Greetings TV Garth readers! Here’s a look back at all the over-the-air TV mayhem viewed at my home in Markham, Ontario, Canada from November-December 2016! Stay tuned for anchors, anecdotes and antenna reception, oh my!
Nov. 2, 2016:
- Buffalo, NY, 17.1 WNED (RF43)...PBS aired the documentary LaDonna Harris: Indian 101 about the Comanche activist’s life and civil rights achievements!
Nov. 6, 2016:
- Erie, PA, 12.2 MeTV [WICU] (RF12.2)...I reeled in this ad for Long John Silver’s, which I had during my 2012 trip to Erie!
Nov. 7, 2016:
- Erie, PA, 12.1 WICU (RF12)...Erie News Now viewers are never board with Simone Cuccurullo!
- Rochester, NY, 13.1 WHAM (RF13)...Marty Snyder and Jennifer Johnson delivered a Good Day to Rochester! (And I will never get tire’d of Marty’s astonishing workout video that was unleashed in 2017!)
Ginny Ryan, Doug Emblidge and Matt Molloy appeared in WHAM’s “Vote 2016” promo! (Matt can Brighton anyone’s day!)
- Springville, NY, 67.3 METV [WBBZ] (RF7.3)...I really do Love Lucy so it was fun seeing “The Ricardos Are Interviewed” on MeTV!
- Erie, PA, 12.1 WICU (RF12)...Mark Soliday, Sierra Tufts and David Wolter were all smiles that morning on Erie News Now!
- Buffalo, NY, 2.1 WGRZ (RF33)...Andrew Rannells and Seth Meyers did a toast to the impending political apocalypse.
- Springville, NY, 67.1 WBBZ (RF7)...Buffalo’s Hometown MeTV Station promoted their Veteran’s Day M*A*S*H special, along with The Robert Woods Show!
Nov. 8, 2016:
- Utica, NY, 2.2 WKTVCBS (RF29.2)...DeMarco Morgan delivered the CBS Overnight News, complete with a local station ID in the corner!
- Buffalo, NY, 2.1 WGRZ (RF33)...I mistakenly thought watching Decision Night In America (with Scott Levin and Maryalice Demler) would be as fun as it was back in 2012.
- Buffalo, NY, 7.1 WKBW (RF38)...However, once the results started rolling in my face mirrored the expressions of Jeff Russo and Ashley Rowe!
- Toronto, ON, 5.1 CBLT (RF20)...Ashleigh Banfield, David Frum and Danielle Moodie-Mills were panelists for America Votes on CBC!
Danielle Moodie-Mills gave fiery, spot on commentary throughout the evening’s coverage. Check out Woke& as well as her Twitter!
- Buffalo, NY, 7.1 WKBW (RF38)...LZ Granderson was on ABC’s panel discussing the aftermath of the election.
Nov. 9, 2016:
- Buffalo, NY, 4.1 WIVB (RF39)...I found it heartbreaking and painful to watch Hillary Clinton concede defeat.
Even the normally bubbly hosts of The Talk looked like they were attending a funeral the day after the election.
- Toronto, ON, 57.1 CITY (RF44)...I immediately hopped on the SmartTrack with handsome Adrian Ghobrial to forget about politics.
Nov. 12, 2016:
- Buffalo, NY, 2.1 WGRZ (RF33)...Kate McKinnon opened Saturday Night Live as Hillary Clinton performing “Hallelujah.” She closed by stating, “I’m not giving up, and neither should you!”
After the powerful, somber opening it was a nice shift to have McKinnon return as a pumped up Ruth Bader Ginsberg!
Nov. 15, 2016:
- Toronto, ON, 5.1 CBLT (RF20)...Mike Wise reported on the impending closure of Toronto’s iconic Honest Ed’s store, which I captured in pics back in 2013!
- Rochester, NY, 21.1 WXXI (RF16)...Sadly, acclaimed journalist and author Gwen Ifill passed away not long after covering the US election for PBS.
