Please Baer with us...

4 days ago FTVLive FIRST reported that WHP (Harrisburg) News Director Dave Baer was busted by police in a prostitution sting. 

Bear was arrested along with two women that have been charged with prostitution, while Baer was cuffed for soliciting prostitution. 

The station had posted a story on their site, but  made no mention of Bear's connection to the station. WHP GM Arthur Hasson will not even confirm that his News Director was arrested. 

Hasson ironically says that he will not confirm any information to the press (the GM of a TV station will not talk to the press?!). 

Baer has only been with the station a couple of months and it will be interesting to see what the station does Today? 

Who wouldn't want to be a fly on the WHP newsroom wall this morning? 

Stay tuned...  

Former Motown Anchor Spotted

Last week FTVLive told you that former Detroit Anchor Charles Pugh had gone missing.

Pugh is the current president of the Detroit City Council has apparently left without a trace.

Pugh had missed multiple council meetings over the last month and requested a four-week medical leave. The request he was been stripped of his pay and his power. 

Pugh left as allegations that he had an "inappropriate relationship" with a 17-year-old Detroit student surfaced. 

But now the former anchor has been spotted, but he is nowhere near Motown. 

A Detroit resident spotted Pugh in a Seattle coffee shop and took a picture of him. 

The woman that took the picture approached Pugh and asked if it was really him? He said yes and appeared relaxed according to the woman.

But, Motown sources tell FTVLive that Pugh texted the mother of the alleged victim of his "inappropriate relationship" and said that he is thinking about "killing himself". 

Some feel it is nothing more than a sympathy, pity act to divert attention from the issue. 

The Victims mother is expected to file court documents Today in the case. 

Stay tuned...

Move Over Paula Deen

Is there something about cooking and being a racist? 

First we had Paula Deen and now a contestant on Gordon Ramsay's "MasterChef" show is taking a page out of the Paula Deen cookbook.   

Contestant Krissi Biasiello has tweeted some nasty things that are nothing more than moronic racist crap. In the first tweet she is talking about players on the Philadelphia 76ers NBA team:

The MasterChef show has not addressed this issue as of yet. Biasiello has deleted her personal twitter account, but he account for the show is still going.

In fact, she sent out this tweet early this morning: 

We're hoping that the folks in charge of MasterChef will wise up, kick Biasiello to the curb and we'll see her sitting on a couch next to to Matt Lauer saying she "is what she is."

Paula Deen will be so proud.  

Bounced in Sin City

KSNV Reporter Kristyn Caddell joined the Vegas station four months ago, now she's out of a job.

Caddell is best known for her alleged romantic relationship with NBC’s “To Catch a Predator” host Chris Hansen.

Two years ago, Caddell was working in West Palm Beach, when she was caught snuggling with the married Hanson by the National Enquirer.

KSNV management is not talking about why Caddell is gone after such a short time on the job. News Director Bob Stoldal confirms Caddell's gone from the station, but refuses to give any details. 

This isn't the first time Caddell flamed out on a TV job.

She left Florida in late 2011 for a job in Seattle. She frequently called in sick, according to a station source, and then it was “no call, no show.”

Caddell has not commented on he latest job loss. 

H/T Las Vegas Review Journal  

Bounced in the Burgh

WPIX (Pittsburgh) Morning anchor Jennifer Abney is no longer with  the station. 

Abney, who was hired in late 2008 came to the Burgh after anchor stints in Mobile, Ala., and Wilmington, N.C.

The details of her departure are unknown.

"Jennifer is no longer with us. She has been a terrific employee who helped our morning efforts immensely," WPXI GM Ray Carter told the Pittsburgh Post Gazette.

"In her nearly five years with us, she was part of a lot of major news stories, including the Stanton Heights shootings, the G-20 Summit and the Steelers' appearance in the Super Bowl in Dallas," news director Mike Oliveria said. "Behind the scenes, she made everyone feel a part of the morning team. We wish her nothing but the best going forward."

Oliveira said the station is searching for her replacement and expects a hire should be announced by the end of July.

Huh?! What's going on here?!

There was a fluff story in the Hartford Courant about some longtime married couples reaffirmed their wedding vows at a local nursing home. 

You have to read the first part of the story and then we'll give you the kicker. 

The story says: 

"Love was in the air in Plantsville, Conn. as five couples, several of them who have been married for more than 60 years, reaffirmed their wedding vows. The ceremony took place Wednesday, June 26, at the Summit House Nursing Home.

Fox CT's Morning News anchor and Justice of the Peace, Logan Byrnes, officiated the special ceremony, which drew a huge applause from a packed house of attendees as the residents said “I do” again.

Barbara Blau, the director of therapeutic recreation at the nursing  home, said she was thrilled that Byrnes was available to perform the ceremony. “He really brought it to a whole new level,” said Blau. "

So, Fox Connecticut Logan Byrnes drew "huge applause" and brought ceremony to "whole new level."

