That Name Sounds Familiar

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That Name Sounds Familiar

You could tell BriWi wanted to say something...he looked like the cat that ate the canary. 

Williams was reporting on a new ranking of popular baby names.

According to NameBerry, Marnie is a newly popular name for girls. Fan of the HBO show 'Girls' will likely know the news anchor’s daughter, Allison Williams, plays Marnie on the show.

“The big activity is among girls. The folks at NameBerry say Marnie is suddenly hot because there is a character named Marnie on an HBO series,” Williams said Friday on NBC’s Nightly News.

More plus the video of BriWi reporting the story after the bounce  ​

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Good News for CNN? Kathy Griffin's Bravo Show Canceled

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Good News for CNN? Kathy Griffin's Bravo Show Canceled

FTVLive was the first to tell you that Anderson Cooper and Kathy Griffin had shot a secret test pilot show that could be airing on CNN.​

Many thought a show like that couldn't happen, because Griffin already had her own show on the Bravo Network and would be too busy do do a show with Coop.​

Well. she doesn't have a show on Bravo anymore.​

More after the jump  ​

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Memphis Weatherman Found Dead in His Home

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WPTY Chief Meteorologist Mark Walden was found dead in his home over the Weekend.

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​The station says that according to officials, Mark died in his home over the weekend from apparent natural causes.

Word is that Walden went home sick on Friday. ​

Walden joined the Memphis station in 1999.

He was highly respected among his colleagues as a gifted meteorologist with a passion for weather, and keeping our community safe and informed. Mark also proudly served with numerous charitable organizations.

He leaves behind his beloved wife, stepdaughter and son.

​He was 38 years old.

H/T WPTY

Top 5 Most Read Stories This Week

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So what stories did you guys read the most this week on FTVLive.com?​

Here is a breakdown of the Top 5 most read stories for the week:​

No. 5 -​ Jenna Wolfe: The Balloon Never Exploded

No. 4 -​ Jay Leno was Pushed

No. 3 -​ After Demotions, Palm Beach Anchor Quits

No. 2 -​ Is this Why Jenna Wolfe was Demoted?

And the number one most read story this week:​EXCLUSIVE: Brian Williams to The Today Show for the May Book (This was FTVLive's April Fools Day Joke)

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Syracuse Coach Miffed at Reporter's Question

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Syracuse Coach Miffed at Reporter's Question

Syracuse University men’s basketball coach Jim Boeheim exchanged harsh words with a reporter who asked whether he would return next year. 

Boeheim has said several times this season that he has no retirement plans.

Greg Doyle of CBSSports.com asked, “When do you think you’ll decide, announce, whatever, whether or not you’re coming back next year? Or do you already know?”

Boeheim offered the kind of acerbic response reporters and fans have come to expect from him.

The video after the jump   ​

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Tennessee Station Names New News Boss

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WBBJ-TV, the ABC and CBS affiliate for West Tennessee, announces Shanda Sundstrom as News Director of 7 Eyewitness News. She will oversee the entire award winning news operation.

Ms. Sundstrom comes to Jackson, Tennessee from Fort Smith, Arkansas where she has been Executive Producer of News for KFSM-TV.

Sundstrom said, “I am excited to take the reigns as News Director at WBBJ-TV. I look forward to leading the team established as the West Tennessee News leader, while growing a strong web and social media presence.”

Before becoming Executive Producer in Fort Smith, Sundstrom was a Producer in El Paso, Texas and Miami, Florida. She was a Producer/Reporter in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. She graduated from South Dakota State University.

Ms. Sundstrom will begin work on April 15, 2013.

WBBJ

Portland Reporter Leaving TV News

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Patrick Preston, currently a senior reporter with KATU (Portland, OR), is the new public affairs manager for the city of Hillsboro.

Preston will start his new job April 15, according to Barbara Simon, who is leaving the city at the end of the month.

Simon, who has been with the city for the past decade, said they are excited to announce Preston's hire. "We're impressed with his resume," she said. "We're impressed with the skills that he brings."

Preston brings a decade of experience as a political reporter, according to press release from city staff.

