WAQZ-FM Staff Fired, WGRR/Star Country Swap

It's been a crazy day in radio here.... It started with an e-mail saying all the on-air staff on WAQZ-FM (97.3), the "Everything Alternative" rock station, was fired Monday. By mid-afternoon came word that the Entercom purchase of the 4 CBS Radio stations went through (WAQZ, WUBE, WKRQ, WGRR). And then another shoe dropped: Entercom swapped oldies WGRR to Cumulus for country STAR 94.9.
Listeners won't hear many changes, if any, right away on oldies WGRR and STAR. I'm expecting that the staffs will remain intact, but who knows.
The deal makes sense in this way: Cumulus now has WARM98 and oldies WGRR, which was the closest format to the old MOJO format it just sold off. They can sell WARM98 and WGRR together easily. And Cumulus also kept MOJO PD Keith Mitchell around, and he knows something about programming oldies.
For Entercom, they get a country monopoly. Just like the old days. Until 2000, B105 and "Young Country" WYGY-FM were owned by the same company, until split apart. Now they're back together. Don't expect changes at B105, the #1 music station. And expect STAR/WYGY to aim at younger listeners; it's #8 in the 18-34 demo.
And then there is WAQZ. Below is an email that Jim Bryant and Mike Fredrcik sent to all the CBS (now Entercom) staffers. I'm told that only program director Julie Evans survived the purge. E-mail also says that the move was made by Entercom. I'm guessing all this adds up to a format change, but to what?
Here's the e-mail from Jim Bryant and Mike Fredrick to staff at the sister stations:
"I’m sorry to inform you that today a bunch of talented and dedicated individuals were let go from WAQZ. We want to recognize the unbelievable amount of work, dedication and creativity these people brought to work each and every day. This team includes:
Jimmy "the weasel"
Sally Vollner
"Notorious"
Razor
Jamie Boyle
Entercom is making changes to the 97.3 product and made this call moving forward. Please take the time to reach out to these people as a friend and co-worker.
We thank each and every one of them for what they brought to our cluster."
--Jim and Mike

In The Zone
"The Twilight Zone" shows began airing this morning on 96.5, replacing the country "Star" simulcast with 94.9, as Cumulus prepares to put a syndicated talk format on the station sometime soon... possible by week's end.

Halloween fun
Dusty Rhodes host his annual five-hour Halloween "The Scare on the Air" starting at 6 p.m. today on oldies WDJO-AM (1160).
WGUC-FM (90.9) debuts a new "Tunes from the Crypt" for Halloween. Crypt keepers Mark Perzel and Bruce Ellis have added new music from "Star Wars," "Pirates of the Caribbean" and "Finding Nemo" with past "Crypt" favorites for a two-hour broadcast starting 6 p.m. today. "Tunes from the Crypt Goes To The Movies" follows at 8 p.m. For more info go to www.classicalhalloween.org

"The Daily Show" transcript

I was emailed the transcript from Jon Stewart's "The Daily Show" from Columbus Monday. It's kind of rough -- it's from the close-captioning -- but I thought you'd enjoy seeing it, whether you saw the show or not.
Here it is:

Jon: THANK YOU SO MUCH.

WELCOME TO "THE DAILY SHOW"

MIDWEST MID-TERM-TACULAR.

LeBRON JAMES WILL BE JOINING US LATER.

WE ARE SPENDING THE ENTIRE WEEK IN OHIO, JUST TO THE WEST OF THE 

MISSISSIPPI, JUST TO THE EAST OF LET'S SAY, MEXICO.

I DON'T REALLY KNOW.

BUT THEY SEEM VERY NICE.

( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ) 

WE ARE IN THE CITY OF COLUMBUS ON THE CAMPUS OF THE OHIO STATE 

UNIVERSITY.

( CHANT: O-H, I-O! )

YOU'LL HEAR A LOT OF THAT.

NICELY DONE, THANK YOU.

WE HAVE A HALF HOUR.

( LAUGHING ) 

PEOPLE HERE ARE REQUIRED BY LAW TO DO THAT THING THAT THEY JUST DID.

AND ALSO, APPARENTLY, TO OWN FIVE RED-HOODED SWEAT SHIRTS EACH.

( APPLAUSE ) 

THEY'VE RUN OUT OF SURFACES TO PUT AN EMBROIDERED "O" ON.

THEY HAVE A GREAT DEAL OF PRIDE.

LET'S START WITH THE OBVIOUS QUESTION: WHY OHIO?

BECAUSE THIS IS THE BATTLEGROUND STATE FOR THE 2004 ELECTION.

IT WAS DECIDED RIGHT HERE, AND THANKS.

IN FACT OHIO HAS ALWAYS BEEN ON THE COUNTRY'S POLITICAL PULSE.

THE LAST 27 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS OHIO HAS VOTED WITH THE WINNER.

NO OTHER STATE COMES CLOSE.

IS IT BECAUSE OHIO'S VALUES MIRROR AMERICA'S VALUES?

OR PERHAPS WERE OHIOANS SENT HERE FROM THE FUTURE?

WE WILL FIND OUT THIS WEEK.

NOW, THROUGHOUT THE WEEK, OUR AWARD-ELIGIBLE TEAM OF CORRESPONDENTS 

WILL BE POSITIONED THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE STATE.

WE'RE GOING TO CHECK IN WITH THEM QUICKLY.

WE HAVE OUR OWN SAM BEE IN SHAKER HEIGHT'S OHIO.

YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO.

AND JASON JONES?

CINCINNATI.

WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

>> THAT'S RIGHT, CINCINNATI, 

W-K-R-ME.

>> Jon: YOU'RE ALL IN DIFFERENT PLACES, RIGHT?

>> ALL THREE CORNERS, YEP.

>> Jon: CAN I ASK, VERY QUICKLY, WHY ARE YOU ALL IN FRONT OF AN 

APPLEBEE'S?

>> WELL, THERE'S REALLY NO WAY TO AVOID THEM, JON.

PRETTY MUCH EVERYWHERE.

>> THEY'RE LIKE LOCUSTS, JOHN.

>> Jon: EVEN SO, HAVE YOU BEEN ABLE TO TALK TO ANY OHIOAN VOTERS WHILE 

YOU ARE OUT THERE?

>> ABSOLUTELY, JON.

MOMENTS AGO, I MET WITH A RETIRING HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL COACH.

THE STAFF HERE HAD ASKED HIM TO HELP HANG A PICTURE.

TURNS OUT THAT PICTURE WAS OF THE COACH HIMSELF.

THAT MAN IS NOW A PERMANENT FIXTURE ON THE WALL HERE NEXT TO WHAT 

APPEARS TO BE A LICENSE PLATE FROM WYOMING.

>> Jon: YES, I, UM, I BELIEVE I SAW THAT COMMERCIAL AS WELL.

DAN, DID YOU GET TO TALK TO ANY VOTERS?

>> WELL, I WAS ABOUT TO, JON, BUT A HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL TEAM PULLED 

UP.

THEY HAD JUST SUFFERED A DIFFICULT LOSS.

IT WAS, TECHNICALLY, PAST CLOSING TIME BUT THE STAFF DECIDED TO KEEP 

THE RESTAURANT OPEN.

>> Jon: ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT, DAN, THAT'S FINE.

SAM, HAVE YOU HAD ANY LUCK TALKING TO VOTERS?

>> VERY, VERY SIMILAR SCENE UNFOLDED HERE, JON.

HEART-BROKEN PLAYERS FINDING SOLACE IN A TURKEY-HALL PEN OWE ONER 

POPPER WINGS WITH BACON.

IT WAS QUITE A SCENE.

>> Jon: WERE ANY OF YOU ABLE TO GET AN AUTHENTIC NONFRANCHISE MOMENT 

FROM ACTUAL OHIOANS?

WAS THERE ANYTHING THAT -- DID ANYBODY -- I'M SORRY, ARE WE GETTING -- 

ROB RIGGLE, DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING?