That's very high praise for the morning anchor. But then as you look closer at the story and check out the byline you see it was written by Logan Byrnes!

I don't know about you, but I'm starting to think this story was a bit biased.  

That's the Face that Fired Me

It looks like karma has bitten (or should we say stung) a Harrisburg News Director in the ass. 

FTVLive FIRST told you on Friday (don't worry the other TV websites will get around to it tomorrow) that cops had busted WHP News Director Dave Baer in a Prostitution sting. 

Cops clamped the cuffs on Baer and two ladies of the evening late Thursday night. Baer has been charged with soliciting prostitution.

WHP has not reported the story and the GM of the station said he is not going to confirm the report to the press (someone please tell him, he is the press). 

The other stations in town posted the story on their websites, but made no mention of the fact that Baer was the News Director at WHP. 

But, Kirk Wilson who was fired by Baer because he was "painful to watch" confirms that the "John" arrested is WHP ND Dave Baer. 

“That’s the face that fired me,” Wilson told the local paper in reference to a mug shot of David Baer issued by Swatara Township police.

No word yet on what Baer's status is at the station. He's only been there a couple of months.  

Wilson also added that Bear used “poor judgment” when he fired him in late May. 

We're going out on a limb here and saying that isn't the only time Baer has used poor judgement. 

Miami Anchor Reunited with His Dog

Earlier this week FTVLive told you that WFOR (Miami) Anchor Elliot Rodriguez. had lost his dog and is desperately trying to find him.

Rodriquez 6-year-old silky terrier Freddie is the unofficial station’s night-shift mascot.

Rodriguez used his dinner break at work to search for Freddie and distributes flyers.

Well, we have happy news to report, Freddie is back in his owners arms! 

No details yet on how Rodriguez reunited with Freddie, but the happy news is they are back together.  

As an animal lover, we love reporting this outcome.  

FIRST on FTV: Harrisburg ND Busted in Prostitution Sting (Updated)

WHP (Harrisburg) News Director Dave Baer was arrested by police Thursday night after they set up  an undercover prostitution sting in Dauphin County.

Baer was arrested was after law enforcement conducted an enforcement detail at hotels throughout Swatara Township area.

Baer was arrested along with two women that police have charged with prostitution. Baer was charged with with soliciting prostitution.

Baer joined WHP in late April. At the time of his hiring WHP GM Arthur Hasson said “We are very excited about the arrival of our new news director David Baer. He has an amazing background with extensive news room experience highlighted by excellence at every step."

Not sure how the GM feels now, but we're guessing he may not be as excited as he was a couple of months ago.  

Update: WHP GM Arthur Hasson will not even confirm that his News Director was arrested. “We do not comment on personnel issues,” Hasson said. “I am not going to confirm anything to the press. It is an internal matter.”

Does anyone else this the hypocrisy bullshit in that statement? We have news for Mr. Hasson, he is the press...duh! 

While other stations in town have now reported on Baer's arrest, no one has made mention to the fact that he is WHP's News Director. WHP has ignored the story.  

Live News Anchor Auditions Going on Now

You think applying for that anchor job and going through the interview is nerve-racking, how about if the entire thing was streamed live.

That's what is happening right now at AOL. The company is looking for a new Internet news anchor and the job pays $700 a day. What?!

Hundreds of people have applied  and the auditions are being streamed by AOL.

We haven't seen AJ Clemente, but you never no. 

Fuckin shit

Here's a link to the live stream  

 

One Year Ago

One year ago Today, Ann Curry sat on the Today Show couch with Matt Lauer and Natalie Morales to her left and Al Roker to her right.  

Out of the commercial break, she welcomed the viewers back to the Today Show and then told them that she had been fired from the morning program.

The day had a huge impact on Curry, who in the past year has made sporadic appearances on other NBC News programs and will have her first prime time special on the network air tonight (NBC said at the time that Curry would have specials not special on the network). 

That day also had a huge impact on Matt Lauer. 

In the time it took for Ann Curry to say goodbye, Lauer's reputation did a 180 degree turn. 

Right or wrong.... Lauer came out of the Ann Curry mess the most bruised...many would argue even more so than Curry herself.  

Lauer and NBC have spent the past year doing all they can to rebuild his reputation.

Many inside the Today Show thought that dumping Curry would move them back to number 1 in the ratings.  

In the year since Curry has been gone, The Today Show has only been number 1 in the ratings for 2 days.  

Good Morning America passed the Today Show and has continued to keep their foot on the accelerator.

Behind the scenes, The Today Show has changed just about everyone that was in a management position. They are looking to build a new studio and make other changes.

It appears that Today has slowed down the ratings slide and at this point, not going backward is seen as a victory. 

Most inside NBC are hoping that in the next year, Today will be back in the top spot, ahead of Good Morning America.

Maybe the only person inside NBC not hoping for that is Ann Curry.