263 thoughts on “NEWS & VIEWS ARCHIVE”

  3. Those were the days

    Jason Remington • June 17, 2026

    One of thousands of radio studios. We worked in a studio like this. This is KIIS FM from the 70s/80s. Radio stations didn’t all sound the same. Stations like KIIS, KHJ, KJR, KOL, WCFL, WLS stood out. But, small and mid-market stations entertained their audience as well. Some air personalities were like old friends, some like celebrities.

  4. Ronnie Schell --December 23, 1931 – June 12, 2026

    Duke Stern • June 17, 2026

    Ronnie Schell was an American actor, stand-up comedian, and voice artist with a career spanning over six decades, best known for his role as Private Duke Slater on the 1960s sitcom Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.

    His first major TV exposure came in 1959 on Groucho Marx’s You Bet Your Life.
    Schell’s big break arrived in 1964 when he landed the recurring/main role of Duke Slater, Gomer Pyle’s (Jim Nabors) friendly Marine bunkmate and platoon buddy on Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. (a spin-off from The Andy Griffith Show). He appeared in 92 episodes across most of the series’ run (1964–1969), leaving temporarily after three seasons for his own sitcom but returning for the final season (promoted to corporal). During this era, he also starred as disc jockey Larry Clarke opposite Goldie Hawn in the short-lived Good Morning, World (1967–1968, 26 episodes). Played Marlo Thomas’s agent Harvey Peck in a recurring role on That Girl. Made guest appearances on shows like The Andy Griffith Show, The Patty Duke Show, Love, American Style, and others. Reunited with Nabors on The Jim Nabors Hour.

    Schell became a prolific character actor with nearly 150 TV credits. He guested on dozens of shows across decades, including:
    1970s: Sanford and Son, Happy Days, Emergency!, Mork & Mindy, One Day at a Time, Charlie’s Angels, The Dukes of Hazzard.
    1980s–1990s: The Love Boat, Too Close for Comfort, Sledge Hammer!, She’s the Sheriff, Mr. Belvedere, Empty Nest, Saved by the Bell, 227, The Golden Girls, Coach.
    Later: General Hospital, Yes, Dear, Phil of the Future.

    He appeared in several Disney live-action films, such as The Strongest Man in the World (1975), The Shaggy D.A. (1976), Gus (1976), The Cat from Outer Space (1978), and The Devil and Max Devlin (1981). Other films included Love at First Bite and smaller roles into the 1990s.

    As a voice actor, he contributed extensively to Hanna-Barbera and other animated projects, including The Smurfs, The Flintstone Kids, Scooby-Doo films (Scooby-Doo Meets the Boo Brothers, etc.), Jetsons: The Movie, Battle of the Planets (as Jason), Peter Puck (1970s hockey interstitials), Rugrats, and more.

    He passed away of natural causes on June 12, 2026, at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles, shortly before his 95th birthday and on the birthday of his longtime friend Jim Nabors.

    1. Ronnie Schell's voice acting work

      Adam • June 17, 2026

      I was actually going to mention Mr. Schell’s voice acting work; from what i’ve heard of it, he seemed like he did a good job(I have Scooby Doo and the Boo Brothers on DVD; I also have the old Hanna Barbera series Goober and the Ghost Chasers, where Ronnie Schell voiced the character Gillie)…

  5. Nexstar Celebrates 30

    Jason Remington • June 17, 2026

    Nexstar Media Group, Inc. is the largest local television broadcasting company in the United States. It owns or operates hundreds of TV stations, digital platforms, and national assets like The CW network and NewsNation.
    Perry A. Sook, a broadcast industry veteran, founded Nexstar Broadcasting Group on June 17, 1996. He started with the purchase of WYOU-TV in Scranton, Pennsylvania, from Diversified Communications. This became the company’s flagship.
    Early growth focused on acquiring underperforming or smaller-market stations and improving operations through shared-services agreements (e.g., with Mission Broadcasting). Key early deals included:WJET-TV in Erie, PA (1997).
    Stations in Texas and elsewhere (1998).
    WROC-TV in Rochester, NY (1999).

