wabceyewitness

Linsey Davis should’ve been dropped by ABC years ago after willingly participating in a staged crime scene live shot. https://variety.com/2016/tv/news/abc-news-staged-crime-scene-shot-apology-1201910160/amp/

According to Ryan Field, he’ll now be working Sundays through Thursdays. In the comments, he says this was his decision.

The issue in the newest allegations is not a matter of age and whether someone is adult enough to consent. The issue is a sexual relationship allegedly occurring between someone in a position of power and a subordinate, and allegations that sexual encounters took place on company property inside the office of the person in power. Even if that was fully consensual and the subordinate felt no pressure to engage in the relationship, that is a relationship that must be disclosed. In the case of TJ and Amy, neither are subordinates to the other, so there is no issue there. I have been fully supportive of TJ and Amy returning to air and ABC moving on from this. If the latest allegations are true, whether in part or in whole, then ABC should terminate TJ for cause and without any buyout offer. Unless Amy knew of the prior relationship with the subordinate and failed to report it, then I don’t see how ABC has a case to terminate her for cause, but do understand having her just sign a separation agreement with a buyout. It’s really unfortunate for both of them. Surely, they were both being eyed as the future of Good Morning America.

If any of what has most recently been reported about TJ — the alleged relationship with the script coordinator/intern/subordinate, sexual encounters with her in his office and drinking alcohol in his office prior to going on air — is true, then I would agree that ABC absolutely has the right to terminate him for cause. As for Amy, I still do not see grounds for termination unless she knew of the sexual misconduct and failed to report it.

All the big three networks moved the local news on New Year’s Eve to 10pm Eastern / 9pm Central. The networks wanted more time for national entertainment programming leading up to midnight instead of just the 11:30pm ET half hour.

Two adult coworkers began a relationship after separating from their spouses. It became publicized after a tabloid sent a photographer to spy on them. What lack of judgement? That they wanted their private life to remain private for the time being? Yes, let’s punish them for that.

Meanwhile, Amy appears to have reactivated her instagram. ironically, had ABC just left them on air until their planned Christmas vacation and had them return in the new year, none of this would be a story. ABC is the one who has prolonged and completely mishandled this situation.

Agreed. I’d hope that, if nothing improper is found to have happened, then they are given their jobs back.

CBS Mornings is just a toned down rip off of Good Morning America at this point, right down to the talent selection and their professional and personal backgrounds.

Here’s a great Washington Post column on how ABC is mishandling this. https://wapo.st/3Hkvzkz

yes - tabloid stories not major coverage from NYT, WaPo, NBC, CBS, FOX, USA Today, Variety, Hollywood Reporter, etc. They are all now following the story only after ABC suddenly pulled them from the air following 2 days of them anchoring without coverage from major media.

All ABC has done by sidelining the couple is create even more of a distraction and prolong the length of time this is a tabloid story. After benching the two, they’ve also now drawn the attention of media beyond Page Six, TMZ and ET with reports on this in the last few days from every major newspaper and network news division.…..heck, even we are still talking about it. Had they left them on air and let their private lives play our privately, this would be a non-story by now and most of us would have moved on. Really surprised by ABC’s decision.

Why is this even a thing? And why is anyone even questioning their “future” on GMA or how ABC will handle it? Two married adults fell for each other, separated from their respective spouses and have begun a new relationship together. It is sad that two marriages are ending but that is a normal part of life. Maybe they’ll address it on air or issue a statement when they’re ready… but who cares?

The weekday edition of GMA using the regular current theme today.. Guess the Sunday open was a glitch.

Good Morning America used the 2015-2017 opening music today for the main intro. Headlines bed remained the current theme but the intro was the older theme. Wonder if that was intentional or just a mistake as the weekend show moved back to TV3 today for the first time in a few weeks.

Camille Edwards worked at WPVI from 1997-2003. Shirleen worked there from 2010-2015. There was no overlap. The only thing about WPVI that helped Shirleen get her job was that she did a great job at an ABC O&O close to home and it was easy for management in New York to notice her.

Interesting pick especially for a station that has a history of promoting from inside, or at least from within the O&O group.

Her contract was up in two weeks; they just spent money on more ad campaigns featuring her… have to imagine renewal talks were ongoing and not going in a direction she thought was worth it to stay at FOX5 and, after 40 years, probably thought this was a good time to step back and just enjoy life instead of starting over again somewhere else. As you pointed out, she’s retiring from the business at a relatively young age — and good for her! She’ll be able to spend time with family and friends, doing fun things on her schedule, while she has the energy and ability to do so. A true legend in local New York City news, Lori will definitely be missed by many viewers.

Looks like Ryan Field will be getting his own sports show.. we’ll see if it’s a streamer, podcast, broadcast or all of the above.

They have 5pm & 11pm weekday talent opens but stopped running them many years ago as a way save time and retain viewers during the transition from the 4pm to 5pm news and from prime time to the 11pm news. They did bring back the 5pm talent open for one week in September 2019 as a nod to Diana Williams who was retiring that week.

Did you also criticize David Muir when he wasn’t there the last time ABC used the old “World News” name and theme?

Notice that the new weekend open has the talent against studio backdrops and not the plain white background of the other opens… also they skipped the “team shot” at the end of the open. If I had to guess, they threw this together based off recently filmed promo material or recently filmed material for the upcoming graphics update. If the latter is the case, no clue why they wanted to get this to air quickly unless they’re not expecting the full O&O graphics rollout to them for a few more months.

Meteorologist Dani Beckstrom will make her on-air debut at WABC on Thursday’s noon newscast.

If WABC follows its own pattern, hiring Dani Beckstorm is a bench building strategy because they anticipate an upcoming departure or additional airtime to fill. They are not suddenly in need of a 5th meteorologist to do what they’ve always been doing.

Bill Ritter does the 5, 6 and 11pm. He actually added the 5pm to his schedule just 3 years ago when Diana Williams retired. He’s done the 11pm since 1999 and the 6pm since 2001. Bill Beutel was a phased retirement plan. Stepped down from 11pm in 1999, stepped down from 6pm in 2001 and then fully retired in 2003. With Chuck, yes, it seems like they’re just letting him hang on to the 6pm until he’s ready to call it quits on his own terms.