STICKY DOORKNOBS

Black Gold: Officially a hit ...

... what with the Chicago Tribune weighing in.

'BlackGold' ratings show TruTV has a huge hit

A source close to the 'BlackGold' syndicated reality series, about the West Texas oil patch and the roughnecks who run it, told me last night that last Wednesday's premiere of the program was the highest rated single show in the 17-year history of Court TV/TruTV. Network execs were reportedly hoping for 900,000 viewers. What they recorded was 1.7 million viewers.

The eight-week miniseries continues Wednesday at 9 p.m. on TruTV.

PROGRAMMING UPDATE: An updated TNT schedule show that the second episode, "Black Gold 102," will air to basic cable subscribers Sunday at 5:30 p.m.

'BlackGold': The feedback begins to surface

Reviews are beginning to come in on the new miniseries BlackGold, the show about a lot of people in West Texas.

This from a friend who makes a decent wage in the oil bidness:

Watched the first two episodes this week and here’s my critique.  First off, I have never worked on a rig and have no intention to do so.  However, having worked for three companies that had a drilling subsidiary, I have some insight.

Overall, the mechanical and personality aspects of the crews were accurate.  It’s a dirty, stinkin’ job but somebody has to do it and to do it you have to have a mentality and physicality to do it.  The language was right on.  Following the one crew to the bar was probably pretty accurate as it’s not uncommon to have a tour show up drunk and hung over.  That’s how accidents happen and people get killed.  Drugs were also a problem in the past and I’m not sure anymore if they screen as diligently as they used to when things weren’t so busy.  FYI those are usually 12-hour shifts they run with two or three workers overlapping.  Or at least they used to.  They may not now with the help situation.  The driller that got run off probably walked across the field to the nearest rig and got a job.

As to the company side of it. The storyline of racing the other two rigs is pretty BS.  They make it sound like the first one to 10,000 feet finds a big lake of oil and they just stick their straw in and deplete it. Those wells being drilled are probably on 160 acre spacing, with room for two wells or more.  The oil is in the pores of the rock and it takes a massive fracture stimulation to break apart the formation.  You just don’t put a sponge in their and soak it up.  As for the Viking rig with this being its virgin outing, that happens more often than not with problems on a first run.  Sort of like a new car, you gotta get the rattles tightened down.  Even refurbished rigs 20 years old that get new draw works or a derrick, there’s going to be problems.

And one thing they sort of passed over was the safety aspect.  The companies that contract the drilling services are, or were, pretty hamstrung as to having a safe environment as required by their carriers.  When someone gets hurt, for example, on a Big Dog rig, the rig owner gets sued, the oil company gets sued, the contracting company gets sued, the pipe supplier gets sued, the mud company gets sued, etc. etc.  Therefore the only shield a company can have is a good safety program in place.  Of course, focusing on that aspect takes away the rough and tumble atmosphere.

I’ll watch again.  Its very interesting to try to view it as if you’re on the outside.  Its much better quality than that train wreck CBS7 did last year, although the voice over and video was very similar.

And Jeff at Archeaotexture had a few thoughts on the premiere of BlackGold as well.

Next run date, Episode 2: Wednesday, June 25, at 9 p.m. on TruTV. It does not appear that TNT will rebroadcast the next episode, according to its online schedule of programming.

 

'BlackGold' spoiler alert: psst .... Mike LaMonica ain't what TV would have you believe

This will come as no surprise to anyone in or out of the oil business who knows Mike LaMonica, but the man portrayed on TruTV's new miniseries "BlackGold" ain't nearly as mean and nasty and surly as the TV folks probably hoped he'd be.

"BlackGold," an eight-episode reality miniseries focusing on roughnecks on three wells just south of Odessa, starts tonight on TruTV, the former CourtTV, with airings of the first two episodes beginning at 9 p.m., our time. The objective is that the workers on one of the rigs be the first rig team to drill 2-miles down.

After having previewed the first two episodes a couple of weeks ago, I found the program to be educational and entertaining. I know little or nothing about what it takes to retrieve oil from underfoot, and "BlackGold" shed light on just how difficult a task it is, what all goes into it, and the kind of people who are routinely assigned to do it. The roughnecks, drillers, tool pushers, etc., on the show are home-grown talent. They are far from actors, which made the whole program even more believable.

The first two episodes reveal a wide range of plotlines from the troubled young father-to-be Peanut who fails to show up for work on time after a night of carousing when he learns he's gonna be a daddy. Other storylines deal with another hand who over-celebrates his 30th birthday and is run off the rig for his behavior and for missing a shift.

