Ch 5 Grounded?

Seen those Channel 5 ads for “News 5 @ 5” boasting about having the “Sky 5” helicopter for aerial shots? As I suspected, that’s an old promo – since WLWT-TV hasn’t had full-time use of a helicopter since its Metro Networks contract expired Labor Day weekend. The station won’t get a new chopper until sometime next year – though the station can fly “in case of extreme emergencies or severe breaking news,” says Channel 5 GM Richard Dyer. So why not pull the misleading promo? Or edit out the inaccurate “Sky 5” reference?

Back on the air
Local journalist Joe Wessels, half of the summer “Brian & Joe Radio Show” on WAIF-FM, returns to the air at 11 a.m. Friday on WAIF-FM with former Cincinnati mayors Roxanne Qualls and David Mann. He’s on the air because WAIF-FM shares the frequency during the school year with WJVS-FM at Great Oaks Schools, which doesn’t have classes Friday. His new show is called “Cincinnati Advance Radio with Joe Wessels” because he plans to audio stream and podcast future shows on www.cincinnatiadvance.com.

Kiese-watching
Bad news for Freddie Prinze Jr. fans. His new ABC “Freddie” sitcom, in which he plays a bachelor chef sharing his apartment with female family members (including Jacqueline Obradors from “NYPD Blue”), is one of the worst new fall shows. The pilot was so bad, ABC will premiere tonight with the second episode ( 8:30 pm, Ch 9). This “Freddie” the TV horror could be gone by Halloween. Watch it and tell me if you disagree.