Channel
Surfing
by Laura Nachman
Bucks County Courier Times
April 17, 2007
WPHT 1210-AM host Michael Smerconish’s name was mentioned as a possible successor to Don Imus, who was fired from CBS radio and MSNBC last week. Of course, Philadelphia listneners know that Smerconish replaced Imus in the morning on WPHT a few years ago.
Congratulations
to CNN’s Larry King who celebrates his 50th year in broadcasting
this week. Tonight (Tuesday),
Katie Couric will interview King, former president Bill Clinton is the guest
on Thursday, and King favorite Bill Maher will host a star-studded salute to
“Mr. Suspenders” on Friday.
“Saturday
Night Live’s” Amy Poehler is becoming the star of “Saturday Night
Live.” She finally seems
comfortable taking Tina Fey's place on “Weekend Update,” and
last week did dead-on impressions of Nancy Grace of Headline News and Dakota
Fanning. She also is co-starring
in the hit film “Blades of Glory.”
According to the trade publication, “Mediaweek,” here the top 20 rated cable networks in households for the week of April 2 (with change versus the year-ago week in parentheses):
Nickelodeon:
1.8 rating (+12), TNT: 1.5 (-12), USA: 1.4 (- 7), Disney Channel: 1.4 (-18),
Discovery: 1.0 (+43), Fox News: 1.0 (+11), TBS: 1.0 (-9), Cartoon Network: 1.0
(-17), A&E: 0.9 (+29), ESPN: 0.9 (-18), Nick at Nite: 0.9 (-25), Lifetime:
0.8 (+300), Court TV: 0.8 (+33), ABC Family and Sci Fi Channel: 0.8 (+14
each), Hallmark Channel: 0.8 (no change), Spike TV: 0.8 (-11), VH1: 0.7 (+40),
AMC and HGTV: 0.7 (no change), Comedy Central, FX, History Channel and MTV:
0.7 (-12).
Here’s my take on those numbers. It’s surprising that CNN is not in the top 20. Also, VH1’s “Celebreality” has finally brought the network out of sister-station MTV’s shadow. And E! has lost it’s way. VH1 is the go-to channel for entertainment.
Ryan
Howard’s appearance on “Late Show with David Letterman” brought up the
ratings for the show in Philadelphia 34%.
It would be nice if Howard could increase his own batting average by at
least that amount.
6ABC’s
Dave Roberts and his son David Boreanaz are the cover story of this month’s
“Main Line” magazine.
One
of my favorite awards shows of the year, “The TV Land Awards” airs Sunday
at 9 p.m. on TV Land. The 5th annual ceremony will honor “The
Brady Bunch,” “Roots,” “Hee Haw,” “Taxi,” and Carol Burnett will
present the “Legacy of Laughter Award” to Lucie Arnaz and Desi Arnaz Jr.
on behalf of their mother, Lucille Ball. Ann B. Davis, Florence Henderson,
Christopher Knight, Mike Lookinland, Maureen McCormick, Susan Olsen, and Barry
Williams will represent “The Brady Bunch.”
Of course, Eve Plumb is the lone hold-out.
Todd Bridges, LeVar Burton, Louis Gossett Jr, Cicely Tyson, Leslie
Uggams, and Ben Vereen will represent “Roots.”
Jeff Conaway, Tony Danza, Danny DeVito, and Judd Hirsch will represent
“Taxi.” (No Marilu Henner?)