Leaving the Business

One Albany New York News Anchor will start out 2014 by leaving the TV business for a good paying gig.

Jerry Gretzinger is moving from WRGB to take the job as the SUNY College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering’s vice president for strategic communications and public relations.

Gretzinger will be paid $130,000 a year. He replaces Steve Janack, who left the school to join Behan Communications this month.

Clue the obligatory boring sound bite:

“I’m very excited to be part of the world-class SUNY CNSE, and I look forward to fostering the NanoCollege’s critical educational, outreach, research, development, and commercialization missions,” said Gretzinger. “As an experienced journalist who watched and reported on the college for years as it grew and flourished, I’m eager to share CNSE’s stories of multi-faceted, game-changing progress with the world. My family and I are thankful for the opportunity to be a part of this transformative New York State effort.”

H/T Albany Times Union 

A Photographer with Good Hands

KUSA (Denver) Sports Photographer Brian Olson shows that he has more talents than just with the camera.

Watch the video as Olson makes incredible one-handed catch on a 54-yard field goal by Broncos Matt Prater that ricochets off the upright. Olson's shot remains steady the whole time.

I Don't Think That's how you Do It

KUTV (Salt Lake City) Reporter Brooke Graham was doing a live Report on Cross Country Skiing. She was standing with two instructors and asked them for some tips.

Just as she asked for tips, Graham fell over backwards and was out cold.

We here at FTVLive have never done any cross country skiing, but we're fairly certain this isn't how it's done.

Let's go to the video:

FIRST ON FTVLive! Tim Deegan Back on WTLV

Tim Deegan was back on WTLV in Jacksonville.

Anchor Shannon Ogden welcomed back Deegan and the Weatherman thanked viewers for their support.

Deegan did not mention his arrest for DUI or his "no contest" plea. 

Deegan was busted for DUI in Jacksonville Beach at the beginning of the November book and hasn't been seen on air until just a few minutes ago.

The station did post a opening for a Meteorologist while Deegan was off the air. But it appears that the station is now letting him return. 

Tim Tebow is Hired, But not to Play Football

Former Florida quarterback and Heisman winner, Tim Tebow, has been hired as a college football analyst for the SEC Network launching in August 2014.

Through a multi-year agreement, Tebow’s primary role will be as an analyst for SEC Nation, the network’s traveling pregame show that will originate from a different SEC campus each week beginning August 28, 2014. In the months leading up to launch and after, he will contribute to a variety of ESPN platforms including SportsCenter, ESPN Radio, and the network’s Heisman Trophy coverage, offering in-depth perspective as a legendary Southeastern Conference player.

“I am so excited that ESPN has given me this incredible opportunity,” said Tebow. “When I was six years old I fell in love with the game of football, and while I continue to pursue my dream of playing quarterback in the NFL, this is an amazing opportunity to be part of the unparalleled passion of college football and the SEC.”

H/T ESPN

Has MSNBC Stopped Leaning Forward?

It appears that MSNBC is not going to stop leaning left anytime soon. But, it does appear that they have stopped leaning forward.

The cable news network that doesn't like to cover news has launched an upbeat ad campaign to promote a major undertaking: the first website the network can call its very own. The 30-seconds-or-less TV spots feature voiceovers from top talent, jubilant soundtracks, and stock footage of President Obama.

Buzzfeed notes that noticeably absent from the ads, however, is any mention of the network’s defining four-year-old “Lean Forward” tagline.

Not one of the five new ads promoting the website contains the phrase “Lean Forward.”

In 2010, MSNBC launched the ambitious branding campaign by plastering “Lean Forward” ads all over magazines, commissioning heavily branded commercials from director Spike Lee.

Now let's see if MSNBC can get their ratings leaning in the right direction in 2014. 

So Much for the Liberal Media

Steve Benen over at MSNBC put together a list of guests that appeared on the Sunday morning talk shows 10 times or more.

You would expect with the "liberal media" the list would be littered with Democrats and you would be hard pressed to find a Republican.

Then again, your expectations would be wrong.

It seems the Sunday shows love Republicans. “Meet the Press,” “Face the Nation,” “This Week,” “State of the Union,” and “Fox News Sunday,” hoping to reflect and help shape the conventional wisdom for the political world, collectively favor GOP guests over Democratic guests every year.

The above chart shows every political figure who made 10 or more Sunday show appearances this year, with red columns representing Republicans and blue columns representing Democrats. For 2013, the race wasn’t especially close – House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Rogers (R-Mich.) easily came out on top, making 27 appearances this year. That works out to an average of one appearance every 1.9 weeks (or 2.25 Sunday show appearances a month, every month for a year).

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), who led the race for much of the year, ended up in second place with 24 appearances over 52 weeks. As a consolation prize, it’s worth noting that McCain made 21 Sunday show appearances in 2012, so while he couldn’t match Rogers’ 2013 tally, at least the Arizona Republican saw a significant increase.

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R), who hasn’t served in public office since resigning in disgrace 15 years ago, was tied for third place with Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), one of only a few Democrats to make the cut.

In all, 10 of the top 13 are Republicans, as are six of the top seven.

Buffalo Station to Expand Newscast

Starting next week, WIVB in Buffalo is expanding their 10 O'Clock Newcast on sister station WNLO from 30 minutes to an hour.

According to an email to the staff from News Director Joe Schlaerth, the plan with the new half hour is to have more national, international and sports news and highlight News 4 investigations, Call 4 Action reports and health news from Dr. Peter Ostrow.

