Selling Out

This ranks as one of the worst-kept media secrets in town: WFAA-Channel 8 is in the process of converting a portion of its revamped 9 a.m. show Good Morning Texas (or GMT, for the hip frau) into paid programming, or “advertainment,” as one concerned citizen puts it. According to many TV types who are bemused and not a little disgusted by the idea (maybe because they didn’t think of it first), WFAA will feature on GMT the occasional “guest” who’s ponied up some $3,000 to $3,500 for a three- to five-minute segment on the show, with some Web exposure tossed in as part of the sweet deal. Dave Muscari, WFAA’s VP of product development, is now in charge of GMT, which will feature ex-KXAS’er Brenda Teele Jackson in a return appearance to the Belo manse. Muscari didn’t return calls. Out selling ads or booking guests, most likely; what’s the dif, right? —Robert Wilonsky