​The Oregonian 

60 Minutes Sunday

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Here's the lin-up for TV's number 1 news magazine for this week:​

NEWTOWN – Parents of the victims of the Newtown, Conn., massacre tell Scott Pelley that theirs is a lifetime quest to change gun laws in hopes of preventing the gun violence that took the lives of their young children.   Henry Schuster is the producer.  This is a two-part segment.

LINSANITY – Jeremy Lin shot from obscurity to stardom to become one of the few Asians to play professional basketball in the NBA. His sudden rise and stellar play became known as “Linsanity.” Charlie Rose reports. Peter Radovich is the producer.

Sponsor Love - 3 Kings Entertainment

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Sponsor Love - 3 Kings Entertainment

Another record week is wrapping up here at FTVLive and once again we have to thank all of you for stopping by our little stop along the information highway.​

FTVLive has been around for over a decade, but we are just now entering our 3rd month as a free site supported by the best sponsors in the world.​

Sponsors like 3 Kings Entertainment their President Matthew Kingsley.

More about this top TV agency after the jump  ​

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Houston Station Finally Posts ND Job

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Houston Station Finally Posts ND Job

FTVLive reported to you back in the middle of February that KRIV News Director Tom Doerr was leaving the station.​

Doerr was bumped up the Fox food chain, becoming the News Director at WFLD in Chicago.​

But, just a couple of days ago, KRIV got around to posting the ND job opening on their site.​

On April 2nd, a month and half after Doerr was announced to be leaving the station, they finally posted his open job.

So what does that mean?​

We'll tell you after the jump  ​

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Leno Posts Biggest First Quarter in 3 Years

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Leno Posts Biggest First Quarter in 3 Years

NBC is happy to finally have the whole Jay and Jimmy saga behind them.​

The Peacock was able to push Leno out the door without nearly the problems they have had in the past.​

And it's a good thing they are able to get rid of Leno as quickly as they are.​

In the ratings for the first quarter of the year, Leno was a solid number 1.

What?!

The numbers and more after the hop  ​


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Did Gay Reporter Deserve to be Fired?

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Did Gay Reporter Deserve to be Fired?

Yesterday, FTVLive told you the story of KTSP Reporter Mark Saxenmeyer being fired for putting a gay slur in a story on the station's website.

The irony?

Saxenmeyer himself is gay.​

He says wanted to do story about a gay Minneapolis couple who attended a White House Easter egg hunt but ended up handing it off to his co-worker Katherine Johnson. While she was in the process of writing the piece, Saxenmeyer added a few things to her script to make her laugh.

"They were based on a conversation she and I had prior about sensitivity issues," said Saxenmeyer, who is gay. "As a gay person, it's sometimes easier to use humor to help people feel more comfortable with gay people or just gay things. She and I were just having a conversation about questions she might ask when she did the story. It was just a casual conversation, and then we began joking about it."

All the jokes were deleted, except for one of Saxenmeyer's lines -- "big HOMO dads" -- which made it into the story that was posted on the station's website.

He was fired...but did he really deserve to be? FTVLive tells you our thoughts after the jump  ​

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Signing Off in the Big Easy

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Signing Off in the Big Easy

After 38 years, WWL (New Orleans) Anchor Angela Hill signed off for the last time. 

By the way, we have to ask, does nobody that retires and signs off, every do it on a Friday anymore? ​

Anyway, back to Hill's last newscast. There was the obligatory ​cheesy gifts and the praise fro her co-workers, but in the end it was Hill's time to say good bye.

And she did so with class. 

The video after the bounce:​

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New Anchor Hired in the Burgh

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WTAE in Pittsburgh has named a new Weekend Anchor.​

Matt Belanger will not only anchor, but also serve as an investigative reporter. The station's last Investigative Reporter was bumped up to the Deuce. 

Belanger comes from sister Hearst station WGAL in Lancaster, Pa..

"Matt is dedicated and very hard working, and he will be a great fit for our team" said Justin Antoniotti, WTAE news director.

What a quote! We were thinking that Matt was a lazy son of a bitch that would never get along with his co-workers and be an awful fit at the station. Luckily the ND cleared that up for us with his quote.

Belanger begins April 24.