If you mean time-traveling bunnies, then yes

Ah, another "Lost" season careens to a close.

Although I liked the episode, it didn't really do much for me. This was just connecting the dots - if you looked at the picture, you could see it without the lines.

Still, lots of good small moments, notably Sayid kicking Keamy's butt and Ben putting tinfoil into the island microwave. Questions, oh my we still have questions. What happened to Faraday and the spare Losties? Is Jin dead? What's Sun's move - does she know what Ben did to Keamy? The whole Jeremy Bentham thing is obviously going to require some 'splaining. Does Walt have to go back with the rest of them? What about Desmond? I don't think he'll want to make the trip.

And, on a bigger plot level, what's been happening on the island while the Oceanic 6 were gradually going nuts on the mainland? Three years is a long time. Who are the bad guys? What's everyone's motivation? Where and when did the island move to?

It's interesting and refreshing that when next season finally arrives, we'll go into it with a better understanding of where we are, but no idea at all about where we're going. It's like the plot has been completely reset. That may not end up being a good thing, but "Lost" has shown me enough this season that I'll give it a pretty long leash.

Knockin' boots with Clay Aiken

This is so weird, I can't imagine what I can say about it. You go Clay.

Inside baseball

Michael Ausiello is leaving TV Guide for Entertainment Weekly. He's probably not a household name, but Ausiello is one of the biggest names in TV news (that is, news about TV, as opposed to news on TV). And a big score for EW, my favorite entertainment magazine, at least when Stephen King isn't writing that stupid column.

Icier truckers?

It's a smackdown in the frozen north and the History Channel gets the boot from Yellowknife. I'm a little perplexed why they thought the drivers from the first two seasons were totally irreplaceable, especially since bringing them along undercuts any notion that the show depicts real situations. But whatever.

They come for your cable box

This has been a long time coming. Of course, everyone needs to get a new TV anyway by February (or yet another set-top box), so it's long past due for the TV manufacturers and content providers to get this figured out.

Idol Idled

So.... no one was expecting insightful "Idol" finale commentary, were they?

Good.

It's that radio readjustment time of the year

Will all of those DJ's still with their previous stations please raise their hands? Captain Dan, Paul, nice to see ya.

So, the entire staff at KVUU (99.9 FM) got switched to the old KDZA (107.9 FM), some Arizona jocks get the KVUU morning shift in their first out-of-state syndication deal. The Beat brings in a syndicated morning show. Cat Country revamps everything but the mornings. Russ Johnson's out at KVOR in the afternoons.

I'm probably missing something somewhere.

Coincidence? The latest Arbitrons? Just that time of year? Some combination of those, I think.

KDZA, by the way, showed up in the last Arbitron book, but way down the list. I'm actually surprised it didn't do better, since it appeared in the Springs book even when it was officially a Pueblo station and didn't have a city grade signal up here.

We'll see if Clear Channel gives it a promotional push now that they've staffed it up.

And whither KVUU? Is this a prelude to a format change, or is just a readjustment?

In praise of hidden cameras

I stumbled across this interesting blog post. No, James Jarman does not get name-checked, but hidden camera investigations are apparently on an upswing.

Russ Johnson out at KVOR

Hat tip to Mike: Russ Johnson appears to be gone from KVOR (740 AM). The brash talker lasted less than a year at the news-talk station.

A couple months after Johnson started, I got a call from a group that was trying to get him fired. Not surprising, since he went out of his way to rub people the wrong way. Still, I haven't heard that he did anything especially egregious last week. Maybe it was just ratings? KRDO has been climbing and has won the last two books in mornings 25-54.

I wonder if they'll stick with an afternoon talk show or go with something newsier.

Congratulations to KKTV

From the Associated Press:

DENVER — KKTV-TV, Colorado Springs-Pueblo, and KMGH-TV, Denver, collected more awards than any other station today at the 2007 Colorado Associated Press Broadcasters Association Awards Luncheon.

KKTV took home 12 awards and KMGH received 10 during a ceremony held at the Brown Palace Hotel in downtown Denver.

KKTV finished first in seven categories, winning awards for medium-market newscast, morning newscast and spot news reporting for the second year in a row.

KMGH had 10 awards, including first place honors in the Web site, sports special and documentary categories, and a tie for first with Denver’s KUSA-TV in the investigative category.

The first-place newscast award in large market television went to KDVR-TV, while the morning newscast award went to KCNC-TV.

