Back Channelshttp://www.unclebarky.com/index.htmlUncle Barky's Bytesenunclebarky@tx.rr.comCopyright 2007 Ed Bark2010-03-18T18:21:55-05:00 hourly 1 2000-01-01T12:00+00:00 Thu, 18 Mar 2010 19:22:20 -0500Fess Parker -- frontiersman, winemaker and above all a good, good manunclebarky@tx.rr.comBack Channels2010-03-18T18:21:55-05:00http://www.unclebarky.com/back_files/cbbf946dce5afd241a1ad8167619b218-39.html#unique-entry-id-39http://www.unclebarky.com/back_files/cbbf946dce5afd241a1ad8167619b218-39.html#unique-entry-id-39Staying power: Leno's a punch toy who keeps bouncing back unclebarky@tx.rr.comBack Channels2010-01-27T12:02:58-06:00http://www.unclebarky.com/back_files/3b756542ae07a8bccee9aa9dab24e496-38.html#unique-entry-id-38http://www.unclebarky.com/back_files/3b756542ae07a8bccee9aa9dab24e496-38.html#unique-entry-id-38George from Washington pushes his book in Dallas before ABC News strives to make him a starunclebarky@tx.rr.comBack Channels2009-12-14T12:40:36-06:00http://www.unclebarky.com/back_files/835b759b45e1e43a524f1db637359b43-37.html#unique-entry-id-37http://www.unclebarky.com/back_files/835b759b45e1e43a524f1db637359b43-37.html#unique-entry-id-37Oprah way back when -- in a starkly candid 1986 interviewunclebarky@tx.rr.comBack Channels2009-11-23T15:51:54-06:00http://www.unclebarky.com/back_files/d83e8e5129533e902b573305f0e7a771-36.html#unique-entry-id-36http://www.unclebarky.com/back_files/d83e8e5129533e902b573305f0e7a771-36.html#unique-entry-id-36A vintage, self-analytical Letterman during a rare one-on-one sit-downunclebarky@tx.rr.comBack Channels2009-10-07T07:57:06-05:00http://www.unclebarky.com/back_files/71ae7106cea4d88ed1ad34597ee863db-35.html#unique-entry-id-35http://www.unclebarky.com/back_files/71ae7106cea4d88ed1ad34597ee863db-35.html#unique-entry-id-35Don Hewitt does Dallas -- and receives a lovely parting giftunclebarky@tx.rr.comBack Channels2009-08-19T11:26:32-05:00http://www.unclebarky.com/back_files/b00643f943ea540c432493ca887dc205-34.html#unique-entry-id-34http://www.unclebarky.com/back_files/b00643f943ea540c432493ca887dc205-34.html#unique-entry-id-34By ED BARK DALLAS -- It took Don Hewitt just a minute or two -- not 60 minutes -- to realize that his life's calling would be the words and pictures residing within a new contraption called television.]]>Rewinding to KXAS-TV's explosive hidden camera investigation of a Dallas Cowboys "Triplet"unclebarky@tx.rr.comBack Channels2009-08-12T14:36:13-05:00http://www.unclebarky.com/back_files/2bf47311efdf0b52da5312c1d4c04475-33.html#unique-entry-id-33http://www.unclebarky.com/back_files/2bf47311efdf0b52da5312c1d4c04475-33.html#unique-entry-id-33Ed McMahon: March 6, 1923 to June 23, 2009 unclebarky@tx.rr.comBack Channels2009-06-23T09:28:15-05:00http://www.unclebarky.com/back_files/d23e4cc43d33cd042e2d48efaa86b463-32.html#unique-entry-id-32http://www.unclebarky.com/back_files/d23e4cc43d33cd042e2d48efaa86b463-32.html#unique-entry-id-32 Tonight Show, McMahon also pitched products, hosted Star Search and knew the drill when it came to the increasingly reclusive "King of Late Night."]]>Conan O'-Not-so-badunclebarky@tx.rr.comBack Channels2009-05-28T11:33:23-05:00http://www.unclebarky.com/back_files/9bccaa065413aa8b3f6d315c15dde3d9-31.html#unique-entry-id-31http://www.unclebarky.com/back_files/9bccaa065413aa8b3f6d315c15dde3d9-31.html#unique-entry-id-31
Conan then and now: he'll start hosting Tonight on June 1st.
