(While I’m on vacation until October 10, I’m finding creative ways to populate this blog. This includes piggybacking on a colleague’s story. Morieka Johnson wrote this piece.)

Cesar Millan, aka "The Dog Whisperer," waves to photographers at the 24th Annual Imagen Awards in Beverly Hills, Calif., Friday, Aug. 21, 2009. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

Evidently, the business of rehabilitating ‘bad’ dogs is booming.

Armed with a warm smile, Cesar Millan has spent the past seven years helping people and their problem pets on his National Geographic show, “The Dog Whisperer.” Issues range from fear of appliances to aggression towards skateboards. Millan’s mantra during each visit: Dogs need exercise, discipline and affection — in that order. People need to embrace their role as leader of the pack.

Since the show’s 2004 debut, Millan has turned his brand of dog psychology into a multimillion-dollar empire that includes books, DVDs, magazines and pet gear such as collars and …

Continue reading Interview with Cesar Millan (’The Dog Whisperer’), at Cobb Energy Oct. 2 »

I’m on vacation from Sept. 25 to Oct. 8. So anything I post during these dates were completed before that. If you have breaking news, contact my colleague Melissa Ruggieri at mruggieri@ajc.com or editor Tracy Brown at tracybrown@ajc.com. If not, I’ll certainly catch you all up when I get back to work!

Every month or so, I’ve given you a glimpse from the past from Star 94, Dave FM, V-103 and Kicks 101.5, courtesy of Mediabase 24/7, which tracks airplay going back to 1998. This month, we take a look at what Q100’s top 10 songs were the week of Sept. 26, 2001, ten years ago.

Since Q100 focuses on newer songs, it’s no surprise not a single song on this list is on Q100’s current playlist. Just one of the songs has even been played on Q100 this calendar year: Alicia Keys’ classic “Fallin’ ”

1. “I’m Real” Jennifer Lopez featuring Ja Rule. A year ago, I would have said both these acts were no longer relevant, but Lopez landed a judge spot on “American Idol” and voila! She has two …

Continue reading Flashback: Q100’s top songs 10 years ago »

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I’m on vacation but I wanted to give the regular followers of “Idol” to kvetch (or even praise) “X Factor” during its second week on the air.

Ratings last week both nights were 12.5 million viewers. That was clearly a disappointing figure for Fox officials and creator Simon Cowell after all the publicity and build up over the months. “Criminal Minds,” “The Big Bang Theory,” “Person of Interest” and “Modern Family” drew more viewers. Both comedies drew more 18 to 49 year olds.

The only clear upgrade from “Idol” so far that I can ascertain is record executive L.A. Reid. He has gravitas and a track record that outweighs Randy Jackson. Otherwise, we have two personality black holes in Nicole Scherzinger and host Steve Jones, neither of whom have distinguished themselves yet. And even Simon himself seems oddly diminished. So …

Continue reading Home to talk about ‘X Factor,’ week two »

Golf might not be the most scintillating sport to watch, but Atlanta TV/movie producer Angi Bones is hoping there are some laughs to be mined from the world of backswings and birdies.

A speculative pilot for “The Clubhouse” will be filmed Oct. 1-2 at Sugar Creek Golf & Tennis in Atlanta. The show is written by local novelist Brian Egeston, an avid golfer who plays at Sugar Creek.  After meeting Marie Dunovant, operator of the golf and tennis club, Egeston convinced her to allow the show to shoot at the popular Dekalb County course.

The pilot’s main man, Kash McGovern, played by local actor Jason MacDonald, is one of those guys who had a shot at the big leagues on the PGA tour but lost everything and is now trying to rebuild his life while working as the head golf pro at Sugar Creek.

He is joined, naturally, by a “diverse and quirky staff,” according to press materials. Myra J, formerly of the Tom Joyner Morning Show, has also been cast, though it isn’t clear what her role will …

Continue reading Pilot for golf-themed sitcom filming in Atlanta »

I’m on vacation from Sept. 25 to Oct. 9. I will be back on Oct. 10. This was written before I left. If you have any breaking news, contact my colleague Melissa Ruggieri (mruggieri@ajc.com) or editor Tracy Brown (tracybrown@ajc.com). If not, I’ll catch everyone up the week of Oct. 10!

Erin Burnett is the latest journalist to tackle CNN’s embattled evening programming schedule starting October 3 at 7 p.m.

Her show “Outfront” takes over for “John King USA,” which moves back to 6 p.m.

She’s not an unemployed former politician. She’s not a pundit or tastemaker. She’s an actual journalist from CNBC who had aspirations to do broader news.

Burnett began her career as a financial analyst at Goldman Sachs. But she decided to try out journalism as a writer and booker on CNN’s “Moneyline.” Later, she handled CitiGroup’s media operations, then worked at Bloomberg and CNBC.

