OMG!!!! Now CNBC has Gone and Done it

I just threw up in my mouth a little.....

Borrrring.....

 KXRM (Colorado Springs)  Weatherman Justin Chambers' computer crashed (again) this morning and he decided to pantomime the weather forecast. 

Which made no sense since his mic still worked fine.  It was a very long and borning segment. Next time maybe he can just tell the viewer if it's going to rain or not. 

Here's the video: 

H/T Kevin Eck @TVSPY

Oops! Here comes the F-Bomb

WDIV Reporter Lauren Podell threw down a big old F-Bomb during the newscast. 

Podell was complaining that her IFB didn't work and then said "I Can't get this FUCKING in there."

We hope she was still talking about the IFB.

Let's go to the video:

Golf Channel Host Swings into CNN

Lara Baldesarra is  bolting NBC owned Golf Channel for CNN.

CNN announced that Baldesarra is joining the network’s sports unit in Atlanta next month.

She will anchor World Sport, the flagship sports news program on CNN International, and contribute to sports-related event coverage across all CNN platforms.

“We’re thrilled with Lara’s addition to CNN’s global sports operation,” said Bill Galvin, senior vice president of sports programming and development for CNN. “Her expertise as a leading voice in the sports world aligns perfectly with CNN’s commitment to providing a thoughtful perspective across a broad range of news and events.”

“I’m passionate about sports and journalism, so I could not be more excited about joining an organization that values and excels in both of these things,” said Baldesarra. “CNN is a world-class operation, and I look forward to hitting the ground running.”

20 Days and Counting...

It's now been 20 days since KNBC's PR person said she would call us back in "two minutes"

The clock rolls on....

Ummmm... There has Been a Delay

Back in Auguts, CNN President Jeff Zucker talked about the exciting new CNN.com website that was coming to all of us this Fall.

The hightlight?

“Big Pictures and Big Headlines”  Zucker said in a message to the staff.

So here we are, Fall is almost over and CNN.com looks just the same.

What happened?

"There's been a delay," said one CNN staffer to FTVLive. Word is CNN is having a number of technical issues with the new site and the official rollout is now slated for early next year.

The new CNN.com will be availble in beta in the next couple of weeks. You can look for the new look to be be at CNN.com in time for the Feb book. 

Big pictures and all.

Sweep Stunts Coast to Coast

When ratings periods hit, TV stations will pull out all stops to get viewers to watch them.

And if they have to resort to bribery?

So be it.

FTVLive goes coast to coast to see what stations will give you to get you to watch. Starting on the left coast and working our way east, let's see some of the things we found.

If you're in the City of Angels, you can and win a car and host a car show (Note: an earlier version of this story said you could host the morning news show...that's just crazy....or is it?).

And don't worry about having to pay for gas as you drive your new car across the country. Just a quick stop in St. Louis and you can win some free gas from KMOV,

Shoot on down to Houston for Thanksgiving. KPRC is giving away a Turkey dinner that includes Turkey, Green Bean Casserole, Sage Dressing, All-Natural Turkey Gravy, Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes and Individual Pumpkin Cheesecake. Yummmy!

For your entertainment, stop by WGHP in North Carolina and win some tickets to see Bonnie Raitt.

Then head up the east coast, stop by the Hartford market.

WFSB is looking to pay your mortgage or rent. While WVIT will give you $30,000 grand for some walking around money. 

Don't worry if you can't get your sweeps trip done before the book is over. The February is right around the corner. 

Miami Reporter Called in to Help Suicidal Man

A suicidal Vietnam veteran facing deportation straddled himself over a ledge on a South Florida highway ramp with a rope around his neck in an hours-long standoff before surrendering to authorities.

As police negotiators tried to keep 59-year-old Fredy Gutierrez from jumping, the vet told officers he wanted to speak with WTVJ NBC 6 reporter Willard Shepard, an Air Force officer who had been in combat over Iraq.

"As I was driving to the police command center this morning, I was able to communicate with Mr. Gutierrez through the police negotiator who had him on the phone," Shepard said. "It was very clear Gutierrez had reached a point where he couldn’t take it anymore and later said to me he prepared to die today."

Shepard said that he spoke to Gutierrez in military terms as he was on the phone with him, trying to make him see that taking his own life or harming other wouldn't improve his situation and would only make matters worse for his family.

I spoke to him in military terms, telling him that the Air Force jets were on the way to provide the Army close air support – a reference to war scenarios where the Army ground troops can no longer fend off an enemy attack," Shepard said.

He told Gutierrez not to take action until he arrived at the scene.

The guy finally did surrender to police and WTVJ has now saved more people in this rating book, than all over South Florida station combined.

H/T WTVJ

Reporter Attacked at Fire Scene

A WDAZ (Grand Forks, ND) reporter was attacked Tuesday while covering a story on the Spirit Lake Reservation.

