MediaMaven

From Steve Albert , bro of Marv . In all transparency, Wayne Lynch and I were students at the same college (1969-72, picture 1967). and we used to broadcast games together on the campus radio station .  He was a rapid-fire play-by-play announcer who opted for the news side of the business. Little did I know back then that he would someday add author to his impressive resume and I was totally unaware of his keen interest in vampires! You think you know somebody. Blood Stained Papers is the first and I’m predicting not the last of his works in this genre. As a former crime reporter , TV news anchor and news director , Wayne artfully combined his love of the newsroom with his passion for the supernatural.  And guess what? He is a darn good fictional writer. His dialogue style reminded me of my favorite old black and white film noirs I often enjoy on Turner Classic Movies . Blood Stained Papers is right out of Philip Marlowe and Sam Spade . Even if you’re not a fan of vampire...

Carly Henderson, former co-host of Studio 13 Live on Fox 13 Seattle, has re-emerged after being cut by the station doing some entertainment work on-air with cable's News Nation.  Video at the link. https://x.com/carlyhenderson_/status/1976669194319187990?t=KLafiiDjezlfjfpvNuguHQ&s=19

In case you were watching the big World Series game Monday night and missed Fox 13 Seattle's Aaron Levine compete on Jeopardy, he actually won and his station posted the results and a live interview on Studio 13 Live this morning.  The segment can be seen on the Fox Local app.   If you want to see the episode for yourselves, it is streaming on Hulu and Peacock.  He's back to defend his title tonight at 730pm on KOMO.

I was working in the lab late last night, When my eyes beheld an eerie sight. Another spelling mistake turned up on the screen, Use AI, producers, it's really quite keen. From the laboratory in duop-land, Buying more stations is clearly at hand. A few companies left to own all TV, Courtesy of our FCC (Chorus) We put out trash, We put out monstrous trash. We call it news, But it's a demo crash It's really trash Makes the zombies sick  Cause all we want is an instant click. The scene was rockin', newsies makin' the rounds Young MMJ's just keep holdin' their ground. Stand-ups just need about 20 takes, No wonder politicos keep calling us fakes. Seattle stations keep filling the space. Lots of paid segments slowing the pace. And as the stale content slowly erodes They all need a shot from news electrodes  But everything's cool, Bari's leadin' the band, Dickerson's leaving, Muir's numbers in hand.  Local anchors still havin' fun, And the da...

Caryn Littler, who worked the assignment desk at KING 5, moved to DC a while back to take the job of  assignment manager at NBC News Washington.  Now, FTVlive.com reports that after 8 years, she was laid off last Wednesday.   The story is behind a paywall, but she wrote: "If you are in the market for an Assignment Manager or general logistics.communications extraordinaire, please reach out."   Others were also laod off at the same time and Paramount.CBS layoffs are nigh.  

KING's Fifth Quarter after Sunday Night Football during the Seahawks bye week had 710 Seattle Sports radio host Mike Salk filling in on the show for HOFer Walter Jones .  Salk used to co-host the Seahawks Fone Zone on NWCN back in the day with Chris Egan .   

Thursday, Oct 30, begins the November ratings sweeps which end the day before Thanksgiving.  Be on the lookout for lots of special reports and a good test for Fox 13 Seattle's Live Desk concept and Susannah Frame's first sweeps as new ND at KING.  Let me know what you observe at any of the stations.  Remember that the numbers are based not only on linear viewing, but IMPRESSIONS on the Internet.    

KING 5's Leah Pezzetti has a new book out fulfilling a lifelong dream to write a children's book.   It's called, 'She Dreamed, So She Did,' available on Amazon.  She says it book one of a series on women working in male domnated fields.     More below: https://www.instagram.com/p/DQE_n5yjnvc/?img_index=2&igsh=aTd4Zm80dTg1ZWJ2

  Hey everybody, Fox 13 Sports Director Aaron Levine will be a contestant on JEOPARDY next Monday night on KOMO/ABC, right after the Monday Night Football at 10:30 pm.    He says "It was an experience I will never forget," but added  'Timing that buzzer is tough."   Special thanks went out to his bosses for letting him appear on another channel in town and achieve a lifelong dream.    If you miss it, it will stream on Peacock and Hulu the following morning. Congratulations to one of the hardest workers in the market.    More at his X page: @AaronLevine https://x.com/AaronLevine_/status/1980711181452267947?t=U2VxmzGKFPC59aRqqNqfAg&s=19

