THE X FACTOR: TOP 4: Emblem3 performs live on THE X FACTOR, Wednesday, December 12 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. CR: Ray Mickshaw / FOX.

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Only one eliminated act tonight and it was not Franken-group. It was Emblem3, Simon’s mildly noxious boy band!

Fifth Harmony surprisingly made the finals next week thanks to an impressively strong take on an Ellie Goulding song last night. Good for them. They were true underdogs throughout this competition, a group made out of five solo singers who struggled to become a group. (They even had trouble coming up with a name.)

Britney Spears looked flummoxed, like she had just sucked a really big lemon. Simon Cowell couldn’t be happier. “I believe in miracles. I thought they were sensational last night,” he said.

Simon mishandled Emblem3, trying to make them feel vanilla goody-two-shoes with oddly bland song …

Continue reading ‘The X Factor’ top 4 results show; L.A. Reid leaving after two seasons »

Frank Ski with his wife Tanya in 2009. CREDIT: ajc.com/Buzz

V-103 has been a radio pillar for African Americans for years, regularly drawing 1.3 million listeners a week. It takes its “Big Station” moniker seriously.

So will losing its top-rated morning show of 14 years led by Frank Ski and Wanda Smith hurt V-103 in any tangible way?

“No,” said Mike Roberts, a long-time V-103 morning host before Ski and Smith. “They’ll be fine. It’s a monster station that has been successful for many years because they are truly connected to the community. And they always seem to know when to make changes.”

Rick Caffey, market manager for V-103 since 1994, said Ski wanted a syndication deal to expand beyond Atlanta but the two sides couldn’t agree to a deal. “We want to stay local,” said Caffey, while thanking Ski and Smith for their services.

Ski, with stand-up comic Smith, created a morning show that blended the serious, the silly and the sublime. One segment, they would be …

Continue reading Will Frank and Wanda’s departure hurt V-103? Doubtful »

Ryan Cameron is moving to mornings in January, 2013. CREDIT: V-103

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As anticipated, Frank Ski announced Thursday morning that he is leaving R&B/hip-hop station V-103 after 14 years. As a result, an hour later, his on-air partner Wanda Smith said she is out as well.

Atlanta native and long-time afternoon host Ryan Cameron will take over mornings in January. Big Tigger, a former BET “106 & Park” host last heard on the radio in D.C., will take over afternoons.

“We will definitely miss waking up every morning and coming into this studio and doing what we do every day,  but we know God has other plans and other things He wants us to do,” Ski said on air. Later, he added, “I want to expand and grow.”

He said their final day will be Thursday, Dec. 20.

Ski also said he doesn’t plan to leave Atlanta (though his Dunwoody home is now for sale for $2.2 million). He promised he will be heard again on the radio …

Continue reading Frank Ski and Wanda Smith leaving V-103; Ryan Cameron takes over in January »

The AFLAC duck may not be so loud anymore thanks to new FCC regulations.

Here’s a modifed version of what I wrote last year on this topic:

You know how some commercials are irritatingly louder than the program you’ve been watching?

Effective today, that should be a thing of the past.

Rules that require broadcasters to keep commercials at comparable volume to programming sailed through the Federal Communications Commission a year ago 4-0.

While TV commercials are a necessary evil — helping to pay for the programming people receive on most networks — many viewers find loud commercials a major annoyance.

“This is an issue that people care about, that consumers care about,” FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski said before the vote to Bloomberg News. “We have received thousands of complaints about TV commercials that come on much louder than the programming around it.”

Broadcasters are bracing themselves to find out what their potential liabilities are.

The Congressional …

Continue reading FCC regulations for loud commercials go into effect today, Dec. 13 »

THE X FACTOR: TOP 4: Carly Rose Sonenclar performs live on THE X FACTOR, Wednesday, December 12 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. CR: Ray Mickshaw / FOX.

I apologize for not finishing my recap in a remotely timely fashion. I have been tied up with the Frank Ski/Wanda Smith departure on V-103.

I still think it’s going to be Tate vs. Carly Rose. Fifth Harmony had a moment of life there thanks to their first performance. I’d say Emblem3 has a small shot of knocking Tate or Carly Rose from the finals. We shall see.

1) Tate Stevens (”Bonfire’ Craig Morgan/ Team L.A.) – Clearly, Tate picked this song himself. L.A. looks ridiculous in a cowboy hat. But Tate feels like home, even with the over-the-top pyrotechnics behind him. This song with its upbeat country/rock vibe is right up his alley. “You look like a man who believes he can win this competition,” Simon said. Britney, clearly aware he is Carly Rose’s biggest competition, said it wasn’t his best performance. Grade: A-minus

2) Carly …

Continue reading ‘The X Factor’ top 4 performance show recap »

Piers Morgan took over for Larry King but ratings have not followed. CREDIT: AP

Busy day in TV with Georgia ties so here’s a quick summary:

- The New York Post is throwing out rumors about incoming CNN prez Jeff Zucker moves at CNN Before Zucker has even officially taken over. Speculation includes moving Piers Morgan to late night, 10 p.m. or later, from his current 9 p.m. slot. And bringing Ann Curry from NBC News to CNN.

