Hot Off The Press: The Latest TV News and Information - Page 270

I'll repeat what I have said often, dad. I don't think people really care what I like as long as I provide information about shows they might enjoy. (And the vast majority of shows I post about I would never watch -- although I sample almost all network and major cable programs at least once or twice.)

And I generally work pretty diligently at not injecting my personal negative comments about a show into post here. I have found that people who like a show I might detest take negative comments about their show pretty personally.

So, on this thread at least, it is all about suggesting shows you might not have heard about or some critic thinks you could enjoy. It sure as heck (with the exception of "Friday Night Lights") not about me hitting you over the head to watch , or not watch, any show.

That lengthy disclaimer out of the way, I've watched several summer shows that I enjoy. They just aren't the types of shows most here would agree with me about.

I think "The Closer" keeps getting better; I still harbor hopes for "Saving Grace"; I haven't liked "Damages" at all (except for the chilling performance by Ms. Close); I enjoyed "Army Wives" and "Starter Wife" and don't much care for the other shows I have sampled. I was most surprised that I didn't like "The Company" or "Burn Notice".

I'll give "Mad Men" a try when its run concludes and I can watch the episodes back-to-back.

And there have been a host of great baseball games on TV recently -- last week's 10-9 Phillies Mets game (or was it 28-27?) was as much fun as I can recall having in a while -- and I don't care much about either team.

And then Saturday college football was really fun. Unless, I suppose, you live in Ann Arbor.

I think it is amusing and an honor, gp78. Thanks for the plug.

I agree with those who feel DVDs (and DVRs) can change the way many people watch TV.

I recorded many of my favorite series starting last January, and in many cases watched batches of episodes at a time.

No three-week or longer hiatuses (hiati?), etc. And I found that the flow was far easier to sustain -- heck the previous episode just ended 10 seconds ago.

I think the changes in "ER" over the years became more subtle when episodes were viewed en masse -- and to me, at least, far less objectionable.

TV Notes
TBS Renews Comedy Show
‘The Bill Engvall Show’ Gets Second Season
By R. Thomas Umstead Multichannel News 9/4/2007

TBS Tuesday said it renewed its hit original comedy series The Bill Engvall Show for a second season.

The series, which features comedian Engvall as a family counselor whose own family is unpredictable and a little mixed up themselves, has averaged a 1.8 household rating and 2.0 million viewers through seven episodes. The eighth and final episode of the show’s freshman season airs tonight.

In addition, Engvall will host a comedy series special -- Blue Collar Comedy: The Next Generation -- which will debut on TBS Nov. 17.

“Working with Bill and the wonderful and immensely talented people behind his show has been a great experience, and we couldn’t be happier about continuing that relationship on this, TBS’s first in-house production,” said Michael Wright, senior vice president in charge of the Content Creation Group for TBS, TNT and TCM in a prepared statement. “We’re also thrilled to be working with Bill and four fresh comic talents on Blue Collar Comedy: The Next Generation.

http://www.multichannel.com/index.as...leID=CA6475082

Washington Notes
Peer Review Supports Pro-A La Carte FCC Study
By John Eggerton Broadcasting & Cable 9/4/2007

The FCC Tuesday released the peer reviews of its 10 media-ownership-related studies, plus two others, and the results are a mixed bag, but with at least one big present for FCC Chairman Kevin Martin.

Among the two others was a study commissioned by Martin that generally made a case for an a la carte cable business model. According to the reviews, releaesed Tuesday, it was found to be sound. The Martin-commissioned study had criticized an earlier study conducted under former FCC Chairman Michael Powell that had concluded just the opposite.
Martin is a big backer of a la carte as a way to lower cable prices and raise the level of control parents have over cable programming.

"In sum, I found no mistakes or incorrect economic assertions in the Further Report," said the reviewer of the second a la carte study. "Rather, it appears to present sound economic criticism of the First Report, including pointing out the potential costs of bundling and benefits of a la carte."

On the other side, a study that concluded that franchise build-out requirements would not benefit consumers was found wanting.

A Pew Research Center review of of a Nielsen study on where and how people get their information was labeled a credible effort, but was cited for a low response rate (2.2%) and the citing of online media brands but not others in the questions.

The 10 ownership studies were generally found to be solid, but with suggested improvements and questions about some of the findings.

The FCC commissioned the studies as part of its onoing review of its media ownership rules.

The peer reviews were conducted per Office of Management and Budget rules regarding certain reports from federal agencies.

http://www.broadcastingcable.com/ind...leID=CA6475146

Technology Notes
NBCU to Sell TV Shows Through Amazon
Deal Comes After Programmer Canceled Distribution Deal With Apple iTunes
By Todd Spangler Multichannel News 9/4/2007 2:11:00 PM

Just days after NBC Universal nixed its distribution deal with Apple iTunes, the company announced a new pact with Amazon.com to sell television shows from NBCU broadcast and cable networks.

As part of the deal, Amazon Unbox (http://unbox.amazon.com) and NBCU will offer various content packages, including up to 30% off when customers purchase full seasons of their favorite TV series.

Content to be available on Amazon will include NBC’s The Office, Heroes, and 30 Rock, USA Network’s Monk, Sci-Fi Channel’s Battlestar Galactica, Bravo’s Top Chef and Telemundo’s El Cuerpo De Deseo.

In its failed negotiations with Apple’s iTunes, NBCU had reportedly sought more copy-protection controls as well as more flexibility in pricing. Apple fired back last week with a press release asserting that NBCU had asked for “more than double the wholesale price for each NBC TV episode.”

Amazon Unbox, starting Sept. 10, will allow users to download for free the pilot episodes of NBC’s new shows – prior to their network premieres – including Bionic Woman, Chuck, Journeyman and Life. New episodes will be available on Amazon Unbox the day after they air on TV.

Previously, NBCU had a film distribution deal with Amazon.com -- which has offered movies from Universal Pictures, Rogue Pictures and Focus Features since September 2006 -- but the deal announced Tuesday is the first for the duo covering TV shows.

Overall, Amazon Unbox provides more than 10,000 television shows, movies and other video content for rent or purchase.

“With the addition of NBC Universal TV content to Amazon Unbox, fans now have the ultimate convenience for enjoying their favorite shows whenever or wherever they want,” NBCU president of digital distribution Jean-Briac Perrette said, in a statement. “This further expands our longstanding relationship to bring a robust content offering to the marketplace in a variety of ways that will benefit the consumer and, at the same time, protects our content.”

http://www.multichannel.com/index.as...leID=CA6475135

Yikes, Alan.

Actually, I was "Yikes!ing" your "Bionic Woman" post.

I had feared the worst, and you seem to have confirmed it.