NBC is dumping its Saturday morning cartoon lineup in August in favor of another edition of the "Today" show, which comes as no surprise. It's been rumored for months.
What is a bit surprising is the the network had the temerity to issue a statement saying the movie is "part of its increased commitment to news and information programming."Ha!
This from a network that's done as much slashing and burning in its news division as CBS, albeit amid somewhat less notoriety. This from a network that currently has no prime time news programming.
This from a network that has softened news to the point that it's barely distinguishable from "Entertainment Tonight."
Despite all the high-blown rhetoric about serving the viewer, this is an economic decision, pure and simple. Saturday morning cartoons are extremely expensive for a network to program, and not much of anybody is watching NBC's expensive cartoons.
So it's cheaper to just give up and try news - a two-hour edition of "Saturday Today" will cost NBC about half what the cartoons are costing, according to estimates.
Now, the fact is that there are cartoons all over the dial these days. Where once they were largely confined to Saturday mornings, now they're syndicated in the afternoons and it's almost impossible to find any time during the day when cartoons aren't running on some cable channel.
So the loss of NBC's animated lineup is no great tragedy or anything. But it's just ridiculous to make this change and proclaim it a great move toward news and information.
It's a move toward shoring up the network's bottom line, pure and simple.KSL SHAKEUP: KSL News, which began shaking things up a bit when Shelley Thomas left last month, is shuffling the deck a bit more - eight staffers have been given new assignments.
Here's a quick rundown on who's going to be doing what:
- Steve Eager, who has been co-host of "Focus," is leaving that show to co-anchor the noon news.
- Brian Mullahy, former co-anchor of the noon news, has been named senior correspondent for political coverage. He'll also co-host "Focus" on Thursdays and Fridays. (And KSL news director Lee Roderick says that broadcast will beef up its political coverage.)
- Duane Cardall, KSL's religion specialist, will co-host "Focus" Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
- Shelley Osterloh, in addition to continuing as co-host of "Focus," will cover business, consumer issues and the economy.
- Keith McCord is slated to become sort of KSL's very own Charles Kuralt. He'll be spending more time on the road, covering stories in Ch. 5's multi-state viewing area, both on and off the Wasatch Front. He'll also continue to co-anchor the weekend newscasts.
- Jack Ford will take over the city and country government beat from Mullahy.
- Deanie Wimmer goes from general assignment to education specialist.
- And Deborah Lindner will cover state government. (Lindner, who was a KUTV-Ch. 2 staffer several years ago, is married to former KUTV and current KTVX sportscaster Carl Arky.)CBS ADDITIONS: The Big Eye, attempting to build something resembling a schedule on Friday nights, is tossing a pair of new shows into the fray come January.
"Hearts Are Wild" stars David Beecroft as the "handsome, wealthy and mysterious owner of Caesar's Palace Hotel and Casino." Other regulars include the casino manager (John Polito) and the head of guest relations (Catherine Mary Stewart). The show will feature several different guest stars each week.
If this sounds somewhat familiar - sort of like . . . oh . . . maybe "HOTEL," then maybe it's not just coincidence that the executive producer is Aaron Spelling, the man behind "Hotel."
"Hearts" will air Fridays at 9 p.m., and debuts Jan. 10.
And "Tequila & Bonetti" stars Jack Scalia as a New York cop on loan to a California beach community's police department. He's teamed up with "a jive-talking street-smart canine." The dog's running commentary on the world around him can only be heard by the audience.
Scalia assures us that any resemblance to "Turner and Hooch" is purely coincidental.
"T&B" premieres Jan. 10, and will air Fridays at 9 p.m.
CBS still hasn't made up its mind about what will lead off its Friday lineup - it's airing specials and "Rescue 911" through the end of January.`PACIFIC STATION' RETURNS: The Robert Guillaume sitcom "Pacific Station," which failed miserably when it aired on Sundays earlier this season, is getting a tryout on Friday nights beginning Dec. 20.
It will air at 8 p.m., replacing "Flesh 'n' Blood," which NBC promises will return sometime later this season.
And networks wonder why viewers don't build up much loyalty to shows anymore.