"Making News: Texas Style"
Category: Local... MSM/Journalism/etc... TV & Radio...
Posted Wednesday, June 13, 2007 at 04:08 PM [GMT-6]

I had heard rumors about a new reality show supposedly filmed at a local TV station, but until I saw this article* in this morning's newspaper, I had no details.

Making News: Texas Style is a behind the scenes look at the new operations at KOSA-TV, the local CBS affiliate broadcasting from – if you can believe it – a shopping mall in nearby Odessa. If it sounds low-rent, don't believe it; KOSA is the hot ticket in local TV nowadays, giving the previous 800-pound gorilla in the market, the NBC affiliate (KWES), a run for its money.

The fun thing about this series is that all the characters are familiar to west Texans. We see most of them every day – not only on TV but all around town – and some of them we've "known" for decades. The exposure of the reasoning and strategy behind some of the recent decisions and personnel moves should be fascinating.

One important detail omitted in the newspaper article is that the TV Guide Network is Channel 76 on Suddenlink's system, and Channel 18 on Grande Communications. (Sidenote: Good luck finding any programming guide on Suddenlink's website; I guess that's proprietary information.)

The first installment ran last Monday, but it's being repeated at 11:0 p.m. this Friday, and again at 11:0 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. this Saturday. New episodes will air at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, June 18 and June 25.

*I have no idea why the online version of the article is entitled "Star Telegram less than glowing in its review of KOSA/TV Guide reality show," as I found the column to be quite positive on the whole. The headline on the print edition was much less judgmental: "Reality series goes behind scenes at local TV station."

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Comments

Interesting how two different people can read the same article and be left with two different impressions, huh?

Posted by: Jimmy at June 13, 2007 09:15 PM

Yeah. I think you and I have actually gone through this kind of discussion before.

But I can see how you might interpret phrases like the engaging "Making News Texas Style" and a mid-America...that's presented with neither celebration nor condescension as slams. ;-)

Interestingly, I was discussing the show tonight with another blogger with deep local MSM roots, and his disdain for the program was thinly-veiled. I'm beginning to think that you guys are, well, competitive.

Posted by: Eric at June 13, 2007 09:32 PM

Thanks for reminding me.....I caught the portion on the webpage viewer. I've known Mike B. for years and got to know Jay and Jose well during our W. Texas Troop Salute. Good people who have helped me out on several non-profit projects. And, Jose is interested in some sponsorship of my potential trip to photograph in "Shangri-La". I have my picture with Tatum too!

Posted by: Wallace at June 14, 2007 12:22 AM

Blow-dried glad-hander? Regardless the truth, that Jay probably mousse's every day and greets a lot of people, it's still a somewhat harsh assessment, wouldn't you say?

Posted by: Jimmy at June 14, 2007 06:33 AM

I took that as an assessment of Jay's personal traits, not an opinion as to the quality of the show itself. Maybe we're talking about two different things.

But, for the record, I do agree that that statement seems harsh. But, then, I don't know Jay.

Posted by: Eric at June 14, 2007 06:42 AM

Re: "Interestingly, I was discussing the show tonight with another blogger with deep local MSM roots, and his disdain for the program was thinly-veiled.

Eric, you're absolutely right ..... but it is a disdain I have for ANY 'reality' program, even those I like. If I had the money to get my very own Orange County Chopper, I'd hate to think the "American Chopper" spent most of their time bickering, instead of assembling, or that they'd let Mikey anywhere near my baby-to-be. But for many viewers, that bickering is a big part of the show's appeal.

Or, in the case of this particular show, it could be just sour grapes on my part. Channel 7 was not their first choice, so I got to watch the "Making News ..." crew in action before they pulled the plug and went to 7 ..... taking with them my chance for that '15 minutes of fame.'

Posted by: Jeff at June 14, 2007 08:16 AM

Jeff, I hoped that you'd catch that reference and weigh in on this!

I also hope that you'll expand on your experiences with the behind-the-scenes aspects of making the program – even if those experiences didn't make it to the Tube. I think your readers would be fascinated. Never underestimate the voyeuristic tendencies of the public (which includes me, to be sure), especially when it comes to local events. ;-)

Posted by: Eric at June 14, 2007 08:26 AM
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