Where are all the former news anchors?

[Keith]

I was just wondering what has happened to some of the former news anchors and reporters from Ch4, Ch5, and Ch9? From an earlier post. Mr.Anderson made the comment that Cherokee Ballard had left. I had no idea. Channel 9 did a special segment a couple of months ago that basically let us know where some of their former anchors and reporters were working now.

There seems to be so many new reporters coming to OKC. Usually when a new reporter comes in, it means another reporter has left.

[mranderson]

Cherokee said she left because she had reached her goals. She will still be available for special reports (the reason she was on the air on election night). She is also going to teach journalism at OU.

I just hope and pray she is alright. I have met her and have always liked her. She was really nice to me.

[floater]

KWTV reporters' new gigs, as far as I know: Tony Clark is with CNN, Mitch Jelniker is in Denver, Patti Saurez is pursuing an acting career, Chris Harrison makes a living telling somebody there's one more rose left (on top of hosting "Designer's Challenge"), Mike Carpenter is spokesperson for CityVue20, and Jennifer Reynolds hosts Oklahoma Today.

KOCO reporters' new gigs, as far as I know: Gerry Bonds and ??? host OETA news, and we all know what Mick Cornett's new role is.

KFOR reporters' new gigs: with the exception of former state tourism head Jane Jayroe, they're all still there

Now here's a question: what was the story behind Ann Holloran's departure?

[mranderson]

A lot of the former anchors move stations or go into the private sector. Jessica Brown from KFOR is spokes woman for the OSBI, Don Sherry (KOCO) is still with ONG, and several have moved to CNN.

Of course, we need not forget the ones who just changed stations or had some legal problems.

[Patrick]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"And where is Carrie Zamora?"

That's a good question. I've wondered where she's been as well! I thought she was a really good anchor for channel 5. I'll email channel 5 and ask!

[Patrick]

By the way...where does Fox 25 get all of their weather people from. Seems like the only regular Iknow is Chuck Bell, but they always seem to have new people on there on weekends and such.

[Keith]

I wonder what Jerry Adams is up to now that he has had a run in with the law and had legal problems? Also, Randy Renner (who got caught by an undercover officer at Trosper Park...looking for love in the wrong place ), Jack Bowen, who got into some deep doo doo by stalking a girlfriend who didn't want him .

Brady Brus (from Ch.9) is now doing weather on KSBI ch.52. Hey, floater.....I understand that Ann Halloran had her contract terminated because she was just not fitting in with the rest of the anchors. She didn't have the charisma that the producers were looking for. Nothing was ever said on TV about it. All of a sudden, she is just gone. I believe I read the story about her in the TV guide.

Jennifer Eve is now doing some local commercials and also hosting a Saturday morning gardening show on TV. I must agree about Ch. 25's weather people. It seems like I see a new one everytime I tune in.

[mranderson]

Actually, Brady Brus OWNS KSBI along with his sister Brenda Bennett. Randy Renner does news on KOMA and OETA.

About fired anchors, etc. Their departure is rarely boradcast. Plus, KOKH uses Sinlcair Broadcasting's "News Central" for weather and sports from their studio, I think in Conneticutt (sp). All but one sports person and meteorlogist are localed there. Chuck Bell, I think is still local. They should have kept the woman and 86'ed him.

[floater]

That's interesting about Jack Bowen. I heard he was a real standup guy. I heard that he did his best to tolerate a co-anchor who constantly cussed off-broadcast. But, who among us is perfect?

[Patrick]

Actually Fox 25 News is a mixture of national and local. All of the weather is local. I learned today that the people they often have on weekends and at other times to fill in are interns from the National Weather Service in Norman. Chuck Bell is the staff meterologist and heads all that up! He is from here and lives with his male partner in Glenbrook!
Andrew Speno and Brooke Osburne are from here and they cover local news, but Morris Jones and the News Central gang are national!

Mr. Anderson, I personally wish Fox 25 News would've kept Megan Glaros!

[mranderson]

I think the woman of which I am refering was named Amy. She appeared to be around my age.

Did you notice another KOCO defectee on KOKH? The black guy. His name escapes me.

