2011 has been a big year for anniversaries in the world of television. In July, commercial television turned 70 years old. This week, color TV turned 60. RCA put together this report in the mid-1950′s to explain the magic of color TV, or as they explained the technology inside color TV cameras: “The tube with a heart of a rainbow.”
With predictions are that it will draw the biggest audience in television history, broadcasters around the world are shifting into their highest gear for the royal wedding, and for the next few days London will become the focus of the world.
"Yes, we're moving to London. Where else would you be?" says Chris Hampson, NBC News' director of international news. "Everybody wants to be here. You can't sit in New York and tell this story. You have to be right in the thick of it."
And the thick of it is exactly where the world's biggest media organizations will be. Take a stroll down London's Mall toward Buckingham Palace, and the bland, tree-lined vista used mainly for bypassing the traffic chaos of Piccadilly has been transformed into a hive of pre-ceremony activity.
The traffic has been shut off, and behind the milling tourists and Japanese camera crews, two huge temporary media studios have been erected opposite either flank of the Queen's London residence. This media zone in Canada Gate will host more than 40 stand-alone studios with full play-out facilities for broadcasters including the BBC, ABC, Sky News, NBC, CBS and Al Jazeera English.
It is just part of a network of locations including Westminster Abbey, the Mall and Trafalgar Square that are host to a raft of specially erected broadcast locations.
"It's our biggest international technical build-out ever," said Hampson, who added that NBC and its sister networks including MSNBC and Telemundo, E! and Bravo began planning wedding coverage even before the royal engagement was announced in November. "We began to focus very early and had a team in London scouting locations and planning for months."
The result is a series of prime locations, including a prestige slot beneath Nelson's Column in Trafalgar Square from which NBC will broadcast a special edition of Today on Friday kicking off at 4 am EST as well as four studios in the media village at Buckingham Palace.
It is also bringing over a host of anchors including Meredith Vieira, Matt Lauer, Natalie Morales and Al Roker.
NBC is far from alone in pulling out all the stops; ABC will have live coverage of the ceremony from London anchored by Diane Sawyer and Barbara Walters, and the network will air a special edition of Good Morning America from London.
CBS is sending Katie Couric on what could be her swan song for the network. Couric will lead the main wedding coverage and anchor an hourlong news special at 8 p.m. Friday.
CNN will use its London squad as well getting as an insider's take from Piers Morgan, while Fox News is sending over around 50 staff including Shepard Smith and Martha Macullum.
Fox will piggyback on the feed from its sister U.K. network Sky News, which, like all the British broadcasters, is planning wall-to-wall coverage of the event.
Click here to read the entire article: The WEDDING
By Nate Freeman
In anticipation of the Nov. 9 release of his memoir Decision Points, George W. Bush will sit down with Matt Lauer for a prime-time news special this Monday to talk over the experiences relayed in the book. In the excerpts released yesterday in a press release, the NBC anchor grilled the ex-head of state on the memoir's key moments — namely 9/11, the Iraq War, Hurricane Katrina, etc.
But which of these events — all of them defining disasters of this millennium — does Bush consider the worst moment of his presidency? None, actually! It seems Bush is the latest victim of the cutting disses Kanye West can sneak into his nimble, dexterous flow. The offending quip, of course, was West's assertion, on an NBC Katrina telethon, that "George Bush doesn't care about black people." Bush admits that 'Ye burned him hard.
MATT LAUER:
This from the book. “Five years later I can barely write those words without feeling disgust.” You go on. “I faced a lot of criticism as President. I didn’t like hearing people claim that I lied about Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction or cut taxes to benefit the rich. But the suggestion that I was racist because of the response to Katrina represented an all time low.”
PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH:
Yeah. I still feel that way as you read those words. I felt ‘em when I heard ‘em, felt ‘em when I wrote ‘em and I felt ‘em when I’m listening to ‘em.
Kanye has dealt with the haters before — diss tracks from the Dipset crew, Barack Obama calling him a "jackass" after he interrupted Taylor Swift — but nothing compared to the president calling his insult the lowest point of an eight-year tenure in the Oval Office. What's beef, W.?
Entering into the Modern Age of Television, which I now call Hulu. I don’t have a TV anymore. My TV set I had since 4th grade died. I disconnected my Time Warner Cable in March. I have been off the tube ever since. However, I discovered a new way of watching TV, on my laptop computer then on my HTC 4G Sprint phone. TV anytime and anywhere… How you may ask? HULU.com.
