NBC hits ratings gold, best ever – despite extensive online features, streaming events

NBC’s London Olympics ratings defy expectations NBC’s ratings are on track to outdistance numbers from the 2008 Beijing Olympics, which many TV industry executives had figured would be a high-water mark. The last Summer Olympics to consistently attract such large crowds were the Montreal Games in 1976 — long before cable TV networks began splintering the audience. Wow, …

A hundred million dollar exit in blogging means mixing Pulitzer Prize content with photos of kittens

One of the hardest decisions a writer makes is “who to write for,” also known as your audience. For this blog I have chosen to assume that my readers are smart rather than dumb, well-educated, and interested “good” stories (not controversy and bad-mouthing). Sarah Lacy wrote an interesting piece on the audiences that both the …

San Diego’s Comic-Con is becoming the Sundance/Cannes for television

Think of it as TV’s Comic-Cannes. Since its inception 42 years ago, Comic-Con International has been a celebration of fanboy culture. When geek became the new cool, it also worked as a marketing platform for Hollywood and video game makers. Now, it’s the place where the television industry comes to build buzz for new shows …

So long Andy Griffith – a memoir from Ron Howard

A memoir of Andy Griffith from Ron Howard: Early in the second season of “The Andy Griffith Show,” I ventured a suggestion for a line change to make it sound more “like the way a kid would say it.” I was just 7 years old. But my idea was accepted and I remember standing frozen, …

On set for the Avengers with green-screen action photos

If you’re like me, then you’re super excited about the new Avengers movie. After last weeks premiere (photos, videos) the anticipation is building. To whet your appetite I found a full article about being on-set for the movie and green screen photos of the live action. To the casual observer, Joss Whedon might seem like …