powered by FreeFind

Apple iTunes

Archives

First day of the November ratings "sweeps" has some notable ratings and moments

The November “ratings” sweeps” began a 20-weekday run on Thursday, Oct. 27th. We break down the opening D-FW newscast ratings, plus the virtual meltdown of TEGNA8’s 5 p.m. newscast, which paid a stiffer ratings price than usual. It’s all on the Dallas-Fort Worth TV page.

Also, the Back Channels page rewinds to a colorful, anecdote-filled 2002 interview with impressionist Rich Little, who at the time played nine U.S. Presidents during a six-day engagement at the Majestic Theatre in downtown Dallas.
Ed Bark

The World Series comes to Wrigley -- and this time it's personal

Youthful Barky loved the Chicago Cubs. And all these years later, they’ll be playing a World Series game in Wrigley for the first time in my lifetime. The Cleveland Indians also have known futility, winning their last World Series in 1948. A star player-manager then became a Cubs mainstay after his retirement. Ladies and gentleman, please give a warm re-welcome to Lou Boudreau on our Network News & Reviews page.

Plus, you can find our review of TBS’ People of Earth right here. And Wednesday’s D-FW ratings “snapshot” highlights Game 2 of the Cubs-Indians World Series.
Ed Bark

Last of the fall rollouts with CBS' The Great Indoors and Pure Genius

CBS has ended this season’s abbreviated Thursday Night Football run, meaning there are holes to fill.

The network fills them with the last of this season’s fall rollouts on the Big Four broadcast networks. Our review of The Great Indoors, starring Joel McHale, is here. And for a look at the medical drama Pure Genius, go here.

Also, a roundup of D-FW Nielsen ratings spotlights Tuesday night’s Game 1 of the World Series.
Ed Bark

"How the News Got Made:" an evocative, provocative panel from Dallas VideoFest

For an old hound like myself, the most interesting event at the just concluded 29th annual Dallas VideoFest was “How the News Got Made.” WFAA-TV’s 16 millimeter filmed newscasts from the late 1960s and early 1970s were the focal point of an 18-minute film preceding a panel with three of the station’s former stalwarts. A side dish of Bill O’Reilly also was served. See our Dallas-Fort Worth TV page for a detailed account.
Ed Bark

Hugh Laurie, Matt LeBlanc respectively return in Chance and Man With A Plan

Hugh Laurie returns to M.D. mode in Hulu’s Chance while Matt LeBlanc is back as his amiable self in CBS’ Man With A Plan. Both have their flaws and appeal. Our review of Chance is here, and a critique of Man With A Plan is here.

Plus, the D-FW ratings are in for the last of three presidential debates between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. Get the complete 10-network breakdown on the Dallas-Fort Worth TV page.
Ed Bark

Reviewing Amazon Prime's Goliath after viewing all eight episodes

Producer David E. Kelley and Billy Bob Thornton team up for Amazon Prime’s Goliath, which began streaming all eight episodes last week. Look for a definitive ending rather than a string-along, which lately is a considerable plus. Our review is here.

Plus, the Dallas Cowboys’ win over the Green Bay Packers is the new clubhouse leader in D-FW ratings for this season’s first six games. All the numbers are on our Dallas-Fort Worth TV page.
Ed Bark

Epix takes the scripted series plunge with Graves and Berlin Station

It’s already a very crowded field, but the premium pay cable network Epix comes to play for the first time with a pair of original scripted series, Graves and Berlin Station. Non-subscribers can watch both Sunday as part of a free preview weekend. And our reviews of both series are here.

Plus, the Wednesday-Thursday local ratings snapshots are posted.
Ed Bark

Chelsey Davis and husband Brandon Hamilton respectively leaving early morning newscasts at D-FW's CBS11/TEGNA8

Newlyweds Chelsey Davis and Brandon Hamilton are heading back to Phoenix and vacating their early morning posts at CBS11 and TEGNA8.

Both have been in D-FW only since the summer of 2015, with Davis doing the traffic reports for CBS11 while Hamilton was the main feature reporter for TEGNA8’s Daybreak. All the exclusive details are on our Dallas-Fort Worth TV page.

Plus, Tuesday’s D-FW ratings “snapshot” spotlights NBC’s This Is Us as fall’s biggest new hit.

Also, the USA network continues its latter day walks on the darker side with the new drama series Falling Water. Our review is here.
Ed Bark

ABC's American Housewife throws its weight around

Take it from her, the heroine of ABC’s new American Housewife sitcom is fat. She’ll keep telling you that in Tuesday’s premiere. Our review is here.

Plus, Monday’s D-FW Nielsen ratings “snapshot” is posted.
Ed Bark

The Cowboys, the debate, the Rangers -- oh my

The weekend brought a torrent of TV activity, particularly on Sunday.

So were the Dallas Cowboys on just one network potent enough to beat the second presidential debate in prime-time on eight networks? And where did the poor Texas Rangers fit in? For the complete local ratings breakdown, see the Dallas-Fort Worth TV page.

Also, TEGNA8 weathercaster Pete Delkus encountered an unexpected disturbance during his Sunday night forecast. We have the video here.
Ed Bark

HBO launches two quality Sunday night comedies -- Divorce and Insecure

Sarah Jessica Parker returns to HBO for the first time since Sex and the City with the entirely different Divorce. Our review is here. And Issa Rae arrives on the HBO scene with the equally distinctive Insecure. For that review, go here.
Ed Bark