruminating on "Pete's Tweets" and Dale's "procedure"

Actually, "ruminating" is way too long a word for any self-respecting, character-deprived Tweeter. See what we mean in regards to Dallas-based WFAA8's oft-childlike duo of Pete Delkus and Dale Hansen. Also, unclebarky.com gets lucky with American Idol's first three finalists. And Jimmy Fallon's first-week guest list has some big names attached.
Ed Bark

New for you

Psst, Fox4's local newscasts at last are in high-definition. The first one quietly arrived at noon Wednesday with no fanfare -- or technical difficulties. Also, unclebarky.com picks the survivors from Tuesday night's 12-way American Idol sing-off, from which only three will emerge Wednesday night after Season 8's first viewer votes are announced.

Note to readers: Nielsen Media Research won't be releasing any further local market ratings until Friday because of digital switchovers by some stations on the previously announced date of Feb. 17 (now pushed back to June 12). So our daily "Local Nielsen ratings snapshot" will be off until then. Also note that all D-FW stations are waiting until June 12 to make the transition.

Also, we want to thank photojournalist Mike Irvin for his pre-paid ad on the right hand side of all unclebarky.com pages. These are what help to keep this Web site going. So check out his services if you would. Especially if you're planning a wedding. And click on the red "Advertise on Uncle Barky" tag if you're interested in placing an ad yourself.
Ed Bark

Two new faces -- and lotsa Facebook -- on the The 33's 9 p.m. local newscast

Dallas-based The 33 unveiled its new anchor team on Monday's 9 p.m. newscast. Jocular Walt Maciborski tripped over his tongue a few times while Amanda Salinas showed off a nice smile. Also, the latest D-FW Nielsen ratings are in for both last weekend and Monday. And on our still relatively new Web Browser page, CBS says that 2.5 million sets of eyeballs watched David Letterman/Joaquin Phoenix on the Internet within 36 hours of the initial Feb. 11th telecast. We celebrate with a clip from Letterman's perhaps even more bizarre encounter with actor Crispin Glover.
Ed Bark

Linking to a pair of self-penned D CEO articles on WFAA8 anchor John McCaa, Latina Lista founder Marisa Trevino

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Veteran WFAA8 anchor John McCaa prepares to do a live report for the 5 p.m. newscast from a decidedly different anchor desk in the station's downtown Dallas newsroom. Photo: Ed Bark

Your friendly content provider has written an extended profile of WFAA8 anchor John McCaa for the new issue of D CEO magazine. He's long been under-recognized and is nearing the 25-year mark at the Dallas-based station. The rock-steady headmaster of WFAA8's 6 and 10 p.m. newscasts used to be an R-rated standup comic among other things. You can read all about him here.

That same issue of D CEO also has another of your dutiful servant's "Media Matters" columns. This one is on the Web site Latina Lista, which speaks to Latinas/Latinos in ways that the mainstream media doesn't, can't or won't. Here's the link.
Ed Bark

And the Oscar goes to . . .

ABC's 1979 Oscar telecast hasn't been equaled since, at least in this view. Relive our Top 10 moments on its 30-year anniversary. Also, D-FW-based NBC5 has a replacement for departing meteorologist James Aydelott. And scroll down on the same page for video of a former D-FW weathercaster's crowd-pleasing performance at a Dancing with the Stars-themed charity event in Austin.
Ed Bark

Inside stuff

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Creator Joss Whedon of Buffy, the Vamper Slayer fame looms large over his new Dollhouse series, as he did during Fox's January press conference. Our review is here. Also, WFAA8 Daybreak co-anchor Cynthia Izaguirre at least temporarily renounces the correct pronunciation of her surname. But should she? The latest D-FW Nielsen ratings also are in the house. Plus, HBO further debases baseball with Eastbound & Down, a new comedy series about a profane, cocksure, washed-up relief pitcher.
Ed Bark

Phoenix redux

Well, so what do you make of this? Bit? Serious meltdown in progress? Or did Dave sometimes act like a bigger ass? Below are highlights from bearded Joaquin Phoenix's already historic Wednesday night visit to Late Show with David Letterman, which surely will have more viewers than his new and supposedly last movie, Two Lovers, which opens Friday and was sneak previewed Wednesday on Mark Cuban's HDNet Movies.
Ed Bark

By the time you get to Phoenix

Mark Cuban's HDNet Movies channel has another three-pronged "Sneak Preview" Wednesday night (Feb. 11) of a film opening in theaters this Friday. This one, Two Lovers, is billed as Joaquin Phoenix's "final feature film performance," even if he'll likely be back for more after knock, knock knockin' on rap's door. FYI, Gwyneth Paltrow's also in it. And our review is here.
Ed Bark

Weather ups and downs

Tuesday night's severe weather throughout the D-FW viewing area brought disruptions to prime-time schedules as well. Also, see which stations topped the weather-infused Nielsen ratings. And meanwhile, there's a little more turbulence at "The 33."
Ed Bark

