Local CBS affiliate KCBS-2's update yesterday regarding the condition of reporter Serene Branson after her now-world famous linguistic fumble during a live segment about the Grammy Awards does little to resolve the viewers' question: What really happened? more ›

Remember a few weeks ago when KCBS' David Goldstein pulled out a gotcha moment with a handful of LADWP employes drinking on the job and going to a strip club? Today interim General Manager Austin Beutner said that the department intends to fire at least two employees. "They will now have the opportunity to respond to the allegations..." more ›

CBS2 aired their big investigative report exposing a few LADWP workers apparently drinking on the job, drinking and driving a city truck and visiting a strip club. Reporter David Goldstein did approach the workers for comment. "What do you think the mayor is going to say about this, Santiago? I'm going to show him the tape." "I don't give a (expletive) what u do," Santiago replied. LADWP officials are investigating. The transcript of the report is here and the video here. more ›

Tonight, KCBS' newscast viewership will likely rise sky high as they air an investigation that will apparently show LADWP employees drinking alcohol on the job and even "drinking and driving and other inappropriate behavior," according to the department's Chief Operating Officer Raman Raj, who explained the accusations in a statement this afternoon. more ›

Veteran weatherman Johnny Mountain and early-morning co-anchor Suzanne Rico have retired from KCBS/KCAL duopoly, according to the Variety. But that's not all in what is being called a "restructuring plan" or "newsroom carnage," depending on how you look at it. Word is that several staffers, perhaps up to 12, were laid off last Friday and are all expected to be replaced, presumably by cheaper workers to help save money. Meanwhile, KPCC 89.3 FM is expanding in a big way. more ›

In an expose about TV news ratings, Variety's Michael Schneider digs into the current landscape, finding some interesting results: "According to the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press, 52% of the public say they watch local TV news -- down from 64% in 1998. NBC affiliates in particular have been stung this fall; due to its low-rated 'Jay Leno Show' lead-in at 10 p.m., Los Angeles' KNBC has seen its late news drop 25% so far this fall in the adults 25-54 demo (the preferred measurement for local news)." KABC has dropped 17% for its 11 p.m. newscast, but KCBS is up 20%," perhaps in part because of parent CBS' strong primetime performance" and the duopoly with KCAL9. more ›

Local television news, so quick to cut into programming for car chases, and often repetitive non-stop coverage of celebrity-involved incidents (i.e. the death of Michael Jackson) has been eerily quiet this weekend as the Station Fire--one of three current blazes raging in Southern California--has prompted the evacuation of more than 6,600 homes, threatens 12,000 structures, and has blazed through 35,000 acres and is growing with 5% containment. more ›

No picks tonight because after a week of glorious vacation, vapid programming's got me down. Dear Holly Hunter, I love you desperately, and you are positively MILFy in TNT's Saving Grace but that goddam thing has turned into Touched By An Angel and it just doesn't have the legs so give us all a break. So what can a man do but look hopefully to the future. In a coupla weeks FX's It's Always... more ›