Chance of Progress Expectations: Modest At Best

Paramount Skydance and California Attorney General Rob Bonta’s office have a moderate chance—roughly 30-40%—of achieving significant progress toward a settlement in their Monday meeting on the states’ antitrust challenge to the $111 billion Warner Bros. Discovery acquisition, though an immediate full resolution remains less likely.

The high-stakes talks, confirmed by multiple sources, focus on resolving the lawsuit led by Bonta and 11 other Democratic state attorneys general (plus a related Writers Guild of America case) that alleges the deal would harm competition in theatrical film distribution and basic cable programming. This remains the primary obstacle after U.S. Justice Department clearance and approvals in about 68 jurisdictions worldwide. 

A trial is set for March in federal court in Oakland, with the companies barred from closing until five days after a ruling or June 1, 2027. Bonta has stated he prefers resolving disputes “in the boardroom, not the courtroom” and is open to good-faith discussions, but only if Paramount offers “robust structural remedies” such as divestitures addressing the markets identified in the complaint. He has rejected the company’s behavioral commitments—including a pledge of 30 theatrical film releases per year with a minimum exclusive window—as insufficient and previously labeled relocation threats as “blackmail.”

Paramount, facing daily ticking fees of about $7 million starting around October 1 and the risk of a large termination fee, is strongly motivated to settle and says it has already offered concessions while remaining open to constructive talks. 

External pressure is intensifying the push for resolution. California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, gubernatorial frontrunner Xavier Becerra, the Directors Guild of America, IATSE, and some theater groups have urged a settlement ahead of trial to protect jobs and industry stability. 

Newsom has described related conversations as unfolding “in real time.” The Writers Guild remains more hardline. 

Court-directed mediation steps, including identifying magistrates, are also underway. A single meeting is more likely to explore positions or narrow differences than produce a signed agreement, given the persistent gap between structural and behavioral remedies and the need for multi-state consensus. 

Antitrust cases of this scale typically involve iterative negotiations. The combination of Paramount’s financial urgency, political signals from California Democrats, and industry calls for certainty nonetheless raises the odds of eventual progress over a pure stalemate into March. Outcomes could range from enhanced commitments with monitoring to limited structural steps—or continued litigation if positions stay rigid. Developments after Monday will determine the path forward.

Talk Host Scott Jennings May Be ThisClose To TWH Job

Scott Jennings

Salem Media Talk Host/CNN Pundit Scott Jennings has emerged as an early favorite for the next White House press secretary, multiple sources familiar with the matter told CNN, though all stressed the process remains far from complete.

Chief of staff Susie Wiles recently met with Jennings, a CNN contributor, at Mastro’s Steakhouse in Washington, D.C., at the White House’s request, two sources said. 

CNN reports multiple staffers believe he has her backing. “He’s competent and good on TV,” one senior White House official said of the longtime GOP strategist, a former adviser to Sen. Mitch McConnell who also served in the George W. Bush administration. Jennings is one of several candidates under consideration. 

Susie Wiles

One source said Wiles plans to meet with additional contenders before deciding. 

With Karoline Leavitt departing at the end of the month and midterms less than three months away, the White House faces a critical vacancy but has stressed it is not rushing.

Another White House official pushed back on claims that Wiles is already backing anyone, saying she will take her time to find the right fit. Wiles is seeking a “grown up” who understands the job and can maintain professionalism as the administration’s public face, two sources said, with the choice likely to come from outside. 

President Donald Trump has told his team he is content to weigh options carefully and is in no hurry, officials said. He is also considering relying indefinitely on a rotating cast of Cabinet officials for press briefings, CNN previously reported. 

Chatter about Jennings has intensified in recent days. Asked Wednesday by CNN’s Abby Phillip whether he was interviewing for the role, Jennings demurred on “NewsNight.” “I don’t have any comment about that,” he said, while underscoring the job’s importance: “I think every president deserves a good, solid defense and someone who can go out there and explain what they’re doing, because the government’s doing so much. The American people deserve somebody to go out there and tell them what’s going on with their president and with the government as much as they can. That job is the conduit to transparency in front of the camera and also behind the scenes, and that’s an important part.”

