HUGE Viacom "cut the cord" news: Its networks' content poised to go online, consumers to benefit

SpongeBob just got so damned tired of crying (see above) that he decided to do something about it, and if you don't think the current distress suffered by CBS didn't have something to do with it I have not just the Brooklyn Bridge to sell you but every span into and out of every major city to boot!

The deal they're striking, and they are first among the big players, will put the content from their many networks on an online service from Sony and Intel that I imagine will look and operate somewhat like Hulu or Netflix Instant.

Joe Flint in the LA Times:

Sony and Intel, which is launching its own over-the-top service, have been meeting with programmers for several months hoping to persuade them to take the plunge.

Programmers have been wary of committing to an over-the-top provider because it could alienate their biggest business partners — the satellite and cable companies that reach most American homes. This is why a Sony or Intel would likely have to pay a premium to get access to content for their services.

This is how Viacom and CBS work. They are both wholly owned subsidiaries of National Amusements, a company that started its history as Northeast Theatre Corporation, a company your intrepid blogger once worked for back in the day.

Redstone, Moonves, Dauman

(My job for National Amusements, believe it or not, was a weekend gig at the Sunrise Drive-In Theatre in Valley Stream, NY. They had a flea market (swap meet for you West Coasters) on the weekends and I sold these big greasy hot dogs and sodas. My paycheck was signed -- actually I think it was a rubber stamp -- by Sumner Redstone.)

Redstone and his daughter own all the stock and control both companies, and traditionally he has pitted the CBS and Viacom chiefs (Les Moonves and Philipp Dauman in a fight to the death to be more profitable. It's a huge rivalry between the two.

Dauman, seeing the trouble Moonves is in right now and having this trouble for his own just recently with Time Warner Cable, is poised now to piss off a lot of cable companies but also take the bull by the horns.The next time there's a carriage war with Viacom stations I'm sure negotiations will highlight this impending method of getting some of television's most popular content online.

It will be very interesting to see how other content providers and cable's major system operators Time Warner, Comcast, Cox, etc. react to this news as the deal is signed and in the days ahead. It's a solid win for consumers, though, and for those of you without CBS it might even motivate those players to hurry up and settle.

In the meantime there are plenty of Viacom shows on Hulu and on Amazon Prime. I imagine those deals would be pulled in should this deal get finalized.

This is nothing but good news for consumers. There needs to be more avenues by which programming comes into our homes for prices to come down. We're on our way.

All the ideas for posts for this blog I had this week while doing other things

I was, uh ... busy.

Yeah, that's right, that's the ticket. (For you kids, that's a quote from a Jon Lovitz SNL character that I still enjoy, though I no longer enjoy Lovitz.

1) Wednesday's TV aliens are very different. In The Americans, the aliens are Soviet era spies. On The Neighbors there are actual extraplanetary aliens yet still spies of a sort. We know the endgame for the Soviets, we have no idea what will happen when "Jackie Joyner Kersee" and "Larry Bird" (they're all named after famous athletes) complete their mission. So, what's the more interesting show? Huh? Nah, I'm just kidding. They're both good though. Say what you want about high concept comedies, but they have been a part of the TV landscape forever, whether it's Gilligan embarking on a three hour tour of the harbor or a Park Ave. lawyer and his Hungarian wife getting back to nature in Hooterville. Yes, I also kind of admired
that Cavemen series. Not saying it was great, saying I admired the attempt. One other thing The Neighbors has is a child actor who bares a striking resemblance not only in look but in tone to Emo Phillips. And he's perfect in this. His name is Ian Patrick (pictured) and you might have seen him recently in David Wain's Wanderlust (playing on cable).

Walking Dead star Norman Reedus on cast "death dinners"

I don't watch The Walking Dead but you do and that's why you're here. I do watch VH1 Big Morning Buzz Live With Carrie Keagan, so here, this is for you, in two parts, both after the jump.

Tomorrow Morning with Carrie

Tomorrow at 10am on #VH1Buzz@danadelany @jackricofficial @miribenari @gwen_usbeauty @vh1
— Carrie Keagan (@CarrieKeagan) February 18, 2013

Big Morning Buzz Live with Carrie Keagan tomorrow at 10 eastern/pacific on VH1.

Tomorrow morning with Carrie

Tomorrow at 10am on #VH1Buzz @willymoon @derek1gaines @alisonbrie #AlexKarpovsky @vh1
— Carrie Keagan (@CarrieKeagan) February 17, 2013

Alex Karpovsky from HBO's Girls, Alison Brie from Community, singer Willie Moon, comedian Derek Gaines and all the pop culture news and clips and music you can handle at 10 am eastern/pacific on VH1.

What I'm recording: Jenny McC's last chance, homes in Lisbon, Portlandia

Here's what my DVR is doing tonight:

Portlandia: Here's a preview clip.


