Needless to say this WNY Media Network site, Still Talkin TV  and Alan himself will be out of commission for a bit while he makes a full recovery.

I’m told Alan is doing well, in good spirits and recovering in the hospital before his return home later this week.  He is looking forward to getting back to his website as soon as possible and we look forward to his return as Buffalo’s media ‘insider’.

We wish Alan a quick and speedy recovery.

I’m sure Alan would appreciate hearing from his readers.  Wish him well on his blog at stilltalkintv.com or via twitter at StilltalkinTV or Alan’s facebook page .

Western New York keeps falling out of love with “American Idol.” Wednesday’s two-hour performance show didn’t even hit a double-digit rating on Fox affiliate WUTV even though the competition was down to the final five.

American Idol: Slipping Here

“Idol” had a 9.1 rating locally, which is about 25-30 percent lower than the rating at a comparable time a year ago. The Thursday night results show had an 8.7 rating.

Of course, “Idol” remains a strong demographic program and does better nationally in other areas of the country.

It usually does very well in the South, which shouldn’t be surprising since three out of the Final Four of Hollie (Texas), Joshua (Louisiana), Phillip (Georgia) and Jessica (California) come from that section of the country.

Of course, many network shows are experiencing a decline locally these days. It is rare any network show that isn’t carried by CBS gets a double-digit rating locally. The series averaging in the double digits generally include ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars” and several CBS shows including ”Big Bang Theory,” “NCIS” and the rookie series “Person of Interest.” 

“Idol” still does reasonably well here by comparison to most network TV series. It also is now beating NBC’s “The Voice” locally by a substantial margin. The second highest-rated series Wednesday opposite “Idol” was ABC’s “Modern Family,” which had an 8.7 rating on Channel 7. Brian Williams’ compelling “Rock Center” special on the special operations mission a year ago that ended with the killing of Osama Bin Laden had a 4.8 rating on Channel 2, which is more than 50 percent higher than “Rock Center” averaged during the February sweeps.

I didn’t notice until Wednesday that Channel 4 can run as much as 20 minutes of news and weather before it takes a commercial break on the 5:30 p.m. newscast with Diana Fairbanks. After 5:50 p.m., it is almost all commercials and promos.

Here’s an interesting trend detected about Channel 2’s 10 p.m. news on WNYO-TV that suggests my criticism of “10 at 10″ for stupidly delivering the top story midway through the newscast could be misguided. On two of the first four days of this week (Monday and Wednesday), the newscast anchored by Melissa Holmes averaged ratings in the 3s, which is significantly higher than it usually gets. And the second 15 minutes – when the station airs the top story, weather and sports – got higher ratings than the first 15 minutes on two of the four nights. Channel 4’s 10 o’clock news on WNLO anchored by Fairbanks sees its ratings decline significantly in the second 15 minutes. It still has a sizable lead over Channel 2’s newscast at 10 p.m., but Channel 2′s ratings are improving significantly.

While ABC’s “Good Morning America” is giving NBC’s “Today” a run for its money nationally, it still is no contest locally. Matt Lauer and company dominate here in the morning. One significant factor is the strong lead-in that Channel 2’s “Daybreak” provides “Today.” “GMA,” on the other hand, gets no help from Channel 7.

Talk about eerie timing. ESPN’s “Outside the Lines” was focusing on the punishment that four present and former New Orleans Saints were getting Wednesday because of Bountygate when the program had to take a right turn and focus on the apparent suicide of former San Diego Charger great Junior Seau. The timing certainly made the suspensions seem appropriate.

This Just In: The live episode of “30 Rock” last week didn’t lead to more local viewers flocking to the Tina Fey comedy this week. On Thursday, it didn’t even hit a 2 rating on Channel 2. NBC’s highest-rated show on Thursday was “Parks and Recreation” with a 3.4 rating. The 10 p.m. series “Awake” didn’t even have as many viewers on Channel 2 as Channel 2′s 10 p.m. news on WNYO-TV. Ouch.

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Jessica Paré: She Might Get Falls Rooms Booked

This is what I’m thinking::

You almost have to laugh now that the Buffalo Bills are using wide receiver Stevie Johnson as their main spokesman in advertisements for season tickets.

After all, it was only a few months ago that some sportswriters wanted to send Stevie out of town because of his childish behavior that cost the team some key unsportsmanlike conduct penalties.

The thought that the Bills might exile their best receiver and one of their most personable players is laughable now.