Nov. 16, 2016:
- Rochester, NY, 8.1 WROC (RF45)...Josh Nichols, Mark Gruba and Allison Warren were all on hand for News 8 at Sunrise!
- Oshawa, ON, 22.0 CHEX-TV-2 (RF22)...Oshawa’s CHEX station rebranded from “Channel 12” to “Global Durham”!
- Buffalo, NY, 2.1 WGRZ (RF33)...Laura Jane Grace of music group Against Me! promoted her book and sang with cathartic passion on Late Night With Seth Meyers!
Nov. 17, 2016:
- Buffalo, NY, 7.1 WKBW (RF38)...These student protests were giving me life, as well as hope for the future!
- Johnstown, PA, 6.1 WJAC (RF34)...Jen Johnson reported on growth in the wine industry. After the recent election, it totally made sense.
WJAC’s graphics were updated, including a revamped 6 News logo!
Tony Martin touched on the weather that evening!
“Freebie Friday” reminded me of promotions like “Frugal Fridays” that I saw in my earliest days of TV Garth’ing back in 2009!
- Johnstown, PA, 6.2 MeTV6 [WJAC] (RF34.2)...I loved Mama’s Family when I was a kid, so I enjoyed seeing it pop up on MeTV!
- Wilkes-Barre, PA, 28.1 WBRE (RF11)...New Channel Alert…I was very Fortune-ate to catch WBRE for the first time! (Bonus trivia, in the late 80s Vanna White appeared at the Leon’s near my house to promote Spring Air mattresses!)
I was Wheel-y excited for this rare catch! (On VHF, no less!)
- Hazleton, PA, 56.1 WOLF (RF45)...New Channel Alert…I was WOLF-ing down all this Northeastern Pennsylvania reception while it lasted!
- Hazleton, PA, 56.2 PA’s CW [WSWB] (RF45.2)...If WSWB is “PA’s CW” is there a station for MA too?
- Hazleton, PA, 56.3 WQMY (RF45.3)...I was as animated and shocked as Marge Simpson by all the rare reception coming in!
- Scranton, PA, 16.1 WNEP (RF50)...After first appearing a month earlier, The News Station returned with a Ford ad and Newswatch promo!
- Rochester, NY, 21.1 WXXI (RF16)...My award winning namesake Garth Fagan danced his way into my home via Need To Know!
- Rochester, NY, 31.1 WUHF (RF28)...Justin Carter and Jennifer Lee were reporting for 13WHAM News at 10 on Fox Rochester!
Matt Molloy (below) and Scott Hetsko began their fabulous online show Live @ 13WHAM a few weeks earlier!
Longtime WHAM reporter Patrice Walsh did a story about passports, which seemed more important than ever!
Scott Hetsko’s fun banter elicited laughs from Ginny Ryan and Don Alhart!
- Utica, NY, 2.2 WKTVCBS (RF29.2)...My Uticrush, sports director Spencer Davidson made a brief appearance!
- Johnstown, PA, 6.1 WJAC (RF34)...Jordan Conigliaro and Brett Hiltbrand looked at odds over the Pick 6 Playoffs!
Nevertheless, they were both good Sports about the whole thing!
Is she yours? Is she mine? She’s Ours…Mary Ours on WJAC!
- Buffalo, NY, 23.2 Bounce [WNLO] (RF32.2)...Tisha Campbell was lip-synching for her life in School Daze well before she was a guest judge on RuPaul’s Drag Race!
Nov. 19, 2016:
- Buffalo, NY, 2.1 WGRZ (RF33)...Entertainment Tonight profiled the amazing Deborah Cox, who I saw live at World Pride back in 2014!
ET also promoted “The Total Package Tour” with New Kids On The Block, Boyz II Men and Paula Abdul! (Paula’s first tour in 25 years!)
