Longtime movie critic Jeffrey Lyons Latest to be Fired

[Brian Damage]

You can add the name Jeffrey Lyons to growing list of on-air personalities fired from Channel 4. Lyons was alerted Thursday that “Reel Talk” (with co-host Alison Bailes) was canceled.

Lyons told the Daily News, with his signature show removed from the WNBC schedule, he was dispensable. Lyons also did movie reviews on the station’s newscasts.

The “Reel Talk” dismissal is part of an ongoing cost-cutting at NBC/Universal. In recent months, WNBC got rid of several anchors and reporters including Len Berman, Otis Livingston, Monica Morales and Carol Anne Riddell.

Lyons had worked for Channel 4 since 1996. He began his career as movie critic in 1970 at Channel 11.

The 64-year-old Lyons said he hopes to bring back “Reel Talk” through another syndicator.

More economic woes

Meantime, ESPN has trimmed its workforce as well. The company has laid off about 100 employees at its Bristol, Connecticut headquarters. The cuts affected departments across the organization. However, the sports network plans to add positions in the near future. The plan would bring the total number of workers in Bristol to approximately 3,400.

The layoffs are part of a plan previously announced by Chief Executive George Bodenheimer in January.

http://www.examiner.com/x-5468-NY-Me...-Jeffrey-Lyons