The Bills signed Johnson to a big free agent contract in the offseason and now are getting their money’s worth by using him in a promotional campaign in which he tells fans how much he appreciates them.   

The new commercial for State Sen. Mark Grisanti’s reelection campaign is notable for  a few things that aren’t mentioned. One, it doesn’t address the much-publicized controversy surrounding an altercation at a local casino. Secondly, it doesn’t mention that Grisanti ran as a Republican. The admissions are probably good ideas in an ad that seems to give Grisanti credit for just about everything good that has happened in Albany since he came to office. After all, he needs Democratic votes to win re-election.

With Paul Peck having left Channel 4, I’m hearing the station is close to hiring one sportscaster before Sports Director John Murphy joins him in departing the station after the May sweeps. Until the new person arrives, I’m also hearing that news anchor Lou Raguse will also handle sports on weekends. At one time before he began his news career, Raguse was interested in being a sports anchor.

Inquiring minds want to know: Where is Christie Witt, who until recently had been handling morning traffic on Channel 2’s “Daybreak.” Witt, who also produced the 11 a.m. news, has left the station.

I laughed out loud a few times during last Thursday’s live edition of “30 Rock.” The highlight was the parody of the tune  “Zou Bisou Bisou,” that Megan Draper (Jessica Pare) sang to husband Don Draper (Jon Hamm) on his birthday in the season premiere of “Mad Men.” However, the local rating for “30 Rock” wasn’t a laughing matter. It had a 2.2 rating on Channel 2 on the night of the NFL draft and the New York Rangers’ game 7 victory over Ottawa in a first-round playoff series. None of the Thursday night series on NBC hit a 3 rating locally on Channel 2. That’s pretty sad, considering Thursday night used to be Must-See TV Night on NBC. However, the current Thursday shows – including “The Office” — usually have much stronger demographics and are watched by viewers who make more money than viewers of other shows.

I’m not a big fan of Channel 2’s news crawl during all of its newscasts, but it was used well when it alerted viewers who might have been waiting for an update on the Corasanti trial that there was no testimony being taken on Wednesday.

Without the Corasanti trial, the big TV news Wednesday was Nik Wallenda’s plans to attempt to walk a wire over Niagara Falls on June 15. Amusingly, Channel 4 is calling itself the “Wallenda Walk Source.” More amusingly, Mike Cejka spent a few minutes on Wednesday’s newscast showing viewers how to navigate its website stories on Wallenda. I want the daredevil act to be successful in drawing tourists and getting $500 a night rooms booked, but call me skeptical. Now if the organizers could get Jessica Pare – who is a Canadian — to sing “Zou Bisou Bisou before Wallenda walks, they might have something. 

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I will miss “The Good Wife”’ this Sunday. It is the first prime time series that I watch regularly that has had its season finale since NBC’s “Parenthood” left the air in February.

I will say the trials of attorney Alicia Florrick (Julianna Margulies), her estranged husband Peter (Chris Noth), her secretive sometimes friend Kalinda Sharma (Archie Panjabi) and her bosses Diane Lockhart (Christine Baranski) and Will Gardner (Josh Charles) haven’t been as interesting this season as seasons past.

Julianna Margulies

It has been an uneven year that was largely saved by the occasional appearances of Michael J. Fox as a scheming attorney, Louis Canning, who has the mind of a chess master. The comedy provided by an old lawyer (played by Jerry Adler) whose idea of a key job interview question is to ask prospective hires which two people they would bring to a deserted island also was a welcome diversion.

Truth be told, I almost gave up on the series a few weeks ago because I didn’t care if Alicia got a big enough raise to buy back her marital home and who Will was sleeping with after he and Alicia broke up earlier in the season.

But last Sunday’s finale was decent even with three so-what cliffhangers: 1) Will Alicia give in and have pizza with Peter and the kids in the family home and possibly give her a marriage a second try? 2) Will Kalinda blow away her mysterious former husband as she awaits his appearance at the door? 3) Will the law firm survive another scheme by Fox’s character that appears to threaten its survival?

None of the cliffhangers will cause me to lose any sleep over the summer, but if I was on a deserted island “The Good Wife” still might be one of five network series I would bring with me even in an up and  down year.

Speaking of lawyers and trials, I’ve been asked by a few people why television cameras haven’t been able to be at the manslaughter trial of Dr. James Corasanti after the opening statements. Apparently, it has been long enough between high-profile cases to remind readers and viewers of camera-in-the-courtroom rules.