Note to readers: Not everyone panned Conan O'Brien's Sept. 13, 1993 debut as host of NBC's Late Night.]]>Infancy of infomercials -- satisfaction guaranteed or your money back unclebarky@tx.rr.comBack Channels2009-04-21T14:03:35-05:00http://www.unclebarky.com/back_files/5f3456875b6b5f4b7e27df73ebe18c22-30.html#unique-entry-id-30http://www.unclebarky.com/back_files/5f3456875b6b5f4b7e27df73ebe18c22-30.html#unique-entry-id-30
Sell-outs John Davidson, Meredith Baxter-Birney, Chad Everett
(Note to readers: In connection with CNBC's As Seen on TV (Wednesday, April 22nd, 8 p.m. central; repeated Sunday, April 26th, 9 p.m.), we're reprising this earlier look at the relative infancy of infomercials.]]>Bright lights, big networks -- and sometimes bigger letdowns for D-FW glory-seekersunclebarky@tx.rr.comBack Channels2009-04-14T14:41:26-05:00http://www.unclebarky.com/back_files/61557a0974a7ea94a52bc824b688037b-29.html#unique-entry-id-29http://www.unclebarky.com/back_files/61557a0974a7ea94a52bc824b688037b-29.html#unique-entry-id-29
Networking: the late Matt Quinn, Gary Reaves and Scott Pelley.
Note to readers: The recent death of former WFAA8 reporter Matt Quinn brought to mind a story written 20 years ago about D-FW reporters who achieved network ambitions.]]>All hat and cattle, too: <i>Lonesome Dove</i> still resonates 20 years after its premiereunclebarky@tx.rr.comBack Channels2009-02-06T08:57:01-06:00http://www.unclebarky.com/back_files/b3df0392f3f998ce74487bb0768aa294-28.html#unique-entry-id-28http://www.unclebarky.com/back_files/b3df0392f3f998ce74487bb0768aa294-28.html#unique-entry-id-28Dove promotion party.]]>Cloris Leachman: Still wacky (or maybe wackier) while dancing as fast as she can't on ABCunclebarky@tx.rr.comBack Channels2008-10-27T18:09:52-05:00http://www.unclebarky.com/back_files/430280b4d94110286b7772334c7e2532-27.html#unique-entry-id-27http://www.unclebarky.com/back_files/430280b4d94110286b7772334c7e2532-27.html#unique-entry-id-27The Last Picture Show, for which she won the best supporting actor Oscar; two made-in-Dallas movies -- The Acorn People and Miss All-American Beauty -- and a small role as the late Henry Fonda's wife in The Oldest Living Graduate, which was staged at Southern Methodist University in 1980 as the first in a series of NBC Live Theater productions.]]>O'Reilly vs. Bono -- but with velvet gloves and at least one ego in checkunclebarky@tx.rr.comBack Channels2008-09-03T15:09:36-05:00http://www.unclebarky.com/back_files/934b25e78c471b8d7c6cdefd340ed9fe-26.html#unique-entry-id-26http://www.unclebarky.com/back_files/934b25e78c471b8d7c6cdefd340ed9fe-26.html#unique-entry-id-26The O'Reilly Factor.]]>Michael Moore does a slow burn before blasting CNN anchorunclebarky@tx.rr.comBack Channels2008-08-22T07:38:21-05:00http://www.unclebarky.com/back_files/1e61d9bd04b1eddf11d4405645e961cc-25.html#unique-entry-id-25http://www.unclebarky.com/back_files/1e61d9bd04b1eddf11d4405645e961cc-25.html#unique-entry-id-25
Filmmaker Michael Moore and anchor Bill Hemmer were dead-on during Day 1 of the 2004 Democratic convention in Beantown.