FNC's Jesse Watters Lands Democrat Progressive for Primetime

Progressive Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed will appear Monday night on Jesse Watters Primetime on Fox News Channel.

El-Sayed, a Democrat seeking the open U.S. Senate seat in Michigan, is scheduled to discuss his campaign and policy positions during the primetime program. The appearance marks a rare crossover for the progressive physician-turned-politician onto a network often critical of left-leaning candidates. El-Sayed, a former Detroit Health Department director and 2018 gubernatorial candidate, has positioned himself as a progressive alternative in the 2026 Senate race. 

He has emphasized issues including health care access, economic inequality, and climate policy while criticizing both corporate influence in politics and what he describes as insufficient action from establishment Democrats.

Watters Primetime, which airs (8pm EDT) weeknights, frequently features interviews with politicians across the spectrum and is known for its host’s pointed questioning of progressive policies. El-Sayed’s booking comes as the Michigan Senate contest draws national attention following the retirement of longtime incumbent Debbie Stabenow.

A physician by training, El-Sayed previously ran for Michigan governor in 2018, finishing second in the Democratic primary. He has since built a following through public health advocacy, writing, and progressive organizing. Supporters view his Senate bid as a chance to elect a more left-leaning voice from a key battleground state; critics question whether his progressive platform can attract sufficient independent and moderate support in a general election.

Pat Paxton To Exit as SrVP At Saga Communications

Saga Communications Senior VP of Content Pat Paxton is expected to leave the company at the end of August, with Ocala, FL OM Scott Chase and Clarksville, TN OM Ryan Ploeckelman taking over as co-chairs of the programming department under the new titles of Group Program Director.

Paxton remains with Saga through Friday, August 28, to assist with the transition. 

CEO Chris Forgy announced the departure internally on Friday. Paxton then emailed employees that he had been considering stepping away for several months. “I’ve had a long successful career in this business and I’ve loved every second of it,” Paxton wrote. “But I’m not as young as I used to be. I’ve been considering this for a few months and given the challenges Chris mentioned in his email, stepping away now makes perfect sense.” 

Pat Paxton

He expressed confidence in his successors, calling Chase and Ploeckelman “two of the smartest programming minds out there” and saying he expects a smooth transition. Paxton joined Saga in June 2023 after 22 years overseeing programming for Entercom/Audacy. 

He had stepped away from full-time radio after leaving Audacy before being recruited by Saga. “Five years ago, after running programming for Audacy for 22 years, I retired for the first time,” Paxton said. “I intended to stay retired, or at least semi-retired. Then in 2023 I met with Chris, Wayne, and Sam at the Embassy Suites in Detroit. I came out of that meeting thinking I might want to do this again. So I did.” 

His radio career, which began in the 1980s, includes stops in Boston, Houston, Orlando, La Crosse, Sioux Falls, Huntington and Yankton. In his farewell message, Paxton also praised Saga’s Content Directors: “No one works harder than you. No one wears more hats than you. And you do it all with energy and passion.”

High Stakes Surround The Disney-FCC Lawsuit

Last week, Disney sued the FCC to block early license reviews for eight ABC-owned television stations, alleging that it is pretense for punishing the company for airing views that President Trump didn't agree with. The FCC has called the review part of its existing investigation into how its diversity, equity and inclusion practices violate federal law.

ABC's lawsuit marks the first time a major broadcaster has taken the Trump-era FCC to court over alleged retaliation for its editorial decisions, marking a notable shift from other media organizations. For Disney CEO Josh D’Amaro, it represents a stark reversal of the company’s more accommodating approach under former CEO Bob Iger, who sought to ease tensions with President Donald Trump.

Legal experts say Disney and ABC have a strong case against the FCC, but the stakes are high. A Disney victory could embolden other media companies to stand up to the Trump administration. But a loss could further expand the chilling effect the FCC has already cast over the industry. 

There’s always the chance that the FCC could prevail in the legal battle, which other companies could see as a signal to keep their own heads down.

