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February's arrival outstanding news for those who hate repeats
The networks are giving new meaning to TGIF this year after mostly abandoning regularly scheduled programming right after Thanksgiving - not coincidentally, the end of the November ratings sweep. Since then, it's been an odd blend of reruns, holiday specials, reality programming, awards shows and prime-time sports. And, of course, Leno.
The two-month drought ends this week, with the return of "Lost" and first-run episodes of virtually all dramas and sitcoms. Soon, we'll have answers to such riveting questions as: Will "Lost" lose traction airing against "American Idol" on Tuesday? Will "Idol" be in tune without veteran judge Paula Abdul? Will "Brothers and Sisters" still be a viable TV family when Rob Lowe departs? The answer is yes to all three.
Then again, I thought Jay Leno would do just fine at 10 p.m.
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• "Glee," too, has been renewed for a second season, but don't count on it returning to its current time slot. It's conceivable Fox will move the show to shore up its faltering Thursday lineup this fall. Current occupant "Fringe" is probably headed to a permanent alternate universe (the planet Hiatus) soon.
• Networks are chopping dead wood. CBS axed "Numbers" several weeks ago, and now ABC has cut "Ugly Betty" free as well. The good news, in both instances, is that writers have the opportunity to wrap up storylines and produce those "very special" final episodes, even if networks decide the "special" time to air them is mid-July.
• Note to "Heroes" and "Cold Case": The ax man cometh.
• If, 30 years ago, NBC announced it was moving Johnny Carson to weekdays at 10 p.m., there would have been applause all around, and perhaps even a countermove by ABC and CBS, with talk shows featuring Merv Griffin or David Frost. Given the TV landscape at the time, the affable Carson would no doubt have succeeded - unless, like Leno, he ditched the desk and the traditional "Tonight" show trappings for mini-car rallies. In the end, that may be exactly what imploded Leno: the format.
• Maybe Oprah knows it's time for her to move on. Last week's interview with Leno was lame - almost as if Leno had handed her the questions beforehand. A wasted hour.
• In Western Pennsylvania, not so much. While area-specific Internet radio trends aren't available, this area has endorsed classic rock above all for more than a decade. Country and oldies (which didn't even chart on the Radiotime list) are far more popular locally than Top 40 and hip-hop. All of this plays to the fact there is an older listening base here, and that those listeners are much less likely to get their radio fix from a computer. And, of course, that folks here still get their news from newspapers.
• Mike Pintek has replaced the late Fred Honsberger middays at KDKA-AM. Be pleased that KD opted for a local host rather than a syndicated show, which is clearly the national trend.
• Sports radio is going to get a lot more interesting this month when the area gets its first FM all-sports station at 93.7, which will be known as KDKA-FM. B-94s music (and some of its personalities) have merged with Star 100 (100.7). Were it another market, there would be a question on whether three all-sports stations could survive. The only question here, though, is what sports team will be lured to what?
Terry Hazlett can be reached at snowballrizzo@aol.com.
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