Top large/medium market radio honors went to KOA-AM, Denver, and KUNC-FM, Greeley, which each collected five awards.

In small market radio, KMTS-FM, Glenwood Springs, earned five awards, including firsts for general reporting, spot news and sports special.KNFO-FM, Basalt-Aspen, won the top morning newscast award.———The entries were judged by AP member broadcasters in Florida.

Best of the Springs...

I swung by Clear Channel this morning to hand out "Best of the Springs" awards to Captain Dan and Paul at K-Lite and Val Hart at Y96. Warren was over at KOAA giving Laura Rojas her "Best teeth" honors (OK, she wasn't actually there, but I think Georgiann did get the reader's pick for "hottie"). And there are a few hundred other categories on gazette.com or in your morning paper.

Here are the broadcast categories. You can't complain about the readers' picks - 'cause that's democracy in action - but if you think we blew the staff picks, feel free to pipe up:

BEST RADIO PERSONALITY
VAL HART, KCCY (96.9 FM)
Hart returned to the Springs last summer after a year with a country station called "The Wolf," up in Seattle. Evidently, the espresso IV drip they issue at the Seattle airport didn't agree with her. In any case, we're happy to have her back - and glad somebody's around to keep her morning co-host, Willie, in line.

READERS' CHOICE - BEST RADIO PERSONALITY
CAPTAIN DAN AND PAUL, KKLI (106.3 FM)
Paul Richards and Captain Dan Jackson are like a warm pair of slippers for your ears. They’re comfy, broken-in and make easing into another day just a wee bit easier.

BEST RADIO STATION
KILO (94.3 FM)
KILO is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year — 30 years of head-banging, eardrum-busting, turn-that-noise-down rock.

READERS' CHOICE - BEST RADIO STATION
KRCC (91.5 FM)
The Springs' favorite radio station just keeps getting better. This year, it added digital subchannels chockablock with more of the music and public radio programming that keeps this community supporting the analog mothership. In a radio world filled with narrow formats and niche programming, KRCC offers something for everyone.

BEST TV NEWS PROGRAM
KOAA/CHANNELS 5&30’S 5 P.M. NEWS
The numbers don’t lie, and KOAA’s 5 p.m. team of Georgiann Lymberopoulos and Rob Quirk was the top local newscast, beating out KOAA’s 10 p.m. team of Rob Quirk and Lisa Lyden by the slimmest of margins in the latest ratings. In your face, 10 p.m. Rob Quirk!

James Jarman is making his mark on KOAA/Channels 5&30.
BEST TV REPORTER
JAMES JARMAN, KOAA/CHANNELS 5&30
Jarman’s turned into the Springs’ very own Chris Hansen (who made his name with “To Catch a Predator” on NBC’s “Dateline”) with his series of reports on local sex offenders.

READERS' CHOICE - BEST TV REPORTER
TAK LANDROCK, KRDO/CHANNEL 13
As KRDO’s investigative reporter, Land-rock takes on a lot of serious stories: “Former councilman accused of drugging his date,” “Bridging the racism gap,” “Prostitution problem in Colorado Springs,” “Investigation finds cotton candy sweet, sticky.” We kid. We kid because we love.

BEST TV ANCHOR
JEANNETTE HYNES, KXRM/CHANNEL 21
We renamed this category the “Lisa Lyden Memorial Award” last year so we could spread the wealth a little more. Jeannette Hynes recently left KXRM/Channel 21
[Note: This thing was written like two months ago, and so there were a few things that changed while it was at the printer's. Like, obviously, Jeannette. Also, we gave James Jarman the reporting nod before the whole Newsome thing, thereby missing out on a whole lot of really easy jokes.]

READERS' CHOICE - BEST TV ANCHOR
LISA LYDEN, KOAA/CHANNELS 5&30
You know, Lyden has won this for the last we-don’t-know-how-many years. We’ve completely run out of anything intelligent to say. Lisa, you rock.

BEST TV WEATHERPERSON
MARTY VENTICINQUE, KRDO/CHANNEL 13
It took us four tries to spell Venticinque right, so he'd better be worth it. Marty's geeky, but in a good way. You can tell he loves this stuff, even if he's not loving getting up at 3 in the morning.

BEST HOT NEWS HAIR — TEAM AWARD
KRDO/CHANNEL 13’S 10 P.M. NEWS
It’s a good-hair-day group, and they’re making Veda Salons proud.

