Topics

121

Everything Else TWC / Holy Cow: New screen in control room!

« on: April 13, 2008, 10:57:37 PM »

There's a huge new screen in the control room. When I say huge, I mean MASSIVE! Are they going to be producing the HD shows from in there.

Pics/video to come later.

Edit: There are actually TWO massive screens, each suspended side-by-side above the front row of people in the room.

122

Programming and Graphics / New Q2 programming schedule released

« on: April 11, 2008, 11:13:32 PM »

The earlier posting of the new HD studio construction video on twcmediakit.com led me to check the site for further updates, and sure enough, the schedule has been tweaked a little. We now know that the Tuesday airings of Epic and WxVentures have not been accidental; those shows are now getting the limelight on Tuesday, and in addition to that, both shows will also replace ICHT and FFN respectively on weekend afternoons, meaning that ICHT and FFN are now off the regular schedule.

http://www.twcmediakit.com/cable/content/programming/schedule/product_sheets/2008_q2programming_guide.pdf

123

Everything Else TWC / More lights!

« on: April 08, 2008, 12:08:28 AM »

It looks like TWC noticed the same problem we did with that Hurricane Central key wall. I noticed tonight that TWC used today's solo OCM schedule to put up a whole bunch of new lights so that the wall is now lighted much better. Good job, TWC.

124

OCMs & Personalities / It's just you and me today, my friend.

« on: April 06, 2008, 03:16:33 PM »

Yes, that's right, with all of the other OCMs working other shifts today, Dave is doing Weekend Weather Center solo right now!

That's not just nice. That is schweet, my friend! Oh yeah!

125

OCMs & Personalities / Can you believe it's been 25 years?

« on: April 06, 2008, 02:48:07 AM »

That speaks for itself.

126

Everything Else TWC / Global Forecast Center

« on: April 05, 2008, 10:20:46 AM »

Yesterday and today, it appears that the GFC has been covered up by a more opaque glass yet again, just like in early 2007. I'm guessing it was done since 1B, which had the primary camera shot with the GFC in the background, isn't being used any longer. Do the folks in the GFC not like the more clear glass that used to be up there or something? Did they find it distracting?

127

Programming and Graphics / You can't spell "Weekend View" without "Vu".

« on: April 05, 2008, 09:11:20 AM »

Actually, you can, and they seem to be doing just that today as Bill Keneely and Samantha Mohr host the show on their own today, but what's different this time is that no mention of Dao Vu's name has been made at all, and as far as I know, Julie Martin should be available to host if need be. Have they decided to take Weekend View in a new direction - one without a host who serves no real purpose? I guess time will tell.

128

OCMs & Personalities / Jeff Morrow goes in the field to report on flooding...

« on: April 03, 2008, 10:03:58 PM »

...and a potentially tornado-producing supercell is heading his way. Probably not exactly what he expected.

Stay safe, Jeff!

129

OCMs & Personalities / A little shorthanded today?

« on: April 03, 2008, 08:27:44 PM »

Despite today not being a holiday, TWC had to revert to the solo afternoon schedule, and every show has had at least one fill-in OCM on it.

I didn't see First Outlook, but I believe Jen has the whole week off. Eboni was probably the fill-in, but I didn't see it for myself.

For Your Weather Today, Marshall Seese was off, so Bill Keneely was the fill-in. Was *was* different, however, is that Bill seems to have asked Heather was she was going to wear today; he was wearing a tie in the exact same shade of pink. Normally Marshall is the one who initiates the matching thing since he matches whoever he's working with.

For Day Planner, I was disappointed that Dave wasn't filling in for Bill today, as I had hoped. Kristin was on instead. Apparently Dave's off today, as well.

Then for the last hour of Day Planner and first hour of Weather Center, a mildly sick-sounding Adam Berg made a surprise appearance. There were a few times where he sounded chocked-up mid sentence, and one time he had to clear his throat loudly and say "Excuse me". Hopefully he gets over his sickness or allergies soon.

For the ever-strange shift of the last hour of Weather Center, we saw Vivian Brown, and for PM Edition, we saw Betty Davis.

Stephanie Abrams is also off today, so we saw Kelly Cass move over and work A&B tonight for 2 hours.

So far today that's four OCMs off (Jen, Marshall, Dave, Steph) and two in the field (Jeff, Jim). Doesn't bode well for studio operations.

130

OCMs & Personalities / Adam Berg

« on: March 31, 2008, 01:06:42 AM »

I guess we don't have a topic just for him here yet, so here we go.

Tonight shows why I like Adam Berg; tonight he introduced the MLB Opening Day forecasts by saying, "Grab your Human Growth Hormone and your pine tar; it's time for Opening Day!"

131

Everything Else TWC / The problem with weather.com video forecasts

« on: March 29, 2008, 10:40:48 PM »

They're outdated!

Seriously, Dave recorded tonight's videos several hours ago, but the forecast for Chicago on Monday is already outdated. The video shows a high of 55, but the official TWC forecast has already been changed to a high of 62, with many local affiliates already predicting even higher. Even so, the weather.com video won't be updated until at least 5 AM tomorrow. Perhaps they need more OCMs to work later at night on these videos so they won't get outdated like this?

132

Everything Else TWC / A new look for weather.com video forecasts for big cities

« on: March 29, 2008, 05:16:53 PM »

This week, they launched a new look for weather.com video forecasts for big cities. I wonder if it's a sign of changes on the cable network...

Then again, the weather.com video graphics never did match the cable network's appearance, anyway.

133

Everything Else TWC / A new series?

« on: March 29, 2008, 03:48:22 PM »

A few minutes ago, Carl Parker introduced us to what he termed "a new series" called Off the Beaten Path, and then a Lifestyles segment for said series played.

AFAIK, we haven't heard anything about this yet, so I'm wondering if this series will actually be a show or if it's just going to be a Lifestyles series.

134

Everything Else TWC / TWC going dark for Earth Hour

« on: March 28, 2008, 08:05:22 PM »

Amidst the other happenings at TWC today, Abrams & Bettes announced that TWC will be going dark for Earth Hour tomorrow, which falls during the final hour of PM Edition Weekend. As a little preview, they turned off the lights in the Abrams & Bettes studio and also showed the lights being turned off in Studio 1 in a recorded segment. They left the A&B studio pitch black for several seconds before turning the lights back on. After that, they omitted the check in with the EE team and went straight to the Photo Finish, after which they went to a wide shot of the studio and turned the lights back off as Steph waved goodbye.

It should be interesting to see what they to with PME Weekend tomorrow, as well as what studio they use for the show.

BTW: I can get a video of this segment later after my recording stops.

135

OCMs & Personalities / Carl & Kristina - Back together again

« on: March 23, 2008, 06:03:22 PM »

Looks like Mike Seidel didn't catch his flight back to Atlanta (He said it was a possibility when he was live from Gurnee, IL on Friday), so they called Carl in to work the evening alongside Kristina. Carl and Kristina lasted worked together three years ago this month.