Chavez Bans Simpsons, Brings in Baywatch Babes

Hands down, 1989: 11Points blog

(NEWSER) - It's a wonder Americans got anything done in 1989 because it was clearly the best year in TV history, observes Sam Greenspan at his 11Points blog . We met Homer, Kramer, and even Urkel. He runs down the list of notable premieres that year:

1. The Simpsons: Simply put, the "best show ever."
2. Seinfeld: It's still interesting today, and the jokes stand up, making it the "best traditional sitcom ever."

Venezuelan president takes to the airwaves for 10th anniversary

(NEWSER) - Hugo Chávez is on the air for the first part of his four-day talk show marathon, celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Venezuelan president's rambling television broadcast. As the BBC reports, today's Alo Presidente got under way in an electrical plant in the country's west, where Chávez regaled supporters with his opinions on the global economic crisis, corruption, and energy production. More»

The fun just won't stop on all-singing, all-firing extravaganza

(NEWSER) - That wacky Hugo Chavez is celebrating the 10th anniversary of his weekly talkshow, Alo Presidente, by taking to the airwaves—for four solid days, the Guardian reports. Starting today, the unscripted show will be in segments "like a soap opera," Chavez promises. Viewers expect the Venezuelan president's usual mix of singing, salty jokes, ramblings about Latin American history, and hiring and firing of government officials. Not everyone's warming up their remote—"Four days of circus," bemoans a major newspaper. More»

Demonstrators protest Chavez, shutdown

(NEWSER) - An anti-establishment TV station taken off the air by Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez has found a new way to reach viewers: YouTube. A reduced staff produces and uploads three hour-long newscasts a day for Radio Caracas Television, which stopped broadcasting Sunday. The shutdown of RCTV, which was replaced with a state-run station, sparked protests in the streets of Caracas. More»

Fox renews show for two more seasons after contract dispute

(NEWSER) - The Simpsons will live to a quarter-century: Fox TV announced yesterday it would renew the show for two more seasons after a louder-than-usual contract fight with the actors who provide the voices, reports Entertainment Weekly . That means Homer and crew will be around for a record 24th and 25th seasons. No word on specifics, but the Hollywood Reporter says the actors agreed to a 30% cut in pay per episode, to a mere $300,000 or so. That would still get them nearly $7 million a season. More»