Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Pegasus News content partner interview: Uncle Barky’s Bytes

By Alex Bentley

Content partner Uncle Barky's Bytes is the brainchild of former Dallas Morning News TV critic, Ed Bark. He left the paper back in 2006, started his site soon thereafter, and less than a month later became the first ever content partner of the fledgling Pegasus News. We put up Bark's daily local Nielsen ratings recaps, but he covers much, much more on his site, including new and returning show reviews, recaps of American Idol, and commentary on the various goings-on of the local news stations. If the following interview doesn't sate your hunger for knowledge about Ed Bark, you can also read a piece Alexandra Merriman, an SMU journalism student, did on Bark for us last year.

Homepage of Uncle Barky's Bytes

Pegasus News: You used to be the TV critic for the Dallas Morning News – why did you decide to continue critiquing TV on your own time?

Bark: That's a very long story, which is condensed in the "Why I'm Here" page on unclebarky.com. Basically, the paper had banned critiquing of local TV news coverage since early 2000. So I took an offered buyout at the time and decided to do it on my own rather than continue bitching about it to no avail.

Pegasus News: You started your site back in 2006 – has the experience of self-publishing critiques gone as you had hoped?

Bark: It's been an adventure for a Web site virgin. But it now seems like second-hand. We had technical problems in the early going, most of them of my own making. But it's been satisfying being an independent agent trying to cover both local and national TV with an independent mind.

Pegasus News: What do you hope readers get out of your blog?

Bark: I hope they'll have most if not all of their questions answered about what's going on in local television news, both from a content standpoint and all of the various comings and goings. This also is a place where you can read homegrown reviews of national TV programming. Experienced critics are dropping like flies as downsizing continues and many newspapers face extinction. I'm only once voice, but at least I'm still in there punching.

Pegasus News: How do you possibly keep up with so much television, especially when it comes to local newscasts that are on at the same time?

Bark: Obviously I don't see everything. But a DVR helps a lot, and I can record the delayed broadcasts of some late night newscasts when necessary. You can't keep up with everything. But readers of unclebarky.com have proven to be great sources of information. So I can always check out things they bring to my attention. Not perfect, but the best one person can do.

Pegasus News: What is your opinion of TV in general nowadays -- better, worse, or about the same as it used to be?

Bark: There's a lot more of it, so it's both better and worse. Most reality TV is swill. But on the other hand, cable networks such as HBO, TNT, FX and AMC are producing high-quality scripted series that pick up much of the slack. AMC got into original series programming just a couple of years ago, but Mad Men and Breaking Bad are great ways to start. Increasingly, the best dramas are landing on cable, with the broadcast networks hard-pressed to keep up. Then again, ABC has Lost, Fox has House and NBC has 30 Rock and The Office. But in the future, free broadcast networks likely won't be able to keep up with their cable counterparts, which make money from both commercials and subscriber fees.

Pegasus News: What one show do you most recommend and what should we stay away from at all costs?

Bark: My favorite series at the moment are Lost, Damages and Breaking Bad. Plus I'll admit an addiction to American Idol. Meanwhile, stay away from Celebrity Apprentice at all costs. But I could name many, many more.

Pegasus News: Is writing UncleBarky.com your full-time job now or do you have some irons in other fires?

Bark: I do some freelancing, but unclebarky.com by far is my main focus.

Pegasus News: You did a series of Uncle Barky shows that we taped and put on our site – which of those was your favorite? And is there any chance of a revival of the show, even for a one-time return engagement?

Bark: I guess my favorite was the Dale Hansen/Pete Delkus show, but all seven of them had their moments. Don't know if there'll be a revival, especially in these tough economic times. The best part of doing the shows was making charitable donations in the guests' names. That's not possible at the moment, but maybe someday we could do another one or two. Someone would have to step up to the plate, though, as the Stratos Greek Taverna did.

Pegasus News: You were one of the first content partners to join Pegasus – why did you decide to do so?

Bark: Basically, I was asked, and said OK. And I like Mike Orren.

Pegasus News: What do you see as the future of your blog?

I hope to do it for another four or five years, and then for the most part fade away as planned. Don't want to stay too long at the party. This is lots of work, believe it or not.

Related stories

• This week’s Jack E. Jett Show features dreams of Jeannie, predictions of world’s end (Aug. 7, 2009)
• Pegasus News week in view: Carrier pigeon edition (March 5, 2009)

See more stories in:

• Media > Television

Comments

Travis Bush Verified

"My favorite series at the moment are Lost, Damages and Breaking Bad. Plus I'll admit an addiction to American Idol. Meanwhile, stay away from Celebrity Apprentice at all costs. But I could name many, many more."

Except for Breaking bad, the rest of those are horrid shows. Barky, did you forget to take your distemper shots or sumpin?

8 months ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

Pavel Lishin Verified

Even Breaking Bad wasn't as entertaining as I'd hoped. If it weren't for Bryan Cranston, I doubt I'd have stuck around past the second episode.

8 months ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )