Jason Pullman is not Ryan Seacrest. But he did go to the same high school as Ryan – Dunwoody High (though he graduated from Roswell High in 1991.)

He also worked at then top 40 station Power 99 as a part-time fill-in jock – just like Ryan did at rival Star 94 when the future “American Idol” host was first starting out in radio as a teenager.

And now Pullman’s back in Atlanta as a morning co-host at country station 94.9/The Bull. Since he joined the Bull about eight months ago with Kristen Gates, he has built up an audience far greater than that of his predecessor Cledus T. Judd. The station even beat standard-bearer Kicks 101.5 among 18 to 34 year olds in October ratings.

“I want to emulate Ryan’s success,” Pullman said during a lunch at Houston’s last week. “I couldn’t be more proud of him.” While he wants to build his radio show and perhaps go syndication one day, he’d also like to do some TV hosting. (Recently, he hosted a Dunwoody High School football booster …

Continue reading Interview with 94.9/The Bull’s Jason Pullman »

Atlanta resident Steve Harvey has been successful as a  stand-up comic, a TV sitcom star and a radio host. But it’s his role as relationship guru that has propelled him to best-selling author.

Essence magazine named him entertainer of the year, placing him and his wife Marjorie on the cover. “Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man” has sold more than 1.5 million copies, earning him two trips to Oprah’s show and a “Good Morning America” correspondent job. Screen Gems even wants to turn his book into a movie.

The cover story outlines how he met Marjorie (and it would take awhile before they finally got married) and showed pictures of his opulent home overlooking the Chattahoochee River. The man’s living well, with two accountants, a nanny, a chef, a personal fitness trainer and two personal assistants in his house while the Essence reporter was there. And he’s happy, much happier than he was with his previous wife, a divorce that ended bitterly.

“The thing I’ve learned,” he told …

Continue reading Essence magazine names Steve Harvey entertainer of the year »

While CBS is running mostly repeats, there are still plenty of new and returning shows and classic Christmas specials to tide you over as we enter the busy holiday season.

We bid farewell to the most neurotic yet lovable cop on TV on Friday after 123 episodes: “Monk.” It’s a show that helped solidify USA’s hold on cable dramas that once would have fit nicely on, say, NBC.

And surprisingly, ABC is bringing back “Scrubs” for a ninth season Tuesday while A&E is returning with some of its most popular shows including “Hoarders,” “Intervention” and “Dog the Bounty Hunter,” plus a new reality show starring Steven Seagal. Yes, that Steven Seagal.

Plus, fans of FX’s “Sons of Anarchy” should expect a blow-out season finale Tuesday with plenty of gritty mayhem and bloodshed.

And if you were expecting to catch the “Charlie Brown Christmas” special at 8 p.m. Tuesday on ABC, well, that’s not going to happen because Pres. Obama decided to schedule a speech on Afghanistan. The “Disney Prep …

Continue reading TV best bets with series finale of ‘Monk,’ return of ‘Scrubs,’ ‘Intervention,’ new series with Jesse Ventura, Steven Seagal »

My sources who send me the weekly local and national cable numbers are out for Thanksgiving so I only have last week’s national broadcast ratings.

ABC’s “The American Music Awards,” which featured Adam Lambert’s racy performance and Jennifer Lopez’s fall (at least before it was censored for the West Coast), drew its best ratings in seven years. It brought in 14.2 million viewers.

Otherwise, “NCIS” as usual dominated the top of the nation ratings while “Dancing With the Stars” continues to be a strong performer (albeit its numbers are down from a year ago.).

And the CW’s “Vampire Diaries,” shot in Atlanta, pulled in a consistent 3.6 million viewers.

The top 20 shows nationally among the broadcast networks. CBS shows tend to do better nationally than in Atlanta and among older viewers. SOURCE: Nielsen Media

1. NCIS, CBS, 20.4 million
2. Dancing With the Stars (performance), ABC, 18.8 million
3. NBC Sunday Night Football, NBC, 17.3 million
4. Dancing With the Stars results, …

Continue reading ‘NCIS,’ ‘American Music Awards,’ football dominate TV ratings; Kings of Leon, Trey Songz big on Atlanta radio »

Justin Farmer and I couldn’t hook up by phone so he sent me a brief reaction note to getting the 5 p.m. co-anchor gig starting January 4, 2010 on WSB-TV. He takes over for John Pruitt (left), who will continue at 6 and 11 p.m. Farmer is the obvious heir apparent for Pruitt once Pruitt chooses to retire, probably next year when his contract is up (Monica Pearson, too, is likely to leave when her contract ends in three years). Here’s Farmer’s note to me  he wrote on Thanksgiving:

I hope you are set for a good holiday. I have eight people en route, so I’ll be brief.

Naturally, I am thrilled. This is my home. My colleagues are outstanding and I look forward to getting started with Jovita Moore and David Chandley.

Regarding John Pruitt. Working side-by-side with him at the convention and on a daily basis has been among the highlights of my career. He is a gentleman. I value his support immensely.

