Another Lawsuit Against Milwaukee Station

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7 days ago, FTVLive told you that anchor-reporter Shari Dunn has filed a complaint against her employers, WDJT and it's owner Weigel Broadcasting.

Dunn says in her suit that there is "a possible pattern and practice of paying female employees less than male employees."

Now the station has been hit with another lawsuit.

This time it is a male that's suing the company. Anchor Carlos Vergara filed filed a discrimination claim with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) against Weigel Broadcasting and WDJT.

Vergara's attorney Cole White says, that when Vergara was hired at WDJT almost three years ago, he was told that he would be anchoring for the Spanish language Telemundo 63 and would also be doing news reporting and anchoring for the English language news cast at WDJT.

Instead, he claims that several other less experienced Anglo anchors were given the opportunity to anchor and the WDJT management bypassed Vergara who is fluent in both English and Spanish.

Attorney White said, that when Vergara had attempted to address some of the problems at Telemundo 63 and that it doesn’t really speak to the community its supposed to cover, Genie Garner, the News Director for WDJT had said, “we don’t care about them anyway.” Garner has also allegedly referred to the Latino community as illegal aliens and that the Weigel corporate executives have said, that she is in the helm at WDJT and that they don’t care who she offends, according to Vergara’s attorney.

H/T Hispanic News Network Blog

What's up with you Dude? Vol. 8

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It is once again that time to clean out the FTVLive inbox and answer some of your questions. 

Today we have advice for someone that's contract is not going to be renewed.

Help for a guy that's girlfriend is sleeping around with a news photographer.  

What do to when your haters start liking you?

Other websites that really are just posers.

And getting ready for the Apple iPhone announcement. 

The questions and answers are waiting for you in ScottLand.  

 

CNN Crossfire - The Review

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CNN's latest attempt to win viewers is by bringing back the show Crossfire. 

If you were looking for the show to be as polished as the last version, you might be waiting awhile. 

CNN decided to use pundits as anchors and it didn't work very well.

They kicked off with Newt Gingrich on the right and Stephanie Cutter on the left.

The two met in the middle of awkward, neither looked comfortable at all trying to host a show. They were both way out of their element trying to read the prompter and make a halfway decent transition. 

We're not saying that they show doesn't have some potential. Crossfire will be driven by how good the guests are and will be geared entirely to political junkies.  

But, just like I don't want to see Anderson Cooper trying to play Quarterback for the NY Jets, trying to turn pundits into anchors just doesn't work.

Many times watching Gingrich and Cutter try and anchor and their nervous laughter made you cringe.

CNN shouldn't have been so quick to move up the date of Crossfire and would have been wise to wait until the show was ready to hit the air. 

It wasn't ready last night and it showed.

It's like the old saying you never get a second chance to make a first impression.  

From The List to DC

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FTVLive FIRST told you that Jan Jeffcoat was leaving Scripps produced "The List."  

We heard rumors that Jeffcoat was headed to DC and now those rumors are confirmed. 

WUSA has announced that Jeffcoat is the newest member of the on-air team. 

"As we work to construct the best possible news team to follow the #1 rated prime-time on CBS, Jan brings a vital energy, curiosity and passion to our newscasts. The fact that she wanted to return to daily local news, with a focus on the viewer, through digital and social outreach platforms makes this the perfect fit," said WUSA 9's President and General Manager Mark Burdett.

According to Jan: "I'm excited to be coming home to family and the place where my husband grew up. I'm also honored to join WUSA 9, one of the premier local television stations in the country!"

Jan will be co-anchoring the WUSA 9 weekday newscasts at 5 p.m., 7 p.m. and 11 p.m. according to News Director Fred D'Ambrosi. 

DC Anchor Leaving to Follow his Heart

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WTTG Anchor Brian Bolter is leaving the Fox O&O.

Bolter has been with the station since 1999 is leaving as her is on the verge of opening his second bar.