“If the FCC wins, I think they would be emboldened to continue or it would just have a chilling effect,” Corey Martin, managing partner and chair of Granderson Des Rochers LLP’s Entertainment Finance Practice, told TheWrap. “If Disney is not successful in this matter, then I don’t think that you’re going to see any other companies stepping up or coming forward to fight this particular fight or anything similar to it.”

St. Louis TV: Network Affiliation Move Catches Eye of FCC

FCC Chair Brendan Carr is scrutinizing ABC’s planned switch of its St. Louis affiliate next month, from longtime Sinclair-owned KDNL to Gray Media-operated KMOV, as part of a broader probe into the power balance between major networks and local stations.

Carr has inquired about the change, according to people familiar with the matter. KDNL has carried ABC for more than 30 years. KMOV, already a CBS affiliate, plans to air ABC programming on a smaller digital subchannel with less reach, which could shrink the network’s audience in the market.

The move fits Carr’s more aggressive approach toward big broadcast networks in the second Trump administration compared with prior FCC chairs. It follows similar scrutiny of other affiliation shifts, including one involving Nexstar and Paramount’s CBS. Last year the FCC sought information on whether major networks had gained excessive leverage over local stations and whether affiliation deals were eroding stations’ control over programming and operations.

“This is not the Wild West, or as I like to say, it’s not Nam,” Carr said in a recent interview with Policyband, referring to the Vietnam War. He said he had launched an investigation into recent affiliation switches: “There are some rules of the road.”

The FCC has stated it is “working to constrain the outsized power of national programmers while empowering local TV stations to serve their licensed communities.” 

Broadcasters including Sinclair and Nexstar have argued that the balance of power needs realignment.

Critics view the sudden focus on network-affiliate relations as a way to give local stations freer rein to reject programming from networks such as ABC and NBC, frequent targets of President Trump. “Like so much else, Carr is weaponizing it for policy purposes in a way not done before and, at least arguably, for inappropriate objectives,” said public-interest communications attorney Andrew Schwartzman, according to The Wall Street Journal.

More than 20 conservative and pro-business groups, including the Center for a Free Economy and Americans for Tax Reform, warned Carr in a letter against using affiliation switches and license renewals as a “newfound tool for influencing lawful private negotiations or pressuring market participants to reach outcomes preferred by the government.”

The decision was not retaliation for Sinclair’s brief suspension of Jimmy Kimmel’s show last year after remarks about the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, people familiar with the matter said. ABC had long been frustrated that KDNL, unlike other major-market affiliates, produced no local news; Gray’s KMOV does. Sinclair remains in talks with Disney over its other ABC stations that carry local news.

Where Things Stand: Press Independence

On Friday. The Pentagon fired the publisher (Max D. Lederer Jr.), editor-in-chief (Erik Slavin), and a Middle East reporter (Lara Korte) of Stars and Stripes, the long-running, government-funded military newspaper with a tradition of editorial independence. 

The firings, for alleged insubordination, followed a CBS interview in which Slavin and Korte emphasized that censorship of news for service members would cross a red line and affirmed that they work for the paper rather than the Pentagon or any administration. 

Lederer had recently announced his retirement, citing fundamental differences with Pentagon leadership over the paper’s direction. 

The moves, occurring under Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth amid prior actions (such as dismissing the ombudsman), drew widespread criticism from journalism groups and raised concerns about threats to press freedom and the outlet’s independence while covering military issues, including hardships related to ongoing conflicts.

Background on Stars and Stripes Independence

Stars and Stripes is a unique, partially government-funded newspaper with roots in the Civil War and continuous publication since World War II. It serves service members and military families with news, including commercially available U.S. and world coverage plus original reporting relevant to the military community. Unlike typical DoD public affairs outlets, it has long operated under principles of editorial independence from the military chain of command, news management, or censorship—codified in DoD regulations and reinforced by congressional action.

