NBC may feel its decision to run The Jay Leno Show five nights a week in the 10:00 PM time slot makes sense. The show is garnering much lower ratings than the dramatic series it replaced, but Leno's program costs far less to produce. However, NBC is faced with complaints from local affiliates who are greatly concerned that Leno's program is providing a weak lead-in to their 11:00 PM news broadcasts. For more click here

This Friday, The Weather Channel, the popular American cable TV network, will depart radically from their normal programming as part of a four-week experiment to show movies with weather themes. First up is The Perfect Storm which will be shown on the 18th anniversary of "the storm of the century" upon which the film and book is based. Meteorologist Jennifer Carfagno will introduce each film and explain its context in terms of major stories about weather, which seems like a good idea. Some of the films chosen to air are a bit strange...the network justifies screening Misery because James Caan's character is injured in a snow storm! We wish the network well on the new venture - but since the films will probably follow the norm of being shredded to pieces in terms of editing, then deprived of their final credits in order to squeeze in a voice-over promo, there's really no reason to watch. 

By Lee Pfeiffer

Like some creature only George Romero could create, deceased American TV pitchman Billy Mays is more visible in death than he was in life. The motor-mouthed infomercial spokesman for household cleansing products died months ago but his cult status among lovers of cheesy TV ads continues to grow. It's eerie enough that Mays is still in our living rooms due to the fact that the product manufacturers are continuing to run his old ads. Now, however, he might be appearing on your doorstep. It turns out that legions of trick-or-treaters plan to dress up as Mays this Halloween. Not even Marley's ghost had this much trouble resting in peace. Refreshingly, Mays' family seems amused that he has become a pop culture icon and has given their blessing to the faux pitchmen. For more click here

Here's another gem from the people at the American cable TV giant Cablevision:

The Chairman (1969) - Starring Gregory Peck:  A U.S. scientist travels to China with a transmitter in his head to meet Mao and spy on a food-growth enzyme.