He posted this note to co-workers and viewers:

Friends, Colleagues and Viewers …

After nearly 14 years at WTTG-TV FOX 5, I recently approached the station and asked to pursue other interests. On the verge of opening DRY 85, our second restaurant in two years and with no plans to stop anytime soon, I realized it was time to finally follow my head and heart in writing this new chapter in life. The station agreed and we’re amicably parting ways.

It’s been an honor working with you. A privilege presenting your work to the Washington, DC region. Most importantly, though, I want to thank all the loyal viewers who have allowed me into their homes for more than a decade. You have blessed me with your smiles and your handshakes in the streets and trust in your hearts. I will forever cherish your faith in me.

From helping launch Fox 5 News at 5, “the most successful newscast launch in Fox station group history”, the NewsEdge at 11 which at one time was the highest rated 11pm newscast in the market beating others in that time slot for 50 years and the NewsEdge at 6 to great fanfare, we accomplished much together. It was a tremendous ride sitting in the anchor chair for all 79 straight weeks of WTTG-TV’s run as the #1 late news in Washington, DC.

While excited and eager to embrace future opportunities in my television career, I can now focus on DRY 85, Red Red Wine Bar, and my other varied business interests. I can also do simple things not possible my entire television news life. Have dinner with my wife. Pick my son up from school. Tuck my daughter in at night.

I hope to return to a TV near you soon. Until then drink good wine. Life is too short.

Brian Bolter 

Doppler The Weather Cat is Retiring

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WSTM (Syracuse) says that  Doppler the Weather Cat, a fixture on station's weather reports for many years is retiring.

The station plans on-air celebrations starting Thursday at 4:00 a.m. and going on throughout the day.

Doppler, who was adopted by the television station from the SPCA, will live in the loving home of an experienced animal welfare advocate in Central New York.

"Doppler is ready to retire," CNYCentral Chief Meteorologist Wayne Mahar said. "Like all of us, Doppler would prefer to retire while still in relatively decent health. Few people realize that Doppler is 16 years old, that's 84 human years, an age when most of us would have already retired," Mahar said.

The station claims that Doppler wanted to retire, but FTVLive hears that his contract was not renewed. 

It sucks getting old....right Doppler?  

Liar Liar Pants on Fire

Liar Liar Pants on Fire

Jimmy Kimmel let on to last night what many people suspected.

The video of the girl that pants that caught on fire while she was Twerking was a a fake. Kimmel's crew set up the video and posted it to video sharing site.

They then waited as more than 9 million people clicked on the clip. 

Last night he admitted to the hoax and showed the rest of the video. 

After the jump you see the rest of the video and what happened after her pants were in flames.  

Read More

Loudmouth Anchors

Loudmouth Anchors

Everyone knows that most TV anchors are a bunch of loudmouths.  

KCPQ in Seattle finally figured out how to work that into a promo. This week, the Seattle Seahawks crowd is gunning for Guinness Book record for the loudest crowd roar when they host the 49ers in their home opener.

Q13 FOX is doing their part to try and get the fans to participate. The station's anchors taped a promo encouraging fans to use their "Seahawks voice!" 

See the promo after the jump.    

Read More

Phoenix Station Takes the Wraps off New Set

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KSAZ has taken the wraps off their new news set and it is impressive to say the least. 

The Phoenix station unveiled the set on Sunday night's newscast and the colors just popped off the screen.

"KSAZ wanted something out of the box; the ability of their talent to move around the entire set and not be static. The large video wall and touch screen were important components for them to be more engaging with their audience. The resulting design is sleek and high tech, providing KSAZ with limitless venues for presenting news stories.”~Kartik Dakshinamoorthy, Scenic Design Director, Devlin Design Group.

The new KSAZ HD news set is sophisticated, fresh and modern in design blended with up to date technology including multiple video walls and a large mobile touch screen. The large touch screen incorporates interactive technology that allows them to share Facebook and Twitter comments in real time! As stated during their debut last night, “News is no longer a one way communication!”

