...Gloria Steinem

Veteran women's rights campaigner Gloria Steinem calling for a boycott of the new NBC show The Playboy Club. For those who do not know who she is, look her up. She worked as a bunny at a Playboy Club back in the 60's and then wrote a scathing expose about the working conditions of the women there. "Clearly 'The Playboy Club' is not going to be accurate. It was the tackiest place on earth. It was not glamorous at all. When I was working there and writing the expose, one of the things they had to change because of my expose was that they required all the Bunnies, who were just waitresses, to have an internal exam and a test for venereal disease. I expect that 'The Playboy Club' will be a net minus and I hope people boycott it. It's just not telling the truth about the era." She also added that she thinks the show Mad Men shows the realism of women and men in the 60's. I understand why she is saying this, but she did not have to say anything. I have a good feeling that this show will fail on its own without a boycott. Still I am giving her a Digit Up for taking a stand against something she believes in.

...Wonder Woman

I have good news, the new Wonder Woman will not been seen on television this Spring...at least not on NBC. NBC passed on the remake and boy am I glad. From the start I was against this move. It was a horrible looking Hollywood remake, something that I have grown tired of, I have been tired since...2008. Though it is not official why they passed on the show most are saying that the lackluster scripts and the controversy over the dull and then too sexy and then nothing like the original costume were the main issues. I must agree that the costume was just crass and the actress was not a good fit. Why? Because this is a show that is not meant to be remade. I am giving his passing of Wonder Woman a Digit Up.

...Departures

A lot of people are planning or are rumored to be leaving their television jobs. So far only one is leaving for sure and that is Glenn Beck. Though he is still winning his time slot with 1.9 million viewers at the 5PM slot., but he lost 30% of his viewers from this time last year and he lost 300 sponsors. He also has had some remarks that many found offensive, mainly calling the President a "racist". Though he will still give commentary for Fox News he will be leaving by the end of 2011.

"The Today Show" may be losing not 1 but 2 of its morning anchors. Meredith Vieira and Matt Lauer have been in the news lately because there have been talks about them both leaving the show. Meredith's contract ends at the end of the year and it is said that she is ready to leave the show after only 5 years. Though reps for NBC an the show have said that this is not true, it seems more like fact than fiction. Matt Lauer's contract runs out next year and he is said to be looking for a way out as well. I wonder if this has anything to do with Comcast taking over NBC?What makes this even more interesting is the other former Today Show's co-host who could be on her way out as well.

Katie Couric left "The Today Show" 5 years ago to anchor the CBS Evening news. They hoped she would bring in ratings and lift them to a higher position. Well that did not work and with her contract expiring later this year it is said that she is on her way out. I could easily see this happening. What makes this THAT much more interesting is the rumor that Katie and Matt are going to be teaming up for a show that they will both co-host. On the other hand people have said that she will have her own talk show. This is okay, but there are just SO many out there now that this would be a failure.

Either way this is going to be very very interesting. These people have become television figures that many of Americans have depended on for news and other info for many years. I am giving these departures a Digit Up because I am curious to see who or what will replace them.

...Christina Aguilera

It seems that Christina's plan to get back out there and be seen by the world is starting to pay off. So what she was arrested this week, she is about to get back to work. Christina has signed on to be a coach on the new NBC singing talent show "The Voice". This show already seems like NBC's version of Simon Cowell's "The X Factor". Christina had this to say, "I am so excited to be part of such a wonderful project that celebrates music and the talent behind it. To be given the opportunity to help shape new artists' careers and mentor them to see their dreams come to fruition is a task I welcome with open arms. I am so happy to be working with fellow Grammy Award winners Adam (Maroon 5's Adam Levine) and Cee Lo as I feel there is so much we can all bring to 'The Voice.'" Mark Burnett is one of the producers of the shows and he had this to say, When I decided to produce 'The Voice,' I immediately knew that my first choice for a female coach had to be Christina Aguilera. Christina has a perfect voice and is an undeniable force in the music business. She is the epitome of 'The Voice.'" Apparently there will be 4 coaches and they will pick singers during blind auditions. Once the coaches have their teams, they will bring in their own songwriters, producers and industry pals to help their teams evolve. On paper this looks good, but I can just see this turning into a horrible Hollywood remake. When I 1st heard that she signed on to do this show I thought of how great this would have been if this was 2005. Christina cannot even get people to buy her music or to listen to her voice in a movie, how is she going to coach someone else? Cee Lo as well. But back to Christina whose voice has risen to a level of annoyance that only Patti LaBelle fans can tolerate. She has other things she should, could be doing rather than being on some B-List reality show that will produce a D-List singer, if that. I wonder if she remembers she has a son? I bet she remembers she had a career! I am giving her a Digit Down. She is making some bad moves and I thin she knows and does not care. I would also like to add that you cannot stage a true comeback, they great ones actually happen.

...Charlie Sheen

I have no words that can express how awesomely funny Charlie Sheen was Monday. He was all over the tube talking here and there about his life and his recent problems. I learned that he has "Adonis DNA and Tiger Blood" and that he wants $3 million per episode and an apology from CBS or else he is walking from the show. Look at these clips. Maybe he is bi polar, maybe he was being "funny".


Either way he is clean and sober, according tot he test. Doing drugs for a long time does cause long term brain damage and maybe that is what we are seeing right now. I am going to give Charlie a Digit Up though because I have a feeling he is messing with all of us.

