Blog archives

Broadcasting stories in our blog

TV schedule shell games 

TV schedule shell games

August 18, 2011
When TV programmers keep us guessing about a show’s airtime, we might decide we don’t really need to watch it after all.
Rick Steves' Europe: Bloopers 

Rick Steves' Europe: Bloopers

March 28, 2011
Blooper reel from Season 6 of Rick Steves’ Europe, with outtakes of the public TV travel guide in Spain, Norway, Stockholm, Helsinki, etc.
TV news: Kerry Sanders drives while reporting live 

TV news: Kerry Sanders drives while reporting live

February 8, 2011
Reporting live from behind the wheel: Is NBC’s Kerry Sanders on the cutting edge of a TV news trend?
Blizzard of 2011: Snow storm video (Racine, Wisconsin) 

Blizzard of 2011: Snow storm video (Racine, Wisconsin)

February 3, 2011
A YouTube video summary of the Blizzard of 2011, as we experienced the snowstorm here in Racine, Wisconsin.
Online radio streaming: Good work music is hard to find 

Online radio streaming: Good work music is hard to find

November 16, 2010
Searching for streaming radio stations with the right mix of old and new music for listening during work.
Glenn Beck, Eric Massa, and the worst interview ever 

Glenn Beck, Eric Massa, and the worst interview ever

March 9, 2010
Glenn Beck’s nightmare interview of former congressman Eric Massa, as shown on MSNBC’s ‘Countdown’.
WGN-TV shuts out The Museum of Classic Chicago Television 

WGN-TV shuts out The Museum of Classic Chicago Television

September 30, 2009
WGN-TV has reportedly forced The Museum of Classic Chicago Television to pull all WGN material from the museum website.
Glenn Beck on Fox News + Jon Stewart, Keith Olbermann = Hilarious! 

Glenn Beck on Fox News + Jon Stewart, Keith Olbermann = Hilarious!

September 5, 2009
Keith Olbermann and Jon Stewart’s segments on Glenn Beck’s lunacy have been hysterical. Do not miss these.
First moon walk video 'erased': Apollo 11 footage lost by NASA 

First moon walk video 'erased': Apollo 11 footage lost by NASA

July 16, 2009
The best Apollo 11 video footage of Neil Armstrong’s walk on the moon is gone, but there is still video on DVD.
'Morning Joe' Scarborough brews up Jon Stewart feud over Starbucks 

'Morning Joe' Scarborough brews up Jon Stewart feud over Starbucks

June 10, 2009
Is there any connection between Scarborough picking a fight with the ‘Daily Show’ host and the launch of his campaign for, uh, his book?
Stephen Colbert reports from Iraq this week 

Stephen Colbert reports from Iraq this week

June 8, 2009
‘The Colbert Report’ should be especially good this week, with Stephen Colbert on location in Baghdad, Iraq.
MarkCz.com 

French Open tennis starts today, on TV and live streaming

May 24, 2009
The French Open (Roland Garros) begins today on ESPN2 and the Tennis Channel.
Brendan Greeley celeb sighting 

Brendan Greeley celeb sighting

May 15, 2009
Edwardo spots Brendan Greeley at Wrigley on Comcast SportsNet Chicago.
MarkCz.com 

Free Coldplay, WMYX loses Jane Matenaer, original Twitter, morel mushroom festival

May 15, 2009
Four items spotted this morning on Twitter, including Jane Matenaer’s departure from WMYX.
Kevin Pang eats cheeseburgers and more 

Kevin Pang eats cheeseburgers and more

May 2, 2009
About ‘The Cheeseburger Show’ and its adventurous host.
ABC's 'World News Now' (or is it 'America This Morning'?) 

ABC's 'World News Now' (or is it 'America This Morning'?)

April 16, 2009
Whatever it’s called, it’s a pretty good early-morning news show that deserves its own website.
Bizarre Billy Bob Thornton interview with CBC Radio's Q / Qtv 

Bizarre Billy Bob Thornton interview with CBC Radio's Q / Qtv

April 9, 2009
Billy Bob Thornton is one irritated musician. I think it’s odd that you have to smoke, period.
Bruce Springsteen to perform on 'The Daily Show with Jon Stewart' tonight 

Bruce Springsteen to perform on 'The Daily Show with Jon Stewart' tonight

March 19, 2009
Bruce Springsteen will be doing a solo performance of the title track, “Working on a Dream.”
The power of now: Eckhart Tolle and a Bike Ride on 35W 

The power of now: Eckhart Tolle and a Bike Ride on 35W

March 17, 2009
Be here now. In the moment. Possibly on a bicycle.
MarkCz.com 

Deep thought: Happy birthday, Jack Handey!