    In 2003, Nexstar acquired Quorum Broadcasting (adding 10 stations), went public on NASDAQ, and made other purchases that roughly doubled its portfolio. That year also marked a pioneering push for retransmission consent fees from cable/satellite providers — a model that became industry-standard and a major revenue source.

    2012–2015: Stations from Newport Television, Communications Corporation of America, Citadel, Grant Broadcasting, and others.
    2016–2017: Acquired Media General (71 stations) in a major $4.6+ billion deal. This created Nexstar Media Group (name change in 2017) and made it one of the largest U.S. broadcasters.
    2018–2019: Acquired Tribune Media (~$6.4–7.1 billion deal), adding dozens more stations. This solidified Nexstar as the nation’s largest local TV operator, reaching ~39–40% of U.S. households (with some divestitures for FCC compliance).

    Nexstar pioneered or expanded digital assets, state capital news bureaus, and minority broadcaster support agreements.
    Launched/expanded NewsNation (rebranded from WGN America in 2020–2021) as a national cable news network emphasizing “unbiased” reporting.
    Acquired The Hill (political news site, 2021) and BestReviews.
    Launched diginets like Rewind TV and Antenna TV.
    Acquired a controlling stake in The CW network (2022), adding national programming.

    The company grew its digital footprint (websites, apps) and local news production while navigating industry challenges like cord-cutting.
    In 2025, announced a $6.2 billion deal to acquire TEGNA Inc. (closed in 2026, with TEGNA operating as a subsidiary amid some legal/hold-separate orders). This further expanded its reach.

    As of 2026, Nexstar operates ~265 stations in 116+ markets, reaching a vast majority of U.S. households, plus national networks and digital properties. It employs ~12,000–13,000 people.

    (Nexstar & Wikipedia)

  6. Shift Change For Robyn Nance/KXLY

    Jason Remington • June 17, 2026

    Robyn Nance is a longtime anchor and reporter at KXLY (4 News Now) in Spokane. Nance started her broadcasting career in her home state of Missouri right after college. She moved to Spokane in 1996 and began working at KREM-TV. She joined KXLY’s 4 News Now in early 2003 as an evening news anchor. She has remained with the station for over two decades (as of 2026). After about 15 years on mornings, Nance returned to the evening team (5 p.m. and 6 p.m. newscasts) alongside Derek Deis and Kris Crocker.

    1. Barry Weiss Poaching From UK Media

      Jason Remington • June 17, 2026

      (TVInsider) CBS News editor-in-chief Bari Weiss has reportedly been on another recruiting mission overseas, meeting with longtime BBC journalist and radio host Justin Webb. Now 60 Minutes fans are wondering if he could be headed to the show.

      According to Deadline, Weiss recently had lunch with Webb, a vastly-experienced British TV reporter and news anchor who currently hosts BBC Radio 4’s Today show and the Americast podcast. The outlet notes that Weiss didn’t make a formal job offer, but sources claim she is keenly interested in the U.K. market and journalists she considers “free thinkers.”

      1. New Weiss Hires

        Jason Remington • June 17, 2026

        (NYPOST) CBS News boss Bari Weiss is continuing her rapid remake of the network, hiring Daily Mail reporter Josh Boswell and veteran ABC News producer Cho Park for the network’s investigative unit while expanding her recruiting efforts overseas.

        CBS News announced Tuesday that Boswell and Park will join the network’s I-Team, bolstering a division that Weiss has aggressively expanded since taking over as editor-in-chief in October.

        The hires come days after CBS News tapped British broadcaster Sir Trevor Phillips as senior global affairs correspondent.

  8. KOL's Gary Todd Passes

    Jason Remington • June 16, 2026

    Story from Media Confidential:

    R.I.P.: Gary Todd, Longtime Former Morning Host at WIBC

    Gary Todd (1937-2026)
    Gary Todd, the longtime Indianapolis morning radio host known for “Gary’s Place” on WIBC, passed away peacefully on May 22, 2026, in Forest, Virginia. He was 89 years old.
    Born on May 8, 1937, in Walla Walla, Washington, Todd developed an early passion for broadcasting through high school radio shows. He served four years in the U.S. Navy as a journalist and photographer, meeting his wife Linda May at a Naval Air Station near Phoenix, Arizona. They married and shared 67 years together.

