Every weekday in 2014, I'll be keeping an eye on what's happening in the media. My focus will be on some of my favorite subjects...the moguls, the pundits, the broadcast news biz, show business, and the publishing business. (Read "$everance" if you want a crystallization of my positions on those subjects.) And, of course, I'll also keep tabs on Chicago's media.
Chicago Media
~Scott Dirks, Radio Dude & Bluesman
He's been a DJ and production guru for years (WLUP & WLS), but Scott Dirks has also been a blues musician for more than twenty years. If you're looking for something to do tonight, this is what Scott posted on Facebook: Last minute gig announcement - I'll be playing harmonica with Delmark recording artist Willie Buck tonight at Legends in Chicago. Hope to see some hardy blues lovers in the house tonight!
~Chicago Bears May Be Forced to Appear In Hard Knocks
If you've ever watched the HBO show about football training camps, you understand why Bears brass wants nothing to do with this. According to the linked piece above, the NFL may force them to participate.
Broadcast News
~CNN To Do A Show About Chicago: "Chicagoland"
It's going to be an unscripted reality show airing in prime time, and it's got some big hitters associated with it:
"Chicagoland" follows the inner workings of Chicago's government, including substantial access to Mayor Rahm Emanuel, which was brokered by former Obama adviser David Axelrod. Robert Redford is on board as an executive producer of the program, along with Laura Michalchyshyn.
The Pundits
~Ezra Klein's New Venture
Slate's David Weigel castigates the Washington Post for letting Klein go. He also reveals the details of Klein's new venture.
Show Biz
~NBC Hoping To Keep Jay Leno
They want him to stay aboard and maybe host some specials. I suspect, they are also hedging their bets and hoping to keep him so he doesn't start up a new late night show to compete against Jimmy Fallon. If you were Leno, and you've already been pushed out twice (while you were #1), would you take that deal from NBC?
~A German Porn Voice Over Session
This is just funny to me. You never picture the poor voice actor sitting in a studio trying to recreate/augment all the sounds. NSFW, but there's only a half-second of blurred nudity at the link.
