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OK. Time to comment on the news WFAA news set and content.

K

KPLEXCOMPLEX

Guest
The new set as (some have already mentioned) looks great. The interaction between anchors and reporters is a lot better. However,( you knew it was coming) They still are having problems racking up the correct story at the begining of the 5pm news. Their graphics needs to have a spell check,"Miler" has two "L's","Huston" contains an "O" among other words and names. Brad Hawkins has improved( praise God). They must have hired a coach for him,and the new set seems to work for him as well.
 
> The new set as (some have already mentioned) looks great.
> The interaction between anchors and reporters is a lot
> better. However,( you knew it was coming) They still are
> having problems racking up the correct story at the begining
> of the 5pm news. Their graphics needs to have a spell
> check,"Miler" has two "L's","Huston" contains an "O" among
> other words and names. Brad Hawkins has improved( praise
> God). They must have hired a coach for him,and the new set
> seems to work for him as well.

Good observations. Also note the ramped up energy level--everyone is talking faster and the on-camera movements are more animated--to the point that the anchors and reporters on set sometimes take on a marionette appearance. Most notable is the new pacing's effect on Gloria. She's talking louder and faster and as a result her voice rises about a half octave, which doesn't fit well with her natural style and vocal flow. From my perspective, this lessens her comfort level and inserts a "put on" feeling into her delivery. But, one supposes some level of theatrics goes along with a new set and the approach of sweeps, in an effort to capture more attention from the audience.

The overall atmosphere, though, is positive. The news anchors now occasionally go to the weather set to chat with Troy et al when leading into weather, rather than the weather folks walking to the edge of the news desk. Anchors stand at various locations of the set rather than sitting at the desk all the time. The color scheme with the liberal use of blue is a decided improvement over the rather drab brown cast that dominated the old set.

While no one has asked (and no doubt won't), but if I were polled I would give the new Channel 8 news shows an 85 of 100. The earlier post regarding video production gaffes is correct--the new visual appeal is severely degraded by mistakes that can and should be corrected.
 
> > The new set as (some have already mentioned) looks great.
> > The interaction between anchors and reporters is a lot
> > better. However,( you knew it was coming) They still are
> > having problems racking up the correct story at the
> begining
> > of the 5pm news. Their graphics needs to have a spell
> > check,"Miler" has two "L's","Huston" contains an "O" among
>
> > other words and names. Brad Hawkins has improved( praise
> > God). They must have hired a coach for him,and the new set
>
> > seems to work for him as well.
>
> Good observations. Also note the ramped up energy
> level--everyone is talking faster and the on-camera
> movements are more animated--to the point that the anchors
> and reporters on set sometimes take on a marionette
> appearance. Most notable is the new pacing's effect on
> Gloria. She's talking louder and faster and as a result her
> voice rises about a half octave, which doesn't fit well with
> her natural style and vocal flow. From my perspective, this
> lessens her comfort level and inserts a "put on" feeling
> into her delivery. But, one supposes some level of
> theatrics goes along with a new set and the approach of
> sweeps, in an effort to capture more attention from the
> audience.
>
> The overall atmosphere, though, is positive. The news
> anchors now occasionally go to the weather set to chat with
> Troy et al when leading into weather, rather than the
> weather folks walking to the edge of the news desk. Anchors
> stand at various locations of the set rather than sitting at
> the desk all the time. The color scheme with the liberal
> use of blue is a decided improvement over the rather drab
> brown cast that dominated the old set.
>
> While no one has asked (and no doubt won't), but if I were
> polled I would give the new Channel 8 news shows an 85 of
> 100. The earlier post regarding video production gaffes is
> correct--the new visual appeal is severely degraded by
> mistakes that can and should be corrected.
>
I give the redesigned newscast a 90 out of 100. I was impressed with Young Master Hawkins and his recent performance at the anchor desk. He seems to have stepped up to the plate and taken his job seriously.
 
