Fired in Tampa

Jerome Ritchey, host of WTSP's (Tampa) Studio 10 says that the station has fired him. The station bills Studio 10 as the Bay Area's only truly live, local, mid-morning talk show, Monday through Friday at 9:00 a.m.

Ritchey posted the news on his Facebook Page just a short time ago:

"Friday July 25, 2014 was a milestone day in my broadcasting career, for the first time ever...I GOT FIRED. I was told immediately after Friday's show that a decision was made to take Studio 10 in a different direction. I do wish I had been offered the opportunity to say thanks to the incredible group of people that make Studio 10 possible, and that I have had the good fortune to work with over the last six years."

atchet doesn't know what he'll do next:

"As for me, my foot is on the accelerator as I search for my next adventure! I hope to see you all again someday. I'll keep you posted. You should also know that my least favorite word, is "goodbye" so with that in mind, I'll simply say, "Be seeing you.""

His bio remains on the station's website.... for now. 

Ummmmm.....

Excuse me CNN....but isn't Global and Worldwide the same thing?

Just asking.....

Test Driving Apple's New OS

This past weekend, after getting an invite from Apple, FTVLive installed the newest version of their operating system called "Yosemite."

We give you our first thoughts in FTV Tech 

End of an Era in Chicago

Tonight is the night.....

Tonight will be the last time viewers see Robin Robinson on the air at WFLD in Chicago.

After 27 years at the Fox O&O, Robinson will deliver her last story. 

Robinson has been reporting for the station for the past 8 months, after the station pulled her from the air as the Main Anchor. 

Robert Feder says that Colleagues said Robinson cleaned out her office Sunday. No send-off for her has been announced or planned.

She had been with the station since they launched a news operation in 1987. 

Longtime Houston News Director Resigns

Longtime KTRK News Director Dave Strickland is resigning from the station.

Strickland had been M-I-A from the station for the past few weeks and rumors were flying that he would soon be leaving. 

On Friday, Strickland told the staff in a memo that he was leaving.

In the memo, Strickland cited the job was affecting his family, life and personal relationships.

Strickland was news director for 14 years. He started at KTRK as an intern, worked his way up to sports producer, then news producer. In between his KTRK time, Strickland was news director of WAVYNorfolk, Virginia.

KTRK general manager Henry Florsheim sent a staff email thanking Strickland for his service and recounting all of the advances Strickland made to the station during his tenure. "It’s almost impossible for me to express the impact Dave Strickland has had on Eyewitness News over the nearly decade and a half he has served as News Director. During his tenure, he’s overseen the greatest and most rapid expansion of news programming in the station’s existence," Florsheim said in the memo.

No interim news director has been named.

H/T Mike McGuff

Green Bay Station's Live Truck is Dead

A WBAY news crew had a scary situation, when their live truck blew a tire, went off the road and rolled over.

Reporter Patrick Nelson and Photojournalist Will Sentowski were inside when the truck crashed. The station says both were able to "walk away from the vehicle with nothing more than bumps and bruises."

Looking at photos from the crash scene, it appears that WBAY might want to put some new tire money in the budget.

That tire looks like it was in rough shape before it blew.

Just saying.... 

Jeff Zucker Holds Another CNN Town Hall Meeting

Jeff Zucker held another one of his "town hall" meetings with the staff last week.

Sources tell FTVLive that it was run of the mill stuff with the only thing worth noting, Zucker said he is shifting his focus to online. Now that Zucker has fixed CNN's morning show and turned it into a ratings powerhouse, the CNN boss is ready to make CNN's online presence "better".

This meeting did not feature any "shock questions" like the last go around.

Sources tell FTVLive that every question was carefully screened this time. 

Out the Door at CNN International?

Sources tell FTVLive that CNN International has parted ways with Anchor Fionnuala Sweeney.

Sweeney has been at CNNi for a decade, coming from Ireland’s RTE, where she had been a radio and television news reporter.

Sweeney was based in Atlanta and now appears to be gone from the network.

Last CNNer to leave Atlanta, please get the lights. 

What is a Cease- "Frie"?