  The great team of Charlie Harger and Manda Factor at 97.3 KIRO-FM invited me in for a video/radio interview about local TV news and my new novel out for Halloween, 'Blood Stained Papers,' where reporters are turned into vampires!    They are a classy, talented team and my appreciation to both.  2:04:45 is the hit time. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nTcfQLy7qVg

I know there was plenty of pre game and post game coverage of the Mariners playoffs on the four Seattle TV stations.  With FS1 carrying the games, Fox 13 had a major advantage and the flexibility to extend coverage.  But I noticed at times, Aaron Levine could barely get a word in edgewise with the digital guy Curtis Crabtree rambling on, leaving Levine a bit frustrated.  I do know KING used its streaming Plus app to do extensive pre-game coverage with Paul Silvi at the anchor desk.   Saw little of KOMO and KIRO.  Give us your thoughts.   If you saw a lot more, please weigh in on what you watched, NOT your feelings on the M's loss.

Taylor Mirfendereski, who was let go from the KING5 Investigators a few months ago, has opened a new photo-video business.  It's called T. Rae Media.  She's an Peabody and Emmy award winner with 15 years of experience.  More at the link. https://www.traemedia.com/?fbclid=IwY2xjawNiLxlleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETBDODRFVElrWEZnbkhnampnAR5XrbYQ2klPvhvsrDvrUmbNu_tapvl6gw7kzLRI5Y5dSNTGcCGsI1p0V2pM3w_aem_5rjqfoEtSswHleft s5Jt26murg  

Finally catching Chris Swanson live on Fox 13's 'Extra Innings' Mariners playoff pre game coverage.  Chris produced/hosted Northwest Sports Tonight and also hosted the Fone Zone for me on NWCN for a couple of seasons.  He later worked with Chris Francis at KIRO 7 before the station abruptly closed down its sports department in June of 24.  Since then, 'Swanny,' as he's known, has been working as a production and operations specialist at Pierce County TV.

KWSU-TV in Pullman will be signing off for good because of federal funding reductions. It will continue until the end of the year after a 63 year run. Here's more from the Spokesman-Review: Northwest Public Broadcasting halts KWSU-TV operations https://share.google/muXvjffYfZLnQlfHA

KING goes to extremes at the weather wall to hype the Mariners with Adam Claibon wearing the merch.   Will an atmospheric river keep the roof closed?   Does this top KIRO's Nick Allard standing in the empty stadium Weds morning for a live shot?  Does this mean Seattle reporters can now cheer in the press box???   Submitted for your approval.   

KIRO has no sports department any more so lets send morning weather anchor Nick Allard to T-Mobile to stand in the freezing cold, dark, empty stadium, which, BTW, has a roof, no matter what his forecast may be.  The game is at 5 pm, giving Nick about a 12-hour head start. In other words, a fun gimmick, I guess, but very ironic for the beleaguered channel 7 even with the current playoff hype.  But it's 'live for the sake of live,' for any Seattle station at that hour.  

Angie Mentink, ex of Root Sports, is a guest analyst on MLB network with a look at the post-season Mariners failures and successes. She's networking and getting some nice attention!  

My self published paperback is up on Amazon if you enjoy actually holding a book in your hands! Check it out:  A TV reporter valiantly tries to save two newspaper reporters from becoming vampires for eternity with the help of a secret society of vampire hunters. Just trying to do a little marketing on my own for Halloween!!!   Some gore, profanity and a little sex, just like TV news!    

DENNIS BOUNDS After a weekend consuming baseball and football, we press on with our series of interviews with Seattle TV and radio greats.   I am pleased to help my readers catch up a bit with longtime KING anchor Dennis Bounds.   After graduating from the University or North Dakota, he got his start in Fargo and had a few other key stops before he joined KING in 1991.  Dennis remained there until the 2016 Tegna corporate buyouts, which saw so many legends of Seattle TV leave for new adventures.  He's a true gentleman that I had the pleasure of knowing when I was at NWCN.    Q. Dennis, how is retirement from TV treating you?  Miss the job?   And what are you working on these days? It’s hard to believe I’ve been retired for over nine years. The recognition of my time on television is less and less these days, but that’s just fine. I still emcee charity events on occasion and am involved in a mentor program in the Lake Washington scho...

We can confirm a recent reader tip that Nia Wong is no longer with Fox 13 Seattle.     She was a reporter/weekend pm anchor and had been with the station for three years.   Previously, she did a three year stint at KXLY in Spokane (most of these contracts are three years).  No word on what's next.

Looks like Linda Cohn of ESPN is MIA in the home opener of the season on the Kraken Hockey Network.  Is this a one-off or has she not been re-hired because she is back in Bristol for ESPN and not LA??

