Tim needs help

Tim Conway, Jr. is asking for a bit of help from his fans. He wants people to sign up for his Tech News Fan Page on Facebook. Why? He says not to ask. I would help him out, but I don't have a Facebook account yet (I'm sure that is not much of a shock). Remember that Tim can be heard on Saturdays for his Tech News show from 1 - 2pm on KNX. He is heard Sundays from 2-5pm on KFI.

The Mighty Met returns

Just a reminder that KMET is coming back on the air tomorrow on The Sound 100.3. Should be fun.

Local News Emmy nominations announced

The nominations for the local L.A. Emmys have been announced and KTTV and KNBC lead the pack with 16 nominations each. Candidates for the under 35 minute newscast are KCBS and KNBC’s 11pm news which will battle it out with Fox 11 news at 10am and news on KVEA and KMEX. In the over 35 minute category it’ll be the 10pm news of KTTV, KCAL and KTLA, KCOP and the KCBS and KNBC news at 5pm. In the live news coverage of an unscheduled event KCBS/KCAL and KTTV were nominated for the Metrolink crash and KTTV was also nominated for the November firestorm coverage. I blogged about KTTV’s coverage of the fires and thought it was quite good at the time. For daily newscast we have shows on KVEA and KMEX, CBS 2 news at 6am, Good Day LA (Fox 11), KTLA Morning News and KCAL 9 News at Noon.

For hard news reporting, Ana Garcia (KNBC), Joel Grover (KNBC) and Chip Yost (KTLA) were nominated. For sports reporting there were only 2 nominees – Curt Sandoval (KABC) and Patrick O’Neal (Fox Sports Net West).

To see the full list of nominees see the Hollywood Reporter’s PDF file.

Any thoughts on who should win? Was your favorite left out?

Morning bits

Good morning.

*KTLA won’t air the marijuana-tax ad either (LA Times)

*This Sunday you can hear Curt Smith of Tears for Fears host My Turn on The Sound (100.3) at 6pm.

*The readers of this blog are the best. Yesterday I asked what happened to Dave Smith on KLAA and have already got an answer. From the comments "anonymous" writes that Smith was let go due to "budgetary necessity."

KLOS wants your blood

KLOS is holding it's 28th annual blood drive from July 28-August 1. Over the years, KLOS has collected about 105,000 units of blood. There will be collecting locations set up all over the southland. Those who participate will receive a t-shirt and a voucher for a concert ticket for either Crue Fest 2, Journey or Def Leppard/Poison/Cheap Trick. All concerts are at the San Manuel Amphitheatre.

To make an appointment call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE or visit givelife.org. For more information and collecting locations, go to the KLOS website.

Afternoon bits

*Today was the 18th anniversary of the KTLA Morning News.

*Dallas Raines (ABC 7) is asking $1.8 million for his house in Pasadena. (Block Shopper)

* ABC 7 has rejected to air an ad calling for the legalization of pot because KABC felt it encouraged pot smoking. (Huffington Post)

*A reader wants to know if anyone knows why Dave Smith is no longer co-hosting The Sports Lodge with Roger Lodge on KLAA 830am. I checked his webpage and the station's webpage and couldn't find anything. Anyone?

Morning bits

Good morning.

*Watch Al Rantel’s final show on KABC 790 in case you missed it.

* Jay-Z to headline Power 106's Powerhouse (LA Times)

*The LA Times reviews the TV coverage of the MJ memorial

*A reader let me know that Fox 11 screwed up the feed just when Paris started to talk at the memorial. This may be my new favorite moment.

Afternoon bits

The all Michael Jackson edition.

*As I got in the car to go home, I turned on John and Ken (KFI 640) and found them in the middle of an interview with Matt Szabo who is the spokesperson for the LA mayor’s office. The subject: reimbursement for the taxpayers for the memorial. They threw everything at this guy including the mayor being in Africa, tents and rolling around with Lu Parker. This was classic John and Ken. Quite fun and it can be heard at the KFI website.

*Want to donate money to cover the costs of the memorial? (yeah right) Go to the mayor’s webpage to donate.

*I found coverage of the service on KRTH. Any other FM stations covering it that you heard? I can’t get AM radio at work.

