Would you rather know what’s coming up on TV this week or read a profile of Julian McMahon?
TV Guide, mailed to subscribers last week, starts its new life today. It’s bigger (8-by-10 1/2 inches), slicker and filled front to back with color photographs and pointless tidbits about your favorite “stars,” most of whom more than half of America’s never heard of.
It’s a lot of flash and a little trash, the old TV Guide with a heavy layer of makeup, as befits an aging diva.
The formerly pocket-sized mag, regarded as growing a bit dowdy, was forced to respond to circulation inroads made by fanzines like Us and Star. Management claims its circulation at 4.5 million.
The biggest downside: The program listings, TV Guide’s bread-and-butter since its founding in 1948, have shrunk to 35 pages, and only apply to the Eastern time zone. If you want local programming, you’ll have to sign on to tvguide.com.listings, or consult our TV Week magazine on Sundays.
What else is new: The newsstand price of TV Guide rises from 99 cents to $1.99 after the first of the year.
Resnik departs 9News
KUSA-Channel 9 reporter Andrew Resnik is “leaving to pursue a career in financial services,” according to a spokeswoman for the station.
Resnik, who has been at the station since 2001, departs Oct. 28. Resnik said that when it became clear he wasn’t in 9News’ plans as an anchor “I looked at other possibilities.” It marks the end of Resnik’s KUSA career, which hit a major bump in November 2003 when he was arrested and charged with purchasing three tablets of Ecstasy outside the Fillmore Auditorium.
He pleaded guilty to possession and was given a deferred sentence. He returned to 9News in January 2004 and apologized to staffers by e-mail.
McCain on NPR
Sen. John McCain talks about his values and beliefs on the “This I Believe” segment of NPR’s “All Things Considered” (5 p.m. Sunday, KCFR 1340-AM).
And whatever became of Westword restaurant critic Jason Sheehan’s Labor Day ode to barbecue for “ATC”? Bumped by Hurricane Katrina coverage, it appears destined to die on the cutting-room floor.
Around the dial
One-time KWGN-Channel 2 anchor Wendy Brockman off to Florida, where she will anchor the news at WTTA in Tampa. Husband Dan Daru going, too, to keep an eye on their 6-month-old son. … KMGH-Channel 7 collecting Coats for Colorado from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. today at the station, Speer and Lincoln. Last year, the drive, with an assist from Dependable Cleaners, gathered 90,000 coats for needy folks. … Quotable: “We’ve got more of what you love – and everything you need to know.” – Ian Birch, editor, TV Guide.
Dick Kreck’s column appears Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. He may be reached at 303-820-1456 or dkreck@denverpost.com.
