Why is this happening? First, Alton Brown peaces out, then the Food Network decides to rub salt in the wound with the announcement of its latest juggernaut, which is poised to become the most catchphrase-packed show in television history. It's called Guy vs. Rachael's Celebrity Smackdown, and if that name alone doesn't tell you everything need to know, the video explains it more. more ›

Last year, former WPIX reporter Vince DeMentri was hit with an assault charge for allegedly slapping the Bahamian UN ambassador’s chauffeur, in true NY-style, over a parking spot. He was fired soon after, and he's now standing trial for the incident. But the trial ground to an awkward halt yesterday after the chauffeur accused DeMentri of calling him the n-word. more ›

Is there trouble at WPIX? The news division at the local CW-affiliate, which we still like to think of as "New York's Movie Station," has had a rough year. On top of charges of ageism and clown attacks, disappearing newscasts and declining viewers, the station recently became the first local newscaster to drop its sports department. And, the Post reports, this may not be the end of the station's cost cutting. "There's no line that can't be crossed," one staffer told the paper. more ›

"Bad boy" TV newsreporter Vince DeMentri, who had a slappy altercation with a chauffeur over a parking space earlier this week, was fired from WPIX/Channel 11. DeMentri wasn't on air last night, and a station spokesman acknowledged DeMentri had been disowned: "Vince DeMentri is no longer with the company." You broke my heart, Fredo. more ›

NYC has a proud tradition of endlessly amusing local TV news anchors and reporters getting in trouble, from Adele Sammarco to Ernie Anastos to Rosanna Scotto, and today we have a new name to be added to that illustrious list. WPIX/Channel 11 reporter Vince DeMentri, who recently said he felt like "one of the bad boys, part of the '70s Oakland Raiders," is facing an assault charge for slapping the Bahamian UN ambassador’s chauffeur, in true NY-style, over a parking spot. more ›

Don Hewitt, the CBS news producer who created 60 Minutes and worked with Edward R. Murrow and Walter Cronkite, passed away at age 86, due to pancreatic cancer. CBS News calls him the "father of modern television news" and points out he "played an integral role in all of CBS News' coverage of major news events from the late 1940s through the 1960s, putting him in the middle of some of history's biggest events, including one of politics’ seminal moments: the first televised presidential debate in 1960" between Nixon and Kennedy. In its obituary, the NY Times writes, "Hewitt also claimed credit for creating, at least in part, such innovations as putting headsets on newsmakers at events like political conventions so they might be interviewed by remote; displaying type, such as a subject’s name, on screen...and even the word 'anchorman,' which referred, he said, not to the anchor of a ship but the final runner on a four-person relay team — the person who, in effect, would carry the news home, and receive the most attention in the process." more ›

Fans of Chuck Scarborough and Sue Simmons won’t have to stay up to 11 p.m. to see the long time anchor team together. WNBC will also have the team anchoring back at 6 p.m. starting next week. Simmons will also be moving back into her seemingly traditional 5 p.m. slot anchoring with David Ushery who will be displaced from the 6 p.m. newscast. Scarborough will still be the front man for New York Nightly News at 7 p.m. Lynda Baquero and Michael Gargiulo will be out of the anchor chairs, but will remain with the station. more ›

Kate Sullivan co-anchors CBS 2 News This Morning on WCBS along side Maurice DuBois every weekday morning. She is a native of New England, attended Notre Dame and came to channel 2 in April of 2006 from KATV in Little Rock, Arkansas, which is ranked #57 on the list of biggest television markets. We recently paid her a visit at the studio and asked her some questions. more ›

In Following the Equator, Mark Twain wrote:

“In America the ice-storm is an event. And it is not an event which one is careless about. When it comes, the news flies from room to room in the house, there are bangings on the doors, and shoutings, ‘The ice-storm! the ice-storm!’ and even the laziest sleepers throw off the covers and join the rush for the windows.”

Bartelstein is Back Steve Bartelstein will be back on anchoring starting Saturday morning on WCBS alongside Mary Calvi. It was back in September when he revealed to the Post’s Cindy Adams that CBS made overtures to him on the day he was fired from WABC - and that he had testicular cancer. He’ll also be doing some reporting for the station as his health permits. Bartelstein made his first appearance on the station on yesterday’s... more ›