At CNBC, she co-anchored “Squawk on the Street” and hosted “Street Signs.” NBC also allowed her to do stories …

Continue reading CNN’s Erin Burnett talks about her new show starting Oct. 3 »

It couldn’t have been a shock, considering her lack of name recognition, when Elisabetta Canalis was eliminated from “Dancing With the Stars” Tuesday night. She might have improved, and the judges seemed pleased(ish) with her performance, but it seems no one could muster enough interest to care about someone whose main claim to fame is being George Clooney’s ex.

The show ignored the thing that everyone was talking about Tuesday. Yes, it was Nancy Grace, but it wasn’t her dancing

While TMX was reporting what she puts in her bra (lucky charms from her kids), the strenuous dancefloor moves had Grace nearly coming out of her dress. The folks at DWTS covered for and minimized the wardrobe malfunction admirably, but screen grabs were still prevalent on Tuesday. Grace has claimed it wasn’t what it looked like, and the results show wisely made no mention of it. Check out Entertainment Tonight’s video report on it.

But what about the dancing? Two words: polite jive. Well, at least …

Continue reading Who is out second on “Dancing With the Stars” season 13? »

I’m on vacation from Sept. 25 to Oct. 8. So anything I post during these dates were completed before that. If you have breaking news, contact my colleague Melissa Ruggieri at mruggieri@ajc.com or editor Tracy Brown at tracybrown@ajc.com. If not, I’ll certainly catch you all up when I get back to work!

Kendra Wilkinson is honest, almost to a fault – or you can say that’s her charm. In her second book, “Being Kendra,” she opens about having sex with her husband Hank Baskett on the stairwell after sending her assistant Eddie out to buy a plunger.

She wrote that this wasn’t sexy sex per se but given that the baby was sleeping upstairs, the couple had to grab the opportunity when they could.

“The plunger was just an excuse,” she said in a brief interview last week to promote her new book “Being Kendra,” which came out this week. She will be at Outwrite Books in Midtown Sept. 29 at 7:30 p.m. for a free book signing. (To get a signed book, you need to get a copy at the store.) “Now …

Continue reading Interview with Kendra Wilkinson, signing her newest book at Outwrite Books Sept. 29 »

I’m on vacation from Sept. 25 to Oct. 8. So anything I post during these dates were completed before that. If you have breaking news, contact my colleague Melissa Ruggieri at mruggieri@ajc.com or editor Tracy Brown at tracybrown@ajc.com. If not, I’ll certainly catch you all up when I get back to work!

Dexter is back Sunday on Showtime for its sixth season.

After last week’s staggering number of new and returning programs, things are a bit quieter this week as viewers try to figure out which ones are worth watching again in the coming weeks.

Among the shows coming back: “The Real World” on MTV Wednesday,  ABC’s “Private Practice” Thursday and “Dexter” on Showtime Sunday.

And a few new shows trickle in, including the ambitious “Terra Nova” on Fox Monday, the promising “Suburgatory” on ABC and the abysmal “How To Be a Gentleman” on CBS Wednesday.

MONDAY

“Dancing With the Stars” 8 p.m. ABC — We learned last week: Nancy Grace can be graceful!
“Gossip Girl” 8 p.m. the CW (fifth …

Continue reading TV best bets with new series ‘Terra Nova,’ returns of ‘Private Practice,’ ‘Dexter’ »

For fans of the AJC  “American Idol” blog, the content has migrated here.

There is also a dedicated page for “Idol” fans here. As I’ve already done this week, I’ll be tracking “X Factor” as well.

And for folks who normally read this blog and have no interest in “Idol” or “X Factor,” no worries. My coverage of other radio and TV-related topics will continue unabated.

Join my Facebook fan page and Twitter.

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Continue reading ‘Idol’/'X Factor’ coverage migrated here »

Susan Lucci has played the same character for four decades. AP file photo

Erica Kane and company at “All My Children” are saying farewell to the airwaves today at 1 p.m. on ABC.

The soap will tie up some loose-end storyline – and possibly leave the world in suspense in case it lives on elsewhere.

ABC decided to cancel “All My Children” and “One Life to Live” due to declining ratings. Fans are understandably morose. Talk shows like “The Chew,” which replaces the soap, are cheaper to produce. Plus, younger audiences have gravitated to “reality”-type soaps such as “The Real Housewives” franchise and “Basketball Wives.”

“All My Children” may continue in cyberspace though Susan Lucci has so far declined to join in.

Once “One Life to Live” dies in January, only four soaps remain on the airwaves, including ABC’s “General Hospital.”

For fans, please tell us your favorite moments and why you think the show should or should not have died.

Join my Facebook fan page and Twitter.

Continue reading ‘All My Children’ wraps up on TV after 41 years on ABC »