NYNewsCoverage

Due to a mets game airing in San Francisco from 9:30-12:30, there is no late edition of news scheduled for after the game. I think this has happened before on WNYW where they didn't air news after very late games ending after midnight?

31 minutes ago, MisterBill said:

 

Has anyone seen Andrea since she left the anchor chair? She hasn't been on social media since she left, but she's still listed on the CBS website. I don't watch WCBS enough to say definitively that she hasn't been on any newscast as a reporter.

To my knowledge she has not been on air since then. I noticed on the website Dana Tyler's bio was scrapped, so it has undergone some updates. Notably, Elaine Quijano and Craig Allen are not listed on the website. 

Tuned into the new 6pm broadcast. The intro is interesting (it uses a different music cue). Kristine is the anchor again, so I'd argue she's the new (solo) anchor. I noticed Maurice anchored yesterday at 8pm, so perhaps he will do the 8pm while Kristine does the 6pm each night.

The closest thing this format reminds me of in NYC is when Ernie Anastos (and for a while Lori Stokes) did the 6pm on FOX5 with interviews from the other side of the studio.

I didn't get to watch the new broadcast, but I found a screengrab from a website video. I must say that backdrop is beautiful.

Speaking of Jennifer McLogan, she recently also celebrated 35 years at WCBS, and I'd say they gave her a pretty nice tribute here (alongside her daughter who is also now a reporter there): 

Also note at the end all of her colleagues and production crew (Dana front and center) came out and clapped at the end. It's possible Dana really didn't want that (Dick mentioned she didn't want a big send off), but it's still surprising (as noted above) more of her longtime colleagues were not involved.

Just watched the video- she noted her goodbye at the end was pre-taped which is understandable because she seemed quite emotional and this is clearly not what she wants- but it is the super harsh reality of the business. I do think Channel 2 could have done a better job saluting her and not a rushed piece for 8 minutes at the end of one newscast. She deserves better, but I think the reason she didn't get a longer send off is because she's being forced out and likely made this decision more last minute than expected. It also seems like she is not staying with the station in any capacity (unlike previous reports) which I really respect. She will go out with dignity and on a high note.

I'm still in shock about all of this, though (as I'm sure Dana is too); and it is all quite unfortunate. I really wish Dana happiness in whatever she choses to do next.

It's too bad Sue is not there with him to celebrate, but that is the nature of the business. We'll see if Chuck makes the record for 57 years! 

Also here is a recent interview with Sue from Newsday: https://www.newsday.com/entertainment/tv/sue-simmons-chuck-scarborough-wnbc-ppsgedjt 

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Chuck Scarborough's record-breaking 50th anniversary as anchor of WNBC/4 arrives Monday, but what of his co-anchor Sue Simmons who spent 32 (and 1/2) years by his side? She's 81 now, living quietly in Manhattan, and for the past 12 (and 1/2) years, has largely dropped out of sight.

She's a private citizen who has “no public profile [and] I don't have any desire for one,” she said in an interview with Newsday in 2019.

In a brief phone interview Friday, Simmons spoke about that long-ago, and long-running partnership, which was for decades rendered in shorthand (“Chuck 'n Sue”) by viewers and Ch. 4.

“I'm not very articulate about this but we were such opposites, and somehow we meshed. He was a lot more on the serious side when I first met him, but I chipped away over the years and he became such a fun guy. He had a wicked sense of humor, but humor most of the time he couldn't do on the air, so viewers always saw him as a straight-up guy.”

Asked if he could have lasted these 50 years without her, she laughs (“Oh, that's like 'When did you stop beating your mama!' ”), then says, “Oh, yes. He would have had a slightly different image, but the man is a top professional.”

 

In an interview a couple of weeks ago, Scarborough (who turned 80 last fall) was asked whether he could have made the half-century mark without Simmons: “Probably not,” he said.

Born in Greenwich Village, Simmons, daughter of prominent jazz bassist John Simmons, had anchor jobs in New Haven, Connecticut; Baltimore; and Washington, D.C., before joining WNBC/4 in 1980 where she became a trailblazer, as the first African American woman to co-anchor a nightly New York news broadcast, and New York's most prominent female anchor as well.

