• It's snow, people. Relax.
• Evil corporate empire buys another evil corporate empire. No plans to charge for , so that's good.
• The state of Virginia is launching a probe into a shady business run by the partycrashing Salahis.

NBC has renewed the locally-filmed ). [BuddyTV] more ›

• Fannie and Freddie to testify.
• Come on, just say it. Let's practice: Nation. National. Nationalize. Nationalization!
• Tribune Co is the latest to file for bankruptcy.

Obama says to buckle up, economic ride going to get bumpier. Rove to name "Bush-haters" in new book. Ostensibly, that book will be very, very long. Iran doesn't like Satan-worshippy clothes, and will detain those who do. OJ Simpson sentenced to jail. Cate Blanchett gets her star. Scenes from Battlestar Galactica's final episodes all up on the web. David Gregory meets the press. more ›

• Revelation for rich people: not having money makes marriage hard!
• Now, this just doesn't seem right.
• As many as 4 million people may pack the National Mall for Obama's inauguration.

Now NBC fans on Time Warner can watch the election results next week, and the season premiere of 30 Rock tomorrow night, on KXAN. KXAN announced earlier this morning through Twitter that the channel was once again available to Time Warner cable subscribers. So no more Tuesday lunch dates with Chuck via hulu, and no more needing to spend every Thursday night at the Alamo because otherwise you couldn't see the funniest comedy on TV that night (although the season premiere for 30 Rock was posted a week early on the internet). Phew. [KXAN on Twitter] more ›

Today we're presenting our interview with Jeff Simmermon, Director of Digital Communications for Time Warner Cable, in the hopes of providing both perspectives on this ongoing—and very public—dispute. more ›

Local NBC affiliate KXAN announced today that it may be taken off of Time Warner Cable's broadcast service in early October if current contract re-negotiations don't work out. The station, which has been around since the 1960s, is part of parent company LIN TV, which owns local stations around the country. more ›

In an interview with Fresh Air's David Bianculli, Friday Night Lights star Kyle Chandler confirmed that a third season of the Austin-filmed show is on. more ›

It's not official yet, but yesterday evening Nikke Finke reported on her blog that NBC is making a deal with DirecTV to keep airing critically-acclaimed and locally-filmed Friday Night Lights. more ›

The Mohawk presents a solid double bill of local pop this evening. The Lemurs have been writing new material over the last few months and a handful of those songs will be included in their set tonight. The band enjoyed a stellar 2007 -- highlights included licensing their music to NBC show Las Vegas (as well as an Australian indie flick called Newcastle) and touring with Canadian act Stars. This past Sunday, ME Television telecast a 2nd ME Live! featuring The Lemurs' shimmering melodies in concert at a recent La Zona Rosa gig. more ›

CNN today announced that Campbell Brown, NBC News' White House correspondent during President George W. Bush's first term and host of a new prime-time news program that's set to debut this month, will anchor next Thursday's debate. CNN chief national correspondent John King and Univision anchor Jorge Ramos will serve as panelists asking questions of the candidates during the debate. more ›

"Unfortunately, no one watches it": NBC's head entertainment honcho seems pessimistic about the chances of a third season of Austin-filmed Friday Night Lights. KLRU's Tom Spencer to head up Austin Area Interreligious Ministries. All of the City's diesel fleet will soon run on bio-diesel. 17-year-old charged with two counts of sexual assault on the Texas State campus. more ›

Joe Rogan is intimidating; not merely physically, but as an evangelist for stand-up comedy as a means of creative expression—as an art form. Rogan famously accused Carlos Mencia of stealing other comics’ material in an exchange that highlighted not just his physical stature but his wit and his dedication to the craft. Having been on the cast of NewsRadio, Rogan certainly has the credentials to back his convictions. We had a chit-chat with him earlier this week, in anticipation of his performance at the Cap City Comedy Club on December 30th and 31st. more ›

Now in its sixth week, the Writers Guild of America strike is still going strong. And despite Alec Baldwin's hilarious/bizarre advice and Michael Eisner's name-calling, WGA members show few signs of giving in any time soon. Though the effects of the strike are most evident in places like Los Angeles and New York City, you may be surprised to learn that there are around 100 WGA members living here in Austin. more ›

Logo from Austin Jewish Book Fair Keynote Lecture: "Iraq, Al Qaeda, and the Future of Israel" with Jeffrey Goldberg and Lawrence WrightSunday, November 11Jewish Community Association of Austin (7300 Hart Lane)7:30pm, $12 Gen Ad, $10 Students/Seniors/JCC Members[info] | [tickets] Austin Graphics and Comics Night with Paul Benjamin and Terry and Patty LaBanThursday, November 8Barnes and Noble Westlake (701 S. Capital of Texas)7:30pm, Free[info]Less than four days are left in the 2007 Austin Jewish Book Fair,... more ›

