Carl Monday is back, Tom Meyer goes to WKYC, and the planets realign

Carl Monday is back! Sort of. Cleveland’s Investigative Reporter has been off the airwaves since February, when he ditched WKYC for Action 19 because their hidden-camera footage is way grainier. Unfortunately, a non-compete clause in Carl’s contract forbids him from showing up on your TV set until October. But recently, Action News started airing news reports bearing Carl’s distinct overdramatic style. The promos for these spots feature a picture, shot from behind, of a trench coat-clad man who looks suspiciously like the man himself. They call these stories “CM Investigations.” Carl’s name appears nowhere on the screen, and the stories seem to have been reported by someone else. Action News anchor Paul Joncich narrates this one, about Cadillac owners who have had their rims ripped off. But the CM Investigation tip line goes directly to Carl’s voicemail. Apparently, Action 19 has found a way to put Carl to work and (almost) take advantage of The Carl Monday Brand without expressly violating Carl’s non-compete clause. (Or at least his lawyers hope so.) Meanwhile, WKYC is firing returning fire in what we’ll call The Overwrought Investigative Television Wars. Spokeswoman Alina Martinet says the station’s just nabbed the biggest fish in the Investigative Lake: Tom Meyer! The station is expected to announce their hiring of The Investigator any minute – Joe P. Tone