They Annoy Me...

Buffalo News TV Critic Alan Pregament recently spent a week watching each of the Buffalo stations newscasts.

He watched Nexstar’s WIVB, Tegna’s WGRZ and Scripps WKBW.

He wrote about each and then he wrote about “Which Newscast is the Most Watchable.”

If stations were looking for promo soundbites, they are out of luck.

In taking about the Scripps station, he writes, “Channel 7, which prerecords all its newscasts, has de-emphasized the importance of anchors. Jeff Russo, Michael Wooten and Ed Drantch are the survivors. Russo is a low-key competent anchor, traits that don’t demand viewer attention and loyalty.”

In speaking of the Nexstar station, “Channel 4’s primary early evening anchor team of Kelsey Anderson and Dave Greber have the unenviable task of replacing the long-term anchor team of Jacquie Walker and Don Postles. Anderson is a relatable next-door neighbor type, especially if you grew up in her hometown, Orchard Park. Greber is a solid old school anchor who occasionally is too loud and could exude a little more warmth.”

And, the Tegna station, “Channel 2’s primary anchors Scott Levin and Maryalice Demler almost never do any reporting and basically are news readers. And they are very good at it. They are the longest serving team, which comes with pluses and minuses.”

So, which did he pick as the most watchable?

“Levin and Demler are likely the last long-term anchor team here. If I watch them too often, they occasionally annoy me. But I would watch them the most if I didn’t have this job. When they annoy me, I’ll gladly shift to Anderson and Greber on some nights.”

I can see the Tegna promo now, “Levin and Demler will only occasionally annoy you.”