Congress established an ombudsman position in the early 1990s (via Armed Services Committee action) specifically to safeguard that independence and report threats to the free flow of information. Historical precedents, including protections under Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower, emphasized hands-off policies to maintain credibility with troops. Staff are DoD employees (civilian and military), creating inherent tensions, but policy long required balanced, accurate reporting without propaganda.

stripes.com

Sequence of Recent Actions

Under Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in the second Trump administration, a series of steps progressively increased oversight:

• In January 2026, a Pentagon spokesman announced efforts to “modernize” the paper, refocus away from “woke distractions,” and eliminate certain content (e.g., AP reprints or “DC gossip”). Concurrently, decades-old federal regulations affirming a “free flow of news and information... without news management or censorship” were rescinded without public notice or comment.
• A March memo introduced restrictions on wire services, syndicated features (including comics), FOIA requests by reporters in an official capacity, and publication of certain information, while asserting continued independence and requiring content consistent with “good order and discipline.”

• 

  Smith

  In April, the ombudsman (Jacqueline Smith) was fired after publicly criticizing these moves; she and others filed lawsuits alleging First Amendment and Administrative Procedure Act violations.
• An active-duty Navy public affairs officer was installed as deputy publisher without prior consultation with the outgoing leadership. Advisory board members sued over related directives, calling them illegal censorship.
• On August 21–22, 2026, the publisher (Max Lederer Jr., who had announced retirement citing fundamental differences), editor-in-chief (Erik Slavin), and Middle East reporter (Lara Korte) received separation notices for “insubordination.” This followed their participation in a CBS interview defending editorial independence and stating that censorship of news for service members would be a “red line.” Coverage of hardships on the USS Abraham Lincoln (extended deployment amid conflict with Iran) occurred shortly beforehand.

Journalism groups (National Press Club, Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression/FIRE), senators, and the paper’s advisory board condemned the moves as attacks on independence and retaliation for protected speech.

cnn.com

Core Press Freedom Implications

These actions raise direct concerns about government control over journalism:

• Erosion of mandated independence: Rescinding regulations, content limits, and personnel removals for defending First Amendment principles challenge the statutory and policy framework designed to insulate Stars and Stripes from command influence. Firing editors for articulating red lines against hypothetical Pentagon-written stories or censorship exemplifies potential viewpoint-based retaliation.
• Chilling effect on military and Pentagon coverage: Reporters may self-censor on sensitive topics (troop hardships, policy critiques, operational realities) to avoid “insubordination” claims or “good order and discipline” violations. This extends beyond Stars and Stripes to the broader Pentagon press corps, already facing access restrictions that courts have scrutinized.
• Risk to service members as informed citizens: Troops and families in remote or combat settings rely on independent reporting rather than official channels. Replacing it with mission-focused or public-affairs-oriented content risks turning the outlet into a perceived propaganda tool (“Pravda-style,” in critics’ terms), undermining trust, morale, and the ability to stay informed as citizens who defend the Constitution.
• 
  Broader pattern and precedents: The moves fit a wider administration approach of heightened media scrutiny (restricted access, conflicts with other outlets, FCC actions). They echo historical military interference attempts that previously prompted congressional safeguards. Legal challenges (ongoing lawsuits over regulations, firings, and First Amendment claims) could clarify boundaries for government-employee journalists in unique roles, but outcomes remain pending.
• Institutional and credibility costs: Installing military public-affairs leadership and prioritizing “modernization” over traditional independence could reduce the paper’s perceived neutrality, harming its value to readers. Congressional oversight (Armed Services Committees) has been urged; failure to restore protections might normalize executive control over specialized media

Overall, the episode tests the durability of First Amendment protections in a hybrid government-media entity during wartime and political polarization. It highlights tensions between operational security/military discipline and the free press essential to democratic accountability—particularly for those who serve.

MLB Mets To Honor Broadcaster Howie Rose

Howie Rose

The New York Mets will honor longtime radio broadcaster Howie Rose with a special pregame retirement ceremony on Sunday, September 20, 2026, at Citi Field. The tribute will take place before the Mets’ final regular-season home game against the Philadelphia Phillies, scheduled for a 1:10 p.m. ET start. 

Rose, 72, announced earlier this year that the 2026 season would be his last as a full-time Mets radio play-by-play announcer, marking the end of nearly four decades with the franchise. 

