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Uncle Barky's Mailbag (March 27)

Here’s another batch of comments from unclebarky.com readers.

ON THE RON CORNING SEX TALK SPOT FOR WFAA8’S DAYBREAK

I just watched the Corning spot and it is beyond creepy. The whole set-up is weird, distasteful, juvenile, badly written, badly produced and so far beyond borderline. It’s amazing to think someone at a supposed powerhouse like WFAA would even think up something this bad and then put it together and then air it. Doesn’t anyone at WFAA have a brain or an ounce of courage anymore where they might speak up and say, “This really sucks?”

Corning was never my style to begin with. Personally I think he’s a lightweight, but that’s just my opinion. But this spot really does clarify many things and they’re ALL bad about where WFAA is going. Boy am I glad I am out of TV.
Dan Ronan (former WFAA8 reporter)

***You’re right. Creepy.
Bill Gilkison

***WTF were they thinking? The little girl’s expression at the very end of the spot is likely to be shared by 99% of their viewers. Also, I totally agree with you about the “team approach.” To me, Cynthia Izaguirre is the much more likable and promotable anchor.
Kevin McCarthy

ON JAY LENO’S RUMORED OUSTER -- FOR THE SECOND TIME -- AS HOST OF THE TONIGHT SHOW

One thing you didn’t discuss is whether or not someone might pick up Leno. That was a huge concern only a few short years ago for NBC. My hunch is that no other network is real eager to jump in to try to grab him. That may make the suits at NBC feel somewhat emboldened to kick him to the curb. This is, of course, remarkably stupid. Getting rid of Leno and replacing him with Jimmy Fallon probably puts the Tonight Show in AT LEAST second place in the ratings for a while. Then finding another Late Night host will be dicey.

The one smart move would be to keep Leno where he is. Unlike the Conan situation, there’s not a line of networks waiting to grab a restless Jimmy Fallon from Late Night. He’s not going to leave that show unless NBC fires him.
Randy Edwards

***Is there a possibility that NBC is guessing that Letterman is about to exit gracefully, like Carson, with a year-in-advance announcement that his contract ending in 2014 is in fact his last? That would put Fallon, Ferguson and perhaps Seth Meyers in play for that spot. I would assume NBC wants Fallon locked up and Meyers in Fallon’s Late Night time slot.

Even though we’ve always liked Jay, my wife and I have tired of both Leno and Letterman, and I think it’s time for both to gracefully retire. But to your other point, Comcast now appears to have picked up the “head of TV and microwave programming” bug from GE. What morons. Trash a promising season with odd scheduling followed by terrible shows. Trash the Today Show for allowing Matt Lauer to be positioned as the bad guy when Ann Curry was always the wrong choice. And then, after replacing her, not change the format -- which in our opinion is the real problem. And now get in a fight with Leno while he’s still on and leading in the ratings.
UB Fan

ON SHELLY SLATER’S RETURN TO A WFAA8 ANCHOR CHAIR AFTER MATERNITY LEAVE

As one of the all-time Shelly Slater non-fans, I’ve been impressed by her anchoring this week at 10 p.m. (I never watch 5 p.m.) Despite an obvious make-up problem last night -- that’s catty -- her delivery and approach is far less affected than in the past. Good for her.
UB Fan

ON BRAD WATSON’S DECISION TO LEAVE WFAA8 FOR A PR POSITION AFTER 34 YEARS AS A REPORTER/ANCHOR

I, for one, am amazed he held out this long. Maybe out of loyalty or hope for a one-station career type of thing. But he had David Margulies (head of his own media consultant firm) for an example among others. Kudos and luck to Brad!
Brad Giles

Email comments or questions to: unclebarky@verizon.net