So I asked representatives of Channel 2 and Channel 4 to remind us how such a thing is decided.

Channel 2 News Director Jeff Woodard wrote: “A law had allowed, subject to specific limits in certain types of cases and with respect to certain trial participants, the televising of trials in New York State. In 1997, the Legislature failed to renew that law, so previous bans applied. These days, essentially, judges will often allow cameras in for court proceedings that do NOT involve testimony (openings, closings, sometimes verdicts and/or sentencing). It’s the judge’s discretion …”

Channel 4 General Manager Chris Musial wrote: “I am told (by his news managers) the judge took defense arguments into account against cameras in the court except for opening arguments.”

If past trials are a guide, it is quite possible that Erie County Judge Sheila DiTullio will allow cameras in the court for the closing arguments and the verdict.

I found an interesting 11-year-old quote from Judge DiTullio about cameras in the court after she allowed television coverage in a 2001. Back then, she called the ban on broadcast coverage of trials “an anachronistic vestige of a bygone era.”

“Advanced, state-of-the art technology, together with the promulgation of guidelines designed to ensure that victims, witnesses, parties and their families are protected, has made this a very different world from what it was in 1952,” DiTullio said in her decision.

Of course, each case is different and opinions can change over 11 years. The absence of cameras in the court has made it somewhat difficult for the local TV stations to cover the Corasanti trial since they need video to better tell the story.

Ideally, cameras would be allowed to record Corasanti’s anticipated testimony, which would be must-see TV and could have an impact on the verdict. But I don’t know if it would be fair or legal just to carry that. If any lawyer who reads this blog wants to weigh in, please do.

Similarly, there haven’t been any cameras in the North Carolina courtroom of the John Edwards federal corruption trial for trying to cover up an affair. ABC’s over-the-top “Scandal” is using a pregnancy plot line involving a sitting president that would be a lot more interesting if it didn’t appear to be at least partly inspired by the Edwards case.

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I have reasonable doubt that Channel 2 anchor Scott Levin or whoever writes his copy fully understands what part of the manslaughter case against Dr. James Corasanti is about reasonable doubt or what the legal term even means.

Near the beginning of Monday’s 11 p.m. newscast, Levin said Monday’s trial testimony involved key elements near the scene “where the doctor is accused of hitting and killing 18 year-old Alexandria Rice last year.”

Ch.2's Scott Levin

Technically, that wording may be correct. But Dr. Corasanti is more than “accused” of hitting and killing the teenage skateboarder while driving his car at this point.

All doubt about that was eliminated when his defense attorney, Joel L. Daniels, admitted in his opening statement that his client hit her with his car but he added it was an “accident.” As far as I can tell, the reasonable doubt that Daniels is trying to convince jurors of concerns whether Dr. Corasanti realized he hit a human being before he left the scene of what his defense team claims was an accident and not a crime. According to the Buffalo News, Corasanti is on trial for manslaughter, leaving the scene and evidence-tampering.

As the moderator of the 11 p.m. debate Monday between Channel 2’s legal analysts, Thomas Eoannou and Dennis Vacco, Levin mentioned that the defense has already said it was an accident. But I doubt that he guided the two lawyers well enough during that newscast so they could help viewers fully understand the “reasonable doubt” issues that Daniels is trying to establish. In an earlier newscast that I watched on Channel 2′s website, Levin and Eoannou did a much better job. But even then, Levin foolishly said “there is always reasonable doubt,” thereby illustrating a complete lack of understanding of the legal term. The prosecution should be happy Levin isn’t on this jury or any jury. Vacco quickly called Levin on that remark.

Channel 2’s intro to the 11 p.m. news also implied that Daniels and the defense team possibly could have made some progress in establishing reasonable doubt, which is a shaky premise because you don’t want to predict such things. Decades ago, I covered the criminal courts. That’s when I first realized what a fabulous attorney Daniels is. I used to kid my friends that I ever got into serious trouble, he would be my first call. I learned back then covering courts that you can never predict what a jury is going to do or if it is going to find reasonable doubt even in what appears to be an open-and-shut case.

One of my most memorable cases involved a former policeman whose attorney pleaded with a jury to convict him on a lesser charge. The jury came back and incredibly acquitted the defendant on all counts and then got a judicial scolding for letting a man go free when his own attorney said he was guilty of something.

