I’m not so sure George Lopez’s talk show, “Lopez Tonight,” ever had a chance once it was forced to move to midnight to accommodate Conan O’Brien. “Lopez Tonight” was axed yesterday by TBS, which didn’t waste any time with its “don’t let the door hit you on the way out” attitude toward Lopez (his last original show airs tonight at midnight — see our story in today’s TV section).
“Lopez Tonight,” which premiered in November 2010, averaged 981,000 viewers in its first season, when it aired at 11 p.m. Once it moved to midnight last fall, viewership dropped to 600,000. That slide was also reflected in the all-important adults 18-49 demo –where “Lopez Tonight” fell from 600,000 viewers at 11 p.m. to 400,000 viewers at midnight.
Don’t shed any tears for Lopez, though; he made a mint on his ABC series, “George Lopez,” which continues to air (successfully) in syndication.
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Two days ago, I noted in this column how creeped-out I am by the guy who sings on that Kars4Kids radio ad — the one you’ve heard relentlessly for the past decade and (like me) probably jumped to change the station every time you heard the ad’s opening bars. I’m sorry, but there’s just something inherently disturbing about that guy’s voice — and the fact he’s singing with a young child.
Well, apparently I’m not alone, and after hearing from people and reading blogosphere complaints about the ad — and, yes, even some praise — the Kars4Kids folks have remixed the jingle with a more-hard-rock edge (most of it was recorded at Brooklyn’s SkyLine Music, NYC.) And they’re offering you the chance to vote for your favorite — old jingle versus new — on kars4kids.org/song.
“It’s partially because of the complaints,” says Kars4Kids spokesman Steven Weldler, who e-mailed me after reading my original column item. “We just felt it was time to freshen [the jingle] up. It’s been playing for a long time.
“We’re not rushing to change it,” he says of the jingle. “It’s more like an experiment. We’ll throw [the new version] into the mix and see if it’s successful. If it is, there’s no reason why it couldn’t replace the [old version].”
The new version, at least in my opinion, is slightly better than the old one — but why do they insist (again) on adding a male adult voice to sing along with the kid?
Discuss amongst yourselves.
Last, but not least:
* Ex-History exec Chris Moseley has been named senior VP of product management and brand oversight for the Rockettes at MSG Entertainment . . . Singer/songwriter Kim DiVine will be at Rockwood Music Hall (196 Allen St.) next Thursday, Aug. 18 (7 p.m.). Her single, “Perfect Kind of Love,” was featured on The WB’s “One Tree Hill” . . . Retired US Navy Capt. Kevin Wensing has joined The Gary Sinise Foundation as strategic director. Run by “CSI: NY” star Gary Sinise, the foundation honors the country’s defenders, veterans, first responders and their families.
Contact The Starr Report: mstarr@nypost.com.