> > > The new set as (some have already mentioned) looks
> great.

If you are referring to the neon blue desk... it reminds me of a Budweiser sign.
 
For the life of me, I'll never understand why more TV news operations don't get their anchors out from behind that darned desk. Dan Rather was a cigar store indian behind it, and a real human being standing up. Brokaw's ratings took off once NBC moved him in front of the set. Not the sole reason, but neither was it insignificant. Even Jennings, who was nearly flawless in all settings, presented better on his feet. Of course, there are some anchors who enjoy the horizontal "cover" a desk provides :). Too many trips to the snack machine.

I realize that the desk is an authority symbol, but in the postmodernistic world tuning into a newscast and finding two people on the other side of a desk is somewhere between going to the principal's office and going to an IRS audit. It's a barrier to communication. Plus, energy tends to slump in a chair. I never use one in TV or radio if I can get away with it.

And the 8 set looks very nice. They do need a taller chair in the weather center. Pete, Greg and the others look too small seated upstage.

Jody



> > > > The new set as (some have already mentioned) looks
> > great.
>
> If you are referring to the neon blue desk... it reminds me
> of a Budweiser sign.
>
<P ID="edit"><FONT class="small">Edited by dean1 on 10/14/05 03:10 AM.</FONT></P>
 
I disagree

> The new set as (some have already mentioned) looks great.
> The interaction between anchors and reporters is a lot
> better. However,( you knew it was coming) They still are
> having problems racking up the correct story at the begining
> of the 5pm news. Their graphics needs to have a spell
> check,"Miler" has two "L's","Huston" contains an "O" among
> other words and names. Brad Hawkins has improved( praise
> God). They must have hired a coach for him,and the new set
> seems to work for him as well.
>

The new set is a mess:
- It's too blue - the color overpowers everything and has highlighted many lines and wrinkles on the anchors faces.

- The standing thing is awkward - When Gloria and John stand, they just don't look like they're in their comfort zone. This sort of thing works better if you do it in front of a chroma key wall where you can frame the shot properly and you don't have a desk in front of them. It doesn't even have to be a chroma key wall. It could be a monitor wall like the networks use.

- There's less interaction between the anchors since they rarely appear on camera together. It's also very weird - maybe rude - to start the news without any kind of two shot or "good evening, thank you for joining us.." etc.. They just come right out of headlines into a story intro. I'm all for getting to the news as quick as possible, but some kind of basic "hello" is needed.

Dale Hansen even made light of the new format when he had a snafu during a sports segment last week. He suggested that maybe if he'd been standing it would have worked right.

I'm actually noticing during tonight's 10pm show that they've put the anchors at the desk for a few tosses in an effort to remove some of the uncomfortable moments.

- The weather set is too busy and the weather chair is too low. It makes Troy and company look like they're 4 feet tall and just barely able to peer over the top of the desk.
 
> For the life of me, I'll never understand why more TV news
> operations don't get their anchors out from behind that
> darned desk.

For at least the last 2-3 weeks, the co-anchors of CNBC's Power Lunch show have been ALL OVER the newsroom and have rarely sat down anywhere. A few of the in-studio reporter segments during the day have also been upright or at least away from an anchor desk area.

> I never use one in TV or radio if I can get away with it.

You don't stand for the whole morning show, do you Jody?
 
> For the life of me, I'll never understand why more TV news
> operations don't get their anchors out from behind that
> darned desk. Dan Rather was a cigar store indian behind it,
> and a real human being standing up. Brokaw's ratings took
> off once NBC moved him in front of the set. Not the sole
> reason, but neither was it insignificant. Even Jennings, who
> was nearly flawless in all settings, presented better on his
> feet. Of course, there are some anchors who enjoy the
> horizontal "cover" a desk provides :). Too many trips to the
> snack machine.


And it helps cover the deep seated feelings for the women they sit next to :).


