TV Eye: Go LoCo

Combing through the "TV Eye" inbox, I ran across a few things to share.

First, I didn't quite get it right about the online component of Rhett & Link: Commercial Kings in last week's "TV Eye." Here is the correct information, straight from an IFC press representative's email:

"Encores [of Rhett & Link: Commercial Kings] will not be streaming online. They will be running on IFC (the channel) right after the premiere episode and as a 'second screen' experience Rhett and Link will be on YouTube Live and IFC.com streaming a web chat about the encore episode and offering behind the scenes info."

Rhett & Link: Commercial Kings airs Fridays at 9pm on IFC.

And while we're on the subject: Created in conjunction with the premiere of Rhett & Link: Commercial Kings, the cable network has launched a new, online contest called the LoCo Awards. The LoCos will celebrate the best bizarre local commercials, because "every city in America has its own great local commercials and stars."

Maybe the unrelenting Texas heat has fried my brain, but I think this is a hoot.

Viewers are invited to upload their favorite local commercials at the LoCo Awards website – if the commercial is available on YouTube or Vimeo, you're good – and nominate it as a "best of" in one of 10 categories, including the Palme d'LoCo, for best local commercial overall; Best Performance by an Animal or Child; the Hammie, for the best overly dramatic performance; the LoCo Golden Turkey, awarded to the commercial most in need of the Rhett & Link treatment; and the Lifetime Achievement Award, for the most memorable performance by a local pitchman, living or dead (I already have a nominee in mind).

The submission and voting period is open through July 20. The top three finalists in each category will be announced July 23, and the final winners – selected by the stars of Commercial Kings, Rhett McLaughlin and Link Neal – will be announced on July 27. Read the fine print, see all the award categories, learn about cash prizes, and follow the voting process to see which nominees rise to the top at locos.ifc.com.

Meanwhile, here in Austin, the 2011 nominees for Premios Texas – otherwise known as the Texas Latin Music Awards – were announced by KAKW Univision 62 last week. The Austin-based awards show honors a wide range of Latino musical artists with a big, blowout production at the Long Center for the Performing Arts.

Fans will select winners through online voting at www.premiostexas.com. Other online goodies include profiles of the nominated artists, news and updates about the upcoming show, and an opportunity to win Premios-related prizes, like the chance to become a reportero de la alfombra roja (red-carpet reporter) and interview artists during the preshow red-carpet event.

This year's nominees include legendary Mexican artist Pedro Fernández, Spanish singer-songwriter Shaila Dúrcal, and Panamanian artist Joey Montana, all of whom earned multiple nominations.

Voting is open until July 18 at 11:59pm; to cast your ballot, visit univisionaustin.univision.com/premios-texas/vota.

The Premios Texas Awards will be held at the Long Center on Aug. 11 and will be telecast nationwide on Galavisión, at the Premios Texas website, and throughout Texas on Univision Aug. 20 (air time TBA).

The End of the Road

Next week will be the last time "TV Eye" will appear in The Austin Chronicle. I'll be thinking of the best way to wrap up this column after 10-plus years of continuous, weekly publication (excepting the annual "Best of Austin" issues). I hope to offer something more satisfying than the jolt of The Sopranos finale or the ultimately wonky last episode of Seinfeld.

Stay tuned.