Her contract wasn't renewed in 2012 — most observers say the decision was mutual — but in that 2019 interview, Simmons called it “a messy ending and one that I didn't want.” Nevertheless, she said there was no bitterness: “I had worked until I was 70 and for an anchorwoman, that was ancient … I think about all the joy I had through those years. I'm so chill. Not bitter about anything. NBC has given me a fabulous life.”

How's “Chuck 'n Sue” these days? She said Friday that “we're still friends but don't see as much of each other as we did when I first left, but we do see each other every couple of months.”

Meanwhile, “I'm doing fine. One day blends into another … life is good.”

If the reports are correct, this is (sadly) the last week of Dana and Dick anchoring the 6pm. We'll see if they mention anything on air this week.. Tonight Dick is solo.

4 hours ago, DMA said:

Interesting that Nexstar claims that Mission Broadcasting is somehow an independent entity when the CEO of Nexstar's son was hired as a sports reporter!

Haha FTVlive also made this point

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The FCC did not poit out that Nexstar controls WPIX so much, that Nexstar’s CEO Perry Sook, place his son Perry Sook Jr. as a Sports Reporter at WPIX, despite the fact he had little experience.

2 hours ago, MediaZone4K said:

Paywalled. would you be able to screenshot or copy/paste the text of the article? Thanks.

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After 43 years on New York TV, the past 32 at WPIX/11, Kaity Tong was where we've always found her just as the Oscars were wrapping last Sunday night. As long-running anchor of the station's weekend 10 p.m. news, she went through the usual rundown of stories and teases. From behind the anchor desk, she appeared to be who she has always been. More remarkably, she looked like who she has always been.

Away from the anchor desk has been another story altogether.

Last December, Tong, 76, said on Instagram that she had been diagnosed with stage 1 lung cancer — “me! a nonsmoker my entire life” — and that she had undergone robotic surgery to remove the tumor.

The reason she was revealing this, she explained, was because her doctors “told me this diagnosis is increasingly common among Asians, especially women, who are nonsmokers. That would be me. And maybe that’s you.” She then urged viewers to get tested.

After a short time off the air, Tong returned to the anchor desk earlier this year, but in texts and emails to Newsday, she said her recovery has been arduous and that her doctors have told her that recovery takes “six months to a year.”

 

At first, she says, she could barely walk a block. Now it takes all her energy simply to show up for work two days a week, she said. 

As part of its Women's History Month coverage, Newsday has been focusing on notable women who have trailblazed paths for countless others. Tong, New York TV news' first Asian American anchor, is one of them.

Born in China, raised in Washington, D.C., Tong was wrapping a Ph.D. program at Stanford in Chinese and Japanese literature in the late '70s, when she took a summer job at an all-news radio station in San Francisco. That led to a TV reporter job in that city, then as an anchor in Sacramento. She was hired at WABC/7 in 1981 and over the next 10 years, became among the most popular anchors on local news.

Then, abruptly and she says without explanation, Tong was dropped by the station. A coalition was launched to protest her firing, and on April 18, 1991, 200 supporters turned up at Ch. 7 headquarters on Columbus Avenue to demand her reinstatement. (That was a tough year for female pioneers — WNBC/4's Pat Harper had been dropped just weeks before.)

Tong joined Ch. 11 later in 1991 and has remained there since. Her boss at the station, news director Nicole Tindiglia, calls her a “local news pioneer who has guided New Yorkers through unprecedented times. She's an inspiration and leader to us all.”

Tong said she was unable to do an in-person interview because of her ongoing health issues. Instead, we conducted one via email:

Let's address your health. How are you doing, and when do you think everything will be back to normal?

 

It's now been about three months since my lung cancer surgery and I must admit the recovery has been harder than I'd expected. Right after the surgery, which removed one of three lobes of my right lung, I couldn't even walk a block and a half without stopping to catch my breath. My doctors tell me to be patient, that it will take six months to a year before I feel like myself. I'm not a patient person and to relearn how to breathe while delivering the news and having much less energy has been frustrating. But there is progress. I've gone from struggling to walk … to being able to take the subway again and getting my steps in. The station has been very supportive in my recovery and the viewers have kept my spirits up with their wonderfully uplifting comments.