A pal and I Rush Rush’ed to the event when it hit Toronto in June 2017!
The NKOTB “Quick Change Cam” definitely had The Right Stuff!
Nov. 22, 2016:
- Buffalo, NY, 4.1 WIVB (RF39)...”Of course the New Kids had a quick change cam,” John Waters did not deadpan to Stephen Colbert.
- Buffalo, NY, 2.1 WGRZ (RF33)...”I mean, as a performer, shouldn’t you give the audience what they want?” Ben Platt didn’t retort to Seth Meyers.
- Alliance, OH, 45.1 WNEO (RF45)...Western Reserve PBS aired The African Americans: Many Rivers To Cross during a pledge drive!
Nov. 23, 2016:
- Johnstown, PA, 6.1 WJAC (RF34)...Is it their forecast? No! It’s Ours…with Mary Ours tackling the temps!
- Erie, PA, 12.1 WICU (RF12)...Robert Gardner watched sales grow after planting the idea of great Black Friday deals in viewers’ minds!
- Erie, PA, 54.3 WQLN-S2 (RF50.3)...WQLN’s Road Trips took on the Big Apple with a tree-mendous getaway that could really rock a fella!
- Erie, PA, 12.3 WSEE (RF12.3)...Much like Buffalo’s WGRZ, Erie News Now featured “This Is Home” as a theme in their promos!
Nov. 24, 2016:
- Buffalo, NY, 2.1 WGRZ (RF33)...The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade opened with The Muppets, and featured Al Roker clowning around!
Nov. 26, 2016:
- Buffalo, NY, 2.1 WGRZ (RF33)...I pleasantly surprised to see Victoria Hong, formerly of WIVB, hosting This Weekend with Kevin Sylvester!
Nov. 28, 2016:
- Buffalo, NY, 4.1 WIVB (RF39)...Brittni Smallwood and Jordan Williams were ready 4 the holidays with that festive backdrop!
Nov. 29, 2016:
- Buffalo, NY, 2.1 WGRZ (RF33)...Amber Ruffin delivered a powerful post-election message on Late Night With Seth Meyers!
Nov. 30, 2016:
- Buffalo, NY, 7.1 WKBW (RF38)...Jimmy Kimmel rounded up a gaggle of celebs for the (Red) Shopathon to raise funds for World AIDS Day!
- Buffalo, NY, 4.1 WIVB (RF39)...CBS promoted their annual I Love Lucy Christmas Special which included the newly colorized version of “Lucy Gets In Pictures”!
Dec. 1, 2016:
- Toronto, ON, 9.1 CFTO (RF9)...Andria was on the Case with Tom Brown that evening!
Dec. 3, 2016:
- Buffalo, NY, 2.1 WGRZ (RF33)...Jennifer Aniston and Vanessa Bayer bantered like a couple of old Friends on Saturday Night Live!
Dec. 7, 2016:
- Buffalo, NY, 4.1 WIVB (RF39)...Silver fox Andy Cohen appeared on Stephen Colbert and I would totally watch whatever he does live!
- Buffalo, NY, 4.1 WIVB (RF39)...James Corden did Carpool Karaoke with Madonna, who rocked my socks during the “Rebel Heart Tour” back in 2015!
- Buffalo, NY, 7.2 LAFF [WKBW] (RF38.2)...Cybill never danced around meaty issues! (Rather, the meaty issues danced around Cybill!)
Dec. 10, 2016:
- Toronto, ON, 41.1 CIII (RF41)...Peppa Pig really hams it up on her eponymous series, which is a real ratings hog!
Dec. 15, 2016:
- Buffalo, NY, 2.2 WGRZ2-2 (RF33.2)...Mindy got frozen out by Lady Gaga (Raquel Welch) and her backup dancers who were attempting to start a Bad Romance with Mork!
Dec. 21, 2016:
- Buffalo, NY, 2.1 WGRZ (RF33)...Late Night With Seth Meyers featured Rachel Maddow, who always gives clarity and perspective in trying times.