> I realize that the desk is an authority symbol, but in the
> postmodernistic world tuning into a newscast and finding two
> people on the other side of a desk is somewhere between
> going to the principal's office and going to an IRS audit.
> It's a barrier to communication. Plus, energy tends to slump
> in a chair. I never use one in TV or radio if I can get away
> with it.


Yeah, that's why board ops fall out of their chairs -- sleeping during ball games.


> And the 8 set looks very nice. They do need a taller chair
> in the weather center. Pete, Greg and the others look too
> small seated upstage.


Well, it hides Troy's tie.



> Jody


I am ... Batman.



> > > > > The new set as (some have already mentioned) looks
> > > great.
> >
> > If you are referring to the neon blue desk... it reminds
> me
> > of a Budweiser sign.


Well, this Buds for you then.
 
> > For the life of me, I'll never understand why more TV news
>
> > operations don't get their anchors out from behind that
> > darned desk.
>
> For at least the last 2-3 weeks, the co-anchors of CNBC's
> Power Lunch show have been ALL OVER the newsroom and have
> rarely sat down anywhere. A few of the in-studio reporter
> segments during the day have also been upright or at least
> away from an anchor desk area.
>
> > I never use one in TV or radio if I can get away with it.
>
> You don't stand for the whole morning show, do you Jody?


I'll bet he does ... and rarely sits down.

A standup board is the best.
 
> > > For the life of me, I'll never understand why more TV
> news
> >
> > > operations don't get their anchors out from behind that
> > > darned desk.
> >
> > For at least the last 2-3 weeks, the co-anchors of CNBC's
> > Power Lunch show have been ALL OVER the newsroom and have
> > rarely sat down anywhere. A few of the in-studio reporter
>
> > segments during the day have also been upright or at least
>
> > away from an anchor desk area.
> >
> > > I never use one in TV or radio if I can get away with
> it.
> >
> > You don't stand for the whole morning show, do you Jody?
>
>
> I'll bet he does ... and rarely sits down.
>
> A standup board is the best.
>
Agreed. Always stand when talking.
 
And never talk ... when sitting

> > > > For the life of me, I'll never understand why more TV
> > news
> > >
> > > > operations don't get their anchors out from behind
> that
> > > > darned desk.
> > >
> > > For at least the last 2-3 weeks, the co-anchors of
> CNBC's
> > > Power Lunch show have been ALL OVER the newsroom and
> have
> > > rarely sat down anywhere. A few of the in-studio
> reporter
> >
> > > segments during the day have also been upright or at
> least
> >
> > > away from an anchor desk area.
> > >
> > > > I never use one in TV or radio if I can get away with
> > it.
> > >
> > > You don't stand for the whole morning show, do you Jody?
>
> >
> >
> > I'll bet he does ... and rarely sits down.
> >
> > A standup board is the best.
> >
> Agreed. Always stand when talking.


And never talk when sitting.

Tower over the boss when making a point! :)
 
Re: And never talk ... when sitting

> > > > > For the life of me, I'll never understand why more
> TV
> > > news
> > > >
> > > > > operations don't get their anchors out from behind
> > that
> > > > > darned desk.
> > > >
> > > > For at least the last 2-3 weeks, the co-anchors of
> > CNBC's
> > > > Power Lunch show have been ALL OVER the newsroom and
> > have
> > > > rarely sat down anywhere. A few of the in-studio
> > reporter
> > >
> > > > segments during the day have also been upright or at
> > least
> > >
> > > > away from an anchor desk area.
> > > >
> > > > > I never use one in TV or radio if I can get away
> with
> > > it.
> > > >
> > > > You don't stand for the whole morning show, do you
> Jody?
> >
> > >
> > >
> > > I'll bet he does ... and rarely sits down.
> > >
> > > A standup board is the best.
> > >
> > Agreed. Always stand when talking.
>
>
> And never talk when sitting.
>
> Tower over the boss when making a point! :)
>
and bend over for all to see when leaving the job site for a better gig.
 