Back when you joined Ch. 7, in 1981, had it occurred to you that you would be the “first” — or, for that matter, a trailblazer?

The thought of being a trailblazer of any kind never crossed my mind! I was just so happy to be offered a job in the greatest city in the world with the No. 1-rated news station in the No. 1 market.

What was it like back in those early days with Tom Snyder, John Johnson, Bill Beutel, Roger Grimsby and Ernie Anastos [her anchoring partners]? I know you became popular quickly, but was it harder behind the scenes with some of them — dealing with the usual nonsense, like sexism or racism?

Kaity Tong and her former "Eyewitness News" co-anchor Ernie Anastos attend 60th Anniversary New York Emmy Awards Gala  in 2017 in New York City.   Credit: WireImage/John Lamparski

Roger Grimsby was a tough nut to crack. But I think his initially dismissive attitude toward me was not because I was Chinese or a woman, but because in his mind I was a rookie. And I think there was that initial attitude from others in the newsroom as well. Did I belong there? Was I good enough? I think I proved I was. I refused to be intimidated, gave as good as I got, and maybe most importantly, I made them laugh. The respect became mutual.

Roger and I ended up lifelong friends … Bill Beutel was a gentleman from the get-go [but] ultimately, it was my close friendships with many of the women who worked there that sustained me. All strong, accomplished and funny — women that I am still close to today.

There are never protests over anchor firings, but you got one in 1991. People I spoke with were genuinely upset — you meant something to them, obviously. Had that ever occurred to you as well?

New York's Asian American community rallied in support of Kaity Tong after she was replaced on WABC-TV's "Eyewitness News" in 1991. Credit: Frances Chu

That protest was incredible to me. I was astounded that people cared that much. Looking back, it's really gratifying to think this was before social media — this was picking up the phone, writing letters, showing up in person with a poster or a sign. I began to realize early on that for many viewers I was more than just an anchor when I began getting letters from girls of Asian American heritage who would tell me how they were so happy to see someone doing the news who looked like them. And when mothers told me they had named their daughters after me, not just Asian moms but Hispanic and Caucasian ones as well.

I feel very humbled by this. What an amazing honor and a great responsibility. It makes me think of the day I started kindergarten. Me, this little girl who didn't speak a single word of English, shy and scared, as my mother solemnly said to me, 'You carry on your shoulders the reputation not just of our family, but that of the entire Chinese people as well!' I was 5 years old. Thanks, Mom!

Why did Ch. 7 let you go?

I still am not clear about why. I'm sure part of it was that Walter Liss, the new GM and I did not get along at all, but our numbers were stellar [she left a top-rated newscast at the top-rated local news station]. I had a feeling things were not going well when he kept asking me into his office so that he could coach me on the proper way to anchor. [Liss died in 2022.]

Of course, we have to talk about Ch. 11. What's been the high point of your 30 years at the station? And feel free to share a low point, too, if there was one.

Ch. 11 anchors Jim Watkins and Kaity Tong at the tree lighting and ice spectacular event at Uniondale's Reckson Plaza in 2006. Credit: Pablo Corradi

One of the highlights was working with Jim Watkins. We had great chemistry in the 12-plus years we co-anchored together. It was effortless and we covered many big stories together, including 9/11. [Watkins, who joined Ch. 11 in 1998 as Tong's co-anchor, left in 2011.]

A low point was when we lost all our wonderful makeup artists because of the pandemic, and they are still not back.

A recent interview in Newsday featured Katiy Tong: https://www.newsday.com/entertainment/tv/kaity-tong-wpix-qhg4zhj3

She reflected on her time at WABC (where there were protests in 1991 when she was dropped as anchor) and WPIX (where she reminisced about her time with Jim Watkins).

She also mentioned that her recovery has not been easy. Hoping for the best for her.

I was almost ready to think Jennifer Bisram was the new anchor (she's been covering a lot recently); but we'll see if WCBS makes any additional announcement about Elaine. 