Hulu is about to make a big move -- talk of an IPO within the next couple of months appears to be well founded. The timing is right, says BU professor N. Venkatraman, as the economy is expected to pick up in 2011, and the tech sector with it. "Media will be one of those sectors that will be redefined by tech, and Hulu wants to be seen as the leader of the pack."
And I must agree with Professor Venkatraman, www.Hulu.com is the coolest site to me. I haven’t watched network TV in years. For the past 2 -3 years, the TV was parked on the History Channel, TNT with The Closer and Lifetime with reruns of The Golden Girls. Now with the 2010 Fall Season, ABC, CBS and ABC have got my attention with my Top 5 show. If you believe it or not I watch them all thanks to Hulu.
Number 5
Undercovers on NBC
Years into their retirement, a husband and wife team are re-activated as CIA agents.
Very entertaining! I loved it! This new spy-fest feels like a cross between the TV shows "Hart to Hart" and "Alias" and the movie "True Lies." Even though the pilot may have seemed a little lackluster at times, this is usual for pilots, since the script has to incorporate the introduction of brand new characters and situations to the audience as well as a back-story. There is obvious potential for fun and exciting story lines this season, and I'm really looking forward to it! The casting of Boris and Gugu as the main characters is fabulous! They have wonderful chemistry and actually have the "aura" of spy-intelligent tech-geniuses! Also, it is quite refreshing to have a husband and wife team who have a LOVING relationship instead of the unhappy, fighting, "why did I marry you" type of couples running rampant in today's sitcoms. I hope they stick to their guns like "Hart to Hart" and keep this couple in love and in one accord. Movie and TV writers/producers should realize that there REALLY ARE some HAPPY couples out there -- emotionally mature, secure, and enjoying their relationships! It's time to reflect that segment of the population on screen too! Anyway, so far, the show looks like an adorable winner! Loved the globetrotting locations too! Can't wait for the next episode!
Number 4
The Event on NBC
When
a man goes looking for his missing girlfriend, he stumbles upon a government conspiracy that is bigger than the president himself.
We have Sean Walker (played by Jason Ritter of Three’s Company) on a plane - and he manages to get a gun onto the plane. Seriously? So you're asking us to completely suspend reality in the opening scene, because apparently the writers have never been through an airport security screening. Fine, then we go back in time to have a flashback. Cool - we need some set-up.
So Sean and his soon-to-be fiancé' Leila Buchanan (played by Sarah Roemer) are going on a cruise. Leila is a single mom, with her daughter being left with Leila's parents. Okay, fine. Then we flash forward. Then we flash back. That continues happening all throughout the whole episode - and basically ruined the whole episode.
Though some believe it was a bit "busy" and didn't enjoy the flashbacks, this is something a lot of shows or series for that matter are doing. It seems confusing at the time it’s a set up so that in future shows you say,” so that's what that was about, now I get it." It leaves the viewer acknowledging these little "treasures" that give explanation to something previously seen. It wouldn't be any fun if everything were explained as the show progressed. It's the show that makes us think & piece together information viewed so we can try and figure how things are connected and then when revealed we either are proud we got it right or realize we didn't take all the facts into account and got it wrong. It almost makes the show an "interactive" experience & then we sit a discuss it with co-workers trying to figure it out. I guess more lazy minded viewers would like it explained bit this way it’s so much more exciting. You wouldn't want a mystery novel to tell you the killer or meaning of the clues in the first chapter, you read on to see how it relates. These are just my opinions; everyone else has a right to theirs. I loved it.
Number 3
Modern Family on ABC
A satirical look at three different families and the trials they face in each of their own uniquely comedic ways.
Give this show a chance. I really kind of watched it against my will, but figured I'd give it a shot. I bet out of a hundred pilots, I would like maybe one - this was that one. I literally laughed out loud at numerous parts - the way that it comes together is interesting / well-done - each couple has an interesting balance - great dialog (IMDB won't let me spell it with a "ue" at the end) - original characters - I'm impressed.
I don't think I've ever seen ABC come out with something in this vein. Normally their shows are a bit watered down, but this is edgy and as fresh as anything I've seen hit network TV. I know that comparisons to Arrested Development will be frequent, but I think that this has more structure. The characters aren't as wacky, but they're more believable and easier to sympathize with in my eyes. Tremendous acting, great kid actors - I forwarded the pilot to a bunch of people already, and I feel lucky that I got to watch it before it came out officially.
Number 2
Desperate Housewives on ABC
Secrets and truths unfold through the lives of female friends in one suburban neighborhood, after the mysterious suicide of a neighbor.