Note to readers: Day 1 of the 2008 Democratic convention dawns Monday, Aug. 25th in mountain-esque Denver.]]>Bernard Jeffrey McCullough -- Bernie Mac -- Oct. 5, 1957 to Aug. 9, 2008unclebarky@tx.rr.comBack Channels2008-08-11T05:44:17-05:00http://www.unclebarky.com/back_files/23d4eeaef7616d4c0e073086f20f589f-24.html#unique-entry-id-24http://www.unclebarky.com/back_files/23d4eeaef7616d4c0e073086f20f589f-24.html#unique-entry-id-24Bernie Mac against Wife and Kids is primarily a competitive move, but also "racist because they (Fox) don't have the same emotional investment in black shows that they do in Malcolm in the Middle or The Simpsons," Wayans said at a recent ABC party.]]>Ch. 5's Bobbie Wygant kept seeing stars and knew what to do with themunclebarky@tx.rr.comBack Channels2008-06-26T11:13:22-05:00http://www.unclebarky.com/back_files/9b63a1693ad763659555d33df32c9f00-23.html#unique-entry-id-23http://www.unclebarky.com/back_files/9b63a1693ad763659555d33df32c9f00-23.html#unique-entry-id-23
Among her subjects: Dustin Hoffman, Jane Fonda, Charlton Heston
She had a memorable conversation with Hoffman after opening the interview with a simple, disarming, slightly naughty question.]]>George Carlin: May 12, 1937 to June 22, 2008unclebarky@tx.rr.comBack Channels2008-06-23T06:44:40-05:00http://www.unclebarky.com/back_files/12c9fa32330348bf3da68b88a1ee9317-22.html#unique-entry-id-22http://www.unclebarky.com/back_files/12c9fa32330348bf3da68b88a1ee9317-22.html#unique-entry-id-22It includes both a review of Carlin's performance and a still unforgettable interview with him backstage. Warning: the article contains some hard-core profanity that we somehow managed to get in the paper 33 years ago. It's all being left in because obviously Carlin would have wanted it that way.]]>Deliverance: The day Dale got dumpedunclebarky@tx.rr.comBack Channels2008-05-11T20:44:16-05:00http://www.unclebarky.com/back_files/012cf2a9163d3273636b4e85c76b23c9-21.html#unique-entry-id-21http://www.unclebarky.com/back_files/012cf2a9163d3273636b4e85c76b23c9-21.html#unique-entry-id-21D-FW's last true anchor/reporter (not necessarily in that order)unclebarky@tx.rr.comBack Channels2008-04-16T10:25:27-05:00http://www.unclebarky.com/back_files/aefd72c8edfb2b8de9620c5f775d2a95-20.html#unique-entry-id-20http://www.unclebarky.com/back_files/aefd72c8edfb2b8de9620c5f775d2a95-20.html#unique-entry-id-20Nice guy finishes first -- no Harmon thatunclebarky@tx.rr.comBack Channels2008-04-07T08:28:59-05:00http://www.unclebarky.com/back_files/91be5364bfb13bd6c6d954147e2acf78-19.html#unique-entry-id-19http://www.unclebarky.com/back_files/91be5364bfb13bd6c6d954147e2acf78-19.html#unique-entry-id-19People magazine's "Sexiest Man Alive," the resilient Harmon is returning to series TV this fall as the star of CBS' Navy NCIS.]]