Dan Abrams Leaving ABC Nightline

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Word is that ABC Anchor Dan Abrams is leaving late night news show Nightline.

Abrams is staying on at ABC News as Chief Legal Correspondent and will spend more time working on his websites under Abrams media.

 Sources tell FTVLive that Abrams will be replaced by Byron Pitts on Nightline. 

Pitts has been at ABC since 2013, coming over from CBS News. Pitts was the Chief National Correspondent for CBS and continued the same role at ABC News. 

Here is the internal memo that was sent to the staff by ABC News president James Goldston:

Team,

I want to share big news for two of our key players, Dan Abrams and Byron Pitts.

Earlier this year Dan came to talk to me about taking on a new role at ABC News and returning to his true passion – running the websites and company he founded, Abrams Media. 

Dan has decided to step back from his full-time role as Nightline anchor after tonight, but I’m very happy to report that he will bring us his brilliant insights as chief legal analyst for ABC News for years to come.  From Trayvon Martin and Bill Cosby to Ferguson and Staten Island, we count on him to provide legal context and scrutiny to important stories that capture national attention. 

As co-anchor of Nightline Dan has showcased some of our best storytelling and been a crucial part of the Nightline team that has taken us to #1 in late night.  On a personal level, I wish Dan great success expanding Abrams Media beyond the impressive milestones they have already achieved.  I’m thrilled that Dan has committed to continue to appear on all our programs and platforms for many more years.

I’m delighted to announce that Byron Pitts will join Nightline as co-anchor.  Byron is a truly passionate storyteller and deep thinker about the critical issues of our time, as his work from Soweto to Ferguson makes clear.

Last week for our “Race. Justice. In America” series, Byron delivered compelling reports told with incredible compassion and his singularly distinctive voice. He reported on the distrust between the public and the police in his hometown of Baltimore, and he delved deeply into how fathers and sons talk about race.

Our chief national correspondent since 2013, Byron has been committed to finding stories and voices rarely heard on the national stage.  He profiled an American lawyer – inspired by Nelson Mandela – helping hundreds of South African orphans go to school; got a closer look at New Orleans’ comeback as the Hollywood of the South; and memorably talked to the self-described pope of Satanism preaching in the heart of the Bible Belt.

I couldn’t be happier we’ll now see even more of his outstanding work on Nightline and all our platforms.

Byron joins the Nightline team in its strongest position yet in its new time period; in November they won the third consecutive sweep in Total Viewers.  Turning in their best results ever at 12:30 A.M., they showed us once again that great storytelling leads to great results.  With Roxanna, Dan Harris, Juju and Byron leading the way, I know there are even more great days ahead.

Please join me in congratulating Dan and Byron on their new roles.

James

The Daily Show Smacks Around Fox News and Sean Hannity

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Jon Stewart got a bit worked up over a tease and story that was done by Sean Hannity on his Fox News Channel show 'Hannity.'

Hannity referred to rapper Jay-Z as a "Former crack dealer" and The Daily Show thought that over stepped the line.

So they fired back at Hannity and Fox News:

Robin Meade Does Sin City

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If you're missing HLN Morning Anchor Robin Meade, just head out to Sin City.

Vegas Baby!

Meade is spending two weeks on the stage at the Sands Showroom at the Venetian.

Meade is preforming with with the group Human Nature until Christmas Eve. 

Several months ago, Human Nature – Andrew and Michael Tierney, Toby Allen and Phil Burton – invited Meade, who has two albums on her resume,  to sing with them in their first-ever Christmas outing for 11 performances between Dec. 12 and Dec. 24. She also guests on “Sleigh Ride” on the group’s “Human Nature: The Christmas Album.”

During the live show, it’s one of five songs Meade performs with the guys, along with a seven-piece band and the Bella Electric Strings quartet.

Singing in front of concertgoers in a 742-seat showroom doesn’t faze Meade, who is as natural on stage as she is in front of the camera. She’s eager to run through some of her songs during sound check, a ritual that Human Nature still engages in before every performance, and is especially excited about bringing a souped-up version of “Run Rudolph Run” to the evening.

Meade returns to HLN on December 29th.

Here's some video of her preforming in Vegas:

H/T Atlanta Journal Constitution 

Search for the Shooter Continues (Update)

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Although no arrest has been made in the shooting of KCEN Weatherman Pat Crawford, cops do say they have a suspect in custody.

Crawford was shot multiple times in the station's parking lot after police say words were exchanged between him and the shooter. He was able to drive away and asked a construction worker for help. 

Law enforcement officials say have taken a man who was hold up inside of a house into custody. They are calling him a person of interest in the shooting of Crawford. But they are not saying whether or not he is the shooter.

KCEN says that Crawford is at Baylor Scott and White Hospital in Temple after undergoing surgery. He is in stable condition and resting.

Patrick's wife, of just over a year, Heather Crawford, who is also a KCEN employee, has been with him at the hospital.

Crawford has been with KCEN for two years after leaving the NBC affiliate in New Orleans. 

Police continue to stand guard at KCEN while the investigation continues.