The foremen are difficult men to work for, though one treats his men noticeably better than the others, once even leaving the rig to fetch dinner one night for his crew during a long shift. He gets in trouble for his actions by his supervisor, but he is also rewarded by his men with their strong loyalty.

"BlackGold" has the potential to portray West Texans as a bunch of trash-talking, brash-walking, beer-drinking, grease monkeys (and little else) 24/7 and there is a certain risk that we may come off as not looking like the longest sucker rods in the batch. I only hope I'm wrong. After all, that feeling is based on having seen only the first two episodes. Stay tuned.

The roughnecks in the show will hopefully come off looking more like the hard-working, life-loving people they are, and hopefully Hollywood will paint us using the right strokes and not the ones that are all too often  used to fall back on. It may be the biggest danger of the entire eight-episode program: the impression people are left with about who we really are out here.

I will point out that the high point in the first two episodes comes when a worker at a rig that has malfunctioned notices their Texas flag is hanging upside down. "There's your problem," he says, and proceeds to climb the flag pole and re-hang the Lone Star properly. It is handled well by the show's producers which hopefully serves as a sign that future episodes will continue to look favorably on Texas and its working class.

Another scene paints a not-so-great picture. When the workers on one rig go out for some beer and target practice, the rig foreman, holding a can of brew, looks into the camera, and says, "Beer, guns and destruction. Only in Texas."

Not just real flattering.

Mike, in the picture above, is a partner with ExL Petroleum. He's made and spent millions in the business and is a huge success professionally. He is also one of the finest, most decent people I know. We've been friends for over a decade and shared a room at a recent spiritual retreat. He has counseled my family and helped us in our darkest hours. He is, in many ways, my spiritual director; his beautiful wife Maddie has been my daughter's confirmation sponsor, and he is one of the finest homilists of the Gospel I have ever heard. (He told me recently he cringes when he hears the bleeps and beeps in "BlackGold" and insists that his men "don't talk that way around me.")

One of the high points in the first two hours is when Mike goes dove hunting with friend and fellow Midlander Rooster McConaughey, brother of the famous Texan, Matthew. Mike blows through boxes of shells and never downs a dove, and can be heard laughing his infectious, trademark belly laugh. He might be able to shoot something in a video game, but take out a real one? Not a chance.

"I never kill anything I'm not gonna eat," he joked recently. My wife told me Mike missed the doves because they are symbolic of the Holy Spirit and as such, he'd never come close to hurting one.

When I saw the sinister squint in the promotional photo above, all I could think of was how my friend probably just had something in his eye. I doubt he's ever looked menacingly at anyone.

And the hat ... that's, in all likelihood, my favorite story here. I don't know that I've ever seen Mike wear a cowboy hat. Or any hat for that matter. I asked him if the show's producers made him wear it and he said it was their preference that he go with the 10-gallon look. Gotta look like the part, the menacing oil tycoon ala Daniel Day Lewis in "There Will Be Blood" even if in real reality, Mike is as gracious, as generous and as compassionate as human beings come. What you likely won't learn in the show is that away from the office, he is a dedicated servant of God and a deacon in the Catholic Church. For many who make it through the rigors of three-years of deacon formation, that volunteer position can often more resemble fulltime work.

Back to the hat: Mike told me he agreed to wear it on one condition: that whatever cowboy hat he wore, it would bear the logo of his son Jonah's metal arts company, Palladium Arts.

That's just like Mike LaMonica: Always looking out for someone else.

Tim Russert: Simply the best

Tim Russert wasn't one of the best at what he did on TV. He was the very best. There were no better. Spending hours on research, he brought clarity to the numbers and the politics and showed no favoritism.  If they are serious about bringing integrity to a troubled profession, any kid in j-school, print or television, should strive to be like Russert. Not having him during the upcoming general election season is difficult to imagine.

What made him the quality individual he was is that his passion for politics and journalism was equaled by his love for family and his Christian Catholicism. And he never wavered and he never hesitated to display that love of God and family for the world to see. His "Big Russ and Me" memoir is a quality read for anyone who wants to know how one man grew from a fine son into a caring and loving father.

It was always a pleasure to see that huge smile of his before he would launch into the meat of whatever his subject was that day. He will be very missed by anyone who enjoys political journalism.

Russert represented what there are so few of nowadays: television political journalists who are both tough and fair.

Nearly famous almost

TruTV is apparently fairly serious in promoting its new "BlackGold" miniseries, which starts Wednesday and runs for eight consecutive weeks at 9 p.m. The "reality show" tells the story of roughnecks on three competing wells south of Odessa, each aiming to be the first to drill down two miles and strike it rich.