>> YES, I GOT SOMETHING.

>> Jon: WHAT DO YOU HAVE FOR US, ROB?

>> I'M HERE IN THE REAL OHIO, JOHN, CHILLICOTHE.

IF MY COLLEAGUES HAD DUG DEEPER IT'S NOT JUST A SERIES OF APPLEBEE'S 

AND FOOTBALL FANS.

>> Jon: EXCELLENT REPORTING, ROB.

WHAT DID YOU DISCOVER?

>> VOTERS HERE ARE TIRED...

( LAUGHING -- IN FRONT OF BOB EVANS )

...OF THE SAME OLD CHILI AND CHEESE TACO SAND SWITCHES.

THEY'RE LOOKING FOR CHILI MADE OF SAUSAGE, AND ON THE BOTTOM OF THE 

WHOLE THING CAN BE FRIED AND PUT ON A STICK SO THEY CAN EAT TWO OF THEM.

>> Jon: WHAT DOES THAT TELL YOU, ROB?

>> IT'S TRUE WHAT THEY SAY ABOUT OHIO, IT'S ROUND ON THE ENDS AND HIGH 

IN CHOLESTEROL.

>> Jon: THANK YOU, ROB.

WHY ARE WE HERE IN OHIO?

IT IS, IN FACT, A MICROCOSM OF THE ENTIRE NATION.

IT'S A TOSSUP STATE, THAT HAS TIPPED REPUBLICAN IN RECENT YEARS.

( BOOING )

>> Jon: AND THEY'RE APPARENTLY A VOCAL STATE.

BUT THE DEMOCRATS HAVE PUT TOGETHER A POWERFUL MESSAGE THIS YEAR TO TRY 

TO WIN OHIO AND AMERICA BACK.

>> THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE FED UP.

IT'S TOO MANY FOR A CHANGE.

>> TIME FOR A CHANGE.

>> IT'S TIME FOR A CHANGE.

>> TIME FOR A CHANGE.

>> THAT IS ACTOR LUKE PERRY.

>> Jon: LUKE PERRY SAYS "TIME FOR CHANGE," AMERICA.

AND, AS WE ALL KNOW, AS LUKE PERRY GOES, SO GOES IAN ZIERING.

>> Jon: WHAT OF THE G.O.P.?

THEIR STRATEGY IS FOCUSED MORE ON THE FLAWS OF INDIVIDUAL OPPONENTS.

BACK HERE, SPIRITED KE DESPITE FROM THE GUBERNATORIAL ELECTION.

>> WHEN YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO STAND UP, YOU SIT DOWN, AND GOT A 

STANDING OVATION FROM THE NORTH AMERICAN MAN-BOY LOVE ASSOCIATION.

( BOOING )

>> Jon: THE NORTH AMERICAN MAN-BOY LOVE ASSOCIATION, OR NAMBLA.

I KNEW I'D GET IT RIGHT AT SOME POINT.

HOW MANY POINTS DOWN IN THE FOURTH QUARTER DO YOU HAVE TO BE BEFORE YOU 

THROW THE "HAIL NAMBLA"?

THAT LOGO.

>> I WANT TO POINT THIS OUT. THAT IS NOT THE ACTUAL NAMBLA LOGO.

THE ACTUAL NAMBLA ORGANIZATION HAS A HARD TIME FINDING GRAPHIC DESIGN 

COMPANIES TO WORK WITH.

THEY HAVE TO OUTSOURCE A LOT OF STUFF.

THEY'RE ALSO GOING AFTER THE DEMOCRATS AS A PARTY.

>> RAISING TAXES IS WHAT THE DEMOCRATS WANT TO DO, MAKE NO MISTAKE 

ABOUT IT.

>> LIBERAL DEMOCRATS WANT TO RAISE YOUR TAXES.

>> THEY'LL WEAKEN THE PATRIOT ACT.

>> THEY'RE GOING TO RAISE YOUR TAXES.

>> THE DEMOCRAT VISION IS GOING TO RAISE YOUR TAXES AND DOES WANT TO 

SURRENDER TO THE TERRORISTS TODAY.

>> Jon: THE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE RUNNING ON THAT PLATFORM IS FROM OHIO.

HE IS THE EIGHTH DISTRICT (BLEEP) THAT DOESN'T EXIST.

WE TURN TO JOHN OLIVER, SENIOR ANALYST FOR "THE DAILY SHOW."

( APPLAUSE ) 

GIVEN EVERYTHING THAT'S HAPPENED THE ELECTION DOES SEEM VERY CLOSE.

IT'S A TOSSUP.

>> YES, JON, THE ONLY REASON IT IS SO CLOSE IS THAT THE G.O.P.'S VISUAL 

MASTERY OF CAMPAIGN TECHNIQUES HAVE FAILED THEM.

THEY CHOOSE TO HAVE A CONGRESSMAN GET CAUGHT HAVING SEX ONLINE WITH 

UNDERAGE PAGES.

IT'S PUZZLING.

NOT SURE WHAT THEY WERE THINKING ABOUT THAT ONE.

THEN THERE'S THE IRAQ WAR, THE JACK ABRAMOFF SCANDAL, TOM DELAY, AND 

MONTANA'S SIXTH DISTRICT CONGRESSMAN IS IN FACT HERMAN GOERING.

THE DEMOCRATS, OF COURSE, HAVE YET TO PLAY THEIR FINAL CARD.

>> Jon: WHICH IS?

>> NOTHING.

( LAUGHING )

>> Jon: THEIR FINAL CARD IS TO NOT PLAY A FINAL CARD?

>> EXACTLY.

LOOK, THE REPUBLICANS HAVE AN IDEOLOGICAL AGENDA.

LOOK WHAT IT'S GOTTEN US.

RIGHT NOW, AMERICANS ARE FOLLOWING THE DEMOCRATS' UTTER LACK OF VISION, 

THEY'RE FINDING IT VERY APPEALING.

I THINK THIS NEW CAMPAIGN AD CAPTURES THE EXISTENTIAL VACUUM THAT IS 

TODAY'S DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

TAKE A LOOK.

IT CAPTURES THE EXISTENTIAL VALUE.

>> I'M JARROD BROWN AND I APPROVED THIS MESSAGE.

>> THAT COST $20 MULLION AND MAY HAVE JUST WON THEM THE ELECTION.

JON?

>> Jon: THANK YOU, JOHN OLIVER, EVERYBODY.

WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

( APPLAUSE )

THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

NOW, I WAS SO EXCITED WHEN I HEARD WE WERE COMING TO COLUMBUS.

I MEAN, GOD, WHAT A HOMECOMING FOR ME.

COMING BACK A SUCCESS STORY, THE RECONNECTING WITH MY FRIENDS AND 

FAMILY.

>> Jon: YOU'RE NOT FROM HERE, YOU'RE FROM CANADA.

>> NO, JOHN, I'M NOT.

I'M NOT FROM HERE.

BUT THAT DIDN'T STOP ME FROM PRETENDING THAT I WAS.

TAKE A LOOK.

CINCINNATI HAS ITS CHILI.

THREED HAS ITS MUD HENS.

CLEVELAND, ITS STEAMERS.

COLUMBUS HAS SAMANTHA BEE.

WHILE ANYONE CAN GIVE YOU THE BASICS, THIS HOMETOWN GIRL IS GOING TO 

GIVE YOU THE INSIDE LOOK FROM A BONA FIDE COLUMBUSIAN?

WHAT IS IT?

I'M (BLEEP) FREEZING OUT HERE.

FIRST STOP, THE HOUSE WHERE I GREW UP ON MAIN CHURCH AVENUE STREET 

ROAD.

IT'S THIS ONE, OVER HERE.

[ BELL RINGING ] THEY DON'T SEEM TO BE HOME.

OH!

HI, I -- COME ON!

GOD!

[ BELL RINGING ] ALL RIGHT.

THIS IS SO EXCITING.