I had some reasonable doubt last Friday when I read a Buffalo News column criticizing Channel 4 for failing to pick up the second half hour of the CBS Sunday morning program “Face the Nation” that the writer fully understood the issue.

I shook my head a little at the column, which noted that Channel 4 is running paid program in place of the second half of “Face.” I wasn’t shaking my head because of what appeared to be justifiable criticism. I shook my head because I hadn’t realized “Face” had been expanded to an hour on April 1 and that CBS had given its affiliates an option to carry the second 30 minutes.

If you’ve read this blog for any time, you know I’m not a defender of Channel 4. I’m probably one of its harshest critics. But I try to be fair. CBS apparently didn’t give its affiliates a lot of time to adjust their schedules. I do know it can be difficult for stations to immediately drop paid programming contracts when their networks change schedules.

So I emailed Channel 4 General Manager Chris Musial and asked for an explanation. “We did not pick-up the option April 1 because of the programming commitments already in place,” wrote back Musial. “We will review our options later this year.” When asked when the paid programming commitments end, Musial said he couldn’t say because of “competitive reasons.” Truth be told, I don’t really think Channel 2 or any other local channel cares so much about Channel 4’s Sunday morning plans.  

If the paid programming contract is the holdup, let’s hope that Channel 4 begins carrying the second half-hour of “Face” as soon as it can during this presidential year. Reportedly, CBS only plans to carry the hour-long “Face” until the election is over, though that plan can change if ratings improve.

Even if Channel 4 ever carries the second half of “Face” at 11 a.m., I probably wouldn’t watch it anyway. That’s when my favorite media analyst, Howard Kurtz, hosts CNN’s “Reliable Sources.”

I had no doubt that HBO was going to renew its new Sunday night comedies “Girls” and “Veep,” for another season after the first three episodes aired because its renewals aren’t based as much on ratings as they are on how much they’ve become part of the conversation on social networks and how well they are received critically. Both were renewed Monday. “Girls” has sparked plenty of controversy and both shows have received reviews much more favorable that mine. I may have been premature in my criticism of “Veep,” which has the same comedic vibe as “The Office” and “Parks and Recreation.”  

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Here’s the media ethics question of the day: If a news organization explains a conflict of interest does that make it acceptable?

Benigni, Kilgore: Ch.2 Still Believes in Sports Coverage

Channel 4 is using its legal consultant, Terrence Connors, as its expert on the manslaughter trial of Dr. James Corasanti.

Before Connors talks, the station has a reporter explain that Connors is the lawyer for the family of Alexandria “Alix” Rice in the civil case against Dr. Corasanti in the death of the teenage skateboarder who was struck and killed by a car he was driving last summer.

I’m not a legal expert, but one might reasonably think that the criminal case that Connors is analyzing will impact what happens in the civil case. Even if it doesn’t, Channel 4 should find another lawyer to be its daily expert in this case. His on-air participation is clearly a conflict of interest.

It shouldn’t be hard to find someone else. After all, Channel 2 has been able to find several lawyers to dissect the case including Dennis Vacco, Thomas Eoannou and Paul Cambria.

Channel 2 stubbornly continues to air stories on its 10 o’clock news on WNYO-TV in a Top 10 list given in backwards order. It is a stupid practice that looks even more ridiculous during the Corasanti trial. It is hard to understand why any viewer would want to wait 8-10 minutes to see the trial coverage when it is bound to be the No. 1 or No.2 most important story of the day on many nights.

In a sense, Channel 4 backup sportscaster Paul Peck got to give two goodbyes. Thanks to the Buffalo Bills, he got to say his first thank you on Friday night, two nights ahead of his final broadcast before he starts his new career in the financial industry. The Bills gave him a send-off Friday, presenting him with a uniform with his name and No. 4 on its. Channel 4 aired video of it, which led to Sports Director John Murphy praising Peck and giving him some time to express his feelings. It was a classy move by the Bills. 

Then at the end of the sports segment of the 11 p.m. Sunday newscast, Peck gave a classy personal one-minute goodbye that ended with him saying “even though I didn’t grow up here, Buffalo is my hometown.” Nice touch.

Peck was a bit of a Pollyanna before that, telling viewers (who may know that Sports Director John Murphy will soon follow him out the door), “trust me, you are in good hands.”

It would be easier to trust that remark if Channel 4 shared its plans about who is going to replace Peck and when he or she will start. It will be interesting to see how long it takes Channel 4 to replace Peck. Until it does, the station’s anchors may have to fill in for him unless Murphy works seven-day weeks during the May sweeps.