...NBCUniversal

NBC Universal is now NBCUniversal. No space, no peacock, no globe, just blah. The peacock will remain for the NBC broadcasting company, the globe will remain for Universal's movies and theme parks, and the official name is still NBC Universal, but the new NBCUniversal logo is meant to show unity between the two companies. Why are they changing it? New owners Comcast Corp. said so. With Comcast taking over NBC Universal's value is around $30 billion and Comcast, the nation's largest cable TV company, is around $65 billion. General Electric Co.'s control in NBC Universal will fall from 80% to 49% and it plans to exit completely after several years. France's Vivendi SA sold the remainder of its 20 percent stake to GE on Wednesday. I find the new name and logo very unattractive. People are used to seeing the colorful peacock and the spinning globe. This is boring and very corporate. If I saw this I would think that they were a law firm or an insurance company, not a media company at all. I hope that this fails and they reverse their decision at once. I am giving this a Digit Down.

...The Office

Well for all of you celebs and non celebs out there who wanted to see Ricky Gervais go away for what he did at the Emmys, get over it because he is here to stay. Ricky Gervais will be guest starring on The Office. Could this be a pre run to see if he would make a great permanent fit? Who knows. Ricky Gervais created The Office in the U.K. and although his version was a hit, it only lasted 14 episodes. Along with Gervais NBC confirmed that Will Farrell will also be a guest star as well. This is great for The Office and Farrell. Farrell's best work has been and probably always will be on T.V. SNL was his shining light and he needs some NBC love to regain that light. I could see either him or Gervais becoming regulars on the show. With Carell leaving after this season the show will have a hole open for a leading actor, and there is no doubt that one of these men could fill it very well. I see Farrell as a possible better fit, but I am not an avid viewer of this show, not even the reruns, so I ma not sure per se. I will be watching when these guys guest star though so that is a sign that NBC did something right. I am giving The Office a Digit Up for getting people on that are actually funny.

...Univision

Univision, the Spanish language network, is set to top the American networks in viewership within this decade, according to census. With about 50 million more Hispanics in America than there were a decade ago and with Univision showing a 14% jump in viewers this year, compared to 3% by the big 4 (ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX) it is only a matter of time. Recently Univision passed The CW to become 5th. Some think that even without the future growth of Hispanics in America Univision would still become number 1. In areas, such as the 18-49 year old range, Univison could possibly lead on some nights, it is very close on Friday nights as it is. This means good things for them when it comes to future sponsors. In the past major sponsors have not been willing to place ads on the network, 2/3 to be exact, but now that could, will change. This will definitely do damage to the big 4 who have seen profits fall due to the recession and sponsors deciding to find more creative ways to reach people, especially since most people can fast forward through commercials now. Univision is set to become a major player in the television world. I have no clue what this means for the rest of us. They are a Spanish language channel so it is not like many English only speaking Americans will be tuning i to watch, but it could change things up on the other networks, maybe they will have better shows, less police dramas...maybe. I am giving Univision a Digit Up

...Television Viewers

In the golden days of television, better known as the 90's, advertising execs used to focus all of their money on the 18-49 year old. Well with baby boomers living well into their later years and teens, 20 and 30 somethings watching television online, ad execs are now looking at the above 50 crowd. Why? Well for example CBS has a median viewer age of 51! This masters greatly to advertisers who are becoming less willing to spend money for prime prime time spots. It is well documented that the 18-49 age range tend to spend more than older people. Also the 18-49ers are more willing to watch a commercial over an impatient older adult. You can mostly blame this on the younger Americans though. While in the 80's and 90's more younger people were watching television, they have seemed to disappear. Young hip shows are being cancelled, and usually those are the new shows added to schedules. Older more successful shows are seeming to stick around longer. When Conan O'Brien took over "The Tonight Show" the ratings dipped, and he was fired and replaced with Jay Leno, who attracts more older viewers, those who tend to stay up and watch shows that late. Although Conan got a lot of support form younger Americans, most of those supporting did not bother to watch. The economy also has a little to do with this. It is cheaper to keep things the way they are rather than create something new, shame. I am giving this news a Digit Down. Although this news is not shocking, it could be a continuing trend. With television constantly being made obsolete and Hollywood turning out the same crap year after year, who knows how long it will take before young Americans and the 18-49ers become important again...if ever.

...Lifetime

A a child I never liked lifetime. I would be home with my mom, my dad would be lucky enough to be at work or a business trip. My mom would sit and watch Lifetime and get images and thoughts of rape running wild in her head. As a teen my cousin and I could not escape off to the mall or to hang out with our friends without hearing about the rape that happened on Lifetime. The sucky part was that the movie was based on actual events so that just added fuel to her fire. I dreamed of one day buying Lifetime and shutting it down. Then one day a greater evil came into play, Lifetime Movie Network! We are talking about up to 12 movies a day! All rape, scorned women, and angry women coming together to get over their man issues, almost lesbian by the way. Lifetime does have competition though from W.E. ( Women's Entertainment) and Oxygen. Lifetime still tops them all, in ratings and in fire power. While W.E. and Oxygen depress women in their 20's and 30's with shows about fabulous weddings thrown by rich parents, fiances and gay men, Lifetime shows you what happens after you have been married for 15 years, given birth to 3 children and gave up your career t become a stay at home mom. Your husband cheats on you with a college intern and that totally rapes your mental psyche. I decided to look into Lifetime and I realized that it is owned by two companies that I can live without, 1 more than the other, Disney and Hearst, although NBC does own a tiny share, which all falls under A&E Television Networks, which likes to scare everyone off drugs and hoarding these days. I think that without Lifetime there would be a lot of happier people in the world, men and women. It is pretty much like the news but old news spread out over a 2 hour commercial filled movie. Lifetime does have a purpose, I guess, and that was keeping alive Tori Spelling's career, her movies are always on somehow. I still want it to end, I want it to end daily, but I choose to ignore it, I even ignore Project Runway, I show that was once good, until Lifetime got a hold of it and stole its innocence..shame. 2 Digits Down to Lifetime.