D

Cast of Dallas Reunites on CBS’ The Early Show

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Are You Hot?

If so, the people who are shooting the TV series The Deep End are looking for you. (After some Googling, I found a synopsis of the show that compares it to Grey’s Anatomy, but set at a law firm.) They’re casting extras daily until Dec. 6. The other qualifications are that you have to be fit, young, and upscale. Check the jump for the details.

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Kenyan Rides the Bull

While working on putting together the print issue, we’ve come across a rather unexpected photo: a man riding the mechanical bull in traditional African clothing. When I looked up the gentleman’s name, I discovered he’s from Kenya and a member of the Samburu tribe. He and his friend are traveling through America with producers from National Geographic. They’re working on a show titled “Two Kenyan Guys.”

Not only did the gentlemen apparently enjoy a rather interesting evening at Cattle Baron’s, but they also went to an SMU football practice, learned to line dance at Billy Bob’s, and visited a “fainting goat” farm in Bowie. I’m not sure these choices are the best representation of Dallas. I like picturing them at the Cattle Baron’s Ball, but I think a Cowboys game would have been exciting. I also wonder where they went for dinner. Their diet consists of beef, blood, and milk.

Check an upcoming issue of D for the picture of the man. He seems to be having a great time.

WFAA Makes My TV More Awesome With This TV

After years of getting teased for not having cable, I now get the last laugh. Because WFAA is now carrying something called This TV on its subchannel 8.3. This TV is a blend of Metro Goldwyn Mayer’s film library and a bunch of classic TV stuff. Here’s the lineup tonight. While you cable people are paying the big bucks to watch Monday Night Football or Intervention, I’ll be watching the movie Sketch Artist, with Drew Barrymore, for free. Suckers!

Leading Off (10/23/09)

1. I’ve never heard him conduct a concert. I have heard many people sing his praises. So I can imagine that there’s general excitement among the city’s classical music lovers now that the Dallas Symphony Orchestra music director has committed to staying until 2016.  Me? I don’t want to be a phony — like someone who calls himself a jazz aficionado just because he owns Kind of Blue – by claiming that I join them in their excitement. But I am glad he’ll be sticking around awhile. Because “Jaap van Zweden” is just plain fun to say.

2. I’m under age 55, so I was not watching the Jay Leno Show last night. Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones was on via satellite from inside the belly of his giant robot space turtle. Judging from this clip of the appearance, the segment featured Leno’s standard brand of excruciating comedy. Jay asked about Cowboys players dating celebrities, like Tony Romo’s relationship with Jessica Simpson. “Spice is nice,” Jerry said. Other gustatory terms come to mind, but I’ve never particularly thought of Jessica Simpson as spicy.

3. I don’t even want to imagine the horror that Raul Garza has had to live through since April, when his wife was murdered. The man who killed her was sentenced to 15 years in prison yesterday. What I can imagine, and what I hope brought him some small sense of satisfaction, was standing across from the killer in court and flinging these words at him: “You’re not a man, but a shell of human being not worthy of love because you are incapable of showing that to others. You let evil rip out your spine and your guts.”

Potential New Morning Show Crush: Good Day’s Fiona Gorostiza

I don’t often get to watch local morning shows for a variety of reasons, mostly revolving around sleep and my son’s dictatorial control of the remote. But I have tried to change my routine slightly. For one thing, my pal Rob McCollum is now a co-host for Channel 8’s Good Morning Texas. For another, I’ve discovered the secret weapon of Fox 4’s Good Day program: Fiona Gorostiza. Nominally, she is a fill-in meteorologist, taking over when Evan Andrews is off doing whatever. But she also has her own segment, “Fun with Fiona,” which is what I caught today at the gym. Good times. A quick scouting report:

• Grew up in the Philipines.
• Served as a producer for Robin Leach of Lifestyles of the Rich & Famous.
• Has a third-degree black belt in taekwondo, and holds three world titles.

Gwen Ifill on Queen Latifah’s Ifill Take: ‘Cool!’

Washington newswoman Gwen Ifill, delivering the Sammons Media Ethics Lecture last night for SMU’s Meadows School, said she isn’t crazy about the increasingly blurry lines between journalism and advocacy or entertainment. Rachel Maddow, Michael Moore and Glenn Beck don’t do journalism per se, she contended–though there’s plenty of room for their acts in the national conversation. At the same time, Ifill (pictured) said she welcomed her own 15 minutes of fame in the entertainment realm when Queen Latifah played her in a Saturday Night Live skit spoofing last year’s vice-presidential debate, which Ifill moderated. “I loved it,” the newswoman said. “A big movie star and singer and actress wants to play you. Cool!” Ifill said she’d met Latifah earlier and urged her to do the spoof, to which the entertainer replied, “Sure. Get me some material.” Added Ifill: “After McCain picked Sarah Palin, I knew I was in like Flynn!”

KERA Goes Brit With New TV Blog

An alert FBvian points us to a new blog just fired up by KERA. It goes by the somewhat prolix name Tellyspotting–Your Brit TV Pub. Bill Young, KERA’s VP of television programming, will run the thing. He’ll hopefully get around soon to calling it just Tellyspotting.