Inside pages

Bad weather's movin' in again, which is great for both local newscast ratings and the profiles of their featured forecasters. We elaborate via a recent promo for CBS11's Larry Mowry, who's still a relative newcomer. Also, the latest D-FW ratings chart the network-by-network audiences for President Obama's first prime-time news conference. And does Comedy Central have a worthy new find in Demetri Martin, whose weekly series premieres Wednesday? Our review is here.
Ed Bark

Babe vs. Romo

CBS11 sports anchor Babe Laufenberg and Cowboys QB Tony Romo went one-on-one late Sunday night after the Grammys went overtime. But did Tony finally rev up his Romo? Also the new Dancing with the Stars field might not floor you. And you can chat with the stars of TNT's Trust Me right after the Monday, Feb. 9th episode. Details and a link-a-dink are here. Plus, the latest D-FW ratings are groovy for the Grammys.
Ed Bark

Take a look inside

Deposed anchors are taken out with less dignity than garbage bags while their replacements are extolled as news messiahs. We're gonna bitch about that here. Also, the latest D-FW Nielsen ratings are in, and the Back Channels page looks fondly upon Lonesome Dove on its 20th anniversary.
Ed Bark

Checking out: WFAA8 anchor Jeff Brady leaving to become own boss

Jeff Brady will be joining the ranks of D-FW television newsies who want to try something new. Our complete story is here.
Ed Bark

"The 33" names new anchors of 9 p.m. newscast

Two new anchors, one previously revealed on unclebarky.com, will be helming "The 33's" 9 p.m. newscast later this month. The hires were announced on the day after veteran anchor Tom Crespo was dropped. Get the story here. Also, Fox has a big night in the latest D-FW Nielsen ratings. And don't get rid of those cwazy wabbit ears just yet.
Ed Bark

Another KO at "The 33"

Weeknight news anchor Tom Crespo is out as "The 33" continues to chop station veterans. Our story is here.
Ed Bark

Inside pages

Veteran WFAA8 reporter Jim Douglas tackled a tough topic Tuesday night -- but as usual handled it impeccably. Also, the latest D-FW ratings are in, and a previously junked Bob Saget sitcom has been resurrected by a rival network.
Ed Bark

Flight of the Conchords touching down at Nokia

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Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday, Feb. 6th, for Flight of the Conchords' May 5th show at Grand Prairie's Nokia Theatre.

New Zealanders Jemaine Clement and Bret McKenzie are in the midst of their second season on HBO, which slots Conchords on Sundays at 9 p.m. (central) following Big Love.

"Special guest" Eugene Mirman will open the Nokia show.
Ed Bark

Riggs, Cheaters creator get in bed together

Former TV investigative reporter Robert Riggs talks to unclebarky.com about his new duties at Dallas-based Bobby Goldstein Productions, home port for the TV show Cheaters. Also, a former host of WFAA8's defunct La Vida program will be joining The 33's news team, according to sources.
Ed Bark

Absolutely, positively final national Nielsens bump Supie XLIII from II to I on all-time list (updated)

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Super Bowl's Superman: MVP Santonio Holmes strikes a pose.

By ED BARK
"Unusual and unexpected adjustments" Tuesday to Super Bowl XLIII's national Nielsen numbers have vaulted it to No. 1 on the all-time list, NBC has announced.

The Peacock's first telecast of a Super Bowl since 1998's XXXII averaged 98.7 million viewers, not the 95.4 million tabulated on Monday. That's the biggest audience in the game's 43-year history, surpassing last year's recording-setting 97.5 million viewers for the New York Giants' upset of the unbeaten New England Patriots.

NBC also had a thriller in view, with the Pittsburgh Steelers scoring their come-from-behind winning touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals with just 35 second left in the game.

NBC sports chairman Dick Ebersol equated the Super Bowl to a humanitarian gesture.

"The National Football League should feel a great sense of pride in providing a day of enjoyment to American families -- especially those who are struggling in these difficult times," he said in a press release.

NBC also clicked its heels to the tune of a record $206 million in advertising revenue, with each in-game 30-second spot costing $3 million, according to the network.

"Commercials are nearly as big a part of the day as the football itself," NBC Universal president and CEO Jeff Zucker said. "This is an extraordinary story for NBC against the backdrop of this economy."

NBC's post-Super Bowl attraction, a one-hour episode of The Office, drew 22.9 million viewers nationally from 9:40 to 10:40 p.m. Last year's followup act, Fox's House, did appreciably better with 29 million viewers, according to Nielsen Media Research.

The all-time record-holder, which may never be beaten, is NBC's 1996 episode of Friends, which amassed 52.9 million viewers after 94.1 million viewers watched the Dallas Cowboys beat the Steelers.

More inside stuff

Fox's 100th episode of House goes against NBC's 3D hour of Chuck Monday night. Our closeup looks are here. Also, Super Bowl XLIII obviously dominated Sunday's D-FW Nielsen ratings. But did the game hit the two million viewers mark? Play the numbers game here.
Ed Bark

Monthly rollover

January content has been archived on the Dallas-Fort Worth and Network News & Reviews pages as we begin another new month here at unclebarky.com central. Our first February posts on those pages are a highlight reel from Sunday's Super Bowl XLIII and an update on a Dallas-made film with ties to a veteran CBS11 reporter.
Ed Bark