Flood waters threaten thousands in southern Mexico. Hurricane Noel will bring heavy rainfall to the East Coast. US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice begs U.S. Diplomats to serve overseas. NASA plans a risky spacewalk to save a ripped solar wing at the international space station. Hollywood writers are set to declare a strike sometime today. Get ready for a reality television blitz! NBC Anchor Brian Williams is hosting SNL this week. The reunion show... more ›

As our friend The M.O. reported, Ghostland Observatory are set to perform on Late Night with Conan O'Brien tomorrow evening. It will be their first nationally televised performance, and they're expected to play a tune from delete.delete.i.eat.meat.... GLO recently recorded a set for Austin City Limits, and we can expect that episode to air on KLRU sometime in December. Known for their energy-packed live sets, GLO are wrapping up a very exciting year that saw... more ›

This week, Phillyist saw the waters of a landmark fountain run red for a Showtime marketing stunt, the Phils pull ahead, and some serious nostalgia. They also got a chance to review an awesome tribute album, reminded folks to see the King, and appreciated their beautiful skyline. Chicagoist knows what it's like to like the Cubs. But naming your kid Wrigley Fields? At least they can breathe a little easier now that Grossman's out and... more ›

Have you been missing out on NBC's Friday Night Lights? Did last season's Wednesday night showing time not gel with your schedule? Well, we're going to give you five reasons why you should make time to watch this award-winning, but low rated, show. 1. The show is filmed in Austin. Local landmarks show up on the show, from EZ's in the opening credits to the Dairy Queen on Manor (where Matt works) to Brackenridge Hospital... more ›

NBC's sweaty teen pigskin drama Friday Night Lights, now shooting in Austin, is still casting extras. And they made a MySpace page about it! Now, interested young hopefuls eager to sample the Dionysian craft-service spoils of the new Texas film incentives plan may simply hit up FNL on MySpace for instructions and call times. They're casting football players, cheerleaders, teachers and students, and seeking all ages and ethnicities. However, their MySpace page does hold one... more ›

Five local personalities get together to tell The Sickest F***ing Stories I Ever Heard over a game of Texas Hold 'Em 101x hosts a Guitar Hero happy hour at Stubb's Car Stereo (Wars) celebrate the release of their first album, The Bandit—think Burt Reynolds circa 1977—at Beauty Bar, with a little help from Single Frame, White Denim, and NYC DJs Finger on the Pulse Peter Bean, founder of BurntOrangeNation.com, and Chip Brown, a sportswriter... more ›

When it comes to U.S. Presidents, few people know more than Michael Beschloss, NBC News' official Presidential Historian. His best-selling books have covered all things executive and his latest, Presidential Courage: Brave Leaders and How They Changed America, 1789-1989, examines several moments within 200 years of American history when Presidents had to seriously represent, keeping it realer than real for the sake of the nation and the world. On Monday, June 11th, the LBJ Future... more ›

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It's not a season renewal, but NBC has asked for six new scripts for the locally-filmed drama. This is the second item of good news for the show in recent days; last week the show was awarded a prestigious Peabody Award for being the only current television series "grounded in contemporary American reality". If Friday Night Lights is renewed, the location of the filming is still up in the air; it could move away... more ›

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Explosions in the Sky's soaring melodies and tight instrumental flair burst into Emo's last night, wowing the sold out crowd. Always a local favorite, the band has been garnering more and more accolades through touring and prominent placement on the soundtrack of primetime NBC television series Friday Night Lights, which is filmed here in Austin (at least for now). The band's sound was tight and at times as explosive as the fireworks that gave... more ›

It looks like NBC might move the locally-filmed drama Friday Night Lights out of Austin to save money. It might be possible to use rural east New Mexico (we're thinking the Las Cruces area), but Louisiana for West Texas? Nah. Such a move is being forced on the show to save $100,000 an episode, and the network is considering these states. The city and Texas state lawmakers (even Gov. Perry) are trying to provide enough... more ›

Austin's Explosions In The Sky play powerful instrumental indie-rock that has been compared to Mogwai and Sigur Ros and are widely lauded by critics. Their live shows have become so popular that their Emo's show in March has been sold out for weeks, and multiple-night runs are now needed in cities like New York and Toronto. After a three-plus year wait, EITS's new album All Of A Sudden, I Miss Everyone arrives on Tuesday.... more ›

Austinist reader Christien Bings alerted us to a Myspace bulletin posted by local band Lil' Cap'n Travis, who'll be making an appearance in an upcoming episode of Friday Night Lights. They're currently looking for a handful of paid extras to serve as "Austin Club Goers": The Lil' Cap'n Travis Band will be performing for a scene in the NBC television series, Friday Night Lights on Friday, February 9, 2007. We are looking for fans of... more ›