Dalton Sherman Scores Hug From Jenna Bush Hager

Tomorrow morning, Dallas ISD’s own Dalton Sherman will appear on The Today Show. Here’s a pic of him hugging it out with Hager, who is now a correspondent for the show. And here’s what the district says of Sherman’s appearance:

Student and speaker extraordinaire Dalton Sherman will be featured tomorrow, Sept. 18, on NBC’s The Today Show. Dalton, who is now a student at Dallas Environmental Science Academy, and his family were interviewed last week by new Today Show correspondent Jenna Bush Hager.

Since being the surprise keynote speaker at last year’s convocation held at the American Airlines Center, Dalton has become somewhat of a celebrity. He has appeared on Oprah and Ellen and has delivered speeches throughout the country. This past summer, Kids Who Care Inc. of Fort Worth created a musical that was inspired by his speech called District XI: Believe in Me. Dalton and his brother Demosthenes are now members of the production’s cast. The next performance is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 2, at the Scott Theatre in Fort Worth.

Local Lawyer Stars on Weeds

Okay, “stars” may be too strong a word. But I think you’ll find Ray Balestri’s performance — miming a conversation over dinner in the background of this season 5, episode 5 scene from Weeds (a walk-on part purchased at a raffle at a Dallas charity event) — riveting. That’s him in the background during the first half of this clip, at least during one of the camera angles.

What’s Next for KERA at Pledge Time, Ctd.

People are still exercised about KERA’s membership drive, which continued last night with an interesting takeout on the Benny Goodman era. One irritated FBvian points to yet another aspect of the money-raising campaign:

I’d happily sit through hours of champagne music makers and doo-
woppers if it would mean the termination of those snake-oil salesmen and sleazy “doctors” and pseudo psychologists and misadvisors who want to sell us their pet Solutions for Everything (love, parenthood, financial independence, self-actualization) and their books, DVDs, pamphlets and elixirs during pledge drive. Shame, shame on Public Television for promoting this con-game. And shame on KERA. Yes, yes, it brings in money. So does prostitution.

Another FBvian returns to the original point:

Your observations are correct. None of that “Heather Has Two Mommies” stuff at pledge time. Remember when Newt Gingrich and the Congress were going to stop funding PBS? Funny how PBS turned down the Bill Moyers Blame America Crowd tone and turned up a little Lehrer News Hours Tone stuff. Then, when the Republicans RAN EVERYTHING AND WENT MAD, they had the temerity to suggest having a (GASP!) Republican running PBS! The Outrage! In fact the shrieking and shrewing (maybe not a word but should be) was so loud the REPUBLICANS WHO RAN EVERYTHING gave up on the idea. And so, PBS has sort of drifted back to its natural bent, which is, has been, and will always be, Leftward. More LEFT at times than others, but LEFT nonetheless. Does anyone really watch PBS anymore? I don’t. And if there are 322 gazillion channels available now, tell me again why tax dollars are needed for TV?

How Real Is AMC’s Mad Men?

Very real, according to this interview with Dallas ad genius Ray Trapp, who was at Madison Avenue’s Olgivy & Mather in the day.

True Blood Does True Dallas Backdrop

The HBO hit is supposedly set in Dallas. Apparently that has been weird because not one speckle of Dallas has made it into the series — until last night. At about the 3:31 mark of this (bootlegged?) video, the newscast features — lookee here! — a Dallas skyline.

What’s Next for KERA at Pledge Time, Ctd.

KERA-loving FBvians contend I haven’t been watching enough of the station. Says one:

The fact is that public television regularly and “reliably” programs stuff like “Hank Williams, doo-wop singers, the Lawrence Welk show and Elvis.” So, in other words, you’re complaining that at pledge time they choose, from their regular array of programs, those that are more broadly appealing from a ratings standpoint, when they’re trying to raise money. Got it. You write about business, Glenn. All kinds of business. But you aren’t really in business, are ya now?

Adds another:

I find your comment is the one that actually is “disconnected.” I would think that anyone with any business acumen would understand that no one likes pledge drives, even us die-hard fans (which I am) and so, KERA takes the opportunity to lure us with things we won’t turn elsewhere for… (obviously during pledge drives I could find my news elsewhere without listening through the “tin cup rattling”). BUT, I won’t be able to find a documentary on Elvis or a Sarah Brightman concert (as I watched the last pledge drive). Maybe YOU don’t understand that since … you have a serious case of bias going on. (And worth mentioning, one without any serious evidence.)

But, at least one found some merit to the point:

My “favorite” weird KERA pledge-drive programming is the Blenko Glass Company film — a very strange choice indeed. In fact, I don’t pledge to the TV station anymore, just to 90.1.

What’s Next for KERA at Pledge Time: A Special About NASCAR–or How to Paint on Black Velvet?

