Television Obscurities

Me-TV announces affiliation agreement with Fisher Communications’ KATU-TV, Portland

RGJ — Thu, 17 May 2012 01:07:24 +0000

Me-TV announces affiliation agreement with
Fisher Communications’ KATU-TV, Portland

5.15.2012 – Chicago, Illinois – Me-TV announces an affiliation agreement with Fisher Communications-owned KATU-TV, Portland, OR. The station will launch Me-TV on June 24, 2012 and will be seen over-the-air on channel 2.2 as well as on Comcast channel 302, Charter channel 292 and Wave Broadband channel 60. Me-TV Network now clears more than 79% of the country, serving more than 122 affiliates.

“We are excited about adding Me-TV to our slate of multicast offerings. Me-TV’s programming is a natural fit for our audience, advertisers and sales teams in Portland. Classic sitcoms appeal across age groups and are wonderful for family viewing,” stated Randa Minkarah, SVP Revenue & Business Development for Fisher Communications.

Me-TV features a wide range of programming which audiences and advertisers find comfortable and engaging. Me-TV’s library includes almost 100 series from Twentieth Century Fox Television Distribution, CBS Television Distribution, NBCUniversal Television as well as independent series owners and producers. Me-TV’s line-up include some of the most beloved television programs ever produced, including: M*A*S*H, Perry Mason, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, The Dick Van Dyke Show, The Bob Newhart Show, Gunsmoke, That Girl, the original Star Trek and Hawaii Five-O series.

Me-TV, memorable entertainment television, launched nationally in December 2010, is owned and operated by Weigel Broadcasting Co. and distributed by MGM Television. Click here for additional information about the network, current show list and complete program schedule.

About Weigel Broadcasting Co.
Weigel Broadcasting Co. and affiliate companies own and operate The U/WCIU-TV 26.1, The U Too/ WCIU-TV 26.2, Me-TV/WCIU-TV 26.3, Me-Too/WCIU-TV 26.4, THIS/ WCIU-TV 26.5, WWME-CA 23, WMEU-CA 48 in Chicago, IL; CBS/WDJT-TV 58.1, WMLW/WDJT-TV 58.2, THIS/WDJT-TV 58.3, Shorewest TV/WDJT-TV 58.4, WMLW-CA 41, WMLW-LD 41.1, Me-TV/WBME-TV 49.1, Telemundo/WBME-TV 49.4, Telemundo/WYTU-LD 63.1, Me-TV/WYTU-LP 63 in Milwaukee, WI; and ABC/WBND-LD 57.1, Me-TV/WBND-LD 57.2, CW/WCWW-TV 25.1, THIS/WCWW-TV 25.2, My Michiana/WMYS-TV 69.1 in South Bend, IN. Weigel Broadcasting Co. also owns and operates the Me-TV, Memorable Entertainment Television network and in collaboration with MGM, created and operates THIStv Network.

About Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc.
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. is actively engaged in the worldwide production and distribution of motion pictures, television programming, home video, interactive media, music, and licensed merchandise. The company owns the world’s largest library of modern films, comprising around 4,100 titles. Operating units include Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc., Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Inc., United Artists Films Inc., MGM Television Entertainment Inc., MGM Networks Inc., MGM Distribution Co., MGM International Television Distribution Inc., Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Home Entertainment LLC, MGM ON STAGE, MGM Music, MGM Consumer Products and MGM Interactive. In addition, MGM has ownership interests in domestic and international TV channels reaching more than 130 countries. For more information, visit www.mgm.com.

More Star Trek: The Next Generation Footage “Missing”

RGJ — Tue, 15 May 2012 17:30:49 +0000

A few weeks ago, I wrote about the recovery of 13 seconds of footage — or more specifically, the original film elements for those 13 seconds, allowing for the footage to be converted to high definition — from an episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation. Today, TVShowsOnDVD.com has more information about the upcoming July 24th release of Star Trek: The Next Generation – Season 1 on Blu-Ray, including news that two episodes will be shown in theaters on Monday, July 23rd.

Set in the 24th century, the exploits of the U.S.S. Enterprise continue as it explores the universe, seeking new life and new worlds. 2012 marks the 25th Anniversary of STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION! STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION makes its full-season debut in spectacular high-def with THE FIRST SEASON on Blu-ray featuring all 25 first season episodes, brilliantly retransferred from original film elements into Hi-Def (NOTE: 2 seconds of the original film elements for the episode “We’ll Always Have Paris” have not been located and thus have been upconverted from Standard Definition videotape) and amazing visual effects, painstakingly re-created from these original film elements.

For the purist of purists, even two seconds of upconverted footage will be a disappointment, I am sure. However, it is possible these missing film elements will be located at some point, much like the aforementioned 13 seconds from another episode. Whether they will be integrated back into the episode and issued as a replacement disc is unlikely but they could be included on a future season set as a bonus, perhaps.