Dec. 22, 2016:
- Buffalo, NY, 49.4 GET TV [WNYO] (RF49.4)...Cher was one of Get TV’s “Biggest Stars,” and I was witness to her fabulous “Dressed To Kill Tour” back in 2014!
Dec. 26, 2016:
- Buffalo, NY, 2.1 WGRZ (RF33)...Before Hairspray Live!, I saw Jennifer Hudson as part of the American Idols Tour back in 2004!
Hairspray Live! also starred Martin Short, Maddie Baillio and LGBT icon Harvey Fierstein!
- Toronto, ON, 9.1 CFTO (RF9)...Conan O’Brien went to a nude beach in Berlin with comedian Flula Borg. However, Flula’s abs were no laughing matter!
Conan also threw himself into a guest appearance with SADO OPERA, a “pan-sexual, gender-fluid art punk performance band”!
Dec. 27, 2016:
- Buffalo, NY, 7.1 WKBW (RF38)...7 ABC promoted the “First Night Buffalo” New Year’s Eve celebrations!
Dec. 30, 2016:
- Buffalo, NY, 7.1 WKBW (RF38)...Countdown To 2017 included singer Caitlin Koch, plus 7 ABC anchors Keith Radford and Ashley Rowe!
HOLIDAY ROUNDUP – Nov. 7 to Dec. 26, 2016:
- Batavia, NY, 51.3 IONLife [WPXJ] (RF23.3)...Dean Cain was Defending Santa as part of ION’s holiday movie festival!
- Rochester, NY, 8.1 WROC (RF45)...This classic ad for Hershey’s Kisses rang a few bells!
- Johnstown, PA, 6.1 WJAC (RF34)...The Hometown Christmas Parade & Light-Up Night was illuminating Johnstown!
WJAC’s Josh Fosbrink really branched out when he was “Josh’n Around” the Johnstown Christmas Tree!
Just the name Mannheim Steamroller evokes the bombastic, super synthesized interpretations of Christmas carols we know and love!
- Rochester, NY, 31.1 WUHF (RF28)...Scott Hetsko talked about the “December Snowfall Contest” complete with Glenn Johnson, Mark McLean and Marty Snyder in Winter hats!
- Buffalo, NY, 7.1 WKBW (RF38)...The Fairgrounds Festival of Lights brightened up Hamburg, NY!
- Buffalo, NY, 2.1 WGRZ (RF33)...Seth Meyers interviewed a festive Mariah Carey, who always sleighs the holiday season!
- Buffalo, NY, 7.1 WKBW (RF38)...Kendis Gibson and Marci Gonzalez hung their stockings with care on ABC’s World News Now!
HOLIDAY ROUNDUP - Station IDs & promos!
- Buffalo, NY, 2.1 WGRZ (RF33)...Maria Genero kept the fires burning bright for Channel 2 during the Christmas season!
- Buffalo, NY, 4.1 WIVB (RF39)...Jacquie Walker and her family brought Joy to viewers of News 4, who also helmed a “helping hand” contest!
- Buffalo, NY, 7.1 WKBW (RF38)...7 ABC offered a wide variety of holiday greetings, including one with Katie Morse, Ed Drantch, Autumn Lewandowski and Andy Parker!
WKBW also wished viewers a Happy Hanukkah!
- Buffalo, NY, 29.1 WUTV (RF14)...Indeed, the holidays were happy on FOX 29! (I have fond memories of watching Superfriends, Wonder Woman, Jem and The New Archies on WUTV back in the 80s!)
- Buffalo, NY, 49.4 GET TV [WNYO] (RF49.4)...This was one of the rare occasions where I was happy to Get snow on my TV!
Stay tuned to TV Garth for a BOLD NEW DIRECTION coming very soon! (Actually, it’ll be more of the same…but from a new house!)