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Q&A: 'Good Morning America' ratings, 'A Gifted Man', actor Patrick Wilson

 
Published April 29, 2012

Ratings a milestone for 'GMA'

Apparently Good Morning America got higher ratings than the Today show recently for the first time in a long time. Do you have more details?

The Today show had won the ratings battle among network morning news shows for 852 consecutive weeks until the week of April 9-13.

Good Morning America ended the amazing streak by drawing 31,000 more viewers over the five days of shows, according to the Nielsen Co., which measures TV audiences. Both drew an average of more than 5.1 million viewers a day.

Today won in the ratings three of the five mornings that week, the Associated Press reported, but GMA won on Wednesday, when bounced Dancing With the Stars contestant Sherri Shepherd was featured, and again on Friday, when co-host Robin Roberts interviewed former Florida Gator quarterback Tim Tebow and his mother.

It should also be noted that Today host Matt Lauer was on vacation that week. David Gregory and Carl Quintanilla subbed for him.

GMA co-host George Stephanopoulos marked the moment by tweeting his thanks to viewers "for giving us a week we'll never forget," adding, "What a milestone!"

The streak began in December 1995, when Bryant Gumbel and Katie Couric were the chief hosts for Today.

Fan sad to lose 'A Gifted Man'

I am disappointed that A Gifted Man will probably not be renewed. Is there someplace I can write to express my disappointment?

There are a any number of ways you can let your opinion be heard. Here are a few:

• You can go to www.cbs.com, scroll to the bottom and click on "Feedback." Then fill out the form and submit.

• There's a Facebook page collecting supporters to help save the show. It's at www.facebook.com/signthepetitionandsavetheshow.

• You can go to savethatshow.com, click on A Gifted Man under the CBS label and then vote.

Patrick Wilson's famous family

Is Patrick Wilson the son of TV anchorman John Wilson and brother of Mark? Was Mark one of the band members mentioned in an article?

Yes, Patrick Wilson, the actor who stars in A Gifted Man, is the son of longtime Ch. 13 co-anchor John Wilson and the brother of Ch. 13 anchor-reporter Mark Wilson.

And yes, Patrick and Mark and another brother, Paul, who owns an advertising company, and four other men play in the band Van Wilson, which covers classic rock songs from the 1980s, such as those of Van Halen and Journey. Paul sings, Patrick plays drums and sings and Mark is a guitarist.

On May 26 at the State Theatre in St. Petersburg, the band is playing a benefit for Paws for Patriots, which provides guide dogs for wounded soldiers. You can read more about the band on its website, www.vanwilsonband.com.