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We’ve received a lot of comments over our decision to move The McLaughlin Group to a later time. Most folks are disappointed. While we’re not in the business to disappoint our viewers,  sometimes changes have to be made.

As more and more TV stations cut back on the amount of local programs they broadcast, CET works hard to increase the number of local programs and fulfill our mission to maintain a strong connection with our community. We are Greater Cincinnati’s public broadcaster and much more, and this is why we’re committed to bringing high quality local programming to our viewers – Amy’s Table, Focus, and now, Fifth Third Business Beat.

In order to include Fifth Third Business Beat, a change had to be made to our lineup with The McLaughlin Group moving to 11pm. The 7:30 time slot, following The Nightly Business Report, was the most logical place for this local business program.

We know The McLaughlin Group has a very dedicated following. It’s a very popular program. That’s why we chose to keep it on our air. We understand viewer’s disappointment with this schedule change but we hope our commitment to local television will be appreciated.

In addition to being seen Friday nights at 11PM on CET, The McLaughlin Group can also be seen on the CET PBS World channel: Sunday evenings at 8:30PM; Monday mornings at 12:30AM and 4:30AM; and Wednesday mornings at 7:30AM.

CET PBS World is available over the air on digital channel 34.2, on Time Warner Cable channel 950 and Insight of Northern Kentucky channel 219.

The McLaughlin Group’s move to 11PM doesn’t diminish the significance of this program which is why we kept it as part of our Friday evening public affairs programming block. While The McLaughlin Group seems like a casualty, I should stress that it will still be available on CET and on CET PBS World. It’s not disappearing from CET’s schedule completely.

-Brian

I am insane.

 It’s Christmas Eve and I’m in an empty building (except for our wonderful engineering staff) working. Call it a Puritan work ethic, call it catching up on projects but, alas, I’m here.

 However, I don’t feel I should suffer alone. With some help from the Internet, I dug up an old Christmas treat that was a special part of my childhood: Christmas Eve on Sesame Street! The first time I saw this was in 1978 right here on CET (we called it WCET back then… I often wonder whatever became of that old W…) and it was probably the coolest thing I’d ever seen. For one thing, right off the top you see Bert, Ernie, the Count, Oscar the Grouch and Cookie Monster ICE SKATING!

Yes, real live Muppet ice skating. No strings. Full size. Incredible! Sure these are just folks in Sesame Street characters costumes but it made me hop for joy when I first saw it. Yes, I was a geek even back then.

Another reason it’s cool is because we get to see some forgotten friends. Yah, the old gang is there: Big Bird, Gordon, Susan, Bob and the rest. But we also see forgotten friends Will Lee as Mr. Hooper and Northern Calloway as David.

Thirdly, Kermit the Frog pops up. It’s easy to forget what with the program’s 38 year history but Kermit was quite a fixture on the street.

Lastly, this special was the first time I heard José Feliciano’s Feliz Navidad. I hear that song and, to this day, the first thing that pops in my mind is Big Bird on ice skates.

 Through the magic of YouTube, I’m able to share this little nugget of my childhood Christmas:

 Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7

Merry Christmas!

-Brian