Re: And never talk ... when sitting

Yup. The whole four hours. And I try to never leave the CR.

One of the best ideas that turned out badly I ever saw in a radio station was the idea of a sit down board with a headset boom-mic arrangement. It sounded like a great idea, until you realized you could never get up and move around, and could never be anything other than directly on-mic. That took away a considerable amount of latitude.

Back to TV...I keep waiting for a more informal approach. Rather than the anchor desk or cliche interview set decorated by Gabberts, I'd love to eventually see no anchor desk or coffee table whatsoever...and a couple of simple stools or high chairs (I know what you're thinking here) and relaxed anchors tossing to other reporters in areas of the set. Otherwise it devolves into some kind of frenetic skittering about as if the people can't figure out where to stand. Inevitably, when the creative servives people come up with a new set, especially one that offers a bunch of object shots, the news director tells the producers to utilize it. The result is that they overdo, and position people with no real purpose other than to show off the set. Bulletin - don't put them in front of the "satellite center" unless there's an organic reason to be there. Just like a live shot where nothing is happening "live". Viewers can spot nonsense. It also drives a floor crew nuts trying to get the right shots, and causes silly camera movements and lighting problems. Less is more. Just keep it simple.

And lose the ties. The rest of the world did a decade ago or more, and the faux formality is yet another barrier that drives viewers away - especially the younger ones. Just dress nicely, and relate...instead of working off a staid template with origins dating back half a century - one which the vast majority of the great unwashed no longer observes.

Jody

> > > > > > For the life of me, I'll never understand why more
>
> > TV
> > > > news
> > > > >
> > > > > > operations don't get their anchors out from behind
>
> > > that
> > > > > > darned desk.
> > > > >
> > > > > For at least the last 2-3 weeks, the co-anchors of
> > > CNBC's
> > > > > Power Lunch show have been ALL OVER the newsroom and
>
> > > have
> > > > > rarely sat down anywhere. A few of the in-studio
> > > reporter
> > > >
> > > > > segments during the day have also been upright or at
>
> > > least
> > > >
> > > > > away from an anchor desk area.
> > > > >
> > > > > > I never use one in TV or radio if I can get away
> > with
> > > > it.
> > > > >
> > > > > You don't stand for the whole morning show, do you
> > Jody?
> > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > I'll bet he does ... and rarely sits down.
> > > >
> > > > A standup board is the best.
> > > >
> > > Agreed. Always stand when talking.
> >
> >
> > And never talk when sitting.
> >
> > Tower over the boss when making a point! :)
> >
> and bend over for all to see when leaving the job site for a
> better gig.
>
<P ID="edit"><FONT class="small">Edited by dean1 on 10/16/05 05:24 AM.</FONT></P>
 
Re: And never talk ... when sitting

> > > > > > For the life of me, I'll never understand why more
>
> > TV
> > > > news
> > > > >
> > > > > > operations don't get their anchors out from behind
>
> > > that
> > > > > > darned desk.
> > > > >
> > > > > For at least the last 2-3 weeks, the co-anchors of
> > > CNBC's
> > > > > Power Lunch show have been ALL OVER the newsroom and
>
> > > have
> > > > > rarely sat down anywhere. A few of the in-studio
> > > reporter
> > > >
> > > > > segments during the day have also been upright or at
>
> > > least
> > > >
> > > > > away from an anchor desk area.
> > > > >
> > > > > > I never use one in TV or radio if I can get away
> > with
> > > > it.
> > > > >
> > > > > You don't stand for the whole morning show, do you
> > Jody?
> > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > I'll bet he does ... and rarely sits down.
> > > >
> > > > A standup board is the best.
> > > >
> > > Agreed. Always stand when talking.
> >
> >
> > And never talk when sitting.
> >
> > Tower over the boss when making a point! :)
> >
> and bend over for all to see when leaving the job site for a
> better gig.


