new link

 

[youtube=425,350]P8E-fdfZook

http://blog.cleveland.com/top_entertainment/2007/06/clevelands_latenight_tv_king_i.html

 

Go to the link to see the pix.

 

After 47 years, a Cleveland TV legend is retiring

 

TV PREVIEW

The End of an Era

What: A one-hour retrospective on the 47-year career of "Big Chuck" Schodowski.

When: 8 p.m. Friday.

Where: WJW Channel 8.

 

EXTRAS

From Mush Mouth to Soul Man: Five decades of zany sidekicks

 

Julie E. Washington

Plain Dealer Reporter

 

In the golden age of television, every city boasted its own entertainment television shows and stars. Cleveland had "Upbeat," "Adventure Road," "The Gene Carroll Show" and most famously, "Shock Theater" hosted by Ernie "Ghoulardi" Anderson.

 

Anderson left Cleveland for Hollywood. The golden age turned to rust. Local stations gave the hook to the tap dancers, woodland elves and exercise coaches who had once filled afternoons and late nights.

 

Only "Big Chuck" Schodowski remained.

 

Schodowski is the last direct link at WJW Channel 8 to the Ghoulardi era. He began his on-air career as horror movie host Ghoulardi's handsome sidekick, appearing in skits that livened up grade-Z movies.

 

The zaniness continued as Schodowski co-hosted "Hoolihan and Big Chuck" with Channel 8 meteorologist Bob "Hoolihan" Wells. When Wells left the station, Schodowski continued on with "Lil' John" Rinaldi as his comedy partner on "Big Chuck and Lil' John."

 

After 47 years at Channel 8, Schodowski retires this month. "Big Chuck and Lil' John" will end.

 

 

new link

 

[youtube=425,350]P8E-fdfZook

 

I saw that clip on YouTube a couple hours after it was uploaded.  It's all across the Internet now, and continues to spread!

 

Wayne hasn't been anchoring this week.  I wonder if he's been suspended or worse.  Or, it could just be that he's on vacation, since the anchors seem to have 4-6 weeks of vacation every year.

Okay, checked the link again and yowza!!!

 

I guess I'm not surprised though - Dawson has come off with some incredibly ignorant remarks.  For example, Fox 8 used to have a female anchor with Wayne Dawson and she happened to be of Asian descent. They were doing an intro for a story about the new P.F. Chang's on Chagrin and he starts saying "Kenny is out at the new Oriental restaurant on Chagrin... P.K. Chings? P.D. Chongs?" and you could just see the co-anchor wanting to gut him like a fish. She said "Oriental?!?" and you could tell after commercial he'd been smacked upside the head.

I really think Wayne just didn't know what he was saying. I hope.

Is seems many of the threads related to Cleveland projects end up having some discussion on the type of coverage made: lack of, too much, pessimistic, optimistic, and so on.

 

Instead of being scolded, continue your discussions here.

Or just talk about the paper in general.

 

I personally think PD has gotten better now under its new leadership, then it was , say five years ago. Not perfect, but better.

 

Also, remember when there use to be the Today in Cleveland History feature, or the pictures that you had to guess where the object was? I do. I wish they would bring them back.

I agree it is a little better particularly in the printing of some of the reader opinions-even printing ones trashing the editoral staff. It may have been vaporized from the other thread, but the Tampa Bay area -a similar sized market had two main papers: St petersburg times (awesome for that size market...lots of Pulitzers) and the Tampa Tribune-negative, shallow, one sided and ill informed. I can't fully express my concerns about the PD. It is very anti city in my opinion...but the negative people in the suburbs lap it up I guess. I once had a telemarketer call me to sell the PD and I told him we cancelled long ago. He asked why and I said well in part b/c it was too knee jerk conservative. And he said "well thats weird b/c everyone else that is declining said it is too liberal". And then I got scared.

I just noticed this morning the new set on FOX8.

 

How does everyone else feel about the "Foxification" of their set?

I'm still up in the air about it.

^Hate it!

I just noticed this morning the new set on FOX8.

 

How does everyone else feel about the "Foxification" of their set?

I'm still up in the air about it.

 

I can't believe they were taking an on-air poll of what viewers thought about their new set. That's what I hate about most media. They think they are part of the news rather than just a reporter of it. Just tell me what's happening, not how important you think you are.