A reader told me how much he enjoyed a question that ESPN analyst Jon Gruden asked Chris Berman Saturday after Berman went on to say several glowing things about the Buffalo Bills, their free agent signings and their draft choices. “You from Buffalo?” asked Gruden. Berman’s response was a little muffled but he essentially said the city loves him. No argument here.

I woke up Saturday morning in time to hear WGR’s Mike Schopp question why the Bills gave up a seventh round draft choice to move ahead of a team that selected a punter. What Schopp failed to realize is that the team the Bills moved ahead of might not have drafted the punter if the receiver the Bills picked, T.J. Graham, had been available. In the same sense, Bills fans don’t know if the team would have picked Boston College linebacker Luke Kuechly if he still had been on the board before they picked Stephon Gilmore.

Ch.2 is smartly trying to capitalize on the dismantling of Channel 4’s sports staff by running promos featuring its larger staff of Adam Benigni, Ed Kilgore, Ben Hayes and Stu Boyar and telling viewers how much it values “full-blown” sports coverage on multiple platforms. Channel 2 had twice as many on-air sports staffers as Channel 4 and Channel 7 had before Peck left Channel 4. 

Finally, this question from NBC’s Pierre McGuire to former Sabre Danny Briere after he scored the winning overtime goal for Philadelphia against New Jersey Sunday had to cause Sabre fans to wince: “What is it about you and the playoffs?”

According to Peck Sunday night, Briere has scored 106 points in 104 playoff games in his career. 

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The expression on the face of Stephon Gilmore as he became the Buffalo Bills No. 1 draft choice Thursday night pretty much symbolized ESPN’s coverage of the overhyped event.

To use one of the phrases that cost Bills star Stevie Johnson some money last season, “Why So Serious?”

Chris Berman of ESPN : No Time to Talk to the Buffalo cabbie

The event is so orchestrated these days that you long for the good old days when Paul Maguire or some other announcer-comedian was around to poke fun at Commissioner Roger Goodell’s hugs, Mel Kiper’s hair and Jon Gruden’s inability to find any pick that he didn’t love.

One of the unintentionally funny moments of the night came after ESPN carried video of Texas A&M quarterback Ryan Tannehill throwing several terrible passes and Gruden then declaring how much he liked the Miami Dolphins’ top pick.

If history has told us anything it is that nobody really knows how most of these picks are going to turn out. Not even Mel Kiper.

The highlights of defensive players often show them being unblocked before making tackles and the highlights of quarterbacks often shows them hitting receivers that are open by 10 or 15 yards, which won’t happen in the NFL.

But some local history was made. Mark Gaughan of The Buffalo News, Channel 2’s Adam Benigni and Channel 4’s John Murphy all accurately predicted the Bills pick when the national money was on linebacker Luke Kuechly (who was picked by Carolina right before the Bills pick). If I’m missing any other local guy who had it, I apologize.

The local guys haven’t had that much success in past seasons, which suggests the Bills’ Buddy Nix or someone in the organization is more forthcoming about the team’s plans now than the team has been in the past.

The word may have filtered down from a Buffalo cabbie to ESPN’s Chris Berman, but his prediction was drowned out by the Commish’s announcement of the pick. Before the Bills pick, ESPN annoying summarized the picks that had been made before, which left little time for the analysts to weigh in on what the Bills planned to do.

However, Berman did have time to mention that Bills quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick “played hurt for half of the year with ribs.” That was denied by the team during the season, but suddenly has been accepted as fact now.

Another unintentionally comic moment came on Channel 2’s 11 p.m. news when sportscaster Ben Hayes characterized Gilmore as “excited” after being picked by the Bills and holding a telephone press conference. He was so unexcited after the pick was made that his Twitter nickname almost instantly became “Unhappy Gilmore.”

Time will tell if Bills fans will be happy about the pick.

Speaking of time, there was an awful lot of time between when the picks were in and when they were actually announced by the Commish.  That was part of the regrettable orchestration of the coverage.

By coincidence, the manslaughter trial of Dr. James G. Corasanti certainly has come at a key time for the local TV stations. The case involving the death of Alexandria Rice last summer after the teenager was hit by a car driven by Dr. Corasanti as she was on her skateboard opened on the same day that the May sweeps began.   