THANK GOD YOU'RE HOME.

[ SCREAMING ] THIS IS IT, THIS IS WHERE I GREW UP!

OH MY GOSH!

HI, THIS IS SO GREAT.

I'M JUST -- DO YOU MIND IF I JUST TAKE A LOOK AROUND?

I'M JUST TAKING A TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE.

THE MEMORIES CAME FLOODING BACK.

NO BANISTER.

OH MY GOD!

THE HOUSE IS ABOUT THREE YEARS OLD.

I'M CURIOUS HOW YOU GREW UP HERE?

>> AND MY TRIP CONTINUED FROM MY OLD HOUSE TO THE STATE HOUSE.

THEY WANT TO KNOW ABOUT MY COLUMBUS.

GIVE US A SCOOP.

>> UM-HUM.

WE ARE THE HOME OF THE NUMBER ONE OHIO STATE BUCKEYES.

( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ) "OH" YOU WOULD SAY "IO."

>> OH.

>> IO.

>> THAT'S WHAT WE DO.

WHEN WE'RE FROM OHIO.

>> RIGHT.

>> I (BLEEP) LOVE COLUMBUS.

I CAUGHT UP WITH HOMETOWN FANS.

OKAY, YOU GUYS, YOU GOT ME.

>> WHO ARE YOU?

>> IT'S ME, IT'S ME!

AND TOURED MY OLD SCHOOL.

OH, I REMEMBER THIS.

>> WHO WAS YOUR TEACHER?

>> JIM -- AND WHAT A THRILL TO VISIT MY FIRST JOB. (HOOTERS) 

[ SCREAMING ] I'M BACK!

DO THE HANDSHAKE.

THE AIR WAS THICK, AND I COULDN'T RESIST THE URGE TO SUIT UP AGAIN.

THIS IS OKAY, RIGHT?

IT WAS LIKE I NEVER LEFT.

THAT OLD COLUMBUS ACCENT.

>> IF YOU STAY HERE FOR A DAY OR TWO IT'LL COME BACK TO YOU.

>> I'M IN COLUMBUS.

>> THAT'S MORE OF AN IRISH ACCENT.

>> I'M FROM COLUMBUS.

COMING HOME ISN'T ALWAYS EASY.

BUT THE REWARDS ARE INFINITE.

>> SAMANTHA, WE WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT YOU WITH THIS KEY TO THE CITY.

>> OH MY GOD!

WHAT?

>> YES, THIS IS A REALLY BIG KEY.

>> WHAT A SURPRISE.

WHAT A THRILL, WHAT A THRILL!

I WANTED TO GIVE SOMETHING BACK TO WHAT HAS BEEN MY HOMETOWN.

THE LAST FOUR MINUTES OF AIR TIME.

YOU'RE WELCOME, COLUMBUS.

IT'S THE ABSOLUTE LEAST I COULD DO.

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]

>> Jon: WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]

>> Jon: WELCOME BACK TO THE SHOW.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

WHEN WE CAME TO OHIO WE WANTED TO GET OHIO POLITICIANS ON THE PROGRAM.

WE ASKED PRETTY MUCH ALL OF THEM.

GOVERNOR TAFT, KEN BLACKWELL.

APPARENTLY MANY OF THEM ARE PREPARING TO LEAVE OFFICE, OR GO TO PRISON.

( LAUGHING )

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]

>> Jon: WE DID THE SECOND-BEST THING, WE WENT TO THE B-LIST AND GOT 

KING LeBRON JAMES.

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]

>> Jon: HOW ARE YOU?

>> I'M DOING WONDERFUL.

HOW YOU DOING OUT HERE TONIGHT?

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]

>> GOOD, GOOD, GOOD.

>> Jon: THEY ENJOY YOU.

( LAUGHING ) YOU ARE -- HOW IS IT, YOU'RE 21 YEARS OLD?

>> CORRECT.

>> Jon: YOU'VE BEEN PLAYING PROFESSIONAL BASKETBALL HOW MANY YEARS?

 -- MY FOURTH YEAR.

>> Jon: ARE YOU ON THE COVER OF SPORTS ILLUSTRATED AS THE NEXT 

GENERATION, YOURSELF, CARMELO ANTHONY AND DWAYNE WADE.

>> RIGHT.

>> Jon: THAT MUST FEEL GOOD.

( APPLAUSE )

>> IT REALLY DOES.

MYSELF AND D-WADE AND MELO, WE'RE JUST TRYING TO LEAD THE CHARGE.

>> Jon: WHEN DID YOU KNOW THAT YOU WERE GOING TO BE A SPECIAL 

BASKETBALL PLAYER, AND THAT YOU HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY DO SOMETHING?

>> I'M NOT SURE.

I JUST KNEW -- FIRST OF ALL WHEN I WAS YOUNGER I WAS TALLER THAN 

EVERYBODY ELSE.

>> Jon: BEEN THERE!

( LAUGHING )

( APPLAUSE )

>> I KNEW I HAD AN ADVANTAGE AT THAT POINT.

AS SOME OF THE KIDS STARTED GROWING A LITTLE BIT, ALSO, I JUST STARTED 

DOING SOME THINGS SOME OF THE OTHER KIDS COULDN'T DO 14, 15 YEARS OLD.

MY GAME STARTED GETTING BETTER.

I REALIZED I COULD BECOME VERY GOOD.

>> Jon: THREE YEARS LATER WERE YOU IN THE NBA, HOW FACING GUYS 30 YEARS 

OLD AND SEVEN FEET TALL.

YOU CAN STILL DO THAT.

>> YEAH.

>> Jon: IT SEEMS LIKE, AND AGAIN I DON'T MEAN TO OFFEND YOU, BUT ARE 

YOU AN ALIEN CREATURE?

( LAUGHING ) 

ARE YOU A BEING FROM ANOTHER LAND THAT HAS BEEN SENT HERE, AND WHAT CAN 

STOP YOU?

IS it CHRIS KNIGHT OR WHAT?

>> WELL, I'M NOT SURE.

AT THIS POINT, I DON'T KNOW, I'M JUST WORKING.

>> Jon: I'M A NEW YORKER.

I'M A NEW YORKER AND I WANT TO ASK THIS QUESTION.

BASKETBALL INSIDE MAN-ON-MAN.

WILL THE KNICKS SUCK THIS YEAR?

>> WELL, OBVIOUSLY, THEY HAVE SOME VERY GOOD PLAYERS.

IF THEY CAN COME TOGETHER, AND ISAIAH IS GOING TO HELP THEM DO THAT.

TRY AND HELP THEM.

>> Jon: THAT US THE EQUIVALENT OF SOMEONE SAYING "SHE HAS A GREAT 

PERSONALITY."

AND I THINK YOU WILL LIKE HER.

WE COULDN'T BRING EVERYTHING HERE TO OHIO, YOU'RE INTO LARGE.

BUT IN THE NBA YOU AREN'T ALLOWED TO GO TO THE PROS UNTIL AFTER YOU ARE 

20 YEARS OLD OR HAVE BEEN IN COLLEGE A COUPLE OF YEARS.

IF THAT HAD BEEN THE SITUATION FOR YOU, WHERE DO YOU THINK YOU WOULD 

HAVE GONE?

WHERE WOULD YOU HAVE PICKED?

>> PROBABLY OHIO STATE.

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]

>> Jon: THAT WAS A GIVE-ME, RIGHT UP THERE.

>> YEAH.

>> Jon: AND THAT WAS AN EXCELLENT -- WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO SAY, REALLY?

WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO SAY, DEPAUL?

LET ME ASK YOU ANOTHER QUESTION QUICKLY BEFORE WE GO.

COULD I BEAT YOU AT ANYTHING?

>> DO I THINK --.

>> Jon: ROCK, PAPER, SCISSORS?

ONE, TWO, THREE.

( LAUGHING ) LeBRON JAMES, LeBRON!

( APPLAUSE )

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]

>> Jon: BEFORE WE GO, AS ALWAYS, WE'LL CHECK IN WITH STEPHEN COLBERT.