If CBS and Paramount had not made an effort to let fans know about the missing film elements, I wonder how long it would have taken fans to notice the upconverted two seconds.

DVD Tuesday: Hazel, Riverboat

RGJ — Tue, 15 May 2012 16:45:41 +0000

Every Tuesday I take a look at obscure and/or classic television programs, specials, miniseries or made-for-TV movies being released on DVD. For the record I consider anything broadcast prior to 1980 to be classic or else there wouldn’t be much to discuss. The releases referred to in these posts are encoded for Region 1 use in the United States and Canada.

Out today from Shout! Factory is Hazel – Season Three, containing all 32 episodes from the 1963-1964 season. Shout! released Season Two just under three months ago on February 21st. Could Seasons Four and Five also come out this year? We will just have to wait and see. Also out today from Timeless Media Group is Riverboat – The Complete Series, which includes all 44 episodes of the hour-long western series starring Darren McGavin and Burt Reynolds (who was replaced by Noah Beery, Jr. after the first 21 episodes), originally broadcast on NBC from 1959 to 1961. Timeless issued a “best of” release back in 2007 with 15 episodes. Here’s a trailer:

Finally, Alpha Video has three new single-disc releases out today: Frontier Doctor – Volume 7, Passport To Danger – Volume 3, and Roy Rogers With Dale Evans – Volume 17 (these are episodes of NBC’s The Roy Rogers Show).

65th Anniversary of Kraft Television Theatre

RGJ — Tue, 08 May 2012 23:07:29 +0000

Yesterday was the 65th anniversary of NBC’s long-running Kraft Television Theatre, which premiered on Wednesday, May 7th, 1947 at 7:30PM. In January of 1948 the series would shift to 9PM, where it would stay for the next ten years. The series was aired contentiously year-round, with no break during the summer. An estimated 585 episodes were broadcast. Back in 2009 I started putting together status guides for each season of Kraft Television Theatre, compiling information on which episodes are known to exist in archives and museums like the Library of Congress and UCLA’s Film & Television Archive. So far I have finished the first six seasons. I hope to finish additional seasons later this year.

The only mention of this anniversary that I have found online is Marc Berman’s TV Media Insight column from yesterday, which is where I read the news.

DVD Tuesday: Fantasy Island, Doctor Who

RGJ — Tue, 08 May 2012 11:51:01 +0000

Out today from Shout! Factory is Fantasy Island – Season Two, with all 25 episodes from the 1978-1979 season (the show’s first full season after it debuted as a mid-season replacement during the 1977-1978 season). And from Image Entertainment comes The Twilight Zone – More Fan Favorites, a 5-disc set featuring 20 “fan favorite” episodes (a complete list can be found here). Finally, from BBC Video is releasing three new Doctor Who serials today, only one of which counts as “classic” for the purposes of this post: “Nightmare of Eden” (Story #107, Tom Baker as The Doctor, 1979).

Me-Too Celebrates the Life and Career of George ‘Goober’ Lindsey

RGJ — Mon, 07 May 2012 22:32:31 +0000

Me-Too Celebrates the Life and Career of George ‘Goober’ Lindsey

5/7/12 – Chicago, Illinois – Me-Too is airing a tribute to George Lindsey all this week at 12 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. with episodes of ‘The Andy Griffith Show’ that feature stories around ‘Goober.’

Mr. Lindsey was best-known as the grinning gas station employee in ‘The Andy Griffith Show’ from 1964 to 1968, as well as in ‘Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.’ as the title character’s cousin in the Andy Griffith spin-off TV series.

Below are titles of the episodes featured in this week’s tribute to George Lindsey during the regularly scheduled broadcast times and dates of ‘The Andy Griffith Show’ on Me-Too.

Monday, May 7
12:00 p.m. “Eat Your Heart Out”
10:30 p.m. “Fun Girls”

Tuesday, May 8
12:00 p.m. “Goober’s Replacement”
10:30 p.m. “Goober Takes a Car Apart”

Wednesday, May 9
12:00 p.m. “Mind Over Matter”
10:30 p.m. “Andy & Helen Have Their Day”

Thursday, May 10
12:00 p.m. “Goober Makes History”
10:30 p.m. “Goober & The Art of Love”

Friday, May 11
12:00 p.m. “Goober the Executive”
10:30 p.m. “The Lucky Letter”

Viewers can watch Me-Too on WCIU-TV 26.4, Xfinity 247/358, RCN 22, WOW 171 and AT&T U-verse 48.

About Weigel Broadcasting Co.