You asked what do I bring. 18 years of broadcasting experience from …

Continue reading WSB-TV’s Justin Farmer thrilled to take over for John Pruitt at 5 p.m. »

PHOTO CREDITS: Rodney Ho/rho@ajc.com

For most of the past two decades, Randy Cook and Spiff Carner have been yukking it up on Atlanta radio. Their formula is simple: light patter and general goofiness with a parody song thrown in for good measure.

Their heyday was in the 1990s with Fox 97.1 (”Good Times and Great Oldies!”) when ratings and revenues were skyhigh and they’d sell 40,000-plus seats at the Georgia Dome for the Ultimate Oldies concert.

The pair are now at their fifth home, True Oldies 106.7, which is surprisingly thriving. I visited the team last week to see how things are going now that they’ve reunited after a two-year forced separation.

“We’re still breathing!” Randy said.

I caught them working one topic that morning: Spiff’s daughter works for a publicity firm that oversaw a big Knoxville, Tenn. opening of “New Moon.” The question posed to listeners: have you ever stalked a celebrity?

They got stories about “Twilight,” Davy Jones, Burt Reynolds and Sally Field …

Continue reading A visit to the new Randy and Spiff show on True Oldies 106.7 »

Justin Farmer is taking over for John Pruitt co-anchoring the 5 p.m. news on WSB-TV. starting Jan. 4, 2010.

He has been effectively anointed the heir apparent to Pruitt, much like his future 5 p.m. co-anchor Jovita Moore has been Monica Pearson’s likely replacement for years.

Atlanta native Justin Farmer is the son of Don Farmer, a former veteran newscaster in Atlanta who worked with Pearson many years ago. He arrived in Atlanta in June 2008, coming from Dallas.

General Manager Bill Hoffman praised Farmer for his journalistic experience and his love for Atlanta. “He’s well rounded,” Hoffman said. “He’s a great writer and a quick study. He’s most importantly a great collaborator and team player. He’s a leader. He’s constantly bringing in story ideas and he’s delivered high quality reporting. He was the choice and he’s ready.”  

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Continue reading Justin Farmer takes over 5 p.m. from John Pruitt at WSB-TV »

Hark, the herald angels sing! At 7:40 a.m. this morning, 104.7/The Fish switched over to Christmas music, a format it will stick with through Dec. 25. B98.5 followed a few hours later.

Fish morning show Kevin & Taylor gave a caller the first request: Matthew West’s “Give This Christmas Away” with Amy Grant.

The past couple of years, two stations have gone all Christmas in metro Atlanta: The Fish intersperses traditional secular Christmas tunes (Burl Ives’ “A Holly Jolly Christmas”) with more religious tunes (MercyMe’s “Joseph’s Lullaby”). B98.5, the soft rock staiton, will stick mostly to the mainstream stuff (”White Christmas” by Bing Crosby, “Jingle Bell Rock” by Bobby Helms). It switched over four hours after the Fish at about 11:55 a.m. this morning with Brenda Lee’s “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree,” followed by Wham’s “Last Christmas.”

Continue reading 104.7/The Fish goes Christmas first this morning, followed by B98.5 »

The Osmond magic didn’t get Marie to the “Dancing With the Stars” trophy season five but her brother Donny redeemed her loss Tuesday night two years later.

It was obviously R&B singer Mya’s to lose after getting 87 to 90 points Monday. But lifelong entertainer Donny kept it close, garnering 85 and on one dance, his first perfect score. If this show were purely about skill, the judges would have crowned Mya. But Donny’s popularity with the voters and impressive showmanship pushed him past the finish line.

The youthful 51 year old was the first contestant over the age of 40 to win the title after nine seasons. And it was all the more impressive considering he was commuting to Las Vegas every week to do a show with his sister.

Kelly Osbourne lagged behind at 76 points and was the first one eliminated at 10:54 p.m. EST.

Kelly showed moxie throughout the competition and wore her heart on her sleeve on and off the stage. She improved week after week. She came across much better …

Continue reading Who won ‘Dancing With the Stars’? »

Photo credit: Jeremy Freeman

Atlanta is never mentioned in Cartoon Network’s latest live-action film “Ben 10: Alien Swarm,” but anyone who lives here will have no trouble picking out the skyline.

The characters ride sleek motorcycles up I-75/85, get chased by monsters through the Krog Street tunnel and beat back zombies at the former General Motors plant. The film was shot in metro Atlanta over five weeks earlier this year.

Beefed up state tax incentives have been drawing numerous films into Georgia the past year, including Sandra Bullock’s “The Blind Side,” and Woody Harrelson’s “Zombieland,” both recent box office successes.

“I chose Atlanta specifically,” said director Alex Winter, who film fans might know best as Bill in the “Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure” film two decades ago opposite Keanu Reeves. “I’m from St. Louis. I know Atlanta, been going there since I was a little kid. I wanted it to be an urban story. We wanted a winter environment and a cool skyline I hadn’t …

Continue reading Atlanta-shot Ben 10 live action sequel out: Alien Swarm »