Out & About

[AaronQ 282]

On 4/3/2025 at 12:54 PM, TheRolyPoly said:

40 years on Charlotte television. He joined when it was WPCQ and Odyssey Partners without local news being produced. Now it's WCNC and TEGNA with local news on.

 

Its the anniversary of Larry Sprinkle at WCNC. This so happens to be his final week in the morning as he'll shift to do inspirational stories (since he's a forecaster, not an accredited meteorologist).

 

Chris Mulcahy is taking over his spot.

 

https://youtu.be/wpz5iZvpiBA?si=MYrB5lV_zTyoPr8X

Mornings will not be the same, but I give my congrats to Larry on 40 years with WCNC and I wish him the best of luck on new adventure with the station! Chris Mulcahy is a really good successor as well! 

[TheRolyPoly 2546]

Heidi Alagha celebrates 10 years of being in the news business... by getting out of the news business.

 

This week is her last at KGUN 9 in Tucson.

 

https://www.facebook.com/HeidiAlagha/posts/pfbid02of16av42ccCiZnMwtvxn4oyn6tYKQ1aWsjqmPj9pqyHYZzwzd4QXwAtTDY59HsxTl

[TheRolyPoly 2546]

On 4/4/2025 at 6:35 PM, TheRolyPoly said:

KSHB 41 via Facebook.

 

Is Gary Lezak coming back?

 

There you go. The worst kept secret.

 

Starting next Monday, Gary Lezak will return to KSHB 41 for a temporary three-month morning gig while Lindsey Anderson is on maternity leave.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGXfPhH5hhw&ab_channel=KSHB41

[MD TV 277]

On 12/2/2024 at 5:15 PM, hfiles said:

WRC just announced that Leon Harris will be stepping away from the anchor desk.

 

https://www.ftvlive.com/sqsp-test/2024/12/2/breaking-dc-anchor-off-the-air

Update:

 

Leon has announced he's stepping away from the station altogether:

 

https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/leon-harris-announcement/3885929/

[TheRolyPoly 2546]

Another retirement announcement... WDBJ 7's Jean Jadhon after 33 years.

 

She'll retire at the end of May.

 

https://www.wdbj7.com/2025/04/08/jean-jadhon-announces-retirement-your-hometown-station/?fbclid=IwY2xjawJiZcNleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHhXhNgeZZI9HU-2ET9ChDuGEQyoWV72O4G2sB9VDfHg5dvFY4qnIA9sA7pJ2_aem_MjLfh5y18B_7uVTWzb5moQ

[TVNewsLover 785]

2 hours ago, MD TV said:

Update:

 

Leon has announced he's stepping away from the station altogether:

 

https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/leon-harris-announcement/3885929/

Wonder if they would consider bringing back Aaron Gilchrist to replace him. 

[Dave Lampstein 120]

22 hours ago, MD TV said:

Leon has announced he's stepping away from the station altogether

I am sure WUSA9 is salivating at the chance to hire him. 
 

Kristen Pierce out at WISN after 3 years:

https://www.jsonline.com/story/entertainment/television-radio/2025/04/08/wisn-tv-channel-12-co-anchor-kristin-pierce-leaves-milwaukee-station/82996318007/
 

This really shows the state of the business that a top-rated Hearst station can’t hold onto talent anymore. WISN has become a bit of a revolving door ever since the old guard started retiring. 

[TheRolyPoly 2546]

Sticking with Milwaukee... a WDJT original is hanging it up, somewhat.

 

Mike Strehlow has been there since day one. However, he's giving up his noon and 4pm duties so he can semi-retire in order to solely focus on CBS 58 Sunday Morning, which btw is different from their weekend morning news.

 

https://cbs58.com/news/cbs-58s-mike-strehlow-stepping-away-from-anchor-desk

[nathannah 2493]

1 hour ago, Dave Lampstein said:

WISN has become a bit of a revolving door ever since the old guard started retiring. 

The "not a difficult decision" in her statement was very telling and candid because they did a few things and hires that you could say are 'more palatable' to certain suburbanites, including getting a new hire outside the station for the nightside rather than promoting deserving talent already there.

 

(It's still much less than what 4 has gone through since the Scripps sale though)

 

Just now, TheRolyPoly said:

Sticking with Milwaukee... a WDJT original is hanging it up, somewhat.