>> WHERE ARE YOU, JON?

WHERE ARE YOU!

>> Jon: STEPHEN, WE'RE IN OHIO FOR THE WEEK.

>> OH.

OH, OKAY.

CAN I USE YOUR SHOWER IN YOUR OFFICE?

>> Jon: NO.

WE'LL SEE YOU IN A MINUTE.

GOOD LUCK ON MANILOW TONIGHT.

GOOD LUCK.

>> THE QUESTION I WANT, WOLF, DOES CNN WANT AMERICA TO WIN.

>> DO YOU WANT THE UNITED STATES TO WIN IN IRAQ?

>> DO YOU WANT US TO WIN?

>> COLUMBUS WAS FOUNDED AT THE JUNCTION OF THE RIVERS.

Captioning sponsored by 

COMEDY CENTRAL 

Captioned by 

Media Access Group at WGBH access.wgbh.org

Hallooween Tricks & Treats

Hi, gang! I'm post this for a second time because Web site says there was a problem, and I can't access the blog I just wrote 10 minutes ago...
Expect to see or hear some Halloween tricks and treats around the TV and radio dial Tuesday.One of my favorite stunts – it’s just goofy fun – is Ch. 12 meteorologist Steve Horstmeyer doing the weather in his skeleton costume against the green screen, so you just see the bones (5-8 a.m., Ch 12). Maybe it’s because Horstmeyer can be such a slide-rule geek at times, but he always makes me laugh.
And this year he may be joined by Bob Herzog in his blue Genie costume from "Aladdin Jr.," the Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati show this weekend at Taft Theatre. You can read more about him and the play at
http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061030/ENT/610300305/1086/LIFE

Radio stunt
I’m hearing that the country "STAR" simulcast on 94.9 and 96.5 could end tomorrow with some sort of Halloween stunt on 96.5. It’s a tease to a change in format on 96.5 to talk, coming sometime soon. Trades had said the format flips on Nov. 1, but I’m hearing that it won’t happen on Wednesday.

TV treats or tricks?
Low-power WBQC-TV (Ch. 38) is calling its 10 p.m. Halloween special "Disasterpiece Theater." Station operations director Erick Black and friends have taken an old public doman black-and-white movie and redubbed the dialogue, giving it a new storyline. It will follow “Frankenstein vs. The Creature From Blood Cove" (8-10 p.m. Tuesday).
Sister low-power station WOTH-TV (Ch. 25) will air "Proceed with Caution" at 9:30 p.m. Tuesday, a local drama about ordinary people, through bizarre circumstances, who are unable to find their way back to their normal lives. Willie J. Jones is creator and executive producer of the half-hour through his Renaissance Entertainment Experience. It follows the "Little Shop of Horrors" with Jack Nicholson (8-9:30 p.m. Tuesday, Ch. 25).

DVR alert
--Jon Stewart’s "The Daily Show" broadcasts from Ohio State University today (11 p.m., Comedy Central), the first of four nights from Columbus. Don’t be surprised if he repeats the line he used for OSU students Saturday, when he said: "A buckeye is a gay acorn, right?"
--Katrina Knuckles, 17, of Milford High School, stars in MTV’s "Made" (10 p.m. today), in which she prepares to try out for the varsity soccer team.
http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061030/ENT/610300311/-1/CINCI

Halloween tricks and treats

Expect to see or hear some Halloween tricks and treats around the TV and radio dial Tuesday.
One of my favorite stunts – it’s just goofy fun – is Ch. 12 meteorologist Steve Horstmeyer doing the weather in his skeleton costume against the green screen, so you just see the bones (5-8 a.m., Ch 12). Maybe it’s because Horstmeyer can be such a sliderule geek at times, but he always makes me laugh.
And this year he may be joined by traffic reporter Bob Herzog in his blue Genie costume from"Aladdin Jr.," the Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati show this weekend at Taft Theatre. You can read more about him and the play at
http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061030/ENT/610300305/1086/LIFE:

Radio stunt
I’m hearing that the country "STAR" simulcast on 94.9 and 96.5 could end tomorrow with some sort of Halloween stunt on 96.5. It’s a tease to a change in format on 96.5 to talk, coming sometime soon. Trades had said the format flips on Nov. 1, but I’m hearing that it won’t happen as early as Wednesday.

TV treats or tricks?
Low-power WBQC-TV (Ch. 38) is calling its 10 p.m. Halloween special "Disasterpiece Theater." Station operations director Erick Black and friends have taken an old public doman black-and-white movie and redubbed the dialogue, giving it a new storyline. It will follow "Frankenstein vs. The Creature From Blood Cove" (8-10 p.m. Tuesday).
Sister low-power station WOTH-TV (Ch. 25) will air "Proceed with Caution" at 9:30 p.m. Tuesday, a local drama about ordinary people, through bizarre circumstances, who are unable to find their way back to their normal lives. Willie J. Jones is creator and executive producer of the half-hour through his Renaissance Entertainment Experience. It follows "Little Shop of Horrors"” with Jack Nicholson (8-9:30 p.m. Tuesday).

DVR alert
--Jon Stewart’s "The Daily Show" broadcasts from Ohio State University today (11 p.m., Comedy Central), the first of four nights from Columbus. Don’t be surprised if he repeats the line he used for OSU students Saturday, when he said: "A buckeye is a gay acorn, right?"
--Katrina Knuckles, 17, of Milford High School, stars in MTV’s “Made” (10 p.m. today), in which she prepares to try out for the varsity soccer team. http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061030/ENT/610300311/-1/CINCI

Milford teen on "Made" Monday

That MTV "Made" episode which began shooting last May at Milford High School will air 10 p.m. Monday. The crew follows the exploits of Katrina Knuckles, now a Milford junior, as she works out in hopes of making the varsity soccer team. MTV describes her as "a spoiled slacker with a passion for pink (clothes),” before efforts “to turn this whiner into a winner." MTV enlists the help of Matt Beines, the Finneytown High School soccer coach and a member of the Cincinnati Excite men's professional soccer team (www.cincinnati-excite.com) and a personal trainer to help her out.

Bengals TV
Wonder how many elderly viewers will be confused from that graphic Ken Broo put up the other night on Channel 5, saying Sunday’s Bengals game was "1 p.m., PBS." Of course, he meant Paul Brown Stadium, not public TV...
But several viewers called last week to ask why CBS/Ch. 12 didn’t have the Bengals-Carolina game last week. It was on Fox/Ch. 19. And the Bengals will be on Fox/Ch. 19 again Sunday. As most of you know, network coverage of a NFL game is determined by the visiting team, because the away city will always get its team’s telecast. With Atlanta and Carolina in the NFC, the games are on Fox.

DIY looking for area homeowners
Producers for "DIY to the Rescue," the DIY network home improvement series, wants to shoot four half-hour shows in Greater Cincinnati or Northern Kentuckythe last week in March. They’re looking for four homeowners – two sets of neighbors – to shoot shows about home improvement nightmares, says Brandii Toby, DIY publicist.
Applications are available at http://www.diynetwork.com/diy/be_on_diy
Families will be interviewed in early December, she says.
"DIY to the Rescue," with builder Karl Champley and carpenter Amy Devers, is one of the most popular shows on DIY. It airs 8 and 8:30 p.m. seven days a week.

Ohio Football Pairings on ONN
The Ohio high school football tournament pairings will be announced noon-1 p.m. Sunday by the Ohio High School Athletic Association on the Ohio News Network. ONN also will telecast the state championship games for all six divisions Dec. 1-2.

About Those "Dancing" Judges

Yes, Jerry Springer is right. The "Dancing with the Stars" judges are too nice. He said it last night, after they praised him for being entertaining – great job, well done, so much joy, etc. – and then gave him the lowest marks of the night. Again.
Wouldn't you like to see the "American Idol" judges swap places with Carrie Ann, Len and Bruno one week? Just once? Imagine what Simon would say about Springer...
It’s obvious that Springer is the weakest dancer on the floor. Having finished last for three weeks in a row, he could/should go home tonight. But as Bruno noted last night, lots of viewers find him entertaining and they might spare him again tonight.
If he survives for another week, could they let Simon be a judge?