Weigel Broadcasting Co. and affiliate companies own and operate The U/WCIU-TV 26.1, The U Too/ WCIU-TV 26.2, Me-TV/WCIU-TV 26.3, Me-Too/WCIU-TV 26.4, THIS/ WCIU-TV 26.5, WWME-CA 23, WMEU-CA 48 in Chicago, IL; CBS/WDJT-TV 58.1, WMLW/WDJT-TV 58.2, THIS/WDJT-TV 58.3, Shorewest TV/WDJT-TV 58.4, WMLW-CA 41, WMLW-LD 41.1, Me-TV/WBME-TV 49.1, Telemundo/WBME-TV 49.4, Telemundo/WYTU-LD 63.1, Me-TV/WYTU-LP 63 in Milwaukee, WI; and ABC/WBND-LD 57.1, Me-TV/WBND-LD 57.2, CW/WCWW-TV 25.1, THIS/WCWW-TV 25.2, My Michiana/WMYS-TV 69.1 in South Bend, IN. Weigel Broadcasting Co. also owns and operates the Me-TV, Memorable Entertainment Television network and in collaboration with MGM, created and operates THIStv Network.

DVD Tuesday: Kojak, The Virginian, Wagon Train

RGJ — Tue, 01 May 2012 12:11:00 +0000

Out today from Shout! Factory is Kojak – Season 4, with all 25 episodes from the 1976-1977 season. Shout! released Season Three less than two months ago; only one season remains unreleased. Also out today from Shout! is Love Is On The Air: Romance & Laughter From TV’s Golden Age, a single-disc release featuring romance-themed episodes from seven series, including Ozzie & Harriet, Hazel, That Girl and Leave It To Beaver. Timeless Media Group has two new releases out today: The Virginian – The Complete 6th Season (all 26 episodes from the 1967-1968 season) and Wagon Train – The Complete 5th Season (all 37 episodes from the 1961-1962 season). Visual Entertainment Inc. is releasing The Invisible Man – The Complete Series, featuring all 15 episodes from the 1972-1973 season; David McCallum starred in this NBC adaptation of the famous H.G. Wells novel. A Blu-ray release is scheduled for June 19th. And from Image Entertainment comes The Dick Van Dyke Show – Carl Reiner’s Favorites, a three-disc set with 20 episodes chosen by series creator Carl Reiner.

Finally, out today from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment is Ghost Story (aka Circle of Fear) – The Complete Series, with all 23 episodes from the 1972-1973 season. Ghost Story was supernatural anthology series initially hosted by Sebastian Cabot before a mid-season title change to Circle of Fear and thematic shift away from the paranormal. This is a manufacture-on-demand (MOD) release, meaning it will not be available in stores. Sony is also releasing Emily’s Reasons Why Not – The Complete Series through its manufacture-on-demand program, which I mention only because the series holds the dubious distinction of being one of the very few to be cancelled after only one episode. Despite heavy promotion, the January 9th, 2006 premiere was low-rated and the remaining six episodes were never aired.

Network Anniversary Specials

RGJ — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 22:33:14 +0000

I’ve compiled the following list of network anniversary specials, dating back to NBC’s “The First Fifty Years” (broadcast on Sunday, November 21st, 1976). I believe it includes every major network special. If I’ve left any out, please hit the comments with details.

ABC:
“ABC’s Silver Anniversary Celebration” (Sunday, February 5th, 1978)
“ABC’s 40th Anniversary Special” (Saturday, May 21st, 1994)
“ABC’s 50th Anniversary Celebration” (Monday, May 19th, 2003)

CBS:
“CBS: On The Air – A Celebration of 50 Years: The Night of 100 Stars” (Sunday, March 26th, 1978)
“CBS: On The Air – A Celebration of 50 Years: Have a Laugh on Us” (Monday, March 27th, 1978)
“CBS: On The Air – A Celebration of 50 Years: Chills and Thrills with a Laugh Chaser” (Tuesday, March 28th, 1978)
“CBS: On The Air – A Celebration of 50 Years: Dreams Come True” (Wednesday, March 29th, 1978)
“CBS: On The Air – A Celebration of 50 Years: Join the Family” (Thursday, March 30th, 1978)
“CBS: On The Air – A Celebration of 50 Years: We’re Getting Personal” (Friday, March 31st, 1978)
“CBS: On The Air – A Celebration of 50 Years: A Rootin’, Tootin’, Hootin’ & Hollerin’ Salute to Cowboys and Clowns” (Saturday, April 1st, 1978)
“CBS at 75″ (Sunday, November 2nd, 2003)

NBC:
“The First Fifty Years” (Sunday, November 21st, 1976)
“The First Fifty Years-A Closer Look” (Sunday, October 23rd, 1977)
“The First Fifty Years-A Closer Look (Part II)” (Tuesday, January 31st, 1978)
“NBC 60th Anniversary Celebration” (Monday, May 12th, 1986)
“NBC 75th Anniversary Special” (Sunday, May 5th, 2002)

FOX:
“FOX’s 25th Anniversary Special” (Sunday, April 22nd, 2012)