The first 15,000 fans in attendance will receive a commemorative “Put it in the books!” notebook and scorecard, a nod to Rose’s signature sign-off after Mets victories. Mets owners Steve and Alex Cohen praised Rose’s lasting impact, calling him “part of the fabric of this franchise” and “the soundtrack of summer” for generations of fans. 

A lifelong Mets fan from Queens, Rose began his association with the team in 1987 as host of the “Mets Extra” studio shows. He transitioned to play-by-play duties in the mid-1990s and became the primary radio voice in 2006. 

His broadcasting career spans 52 years and includes work across radio and television for multiple New York teams; he has also been inducted into the Mets Hall of Fame. Rose scaled back his schedule in recent seasons after a 2021 bladder cancer diagnosis and this year is calling primarily home games plus a few Subway Series contests. 

While September 20 is expected to be his final regular broadcast, he has left open the possibility of occasional future appearances and will continue serving as master of ceremonies for select Mets on-field events.

NYC Radio: Michael Kay Thinks Mike Francesa Should Be On WFAN

New York Yankees TV Host Michael Kay is back hosting a solo weekday show on ESPN 880 AM from 1-3 p.m., and he remains shocked that neither WFAN nor ESPN New York has brought Mike Francesa back in any capacity.

Kay, whose Yankees broadcast team ranked fourth-best among local MLB radio crews in Awful Announcing’s 2026 rankings, shared the comments with Brandon Contes on The Awful Announcing Podcast. 

Michael Kay

He described mixed feelings about the years the two went head-to-head.“I have nothing against Mike Francesa,” Kay said. “We certainly are different people, and whatever the case may be. I’ve always said the best way I could describe it, if I got to the top of the mountain, I’d be really, really happy I was at the top of the mountain. Mike got to the top of the mountain and decided the best thing to do is to pee down on the people below him. And that’s just not the way I am. But you know what? It worked out great for Mike. Mike’s a legend. And when the history of sports talk radio is written, He’s going to be in the first page. That’s how great he was.”

Kay added that he is still surprised Francesa does not have a daily radio show despite his BetRivers work. “I think his voice is still needed. I think his voice is still valued. And if he wanted to, if either of the radio stations were smart, they’d bring him in for almost like what I do, a two-hour show. And I bet you would get a tremendous amount of traction because he’s a provocateur when it comes to radio. He knows what buttons to push. He’s really, really good.”

He noted that a two-hour format was once frowned upon near the end of Francesa’s WFAN tenure, but the rise of podcasts and YouTube has made that length both reasonable and fulfilling for audiences.

Chicago Radio: NFL Bears Unveils Radio Network

The Chicago Bears’ radio flagship remains ESPN 1000 (AM 1000 and 100.3 FM HD2), which will air all of the team’s preseason and regular-season games in 2026.

Jeff Joniak returns for his 26th consecutive year on play-by-play. Analyst Tom Thayer, a member of Chicago’s Super Bowl XX championship team, begins his 30th season in the booth. Sideline reporter Jason McKie, who played on the Bears’ 2006 NFC Championship squad, is back for a fourth straight year.

Fans outside the Midwest should check local radio listings, as some stations previously carried Bears games. SiriusXM subscribers can find the broadcasts on the weekly channel listings.

Additional Bears audio is available on the 2nd City Gridiron Podcast Channel across Apple, Spotify, iHeart, Audacy and other platforms. Subscribe on YouTube at 2nd City Gridiron for podcasts and video content.

Jon Gruden Returns To The Broadcast Booth

Jon Gruden returned to the broadcast booth for the first time since 2018 during the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ 16-15 preseason win over the Kansas City Chiefs on Saturday night, pairing with Ronde Barber in a nontraditional setup that featured dual analysis rather than conventional play-by-play.

The Athletic reports Gruden, filling in on WFLA-TV because regular play-by-play announcer Chris Myers was assigned to Fox’s IndyCar Freedom 250, worked as the color analyst while Barber handled most of the down-and-distance calls, action setup and break transitions. The result was a somewhat disjointed broadcast that leaned heavily into commentary, resembling the “ManningCast,” with Gruden’s offensive expertise complementing Barber’s defensive insights.

