TV critics begin their winter marathon *

This is the time of year when television reporters and critics descend on Los Angeles to receive the same canned pitching on shows. Here's the full schedule for the TCA Winter Press tour from The Futon Critic.

* TV media note: Michael Schneider, TV editor for Variety, is leaving to be Los Angeles bureau chief for TV Guide. He notes on Twitter, "Many of you know my geeky TV history: I've been collecting TV Guides since I was six." He blogs at Franklin Avenue. Official announcement after the jump.

January 5, 2011 - New York, NY -- Michael Schneider will join TV Guide Magazine as its Los Angeles Bureau Chief effective January 24, it was announced today by Debra Birnbaum, Editor-in-Chief of TV Guide Magazine. In his new role, Schneider will oversee the magazine's west coast bureau, managing breaking news and feature coverage.
In making the announcement, Birnbaum said "Michael is widely respected in the industry and has a rich background covering television news as well as the business side. He loves television as much as we do and has a great understanding of the true, passionate TV fan. We are thrilled to welcome Michael to TV Guide Magazine and look forward to working with him in his role as Los Angeles Bureau Chief where he will ramp up the magazine's breaking news efforts."

Previously, Schneider was TV editor of the daily and weekly trade magazine Variety, a post he held since 1999. Prior to this, Schneider was the Los Angeles bureau chief of the weekly trade Electronic Media. Schneider also blogs about Los Angeles at Franklin Avenue (www.franklinavenue.net), which has appeared in such publications as The Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Magazine and LA Weekly. As a television expert, Schneider has appeared on ABC "World News Tonight" and "Primetime Live," NBC's "Today" show and "Dateline NBC" and other programs and networks.