Diana Fairbanks anchors the 10 p.m. news.

The email doesn't say who is going to anchor the extra half hour but I would expect that Fairbanks is likely to do so.

H/T Buffalo News

New Year....New Job

3 Kings Entertainment, LLC is pleased to announce the following job placements:

ELLE DUNCAN joins NESN in Boston as Sports Anchor, Host and Reporter from traffic reporter at WXIA in Atlanta.

KRIS ANDERSON jumps 43 markets and becomes the Weekend Morning Anchor/Reporter at WHDH in Boston from morning anchor at WREG in Memphis.

SCOTT SMITH has been promoted at FOX O&O WTTG in Washington, DC and adds Anchoring the 6pm News to his duties and will continue as the stations Sports Director.

WALTER MAKAULA joins CBS O&O WFOR in Miami as co-anchor for its 5am – 7am weekday morning newscast from weekend anchor/reporter at KSWB in San Diego.

JACQUELINE CREA jumps 81 markets and becomes a Reporter at KHOU in Houston from reporter/MMJ at KTSM in El Paso.

Elle, Kris, Scott, Walter and Jacqueline are all represented by Matthew Kingsley.  
Matthew is the President & CEO of 3 Kings Entertainment, LLC. P: (713) 248-1210 
E: matthew@3kingsentertainment.net W: http://www.3kingsentertainment.net

The Slammy for Best Dick Drawing

It's time to hand out another FTVLive Slammy award.

In the category of best dick drawing live on the air, the award goes to WJRT Reporter Siobhan Riley.

Riley showed her artistic talent in being able to draw a penis in the matter of a few seconds. And now she wins a FTVLive Slammy Award!

Wow what a year 2013 has been for this Michigan Reporter.

Let's go to the video:

Saving a Life in the Broadcast Booth

It's not everyday that someone saves your life in the middle of a broadcast, but it happened for ESPN's Chris Fowler

Fowler and former Florida Quarterback Jesse Palmer were broadcasting the widely popular Pinstripe Bowl and it appears the best play of the game did not happen on the field. 

Fowler tweeted that his partner in booth, Palmer, saved his life with the Heimlich maneuver during halftime of the college football bowl game in New York City.

Fowler and Palmer were at Yankee Stadium on Saturday calling the game between Notre Dame and Rutgers, when Fowler started choking on a dry piece of chicken.

Palmer preformed the Heimlich maneuver and saved Fowler's life.

Now that's a broadcast partner. 

H/T HuffPo

Robin Roberts Comes Out

We have to ask.

Is it still considering coming out, when just about everyone knew you were gay?

Either way, ABC's Robin Roberts revealed what just about everyone has already known for years.

The "Good Morning America" co-host and cancer survivor Robin Roberts gratefully thanked her loved ones for a milestone year of health, among them she mentioned her longtime girlfriend.

It was the first time the popular ABC News morning show host had publicly acknowledged that she is a lesbian.

"I am grateful to God, my doctors and nurses for my restored good health," Roberts wrote on her Facebook page Sunday afternoon. "I am grateful for my sister, Sally-Ann, for being my donor and giving me the gift of life.

I am grateful for my entire family, my long time girlfriend, Amber, and friends as we prepare to celebrate a glorious new year together. I am grateful for the many prayers and well wishes for my recovery. I return every one of them to you 100 fold."

The NY Daily News says that Roberts' girlfriend, Amber Laign, is a licensed massage therapist who specializes in treating patients recovering from injuries, sources said. The couple met through mutual friends and have been in a committed relationship, living together in New York, for more than ten years.

Have you ever Spooned with Candy Crowley?

Last week Anderson Cooper was talking about his Mom's oral sex adventures and now the Cunnilingus News Network....errrrrr cable news network is talking spooning.

Kathy Griffin, who we hear used to be funny, had some advice for new kid on the block Brian Stelter and how to get a better time slot at CNN.

Yule Log Burns CBS This Morning in Ratings

Don't tell Jeff Zucker, he might get another idea for a new show at CNN.

A looped video of a burning log broadcast on a Dallas station, was a ratings hit.

From 10 p.m. Christmas Eve until 9 a.m. Christmas Day, KTXA in Dallas presented viewers with a “roaring fire” accompanied by holiday music.

A surprising number of viewers tuned in

From 8:45 to 9AM on Christmas morning, the Yule log tied the CBS This Morning on KTVT in the ratings. 

H/T Ed Bark 

San Diego TV News Icon is Dead

Friends, family and San Diego television viewers on Sunday were mourning the loss of longtime San Diego television journalist Loren Nancarrow, who died Saturday. He was 60.

Nancarrow passed away shortly after 6:30 p.m. Saturday, surrounded by his family, according to a statement on his Facebook page.

Nancarrow's television career spanned more than 30 years and included stints as a weatherman, anchor and a reporter on KGTV 10News, CBS8 and, most recently, KSWB Fox 5 San Diego.

The five-time Emmy winner also co-authored four organic gardening books.

Nancarrow was diagnosed with stage three terminal brain cancer in February, and later retired from his anchor position at Fox 5. He called himself a "Brain Cancer Warrior," and authored a blog.

He is survived by his wife, Susie, and children, Graham, Hannah and Britta.

H/T KGTV

I Mustache You a Question Mr. Roker?

What were you thinking?