I can't believe they were taking an on-air poll of what viewers thought about their new set. That's what I hate about most media. They think they are part of the news rather than just a reporter of it. Just tell me what's happening, not how important you think you are.

 

KJP you hit it on the head.  I repeat to my staff, "It's not about you" all the time.

Wilma Smith (worked with her at WJW).... well preserved, but still a fine looking lady and a nice person.  The person I really loved working with was Robin Swoboda: about as genuine and unaffected of a person as I've met and damned funny as well.

 

KJP.... you'r right about the "news" poll.  TV news is masterful at superficial self-promotion.  It signifies the trivial and trivializes the significant.  But look at who owns WJW (at least for the time being).... Fox: the kings of flash & trash Eye-missed-it News.  But the business in general has become to corporate and, as a result, news has become a "profit center" and increasingly less of a public obligation and service.

 

 

^i want to punch myself when channel 19 does its celebrity news segment.

 

Its not news, sorry folks, go pick up a copy of people magazine instead.

^i want to punch myself when channel 19 does its celebrity news segment.

 

Its not news, sorry folks, go pick up a copy of people magazine instead.

 

Pope, now your talking!!!  :wink:

damnit, is that a TWC publication?

damnit, is that a TWC publication?

 

Si!  :-D  You can't escape our reach!

What about TMZ?

Oh wait: Tmz is part of AOL is part of... never mind.

What about TMZ?

Oh wait: Tmz is part of AOL is part of... never mind.

 

We're everywhere!

So what does everyone think of 19 Action News' trying to get the Mayor of Cleveland in an hour long commercial free interview about how he plans to decrease crime?

 

Background: 19 action news asked Mayor Jackson to sit down for an interview for an hour, but he refused, at one point he or more likely his publicist said he didn't want to interview with Sharon Reed because "she doesn't know the issues." [i can attest to that personally] From then on, twenty days now, they air a brief story on how the Mayor still refuses to interview with 19 and give the number to his office so viewers can call in and demand he give the interview.

 

Personally I think its ridicoulous for a TV station to carry on like this. I've lost what little respect I had for the station, and really I only watch it because down here in Columbus its the only Cleveland station I can get. Wish I had 3,5 or even 8.

This tabloid style news has got to stop its really not a good look.

 

Sharon Reed? They couldn't get someone who didn't pose naked on air to do this interview?

I hate 19's news style (tabloid, sensationalism, whatever). But I can put up with it to an extent because they give more local news then the networks. I hate turning on 3, 5, or 8 and the lead story is about something that happened in Bucyrus, Vermillion, or Geneva. That stuff is fine for later in the broadcast, but should not, IMO, be the lead stories. I want to here what is happening in Cleveland and Cuyahoga County. And, as we all know here UO, there are lots of things happening.

so can anyone to me explain how Ch. 19 is the top newscast from the AP?

 

(as they claim)

Wilma Smith (worked with her at WJW).... well preserved, but still a fine looking lady and a nice person.  The person I really loved working with was Robin Swoboda: about as genuine and unaffected of a person as I've met and damned funny as well.

 

 

Totally agree about Robin.  Could never understand why people sometimes made fun of her.  She used to come into the garden center I worked at (to flirt with me), and always remembered my name (ok I was wearing a name tag), but yes extremely genuine and funny.  But she was also a great ambassador for Cleveland, even when she was in N.Y.

I hate 19's news style (tabloid, sensationalism, whatever). But I can put up with it to an extent because they give more local news then the networks. I hate turning on 3, 5, or 8 and the lead story is about something that happened in Bucyrus, Vermillion, or Geneva. That stuff is fine for later in the broadcast, but should not, IMO, be the lead stories. I want to here what is happening in Cleveland and Cuyahoga County. And, as we all know here UO, there are lots of things happening.

 

I e-mailed Sharon last Winter and told her how I felt about the stations sensationalism, then I mentioned the billions of dollars in development in the pipeline (Clinic, flats, Euclid corridor etc) and she replied: "Do tell about this secret economic development."

 

I was floored because those projects are not secret at all and as a news personality she should have known about that stuff long ago.

 

 

I e-mailed Sharon last Winter and told her how I felt about the stations sensationalism, then I mentioned the billions of dollars in development in the pipeline (Clinic, flats, Euclid corridor etc) and she replied: "Do tell about this secret economic development."