"Scrubs" returns!
NBC announced today that "Scrubs" returns to the Thursday lineup on Nov. 30, the day after November sweeps. NBC also will move Tina Fey's "30 Rock" to Thursday, for an 8-10 p.m. comedy block. ("Deal/No Deal" now airs 9 pm Thursday.) No word on what happens to John Lithgow's "20 Good Years," which airs with "30 Rock" 8-9 pm Wednesday. My guess its gone.

Good grief!
Lew Seitz of Cheviot will be watching his favorite cartoon, "It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown," on Friday (8 p.m., Ch. 9) with a big grin on his face. Seitz, 52, has won a free trip to the Charles M. Schulz Museum and Research Center in Santa Rosa, Calif., as the grand-prize winner of a national essay contest.
Seitz knew he was a top 10 finalist in the "Worst Halloween Ever" essay contest promoting the 40th anniversary of the "Great Pumpkin." He wrote about spending a childhood Halloween in a pumpkin patch, as Linus did in the popular TV special. He was awoken by an angry farmer wearing a pumpkin mask – and holding a shotgun – who ordered him off his Tennessee farm. His essay is posted at www.snoopy.com.

TV Land Reply
On Gary Burbank's show Monday I was asked by a caller about the weird scheduling on TV Land and Nick at Nite, when shows don’t start and stop on the half hour. The caller, Chantel from Fairfield, finally got a response from the TVLand webmaster.
Here it is:

RE: Why STAGGERED starting times?Date 10.24.06 12:58 AMFrom: TVLTheLink
Nick-at-Nite and TV Land went to "off the clock" scheduling (where shows may not start and stop at the top and bottom of an hour) several months ago for evening and overnight programming. The reason has to do with various contract and market issues. The practice is scheduled to continue at least through the end of the year.
Both networks provide cable and satellite providers and television listing services with this information and I know at least one service (Dish Network) tends to provide the actual airing times (or some approximation of them). The problem is that many networks and listing services (and the Nick-at-Nite and TV Land website) cannot handle listing anything but top and bottom of the hour start and stop times. Discussion is ongoing on how to do this on the Nick-at-Nite and TV Land website should this form of scheduling need to continue past December.
TVLTheLink Community Manager

Chantel adds: "It’s LUDICROUS that their OWN sites DO NOT GIVE the exact starting times!"

Mancow, Talk Coming to 96.5 FM

Apologies to you who want to read about TV, but the buzz today is about radio...
Three radio industry trade publications/Web sites are reporting that Mancow, the Chicago-based syndicated morning personality, will be the morning drive show for a new talk format on 96.5. Trades say the talk format – the first on a commercial FM station here – could be launched by Cumulus next week, on or near Nov. 1. Besides "Mancow’s Morning Madhouse," the station could pick up Bill O’Reilly’s "The Radio Factor," now heard noon-2 p.m. on Middletown’s WPFB-AM (910).
Cumulus corporate program director John Dickey hasn’t responded to my phone and email messages, so I don’t have confirmation. Mark Masters, who syndicates Mancow, also hasn't return my calls.
Here’s what Tom Taylor reports in Inside Radio:
"Looks like Cumulus is going for a new FM talker in Cincy, led by Mancow. Remember that Cumulus sold the intellectural property of rhythmic AC "MOJO" to Radio One for a cool $5 million and had been simulcasting country "Star" WYGY on both its old 96.5 location and the former MOJO on 94.9. Next week they’ll end that simulcast and leave "Star" at 94.9. And up at 96.5 they’ll install an FM talk format with syndicated shows like Mancow (confirmed by Mark Masters at Talk Radio Network). And with (according to the rumor mill) Premiere’s Glenn Beck, Dave Ramsey and Westwood One’s Bill O’Reilly. No confirmation on any of those shows outside of Mancow."
All Access reports essentially the same thing, but adds that Phil Valentine from Nashville’s WWTN (Super Talk 99.7) will also be picked up on 96.5.
So will talk work on FM here?

Furman update

I went to WLW-AM’s "BengalsLine" broadcast at Rick’s Tavern in Fairfield last night, with Bill "Seg" Dennison hosting the show for a second week instead of Andy Furman. Dennison didn’t want to say anthing. When asked how long he’ll be doing "SportsTalk," he said: "Ask Darryl Parks," the Clear Channel operations director. Furman has been off the air since Oct. 13, when he was suspended with pay for calling Bengals wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh a "racist" on air Friday, Oct. 6. Houshmandzadeh had missed a paid appearance with Furman on WLW-AM on Thursday, Oct. 5, during the Bengals bye week.

So will talk radio succeed here on FM?

What's So Funny About Ohio?

What’s so funny about Ohio? Jon Stewart brings "The Daily Show" to Columbus for a week, starting next Monday, since Ohio was the epicenter of the 2004 presidential election. He’ll arrive in Columbus this weekend and meet with students at the Schottenstein Center on Saturday. He'll tape the show at 6 p.m. -- same time he does in New York -- at the Roy Bowen Theatre at OSU.
And now TBS has announced a new comedy series, "10 Items Or Less," set in an Ohio family-owned grocery store. Star/co-creator/executive producer/writer John Lehr says it is located "outside Dayton." It’s semi-improvisational -- like ABC’s short-lived "Sons & Daughters" last spring set in Hamilton – with the actors improvising dialogue from a story outline provided by writers. Why did the TBS show pick Ohio? Because Lehr is from Kansas, and co-creator Robert Hickey is from Michigan, "and we thought Ohio was a good compromise." Lehr hosted one of the worst TV reality shows ever, ABC’s "I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here." His credits include playing Christina Applegate's brother on NBC’s "Jesse" and "Kicking and Screaming." "10 Items Or Less" premieres 11 p.m. Monday, Nov. 27.

More renewals
Add James Woods' CBS "Shark" and the CW’s "The Game" sitcom – plus CW’s "7th Heaven" to the list of shows renewed for a full season. Also good for a year: "Ugly Betty," "Jericho," "Brothers & Sisters" and "Heroes." So far, "Shark" is running a close second to "ER" at 10 p.m. Thursday.

What's so funny about Ohio? You tell me.

The Andy Furman Fall-out

The Big One has clamped down. Big time.
Nobody at WLW-AM (700) is saying anything about the suspension of "SportsTalk" host Andy Furman. Our story for Friday's paper already has been posted on the Web:
http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061019/SPT02/310190036/-1/CINCI

It’s odd, isn’ it? The station were listeners can’t tell if a personality is just on vacation – or has been "suspended" – isn’t talking about this one. No mention of Furman on any show. No explanation as to why Furman hasn’t hosted "SportsTalk" since last Thurdsay. Not a word about why Furman was missing from "BengalsLine" Monday from Rick's Tavern. Nobody talking about why T.J. Houshmandzadeh has just vanished from the "Bengals Roundtable" show Thursday nights. No explanation why Bill Seg Dennison has been subbing since last Friday? Could it be permanent?
Usually Bill Cunningham would be yapping about how Helen Mays – the fictional Clear Channel boss he created – had suspended Furman for something.
Not this time.
One Clear Channel employee told me that staffers have been ordered not to talk about Furman. "It’s sensitive and we’re not supposed to comment. I can’t say anything on this," I was told Thursday.
Even Furman won’t talk. (When has that ever happened??) So it must be serious. Very serious. Maybe some folks at the Big One are learning a big lesson. We may know soon.
Your thoughts on Furman and folks at the Big One?