“I was nervous, I’ll be honest with you,” Gruden said in a postgame segment with Barber. “Having a chance to come back in the stadium as a broadcaster, with my Hall of Fame man, I mean, I really was a basket case.”

Barber noted the extra workload: “My week wasn’t as calm as it normally is. Usually, I let Chris do all of the heavy lifting. I was like, ‘We got heavy lifting to do.’ But we made it through.”

Earlier in the week on “The Ronde Barber Show,” Gruden suggested the dual-analyst approach could prove innovative. 

Having so much fun being back in the booth with the Hall of Famer Ronde Barber! pic.twitter.com/Yku66Tm42R

— Jon Gruden (@BarstoolGruden) August 23, 2026

“You never know. This concept could be a game-changer in the broadcast booth,” he said. “I mean, there’s been a conventional way. I sat up there for nine years and did it. (Play-by-play announcer) Mike Tirico, there was a cadence … But I think as long as we’re on the same page, we love the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. We’re going to try to really educate the fans on some of the position battles, just the excitement of opening day in our stadium.”

Gruden’s previous booth experience came after successful head-coaching stints with the Raiders and Buccaneers. He replaced Tony Kornheiser as the “Monday Night Football” color analyst, became one of ESPN’s highest-paid personalities and spent nine years in the role before leaving in 2018 to coach the then-Oakland Raiders.

“I had a lot of fun doing it for nine years,” Gruden said at the August news conference. “I was very fortunate on ‘Monday Night Football,’ especially the years with Tirico. We had a lot of fun, and we took every game like it was the Super Bowl. We took it very seriously and had a lot of fun.”

Houston Radio: New Line-Up Starting Today on Sports 790 KBME

SportsTalk 790 KBME is shifting its weekday lineup Monday, moving The Matt Thomas Show with Ross Villarreal to mornings (6-10 a.m.) and The Dan Mathews Show to middays (10 a.m.-2 p.m.).

The A-Team with Adam Clanton and Adam Wexler remains in the 2-6 p.m. slot and continues to air on Space City Home Network.

Thomas, the radio voice of the Houston Rockets and former public address announcer during the team’s two NBA championship seasons, previously worked at 700 KSEV, 950 KPRC and 740 KTRH before leaving Houston in 2004. He later called University of Utah football and basketball in Salt Lake City and worked at KSTP in Minneapolis-St. Paul before returning to SportsTalk 790 in 2009.

Mathews welcomed the change in a video posted to X, saying he is “pumped” to stop waking up at 4:30 a.m. “I’ve loved doing the mornings,” he said. “It’s been amazing. It’s been awesome.” He added that he regularly listens to Thomas and Villarreal after work and enjoys their on-air banter: “I love everyone I work with, but I’m not kidding when I say that every single day on my way home and even while I’m doing stuff around the house, I’ve got on those guys.”

Mathews has covered Houston sports since 2009. He previously worked in Atlanta at 92.9 The Game and 680 The Fan as a host, reporter and play-by-play broadcaster before returning to Houston in 2023. 

At SportsTalk 790 he has produced The A-Team, hosted The Night Cap and contributed to Astros and Rockets pregame and postgame coverage.

The changes come two months after Cole Thompson left The Morning Drive with Dan & Cole, which launched in 2025. Thompson was among those affected by iHeartMedia layoffs; Mathews continued in the morning slot after Thompson’s departure.

Trump Asks Judge to Block BBC Access To Family

President Donald Trump has asked a federal judge to reject the BBC’s bid for court help in obtaining testimony and documents from three family members as part of his $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the British broadcaster.

Trump’s personal lawyers argued in a Friday court filing that the BBC is pursuing “politically-driven leverage” by seeking to subpoena daughter Ivanka Trump, son-in-law Jared Kushner and son Donald Trump Jr. U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Kuntz in Miami, who was nominated by Trump and inherited the case less than a week ago, has not yet ruled. 

The previous judge set a February trial date; filings did not explain the reassignment.

In a motion last week, the BBC asked permission to serve the subpoenas by certified mail after a process server failed in May to deliver them in person. Agents blocked service at Ivanka Trump and Kushner’s residence, and an attempt at Trump Tower in New York to reach Donald Trump Jr. also failed, according to the president’s lawyers.