Update: Police say the man they have in custody is not the shooter and does not speak English. He had been seen running from the area because he had warrants out for his arrest.

The suspect remains on the loose.

What's Up with the Weather Anchor in Birmingham?

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Although the station isn't talking, it appears that WIAT main Weather Anchor Gene Norman is out the door.

Norman has been at the station for only a year and a half, coming from KHOU in Houston. He left that station under cloudy circumstances (see what I did there? Cloudy....and it's a story about a weatherman).after being demoted at the station.

On the day the demotion....errrrr...schedule change was announced at KNOU, Norman tweeted out:

“blondie which referred to Weather Anchor Chita Johnson)  moves to morning, morning moves to 4, 5. I am reduced” to 6 and 10.

Later in the day, Norman tweeted, “It appears my twitter account was hacked today be careful on social media,” and the tweets regarding the assignment changes were removed. 

No long after that Norman was gone from the Houston station. In April of 2013, Norman resurfaced in the much smaller market of Birmingham and WIAT.

But now, Morning Weatherman Mark Prater is filling in on Norman's spot and his bio has been scrubbed from the station's website. 

His last post to his Facebook page was on December 10th and his last to Twitter was December 11th.

Then again, maybe hackers have control of those pages again.

Stay tuned.... 

San Antonio Station Retracts Report After Being Sued

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Back in October, FTVLive told you that a San Antonio attorney had sued KENS-TV claiming he was defamed and libeled in news reports.

Lawyer Jon Christian Amberson’s lawsuit  was for at least $1 million in actual damages and $5 million in punitive damages from the station.

Well now, KENS has gone on air and issued an apology for what they said was  erroneous investigative reports.

The CBS affiliate retracted two stories that attorney Amberson said had wrongly reported that he stole land and mineral rights from a Karnes County couple.

“We apologize to Mr. Amberson for the inaccurate and incomplete presentation the I-Team reports presented about him,” KENS anchor Sarah Lucero said at the end of the retraction, which lasted 1 minute and 41 seconds. KENS broadcast the retraction on its 6 p.m. newscasts Monday and Wednesday. It also was slated to air on its 10 p.m. newscast Wednesday. It also was posted on the station’s website.

Curtis Cukjati, Amberson’s lawyer, said a confidential settlement was in place to resolve the lawsuit but wouldn’t say whether it includes a financial component.

“All I can say is the matter has been resolved to the parties’ satisfaction,” Cukjati said

Triston Sanders, the station’s executive news director, declined to comment.

The Reporter who did the story has left the business for PR.

Good.

H/T San Antonio Express News

Anchor with Just Months to Live Keeps Working

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If a doctor told you that you had just months to live, would you keep working at the station?

Back in September, FTVLive told you about WCIA (Champaign, IL) Anchor Dave Benton telling viewers that his brain cancer has returned and he only had 4-6 months to live.

Benton is still alive and living each day to the fullest and he's still working at WCIA.

“I’ve been fortunate not to have a lot of side effects so far,” he said. “I sleep a lot the week of treatment (on Tuesdays or Wednesdays every other week.)  By that Thursday or Friday, I’m exhausted.  I sleep all weekend long, and I kind of bounce of back.  What I appreciate is that I see a lot of people getting treatment when I’m getting my treatment, and some of them are facing challenges I can’t imagine.”

He said the latest round of treatment appears to have added a few months. Benton said he’s getting lots of support from the community, and served as an inspiration from others who are ill.

“I’ve (heard from) some people that it’s helped them tell their side, and the situation that they’re facing,” he said.  “It has helped them to be more positive and to look forward and be grateful for the god things we have at this moment.”

But he’s chosen to remain at work as long as possible, and live life as normal as possible.  

And there will be a permanent marker of that hard work.  Champaign County Crime Stoppers recently announced it would annually give out the ‘Dave Benton Crime Fighter Award’ for a citizen who exemplifies the crime-fighting spirit.

Benton has been a board member with Crime Stoppers, and hosted a series of special programs on WCIA aimed at solving crimes.

“Having been in television now, it will be 30 years in April, I guess I never thought there could be an award named in my honor,” he said.  “You want to go out and do go things, I know it’s important to be involved in the community, and I wanted to that and to it effectively, but it never led to be thinking, ‘gee, I should get an award, or there should be an award in my name.  So when they presented me with this idea, I literally was quite shocked that was even possible.   Why me?  There are a lot of people that do great things in this community, and they deserve a pat on the back.”

This guy has a awesome attitude.

H/T WUIS

O-Town Station Adds Another Blonde to the Mix

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Earlier this week, FTVLive told you that WESH (Orlando) had replaced blonde headed Maratha Sugalski with Maratha look-a-like blonde headed Meredith McDonough.

Now the station has just hired a new 5PM Anchor and I' betting the house that you know what color he hair is? Wait a minute! You cheated and looked at the picture. 

Angela Taylor is moving from Fort Smith, Ark. to O-Town to be WESH's new 5 and 10PM Anchor. The 10:00 airs on sister station WKCF-Channel 18.

