Signing Off From The Firm in LA *

Tony McEwing, anchor of "Good Day L.A." on Fox 11, announced his retirement from the morning news broadcast during Wednesday's show. After 30 years of leading the popular show, McEwing told viewers that it was time for him to "hang up his mic" after a career spanning 43 years in total. His final day on air will be on February 3rd.

McEwing praised the station's management and his colleagues on "Good Day L.A.", whom he referred to as "family", and thanked viewers for their support over the years. His departure marks the second major loss for the show in the past five months, as anchor Michaela Pereira announced her departure last August to pursue other opportunities.

In a phone interview following the broadcast, McEwing revealed that he had actually planned to leave the station several years ago but decided to stay on during the pandemic. He had covered numerous major stories during his tenure, including the O.J. Simpson murder trial, the 9/11 terrorist attacks, and several earthquakes and floods. He had also witnessed the evolution of the local morning news landscape, noting that "viewers like tuning in to the news in the morning to see what has happened during the night. And they are very, very loyal."

Pete Wilgoren, acting Fox 11 news director, said in a statement that McEwing was "quite simply the heartbeat of this newsroom for so many years and a huge part of the fabric of this community." As for his retirement plans, McEwing said that his first order of business is getting some much-needed sleep, stating "I don't have to get up at zero dark thirty. Getting up at 2 and 3 in the morning gets tougher as you get older."

Tony McEwing's retirement marks the end of an era for "Good Day L.A." and Fox 11, and he will be greatly missed by his colleagues, viewers, and the community. His contributions to the station and the morning news landscape will not be forgotten.