    Todd built a radio career across stations in Washington, California, Arizona, Canada, Colorado, and Oregon before arriving in Indianapolis in 1968. He quickly became a dominant voice on 1070 AM WIBC (later 93.1 FM), hosting the top-rated morning show “Gary’s Place” for two decades until 1988. His engaging style and community focus helped WIBC compete fiercely with other local stations, including battles for morning drivetime supremacy.

    Career Highlights moments included:

    Live reporting from Cape Kennedy for the Apollo 11 launch.
    Broadcasting from Indianapolis Motor Speedway during Indy 500 practice and qualifying.
    Pre-game shows for Indiana Pacers home games.
    The ambitious “Great Race” promotion, a trip around the world.

    Beyond entertainment, Todd was deeply involved in community service. He earned awards such as the Distinguished Service Award from the Speedway Jaycees, the Indiana Jaycees’ Outstanding Young Hoosier Award, the CASPER Award, and the Service to Mankind Award. He chaired radio campaigns for organizations like the Hemophilia Foundation and Crossroads Rehabilitation Center, co-captained an Indiana University Foundation campaign, and led efforts for the American Cancer Society. He also facilitated on-air call-in segments with Mayor Bill Hudnut.
    Later Life and LegacyAfter leaving WIBC, Todd continued in radio, including ownership and morning duties at a station in Florida. He remained a man of faith who cherished family, the outdoors, fishing, golf, and travel.

    A memorial Mass was scheduled for 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, June 18, 2026, at Holy Spirit Parish at Geist in Fishers, Indiana, with visitation beforehand. A private family graveside service followed at Oaklawn Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, donations were suggested to the Parkinson’s Foundation.

    1. Gary Todd

      Jason Remington • June 16, 2026

      Gary Todd at KOL 1961-62. He did morning drive and served as KOL promotion director in 1967-68.

  9. Steel Men - Jimmy Dean's hit inspired by actual event

    Jason Remington • June 15, 2026

    The inspiration for Jimmy Dean’s 1962 song “Steel Men” (released as a single on Columbia Records, peaking at #41 on the Billboard Hot 100) was the tragic Second Narrows Bridge collapse in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, on June 17, 1958.

    During construction of the bridge (now part of the Ironworkers Memorial Second Narrows Crossing), a section collapsed into the water below, killing 18 ironworkers (steel men/ironworkers) and 2 divers who died during rescue/recovery efforts, for a total of 20 deaths in connection with the disaster (though the song and many accounts focus on the 18-19 ironworkers directly lost in the collapse). The workers were riveting and placing steel girders when the falsework failed, causing a catastrophic fall.

    Jimmy Dean, known for narrative/storytelling songs like his massive hit “Big Bad John” (and others such as “PT-109”), recorded “Steel Men” as a tribute to these hardworking, courageous men who lost their lives in the disaster. It’s a working-man’s ballad honoring the dangers faced by ironworkers/steel men on such projects.

    The song was written by David Martins (not by Dean himself), and Rog Whittaker (later known as Roger Whittaker) apparently recorded a version shortly before Dean’s. Dean’s take includes lyrics referencing the location (“Out on the rocky western coast / Of Vancouver by the sea”) and the tragedy of men working high on the bridge of steel when disaster struck.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gipzQr0k9zA

      1. Memory

        Steven Smith • June 20, 2026

        That bridge collapse took place the day before I turned age 6. My grandma lived near the bridge in BC and it was a shocking tragedy. In the early 1970s at KBFW, as an old gold, I sometimes played the song by Jimmy Dean. It brought back not such good memories. I also had an uncle who died during a construction accident when the crew fell off the side of Baker Dam when they were first building it.

  10. Wong Joins KIRO 7

    Jason Remington • June 15, 2026

    A reader informs us that Nia Wong has joined KIRO 7 News this week. Her TV career began with roles in Eugene, Oregon, and San Luis Obispo, California.
    Las Vegas (KLAS-TV, CBS affiliate), Spokane KXLY 4 News Now, ABC -She joined in August 2019 as an evening anchor and Seattle KCPQ FOX 13, 2022–2025/early 2026.

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