February 25, 2009
Jack Handey is a real person, not a pen name or a character. He is 60 today.
MarkCz.com 

Garry Meier on WIND, Brendan & Pete on iTunes, Steve Dahl on Movable Type

February 23, 2009
Keeping up with the latest doings of former radio colleagues.
T.D. Mischke show returning March 4 via CityPages.com webcast (updated) 

T.D. Mischke show returning March 4 via CityPages.com webcast (updated)

February 18, 2009
Great news: Tommy will be heard again beginning the first week of March.
Drew Peterson's ex-fiancée Christina Raines on the CBS 'Early Show' 

Drew Peterson's ex-fiancée Christina Raines on the CBS 'Early Show'

February 2, 2009
This morning’s interview capped the latest breathtaking stunt in Drew Peterson’s circus of distraction.
Breathtaking images 

Breathtaking images

January 20, 2009
We’re watching the inauguration on C-SPAN, and the streaming HD video from CBS.
TV tonight: Bush farewell, new 'Office' and '30 Rock' 

TV tonight: Bush farewell, new 'Office' and '30 Rock'

January 15, 2009
President Bush delivers his farewell address tonight, and there’s a new ‘The Office’ and ‘30 Rock.’
Barack Obama loves Dixie Kitchen on 'Check, Please!' (updated) 

Barack Obama loves Dixie Kitchen on 'Check, Please!' (updated)

January 7, 2009
A lost episode of ‘Check, Please!’ featuring restaurant reviewer Barack Obama will finally air on Chicago’s WTTW before the inauguration.
MarkCz.com 

TV tonight: 'The Story of India,' Anthony Bourdain season premiere

January 5, 2009
‘The Story of India’ premieres tonight on Channel 10, and a new season of ‘Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations’ begins on The Travel Channel.
Time Warner Cable to drop Viacom, including Comedy Central? 

Time Warner Cable to drop Viacom, including Comedy Central?

December 31, 2008
Our cable provider is Time Warner Wisconsin, and we might lose all of our Viacom channels tonight, as the New Year is rung in .
NPR: 'Bread in the Water,' where ducks walk on fishes 

NPR: 'Bread in the Water,' where ducks walk on fishes

December 30, 2008
I heard a truly original piece on NPR today, about an obscure Pennsylvania tourist attraction “Where the Ducks Walk on the Fish.”
Rick Sanchez and baby talk news 

Rick Sanchez and baby talk news

December 24, 2008
Rick Sanchez and the new, superficial, Twitter-it-yourself news. Is it Quality?
Steve Dahl Show items at Chicago Tribune 

Steve Dahl Show items at Chicago Tribune

December 19, 2008
Links to LaNell’s letter on the anniversary of Terry Armour’s passing, and what Steve Dahl has been up to since his radio show was canceled.
Could free TV make a comeback? 

Could free TV make a comeback?

December 17, 2008
Our neighbor gets plenty of digital channels — for free — on the same old TVs she has owned for years.
Oh, crap -- Mischke too (updated) 

Oh, crap -- Mischke too (updated)

December 7, 2008
My two biggest radio heroes have both been taken off the air on the same day — first Steve Dahl, and now T.D. Mischke.
The news is in my house 

The news is in my house

December 4, 2008
Steve Dahl called me to say that CBS Radio is canceling his show, so I am losing my job.
Racine's minute in ABC's 'World News' spotlight 

Racine's minute in ABC's 'World News' spotlight

October 11, 2008
The Dow drops 679 points and throng of Obama supporters gathers in downtown Racine. ABC World News, here in our city to cover the election, shows none of this.
Terry Armour, 1961-2007 

Terry Armour, 1961-2007

December 28, 2007
We were shocked and saddened to learn of Terry’s death.
Big music night on TV 

Big music night on TV

November 29, 2007
Public TV has the best of ‘The Johnny Cash Show,’ Bruce Springsteen in Dublin, and Van Morrison on ‘Austin City Limits’.
Turning into mornings 

Turning into mornings

November 8, 2007
On Monday, my working day for The Steve Dahl Show was moved up eight and a half hours.
'The War' -- WWII movie by Ken Burns on PBS 

'The War' -- WWII movie by Ken Burns on PBS

September 26, 2007
An excellent documentary, resulting from years of searching and assembly.
Joseph Campbell on mythology, religion, and art 

Joseph Campbell on mythology, religion, and art

March 26, 2007
Mythological stories of the hero journey fill the history of religion. Joseph Campbell taught the power of myths.
Thursday night TV 

Thursday night TV

March 1, 2007
‘My Name is Earl,’ ‘The Office,’ and ‘30 Rock’ have us tuning to NBC every week.
NOAA Weather Radios with SAME technology 

NOAA Weather Radios with SAME technology

February 9, 2007
One of these radios could save your life, or the lives of your loved ones.
Regina Spektor 

Regina Spektor

January 30, 2007
Thanks to ‘CBS Sunday Morning’ for introducing us to the introspective, playful musician.
Trying on music 

Trying on music

December 28, 2006
I already like all the songs in my iTunes library. Where can I discover new music to like?
Keith Olbermann's special comments 

Keith Olbermann's special comments

October 22, 2006
His occasional seven to ten-minute editorial essays on MSNBC take the Bush administration to task through sharp writing and dry wit.
Oatmeal recipe: Steel-cut oats ala Alton Brown 

Oatmeal recipe: Steel-cut oats ala Alton Brown

May 17, 2006
‘Good Eats’ is a TV show that can improve your life. Steel-cut oatmeal is a food that may lengthen it.
Labeling immigrants 

Labeling immigrants

May 1, 2006
How did CNN’s graphic designers arrive at this odd choice in branding their coverage of immigrants?
2005 Tour de France 

2005 Tour de France

June 29, 2005
My anticipation is strong as the main event in cycling is about to begin again.
MarkCz.com 

Wimbledon time warp

June 27, 2005
The way that NBC and ESPN2 split up Wimbledon makes the Central time zone miss out.
MarkCz.com 

British law to protect religion from hatred -- and laughter?

June 26, 2005
Under a new law in Britain, it might be llegal to mock religion.