Hollywood CA-Has anyone seen Paula Abdul hanging around the American Idol sound stage? If so, please ask her to come in. No questions asked, accept our apologies, and get back on the panel.

As of now, American Idol’s 9th season is uncomfortable. On Wednesday night, February 24, it was like watching the boss deliver a tasteless joke at an uptight corporate party. The silence in the studio was deafening as the new panel of four dished out opinions on the Idol performances. Not even Hollywood editing could help this one.

Who would have guessed removing the friendly, sometimes scattered, Paula would make such a difference. It did. In the past, when performances were poor, Paula was the buffer.

Most of Wednesday night’s performances were poor and there was no “Positive Paula” offering hope. Instead, it was one reality check after another from the judges, compounding the “uncomfort” level. In fact, Simon Cowell looked like the compassionate one in this new group.

Idol’s magic formula may be in trouble; time will tell. Good thing for the show’s producers that the Olympics distracted millions of viewers from 2010’s first week with the A.I. finalists, providing Idol some time to adjust the comfort level before millions of viewers return.

M. Brace Coines-RLTV.com Columinst

Central CA-Those who watch TV may not know it but they were better off because of Ralph and Dave, Central California’s dynamic duo of television production.

Without production, you have no TV, really. You have a TV sitting there staring back at you with a blank screen. TV production provides TV entertainment.

Start the video below and keep reading.

Ralph and Dave, the key components of Pappas TeleProductions (PTP), put award-winning pictures, shows, and commercials on Central California TV screens for three decades. They were so good, the nation and the world called on their skills. Unfortunately though, like many in the television industry, change and the economy crashed down on PTP, particularly Ralph and Dave.

The production duo, the gifted guys with lights and cameras, had no place to practice their craft. PTP had to close up shop like so many other businesses in this evolving economy.

RealLocalTV.com just thought the world needed to know because the TV industry is changing so rapidly. The art of the past is disappearing along with talented artists. Ralph and Dave spent a whole career behind the scenes making the TV world look better with their precision and talent.

They deserve at the least our thanks for a job well done.

Central California-Pat Hill made a calculated, yet risky, decision on Saturday, December 5, 2009. The Fresno State head coach decided to go for two points and the win in Illinois. The clock had run dry and so had Hill’s defense, so the decision was simple for the coach.

It worked, even though it took a lineman catching the ball on a bounce to finish the win! The decision may have just reduced the heat on Hill for another year, and delivered an early Christmas miracle for the Bulldogs and fans.

Fresno State beat Illinois 53-52 to end the regular season. It was the bowl before the bowl for the Bulldogs. A win over the Big Ten opponent on the road is as big as it gets for Fresno State. What is bigger is the Bulldogs finally got away with a win in a close game. They were seconds away from greatness on the road in Wisconsin and Cincinnati; the third time earns the “W” charm for their ‘09 bracelet.

Coach Hill is getting his usual end-of-year static for another Boise-loss season, but the noise level may subside with the Miracle in Illinois. That, and one more win in the “New Mexico Bowl” against Wyoming, could quiet the negative waves for now.

A win to end ‘09 would give Hill 101 in his coaching career. Now, if Santa brings him a hard-nosed defense for next year, look out.

Central CA – One of the good guys in broadcasting is planning to leave the Golden State for the Emerald City. Meteorologist Jim Guy, formerly with KSEE-TV in Fresno, could ride the jet stream north.

Guy was abandoned by the Central California NBC affiliate earlier this year; fired. Guy and his family left good jobs and lifestyle in the Twin Cities region to come out West. Lured away; then left out in the cold in sunny California.

Things finally warmed up for the capable weather forecaster. Guy plans to leave the heat of Central California in August 2009 to broadcast reports in weather-rich Seattle once a deal is finalized.

Evidence that good guys, or in this case, good Guy, can get a break even in these difficult economic times.

If you are overloaded with information about a musical icon’s sudden death, don’t get mad at the media. It’s a consumer-driven business and we will attempt to explain the human condition known as real news appeal.

First, one must understand why bad news triumphs over good (this is practical experience and opinion, not science). It all revolves around the “me” factor.  If it’s bad news, the viewer must subconsciously think, “Thank goodness it’s not me,” and gravitate to the information.  Conversely, if it’s good news, the viewer subconsciously thinks, “Who cares? It’s not me.”  Another’s goodness or good fortune is therefore not nearly as deeply, fundamentally appealing.  So good news sounds good in theory, but is never the draw people think it might be. (That is more fact than theory. Name a successful all-good news show.)

How many times have you heard someone say they won’t watch the news because it is too negative?  Yet, someone like Michael Jackson suddenly dies and the coverage is non-stop, with viewers around the world glued to every development. Which brings up another matter.

So-called experts are saying we’ve heard enough on all things MJ.  Even if that’s the case, don’t expect the flow of information to stop anytime soon.  News organizations from around the world are crippled by current economic conditions. The slightest developments in the Michael Jackson story will make headlines, sell papers, and draw viewers. News organizations may be using the current state of affairs to offset losses.