Mike LaMonica, ExL Petroleum LP. cheerspartner and somewhat prominently featured in the miniseries, will travel to New York for extensive promotional appearances. And then there's the ad at running this week on Page 3 of the most recent edition of Sports Illustrated, I would think some prime real estate in the magazine industry.

Plus, next week, it's not the Professional Bull Riders stopping in Andrews, but the BlackGold Professional Bull Riders.

Looks like we're gonna be famous again.
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We're about to be inundated with preseason football publications. You might've read in the Reporter-Telegram sports section that Dave Campbell's Texas Football is picking Midland High 3rd and Midland Lee 4th in the upcoming inaugural season of the Super District, including teams from Amarillo and Lubbock as well as the usuals in Odessa and Midland. ... Athlon's Pro Football has the Chargers over the Cowboys in the Super Bowl. The Sporting News Football Yearbook has the Cowboys over the Chargers in the Big One.
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Pappy's Barbeque in Monahans was listed this month as one of the Top 50 barbeque places in the state in the most recent edition of Texas Monthly. Pappy's was started, and then sold, by a former Midlander who had worked as an engineer at Texaco.
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Texas Highways' July 2008 issue, on newsstands now, has a cover article about BIg Spring and its giant wind turbines.

Idol Thoughts with Teri Carter: ... and it all comes down to tonight

One thing is for certain about the outcome of American Idol-Season 7....David will win!  It is well documented that I am not a David Cook fan and last night he just didn't have the game face on.  No matter the outcome tonight.....David A won the night....no doubt about it.

 

Round One-Clive Davis pick
   David C-"I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For"  A fairly typical performance for him.  This is his zone.  If you love him, you loved this song.  
   David A-"Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me"  WOW.  Better than Elton John.  He is seriously good tonight!

Round one goes to David A.

 

Round Two-Songwriters' competition pick

   David C-"Dream Big"  It wasn't a bad song or performance, just "not a winning moment" as Simon said.

   David A - "In This Moment"  Ballad Boy is back.  It was good, but not the big moment I was hoping for.  But, another song awaits.

Round two is a tie.

 

Round Three - Contestant's choice

   David C - "The World I Know"  Why did he choose this song?  I thought he would be rocking it out his last time on stage.  Not good, dude.

   David A - "Imagine"  Oh, what clever choice.  Could be the best performance of Season 7.  Very smart. 

Round three.....well, hello........ David A!!

Tonight we get to re-live all the misery and magic that began waaaay back in January.  Many thanks to Jimmy Patterson for allowing me to join the blogosphere!  It's been a lot of fun!

I think we actually will have a bit of drama tonight.....ya think??  

Hear Teri Carter Friday's at 6:40 a.m. on The Morning Drive with Rbert Hallmark, on KCRS-(550 AM).

Idol Thoughts with Teri Carter: Semifinal week

Final Three

 

It's the semi-finals and I thought it was "hometown week" but I guess that you can't fit that in with 9 songs. It's probably for the best.  The performances this week?  I was completely underwhelmed.  Maybe I'm growing tired of American Idol?  No scandals.  Paula was surprisingly lucid.  Simon was Simon.  Randy was wearing his big watch.  And so it goes....

 

Round One-Judge's Choice

   David A-"And So It Goes"  Not a Billy Joel song that I'm familiar with, but I thought he did a good job.  Fairly predictable.

   Syesha-"If I Ain't Got You"  I liked the song.  I liked the performance.  And she does look great.    David C-"The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face"  What was Simon thinking?  This is not the rockin David that the judges so love.  Just ok.
   I'll give round one to Syesha.

Round Two-Contestant's Choice

   David A-"With You" I don't know Chris Brown because I'm like 112 years old, but it wasn't a bad song.  It was just awkward for him. He shouldn't dance.  I can't tell you why, but not the best choice.

   Syesha-"Fever" Hello, lighting department?  I couldn't see her face for the first minutes and 20 seconds and I'm not sure that would have helped.  Why choose such an old song?  Again, bad choice.

   

David C-"Dare You To Move" Switchfoot?  Huh?  Do they sing this badly?  I'm sorry, but that was more than "a little pitchy".  The end bordered on screechy.  Ow.  My ears. 

   Round two goes to David A, but by default.

 
Round Three-Producer's Choice

   David A-"Longer"  A safe song and he sang well, but didn't do anything original with it.  I do agree with Simon.  It was gooey.