Channel 2 has put together a strong analytical team of lawyers to debate how the case is proceeding.  Dennis Vacco, a former New York State attorney general, is taking the prosecution side. Defense attorney Thomas Eoannou is taking the defense side. They were impressive on opening day. Meanwhile, Channel 4 is using its legal expert, criminal defense attorney Terrence Connors. Local stations were able to carry the powerful opening statements from the prosecution and defense, but the testimony of witnesses had to be summarized by reporters.

It is a fascinating and tragic case featuring two expert trial lawyers – prosecutor James Bargnesi and defense lawyer Joel Daniels — that might help fuel local news ratings.

Good news for local fans of Fox’s “Fringe.” Both of you. It has been renewed for 13 episodes for a fifth and final season. In other renewal news, HBO has signed Bill Maher for another two season of “Real Time” and Fox announced that Ryan Seacrest is continuing with “American Idol” even if many viewers aren’t.

Circle May 21. That’s the night that “House” ends its run on Fox with the ominously titled final episode “Everybody Dies.” According to a plot line from Fox, Dr. House (Hugh Laurie), “examines his life, future and demons” in the finale. His future is in syndication.

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There are no rules on allowing veteran reporters to do so, which is one reason why you never know these days if Channel 4 executives will allow goodbyes.

If anyone deserves to be allowed to say goodbye, it is Peck, a good soldier who has spent 24 years at the station and agreed to stay on for weeks to help out the sports department until the NFL Draft ends this weekend.

For his part, Peck doesn’t seem that concerned if he doesn’t get the opportunity to say goodbye as his TV career ends and he goes to work in the financial community.

Paul Peck: Will He Get to Say Goodbye?

“It hasn’t been discussed,” Peck said of whether he will get to say goodbye. “It doesn’t matter to me. I’ve never felt it would be about me. If I get to thank everybody, that would be great.”

The bigger question is how long will it take Channel 4 to replace Peck and sports director John Murphy, who is expected to leave some time in June to work full-time for the Buffalo Bills and do a WGR radio show. Murphy still hasn’t confirmed that.

The Buffalo Sabres decision not to hold a season-ending press conference has understandably raised some eyebrows in the journalistic community, especially over at One News Plaza.

Buffalo News sports columnist Jerry Sullivan noted recently that Sabres General Manager Darcy Regier told him to ask Mike Gilbert, the team’s public relations head, about why the decision was made. To which Sullivan added at the end of an entertaining notes column, “way to throw the employee under the bus, Darc!”

I asked Gilbert if he felt like Regier threw him under the bus.

“No, not in the least,” said Gilbert. “I bet Darcy didn’t even know it was in the paper. He doesn’t read the paper. Darcy was referring to having information (on why the decision was made). It was not like he was saying it was my fault. We decided as an organization not to have a year-end press conference. The players were available, the general manager, the coach and the president were available when asked for interviews. We just decided not to have one general press conference as we have in the past.”

To say the least, it was unusual to do things that way and you certainly understand if The News hockey writers were upset about it. Journalistically, I’m on their side. It was an outrage. The Sabres’ decision made their executives look as soft as some of their players.

But putting on my public relations hat, I can’t blame the Sabres. I don’t know what their reasons were for dropping the press conference. But it certainly didn’t hurt getting their message across after a disappointing season in which they didn’t make the playoffs despite a spending spree.

The disappointment is even greater now that Los Angeles and Washington beat much higher seeds and so many lower seeds in the playoffs have reached Game 7s, proving just getting in is so important.

The truth is that press conferences can be controlled by the newspaper writers who have covered the team and generally are the most knowledgeable and most negative of all media. If Regier doesn’t read the newspaper, perhaps he doesn’t know that columnist Bucky Gleason leads columnist Jerry Sullivan in calling for his head in print by a vote of 62-61. (I think that is only a slight exaggeration).

Heaven knows, the Sabres have given The News writers plenty of reasons to be negative. However, it wasn’t so long ago that the reporters covering the team played good cop-bad cop. There usually was one guy at the newspaper who wasn’t snarky and who might get close enough to team executives to know what was going on. It is hard to see who is playing the good cop now and getting any executive insight.

By declining to carry a season-ending press conference, the Sabres were able to avoid any possible negativity from the print media getting on TV. They got their message out with the help of TV and radio media questioners who are easy to control, rarely ask any of the tough questions and are softer than most Sabre forwards.

In that case, dropping the press conference and doing individual interviews was a win-win for the team executives. They got their message across on TV and ticked off the newspaper writers who have been understandably tougher on them.