Reporter Adam Ladwig was on the scene of a garage fire at a residence at 3:45 p.m. when two women, later joined by two men, tried to destroy his camera, he said.

He was also forced by a Bureau of Indian Affairs officer to delete his footage, he said, and his camera was damaged.

Devils Lake Police Chief Keith Schroeder told WDAZ the incident will be investigated by the FBI.

It also begs the question, why the hell is the station covering a garage fire?

Just asking....

H/T Forum News Service

Milwaukee Reporter Ordered to Appear at Alabama Murder Trial

A Milwaukee County judge on Tuesday ordered a local TV reporter to attend a murder trial next month in Alabama, where prosecutors say the reporter is a material witness.

The Milwaukee Journal says that Cody Holyoke of WTMJ represented himself at a brief hearing before Circuit Judge David Borowski.

Borowski said such requests from out-of-state courts are rare, and so he would presume it was "rather serious" case and request. He and Holyoke agreed that whether Holyoke may be able to invoke Alabama's reporter's shield law is an issue for the courts there.

"If they need me to do it," Holyoke told the judge, referring to testifying at trial, "I have no problem doing my civic duty."

Holyoke was working for WSFA-TV in 2011 when he was part of the news media group covering a deadly shooting at a community college. 

According to court records, Holyoke witnessed Thomas Franklin May III surrender and "make an incriminating statement regarding the crime.

Lee County, Alabama authorities asked Milwaukee County to compel Holyoke's attendance. Tuesday's hearing was on an "order to show cause" why the Alabama petition should not be granted.

Holyoke declined to discuss the matter at length after the brief hearing.

Franklin is charged with killing his mother-in-law and shooting his wife and her grandmother outside a community college in April 2011, in view of his 4-year-old daughter. He could face the death penalty if convicted of capital murder.

Trial is scheduled to begin Dec. 5.

Playing in Traffic

WESH in  Orlando has hired a new Traffic Reporter.

I have no idea why the station needs a traffic reporter, since the traffic in Orlando never moves. You just drive your car up onto I-4 and then park until rush hour(s) is over.

Anyway, the station has hired Jazmin Bailey from WHSV in Harrisonburg, Va. Don't worry, I never knew Harrisonburg had a TV station either.

Bailey will join WESH next week and likely will make her on-air debut Nov. 25, news director Bob Longo told the Orlando Sentinel.

She replaces Michelle Wargo, who has served as interim traffic reporter. Wargo had done "a great job," Longo said, and her last day is likely to be Nov. 22.

Obviously she did not do a good enough job to keep it though.

Bumped up in Austin

KXAN announced that Investigative reporter Shannon Wolfson will be the new main anchor after the November book ends. 

Wolfson will anchor the station's the 5 p.m., 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. newscasts on KXAN and the 9 p.m. newscast on The CW Austin.

Wolfson will replace Leslie Rhode, who has co-anchored KXAN's newscasts for a total of 14 years and has decided to step down. Her last day at KXAN is Nov. 27.

Let's go to the obligatory soundbites made up by the creative services department:

"This is an exciting time for KXAN News, as we name a new leader to join our main anchor team," said News Director Chad Cross.  "Shannon consistently contributes to the newsroom behind the scenes as well, with strong news judgment and an assertive, yet thoughtful approach to coverage."

"I have been so honored and humbled to be part of this team of incredible journalists at KXAN for the last seven years,” said Wolfson. “I am beyond excited about this new opportunity and look forward to continuing my investigative reporting, as well."

Once you see it.....

You can't un-see it...

Good Morning America Weatherman Sam Champion is on the beach in Rio de Janeiro enjoying his honeymoon with his Brazilian husband Rubem Robierb.

The Daily Mail has more if you care.

Hoda Inks Deal to Stay at Today

Break open the wine, Hoda Kotb has inked a new deal to stay at NBC's Today Show.

Capital New York says that the deal will ensure that Kotb remains as the co-host of the fourth hour of “Today,” alongside Kathie Lee Gifford. She will also continue to contribute to other NBC News programs, including at her former TV home, “Dateline.” 

Word is that ABC's 'The View' made a big push to land Kotb and that helped drive up the price of her new NBC deal. 

Kotb is a viewer favorite and it would have been a huge loss for the Peacock if she flew the coop. 

Woman Arrested for Pointing Gun at Orlando Reporter

WESH (Orlando) Reporter Clair Metz says she went to interview a Emergancy Dispatcher that was supsended. 

The Disptacher ended up pointing a gun at Metz's head.

The O-Town Reporter says that she had gone to the home Of Shauna Justice to get her side of the story on her suspension. 

Metz says she walked up to the door without a camera or micorphone and that Justice came to the door packing a gun.

Metz says that Justice poited the gun at her head until she left the property. 

Justice was arrested by police.

H/T WESH

Hey TV News Photographers.....

...... tell me... does this remind you of any of the Reporters in your shop?