Laura Rojas of News First Now boasts a dazzling smile.
BEST TV TEETH
LAURA ROJAS, NEWS FIRST NOW (COMCAST CHANNEL 9)
Rojas, host of the 4 and 9 p.m. news on KOAA’s cable sibling News First Now, has network-quality teeth.

READERS' CHOICE - BEST STATION FOR TV NEWS
KOAA/CHANNELS 5&30
KOAA has been the top-rated station in town for years — no small feat for an NBC affiliate, since that network has been struggling.

READERS' CHOICE - BEST FEMALE NEWS HOTTIE
GEORGIANN LYMBEROPOULOS
Is it just us, or is Georgiann looking hotta than evah these days?

READERS' CHOICE - BEST MALE NEWS HOTTIE
MATT MEISTER, KRDO/CHANNEL 13
Those eyes, those teeth, that hair . . . that weak system developing over Montana that could bring a trace of snow to the higher elevations. Matt gives us all these things.

BEST RADIO SHOW
TRON SIMPSON, MORNINGS, KCMN (1530 AM)
Although Tron’s a pretty funny guy all by himself, what’s really amazing are the guests he gets (by phone, but still . .

More comings and goings

CBS' "Shark"? Jumped. Didn't see that one coming.

"Moonlight"? Eclipsed. Did see that coming.

"Rules of Engagement"? Rules. Really?

And "The New Adventures of Old Christine" gets another season (nothing semi-clever to say about that). Somewhat surprised, but I think it benefitted from the strike - CBS doesn't have a bunch of new sitcoms to throw on the schedule.

More HD from Comcast

Comcast is adding six channels to its HD package today:

Disney HD 763
ABC Family HD 764
TLC HD 765
Food Network HD 766
HGTV HD 767
Science Channel HD* 768

Comings and goings

"Reaper" is now definitely coming back.

"New Amsterdam" is gone.

"Til Death" is coming back.

“Eli Stone,” “Pushing Daisies” and “Dirty Sexy Money” - all coming back.

“Boston Legal” coming back.

And “According to Jim” (good lord why? Why!?)

Jimmy Fallon officially replacing Conan O'Brien (in 2009).

Springs mom takes on the "Gladiators"

"That was awesome. You've got to bring me something bigger - bring on the Wolf!"

"Some girls like puppy dogs and pink bows, I like speed and fire. Bring it!"

Yeah, Colorado Springs mother of three/Air Force Major Vanessa Warren had some pretty good lines on "American Gladiator" Monday night, but it was my wife who had the line of the night, about Warren: "I kind of want her defending my country, but she scares me a little."

Hey, the thanks of a grateful nation and the chance to become a Gladiator? Not a bad night.

October Road hits the road

This has been in the cards for a while, but ABC officially took the axe to "October Road." That means both of Manitou Springs' Stults brothers (OK, technically they're from Cascade) are now out of work. Geoff Stults played Eddie Latekka on the show, the main character's best friend. His brother George was a regular on "7th Heaven" until that show got canceled last year.

Actually, don't cry for either of the brothers. Geoff has two movies on his post "Road" credits, according to his imdb page. And George has three.

Also in ABC news, "Women's Murder Club" is out and "Eli Stone" is in. I hated "Club" and was lukewarm about "Eli Stone," so, meh.

At last, the World Fishing Network in high def!

Dish is launching another round of additions to its HD lineup. Still no word on HD local channels for Colorado Springs, though.

If you have Dish's HD package, you should have these new channels as of today:

ABC Family HD
Disney HD East
ESPNews HD
Biography HD
Hallmark Movie Channel HD
Bravo HD
Cartoon HD
MGM HD
Cinemax 5 Star
Sci Fi HD
Cinemax HD West
Smithsonian HD
Comcast Sports Network Bay
Tennis Channel HD
Area HD
Toon Disney HD
Comcast Sports Network New
Travel Channel HD
England HD
USA HD
CNBC HD
Weather Channel HD
CNN HD
World Fishing Network HD

Back to You backed out, CW sells out on Sundays

Some odd items from the wire this morning:

- Fox axed the Kelsey Grammar-Patricia Heaton TV news sitcom "Back To You"

- The CW killed the critically beloved "Aliens in America," but appears likely to renew "Reaper"

- The CW has turned over its Sunday night lineup to an independent production company, lock, stock and barrel. What's interesting about that is that the impetus was Tribune Company's local affiliates saying they wanted an older audience as a lead-in for their 10 p.m. news shows. Anytime anyone goes against TV's youth-obsessed culture, it's noteworthy, although I suspect this will be as big a disaster as everything else the CW has tried. Or maybe not.