“The relief that the BBC’s Motion seeks cannot be segregated from the politically charged discovery campaign that it is based on, and which has already been ruled as improperly overbroad by this Court,” the lawyers wrote.

Trump sued in December, accusing the BBC of deceptively editing his Jan. 6, 2021, speech near the White House—when supporters attacked the Capitol—to misrepresent his words by splicing separate portions. The suit claims the documentary aired a week before the 2024 election in “a brazen attempt to interfere in and influence” the outcome against him.

The BBC has apologized for the misleading edit but denies defaming Trump.

WEEI/NESN Jimmy Fund Radio-Telethon Shatters Records

WEEI-FM Boston and NESN raised a record $7.3 million for the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Jimmy Fund.  The funds came from the stations’ 24th annual radio-telethon, held Aug. 17-18 and broadcast live from Fenway Park. 

The total marks the highest single-year amount in the event’s history and brings the cumulative total raised since 2002 to approximately $87 million for adult and pediatric cancer care and research.

More than 24,000 individual gifts supported the effort, with 85 percent under $250. The two-day broadcast featured patient stories, medical experts, and special guests including Hall of Famers David Ortiz and Johnny Damon, along with other Boston sports figures. A formal check presentation is scheduled for Sept. 2 at Fenway Park.

R.I.P.: Shelley Fabares, TV Actress Scored Hit With 'Johnny Angel'

(1944-2026)

Shelley Fabares, the actress known as the wholesome daughte(1944r Mary Stone on The Donna Reed Show, Elvis Presley’s co-star in three films, and Craig T. Nelson’s independent wife on Coach, has died at age 82.

She died Saturday in Los Angeles, her family announced. Survivors include her husband, MASH* actor Mike Farrell, whom she married in 1984.

“To her family and friends, Shelley was a source of love, strength, laughter and comfort,” they said in a statement. “She was a devoted wife, cherished stepmother, daughter, sister, niece, aunt, family member and loyal friend whose warmth, generosity, humor and grace made an enduring difference in the lives of everyone who knew her. She had a remarkable ability to make people feel welcomed, valued and cared for.”

Fabares starred for eight seasons on the ABC comedy Coach, earning two Emmy nominations as Christine Armstrong, a TV newscaster who becomes the girlfriend and later wife of Nelson’s college football coach Hayden Fox. “Clearly, Christine is a very successful woman and firmly entrenched in her career and loves her work. And she loves this man,” she said. “It’s a difficult problem in life to find your balance. We’re all going through the same things. I have a wonderful relationship with my husband, but I’m still a career woman.” 

In 2015, NBC developed a Coach revival in which Nelson’s character returns to coaching and Fabares’ character is killed off, but the project did not advance beyond the pilot.

On The Donna Reed Show, which aired on ABC for eight seasons from September 1958 through March 1966, she played high schooler Mary Stone opposite Donna Reed as homemaker Donna Stone, Carl Betz as pediatrician Dr. Alex Stone, and Paul Petersen as younger brother Jeff. When Mary left for college at the start of the sixth season, the Stones adopted a daughter, Trisha (Patty Petersen, Paul’s real-life sister).

Capitalizing on her fame, Fabares—backed by Darlene Love and the Blossoms, with Glen Campbell on guitar—recorded “Johnny Angel,” which reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in April 1962 after she debuted it on the show months earlier. 

“I literally cannot sing. So there’s a lot of overdubbing,” she admitted in a 1983 interview. “The girls in the back—‘Could you sing a little louder please?’ It was unusual. But [The Donna Reed Show] was very successful at that time, so [the song] had a built-in audience.” 

During lip-synced “live” performances, she recalled her worst moment: “I did a live local television show and, needless to say, the record stuck. I think I went into a coma.”

She also starred opposite Elvis Presley in three movies and portrayed the wife of doomed Chicago Bears running back Brian Piccolo (James Caan) in the landmark 1971 ABC telefilm Brian’s Song. On the original One Day at a Time, Fabares played against her prim, good-girl image as Francine Webster, a nasty business rival of Bonnie Franklin’s Ann Romano.