 

I was floored because those projects are not secret at all and as a news personality she should have known about that stuff long ago.

 

 

 

I hope you directed her dumb a$$ to check out UO!

Sorry .. not to bring this up again, but I just watched that news clip from FOX 8 .. that was seriously one of the funniest things I've ever seen. Oh, man .. hilarious. I think I peed myself a little.

 

I really don't think he knew what he was saying. Wayne is like the Ned Flanders of news broadcasting.

In your face

 

Channel 19's aggressive style begins with general manager Bill Applegate

Sunday, September 02, 2007

Bill Lubinger

Plain Dealer Reporter

The news director caught his boss in the hallway and shoved a white piece of paper in front of him with “The Mayor-less Town Meeting” in thick black type across the top.

 

It was for a news promotion. For weeks, WOIO Channel 19 had hounded Cleveland M ayor Frank Jackson for what the station considered his missing-in-action approach to city ills, and Jackson wasn’t playing. “That’s the working title,” the news director said, “if you’re OK with that.”

 

Bill Applegate, vice president and general manager of sister stations 19 and WUAB Channel 43, paused, which was answer enough from an executive known for letting opinions fly, feelings be damned.

 

 

http://www.cleveland.com/artsandevents/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/other/1188723803114250.xml&coll=2&thispage=1

 

 

Anyone see a Regina Brett article that tried to say nice things about Cleveland.  I could not even read it, because I was afraid it would be a stealth attack on Cleveland.  Over the weekend I just did not want to get mad at a computer screen.

Nothing to be concerned about - kind of lame.

 

 

Some reasons to feel good about the city -- Regina Brett

Sunday, September 02, 2007

Regina Brett

Plain Dealer Columnist

 

People always claim they want to read good news.

 

Journalists tend not to believe them.

 

Well, here goes.

 

For months I've been harping about the city's problems. Today let me spotlight some solutions.

 

 

[email protected], 216-999-6328

So that's all the good news there is in a city that has $2 billion of development in the works?  That was honestly the most uninteresting article I've ever read.  Thanks Regina Brett.  I wonder if she's ever considered focusing on a neighborhood that has had success reinventing itself so others could learn from what they have done to progress.  It's not as if there aren't any to chose from; Ohio City, Tremont, Detroit Shoreway, Downtown, etc.

Remember Regina, 75% of the residents of the city are not poor.

Salope!

 

 

That's 5 minutes of my life I will never get back.

I notice she had to start and finish the article with snide little slaps at the reader for being stupid and vapid enough to want "good news".  What we want is fair treatment of the issues concerning our city!

That's 5 minutes of my life I will never get back.

 

Pshht!

I had to find it, read it AND post it - talk about waste. And now I'm commenting about.

Ahhhhh!!!

I am formulating a letter to the editor in my head that basically asks for columnist who actually like the city.  Not love the city, because everyone at the PD who piss all over the city with every article claims they do it because the love the city so much.  How about people who actually:

1. Live in the city and

2. Are happy with positive directions the city's communities are taking.

3. When bad news happens, they put it into a context of the whole story of Cleveland

 

The last point is not to say whitewash all of the bad news, rather put it in context.  A string of crimes in one area of town could put a lot of the positive improvements in the neighborhood in jeopardy.  But if you never report about the good, it just becomes (let me think of something Regina Brett would say...) just more senseless random violence.

 

The ideas are gelling, it is just not in a letter form yet

Remember Regina, 75% of the residents of the city are not poor.

 

Well said, especially the last item which I quoted above. Sadly, after constantly hearing about how poor our poor city is, that struck me that most Cleveland residents aren't in poverty!

"What we want is fair treatment of the issues concerning our city!"

 

If I was her, I'd want a more flattering haircut but what do I know? :roll:

I think it has been said before, but ragging on Cleveland sells papers, the haters eat it up. the PD mang and most  staff have no ethics and clearly don't care about the damage they cause.  I am sickened there is no competition. I refuse to pay for that rag. I make sure and tell them why when they try to sell us a subscription, you should too.Cancel your subscriptions and tell them why IN WRITING. for the record I have no problem with reporting negative news, including our politicians weak responses to major problems and ethics issues. ...it is reality, we need to deal with it. Pretending Cleveland is all roses is not the answer either. But concerns need to be outlined in an insightful and intelligent manner.