Say Goodbye to Susan Floyd

Say so long to Susan Floyd and "Runaway." The CW had canceled the new fall drama featuring the 1986 Oak Hills High School graduate as the real estate agent for a couple (Donnie Wahlberg, Leslie Hope) on the run fropm the law. It was dead last in the Nielsen ratings this fall, No. 104, with only 1.9 million viewers. Reruns of "America’s Next Top Models" will fill the 9 p.m. Sunday slot starting this weekend.
Which show will be the next to go? Or should be the next to go? Fox’s "Happy Hour?" Fox’s "War At Home?" You tell me.

Springer spared
I can’t say I’m surprised that nobody went home on "Dancing with the Stars." "Survivor" and other reality shows have skipped weekly eliminations with a contestant drops out. But things still don’t look good for Jerry Springer, the weakest of the five – with his awful score (18 of 30) this week, and having to perform two dances next week. Judges scores and viewer votes from this week and next will be combined to determine who leaves next Wednesday. I still say Jerry’s time is up.

Radio note
Chis O’Brien and Janeen Coyle interview former "Bionic Woman" Lindsay Wagner on Friday morning on WGRR-FM (103.5), and Peter Falk of "Columbo" fame on Monday.

So We Got Nuked?

I finally caught last week’s "Jericho" episode, which speculated that Cincinnati was destroyed by a nuclear explosion. After watching it several times, I’m not convinced the grainy footage was from Cincinnati.
Here’s what happened:
In the opening minutes, people were sitting around a bar watching faded footage of people running from a blast on satellite TV. Eric Green (actor Kenneth Mitchell), son of the mayor (Gerald McRaney), says: "I’m telling you it’s the Midwest. From the skyline, I’m thinking Cincinnati." Then he walks over to a map and says, "Let’s make Cincinnati a question mark," and draws a question mark over Cincinnati.
So we’re toast, according to the "Jericho" mythology, and that’s good enough for me. My CBS contacts couldn’t say why Cincinnati was mentioned, or if we’ll be mentioned again.
You can see for yourself by watching at http://www.cbs.com/innertube/ And then tell me if you think the footage was actually shot here.

More Jericho news
CBS has ordered a full year of "Jericho," bringing the total of new fall series renewals to three: ABC’s "Ugly Betty," NBC’s "Heroes" and "Jericho."

"Bengals Nation" goes live Wednesday
Ch 12 blows off "Everybody Loves Raymond" and "Entertainment Tonight" 7-8 p.m. Wednesday for a live one-hour "Bengals Nation" from GameWorks at Newport on the Levee. (The weekly Bengals show usually airs 11:30 p.m. Saturdays.)
This is posted on the “Bengals Nation” page
http://www.wkrc.com/bengalsnation/bengalsnation_show.aspx
"We need every fan and citizen of Bengals Nation to help us rally the team for their battle against Carolina on Sunday. So set your Tivo to watch yourself late, and be a part of our 'Bengals Nation Live' Wednesday at Gameworks!"

OK, Let's Fill Up That Big Screen

So what should we put on that big screen overlooking Fountain Square?
Bill Donabedian, managing director of the square for 3CDC, says “the sky’s the limit” in my story today
http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061013/NEWS01/610130394
He talks about putting on sold-out Bengals or Reds games (it would be fun to watch Opening Day there! What a party!). He wants promotional videos from museums, the CSO and other cultural institutions, or other videos provided by organizations to advertise city events. He also says that 3CDC won’t be producing much video, but instead wants contributions from various groups.
So let’s give him a helping hand.
In the nearly 60 years of Cincinnati television, we’ve had some iconic personalities and programming gems that could be showcased on the downtown Diamond Vision. Instead of putting the giant 24-x-42 video board on screen saver, let’s give him 100 suggestions for stars and shows – or highlights from shows – that should be beamed over the city’s signature landmark.
Just off the top of my head, here are some suggestions of films or videotapes that could be retrieved from vaults, attics, garages or collections throughout the region:
1. Bengals Super Bowl highlight films.
2. Reds World Series highlight films – 1990, 1975-76, 1972 and 1972. Don’t forget the 1961 highlight film. What exists from the 1939-40 series? What other sports highlights?
3. "WKRP in Cincinnati." Not just the infamous "turkey drop," but show them all!
4. "Midwestern Hayride," Cincinnati’s country music showcase in the 1950s, 60s and 70s. (Maybe the one where Tex Ritter forgets the lyrics to "High Noon?") Who should be showcased from "Hayride?"
5. Dan Hurley’s Union Terminal TV specials from Channel 12.
6. Weren't there some Delta Queen documentaries?
7. The Cincinnati Pops concerts shot in Music Hall for PBS.
8. An old "Nick Clooney Show" from Ch 9 or Ch 12? Maybe one with Rosemary Clooney? Or little George?
9. Wasn't there an old "P.M. Magazine" clip in which George Clooney saying he wanted to be a big star some day?
10. Who has the Cincinnati history series (6 episodes) narrated by Charles Kuralt in the early 1980s?
11. Could the Calloways, or 98 Degrees, or Isleys, or others, provide some performance videos? Which other famous rockers and pop stars from here, dating back to Doris Day?
12. Was it the "Brady Bunch" that shot an episode at Kings Island?
13. Why not ask John Popovich to dig into his vault and put together some themed highlight packages from Cincinnati sports?
14. At least one episode of Rod Serling’s "The Storm," his live drama series at Ch 12 in the very early 1950s, years before "The Twilight Zone," exists. It should be in the big screen’s shuffle.
15. Could someone edit together a "Before They Were (Network) Stars" montage of Bill Hemmer, George Clooney, Ira Joe Fisher, Bob Holtzman, Edie Magnus, Woody Harrelson, Jean Shepherd, Vicki Lewis, Joe Morgan, Rocky Carroll, Rosemary Clooney, Ray Combs, Day, Andy Williams, Red Barber, Red Skelton? Who else?
16. Cincinnati scenes from "Rain Man" or "Little Man Tate." What other movies shot here?
17. Paul Dixon’s infamous rubber chicken "Chicken Wedding?"
18. Uncle Al. Which other local TV show hosts?
19. Coverage of the 1980 hostage take-over at Channel 9? Other big news events?
20. Opening Day parades?
Let’s give ’em plenty of ideas. We’re already one-fifth the way to 100.
You could think of this as a Wish List.
I think of this as Must See TV, a To Do List for 3CDC.
Who should be showcased among the TV anchors or news personalities? Or the famous guest stars on the Ruth Lyons and Bob Braun shows? What local musicians?
Add to the list!

Two More TV Weathermen in the News

Nope, not Rich Apuzzo or Jim O’Brien today… It’s the return of Pat Barry!
After a seven-year absence, Pat Barry returns to TV weather this weekend – but not on Channel 19, which fired Rich Apuzzo Monday. Barry, a Clear Channel radio sales rep, will fill-in on newscasts on Dayton’s WKEF-TV (Ch 22) and WRGT-TV (Ch 45) for two weeks starting Saturday. He’ll be working for Pat Casey, the former Ch 19 news director. Barry’s last weather gig was for "Fox 19 in the Morning," until he quit in May 1999. And yes, Barry has expressed his interest in doing fill-in work at Ch 19, until a permanent replacement for Apuzzo is hired.
So how many Fox 19 weather folks can you name? Or former anchors?

