December 13th, 2009 
joel This is it! The big night for the generosity of the people of Erie, Pennsylvania to be showcased for two hours on national television is here!
Erie’s Clara Ward and her new home will be shown in a two-hour special edition of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition tonight (Sunday) at 8:00 on ABC. Locally, WJET will air a “Making of Extreme Makeover” one-hour show preceding the network at 7:00 PM.
We’ve waited almost six months for this moment…and it’s here. Lets talk about it. Leave a comment in the box below this post, or e-mail joel@nataliemedia.com or tweet @pressandtower.
Embrace the “Move That Bus!!” chaos!
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Looking forward to seeing it.
Only 1 Hour 25 Minutes Left.
XD
What a truly inspirational story about an amazing woman, Clara Ward. This was truly a positive showcase for the City of Erie!
I have been a been a faithful WSEE TV news watcher, but this morning’s six o’clock program changed that. First of all, Bremner, looked like he didn’t want to be there (live or taped). He half heartedly did what he had to do. Next, they brought in Wilson to do the weather (maybe he taped it last night) and he bounced around in his usual way.
I will be watching WJET for the local news from now on as they seem to show some life in their broadcasts. Local programming has really gone down hill. Has anyone ever watched the local news from Youngstown?????
Thanks for the venting space.
It is a shame what has happened to WSEE TV. Of course Scott Bremner looked like he didn’t want to do the morning news – he looks like he doesn’t want to be there for the noon and 6pm shows as well.
If you have a broken peice of equipment you fix it. What do you do to fix or repair broken or nonexistant morale?
Brian Lilly should be proud of what he has accomplished in such a short period of time – not!
Are more cuts possible at WSEE? The following was posted this A.M. on the Topix Blog:
The following talent contracts expire in 2010 and will not be renewed:
Scott Bremner
Jacqueline Policastro
Gary Drapcho
Joey Stevens
Ray Petelin
Bye Bye individual WSEE. Hello WICU on both TV12 and TV35.
Has anyone else heard anthing about this?
As Brian Lilly continues to his march to descimate 35 and turn it into nothing more than a puppet of 12.
More outrageous claims on the Topix blog. The WSEE employees are claiming they run the show. The WICU employees are counterclaiming they are still running the show. The WSEE people claim Bremner, Policastro, et al have been renewed and the WICU people are being phased out.
The WICU people are claiming the main (12) anchors are renewed through 2013 and that the WSEE people are being phased out.
Phew! Confused? So am I.
What a mess!
What about the “family feel good ” Christmas (excuse me Holiday ) spots that are running on 12 and 35? They make me think that Lilly Communications is one big happy family. Right!! It’s almost as bad as the happy WAL-MART family.
Yes I have watched Youngstown news and it is much improved from what we have in Erie. Cleveland news makes Y-town news look what Erie news is. BAD! I understand that Cleveland is 17th in market size, but there is no reason for Bremner to be such a prude in the am. I will say Stephanie Shelkun does do a better and better job as she gets settled in. Bremner does need to go! Tim I have learned not to believe only about a .01% of what I see on Topix. And anyway who cares who stays or who goes when or who runs the show because most of them stink anyway!
From PBRTV.com: KDKA 1020 radio host Fred Honsberger passed away at his home in Monroeville this morning. He was 58.
This morning on WICU’s 6:30 newscast I heard something that bothered me deeply,
The woman anchor (I don’t follow names) reported on the city’s utility rate increases and the response of one councilman who opposed it. Her last comment was calling the councilman “the voice of reason.”
That truly crossed the line to editorializing. I think journalism is dead.
That is probably why her contract was not renewed and her last day working at WICU is Dec. 31
I thought all the carnage and furloughs would have ended with the “merger?” Now another employee is being “let go” at the end of the year?
I would have thought her position would have been relatively safe?
I wonder who will be the next to leave the building? (I hear SPECULATION that the WSEE female co-anchor is leaving soon to take a job in a top 30 market???)
This is going to get real interesting real fast.
Kinda shocked about the Jill McCormick news (I liked her on 12 News Today.) But regarding the WSEE rumours, isn’t Joey Stevens a BIG draw for their Carribean audience? If they pull lots of advertising $$$ from the WSEE Carribean feed as well as the One Carribean Weather cable channel, why would they get rid of him? It makes me think the “list” above may not be that reliable.
BL continues the debacle he calls management. How long before the ship sinks with the BL at the helm telling everyone to “stay calm and the situation is under control?”
WICU=the Titanic of TV.
If you would like to tell Brian Lilly what you think about how he has ruined WICU/WSEE you can call 814-454-5201 (toll free 800-533-8812) extension 222… or his email is blilly@wicu12.com.
So Jacqueline Policastro is leaving WSEE at the end of this month…I heard to go somewhere in the midwest.
St. Louis? Regardless, she was about the best thing going for that station. Don’t blame her though. What a talent and Erie loses another great anchor.
If Mr Lilly feels the need to continue to gut the news department to boost profit why doesn’t he light a fire under the sales department to try and boost revenue?
A good account executive spends most of his/her time out making sales calls – not spending most of their time in the sales office.
Perhaps cut the mileage allowance? Eliminate the cell phone reimbursement (if there is one)?
Perhaps eliminate some underperforming account executives? Maybe the management structure in sales is bloated and needs to be trimmed? (I’m sure I will stir up a hornets nest since most salesmen/women feel they are absolutely vital to the company – lol)
I’m sure through the elimination of redundant policies and eliminating deadwood (underperforming salesmen) Mr Lilly could boost revenue between 2.35 and 4.5%…yes, even in this “challenging” economy.
Another way to enhance revenue is to spend money to ensure a vibrant, robust news operation.
It can be done. The impossible can be achieved. Revenue can be enhanced, profits can be improved and the news department can be expanded and it can survive….hell, it can THRIVE. Money just has to be spent.
I would love 30 minutes of Mr. Lilly’s time to explain (in plain understandable English) just how it can all work.
Mr. Lilly doesn’t realize the vast untapped potential at WICU. He’s sitting on the goose that is laying the golden egg – and he is starving the damn goose to death!
What an unnecessary, inconvenient shame!
Tim,
It doesn’t help that NBC is in the toilet ratings wise. Selling time with the Peacock’s lousy numbers is probably a real stretch. On the other hand CBS has great numbers…especially on Monday nights. Maybe sales should try to work out some package deals for both networks. Might help boost sales.
Good luck, Jill! One of the good people to work with in Erie tv! Take it from me, sometimes the grass may not be as long or as thick (you can’t always cut a “35″ into it!!!), but it is greener!!!