This is CNN:

Matt and Al All Over Sharknado 2

Someone at NBC thought it would be a good idea to include the Today Show as a big part of the cheesy movie Sharknado 2.

NBC's "Today" gets at least a half dozen scenes in "Sharknado 2," which premieres Wednesday on Syfy.

Some (FTVLive) would argue that participating in such crap diminishes the "Today" brand and throws out what's let of their credibility. 

In the TV movie, Matt Lauer and Al Roker pop in frequently to update viewers on the "sharknado" sweeping New York City.

Roker warns of "weather you've never seen before," and Lauer adds, "All you can do is just shake your head." Later, Roker describes a sharknado as "a twister with teeth" and confides, "I'm downright scared."

Lauer initially has trouble saying "sharknado" but gets with the program, and Roker warns of "a storm of biblical proportions." That storm even materializes on the "Today" anchor desk, and Lauer has to take matters into his own hands.

The Orlando Sentinel says that it's more gruesome than Ann Curry's exit.

Ouch!

George Zimmerman to Appeal NBC Lawsuit

George Zimmerman has a lot of time on his hands, so he has decided to try and continue his fight with NBC News.

Zimmerman sued NBC for defamation after NBC's editing of a story on the shooting made it sound as if Zimmerman voluntarily told an operator that Martin was black.

Zimmerman has filed a notice to appeal the dismissal of his defamation lawsuit against NBC and three reporters.

The judge tossed the case back in June. Zimmerman is appealing the judge's ruling. 

It's not like he doesn't anything else to do.

Tampa Morning Show Goes to the Dogs

The Morning on air staff at WTVT in Tampa showed off their dogs in a promo for the station.

We wanted to make fun of it and throw a few snide comments about the promo, but being the animal lovers that we are, we just couldn't do it.

So, let's go to the video: 

Ad Lib and Fist Bump Each Other

The Producer of WCCO's (Minneapolis) morning show, really gives the anchors direction on their scripts:

Moving Over to News

WZZM in Grand Rapids found their newest News Anchor in the sports department.

WZZM announced that Dan Harland is the new morning Co-Anchor, replacing Derek Francis, who left at end of May.

Harland joined WZZM in 2003 as a multimedia journalist and sports reporter hosting Friday night high school football show, WZZM 13 "On Your Sidelines".

Harland will begin his new morning co-anchor role on Thursday, August 7, 2014.  He will continue to be a co-host of "13 On Your Sidelines."

Let's see what quotes the creative services department made up: 

"Dan's enthusiasm for his new role is contagious. Viewers clearly told us that they felt like Dan was the right fit for the job after he filled in on the morning newscast this summer," said Taz Painter, WZZM 13 News Director. "It's going to be fun waking up and starting your day with this team!"

"It was going to take an amazing opportunity to leave my role in the sports department, but I found it on the WZZM 13 Morning News desk. West Michigan has been my home for over a decade, and I am thrilled to continue my career in a community I'm so proud to be a part of," said Dan Harland. "I look forward to sharing the desk with my good friends Lauren Stanton and Aaron Ofseyer. We have energy and a passion for the WZZM 13 Morning News and that will show on air each morning. I am beyond excited to help West Michigan start its day."

Really?! Do people actually talk like that? 

CNN's Bill Weir is ALIVE!

Yesterday, FTVLive asked if anyone had seen or heard from CNN's Bill Weir?

Weir was hired with great fanfare by CNN, but hasn't been seen on the network for weeks.

Weir reached out to FTVLive on Twitter saying that he is still at CNN and working on some stuff that won't air until next year.

Hell, by then, CNN might have a new owner.

Here's Weir's tweet updating us: 

Fox News Anchor Pleads Guilty

Fox News Anchor Gregg Jarrett plead guilty Today to disorderly conduct.

This follows his arrest in May at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport in which a police video showed he fought with officers.

Jarrett didn't appear in court Today and his Lawyer entered the plea for him.

The AP says that Airport spokesman Patrick Hogan said Jarrett's plea was put on hold for a year and will be thrown out if he doesn't commit the same or similar offenses and if he abides by certain conditions.

Among them, Jarrett can have no alcohol or drug offenses and he must complete treatment.