Donna Dalessandro: Celebs Rumors

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large “Svengoolie” is growing. The MeTV horror host, whose first primetime special on the classic TV network aired this weekend, is spearheading a nationwide talent search to find fans to appear in “Svengoolie” off-shoots. The campaign, dubbed “Spawn of Svengoolie,” was announced on October 1 at the conclusion of “Svengoolie Uncrypted,” a one-hour special that followed the character, played by Rich Koz, as he escaped his dungeon and explored the world — and showcased the more than 43 years of the character. “Svengoolie” has been a local Chicago TV staple for more than four decades; Weigel Broadcasting, which owns MeTV, added the character to its national lineup in 2011. More recently, the network noticed an uptick in viewership on Saturday nights, particularly during the pandemic, as horror fans stayed home to watch “Svengoolie’s” campy and often obscure horror films, and more importantly, Svengoolie’s horror movie facts, trivia and corny dad jokes.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at LargeWeigel Broadcasting Co., the company behind the classic television outlet Me TV, is launching its first unscripted network. The company will launch Story Television Network, an over-the-air national broadcast channel devoted to history-based fare, on March 28.Story TV’s programming will include off-net series that originally aired on networks like A&E and History Channel, including “Biography,” “The Men Who Built America,” “World War II in HD,” “Modern Marvels,” “Mankind: The Story of All of Us” and more. Each day will center programming around a unique theme or genre, such as military, technology and innovation, world events, American history, modern achievement, unexplained phenomena, and biographical tributes.