***
“Honey Boo Boo” is back for some holiday specials early next year on TLC:

Halloween – Sunday, January 6 at 9 p.m. EST
Thanksgiving – Sunday, January 13 at 9 p.m. EST
Clip Show – Sunday, February 10 at 8 p.m. EST
Christmas – Sunday, February 17 at 8 p.m. EST

***
Turner released some ratings highlights:

• TBS ranks as basic cable’s #1 network for the year-to-date among adult 18-34 in primetime.

• TNT has five shows – The Closer, Rizzoli & Isles, Major Crimes, Perception and Dallas – among basic cable’s Top 10 original series for the year-to-date, giving …

Continue reading TV tidbits: CNN speculation, ‘Honey Boo Boo’ specials, TNT/TBS ratings highlights »

HOLLYWOOD, CA – OCTOBER 23: Actress Kenya Moore arrives at the premiere of Paramount Pictures' "Flight" held at the ArcLight Cinemas on October 23, 2012 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images)

“Real Housewives of Atlanta” actress (yes, that’s what we shall call her now) Kenya Moore claims that Walter Jackson, the local tow-truck owner, was “deceitful” and “hateful” in his allegations on V-103’s Frank & Wanda morning show that she orchestrated their relationship just for the TV show.

She gave an exclusive statement to Wendy Williams, who read it on her show today:

Walter’s recent statements are completely false. I am embarrassed that I allowed a deceitful and hateful person in my life. He says he did it for fame. I’ve been humiliated enough by appearing desperate for a man to marry me who has his own agenda. I urge viewers to stay tuned. The truth will come to light. I have heard the fans and my friends loud and clear. I can do better than Walter …

Continue reading Kenya Moore calls Walter Jackson’s allegations that their relationship was fake ‘deceitful’ »

Lifetime's successful remake of 'Steel Magnolias," shot in Atlanta, aired in September garnered several NAACP Image Award nominations. CREDIT: Lifetime

Atlanta, becoming the mecca for Hollywood film and TV in the South, is well represented in the NAACP Image Award nominations, airing Feb. 1 on NBC at 8 p.m. Here is a sampling, with locally-connected TV shows, actors and films in bold face:

MOTION PICTURE

Outstanding Motion Picture

• “Beasts of the Southern Wild” (Fox Searchlight Pictures)
• “Django Unchained” (The Weinstein Company)
• “Flight” (Paramount Pictures)
• “Red Tails” (Lucasfilm)
• “Tyler Perry’s Good Deeds” (Lionsgate)

Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series

• Anthony Anderson – “Guys with Kids” (NBC)
• Damon Wayans, Jr. – “Happy Endings” (ABC)
• Don Cheadle – “House Of Lies” (Showtime)
• Donald Faison – “The Exes” (TV Land)
• Hosea Chanchez – “The Game” (BET)

Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series

• Amber Riley – “Glee” (FOX)
• Cassi Davis – “Tyler Perry’s …

Continue reading Atlanta well represented in NAACP Image Award nominations: Tyler Perry, ‘The Game,’ ‘Steel Magnolias,’ ‘Flight’ »

Frank Ski has been a fixture on Atlanta radio the past 14 years. Will he make it to year 15? CREDIT: Rodney Ho/rho@ajc.com

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V-103’s Frank Ski this morning was touting the “biggest announcement of my life” tomorrow morning on the radio station.

This could mean several different things. Like the big Bert Show announcement earlier this month when Jenn Hobby said she was leaving and later, going to Kicks 101.5 as a mid-day host, I have no direct knowledge of what Ski has up his sleeve. I can only surmise based on his current situation.

Ski has been part of the longest-running local music morning show in Atlanta on the same station: 14 years with Wanda Smith. He’s outlasted Steve & Vikki and Randy & Spiff. He’s been on longer than Kevin & Taylor and the Bert Show. He works hard. He takes his craft seriously. He can do silly stuff. …

Continue reading Frank Ski’s big announcement Thursday: will he stay or will he go? »

THE VOICE — "Live Show" Episode 322B — Pictured: Terry McDermott — (Photo by: Tyler Golden/NBC)

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Not surprisingly, based on Monday’s performances, Lithonia’s big throated R&B/pop singer Trevin Hunte went home tonight.

His “Wind Beneath My Wings” was off pitch and didn’t help him at all Monday night, especially after a relatively commanding “And I’m Telling You I’m Not Going” a week earlier.

The three fighting for the season three finals: Terry McDermott,  Cassadee Pope and Nicholas David.

Pope has been selling more copies than any other artists in iTunes, which apparently helps her voting count based on the arcane rules set by the producers.

Note to Christina: the bangs and raccoon makeup does not do you justice.

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Continue reading ‘The Voice’ recap: who made the top 3? »