Whenever you want to learn more about destitute farmers, evil businessmen and the miracle of Cuban health care, you can reliably turn to programming on KERA. Except, for some reason, during its pledge drives. If the station’s rattling the tin cup–as it is now–look for stuff like specials on Hank Williams, doo-wop singers, the Lawrence Welk show and Elvis, all sweaty in his white jumpsuit. If not exactly dishonest, doesn’t this tack indicate a big disconnect, at least? Thankyouverymuch.

NBC5 Sacks Entire Marketing Department

NBC has decided to handle all its marketing efforts from corporate headquarters. It’s part of a trend of local stations becoming less local. As Ed Bark says:

The events Thursday at KXAS only underscore the obvious. Dallas-Fort Worth is the country’s fifth-largest television market. Even so, its big-time TV stations for the most part are puppets on strings.

The Guy Gary Cogill Hates With a Passion, Ctd.

Here is “Date,” a video directed and edited by new Good Morning Texas co-host Robert McCollum for entry into the 24 Hour Video Race a couple of years ago. It won. Full disclosure: I’m friends with Robert, and he helped a little with my ill-fated mayoral campaign. Don’t hold either of those things against him.

The Guy Gary Cogill Hates With a Passion

Meet Robert McCollum. He’s the new co-anchor of Good Morning Texas. Uncle Barky has more details. But here’s what you need to know: McCollum replaces Gary Cogill, who is now going to cover performing arts for Channel 8. So Cogill was the movie guy. Then he got promoted to morning anchor guy. And now — he covers Slappy’s Puppet Playhouse. Meanwhile, the new guy? Yeah, he used to do voice-over work for Dragon Ball Z. Sure is cute!

The Bachelorette’s Tanner P.: Not A Fan of TV With Laura

Local game show contestant Tanner P. felt compelled to e-mail me at 1:18 am about my analysis of Monday’s episode. And he wasn’t happy. Here’s what he said:

Hey Laura, This is Tanner P. and someone forwarded your blog to me. All I have to say, is do you have anything good to say about anyone? I mean, you can’t find one good thing to say about anyone from the show? All you do is dog everyone for whatever you seem [sic] fit! Seriously, you must have no flaws have [sic] Laura, you are just too perfect.

Two minutes later, Tanner P. apparently got worried. Perhaps he was a little unsettled by the notion that I might actually think that I’m “too perfect.” Maybe he thought I was unfamiliar with sarcasm. I don’t know. But he chose to write again. Jump for the P.S. and the picture of me that he attached in the body of the e-mail (pilfered from Facebook).

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TV With Laura: The Bachelorette Recap X

Last night, we took a break from questions about Kiptyn’s weird kissing, Ed’s possible medical maladies, international travels, and Jillian’s bad grammar. Ok, Jillian’s bad grammar is always present–even in studio. And that’s where we were, fine friends. It’s the “Men Tell All” episode–a complete waste of two hours wherein the men complain, get indignant about something called the “man code,” and talk about what a wonder Jillian is (without irony). But most of all, it is two hours of trashing Wes, a man who isn’t even there to defend himself. Weirdly enough, I think Chris Harrison is far angrier about Wes’ alleged deception than even Jillian. So, here’s the deal: I’m not going to document this thing hardcore. Let’s save the over-analysis (which causes paralysis, by the way) for next week. Instead, let’s jump to talk about certain people.

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Leading Off, First Item, Ctd.

This may be frivolous, but it’s what people watched last night and are talking about today. When Obama threw out the game’s ceremonial first pitch, Fox blew the key shot. But a followup (not available) shows the toss failed to reach the plate, the prez saving face only when Pujols scooped the throw out of the dirt (or just before it hit the dirt). Say what you will about his predecessor; at least W threw strikes.

TV With Laura: The Bachelorette Recap Episode IX

It was the best of times, and it was the worst of times. It was a night when we saw more of Jillian than we should see at a family hour. It was an evening full of forced DTRs and awkward kissing. There were mankinis, bad suits, and leaps of faith. And most importantly, it was last night that we learned that the letters “E” and “D” aren’t merely letters used to spell “Ed.” It can stand for terrible things. Things that shouldn’t make guest appearances on network television–and never on “reality” television. So let’s scratch the whole “best of times,” shall we? It was the worst of the worst times. Let’s recap this mess after the jump.

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Extreme Makeover Builds a House, Ctd.

A question-asking FrontBurnervian checks in to ask this question:

While the situation is quite sad, they are seriously asking for donations to pay off the mortgage? What’s next — asking for donations to pay the taxes on the new house (since those will be a lot higher than the taxes now)?

The latter question, to me, has always been the quandary with a show like Extreme Makeover.

Extreme Makeover To Build Home For Injured Dallas Police Officer, Ctd.

Yes, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition is building a new crib for injured Dallas police officer Carlton Marshall and his family. But if you want to help out as well, Cheldan Homes has set up a fund to pay off the Marshall family’s current mortgage. Details follow.

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Brett Johnson, R.I.P.

Brett Johnson, a veteran NBC 5 reporter who’s said to have been more comfortable in a cowboy hat than a suit and tie, has died in a Fort Worth hospital at the age of 48. Condolences to Johnson’s family and the station.