OJAI, Calif. (AP) — The writer-son of Oscar-winning blacklisted Hollywood screenwriter Dalton Trumbo has died at age 70. Christopher Trumbo, who wrote scripts for “Ironside,””Quincy, M.E.” and “Falcon Crest,” died […]
LOS ANGELES (AP) — David Nelson, who starred on his parents’ popular television show “The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet,” died Tuesday, a family spokesman said. He was 74. Nelson […]
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Actress Anne Francis, who was the love interest in the 1950s science-fiction classic “Forbidden Planet” and later was sexy private eye in “Honey West” on TV, […]
Exclusives
NEW YORK (AP) — Billy Taylor, an acclaimed jazz pianist and composer who became one of the genre’s most ardent advocates through radio, television and the landmark Jazzmobile arts venture, […]
HONOLULU (AP) — Police in Hawaii are investigating the death of a Los Angeles writer and producer who was found in a hotel room. Big Island police say 50-year-old Aron […]
Saying Goodbye: TV’s 2010 Honor Roll
Throughout 2010, TVNewsCheck reported the deaths of outstanding men and women who shaped television as actors, lawmakers, producers, business people, journalists and on-air personalities. Here they are in chronological order of their passing.
BOSTON (AP) — Fred Foy, the radio announcer best-known for calling out “Hi-Yo, Silver!” in his passionate lead-in to “The Lone Ranger,” has died at his Massachusetts home. His daughter, […]
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Steve Landesberg may have been best known for his role as the intellectual and sometimes annoying Detective Sgt. Arthur Dietrich on the long-running 1970s cop comedy […]
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Blake Edwards, the director and writer known for clever dialogue, poignance and occasional belly-laugh sight gags in “Breakfast at Tiffany’s,””10” and the “Pink Panther” farces, is […]
Don Meredith, NFL star and an original member of ABC’s Monday Night Football broadcast team died Sunday in Santa Fe, N.M., after suffering a brain hemorrhage.
Stu Olds, president-CEO of radio-ad-sales firm Katz Media Group, passed away Saturday from complications due to myelodysplastic syndrome, or MDS, a type of leukemia. He oversaw ad-sales representation for more than 3,000 radio stations (roughly 90% of the national radio inventory) and 400 TV stations as part of a restructuring with parent company Clear Channel’s sales teams.
Alfred “Al” Masini, the producer who created a number of hit shows including Entertainment Tonight, Star Search, Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous and Solid Gold, has died in Honolulu.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — When George Lucas needed someone to direct the sequel to “Star Wars,” he turned to veteran filmmaker Irvin Kershner. Under Kershner’s direction, Luke Skywalker learned that […]
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Despite decades spent playing sober commanders and serious captains, Leslie Nielsen insisted that he was always made for comedy. He proved it in his career’s second […]
Television pioneer Jean Hill Byrd, died Nov. 22 in Shreveport, La. She was 82. Born July 15, 1928, Byrd retired from NBC affiliate KTAL Shreveport where she was employed for […]
Another Sign Of The Times: Entrepreneurship
Here’s a tale of two broadcasters, undeterred by the economic doldrums, who started new broadcasting-support businesses. Ex-KXASer Larry Watzman created Revnew, which offers stations inexpensive, turnkey promotional campaigns that come complete with slick videos. Linda Wellman, who says she came up with the idea of online/on-air obits as an account executive at WNEM Flint, has gone off to market her own service, DirectObits.tv. “My goal is 70 stations by 2012,” she says.
Obits: A New Revenue Stream To Die For
A number of companies are trying to take what has long been the local newspaper’s franchise — death notices — and move them to TV, both on air and online. They all depend on partnering with funeral homes that sell the product and input information that is delivered directly to station websites.