Taylor is moving within the Hearst family, she was a co-anchor at KHBS in Fort Smith.

"WESH 2 has a strong commitment to covering news in Central Florida, and we are thrilled to have Angela, a talented journalist, join Jim Payne, Meredith McDonough and Brett Connolly as part of the evening and late-news anchor team," WESH 2 news director Kirsten Wolff said.

"My family is excited to make Central Florida our new home," Taylor said in a statement. "We are looking forward to getting involved in the community."

H/T Orlando Sentinel 

Colbert to Takeover for Letterman in September

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It looks like Stephen Colbert will have a lot of time off.

Colbert is wrapping up his Colbert Report this week and then will takeover the Late Show from David Letterman.

The NY Daily News says that Colbert will take over as the host of “The Late Show” in September.

CBS officials declined to comment.

David Letterman steps down from the show on May 20, but CBS executives have not yet said what will happen with the show over the summer before Colbert takes over.

Chicago Sports Anchor: I'm Sorry

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Earlier Today, FTVLive told you that WLS Sports Anchor ABC 7 sports Anchor Mark Giangreco went on the air last night and ranted about Cutler, the Bears and the team's ownership.

He said that ownership to fire everyone and cut Cutler, but says that the team doesn't have the guts to do it. 

All that was well and good, but Giangreco included a graphic that said "Cut him or Cut your Wrists".

Making a suicide joke in the sportscast is was not a wise move.

Giangreco has now issued a statement about his lack of judgement with the graphic:

“My remarks were inappropriate, and I deeply regret and apologize for this incident. I will be issuing an on-air apology in this evening’s newscast.”

The bigger question is how does a graphic like this get on the air in the 3rd market in the country?

Weatherman Shot in Station's Parking Lot

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This morning KCEN (Waco) Meteorologist Patrick Crawford posted to Instagram a picture of him and the morning crew wearing their ugly Christmas sweaters. Crawford won the prize for the most ugly sweater. He's on the left side of the photo. 

Now, the Weather Anchor is in a Texas emergency room after being shot multiple times in the station's parking lot.

Police are still searching for the shooter. They say that words were exchanged in the KCEN parking lot between Crawford and the shooter, a man cops say was 30-25 years old. Soon after the argument started, Crawford was shot. 

Crawford was able to drive away and flag down a construction worker, who called for help.

Cops evacuated the station while searching for the gunman. The staff has since been let back inside, but police officer has asked for names, birthdates, and license plate numbers of every employee that was at the station this morning.  

Crawford is at Scott and White Memorial Hospital in Temple, where he was undergoing surgery.

H/T KCEN

KCEN Employee Shot in Station's Parking Lot (Updated)

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Police around Waco are searching for a suspect after a shooting near KCEN (Waco, Tx).

The Department of Public Safety, Bruceville-Eddy police, and the Falls County Sheriff's Office, among others, blocked off our parking lot with crime scene tape and patrolled the area with assault rifles.

Several officers walked through the building with a K-9, and cleared the station.

DPS troopers asked employees to gather in the front office as police investigated the area. That restriction was lifted around 10:15 a.m.

Employees have been let back into the building.

Although the station is not reporting it, sources tell FTVLive that the station's morning Weather Anchor was shot several times. The shooting happened either in or near the station's parking lot. 

More as we hear it. 

Update: The station now confirms that Morning Weather Anchor Patrick Crawford (FTVLive withheld the name until it was released) was shot.

Crawford, the morning show meteorologist at the station for the last two years, managed to drive away and flag down a construction worker, who called for help. 

Cops say the suspect exchanged words with the employee before he pulled a semi-automatic handgun and fired several times.

H/T KCEN

REALLY?! A Little over the Top, don't you Think?

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There is no doubt that many Chicago Bears fans have grown tired of Quarterback Jay Cutler. The QB has had a miserable season and most Bear fans are blaming him for the awful season.

WLS Sports Anchor ABC 7 sports anchor Mark Giangreco went on the air last night and ranted about Cutler, the Bears and the team's ownership.

 He said that ownership to fire everyone and cut Cutler, but says that the team doesn't have the guts to do it. 

All that was well and good, but Giangreco might have gone over the top with the chyron he used to show dire the situation is.

Kind of in bad taste.

Just saying.... 

Turning to Facebook for the Newscast

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For viewers that want to get the newscast on their time, many are turning to Facebook. 

ABC News has started doing their Facebook newscast with David Muir and it is being watched by 100-200 thousand people on the social media site.

But, ABC News isn't the only outlet doing a a Facebook newscast, local stations are doing it as well.

KSAZ Phoenix produces 2 Facebook News Updates that highlights three or four top news stories in under 90 seconds. The segment is posted twice daily, usually around 11:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. The newscast reaches between 75,000 and 80,000. 

KABC in LA also using the social media site to connect with viewers and do a newscast. The station does its daily QuickCast, a daily video that covers three stories in under one minute. The unanchored episodes are voiced by KABC talent and pull in between 100,000 and 200,000 views each.

More stations are jumping into the social media newscasts and by the end of 2015, it is likely to become a staple in most newsrooms.