As KUOW's #1 ratings hot streak continues unabated, I am proud and pleased to present a timely interview with Angela King, talented news anchor for it's popular Morning Edition (5:30-9 a.m.).  Previously, Angela worked in Seattle TV (including for me at NWCN) and she is an Emmy and Gracie Award winner.   And here's some breaking news:  She will be inducted into the University of Washington's Communications Hall of Fame this year.  Not to mention she recently won the university's prestigious Charles E. Odegaard Award in recognition of diversity, equity and inclusion.  BTW, last winter, she took her TV reporting experience back to her home town, Altadena, CA, to report on the devastating fires there in January, which destroyed almost everything in sight.  Her coverage is right after the interview: Q: WHAT'S IT LIKE TO WORK THAT DIFFICULT EARLY MORNING SHIFT? I wake up every weekday between 1:15am and 2:00am (depending on how many times I hit the snooze t...

KUOW-FM  stays #1 in September PPMs for Seattle with another strong number, while the hot Mariners propelled KIRO-AM into second place.   The Jet was #3 on the music front.   The country music stations were all bunched together in the mid-teens,   KJR-FM sports radio got a 1.7 compared to KIRO's 6.2 share.   Read it all here: https://ratings.radio-online.com/content/arb039

Kate Scott, who did play by play for Seahawks pre-season the past two years, has been named lead national announcer for the WNBA starting in 2026.  Games will be broadcast on the USA network.   https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6695960/2025/10/07/kate-scott-usa-network-wnba-broadcaster/

The 425 Magazine event at the Woodmark Hotel and Still  Spa was held in Kirkland over the weekend.  KING's Leah Pezzetti emceed and Jen Mueller, most recently of Root Sports (and Seahawks Radio sideline), took home one of the 4 honors.

Word that Nikki Torres, reporter and weather anchor at Fox 13, is back on the air after a leave of some sort.   Meanwhile, have watched KIRO weekends for the last few weeks and I see Eric Thomas anchoring, but no sign of Jason Sloss, who anchored those shows for a couple of months.   Anyone have intel?  Maybe he is on family leave for awhile.  His bio and pic are still on the Meet the Team page at KIRO7.

Hi everybody, I just finished a new horror fantasy ebook about those 'bloodsucking news reporters' who are actually turned into vampires!   It's called Blood Stained Papers and is now live on Amazon.com under Kindle Store in left margin.  Take a peek, IF YOU DARE for HALLOWEEN.  Here's a link, too. https://www.amazon.com/s?k=blood+stained+papers&i=digital-text&crid=3PVLMNAP10MMO&sprefix=blood+stained+papers%2Cdigital-text%2C523&ref=nb_sb_noss

No official word that I can find on bringing back Linda Cohn as host on the Kraken Hockey Network for some select games like last year, joining Ian Furness and Alison Lukan at the main desk.  It would be her second year, even though she reportedly was moved back to the east coast for ESPN/Bristol when it closed the Loa Angeles studio where she anchored with Stan Verritt.   Regardless, looking for some strong production and content improvements, especially on the pre-game shows this season.    They opened last year with a terrible background, which was quickly ditched.   In general, I thought there was a lack of energy and enthusiasm in the presentation which didn't match the fan energy for the team.  KING and KONG will be the Seattle flagships stations again Here's the latest on Kraken broadcast info and talent from the team web site. https://www.nhl.com/kraken/fans/broadcast-schedule

At long last, KOMO decides to air a major Seattle a mayoral debate on ARC Seattle instead of the main channel.  Weds Oct 8 at 7.  Apparently taped previously at Seattle U.  

Boosterism used to be frowned upon in newsrooms even for local sports teams, but that's way long gone.   With the Mariners in the playoffs and the Kraken season near, all bets are on.  Brian Macmillan on Fox and The Moose takes over the KIRO news set 

The quest for live sports 'rolls' on as the CW has done a deal with the Professional Bowlers Association to televise the sport nationally starting in Feb, 2026.    This story, 'pinned' from TVNewCheck, should be right up your 'alley' on Arc Seattle (KUNS).   I will 'spare' you more of my puns, so you don't 'split' before reading on.     The Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) and The CW Network today announced the 2026 PBA Tour schedule. Starting in February 2026,  PBA Championship Sundays on The CW  will bring 20 hours of professional bowling coverage to the network over 10 consecutive Sunday afternoons. Live coverage will begin at 4 p.m. ET every Sunday starting on Feb. 22, 2026, with the PBA Players Championship in Arlington, Texas, and continuing through the PBA Tournament of Champions in Fairlawn, Ohio, on April 26, 2026.