The news set is quite expansive and is comprised of large scenic walls with color changing back-lit graphics which are complimented by touches of red, brushed aluminum, acrylics and eye catching floor graphics. A large 3x6 video wall defines the space and gives the set an overall look that is modern and high tech with clean, simple architectural lines.

For added versatility, the design also includes a large rolling kiosk with a 2 vertical monitors and a mobile 65” touch screen that can be used flat or upright; both of these rolling units can be used throughout the set providing for multiple venues in presenting breaking news stories, weather and sports.

The new set also includes The Arizona Morning show which has a warm and inviting color palette. The set is interspersed with textured brick and copper finishes next to backlit skyline graphics. A large 70” monitor sits behind the creamy leather sofa providing added depth to the set and increased presentation and branding capabilities.

Indianapolis Station Expands Morning Newscast

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WISH has moved up the start of their morning newscast, Daybreak.

The show is now hitting the air at 4:30 a.m.

Why? 

“We have seen an increase in viewers’ desire for earlier news, so we wanted to deliver our great Daybreak news product to that audience,” said WISH-TV news director Steve Bray.

How the station saw the viewer's  "desire for earlier news" was not explained by Bray. 

But he did add that “from bringing viewers up-to-date on overnight news, and breaking news, weather and traffic; our team works hard to get our viewers ready for their day ahead with all the information they need.”

God those viewers are so lucky to get all that. 

Tell Me No One Saw this Coming....

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Human train wreck George Zimmerman is being questioned in Central Florida after an incident involving a gun with another person.

Lake Mary police say they were called to a house on Sprucewood Road Monday afternoon after a report that Zimmerman was involved in an altercation with another person with a threat involved.

According to Lake Mary Police Chief Steve Bracknell, Shellie Zimmerman called 911 claiming George Zimmerman had a gun and was making threats.

"He’s in his car and he continually has his hand on his gun and he keeps saying 'step closer' and he’s just threatening all of us," Shellie Zimmerman said in the 911 call, adding that George Zimmerman was "trying to shut the garage door" on her.

How this guy doesn't win citizen of the year is beyond me.  

H/T WKMG

That Didn't Take Long

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Back on June 11th FTVLive told you that WCCB (Charlotta) Anchor Morgan Fogarty was leaving to take a job with Al Jazeera.

She's already decided working for the cable news station was not for her and she's headed back to Charlotte and WCCB. 

Fogarty said the idea of going to New York seemed like the right thing to do but she came to the decision with her husband, Jeremy, to return to Charlotte. She is excited to re-unite with her colleagues at WCCB.

In other words she sees that Al Jazeera is going to be a complete failure with viewers just as FTVLive said it would be.  

Why Waste People's Time with this Idiot?

Anthony Weiner has as much chance as winning the NY Mayoral election Tomorrow as I do....yet NBC's Today Show had Carlos Danger on this morning to talk about his chances.

Despite the fact that Weiner is 4th in the polls, the Today Show did not interview the 3 candidates that are ahead of him.  

Weiner took issue with Savannah Guthrie bringing up his wife Huma and not talking just about him.  

So, why did Today wastes everyone's time with this freaking idiot? 

Here's the video: 

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Today Show Set Debut Pushed Back

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If you tuned into NBC's Today this morning to see their new set, you were disappointed.  

This morning's show was once again broadcasting from outside 30 Rock despite previously announced plans to debut a new set this morning. In the background, the windows of Studio 1A were still covered.

During the show, the talent said next Monday, Sept. 16, is the new debut date for Studio 1A.

This coincides with the scheduled “Fox & Friends” set debut and Elisabeth Hasselbeck’s debut as coanchor.

Anchor Savannah Guthrie subtly acknowledged the delay in the opening segment, adding that she had a dream over the weekend that the new set “had a jacuzzi.”

H/T Newscast Studio