 

Mike Strehlow has been there since day one. However, he's giving up his noon and 4pm duties so he can semi-retire in order to solely focus on CBS 58 Sunday Morning, which btw is different from their weekend morning news.

A day one hire from WTMJ, and a well-deserved wind-down for Mike (and Sunday Morning is a good example of what stations should do on the weekend mornings); one of the last of the 'steady and solid' guys from that era of Milwaukee news.

[Dave Lampstein 120]

1 hour ago, nathannah said:

A day one hire from WTMJ, and a well-deserved wind-down for Mike (and Sunday Morning is a good example of what stations should do on the weekend mornings); one of the last of the 'steady and solid' guys from that era of Milwaukee news.

The absolute KINDEST man in local television news. A well-deserved semi-retirement. Their Sunday Morning show is actually a highlight on a very blighted record thanks to him. 
 

As for WISN’s issues… no comment.

Edited April 9 by Dave Lampstein

[TheRolyPoly 2546]

5 hours ago, Dave Lampstein said:

Kristen Pierce out at WISN after 3 years:

https://www.jsonline.com/story/entertainment/television-radio/2025/04/08/wisn-tv-channel-12-co-anchor-kristin-pierce-leaves-milwaukee-station/82996318007/
 

This really shows the state of the business that a top-rated Hearst station can’t hold onto talent anymore. WISN has become a bit of a revolving door ever since the old guard started retiring. 

 

Its not a good look when you replace someone who spent 20+ years at the station (Toya Washington) only for the replacement to suddenly leave after just 3 years (Kristen Pierce).

 

I'm sorry to say this but WISN did Toya dirty. They should've given her more roles, including at 4pm, and the fact they never did or given her the 10pm on top of the 5pm, it makes them look dirty.

 

I still like WISN 12 but something like this just makes you take a second look at them.

[TheRolyPoly 2546]

33 years at KPLC, and nearly 3 decades anchoring 7 News Sunrise.

 

Come June, John Bridges will stop anchoring the program as he'll entire the next phase... retirement.

 

https://www.kplctv.com/2025/04/10/longtime-sunrise-anchor-john-bridges-announces-he-will-retire-this-summer/?fbclid=IwY2xjawJlGZJleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHt1aSQlK_ngljRMyekqegBgbQEjyB4xdWCrvmUlu5NX1aPDfLfioTkoEmhRS_aem_CujNY3ChNqMNgiay2qOjEw

[TheRolyPoly 2546]

30 years of LaTrice Currie on WRCB Chattanooga.

 

https://www.local3news.com/video/must-see-videos/congratulations-to-latrice-currie-for-30-years-at-local-3-news/video_d2e4da12-e1c4-5ca6-beb9-a36363abf5f7.html

[Recovering Producer 221]

Sun Broadcasting/WXCW Naples-Fort Myers (and sidecar to Fort Myers Broadcasting/WINK) President Jim Schwartzel is running for the U.S. House.

 

I can't quite figure out how he got this glowing profile on WINK. It truly is a mystery. 

[ScottSchell 370]

Couple of departures from KTUL/KOKH. Yesterday was sports Director TJ Eckert’s last day after 7 years at KTUL. Tonight is Meteorologist Colton Williams last day at both stations. Both are planning to stay in green county but haven’t announce their plans. Well I should say TJ said he will announce later on down the road Colton isn’t for sure as to his next plans but is planning on doing social media weather updates still.

Edited April 12 by ScottSchell

[Breaking News 835]

On 4/9/2025 at 6:51 PM, TheRolyPoly said:

 

Its not a good look when you replace someone who spent 20+ years at the station (Toya Washington) only for the replacement to suddenly leave after just 3 years (Kristen Pierce).

 

I'm sorry to say this but WISN did Toya dirty. They should've given her more roles, including at 4pm, and the fact they never did or given her the 10pm on top of the 5pm, it makes them look dirty.

 

I still like WISN 12 but something like this just makes you take a second look at them.

Toya Washington, did a podcast interview awhile back and she talked about being burned out and she got off the 10pm back in 2011 for part-time for her family. I remember she wanted to do just the 5pm for family reason, and left the job to be a mom with her kids and her husband schedule too.  She's teaching now, but there the article and podcast to check out.

https://onmilwaukee.com/articles/toyawashington  

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/toya-washington-leaving-tv-news/id1690213362?i=1000615141001

 

[TheRolyPoly 2546]

I remember her when she was anchoring at WKBN in Youngstown.

