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
My February media column has been posted at the Illinois Entertainer. This month I got into the weeds of disc-jockeying with WLS Radio's Greg Brown.
~WGN-FM
The internet version of WGN, which stars Johnny B and Harry Teinowitz, is adding a few other voices this week. Pugs & Kelly and Abe Kanan will be getting tryouts this week, according to Chicagoland Radio & Media. (I've previously interviewed Pugs for Chicago Radio Spotlight)
~Lineup Shuffle Coming to ABC-7
Robert Feder has the details about the implications of Katie Couric's departure, and it's good news for Jeopardy fans. It looks like it will be returning to it's old 3:30pm timeslot.
The Moguls
~Amazon's plan to take over the world
According to this piece, it's poised to become the biggest media company in the world.
~Rupert to be inducted into the TV Hall of Fame
The ceremony will be held on March 11. Details in the Guardian.
The Pundits
~O'Reilly's interview with the president
It was testy, but Bill finally got to ask questions about the non-scandals that Fox News is obsessed with. "These kinds of things keep on surfacing in part because you and your TV station will promote them," the president said. Now Fox will get to spend a week obsessing that the president is blaming them for the non-scandals they just know are much bigger deals than everyone else in the world believes. It's a never-ending cycle.
~Katie's getting married
Katie Couric was a guest on Howard Stern's 60th birthday bash and spilled the beans about her upcoming wedding. People Magazine has more at the link.
~Bill Kristol to join ABC News
The Weekly Standard's editor Bill Kristol will become a panelist on George Stephanopolos' show "This Week". Basically he and George Will have just swapped jobs.
Advertising
~Super Bowl Commercials
The New York Times analyzes this year's crop. I don't think there was a particularly memorable one in the whole bunch.
Showbiz
~Philip Seymour Hoffman
Sad news--the Academy Award winning actor Philip Seymour Hoffman died yesterday of a drug overdose (the needle still in his arm). Addiction can take any life, even the great ones. I hope he's remembered for his work and not for the way he died. It usually doesn't work that way, unfortunately. Ask John Belushi's family.
~Jerry & George Reunion
They teased it on the Super Bowl commercial last night, and here's the full webisode at the link above.