And Yet Another Weatherman: Pete Delkus
Ed Bark, former Dallas Morning News TV critic, reports today on his blog that former Ch 9 weatherman Pete Delkus will become chief meteorologist at Dallas' WFAA-TV next July, when the legendary Troy Dungan retires after 31 years. Dungan recruited Delkus last year from Ch 9. Bark says that WCPO-TV (Ch 9) "offered Delkus a lifetime contract in a last ditch effort to keep him" a year ago. (Hadn't heard that before!) Delkus, who does the late news, has been heavily promoted in a "Delkus Delivers" campaign.
http://www.unclebarky.com/abovethefold.html



Another TV debate
U.S. Rep. Sherrod Brown and U.S. Sen. Mike DeWine debate issues in their race for the U.S. Senate seat 8-9 p.m. Friday on Dayton’s Ch. 16. It will be simulcast on WVXU-FM (91.7), www.wvxu.org, WMUB-FM (88.5) and www.wmub.org

Susan Floyd needs your help
Anyone remember Susan Floyd, the '86 Oak Hills High School grad? She played Christine Cromwell on "One Life to Live" in 1988, during her sophomore year at the University of Utah, and starred in ABC’s "Then Came You" sitcom in 2000.
You can see here as real estate agent Gina Bennett on CW’s new "Runaway" drama (9 p.m. Sunday). But better catch it quick: "Runaway" is dead last in the TV ratings at No. 99. It is averaging an 0.7 rating point and 2% audience share, just slightly more than 2 million viewers. Then again, it’s on the CW, so it could hang around for all 13 episodes… or all season...
Floyd’s credits include "Boston Legal," "Law & Order," "Spin City," "Breathing Room," "Random Hearts" and the soon-to-be-released "The Invasion" with Nicole Kidman.

Anchors away!
Now for today’s fun: How many former Ch. 19 anchors, weather folks or reporters can you name? And for bonus points: Name the original 1993 Ten O’Clock News team. And who anchored Ch 19's short-lived midnight newscast?

Nick Clooney Back on the Air

All kinds of notes today, as I finally catch my breath after the Rich Apuzzo firing Monday and the revivial of www.woxy.com on Tuesday….

Clooney’s Moments
The AmericanLife TV network repeats Nick Clooney’s two "Moments That Changed Us" tonight to promote his third "Moments" special about John Glenn coming Sunday.
Clooney’s interview with Walter Cronkite, about him questioning the Vietnam War in 1968, airs at 10 p.m. on AmericanLife (Time Warner digital Ch. 141). His half-hour on Diahann Carroll, the first African-American to star in a sitcom (NBC’s "Julia" in 1968), airs at 10:30 p.m. today.
At 10 p.m. Sunday, Clooney chats with John Glenn, the first American to orbit Earth in 1962. Glenn shifted the balance in the space race with the then Soviet Union, an important step in our way to the Moon in 1969. Clooney helped write and produce the show, which has terrific archived film of Glenn and the 1960s Mercury seven astronauts.
AmericanLife, the former Nostalgia network, airs "I Spy," "The Man from U.N.C.L.E.," "The Girl from U.N.C.L.E." and "Combat."

Channel 12 news
Local 12 Managing Editor Kim Dillon is headed to New York’s WABC-TV. Dillon, a former reporter for WKRC-AM and WKRC-TV, will be the newsroom assignment manager, supervising five assignment editors, at the station owned and operated by ABC. In 15 years at Channel 12, Dillon has done it all – working as a newswriter, field producer, reporter, assignment editor and managing editor. She’s married to Enquirer photographer Craig Ruttle.

Stan the Man No More
Stan Freberg has retired as host of "When Radio Was," the old-time radio shows at 9 p.m. weekdays and 8 p.m. Saturday on WVXU-FM (91.7). Taking over on Monday was Chuck Schaden, a veteran Chicago broadcaster, author ("Speaking of Radio") and vintage radio show collector.

TV Tonight
--Jerry Springer’s humorous samba wound up tied for last in judges’ voting last night (with singer Sara Evans) on "Dancing with the Stars," with 24 of 30 points. Will he finally be sent home tonight? I think he could...

--Tina Fey's "30 Rock" premiere today (8 p.m., Ch 5). The former "SNL" star plays the producer of a live TV comedy show, working for a new network boss (Alec Baldwin). In the pilot, Baldwin orders her to hire a talented comic (Tracy Morgan) who had a Martin Lawrence-like meltdown. I thought the show was awful -- not funny and not believeable. I'm curious what you think, if you watch tonight.

Rich Apuzzo Out At Fox 19

Look for an immediate change in the weather at Fox 19: Rich Apuzzo was fired today.
Apuzzo says he was told this morning by WXIX-TV managers that he was being terminated immediately. He had been off the air for a week, while management was "looking into something."
He would not elaborate, but says the termination was not a complete surprise. GM John Long would not comment on the personnel matter.
Apuzzo says his departure "is something I'll need to dispute in some way." Again, he would not elaborate.
Apuzzo, 44, was one of the two original members of the Fox 19 anchor team which debuted in October 1993. (Jack Atherton is the sole survivor.) He was second in tenure (to Ch. 12's Tim Hedrick) of all the main TV weather forecasters here.
Paul Horton did the Sunday night weather instead of Apuzzo.
On Monday, Apuzzo says he called 5, 9 and 12 to see if they were interested in him. He wants to stay in town, and says he would be willing to do weekend, while ramping up his weather consulting business and his Web site, www.apuzzoweather.com
"Am I despondent or upset? No. I've been fired once before, and I look at these things as opportunities," he says.
"I don't have to be a chief meterologist. I could do weekends. I want to stay in town. I don't plan on leaving."
So what do you think about that? Here's a chance to buzz about a different station's weather personalities for a change...

Tall Stacks TV

This just in… Well, almost. At 2:15 Thursday afternoon, WLWT (Ch 5) emailed me to say that the station started doing nightly Tall Stacks specials at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, when Tall Stacks opened. Obviously, it was too late to make our Wednesday or Thursday TV grids, or the TV Week book published last Sunday.
The email said that the 30-minute Weds-Fri shows, and the 7-8 p.m. Saturday show from News 5, will "preview of each night’s entertainment at Tall Stacks 2007."
Yes, 2007.
So that means the News 5 information was not First, Fast or Accurate.

Changing Tide
Did you watch "Survivor" last night? See the Tide commercial? P&G, a charter "Survivor" advertisor since 2000 that pulled out of last month in the furor over the tribes being divided along racial lines, is back on the show. BTW: "Survivor" continues to be a Top 10 (No. 6) this fall.

Moving Heaven and killing Kidnapped?
Only three weeks into the season, and CW, CBS and NBC have pulled switcheroos.
--Stick a fork in "Kidnapped?" NBC just moved it from Wednesday to 9 p.m. Saturday -- when nobody watches TV . "Dateline NBC" will air at 9 p.m. Wednesday against "Lost." Not a good sign for "Kidnapped" fans.
--"7th Heaven" and "Runaway" move to 8-10 p.m. Sundays, effective immediately. The CW (and old UPN) comedy lineup returns to Monday starting tonight with "Everybody Hates Chris" (8 pm), followed by "All of Us," "Girlfriends" and "The Game." "7th Heaven” airs next at 8 p.m. Oct. 15.
--CBS has flip-flopped "How I Met Your Mother" (to 8 from 8:30 Monday) with "The Class" (to 8:30) effective Monday.
One more fall TV note: NBC has ordered a full season of "Heroes," tied with "House" at No. 21 this season.

Radio notes
--Congratulations to WARM98, named "station of the year" by Radio & Records. It was the top adult contemporary station for markets No. 26-100.
--No word yet on what will happen on FM 96.5. Cumulus has been simulcasting the country STAR on 95.5 and 94.9 since MOJO moved to 100.3 two weeks ago. STAR will stay on 94.9, which has a better signal in Northern Kentucky to compete with B105. Only thing new are the call letters for 94.9, WPRV-FM. No clue what they stand for, if anything. Any guesses?

Time Warner's "new" interactivity

As they say, what goes around, comes around. Time Warner Cable will offer interactive polling to customers during a very limited number of shows, starting Friday with "Degrassi: The Next Generation" on The N (8 p.m. Friday, digital Channel 124). Viewers can express their opinions about characters and story lines, by responding to an on-screen question using the remote control. Then results are posted in real time.
Gee, this new capability sounds like the new QUBE technology introduced when Time Warner – then Warner-Amex Cable – first wired Sharonville and the northern Hamilton County suburbs 25 years ago. Anyone remember Warner-Amex's QUBE, and the short-lived live local origination “Gong Show”-style variety shows where viewers could vote to reject performers?
Time Warner last spring had announced the interactive feature was coming, but it took until now for the Cincinnati (not Dayton) customers to get it. Similar polling will be available to Time Warner customers during “Top Chef”starting Oct. 18 (11 p.m., Bravo, Channel 70).
Anyone else remember old shows on QUBE?