This season we got a beauty queen on the block. A REAL QUEEN!!! LOL
After Renee (played by Vanessa Williams) begins spending a lot of time with Tom, an angry Lynette feels she's trying to sabotage their marriage; Bree fires Keith without warning when she suddenly finds herself falling for him; Susan is wracked with guilt about lying to Mike about her new, risque side job; Gabrielle rushes to the hospital after learning that Bree accidentally hit Juanita with the car; and Paul introduces the women of Wisteria Lane to his new wife.
My Favorite HULU Show this season.
Number 1
Outsourced on NBC
A manager is sent to India to oversee a staff of customer service representatives.
Never really wanted to go to Mumbai, but this apparent TV sitcom take on a 2006 movie (didn't see it) about a mid-level management type in charge of a new novelty telemarketing office in India gives it an almost college campus-type setting - complete with cafeteria - that almost makes it look like an interesting place to go. The culture clash between mid-stream, Midwestern America and the Indian call center employees could've been ugly or boring. This is neither. The light relationship banter, reminiscent of "Better off Ted," keeps the characters interesting, and sets the stage to await further developments. There's obviously a lot more rich cultural material to mine. Have to admit, the novelties are interesting enough that you wonder, if someone is actually selling them somewhere, how much would they be?
LADY GAGA LEAVES THOUSANDS OF FANS HUNGRY AT TODAY SHOW CONCERT AFTER PROMISING FREE PIZZA. Thousands of fans from all across the nation waiting on line for 24 hours for Lady Gaga’s free concert were promised free pizza from Lady Gaga herself on Twitter. The fans went hungry all night long when there was not enough pizza to go around and thousands were glued to their coveted spot and had no food.
Jay Zevi of Pizza Packet will be throwing New York City’s largest Gaga pizza party for the fans who went cheese less. Over 10,000 slices will be distributed to Lady Gaga fan club members and spectators. A look-a-like contest along with the pizza party will be held today, Friday, July 9 at 12:00 P.M. at Bravo Pizza in Union Square Park at 115 East 14th Street with Jay Zevi of Pizza Packet giving the winner two free tickets to her Madison Square Garden concert tonight. A Gaga Party will take place with thousands of free slices given out to the public as dozens of Lady Gaga impersonators vie for tickets to the sold-out show.
If you waited on line for the concert last night and missed out on free pizza that was promised come to the contest today, eat and watch contestants compete. Lady Gaga’s avant-garde style has spawned numerous imitators, and at Bravo Pizza her most dedicated fans will show up dressed like her for a chance to see her perform live.
Photograph: Cinetext/Sportsphoto Ltd/Allstar
Posted by Dave Gelly
Lena Horne - a lady not for turning
Throughout a career that brought international acclaim, the showbiz legend never softened her firm stance against racism.
If she could have swallowed her pride, Lena Horne could have had an easy life. Born into a middle-class African-American family in New York in 1917, she was beautiful, talented and ambitious. At the age of 16, much to her family's disapproval, she auditioned as a chorus dancer at the famous Cotton Club, and got the job. She followed this up by taking voice lessons, sang with the black "society" band of Noble Sissle and appeared on Broadway in Blackbirds of 1939 and 1940.
The first jolt in her hitherto smooth showbiz career occurred when she became the singer with the top-flight white band of Charlie Barnet and suffered the indignity of having to use the tradesmen's entrance and goods elevator when working at smart hotels. She left Barnet to concentrate on cabaret work and found herself working at the most unusual nightclub in the whole of New York. Café Society Downtown was a determinedly non-segregated venue whose motto was "The wrong place for the right people". In this radical milieu, where Paul Robeson was a regular attraction and where Billie Holiday had introduced the anti-lynching song Strange Fruit, Lena - as she later declared - found herself.
At the same time, she was blossoming into a star. She appeared in several films, most famously Stormy Weather (where she sang the title song) and Cabin In The Sky (along with Louis Armstrong and Ethel Waters). Throughout the second world war she was the black GIs' number-one pinup. She refused to take demeaning parts or to wear special makeup to darken her naturally light-toned complexion.
In 1947 she married her musical director, Lennie Hayton, but they were forced to keep their marriage a secret for three years because of racist threats. The marriage lasted until Hayton's death in 1971.
At the age of 74 Lena Horne starred in her own Broadway show, The Lady And Her Music. It ran for 14 months, after which she took it on tour around the US for a further year. At 80 she gave a concert at the JVC jazz festival in New York, where she received a lifetime achievement award. Until the very end, she never once softened her firm stance against racism or missed an opportunity to advance the cause she believed in. She will be missed.
