Plus: Area Man Wins Hell’s Kitchen, Loses Mind

1. Candid Camera Chicago.
“Mayim Bialik has been tapped to host TV Land’s Candid Camera reboot,” the A.V. Club reports.
“The Blossom and Big Bang Theory star will appear on the show alongside Peter Funt, son of the show’s creator and original host, Alan Funt. The two will team up for 10 episodes and attempt to capture regular, real-life people trapped in annoyingly set-up situations meant to elicit their embarrassing reactions on television. The show has already taped episodes in New York and Chicago.”
Just kidding about the red-light cameras, Rahm!

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Posted on July 28, 2014

Plus: Chicago’s Small Town Sports Announcers

1. Arsenio’s Loss Is Tribune’s Gain.
That’s one way to spin it – after all, Tribune put him back on the air again in the first place.
*
Side note: Arsenio Says Hip-Hop Saved His Life.
“Don Cornelius is an idol, was an idol. Oprah, an idol. But they didn’t like hip-hop. That was the best thing that ever happened to me. I think Oprah would be cool with me saying that. Until she started hanging out with Jay Z, it wasn’t on Oprah’s radar. Oprah wasn’t in Chicago, saying, ‘When does Common perform?’ That’s not what she was dealing with. I got to have all of that. That became the great story. Don Cornelius did not like Q-Tip, so I got all of that.”

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Posted on July 16, 2014

By Artistmac

“Before flatscreens, HDMI inputs, pushbuttons, cable TV, Dish Network and satellites, there were tube and solid-state TV’s with – get ready for this – actual dials! That’s where we get the phrase, ‘Don’t touch that dial.’
“And there were no remotes. If you wanted to change the channel, you actually had to get your lazy butt out of your La-Z-Boy or Barcalounger and – are you ready for this – TURN THE DIAL! How did baby boomers ever survive, LOL.”

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Posted on July 14, 2014

Another Beachwood Special Report

“Salem is the first step in a strategy by the Tribune Company, owner of WGN America, to transform the superstation into a full-fledged cable network, creating yet another competitor in the increasingly crowded field of purveyors of distinctive television drama,” the New York Times reports.
“Tribune now wants WGNA to become a destination for viewers interested in distinctive drama, as networks like AMC and FX have done. All it takes is one show to put a network on the map: The Shield did that for FX, and Mad Men for AMC.”
The Beachwood, as it is wont to do, has obtained WGN America’s closely held unannounced programming guide. To wit:

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Posted on July 3, 2014

Educational Theatre Company Vs. Comcast

“Comcast is trying to leverage themselves into a position where they can close Chicago’s public access cable studio CAN TV. If it weren’t for CAN TV, we wouldn’t be ON TV! Help spread the word and many thanks to our loving audiences. We want to do another season!”

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Posted on June 30, 2014

Internet Innovation Imperiled

“The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that Internet TV streaming service Aereo is violating copyright law – a move that experts say could affect other Internet services,” AP reports.

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Posted on June 26, 2014

Plus: World Cup Watching & A New Blues-Jazz Channel

“A surprise performance on the Chicago River by Wayne Newton was part of an advertising campaign for Las Vegas that kicked off in Chicago on Friday,” Steven Dahlman reports at his Marina City Online.
“Backed by eight showgirls and seven show guys, Newton sang his signature tune ‘Danke Schoen’ on board the tour boat Bright Star, owned by Shoreline Sightseeing.”
You’ll want to click through to see the photo.

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Posted on June 24, 2014

Plus: CNN Needs Son Of Svengoolie

1. Dick Cavett Despises People Who Don’t Own TV Sets.
“Cavett, 77, will be honored Saturday night with ‘A Salute to Dick Cavett’ at the Museum of Broadcast Communications in Chicago. The event kicks off a three-month exhibit featuring a video retrospective of Cavett’s talk show career.”

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Posted on June 18, 2014

By The Museum Of Classic Chicago Television

The year was 1977 – before Coleman landed the role of Arnold on Diff’rent Strokes.
Deets here.

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Posted on June 12, 2014

By Steve Rhodes

“As the rules for a state medical marijuana pilot program are being finalized, a group of proponents has announced that a cannabis conference will be held in Chicago in June,” the Tribune reports.

“Don’t be shy. It’s OK to talk about marijuana – cannabis,” Amish Parikh, vice president of My Compassion, the Michigan-based nonprofit that is hosting the June 7-8 conference at Navy Pier, said.

But Comcast doesn’t feel the same way, the conference organizers claim.

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Posted on May 28, 2014