Mimi Faust cries tears when she “finds out” her sex tape was “leaked.” CREDIT: VH1
By RODNEY HO/rho@ajc.com, filed December 22, 2014
What stories really hit with my readers in 2014? A sex tape, bank fraud, a “Bachelorette” and Justin Bieber all helped, though not at the same time.
We changed blog platforms in mid-January so this really covers about January 13 through December 28, 2014.
Let’s go in reverse order to create fake drama:
AMERICA’S GOT TALENT — Episode 924 — Pictured: Mat Franco — (Photo by: Michael Parmlelee/NBC)
25. Who won “America’s Got Talent”? (9/17/14) This was a fun season and the magician Mat Franco’s victory was well deserved.
24. 2013 year-end radio ratings review (1/16/14) This was featured in a box for weeks on the side of my blog (and others), which helped garner more hits.
Anderson Cooper and other CNN faces are not available now to Dish Network customers thanks to a carriage dispute. CREDIT: CNN
23. CNN, Cartoon Network off Dish Network (10/22/14) This was a stand-off that lasted more than a month, which helped give this story legs.
Nick Viall was sincerely into Andi in a big way and is still trying to get over the hurt of her rejection. CREDIT: ABC
22. Bachelorette Andi Dorfman picks Nick or Josh (7/27/14): This was a no brainer from a viewer’s perspective. I have no clue what Andi saw in Nick.
Ebony Steele had been on”Dish Nation” until recently. CREDIT: Fox
21. Exclusive: Ebony Steele off Rickey Smiley, replaced by Claudia Jordan (7/9/14) Big radio news if you’re a fan of comic and Atlanta-based syndicated morning radio host Rickey Smiley – and he has a lot of them.
Larry Wachs at Steve Rickman’s wedding earlier this year. CREDIT: Rodney Ho/rho@ajc.com
20. Larry Wachs gets fired (12/5/14): A bah humbug pre-holiday move on the part of Cumulus and Rock 100.5 cuts off the man who helped create the Regular Guys show. His entire team stays behind and is joined by a younger host Jason Bailey. For now, they are using many of the same bits and sound effects but the show will surely evolve over time without Wachs.
Porsha Williams did Andy Cohen’s live show to talk about her fight with Kenya. CREDIT: Bravo
19. Porsha Williams in and out of jail over attack (4/16/14): Who doesn’t want to see a mug shot?
Markina Brown on the set of CBS46. CREDIT: CBS46
18. Markina Brown leaves CBS46 (11/11/14): Proof that people here care about local meteorologists, even on a fourth-place station.
The Scott twins shot a season of shows in Atlanta for HGTV. CREDIT: HGTV.
17. “Property Brothers” end run in Atlanta (4/29/14): The Scott brothers air constantly on HGTV so this story gets steady clicks every day.
16. Apollo Nida’s co-conspirator sentenced (4/24/14): This was merely a precursor to Apollo’s sentencing for bank and ID fraud a few months later.
THE BACHELORETTE – “Episode 1004″ – Eleven men are eager to show off their basketball skills when they arrive at the Mohegan Sun arena, until Andi explains that they will compete against some of the WNBA’s best – superstars Swin Cash, Tamika Catchings, Elena Delle Donne, Lindsey Harding and Nneka Ogwumike. But this is no slam dunk for Andi’s suitors, so Andi changes it up and has the bachelors divide into two teams to battle one another. However, only the winning team will attend an after party with Andi. One man takes some alone time with the Bachelorette to make sure that they are on the same page, but will the date rose go to the best athlete on court or the most romantic suitor off court? – on “The Bachelorette,” MONDAY, JUNE 2 (8:00-10:01 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network. (ABC/Mark Brendel)
ANDI DORFMAN
15. Exclusive: Andi Dorfman resigns from D.A.’s office (6/16/14): A colleague of mine got the tip on this one.
14. Marcus handicaps Andi’s final three (7/14/14): Amazing this one did as well as it did.
Todd Chrisley with his son Chase at TCA promoting “Chrisley Knows Best” on USA. CREDIT: Getty Images
13. Todd Chrisley has skeletons in the closet (3/7/14): The USA Network reality star has financial issues he is eager not to talk about.
Stevie J and Joseline before the craziness began. CREDIT: VH1
12. “Love and Hip Hop Atlanta” finale recap, part 2 (9/1/14): A huge appetite for the aftermath of Joseline’s crazy attack on set.
11. “Love and Hip Hop Atlanta” finale recap, part 1 (8/25/14): Things go seriously cray cray on the reunion set of this show.
Mike Francis has been chief meteorologist at 11 Alive for about two and a half years. CREDIT: 11 Alive
10. Mike Francis is out at 11 Alive (1/27/14) : More proof that people care about local meteorologists in this town.
Josh Murray and Andi Dorfman on “Good Morning America” Tuesday morning July 29, 2014. CREDIT: ABC
9. Interview with Andi Dorfman and Josh Murray (7/29/14): I think the fact Andi hooked up with Josh Murray (Aaron Murray’s bro) helped fuel interest in this one.
Michael Johns at the Atlanta Motor Speedway in 2008. CREDIT: Rodney Ho/rhO@ajc.com
8. Michael Johns, former Atlantan and “Idol” contestant dies (8/2/14): I managed to beat TMZ to the punch on this one though the site continues to break news later over the mysterious, conflicting circumstances of this former Buckhead denizen.
7. David Chandley leaves Channel 2 Action News (7/2/14): See Markina Brown and Mike Francis.
Phaedra Parks and Apollo Nida on “Watch What Happens.” CREDIT: Bravo
6. Apollo Nida sentenced to eight years for bank, ID theft (7/8/14): Huge story for “Real Housewives of Atlanta’ fans and I was in court for the sentencing downtown.
5. Todd Chrisley gets reality show (12/20/13): This story actually generated a huge number of page views on the old blog platform but was added to the new one in March for continuity. This story lands high on the search results of Google whenever you type in “Todd Chrisley” and variations thereof, which helps goose page views every time USA airs it. (And USA airs the show frequently.)
4. Apollo Nida pleads guilty to bank, ID theft (5/6/14): This story details his plea.
3. Regular Guys pull off Justin Bieber prank (2/14/14): With rumors that Bieber was shopping for a place in Buckhead, the Regular Guys got interns and staff to “protest” the site and many many media outlets fell for it (including a colleague of mine). Then Justin Bieber himself retweeted the link to the story. The result: 222,000 page views! Thank you Justin!
2. Apollo Nida charged with bank, ID theft (1/26/14); The initial blockbuster filing by the government, which I broke before anybody else.
The Hip Hop Weekly cover that peeved Joseline.
1. Mimi Faust has a sex tape (4/14/14): I’m sure I disappointed many horny guys who were probably looking for the actual sex tape of this “Love and Hip Hop Atlanta” cast member but ended up with my lame story. This blog entry drew more page views than anything I’ve ever posted before ever, more than a typical month’s worth of stories.