The Debate debate
I know there was conversation on my blog yesterday about the parallel universe of talking about serious issues on TV (the gubernatorial debate) and frivolous ("Dancing with the Stars"). A couple of observations:
--Hey, people watched the debate! The 7-8 p.m. Blackwell-Strickland debate on Ch. 9 was #2 in the overnight ratings, averaging 10 percent of our TV households. Ch. 12’s "Raymond" and "Entertainment Tonight" was first (15 percent). The debaters beat entertainment shows on Ch.19 (9%), Ch. 5 (8%) and Ch. 64 (6%).
--Vivica A. Fox was robbed. Sure, Springer is funny, but Fox should have made it to the Final Four on "DWTS" with Joey Lawrence, Monique Coleman and Mario Lopez.
--And here’s a little side dish: Don’t expect to see Glendale’s Heidi Mueller -- the "Passions" soap actress and daughter of Don ("Who Wants To Marry My Dad") Mueller -- on the show again with Mario Lopez’s parents.
In an e-mail to friends Don explains: "Let’s politely say that they are not hanging out anymore… Too many rumors and published articles about Mario and his new dancing partners’ activities, along with some non truths told to Heidi along the way. (Read between the lines). Again, trying to be polite in my explanations."

Blackwell-Strickland TV Debate Tonight

Yeah, some knucklehead probably will call WCPO-TV (Ch. 9) tonight and complain that "Wheel of Fortune" and "Jeopardy!" aren't on. But they’re being pre-empted for good reason. Ch. 9 blows out the popular game shows 7-8 p.m. today to broadcast the Ohio gubernatorial debate between Republican Ken Blackwell and Democrat Ted Strickland from the University of Cincinnati. Channel 9 anchor Clyde Gray anchors the telecast, which is being made available statewide. (WCET, WVXU-FM and WMUB-FM also will broadcast.)
It also will be streamed at www.wcpo.com, and archived there so you can watch on demand, or listen on demand as a podcast. Or you can watch on Time Warner Channel 1111, the local on demand channel.

You can also catch Tom McKee’s netcasts about local political races at http://wcpo.com/specials/2006/elections/
I don’t know what it costs to blow off "Wheel" and "Jeopardy!" advertising – but it must be significant. And Ch. 9 will do it twice more, when Clyde Gray hosts a Kentucky 4th Congressional District candidates debate (Geoff Davis-Ken Lucas) at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 19, and an Ohio 1st District Congressional District debate (Steve Chabot-John Cranley) at 7 p.m. Oct. 23. If every TV station had the same commitment to public affairs election issues, how much more informed would the electorate be?
BTW, "Wheel" and "Jeopardy!" will air late tonight/early Thursay 1:30-2:30 a.m.

WNKU at Tall Stacks
For the sounds of Tall Stacks, tune in www.WNKU.org or WNKU-FM (89.7). John Patrick (aka Steamboat Johnny) will broadcast from the station’s tent noon-3 p.m. today through Friday. The station also will broadcast live tonight’s performances by Sonny Landreth (5:45 p.m.), Chris Smither (7:25 p.m.) and Betty LaVette (9:05 p.m.), after a special “History of Tall Stacks” (5 p.m.).
Brian O’Donnell, (aka Cap’n O’D) will be live from Tall Stacks 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday.
You also can download podcasts of Tall Stacks artists at www.tallstacks.com.

"Dancing" with the Enquirer
Did you see the Enquirer’s 1982 photo of Jerry Springer dancing with his daughter on "Dancing with the Stars" Tuesday? When producers saw the picture with our Springer story Tuesday, they called and asked permission to use it – and edited it into the show hours before the live telecast. Jerry was 7th of 8 last night, but the emphasis on him learning to dance for his daughter’s wedding – and hugging Katie after his dance – probably will keep him on the show another week. We’ll find out tonight (8-9 p.m., Ch 9) on the results show, with Nick Lachey as the headliner.
I'm guessing that one of two singers -- Sara Evans or Willa Ford -- goes home tonight. What do you think?

More Reality Shows Coming to Town

Just wanna start by apologizing for not being able to blog past few days. Was way busy pulling together the Jerry Springer/"Dancing with the Stars" story for today.
The Springer story:
http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061003/ENT/610030324/1091
The story about daughter Katie:
http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061003/ENT/610030377/1091/ENT

More about Jerry later. I want to hear your take on him.
But first a couple of items of note...

More Reality
We still must be at or near the center of the Reality TV Universe, with two more shows coming to town.
--Casting directors from "The Real World" and "The Real World/Road Rules Challenge: Fresh Meat" will be at the Holy Grail, 13 W. Charlton St., Corryville, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 11. Applicants mustbe 18-24 years old. Jonathan Murry from Bunim/Murray Productions says his company looks for "characters in real life, people with strong personalities who are unafraid to speak their minds."
--Mark Burnett’s AOL online Gold Rush game (http://goldrush.aol.com), promoted by CBS, comes to Paramount’s Kings Island today for an off-line taping. Three finalists from Round Five – all from San Francisco – will be at the park today filming a pop culture competition to be shown on the website later.
Each week viewers of the Internext game are asked to answer 13 questions from CBS TV shows, AOL sites or other pop culture sources. Three weekly winners are sent to one of 12 cities for physical and mental reality challenges hosted by Mark Steines ("Entertainment Tonight"). They are taped and streamed later on AOL.com, says Gold Rush publicist Justin Kazmark.
The top finisher in each of the 12 cities wins $100,000. Six of the semi-finalists will gather in late November and compete for $1 million in gold from Burnett, "The Apprentice" and "Survivor" producer.

Bachelor mystery solved
Now I know why no local hotel employees called to say that Andrea Shirley from “The Bachelor: Rome” was working as their concierge. She hasn’t worked or lived here since 1999, contrary to the ABC publicity.
Mike Shirley, her father, told me that Andrea, a 1996 Fairfield High School graduate, moved to Los Angeles in 1999 to attend college. She’s the concierge at the Hotel Roosevelt in Hollywood. Dad says ABC deliberately misidentified Andrea’s residence to make it appear the show wasn’t overloaded with California contestants. It doesn’t much matter now, because Andrea was among the 15 girls eliminated in the season premiere last night.
ABC also is stretching the truth about its new bachelor, Italian Prince Lorenzo Borghese. From watching last night, it’s clear that he doesn’t speak much Italian; left Italy at age 2 for New York City 32 years ago with his family; and had never been the family’s former castle where they shot the show.

Bengals video shoot tonight
If you know big Bengals fans, remind them about Bootsy Collins’ shoot 6-7 p.m. today at Annie’s, 4343 Kellogg Ave., East End, for his new “Who-Dey Hype” video. It will debut in late October during a Bengals game on the stadium’s JungleVision. Here’s the link to our story:
http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061003/ENT/610030323/1091/ENT

Springer’s Last Dance?
No, I don’t think so. Not with ABC playing up Jerry Springer learning to waltz for his daughter Katie’s wedding on "Dancing with the Stars" tonight (8-9:30 pm., Ch. 9). The taped piece from rehearsal, before he competes, will be all about that, says Izzie Pick, co-executive producer.
"I don’t think anybody could help but fall in love with him this week," she says.
Look for Katie in the audience cheering for him, her first time at the show. And don’t be surprised if he survives another week – unless he falls on his face tonight. My guess is he goes home in a week or two.
I know folks either love Springer or hate him. (Sort of like Leno).
Some see him as embodying the spirit of “DWTS,” the poor schlub who’s doing the best he can with what he has. Others see him as a TV's worst sleazemonger.
What’s your take on him? Got a favorite Springer story from his Cincinnati politics/TV days?