HanSolo

Spin what? That companies like Disney routinely send people off into the unemployment line with the bare minimum required by law? Find us one average joe no longer able to work, someone far less compensated than the lead anchor at WABC, and let us know the job that was carved out for them.

That’s a lovely idea, but before lauding the company even if we assume it to be the case, the real question would be do they extend that courtesy to people whose names we would never know.

This is absurd. There will come a point he cannot do even that reporting and when it comes, it will end. But having lost multiple family members to the ravages of dementia, I can say with painful first-hand experience that were there someone of a comparable familiarity to Mr. Ritter to those relatives, it might have eased the early pain and fear momentarily. Understanding what's happening and realizing the diagnosis itself is not an immediate sentence to be banished from the world they knew. The immediate isolation while they retain the memories and the ability to communicate is devastating. Reports on Alzheimer's will be hard to watch for many. Hell, I've been through it and they'd be hard for me, triggering painful memories. But it's important that we understand that there is still so much value someone with a disease like that can bring even if their decline is inevitable. While I'm sure ABC, or any network, would love complete overlap between shows, the reality is, especially over weekends, that people are not tuning in to each broadcast and paying the kind of attention folks on board like this do.

It's a one-off. They're not taking her off the 4 pm now that she's the actual co-anchor, not the third anchor role. Just like we can guess with the attention Disney is giving Independence Day this year that some set of the main anchor teams will be on, none of which means they are moving them to Saturdays.

Are they now?

The CBS Evening News with Joe Rogan.

Sometimes we get so locked into what’s perceived as the “normal” way that it can become seen as the “only” way even when it isn’t. Maybe this doesn’t work out for them, and they switch something up. Maybe it does work out long term. The economics aren’t what they once were. Maybe being different and seeing how it plays out is worth the shot when all factors are taken into account.

This runs far deeper than lax safeguards or verification. Those are undeniably bad, but we’ve crossed a point of no return. There’s a difference between not properly vetting a package and thus getting burned vs. the bosses ordering someone to willfully, purposefully tell lies. Nothing in Scott Pelley’s history gives me cause to believe he’s not being accurate about what transpired. There is no salvaging an operation that is as deeply damaged as what he lays out.

The “dungeon” theme was fun and perfectly fine for what it was, but this is a much more “independent business” suitable brand. To anyone in any field launching their own venture, I always say sincere best wishes. It’s great to see people building something of their own.

I wouldn’t necessarily trust the guide metadata just yet and get too hung up on the new/repeat indicator. Maybe it’s correct, but in general I’ve seen enough inadvertent missed labels to take it as gospel truth.

It’s just May. The stations don’t need to be focused on ensuring they’ve announced what they’ll be filling some slots with yet. There are plenty of options between what’s in the market and in-house, depending on the station. All will become clear soon enough.

It doesn’t really matter that much who holds which title. They’re not going to bring someone in to change direction, just smooth the rougher edges of presentation. The philosophy is what it is, and even if we take at face value the rumors they may bring someone else in, said person is going to be charged with executing the vision of ownership.

If someone gets an opening, sure, he’s a logical choice (certainly not saying the only choice). Freelancing/per diem work might be what’s available at the moment. Maybe open up to freelancing work in some markets a bit further out but still manageable. Or find something else full time and do forecasting on the side. Keep options open and see where things go.

Social media posters come up with utter nonsense. Cecily joining GMA? Yeah, not here in the real world. But Chris back to channel 6? No. No openings. And many of those questions/statements on social still don’t grasp he left of his own volition. He had perfectly good reasons and it’s a shame it didn’t work out long term. Some freelance work at 29? Sure, why not. They’re a bit faster to cycle through people and don’t mind picking up people who worked in the market. But whether it’s with someone else or on his own, the current most viable path is some sort of forecasting operation outside the broadcast stations.

29 pushed the sports show to 6:30 from post late news when they launched their comical attempt at a late night talk show. But they also had been running other local shows in a sort of checkerboard at 6:30 before the most recent realignment (Clash-room, some Bob Kelley show and others). As for 17’s news…while sure, one company goal may be to push NewsNation content, if it comes down to the income taking Action News at 10 generates vs a secondary philosophical desire, the cold hard cash is going to win out. Heck, Action News at 10 could be banished to the Localish channel or streaming and still get more eyeballs than anything PHL 17 could do in that hour (not to mention the not-little matter of Fox 29).

This seems fair. These kinds of things are not one-offs. This represents yet another means by which the government is trying to coerce companies by threat of dragging them through the litigation process should they not capitulate.

This is not a “both sides” issue. The government using its full power—even threatening to—over a joke (and can we dispense with the subterfuge about it being over DEI?) is wholly and completely unacceptable. Random people on social media spouting off about their hatred for this president is not remotely the same as they do not possess the power to force a business to capitulate on a whim. Either we believe in the protections of the first amendment or we do not. And the very idea of the government threading a license over content is de facto state-run media. There has already been a concerted effort to stifle criticism, and now it’s being ratcheted up.

Economic realities are what they are, and they aren’t pretty. Mergers and acquisitions may not be popular but they may be all that keeps some entities afloat at all, even for a comparably short period of time, because the old world is never coming back.

Not sure where this Payton to NY thing keeps coming from. Realistically, it’s probably for his wife’s career that they’ll move back. He’s not getting mornings, though I’d have no objections. They’re not splitting morning from 10 am. Payton is not being stashed in Philly until someone departs in NY. To his credit, it appears he didn’t burn bridges and was sent off with good wishes. If they found themselves with several openings it might position him as a candidate. The most plausible scenario is some kind of stronger role if by some chance both Payton and Brittany had parental leave at the same time and they needed temporary help. Or somewhere down the line Karen retires and they elevate Brittany to mornings creating a weekend opening. Otherwise, possibly a gig at another station and/or following the “Nor’easter Nick” model of creating a business independent of TV.

Perhaps some people like a relatable person who provides substantial detail and explanation behind the forecasting for those interested in those kinds of things. He was among the first to start explaining how Superstorm Sandy could actually do the highly unusual “hard left turn” it ultimately took even when the official forecasts were primarily showing something different. Perhaps people have a very different assessment than yours.

I’m not so sure the timing really lines up, but knowing suspecting he might have been or considering exploring other options…sure, possibly. It was clear he was not going to get more work there, and if doing full time, weekdays was his desire, all the respect for pursuing that. Unfortunate that it didn’t last all that long, but that’s reality in so many jobs everywhere.

Regardless of timing, the idea that someone chooses something that fits their individual needs/desires/ambitions is entirely understandable. Yes, Sam had a good thing going, but making a move is not a sign of dissatisfaction with that good thing. At that point in his individual life, that was a good move. And wisely, he didn’t burn bridges. That doesn’t always give you a way back, but it sure as heck is a good strategy.

Setting aside not getting the evening weekend shift when Melissa left, they then brought in Payton doing more weekday work, basically cutting his extra shifts. Speculate away as to the reasons why. It was very clear whatever management’s reasoning was that he was not going beyond weekend mornings. It’s unfortunate when a major change like that move doesn’t work long term. With the consolidation and belt tightening everywhere, opportunities don’t abound.

In the lyrics of Semisonic, every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end. What makes Times Square fascinating in part is how spaces keep getting used and reused.

It’s a shame when a move doesn’t work out, but that opportunity vs being minimized at WPVI was a good gamble to take.