>Late bloomers: Suzanne Pleshette, Tom Poston married late, met their fatesunclebarky@tx.rr.comBack Channels2008-01-22T13:25:44-06:00http://www.unclebarky.com/back_files/4d899cb879a2b1f7670eee8fe082ed29-18.html#unique-entry-id-18http://www.unclebarky.com/back_files/4d899cb879a2b1f7670eee8fe082ed29-18.html#unique-entry-id-18Tracy Rowlett: transition accomplishedunclebarky@tx.rr.comBack Channels2008-01-15T17:50:41-06:00http://www.unclebarky.com/back_files/854b25a9027b26d20b0b0216196fc020-17.html#unique-entry-id-17http://www.unclebarky.com/back_files/854b25a9027b26d20b0b0216196fc020-17.html#unique-entry-id-17Knievel and son: jump back unclebarky@tx.rr.comBack Channels2007-12-03T14:00:17-06:00http://www.unclebarky.com/back_files/17739451bec8d112cccf1073902bfa62-16.html#unique-entry-id-16http://www.unclebarky.com/back_files/17739451bec8d112cccf1073902bfa62-16.html#unique-entry-id-16A flicker of Norman Mailerunclebarky@tx.rr.comBack Channels2007-11-13T21:44:45-06:00http://www.unclebarky.com/back_files/86c0e20c06c52bc0cd42ebed606d9686-15.html#unique-entry-id-15http://www.unclebarky.com/back_files/86c0e20c06c52bc0cd42ebed606d9686-15.html#unique-entry-id-15Joey Bishop: "Anybody tells you you're a good audience, you punch 'em right in the mouth."unclebarky@tx.rr.comBack Channels2007-10-23T11:47:57-05:00http://www.unclebarky.com/back_files/f3c8829f9dc553b84f1a9cfcc7fe8ce8-14.html#unique-entry-id-14http://www.unclebarky.com/back_files/f3c8829f9dc553b84f1a9cfcc7fe8ce8-14.html#unique-entry-id-14
Wing man: That's Joey way in back, between Sammy and Peter.
The road to Joey's began two days earlier in Pasadena, where a reporter called him cold from an ongoing TV critics "press tour" co-starring networks and their new seasons.]]>Chip Moody: He lived to anchor -- and died too soonunclebarky@tx.rr.comBack Channels2007-10-11T18:18:19-05:00http://www.unclebarky.com/back_files/7579e3b2b01fcb39dd57ac60e4b3aa25-13.html#unique-entry-id-13http://www.unclebarky.com/back_files/7579e3b2b01fcb39dd57ac60e4b3aa25-13.html#unique-entry-id-13
A vintage Chip Moody (left) at Ch. 5 with fellow anchors Ward Andews and Russ Bloxom in a timeless photo from the 1970s.
Note to readers: This is one of my all-time favorite articles.]]>A yesteryear's TV newscaster survey -- except that quite a few are still at their appointed anchor desksunclebarky@tx.rr.comBack Channels2007-10-01T16:34:36-05:00http://www.unclebarky.com/back_files/aa273c880c4b3d5df78c12d79f4490a5-11.html#unique-entry-id-11http://www.unclebarky.com/back_files/aa273c880c4b3d5df78c12d79f4490a5-11.html#unique-entry-id-11Note to readers: This September 1986 mail-in survey of readers' favorite D-FW news personalities and newscasts long pre-dated the Internet and for the most part, cable TV news.]]>Iola Johnson: leaving for parts unknownunclebarky@tx.rr.comBack Channels2007-08-28T15:34:07-05:00http://www.unclebarky.com/back_files/76fe72f510466f97011f1fddd9e298f3-10.html#unique-entry-id-10http://www.unclebarky.com/back_files/76fe72f510466f97011f1fddd9e298f3-10.html#unique-entry-id-10Michael Richards: A "press tour" premonition of sortsunclebarky@tx.rr.comBack Channels2007-07-05T17:57:14-05:00http://www.unclebarky.com/back_files/7046d3d14939cdf29eae33cb42644fb4-9.html#unique-entry-id-9http://www.unclebarky.com/back_files/7046d3d14939cdf29eae33cb42644fb4-9.html#unique-entry-id-9Know whut I mean? Rechanneling Ernest as the ambassador for Ch. 4 news unclebarky@tx.rr.comBack Channels2007-06-20T09:12:15-05:00http://www.unclebarky.com/back_files/20d2673adccced977659c05066966680-8.html#unique-entry-id-8http://www.unclebarky.com/back_files/20d2673adccced977659c05066966680-8.html#unique-entry-id-8Tony the Tiger gets sheepish in public unclebarky@tx.rr.comBack Channels2007-06-04T10:52:47-05:00http://www.unclebarky.com/back_files/35fc55d61e785b6549af5eba9ce9cb96-7.html#unique-entry-id-7http://www.unclebarky.com/back_files/35fc55d61e785b6549af5eba9ce9cb96-7.html#unique-entry-id-7The Sopranos could go down as a classic, groundbreaking TV series in league with Hill Street Blues and All In the Family.]]