WABC - 7 Eyewitness News

[Vlad 406]

17 hours ago, MorningNews said:

It’s time for Bill Ritter to retire entirely from his anchoring duties. Or they need to strictly prohibit him from going off script when reading a story.

 

What happened? Did he say something out of script during a recent newscast or is this just a general observation?

[MorningNews 1711]

10 hours ago, Vlad said:

 

What happened? Did he say something out of script during a recent newscast or is this just a general observation?

Just generally his presentation has declined significantly in the last few years. He tries to improvise but just meanders until finally tossing to the reporter or their package. It’s clumsy and distracting.
 

 

[swaggyboi128 3]

3 hours ago, MorningNews said:

Just generally his presentation has declined significantly in the last few years. He tries to improvise but just meanders until finally tossing to the reporter or their package. It’s clumsy and distracting.
 

 

Can't say I've noticed this...I know he stopped caring about his appearance after COVID but I don't think his quality has much. Not to mention channel 7 doesn't seem like somewhere someone could improv into a package or a live report much, maybe into say weather or sports but that's supposed to be conversational. Everything's run pretty tight and if Bill really "meandered on" then it'd be fairly noticeable.

[Nynewsguy7 23]

It’s coming. By end of the year. The wheels are in motion. 

[ns8401 995]

My assumption is that like most people who don’t know when to ride off into the sunset there are signs he’s well past his expiration date.

[Vlad 406]

2 hours ago, Nynewsguy7 said:

It’s coming. By end of the year. The wheels are in motion. 

 

Aw, was hoping he'd stay till 80 like Chuck on WNBC,   I grew up with Bill, he is the face of WABC, when he retires it will be truly an end of an era.

Edited 7 hours ago by Vlad

[MediaZone4K 2661]

2 hours ago, Vlad said:

 

Aw, was hoping he'd stay till 80 like Chuck on WNBC,   I grew up with Bill, he is the face of WABC, when he retires it will be truly an end of an era.

I feel like Bill never reached that icon status of other news men like Bill Butel, Roger Grimsby, Jim Jensen, and Chuck Scarborough. I think part of it was because by the time Bill took the helm at WABC their anchors were treated an ensemble with no one team standing out above the rest.

 

Another long time anchor I'd say that about is WNBC's David  Ushery. 

[NowBergen 924]

2 minutes ago, MediaZone4K said:

I feel like Bill never reached that icon status of other news men like Bill Butel, Roger Grimsby, Jim Jensen, and Chuck Scarborough. I think part of it was because by the time Bill took the helm at WABC their anchors were treated an ensemble with no one team standing out above the rest.

 

Another long time anchor I'd say that about is WNBC's David  Ushery. 

Exactly, when I think of generational anchors at WABC, it's Bill Beutel and Roger Grimsby.  Part of it is the original Eyewitness News format took off when they were brought in and assumed anchor duties. They changed the game for the station..  They are the Channel 7  (and NY broadcasting) icons.