   Syesha-"Hit Me Up"  Why did they choose a song from a kid movie for her?  Is this corporate sabotage???

   David C-"I Don't Want to Miss A Thing"  He for sure got the best song choice and other than the shouting at the end, he did a decent job.
   Round three goes to David Cook. 

   Simon declared at the end "David Cook wins the night!" which sounded like what the producers wanted to hear.  Did you see the "Cougars for Cook" sign?  Ewwwww.

    Should I even bother to watch tonight?  Syesha goes home.  Place the tiara on DC's beanhead.

   Listen to Teri Carter Friday at 6:40 a.m. during The Morning Drive on NewsTalk 550 KCRS.

Idol Thoughts with Teri Carter: The Final Four-Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

500 songs to choose from!  Where to start?  Ryan is ready to rock!  And so am I!

 Round One:

David C - "Hungry Like The Wolf" OK, I was around in the 80s and there were some good songs.  I'm just not sure this was one of them.  Mr. Original sang the karaoke version.  Sorry to break it to you DC lovers, but this was in the words of Randy Jackson "just ok for me."

Syesha - "Proud Mary" This girl brought the house down.  She was having some kinda fun tonight.  Good for her!  Simon thought it was a bad Tina impression. Obviously, he never saw Oprah's version.  I thought it was pretty darn good.

Jason - "I Shot the Sheriff"  Good Lord.  That was beyond awful.  I heard songs during the audition rounds that were better than this.  I'm afraid even the faithful Aggie network can't save you now.  Somewhere, Reveille was howling.

David A - "Stand By Me"  I would rethink the t-shirt, but otherwise a great song choice and another good performance by Lil Davy.  Even Simon called it the best so far.

Round Two:

David C - "Baba O'Reilly"  Once again, everybody but me thought this was just so awesome.  First of all, not a Who fan.  And Bret Michaels sang it better two weeks ago on "Don't Forget the Lyrics".  Relax, you're so safe.  And that AC on the guitar?  Archuleta/Cook.

Syesha - "A Change is Gonna Come"  I wasn't blown away by this song.  I tend to agree with Randy.  I thought she over sang a little.  But, Simon showed he really does have a heart when he didn't criticize while she was in tears.

Jason - "Mr. Tambourine Man" Just absolutely hideous.  There.  I said it.  Now, pack those dreds and get outta town.

David A - "Love Me Tender"  I've had bad experiences with Elvis songs this year.  I'm a little afraid.  But, he doesn't disappoint.  He brings a whole new vibe to the song.  He "Cooked" it!  You heard Simon.  He crushed the competition.

Bottom Two: Syesha and Jason.  If there is any justice in the world; Jason goes home.

Listen to Teri Carter on Friday at 6:40 a.m. during The Morning Drive on NewsTalk 500 KCRS.

Idol Thoughts with Teri Carter: Neil Night

Round One

Jason - "Forever in Blue Jeans"  Uh-oh.  One of the bad ones.  He is sleepwalking through this performance.  Nothing special here.

David C - "I'm Alive" His voice seems raspy and the bad nap-hair is back again.  I agree with Simon "just above average".

Brooke - "I'm a Believer"  Girlfriend ... NO, no no!  This was a trainwreck from the start.  Just awful.

David A - "Sweet Caroline" This could be good and it is.  He is "in the zone" tonight.  I'm with Randy.

Syesha - "Hello Again"  Other than being shoeless (and for some reason that bugs me), this was a really good performance.  But, quit changing your hair every week.

Round Two

Jason - "September Morn" Boring.  I know he's cute, an Aggie, whatever, but this was even more elevator music than the original.  Please go.

David C - "All I Really Need is You"  I liked it.  He is the odds on favorite to win and I'm such a rebel that I won't vote for him, but you all go right ahead.

Brooke - "I Am I Said"  She made me like a song I never liked. Much better, but perhaps too little, too late.

David A - "America"  I knew he would sing this song.  I just knew it!  And what a great job he did with it.  Perfect song choice if I do say so myself.  Simon and I are so in sync tonight!

Syesha - "Thank the Lord for the Night Time"  I know she has zero chance of winning, but I love this girl.  Love the attitude and the voice.  Put your shoes back on and you'd be perfect.

I think Jason and Syesha will probably be in the bottom two and I want Jason to go home, but could be my Syesha.  Too bad I didn't get to post last week, because David Cook won my best in show award.
This week's goes to David A.  I'm a sucker for that American flag!

Listen to Teri Carter Friday at 6:40 a.m. during The Morning Drive on NewsTalk 550 KCRS.