>Clothes off their backs and onto the rack unclebarky@tx.rr.comBack Channels2007-05-28T17:19:50-05:00http://www.unclebarky.com/back_files/335f6130fd359f2530d84e6fa4af69fb-6.html#unique-entry-id-6http://www.unclebarky.com/back_files/335f6130fd359f2530d84e6fa4af69fb-6.html#unique-entry-id-6Moonlighting ("a steal at $2,000"); a sleevless, red cotton dress filed out by Catherine Bach on The Dukes of Hazzard ($145) and a Farrah wool tube skirt ($65).]]>Rosie to Roseanne? unclebarky@tx.rr.comBack Channels2007-05-06T16:19:38-05:00http://www.unclebarky.com/back_files/9303201cb9b934838e6c995d58d9413d-4.html#unique-entry-id-4http://www.unclebarky.com/back_files/9303201cb9b934838e6c995d58d9413d-4.html#unique-entry-id-4Roseanne sitcom is a good bet to be the highest-rated new series of the season.]]>Back when just about everybody watched -- Feb. "sweeps," 1981unclebarky@tx.rr.comBack Channels2007-04-24T17:32:40-05:00http://www.unclebarky.com/back_files/3b2b706b2c368df0082e4eb1a8a69c43-3.html#unique-entry-id-3http://www.unclebarky.com/back_files/3b2b706b2c368df0082e4eb1a8a69c43-3.html#unique-entry-id-3
In prehistoric TV times, weathermen Troy Dungan (WFAA) and the late Harold Taft (KXAS) were both very much on the 10 p.m. map.
Note to readers: We're on the eve of the 2006-'07 season's final ratings sweeps period, with 10 p.m. newscast supremacy still the big prize when the competition kicks off on Thursday (April 26).]]>Hillary, without "Tubby" in tow, braves Dave for the first timeunclebarky@tx.rr.comBack Channels2007-04-11T09:47:31-05:00http://www.unclebarky.com/back_files/2dc85bccbd3db47275b5ef9b32869239-2.html#unique-entry-id-2http://www.unclebarky.com/back_files/2dc85bccbd3db47275b5ef9b32869239-2.html#unique-entry-id-2
The Dem Party's two big cheeses have laughed it up with Dave, too.
Note to readers: Barack Obama's winning performance on Monday's Late Show with David Letterman probably means that his arch rival for the Democratic presidential nomination will have to show up again in the near future.]]>Mouth by mouth-western: O'Reilly vs. Matthews at SMUunclebarky@tx.rr.comBack Channels2007-03-29T20:09:36-05:00http://www.unclebarky.com/back_files/6e346d9042320d79e8b7d89395c5936e-1.html#unique-entry-id-1http://www.unclebarky.com/back_files/6e346d9042320d79e8b7d89395c5936e-1.html#unique-entry-id-1The O'Reilly Factor and MSNBC's Hardball with Chris Matthews otherwise are more accustomed to pummeling a hapless university professor or dominating a think-tank politico on their respective shows.]]>Boy, that Bart's really a mother unclebarky@tx.rr.comBack Channels2007-03-18T23:46:46-05:00http://www.unclebarky.com/back_files/a43bdd486466a35cfd91a0097d2794cc-0.html#unique-entry-id-0http://www.unclebarky.com/back_files/a43bdd486466a35cfd91a0097d2794cc-0.html#unique-entry-id-0
Nancy Cartwright knows Bart Simpson better than any man alive.
Note to readers: this story first appeared on July 12, 1990. The Simpsons was still in its infancy and few knew the secrets behind Bart's mouthpiece.]]>