*Want to watch the service again? Entertainment Weekly has the video

*I have a friend in the funeral industry who is upset with the media because they keep reporting the casket for MJ cost $25,000. My friend says that is cost and that the actual price is much, much higher. So there is my one piece of inside info - take that TMZ.

*I missed most of the local TV coverage. How was it? Who did you like? What made you cringe?

Memorial service - KFI style

I had a tough time at work trying to watch the Michael Jackson memorial or any of the news around it. The internet was clogged so I couldn’t get a video feed to stay up. Luckily, I was able to get the live coverage from KFI to stay up and I got to listen to some of the coverage by Bill Handel and Gary Hoffmann. They definitely covered the service “KFI style” and I was able to jot down a few of their lines. I don’t know which one said what and every word may not be accurate, but you get the gist.

The audience is chanting Michael, Michael.
Do they want him to talk?

Jennifer Hudson looks fat.
She’s pregnant.
Oh.

Look at the difference between someone who really knew and loved this man, and someone who is pompous like Al Sharpton.

There they are screaming for Michael again…well…you know. It’s the same people who talk back to movies.

Comparing him to Martin Luther King is a stretch.

Then John and Ken took over.

Who is this?
Congresswoman Shelia Jackson Lee.
Is she nuts?

Afternoon bits

So, what are you doing tomorrow? Yes, the big Michael Jackson memorial extravaganza is set for Tuesday. Our local and national media will be covering every moment. KFI will have Bill Handel on from 9-12. John and Ken will broadcast from 12-7. It sounds like John Philips over on KABC 790 will be doing the bulk of the coverage from the way he’s been talking about it. He initially wanted to be up in a helicopter for the event, but then found out it was a no fly zone so he’ll be on the ground. The memorial is set to begin at 10am and will be available on TV, radio and the internet. Luckily, I’ll be at work and will most likely miss all of it.

This memorial is going to cost us taxpayers millions. At least councilman Dennis Zine is trying to get the promoters AEG to cough up the costs.

Morning bits

Good morning - hope everyone had a nice holiday.

*Jillian Barberie Reynolds (Fox 11 GDLA) is pregnant.

*Casey Kasem ended his reign as host of American Top 20 Countdown on Saturday. It marked 39 years to the day that he has served as host of the show. Kasem said he loved the show but “this decision will free up time I need to focus on myriad other projects." (Radio Ink)

*So I jumped in - I’m on twitter. Not sure what to do with it (or how to work it) and have only made one really lame tweet. But if you want to follow on twitter you can do so at twitter.com/socal_cydoniax. Give me some suggestions for what you’d like to see as I’d like to relate it to the blog. Unfortunately, I’m a member of what I call the “urban Amish” and have the most rudimentary of cell phones with no web access, so I am restricted to posting via a computer.

Morning bits

Good morning.

*Richard Wagoner has a piece on John Phillips who has taken over the slot that Al Rantel has vacated at KABC 790. (LA Daily News)

*Gary Lycan reports that Kennedy (of Kennedy and Suits) will start another job in addition to her evening gig at KFI. Starting this Monday she will host “Music in the Morning” on Star 98.7 which begins at 6am. She will provide breaking news and lifestyle reports for the show. (Orange County Register)

*Gary Lycan also reports that Dr. Demento has joined the KMET tribute on July 10 on The Sound 100.3 (Orange County Register)

*Pat Harvey anchored last night's 6pm news on KCBS. Looks like KCBS/KCAL will be working with a skeleton crew over the holiday with anchors pulling double duty at both stations. Makes you wonder how long it will take until this becomes the norm with all the budget cuts.

Jack likes Manny

Jack FM (93.1) is having a promo today at Dodger stadium to mark the return of Manny Ramirez. The first 1,000 cars that come through and allow a Jack bumper sticker to be stuck on their cars get a free t-shirt and tickets to an upcoming Dodger game.

Morning bits

Good morning.

*A squirrel emerges from between a woman's breasts

*I was thinking that one of the good things about all the Michael Jackson coverage is that I didn't have to see the annual story about the dangers of fireworks. You know the one - the stations cover some local fire department that sets up a dummy and puts a firecracker in its hand and lets it explode. Or maybe I've just missed it.