- And, as I wrote about in the Life section today, Colorado Springs mom Vanessa Warren will appear on "American Gladiators" tonight

Well, she's still Ft. Carson's favorite mom

Fort Carson sergeant Melinda Gintilis, who was a semifinalist on NBC's "America's Favorite Mom" contest, fell a little short in the voting and didn't make the prime time finale on Sunday night. Instead, she got to spend another day driving convoys in Iraq. Some runner-up prize. Her husband, Adam Gintilas of Fountain, said Melinda finished second in the voting from the "Military Moms" category.

Still, Melinda's tour is up in August, so at least she'll be home soon.

More Newsome

You might have missed this interesting little story inside today's Metro section, so I'll pass it along here:

GOP CHAIRMAN CALLS MEETING TO DISCUSS ‘PREDATORY PRESS’

By PERRY SWANSON THE GAZETTE

Republican elected officials in El Paso County will meet in private Saturday to discuss the “predatory press,” in the wake of a television report that showed District Attorney John Newsome drinking alcohol and then driving.

Party Chairman Greg Garcia announced the meeting in an e-mail Thursday to elected officials that was obtained by The Gazette. Garcia said the e-mail “was not meant for public scrutiny,” and he wouldn’t discuss it because The Gazette declined to identify who forwarded the e-mail.
The e-mail said: “In light of the recent immoral and unethical reporting by KOAA about our outstanding district attorney, John Newsome, I would like to invite you to an hour-long meeting on Saturday, May 10, from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. at party HQ to discuss and brainstorm the issue of the predatory press. What has happened to John could happen to us all.”
Most elected officials in the county are Republicans.
The meeting is not open to the public, said Nathan Fisk, executive director of the El Paso County Republican Party.
The KOAA reports aired Tuesday. Newsome has apologized for the perception his behavior created and said he won’t do it again.

I'm back

Sorry, I've been in computer training all week and haven't had more than a few moments to think about TV (aside from certain KOAA investigations, which I thought about a lot).

I can't decide which is my favorite comment on that story:

"drinkin n drivin aint aceptable but neither is nosin' around with camras like KOAA did without a verry verry good reason & so far I don't see one."

or

"I'm not saying that driving under the influence is not a big deal, but this whole story has a childish and shallow "gotcha" quality to it. This Gazette article also shows that, like actors, journalists' favorite topic of conversation is themselves."

- Bitchin' "Lost" last night, huh? Nice pace. I thought killing the doctor and the captain required more build-up, but aside from that I have no complaints. Really, I very rarely have complaints when Jack gets that little screen time. I thought the cabin was appropriately creepy, I liked that Desmond isn't stupid enough to get off the boat. Plus the return of Richard Alpert and Matthew Abbadon (BTW, according to various sites "The test Richard gave Kid Locke is the same test given to prospective Dalai Lamas."

- Not a great "Office," but the Pam and Jim stuff was really interesting. Are they setting Pam up to turn down Jim's proposal, or is she going to accept and then come to regret it as Jim becomes more Michael-like? It's still one of the most real relationships on television.

- "30 Rock," on the other hand, was great. Funny, but more than that, a little moving. Alec Baldwin did another acting master class just in that short scene where he's listening to Liz's voice mails without saying a word. Plus, bull semen. I'll never not find bull semen funny.

Carson soldier may be America's Favorite Mom

Here's the "Today" show segment on "America's Favorite Mom" which includes Fountain soldier/mom Melinda Gintilas:

Christina Salvo replaces Grace Polanski on KXRM weekends

That is all.

Idol Idle

Thank god this week is over for the Idols. I just can't understand how Neil frickin Diamond songs so completely flummoxed this crowd. Archuleta's "America" made my ears bleed. So, so painful. I was always under the impression that those were fairly easy songs to sing - it just requires a slice of cheese and a heaping helping of bombast.

Sorry to see Brooke go... well, actually, no I'm not. It was clearly her time, she'd been underperforming. On reflection, I'd say it was the perfect time to see Brooke go. I never thought Syesha would make it this far, but she's been getting better while everyone else seems to get worse.

Seriously now, it's time to kill the stupid theme weeks. Especially this late in the competition. Diamond, Andrew Lloyd Weber, the Beattles - kill them all (not, you know, literally). If you want these kids to turn into real, honest-to-goodness stars, you've got to let them play to their strengths and develop their styles, not just throw them out there to flail around with musical oddities from before they were born.