I think we can all agree that Mary, Chris, and now Kristine and Maurice are too overworked. Most decisions happening at WCBS are not making sense these days... have they undergone a recent management change?

I'm also thinking of how they have Tony as field meteorologist in the morning (even on sunny days); it seems quite unnecessary- they should give him the noon or rotate with John for in-studio weather or something..

So this must be part of the 'big changes' Andrea teased the bosses were making. Such a shame to move Dana (and Dick too) off that desk, these bosses ought to be ashamed of themeselves. This seems reminiscent of when Bill Carey re-assigned Kaity and Jim, or when Sue Simmons was forced out at WNBC. 

Terrible moves this week overall. I think these changes will alienate lots of WCBS viewers. But I would think if they are making these changes, ratings must not be good.

Such a shame for CBS bosses to force Andrea out of the chair,  a chair that has been hers since as others mentioned, 2013. Her and Doug (and Craig) were all great together (speaking of which I would hope Craig would stay too). I was thinking recently how nice it would be for Alice Gainer to be a permanent anchor again in some capacity since she lost the news at 9 gig, and she is great whenever she fills in (especially with Dick Brennan). Either way I'm also surprised CBS is allowing both Andrea and Doug to speak the truth about the change, since that will obviously fuel anger and hate towards WCBS (and heck, if enough speak out maybe even reverse that decision)!

At least I haven't seen talent shifts at other stations recently where the anchors were allowed to speak so candidly about decisions by the bosses.

Either way Andrea has talent and deserves that chair; if not at WCBS she will certainly earn it somewhere else.

3 hours ago, RealNews18 said:

Looks like Kendis and Arainee will be doing the 4&5 he debuted last Monday from what it looks

like on insta 

Yes, from what I've noticed the schedule is:

4,5pm: Kendis, Arrianee and Chris Cimino

6/6:30/10: Kori, Shirley, Mr. G

Previously, Chris did the 4/6 and G the 5/10.

Happy that PIX has finally diversified their evening teams, from what I saw of Kendis he seems like a great fit and adaptable to the lighter fare of the 4pm, and the harder approach to the 5pm.

Seems like a pretty good hire, and will hopefully make a good partner for Arrianee. My guess is the same as above (Kendis/Arrianee for 4pm and 5pm and Shirley/Kori for 6pm/6:30pm/10pm). He is also one of "New York's very own", as they say.

Has it been mentioned at all where Sade Baderinwa has been? I've noticed Sandra Bookman seems to be filling in most nights with Bill. Holiday vacation is normal but it seems like she hasn't been seen in a while.

It seems former WNBC reporter Lori Borondoro (who left in 2018) has re-emerged on WCBS as of today.

Noticed this new promo: 

 It seems that he was hired as a second weekday morning meteorologist alongside John (makes sense with them adding all these newscasts). Maybe this would also allow John to do more interview segments or maybe outdoor segments like he used to do on the weekends.. Craig Allen seems to be on weekend mornings still, for now.

Mary is a PIX and local news legend, wishing her the best on her retirement. They had a nice tribute to her on the news at 4pm.

WPHL meteorologist Monica Cryan did the weather on PIX this morning (I believe remotely). I also realized that WPHL has nearly identical graphics to WPIX.

Tonight the evening team was John Muller and Katie Corrado -surprised they used 2 anchors given the holiday, but Katie is great as anchor. Byron Miranda seems to be in the running with John Elliott, doing the weather for all the broadcasts the last few days (but I think all the weather hits were pre-recorded).

Here's the video John mentions this in, cut to the last part: 

And totally agreed. Analyzing his schedule, John is totally overworked but it seems like he requests it maybe? Just seems like a genuinely cool guy who's knowledgeable about weather but likes to work hard and will cover for anyone when needed. But yes I noticed that Lonnie and Vanessa don't work nearly as hard as he does (or at least to what's shown to the viewer of course, not counting behind the scenes prep).

I had a feeling something was going on with Kaity given she was off more than 2 weekends in a row. Very lucky they caught the cancer early and hope she feels better soon!