*I don't mind a bit of MJ news, but just not 24/7 from all the channels. CNN and MSNBC are still leading with the story as are all the local channels. How many fans can they interview? If you need updates, go to the web - TMZ, The Enterprise Report and Roger Friedman are particularly good with breaking news and exclusives. The traditional media has really been beaten out by the web media on this story, so why not go back to reporting the news? Budget crisis anyone? Iran? Health care?

*Beetlejuice from the Howard Stern show remembers Michael Jackson in his own very Beetlejuice way.

*I don't mean to keep harping on this, but today the 4am news on KNBC started at 4:15. Apparently there is Wimbledon coverage late night for about 15 minutes (thanks to the commenter who notified me that this was going on). With only 15 minutes for the newscast, it was very streamlined without a lot of time spent on you know who. This was a good thing.

*Thank goodness this is a holiday weekend - I need it. I think we all do.

Maybe it's just me - Lu Parker and the mayor

The mayor had his second inauguration today and guess who went? His girlfriend of course – KTLA’s Lu Parker. To give KTLA credit, they mention and show her in this story by reporter Lynette Romero. Eric Spillman (KTLA) also posted a picture of Lu at the inauguration church service on Twitter (h/t LA Observed ).

I’m sorry – how am I supposed to watch the news objectively when Parker is anchoring? They say she won’t report on the mayor. But how many other stories about Los Angeles indirectly involve the mayor? Stories about the city, the police department, the fire department, etc. When is it not going to be okay for the woman who is sharing his bed (and has a prominent position at his inauguration) to be reporting the news in Los Angeles as if she had no horse in the race? And what has happened to KTLA to allow this? Again, maybe it's just me.

Quote of the day

"I had no emotional investment in the guy. To me he was just a creepy child molester".

-John Kobaylt on today's John and Ken show on the death of Michael Jackson

Morning bits

Good morning.

*John and Ken (KFI 640) will return for today and tomorrow. I'm not sure if they were originally scheduled to return this week from their vacation (I expect not), but I'm sure they will be covering the ongoing saga of MJ.

*Turned on the KNBC news at 4am this morning and found - the Jimmy Fallon show. I left the room for about 15 mins and when I came back, the news was on. I'm not sure if they are starting the news late now. But there was a report about i-phones from a reporter who was obviously in San Diego. So it looks like KNBC is not only sharing Fritz with KNSD, but KNSD is sharing with us. I tried to find the reporter on their website, but it's a horrible mess just like the KNBC one.

*Michael Jackson is still dead. All the coverage in the world won't change that.

*And which reporter hasn't felt like slapping some idiot in the background who is trying to ruin your live shot?

Michael all the time

A FOX reporter was hit by a car outside of the Jackson family home last night. Craig Boswell was standing on Hayvenhurst Avenue when his foot was run over by a car that may have been speeding. Hal Eisner (KTTV Fox 11) was there and sent out some Tweets about it which LA Observed has.

And while we are talking about Michael Jackson, TV Newser reports that the cable networks devoted 93% of their airtime last Thursday and Friday to the Michael Jackson story. I am reluctant to turn on the news these days because all you hear about nationally or locally is Michael Jackson. When is enough, enough? I’ve about had it.

We hear rumors...

That there may have been some massive layoffs at KTTV and KCOP in mostly behind the scenes personnel. Numbers may be as high as 100 people who were apparently given 90 day notices. Will post more when more details arise. Not good for all invloved.

Update: Instant Riverside has the story as well.

Sunday evening update: The Hollywood Reporter is reporting today that 95 staffers at KTTV/KCOP were given 60-day layoff notices. The layoffs may not occur in part or in full if the economy improves.

Quote of the day

Jillian Barberie Reynolds to the Howard 101 News regarding a previous appearance where she admitted that she and Dorothy Lucey don’t get along on Good Day LA on FOX 11:

“Dorothy hates me even more now. She heard about my appearance on the Stern show, she now won’t talk to me or even look at me. Howard is right, she hates me. High school all over again. Whatever.”