Also. I remember reading when KOKH layed off the entire sports and weather departments execpt the holdout (I think his name started with a z) and the woman meterologist, that the weather and sports reports would be localized, however, be from the News Central studios on the east coast.

They must have changed their minds.

[Raspberry]

Patrick,

Everything you said about the KOKH weather department is wrong. They have NO LOCAL WEATHER DEPARTMENT! Chuck Bell left before they closed their operations, and now works for Sinclair Weather Central in Baltimore, MD. Chuck's replacement, Amy, was let go shortly after they hired her, when they got rid of the local weather dept. All of their weather people are in Baltimore (including Chuck). This is why they have no severe weather coverage, except for the annoying map in the corner of the screen.

[mranderson]

The following is a quote from Chuck Bell's biography on the KOKH website.

"After 3 1/2 years of heading the Sinclair Station's weather office in Oklahoma City it was time to move to Sinclair's Corporate Headquarters in Baltimore to join the company's ground-breaking effort to centralize weather operations.He can now be seen not only on KOKH-TV FOX 25 in Oklahoma City, but also on WLFL-TV WB22 in Raleigh, North Carolina. Every night Chuck communicates not only the daily forecast, but his love of science and of nature. "

I thought he was still local. I guess it is because when he and Amy (Gardner is her last name. I knew I would remember) were on the air, they WERE local.

Although it could have been said a bit calmer, Raspberry is correct. I stand corrected.

[Patrick]

Thanks for the information guys! I wasn't aware of the changes!

[Patrick]

Yeah, every night now at the beginning of Channel 5's newscast, they've been continuing to say that Carrie is off for the night, so it sounds as if she'll be back. Hopefully she doesn't have a serious illness like cancer or anything.....I remember when Cherokee Ballard dealt with that. I haven't done it yet, but I'll go ahead and email channel 5 and ask where she is. I'll let you guys know what I find out.

[Patrick]

Here's the reply I got from channel 5:

"Unfortunately, as a matter of policy, we can't discuss personnel
matters (we're bound by the same confidentiality rules of any other business).
I hope we'll have Carrie back on the air real soon...

Regards,

Jonathan Shelley
Asst. News Director"

Sorry I couldn't get the details. I might try to go around this and email Kevin Sims.

[JBGood]

Miss Z has severe stage fright that keeps her from appearing on air. With the ADA in force, KOCO can't fire her and she can't work. So....there you have it.

[Patrick]

Are you sure about that? She acted pretty calm to me! In all seriousness, I hope nothing major is wrong with her. It must be a personal issue though.

[mranderson]

Granted it sounds far fetched, however, a lot of people who appear before cameras and live audiences DO suffer from "stage freight." Barbra Streisand is among them. She is being treated with a drug called Tenorman. I was on it for hypertension. When I was placed on it, my doctor told me about Barbra and her treatment.

I presume, as time goes by, Patrick, you will be able to confirm that.

Is Carrie sidelined due to "stage freight?" Hard to say.

[JBGood]

Stage "FREIGHT"?

[okcpulse]

Ann Halloran departed News 9 because of personality conflicts. As the Oklahoma Gazette reported, the station's management felt that Halloran did not fit in to the direction and chemistry that management wanted to take. Right or wrong, Halloran didn't fit behind KWTV's news desk.

[Patrick]

News anchors come, news anchors go....some stay a long time, some go in a few months. That's just the nature of the game. If ratings aren't up, your job is axed.

[Keith]

It makes me wonder if very many of these TV personalities actually buy a house when they get a job here. I know people like the Ogle's, Gary England, Dean Blevins, Linda Cavanaugh, and Bob Barry, Jr (just to name a few) are probably going to be around for a long time.......but what about these reporters that come and go through the great broadcasting revolving door? I wonder if they rent apartments or something in case their new jobs don't work out?

[mranderson]

Mnay do rent apartments. There was a reporter for KWTV in the early 80's named Jan Costello. I knew Jan very well and to this day can tell you where her apartment was. Some do buy houses. A house, even if you are only around a year or two, still can be a good investment. Most sell fast.

By the way. Jan went from here to CNN. I lost contact with her shortly after that.

[Patrick]

It just depends on the person. I know Chuck Bell and his significant other lied in a house in Glenbrook (my dad elivered his mail) and they sold their house.