Speaking of journalism outrage, Sports Illustrated was the first to report that the NFL isn’t allowing its own network or ESPN to show players on the phone before they are drafted tonight on the theory that ruins suspense. Sure, it ruins suspense. But the edict is another example of how the NFL controls the media, which should be allowed to do its job the way it wants. Of course, ESPN and the NFL Network are partners with the league and aren’t about to argue.

I’m not a big fan of mock drafts, which can be blown up with early trades. But over the years I’ve learned that NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock had a great batting average in the Tom Modrak era predicting who the Bills take. On Wednesday, Mayock had the Bills taking Boston College linebacker Luke Kuechly, just before Kansas City picks Alabama strong safety Mark Barron and three picks before Arizona takes Iowa offensive tackle Riley Reiff.

What doESPN hockey analyst Barry Melrose and Channel 4 meteorologist Pope Don Paul have in common? They both get paid well for being wrong. On “Pardon the Interruption” Wednesday afternoon, Melrose was certain than the Boston Bruins would beat the Washington Capitals in game 7 and he called host Tony Kornheiser “stupid” for suggesting otherwise. Of course, if we’ve learned anything this postseason it is that it is stupid to predict playoff hockey games. The Caps won in overtime.

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That isn’t a good thing because — as I’ve written for almost three decades — on-air diversity has never been a strong suit of Western New York stations.

I don’t know if it was a priority of Channel 4 executives to hire a minority, but it should have been. And it is encouraging that Channel 4’s newest reporter, Brittni Smallwood, is a minority. The Channel 4 release announcing her hiring understandably didn’t mention race but it also included a photograph of the 2008 college graduate who received a master’s degree from Syracuse University in 2009 and most recently worked at a Elmira television station. She starts at the station in May.

Brittni Smallwood

Until now, the reporters and anchors hired by Channel 4 that I used to refer to as the Kiddie Corps– have been exclusively been young and white – Nalina Shapiro, Anthony Congi, Bryan Shaw and Rachel Kingston.

This isn’t ideal since the station lost Mylous Hairston, Jericka Duncan and Tricia Cruz – all minorities — in the last two years.

Station executives often say it isn’t easy getting minoritiy reporters and anchors to come to Buffalo and it can be even harder some times to keep them if they don’t have Western New York ties because of the lure of bigger markets. Duncan’s move to Philadelphia and former Channel 2 meteorologist Chesley McNeil’s move to Atlanta validate that point.

Any WNYer who goes out of town usually will find much more diversity on the air than he or she sees at home.

The only minority on Channel 7 is Kendra Eaglin, who – like Hairston before her – is a weekend anchor.

The only minorities left on Channel 4′s on-air staff before Smallwood’s hiring were Al Vaughters and Victoria Hong.

Channel 2’s minorities include Claudine Ewing, Patrick Moussignac and Heather Ly.

That’s pretty much it for diversity on WNY television.

The verdict in the O.J. Simpson case, the coverage of the City Grill shooting and the recent controversy surrounding the Trayvon Martin case in Florida illustrate why it is important that newsrooms have significant minority representation — on the air and behind the scenes — so their different backgrounds and experiences are heard. Those three cases are among those that have taught us repeatedly that whites and minorities often see news events and news coverage differently and that it is a good idea to try and have a news staff that reflects the makeup of the community.

The hiring of Smallwood is a positive first step at Channel 4 in restoring the diversity it once had before the makeover began.

I’m a semi-regular viewer of “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart” and was eagerly awaiting the appearance of Erie County Legislator Kevin Hardwick on the show in a filmed bit Tuesday that fantasized what it would be like if the New York State Republican presidential primary mattered.

The piece by “Daily Show” regular Jason Jones was about as disappointing as all the Republican candidates for president. Hardwick wasn’t even identified as a Western New Yorker or a politician.

Worst of all, the feature wasn’t all that funny. The highlight – if there was one – came when CNN’s Soledad O’Brien primarily asked Hardwick questions in a panel discussion about which candidate’s views on social issues most appealed to the group.

It was nice to see a local politician fulfill his dream by being part of the critically-acclaimed show, but the idea for the bit was far better than the execution. If you missed the program, it is repeated today on Comedy Central at 9:30 a.m. and 6 p.m.  Or just watch the Hardwick bit  embedded here.   

pergament@msn.com

Jim Cantore: In Search of the Big One in Buffalo

Heaven help us if the snow ever comes to the populous areas of Western New York.