 

Tomorrow will be Whitney Ward's last day at KREM 2 in Spokane after 12 years and will exit the TV news industry in favor of the technology industry.

 

https://www.krem.com/article/about-us/whitney-ward-to-leave-krem-2-after-12-years/293-8f44a5b6-114f-4911-ba22-36879d0f78a1?fbclid=PAY2xjawJqQDRleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABp-OF8PSRqLdbyFndRrQVudK7HHXxvcUqg7MZX_bbx6hKlgDjPKtGS9tQrK-Z_aem_xSWvcsCS6Do8Hi26ef2VDg

[norcalTVfan 18]

2 hours ago, TheRolyPoly said:

I remember her when she was anchoring at WKBN in Youngstown.

 

Tomorrow will be Whitney Ward's last day at KREM 2 in Spokane after 12 years and will exit the TV news industry in favor of the technology industry.

 

https://www.krem.com/article/about-us/whitney-ward-to-leave-krem-2-after-12-years/293-8f44a5b6-114f-4911-ba22-36879d0f78a1?fbclid=PAY2xjawJqQDRleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABp-OF8PSRqLdbyFndRrQVudK7HHXxvcUqg7MZX_bbx6hKlgDjPKtGS9tQrK-Z_aem_xSWvcsCS6Do8Hi26ef2VDg

I am not surprised as KREM has turned into a mini dumpster fire since they migrated to the new AI production platform. I think they may have undergone some additional budget tightening as well… It took them a few months to replace their morning anchor, some weekends there isn’t even a reporter in the field, and it appears they dumped their 5 PM weekend newscast to air a 30 minute week in review show. 

[newsdude 61]

On 4/9/2025 at 1:41 PM, Dave Lampstein said:

I am sure WUSA9 is salivating at the chance to hire him. 

Leon was never really a ratings draw, but WUSA9 also never really made many smart decisions either, so who knows? 

Can he one man band???

[TheRolyPoly 2546]

WTLV/WJXX has finally named its replacement for Tim Deegan as its next chief...

 

Lewis Turner got the gig.

 

 

[newsman123 116]

1 hour ago, newsdude said:

Leon was never really a ratings draw, but WUSA9 also never really made many smart decisions either, so who knows? 

Can he one man band???

I was gonna say…

No station really has the money these days to pay anchors. WUSA and Tegna is probably looking to unload.. not add. 

[Recovering Producer 221]

49 minutes ago, newsdude said:

Leon was never really a ratings draw, but WUSA9 also never really made many smart decisions either, so who knows? 

Can he one man band???

 

12 minutes ago, newsman123 said:

I was gonna say…

No station really has the money these days to pay anchors. WUSA and Tegna is probably looking to unload.. not add. 

 

I hope even if they call, he has the good sense to say no. There is nothing to gain and everything to lose by coming back. I hope Leon finds peace, sobriety, and health in his next chapter. 

 

As someone who spent 15 years in a newsroom, for every person who has a public/visible fall from grace due to alcohol or other substance abuse, there are just as many, if not more, who battle it silently or are in denial about it and manage to fly under the radar. There's no way to quantify the why - but the combination of odd hours, lack of balance, constant bad news content, and high-pressure work environment all likely play a role. 

 

Candidly, it's a big reason why I got out when I did. I saw the life outcomes of unmarried or divorced men over 40 who stay in TV news. The odds are not in your favor. 

[TheRolyPoly 2546]

Deborah Knapp has spent almost 50 years in TV news, the last nearly 38 at KENS 5.

 

Come late May, she will retire. One of the last best titan pillars of journalism is soon walking out the door.

 

 

Edited April 15 by TheRolyPoly

[Breaking News 835]

22 hours ago, newsdude said:

Leon was never really a ratings draw, but WUSA9 also never really made many smart decisions either, so who knows? 

Can he one man band???

TEGNA seems to be cash poor. Can they afford him?

[tyrannical bastard 4018]

Just now, Breaking News said:

TEGNA seems to be cash poor. Can they afford him?

Would WUSA even hire him....if he even wanted to work again?

 

That would be his third station in DC after WJLA and WRC...