Radio History: Aug 24

➦In 1911...Durward Kirby born (Died at age 88 – March 15, 2000).  He was a radio, TV announcer/host, best remembered for The Garry Moore Show in the 1950s and Candid Camera, which he co-hosted with Allen Funt from 1961 through 1966.

Durward Kirby

By 1936, Kirby was an announcer for WLW in Cincinnati, Ohio. In 1937, an Associated Press news story reported that Kirby "made a name for himself" with his reporting on the Ohio River flood of 1937. He also worked at radio stations in Chicago and Indianapolis before the war.

Following the war, Kirby hosted Club Matinee in Chicago with Garry Moore on the NBC Blue radio network before moving to television in 1949 as an announcer. He also worked on Meet Your Navy and Honeymoon in New York on network radio.

Kirby also appeared as a host, announcer, or guest on other television programs, including serving as one of NBC Radio's Monitor.

➦In 1917...Dennis James born (Died of lung cancer at age 79 – June 3, 1997). 

Dennis James

He was a TV personality, philanthropist, and commercial spokesman. Up until 1976, he had appeared on TV more times and for a longer period than any other television star. Often referred to as "The Dean of Game Show Hosts", he is credited as the host of television's first network game show, the DuMont Network's Cash and Carry (1946). James was also the first person to host a telethon (raising over $700,000,000 for United Cerebral Palsy throughout his career), the first host to appear in a television commercial, first to emcee a variety show, and first to appear on video tape.

Born in Jersey City, New Jersey, James began his career in radio with WNEW (now WBBR) and moved to television in 1938, working for the soon-to-become-DuMont Television Network station WABD (now WNYW), which helped to found the DuMont network in 1946. James became the host of many game shows, such as the ABC version of Chance of a Lifetime (1952–53) and served as commentator for DuMont's wrestling and boxing shows, such as Boxing From Jamaica Arena (1948–49) and other DuMont boxing and wresting shows such as Amateur Boxing Fight Club (1949–50). He hosted the DuMont daytime variety show Okay, Mother (1948–51) with Julia Meade.

➦In 1950...the summer replacement radio show for Suspense, titled "Somebody Knows", was heard for the final time on CBS Radio. The program offered a reward of $5,000 for information that led to the solving of crimes. Somebody Knows began with the introduction, “You out there. You, who think you have committed the perfect crime — that there are no clues, no witnesses — listen. Somebody knows.”

➦In 1999...actress Mary Jane Croft, who frequently appeared in Lucille Ball’s TV & film projects, died of natural causes at age 83. She was a much-in-demand Hollywood radio regular from the 1940′s through the 70′s, with supporting roles in dozens of series such as One Man’s Family, Suspense, Sam Spade, Our Miss Brooks and Sears Radio Theatre.

WLW's Dale Summers

➦In 2012...Bruce Dale Sommers died (Born - November 26, 1943). He was best known by his nickname "The Truckin' Bozo" and for his long-running country music show geared toward truck drivers.

Dale Summers

Sommers hosted the overnight show from Cincinnati, Ohio-based clear-channel station WLW from 1984 to 2004, and it was carried by a small network of similarly high-powered stations across the United States. Sommers discontinued playing music on his nightly show, focusing on general and truck news, and talk from his listeners. Sommers announced his retirement from radio in 2004, but XM Satellite Radio was successful in getting him to do an afternoon truck show.

Born Glen Council in Humboldt, Tennessee, Sommers moved to Cincinnati with his family at the age of 15. The next year (1959), be began working for WAEF. Sommers worked for other local radio stations in Cincinnati, as well as in Evansville, Indianapolis, Seattle, San Diego, Miami, and Kansas City, before settling back at WLW in 1984.

Jay Thomas

➦In 2017...Jay Thomas died from throat cancer (Born Jon Thomas Terrell -  July 12, 1948).  He was an actor, comedian, and radio personality. He was heard in New York from 1976-79 on Top 40 station 99X, and later on Rhythmic CHR station WKTU, and in Los Angeles beginning in 1986 on KPWR "Power 106", where he hosted the station's top-rated morning show until 1993.