Everything was new to Mike Tirico when he walked past the famed pagoda that dominates the front stretch at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, assumed his broadcast perch high above pit lane and proceeded to host his first Indy 500. Now, all that was new has given way to unprecedented. One year...
Union Files Complaint Against NBC, 'America's Got Talent'
LOS ANGELES — Gabrielle Union filed a complaint Thursday with the state of California against NBC and the producers of “America’s Got Talent," the latest move in a fight over her allegations that she was fired for objecting to an on-set environment that tolerated racism. The complaint filed with the...
NBC, Union Investigate ‘America’s Got Talent’ Racism Report
LOS ANGELES — NBC and the guild that represents television performers said they are investigating Gabrielle Union's allegation that she was fired as a judge on “America’s Got Talent” because she complained of racism and other on-set issues. The Screen Actors Guild‐American Federation of Television and Radio Artists issued a...
Wife and Son of 'Tarzan' Actor Ron Ely Are Killed
SANTA BARBARA — "Tarzan" actor Ron Ely's wife was stabbed to death in their California home by their 30-year-old son, who was then shot and killed by sheriff's deputies, authorities said Wednesday. Deputies summoned to the home by a 911 call found Valerie Lundeen Ely, 62, dead with multiple stab...
TV Networks Beefing Up Staff for 2020 Presidential Election
NEW YORK — The competitive chiefs of ABC, CBS and NBC News found something to agree on Thursday: Each is hiring more staff to cover the 2020 presidential election than they have for any other election. That's partly due to growing digital operations at the three broadcast news organizations, as...
Kentucky Derby Evolves From 90 Minutes to 5 Hours for NBC
When Rob Hyland worked his first Kentucky Derby for NBC in 2001, it was a 90-minute show with a handful reporters and only one race — the Derby — was aired. Hyland, the coordinating producer of NBC's horse racing coverage, now is at the helm of 15 hours of coverage...
Brokaw Says He Feels Terrible About Commentary Offending Hispanics
NEW YORK — NBC's Tom Brokaw says he feels terrible that his comments on "Meet the Press" Sunday that Hispanics should work harder at assimilation "offended some members of that proud culture." The former "NBC Nightly News" anchor tweeted in response to a social media backlash to what he had...
Call Him Judge Jerry: Springer Gets Court Show
NEW YORK — Hopefully there won't be any chairs in this courtroom. Talk show host Jerry Springer is getting a new TV role as "Judge Jerry," where he'll hear testimony and render verdicts before a studio audience. NBC Universal Television Distribution announced the half-hour court program Monday that will debut...
Fox, NBC and Facebook Turn Down Trump Ad Deemed Racist
NEW YORK — NBC, Fox News Channel and Facebook all said Monday they will stop airing President Donald Trump's campaign advertisement (shown below) that featured an immigrant convicted of killing two police officers. CNN had rejected the same ad, declaring it racist. Asked before leaving for campaign rallies if he...
Megyn Kelly Remains Absent From Show, NBC Future in Doubt
NEW YORK — Megyn Kelly remains absent from her NBC morning show while the company acknowledged on the "Today" show that her future with the network is in doubt. A report Friday on the "Today" show cited a source familiar with the situation as saying NBC News and Kelly are...