Jericho & MOJO & other stuff

One of my favorite new fall shows arrives tonight: CBS' "Jericho" (8 p.m., Ch 12, 7). I call it "Lost in a cornfield." It has succesfully copied many of the suspenseful elements of "Lost," in this drama about a small Kansas town cut off from the rest of the nation after a nuclear explosion in the Denver area. Like "Lost," the folks don’t know what dangers are Out There beyond their group. I know some TV critics didn’t like the show, but I did. It’s my second-favorite new show, to NBC’s "Studio 60 On the Sunset Strip." And I think "Jericho" has a better chance for survival than "Invasion," "Surface" or "Threshold" did last year.
CBS wisely put it at 8 p.m., so "Lost" fans may tune in an hour early. "Lost" fans may watch tonight, since "Lost" doesn’t return for two weeks (Oct. 4).

Lost & Found
And here’s another heads up for "Lost" fans: ABC will air 6 new episodes through Nov. 8 – then it will go away until February sweeps. It’s the "Prison Break" and "NYPD Blue" treatment… When "Lost" returns next year, it will run continuously into May sweeps, like "24." Taye Diggs' "Day Break," a "Groundhog Day"-like series, will debut 9 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 15.

"Kidnapped" & CW
NBC’s "Kidnapped" also debuts tonight at 10 p.m. (Ch. 5). I found the opening a little confusing, but by the end of the hour nearly everyone is a possible suspect. I liked Fox’s "Vanished" pilot better – but have lost track of the show since. To me, it’s 50-50 whether "Kidnapped" makes it through the year or not.
And the CW rolls out the first new show tonight, "America's Next Top Model," at 8 p.m., after two nights of reruns.

Fall TV feedback
I’m interested in your opinions on “Jericho,” “Kidnapped,” "Studio One" and other new shows, so post to this blog if you watch tonight.

MOJO update
Morning man Keith Mitchell has produced a one-hour MOJO salute to air at 11 p.m. tonight on WMOJ-FM (94.9), the final hour for the “Jammin’ Oldies” station. At midnight, the MOJO call letters and branding moves up the dial to 100.3, as Radio One (WIZ and BUZZ owners) launch a new station on a new frequency targeting African-Americans 30 and older.
Mitchell and the MOJO staff has posted a nice thank-you to listeners on the station web site.
http://www.mojo949.com/
It’s not clear if any of the MOJO staff will move to the new station. The new MOJO has only 4 openings – middays and the “Quiet Storm” 7 p.m.-midnight show – and two weekend part-timers, says Phillip David March, program director for WIZ and the new MOJO. March will do 3-7 p.m. on MOJO, as he does now on WIZ, starting in late October. (The first 4-5 weeks will be music intensive, with no DJs.) The new MOJO will have a syndicated morning show, probably Tom Joyner from the BUZZ. (It’s definitely not Steve Harvey, I’m told.) So only 4 openings doesn’t leave much for the old MOJO staff, which just learned about the format sale a week ago.
For more about the new MOJO, see my story today.
http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060920/NEWS01/609200368/-1/CINCI

STAR replaces MOJO
Starting 12:01 a.m. Thursday, Cumulus’ country STAR 96.5 will be simulcast on both 94.9 and 96.5 for two weeks. The 94.9 signal (on the Ch 64 tower on Winton Road in College Hill) will give the country station better penetration into Northern Kentucky, and a better shot at competing with B105 (WUBE-FM, 105.1). The 96.5 signal is on the WLW tower in Mason. B105 was No. 2 in spring ratings; STAR was No. 12.
No word on what will replace STAR country on 96.5 in October. (Go back to 96 Rock?) Stay tuned.