We won’t believe it after all the screw-ups by area weather forecasters this winter and spring.

You knew this blog was coming when the snow didn’t come Monday to the area where most of us live.

In fairness to meteorologists, the weather around here is about as predictable as the National Hockey League playoffs.

But that doesn’t excuse all the fear the TV people instill in WNYers for days as they look at their computer models and see the snow falling.

After a little while, it is easy to become cynical and wonder if all the predictions for days were designed to increase the daily news ratings that slipped during the February sweeps because there weren’t any weather disasters.

After all, the visibility of Channel 4’s Pope Don Paul, Channel 2’s Kevin O’Connell and Channel 7’s Aaron Mentkowski increases dramatically when driving visibility decreases and  TV stations practically live off bad weather.

When they are wrong and the white stuff doesn’t come, you just wish they would all go on camera and say they blew it and the newscasts wouldn’t spend so much time on weather.

Instead, Pope Don and the other forecasters blamed computers, the position of the sun and Darcy Regier and Lindy Ruff. OK, I was kidding about Regier and Ruff.

Even when they are wrong, the weather people still give us between five and seven minutes at the top of the news. At times, the attempt to validate the coverage becomes downright, unintentionally comical.

I had to laugh when Channel 2’s Michael Wooten was in West Seneca Monday night in the rain showing us where the snow came and went without leaving a trace.

I also laughed at the site of Channel 4 veteran reporter Rich Newberg doing a live shot in Wyoming County with an old school snow cap on. Being sent to Wyoming County for a snow report might be enough to make most veterans retire. That’s a job for newcomers and Channel 4 has plenty of them.

At 11 p.m., Channel 4 anchor Jacquie Walker led with the accurate line that we were saying all winter long “we’re going to pay” for the surprisingly nice winter and spring.

“And pay day came today,” added Don Postles.

Huh? Not at my house. I expected to wake up Monday morning in time to rev up my snow blower so I could get the car out of the driveway. Channel 2’s Andy Parker warned me as I got up that it was coming to my area. Instead, I think I have the weather people to thank for having the smoothest ride into the city to work than I have had all winter and spring. Practically no one was on the road Monday morning.

The snow did come, mostly to towns and areas that the majority of WNYers couldn’t find on a map. It was reminiscent of the coverage of all of those scary stories in the spring and fall about expected flooding that only impacts a few areas.

I feel for all the people in Salamanca, Scio, Silver Creek, Wellsville, Ischua, Cassadaga, Belfast and all the other places that made Channel 2’s weather crawl as the NBC Nightly News ran Monday night even though I don’t think I’ve ever been to any of them. (I might have but they’re not exactly tourist stops that I’d remember. That’s unless I got a speeding ticket there.)

But residents there know where they live and they know they will probably be hit if the snow flies. The rest of us in the populous areas don’t need to be scared senseless as often as we have been by the weather people this winter.

Good heavens, they even scared Jim Cantore of the Weather Channel to come here in anticipation of landing “the big one.” A reporter for one of the local channels (I think it was Anthony Congi of Channel 4) interviewed Cantore, who seemed disappointed that the white stuff didn’t arrive as much as expected.

He said covering a “big one” in Buffalo would be like going to a New York Yankees- Boston Red Sox game. “You have to do that once in your life,” said Cantore.

Soon afterwards, Cantore landed on the NBC Nightly News, doing a live shot from Orchard Park, which he said was about 12 miles south of Buffalo.

There wasn’t that much snow in OP so Cantore proceeded to report on all the snow in Southwest Pennsylvania. You wish he would have told viewers how many miles that was from Buffalo.

If you’re a WNYer who has a sense of humor about such things, it was pretty funny that a network guy was sent here to report about snow in another state. After Cantore finished his report from OP, anchor Brian Willliams added “unbelievable scene there.”

The only thing that was unbelievable was that NBC tried to pass off Buffalo as living up to its snowy image. But, hey, that’s as predictable as the weather people and their computers getting it wrong this winter.

Jim Heaney, the former award-winning Buffalo News investigative reporter who has started up a new website, Investigative Post, has made a deal with Channel 2 to provide investigative reports there and weekly interviews. He already has made content deals with Artvoice and local public radio, and also may contribute pieces to The News. You can read more about Heaney in my upcoming Buffalo Spree profile of him.

pergament@msn.com