Weekend AM Newscasts -- Why Bother?

[formeraa]

I used to like the weekend am programs.  However, that was back when they actually had adequate staffing.  Poor Joe Dana was sitting there by himself with recorded forecasts from Caribe Devine, although they supposedly had no spot for Sarah Walters.  Over on 3, April is anchoring the whole 3 hours by herself (something happened to Ryan O'Donnell -- sick perhaps?).  April nervously was telling Brittany, who was covering roller derby, to not fall while she was rollerskating (because she couldn't do tomorrow's show all by herself).

This is sad, almost laughable.  12 used to put on a real newscast.

[brian4]

I'm watching Saturday's GMAZ via DVR. Earlier while watching it live, I thought it was weird when I only saw April. Later I heard that O'Donnell didn't show up. That was strange.

[MusicFan2009]

I saw the comments too about there being a no show and the meteorologists had to hold things down or were holding things down on GMAZ.  I will be happy when Tess is back next week.  She deserves a vacation, as someone who has worked weekends in the past, a vacation/break from all those Saturday and Sundays is just wonderful.  She is and always will be the best anchor IMHO on 3TV. 

For some reason Saturday's show just overall seemed awkward.  Brittney as Monsoon Mama or something like that pretending to be a roller derby chick for 3 hrs.  I really thought April was great on weekends as a forecaster when she was out and about on the town.  She had the opportunity to let her bubbly, outgoing personality shine brightly.  I feel like with her new role she has been tamed down in a way(may not be the best word to use, just more restricted role of reading weather maps and forecasts.), anyone else notice or agree with this statement? 

I feel like an ass saying this, cause it is so easy to criticize others but Ryan's role as an anchor, he seems to struggle with it.  I don't know if it just is a lack of confidence, because he does a good job as a field reporter, maybe he is out of place, but it just always seems awkward.  Unfortunately no chemistry with Tess.  Was saddened when they took Tyler off Saturday mornings, I know he is great at sports but he and Tess worked so well together. 

Maybe this no show could lead to a new weekend co-anchor with Tess.  Just wondering if they would need to hire from outside or if they have a suitable contender on the inside.  Your thoughts?  Maybe give Jarrod Dillingham a try?  Just a thought. 

I admire people who can get up in front of people and just talk and seem natural and confident.  It takes a bit of ego to do it.  While I am getting better, I still have a ways to go in the arena of public speaking and confidence.

Charlie. 

P.S.  One thought on Channel 12.  It used to be good when I moved here.  They would have Caribe out on the town like they do with Brittany Shipp, but I gave up on Channel 12, just not fun.  The show has gone downhill really fast.  As I've said before Weekend GMAZ is a whole different show and it works well cause they do news at top/bottom of every hour but they also interview and have segments and fun stuff to share.  It also may help that Tara is not there, hmmm? LOL  Really great show, weather reports from various locations around the Valley.   

[formeraa]

I do have to agree about Ryan O'Donnell.  The good news is he's much better than Brian Webb, but that's not saying much at all.  The other thing that irritated me this morning was they played the whole "missing" anchor thing agian at the beginning of Sunday GMAZ.  Then, Ryan never addressed what happened.  He made some lame remark like "Oh, yeah, I heard about that".

We, viewers, are a pretty intelligent lot...just tell us what really happened and be done with it.  The only good thing is that Tess is like Tara...next Saturday she will likely tell us exactly what happened.  If it was Ryan's fault, she will let him know repeatedly on air all next weekend! 

[brian4]

I got up too late to watch live and forgot to DVR it. So that was O'Donnell's excuse? Or non-excuse? Was he out of town? He didn't answer his phone that the producers must have repeatedly called? Hopefully somebody behind the scenes is getting reprimanded about this.

[formeraa]

I got up too late to watch live and forgot to DVR it. So that was O'Donnell's excuse? Or non-excuse? Was he out of town? He didn't answer his phone that the producers must have repeatedly called? Hopefully somebody behind the scenes is getting reprimanded about this.

To be fair, I only watched until 8:30am on Sunday but, yes, that was Ryan's "non-excuse".  To me, it was a flippant, almost arrogant response to something that had clearly bothered April on Saturday.  It was almost like saying, "It's not my fault.  I really don't care.  I'm not even going to pretend to care."

April isn't used to anchoring for hours by herself, but did a great job!

[ihEARDtHAT]

April isn't used to anchoring for hours by herself, but did a great job!

Before April came to KTVK in 2005, she WAS an anchor in Medford, OR at KTVL.  She had only filled in for the weather person a few times before becoming part of the 3TV Forecasters.  She is well trained at being an anchor.

[landtuna]

April isn't used to anchoring for hours by herself, but did a great job!

I agree with that too. 

[formeraa]

April isn't used to anchoring for hours by herself, but did a great job!

Before April came to KTVK in 2005, she WAS an anchor in Medford, OR at KTVL.  She had only filled in for the weather person a few times before becoming part of the 3TV Forecasters.  She is well trained at being an anchor.

First of all, that was over six years ago.  I highly doubt that KTVL had a three hour live newscast with lots of live interview-type segments interspersed with seven minutes of traditional news each half-hour.

[brian4]

It could've been worse: what if Tara had to anchor.
Alone.
On a weekend.

Whoever messed up by no-showing might as well leave the station. Because the viewers will hear about it for the next month.