My dad went to school with Regina Brett and he said she was nothing but a snobby biotchhhhh. I couldn't agree more.

pd:

 

Channel 3 leads in local Emmy wins

Sunday, September 09, 2007

Julie E. Washington

Plain Dealer Reporter

 

WKYC Channel 3 took home the most local Emmys of any Northeast Ohio station Saturday night at the 38th annual awards ceremony in Cleveland.

 

Channel 3 won five Emmys among the evening's 61 categories. They included: spot news (reporter Paul Thomas); news reports - hard news (reporter Jennifer Murphy); news series - soft news (reporter Michael A. O'Mara); journalistic enterprise (Carl Monday); and anchor news (Kim Wheeler).

 

WEWS Channel 5 and WJW Channel 8 each won four regional Emmys.

 

 

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:

 

[email protected], 216-999-4539

 

 

Tonight at Cleveland City Council, Ward 16 Councilman Kevin Kelley gave a passionate speech about negative media coverage of Cleveland. He said more balance is needed, including reporting that crime in Cleveland is down in most categories. By not telling the other side of the story, he said he fears that it will be difficult for growing businesses to retain and attract talent to the city.

 

At the end of his speech, all city council persons, members of Jackson's administration and staff, as well as most people in the audience gave Kelley a standing oviation.

 

It will be interesting to see how the local media, especially the PD, reports on this.

^fine, I'll bite the bullet, I'll watch ch 19 tonight.

Tonight at Cleveland City Council, Ward 16 Councilman Kevin Kelley gave a passionate speech about negative media coverage of Cleveland. He said more balance is needed, including reporting that crime in Cleveland is down in most categories. By not telling the other side of the story, he said he fears that it will be difficult for growing businesses to retain and attract talent to the city.

 

At the end of his speech, all city council persons, members of Jackson's administration and staff, as well as most people in the audience gave Kelley a standing oviation.

 

It will be interesting to see how the local media, especially the PD, reports on this.

 

I wask talking with a councilperson who had just met with the PD last week (it was some sort of media/city summit). Because Cleveland is the posterchild for poverty and foreclosures, there are media outlets from around Europe that are coming over here to do stories. Many have said that they come expecting "Beruit" because of how the rest of the US portrays us but then are blown away by a "beautiful and functioning city". And something else about Feagler admiting that he hasn't been in a Cleveland neighborhood in a few years.

The Europeans are right... as usual.

^ I know. and if they would only let us immigrate

From the PD blog today ... and might I note that this entry has led to some of the most ignorant (and borderline racist) reader comments I've ever read on there ... and for the PD comment threads, that's saying a lot.

 

Plain Dealer picketed by group seeking more coverage of black community

Donna J. Miller

September 14, 2007 11:57AM

 

About 40 people picketed today in front of the Plain Dealer building at 1801 Superior Ave. demanding that the paper do a better job of covering the black community.

 

"All of the black community, not just the Uncle Toms of the establishment," shouted Bert Jennings, who produces the Carl Stokes Forum, a local cable show ...

 

... More at http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2007/09/plain_dealer_picketted_for_fai.html

musky, I believe that's Kenny Crumpton - don't let ColDayMan get wind of that.

 

"What's our confidence level that Wilma's not a robot?"

 

She has a surprisingly dry wit and a good sense of humor off-camera.

  Yes it would be suprising.

My observation and frustration comes from the front page of the PD (we get it at work, so I scan through it on my down time)...At the bottom they had a blurb on the longest commute times in major cities, Cleveland rated as one of the least congeseted...Instead of this being a positive, they just make jokes about possible bumper stickers, for example: "Cleveland, we are fat and poor, but at least we don't have to wait in traffic." 

 

Come on now...This is 3rd grader stuff, and I know 3rd grade stuff, and yes, I wrote a letter, not that it matters... 

 

It is starting to get annoying all the negativity around this region...

Yes. It is.

 

Is the rally in front of the PD still on?

We're trying to get enough people from Urban Ohio to commit. We're looking at doing it the second week of October. If you're interested in participating, please let us know on the Make Friends with Feagler Rally thread (http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php?topic=14092.0).