Alan Pergament: Maryalice Demler’s anniversary, WIVB’s Bills ‘MNF’ loss and the end of ‘Winning Time’

WGRZ-TV (Channel 2) recently celebrated co-anchor Maryalice Demler’s 30th anniversary at the NBC affiliate.

I would normally use the happy occasion to write a feature story on Demler’s longevity there. She deserved one.

However, she declined my interview requests twice.

I understand. I have been critical of her on occasion.

However, other people I’ve been critical of in the media have been willing to be interviewed when I offered to write a feature story about their careers.

WKBW-TV (Channel 7) has a new set. It looks great. But I don’t think it will have any impact on ratings.

An ABC affiliate, Channel 7 got some good news Monday with the announcement that all but a few “Monday Night Football” games will be simulcast on ESPN and ABC because of the need for content due to the strikes in Hollywood. The Bills game with Denver on Nov. 13 will be among those simulcast on ABC and ESPN. That means Channel 7 will carry it.

It also means WIVB-TV (Channel 4) has been thrown for a loss. It had acquired the broadcast rights to the Bills-Denver game but there was a provision in the contract to negate that deal if ABC decided to carry the game.

“Winning Time” surprise. Spoiler alert: Speaking of being thrown for a loss, fans of HBO’s “Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty” undoubtedly were surprised that Sunday’s second season finale turned out to be a series finale. The Los Angeles Times confirmed that the series has been canceled after two seasons.

Sunday’s finale also surprised critics like me who previewed the seven episodes weeks ago, including Sunday’s finale. It originally just ended with Larry Bird and the Boston Celtics defeating the Los Angeles Lakers in the 1984 NBA finals.

In case it decided to cancel the series, HBO reportedly had the writers add explanations of what happened to Pat Riley, Magic Johnson, Lakers owner Jeanie Buss, Jerry West and others after the Finals loss….