Roadgeek Adam

The fun is right now even WKBW, in Buffalo where I'm stuck, has 5 full-time meteorologists. They also had 8 at one point last year. I don't mind the 4 meteorologist system, but even someone from WPVI would be an improvement over Raleigh-Durham stations. Ultimately, a freelance is probably the best approach.

Steve Stewart came in last week as well from WTVD. However, he is king of graphics. The issue is the only one they've brought in recently who has a general idea of the area, and that was Spencer Christian which was great in June. Admittedly, if WABC wanted to hire a freelance for this situation, John Bolaris is a free agent.

Let me say this when I made the post I started with. I didn't mean to insinuate they only worked 8 1/2 hours on air and in between. I know that they commonly have long commutes in and also do lots of prep work. I just feel like Ken & Shirleen shouldn't have to spend 8 1/2 hours on broadcasts (and in between stuff) unless it's stipulated. I legitimately apologize.

Working from 4:30-1 is 8 and a half hours in the building. (not to mention getting there, among other things) No one else in the Eyewitness News anchor department hosts in a stretch more than 6 1/2. The fact that Shirleen is working 4:30-1 means at some point she'll probably go from 4:30-7 unless it's stipulated in her contract. Bill only works 6 1/2 (5-11:32) David works 4 (12 to 4:58) Sade works 6 1/2 (5-11:32) Liz works 2 1/2 (4 to 6:30) Sandra works 7 (5 to 12) Joe works 7 (5 to 12) I don't see it being fair to force people to work for 8 and a half hours.

David works noon and 4. Getting 4 was part of getting David back from CHI. Bill and Liz at 6 have been the norm for quite a while since Liz left the 11 for 4. As for why Bill at 5, he chose to take over for Diana is my guess. As for Ken, he and Lori were both taken off the 12-1 shift to relieve the load of work. Bill (and now Sam) still work both, but there was a place needed for Shirleen, and Ken and Lori at the time got a break working from 4:30-7. Lori's leaving put Shirleen at mornings as well. Of course, Ken has a ton of seniority.

It aired at 4:56 for the record (Thorne's first piece)

Kristin Thorne returned today from her maternity leave.

That did remind me, what happened to Roseanne Colletti? Her Twitter stopped on 7/30 and her bio's gone, so I'm guessing there's a reason that was nonamicable.

For one of the few times since Sam Ryan was hired, Anthony Johnson doing sports tonight. Every time I see him doing sports, my brain thinks Randall Pinkston having to fill in for Warner Wolf.

It's not crazy. It sucks it's not Spencer Christian again, but hey, he lives in San Fran and has his own commitments. Steve did a fine job.

Ok, so I wasn't going crazy. I gave up pretty quickly because it was commercials nonstop.

I've heard the same in terms of quality. I don't hate it. I hate KABC's with a passion. As for the move, I'm disappointed ABC is leaving Grimsby's Bars Corners (66 & Columbus), but I guess the option of more space will help.

There's no reason to keep the same graphics. WABC used it for years until 2016. I'm not suggesting we should keep the same package going for 20 years, but a refresh is always good. Just for perspective: 1968-1975 1975-1978 1979-1983 1983-1986 1987-1994 1995-1998 [in my opinion, the worst] 1999-2003 2004-2008 2009-2015 2016-present These are the ages of the graphic packages. Right now we're probably on pace to replace them in 2020-2021, but I'd not expect much until the move I'm guessing. The problem is the minimalist nature of the KABC graphics also lead to limitations like this. WABC's is 2 lines and while it may be bulkier, it guarantees lines like this fit.

Must have been something because he's back for 11.

This is weird. Lee Goldberg did his normal first spots in the 5 pm broadcast. All of a sudden, Amy Freeze is doing the second half.

Lauren worked at 4.

Jesus, the kvetching about that graphic package doesn't stop. I get it. It's not the best graphic package, but the old ones were going for multiple years at this point and it was time for change. Yes, it will get changed eventually. It's the not worst thing I've seen. It's readable. It's light years better than KABC's.

Shirleen returned today as expected. David presented her with flowers and a coffee card.

Andy didn't report last Christmas season which caught my attention. But good for her.

Jim's new place is the Lititz Shirt Factory. It hasn't opened yet, but they are restoring a place to be the new brewery. As for going with 1 investigator, they seem to be pretty content with replacing in kind rather than eliminating any positions. The only one that's a little unusual is Mike Marza, whose role seems extra. (As retirements go up, that will probably change.) Sam Champion replaced Bill Evans, Sam Ryan replaced Laura Benkhe, Derick Waller replaced Dray Clark, so on and so forth.

Dan Krauth, formerly of WPTV and NBC News, has joined Channel 7 as Jim Hoffer's replacement for 7 Investigates/On Your Side. He made his Channel 7 debut today during the 5 pm broadcast.

I never liked Steve. I always got this aura of discomfort listening to him do the news. I don't get to watch Ken as often as I'd like, but he was a better choice by leaps and bounds.

I wasn't trying to refer to Beutel as flashy. I meant, everyone he worked with were professionals, even if they were acerbic and deadpan [Grimsby]. I mean, Susan Roesgen is definitely a bit more flashy than the previous list I made.

They just never got along and unfortunately that kind of stuff came out in the press. They never specified what were the spats. Bill denied them to the press as well. Roesgen was 29 when she was hired by WABC, kind of this flashy young anchor to replace Kaity Tong, who had been forced out unfairly when they didn't renew her contract. I don't get the sense that Bill liked that flashy kind of personality next to him. Having worked with Kaity Tong, Roger Grimsby, Ernie Anastos, John Johnson and other real professionals with less flare, Susan was likely a different style. Regardless, she was gone by August 1, 1992. She made $175,000 a year in her stint with WABC compared to Kaity, who was making $600,000. Ratings at WABC actually had gone 10% up with Susan, which means it was not ratings related at all. Ultimately, this led to Diana WIlliams getting the 11 pm slot with Beutel and Harry Martin getting the weekend slot. Rest is history as you can say.

This is interesting. Of all the WABC Eyewitness News broadcasts on YouTube, there has been none during Susan Roesgen's tenure at the desk. That changed today. Channel 7 itself posted this archive footage on their YouTube. That's literally the first on YT. There are some openings and commercials with her. This is the first newscast. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6utfcax4v9s