House Hunters International: They're in Lisbon, Portugal. Not one of my favorite international locales but whatever. I prefer Scandinavian episodes, the furniture in those homes is always so nice.

Click: BBC World's tech show. There's no more Attack of the Show! and it seems this is the only place to go for this kinda news. Runs all weekend on the channel.

The Jenny McCarthy Show: Jenny, this is your last chance. Watched the pilot of your new VH1 talk show and when you weren't being bleeped (there were whole segments of the show where I didn't know what you were talking about) ... you were talking over each other and I couldn't understand a thing. That woman with the shelf of an ass (Miss Joseline, I believe) was the most interesting part of your premiere and I'm gay. Fix this! If this show stays on the air while Whitney Cummings' E! talker was canceled there's no justice in this world.

The Late Late Show w/ Craig Ferguson: Craig has Mario Lopez tonight, prompting this very revealing image of Mario from when he lost a Super Bowl bet and had to run through his office (The Grove shopping center in Los Angeles) in his underwear (you're welcome). A couple of nights ago Craig had Girls star Allison Williams and you can watch that below.

Tomorrow morning w/Carrie ... Jillian Michaels, Jackie Collins, more

Tomorrow at 10am on #VH1Buzz @jillianmichaels @jackiejcollins @juliannehough @nikischwan @bigjayoakerson @vh1
— Carrie Keagan (@CarrieKeagan) February 14, 2013

Start you mornings with Carrie, Jason Dundas and their guests. And watch this Jay Oakerson clip I'm posting below. You might remember Jay from the IFC series Z Rock. In fact, although Adam Pally is often credited as the first actor to portray an very atypical gay man on a comedy series it was actually Jay in Z Rock. He's at a lot of NYC clubs. I know he's been working The Stand a lot, a new club on 3rd Ave. and 19th St. that's getting great talent coming in and I hear great food.

Today on Big Morning Buzz Live you could have seen Gavin DeGraw & Colbie Caillat sing their new song from the Beautiful Creatures soundtrack. Or you could just watch it now. Click below for that and set your DVR tonight for tomorrow's show. 10 am e on VH1.

Gavin DeGraw - Colbie Caillat & Gavin DeGraw Perform 'We Both Know' - Gavin DeGraw Music Videos - Live Performances

I'm just a boy standing in front of a TV watching nation asking it to love my shows

(So I'm gonna try doing this again and spending way way way less time on Twitter hurling penis-size jokes at politicians with pompadours. Yeah, that's me.)

The Americans on FX is so good. Very compelling subject matter. KGB agents live among us in DC ... AND across the street from an FBI agent brand new to counter-intelligence work. I just totally buy it. The 80s stuff works and Matthew Rhys is great and by the second commercial break in the pilot Keri Russell had me convinced she was a socialist Soviet loyal ready to kill and screw her way to world domination.

(I haven't watched last night's episode yet, do not spoil Margo Martindale's debut for me.) Fortunately the numbers for The Americans have been good and it looks to be safe as the network that airs it is good about sticking it out with great projects.

This is not the case with ABC's comedies. Both Don't Trust the B and Happy Endings are gone now Happy Endings just moved to Fridays where they'll burn two eps a night, Don't Trust the B is so gone they aren't EVEN burning out the completed episodes.

So here I am once again after a long hiatus from this thankless task of stumping for shows telling you I'm just a boy standing in front of a TV watching nation asking it to love my shows. Because I have to, apparently.

Also, I'll be campaigning constantly for my pals in the business. Because I can. So there will be lots of VH1 Big Morning Buzz Live with Carrie Keagan among other things.

You can find me at @JoeWatchesTV on Twitter.

And we're off ...

The Anti-Hasselbeck, now at 10 AM weekdays to save your ever lovin' soul

This is a very good idea VH1 has had here. Very good indeed.

This, boys and girls is your salvation. Your are being saved from the evil Hasselbeck by the exact opposite of her. Smart, funny, cool, and much more attractive Carrie Keagan brings her VH1 morning show Big Morning Buzz Live to the 10 o'clock hour with cohost Jason Dundas (below).

You know this is exactly what you've needed at 10. I know in my market I need something between the Today Show and Access Hollywood Live that doesn't include the Republican automaton who's opinions are pumped into her head each day by the conservative media and the various whining whiners from the pitchfork and torch crowd.

("Yeah, what he said!!!")

Most important, Big Morning Buzz Live is the place to be for live in studio music performances from hot bands like Hot Chelle Rae (right after their American Music Awards for best new artist), Scars on 45, and Willie Nile (who happens to be Carrie's uncle).

There's also plenty of news and features about a whole host of other pop culture topics and 

Big Morning Buzz Live returns tomorrow at 10. Some of you are at work. Use your DVR.