Of course, no self-respecting news professional will admit that. It’s always about furthering the story and not the bottom line. It’s a terrible way to make gains, but the current state of economic affairs has the whole news industry scrambling to find ways to stay in business. Even if Jackson developments weren’t in demand, news organizations would be hard pressed let it fade away.

M. Brace Coines-RLTV.com

Fresno CA-What a difference a day makes, although readers of the Fresno Bee were warned that things would be changing on Tuesday, June 30, 2009.  The Central California news institution is just one of many examples of the dwindling advertising dollars in the region.

The Bee took its size down a notch.  A smaller, more efficient, and no doubt, more economic Bee.  There were some on the radio airwaves complaining about the new Bee.  However, others seem to like the new, tighter and brighter Bee.

Newspapers, television stations, and radio stations have all been hit with unprecedented cutbacks and layoffs in the past 18 months.  The Bee is just another example of downsizing in an adverse advertising environment.  For Bee fans, smaller in size is better than shrinking out of site all together.

NYC-Our movie reviewer Ron is on the run. Check out this shot in Times Square, New York City.

Ron Edens is catching up on latest entertainment the East Coast has to offer this summer.

However, it is his knowledge of Hollywood that really makes him a valuable local asset for RealLocalTV.com. Ron’s reviews are all through the RLTV.com site.

One of the great benefits of a Ron movie review is his attention to family. Ron will let you know if the movie is appropriate for younger members of the family. He is looking out for you, while bringing us exciting clips from the latest Hollywood movie releases.

However, for the moment he is living it up in Times Square.

Central CA-It took a while but a familiar face to Central Valley viewers made its way back to HDTV screens. Rich Rodriguez, long-time newscaster, is back.

That is no small accomplishment considering the state of broadcast television these days. Rodriguez is spending weekends doing news for the Central Valley FOX affiliate, KMPH FOX 26.

In some ways, it is a stronger fit for Rodriquez. His new news position has him broadcasting on the most powerful station in Central California. Now, his stories will potentially reach more viewers than ever before.  

Rodriquez was sitting around for months after the NBC affiliate in Fresno let him go. The news veteran had options, especially since his resume included a news stay in Los Angeles.

However, Rodriguez held on to hope of working in his home region and KMPH came through.  

Television is currently facing a financial crisis, the likes of which has never been seen in the broadcast industry. News jobs are harder to come by, so Rodriquez is one of the few to bounce back after the current wave of news anchor cutbacks.

Anywhere, U.S.A. — There aren’t many TV shows these days that are appointment TV. Viewers do not have to rearrange their schedules to be in front of the TV. It does not work like that anymore. 

With On-Demand, Internet, and other viewing conveniences, the good old days of families gathered in front of the TV, on TV’s terms, are fading to black. However, a few shows can still force the audience into old habits. American Idol is one of them. People will stop what they are doing to watch A.I. 

Especially to watch this guy. Adam Lambert is the obvious front-runner in 2009. His performances continue to astound the studio audiences, the panel of American Idol judges, and many of the millions watching on the other side of the television.

Lambert is so good it begs the questions, “Who passed on this guy in previous auditions? Were they impaired or passed out?” It is obvious that the guy can sing. The pride of Central California, Steve Perry, should feel honored. Lambert is a Journey lead singer throw back.

The more Lambert performs and shows his vocal power, the more one has to wonder how this talent slipped through the Hollywood cracks. It is apparent that Lambert is destined for stardom no matter what the outcome on American Idol.

There has to be a few agent-producer-director types who are cringing and switching over to Dancing with the Stars on Idol night just so they do not see what they missed with Lambert. It is probably not a good idea to admit that you were the one who said “Thank you. We’ll be in touch. Next!” at previously unsuccessful Lambert auditions.

M. Brace Coines-RLTV

Central CA— A vast majority of U.S. shoppers have no idea what a “Gottschalks” is. That is because Gottschalks has been the little train that could for most of its existence. It started as a small chain of department stores in the Wild West town of Fresno over 100 years ago, and grew to 58 stores.

Just like that, Gottschalks vanishes from the retail landscape. In the blink of an eye, 5,000 jobs and thousands more shoppers are left out in the cold. Some will say Gottschalks should have stayed close to home, stake its claim in the Central California region, and leave it at that. Others will say they never would have been able to compete without the retail buying power of more stores.

Nevertheless, what happened to Gottschalks is another great loss for the information industry. Broadcasters and newspapers relied heavily on Gottschalks’ advertising to generate income. In some cases, Gottschalks was the #1 advertiser, but not anymore.

It is another economic victim of our times, another significant loss with trickle-down consequences for so many in the path. One-hundred years disappears just like that. Some will say that is the cycle of business life. Many customers and employees on all sides of Gottschalks say that “stinks.”