Yeah, I have ... I am a plumber :)
 
Re: And never talk ... when sitting

> Yup. The whole four hours. And I try to never leave the CR.
>
>
> One of the best ideas that turned out badly I ever saw in a
> radio station was the idea of a sit down board with a
> headset boom-mic arrangement. It sounded like a great idea,
> until you realized you could never get up and move around,
> and could never be anything other than directly on-mic. That
> took away a considerable amount of latitude.
>
> Back to TV...I keep waiting for a more informal approach.
> Rather than the anchor desk or cliche interview set
> decorated by Gabberts, I'd love to eventually see no anchor
> desk or coffee table whatsoever...and a couple of simple
> stools or high chairs (I know what you're thinking here) and
> relaxed anchors tossing to other reporters in areas of the
> set. Otherwise it devolves into some kind of frenetic
> skittering about as if the people can't figure out where to
> stand. Inevitably, when the creative servives people come up
> with a new set, especially one that offers a bunch of object
> shots, the news director tells the producers to utilize it.
> The result is that they overdo, and position people with no
> real purpose other than to show off the set. Bulletin -
> don't put them in front of the "satellite center" unless
> there's an organic reason to be there. Just like a live shot
> where nothing is happening "live". Viewers can spot
> nonsense. It also drives a floor crew nuts trying to get the
> right shots, and causes silly camera movements and lighting
> problems. Less is more. Just keep it simple.
>
> And lose the ties. The rest of the world did a decade ago or
> more, and the faux formality is yet another barrier that
> drives viewers away - especially the younger ones. Just
> dress nicely, and relate...instead of working off a staid
> template with origins dating back half a century - one which
> the vast majority of the great unwashed no longer observes.
>
>
> Jody
I still love it when sportscasters tried to look hip in the 70's wearing their hair long and wearing leasure suits. It looked like with the long lapels that they were awaiting flight clearance from DFW. The colors were so bright Iwonder what type of batteries they used for the suits. Then came the mid 80's with brown suits, yellow ties with brown polka dots. It looked like they walked into a flock of gackles under a tree. The 90's I loved Valerie Willimas reporting on the effects of a blue norther in Denton or Amarillo ( I still have the tape) The temp was 25 the chill factor was minus 10. Everytime she talked her tetth chattered. Chip and Tracy on Ch.8 were laughing hysterically at the sight.
 
Re: And never talk ... when sitting

Turtlenecks. They all wore turtlenecks. When I was at 5, Boyd Matson would come in for his sportscast with two or three to choose from. And a shoulder bag. Men did not carry shoulder bags in the early 70's. We knew right then Boyd was destined for bigger things.

And the whole ensemble usually matched the Austin Powers/shag carpet podium set we used for Texas News 5. Of course, Boyd was cool and could pull it off. Bill Hix and Roy Eaton just ate it up. Harold was not amused.

Jody

> > Yup. The whole four hours. And I try to never leave the
> CR.
> >
> >
> > One of the best ideas that turned out badly I ever saw in
> a
> > radio station was the idea of a sit down board with a
> > headset boom-mic arrangement. It sounded like a great
> idea,
> > until you realized you could never get up and move around,
>
> > and could never be anything other than directly on-mic.
> That
> > took away a considerable amount of latitude.
> >
> > Back to TV...I keep waiting for a more informal approach.
> > Rather than the anchor desk or cliche interview set
> > decorated by Gabberts, I'd love to eventually see no
> anchor
> > desk or coffee table whatsoever...and a couple of simple
> > stools or high chairs (I know what you're thinking here)
> and
> > relaxed anchors tossing to other reporters in areas of the
>
> > set. Otherwise it devolves into some kind of frenetic
> > skittering about as if the people can't figure out where
> to
> > stand. Inevitably, when the creative servives people come
> up
> > with a new set, especially one that offers a bunch of
> object
> > shots, the news director tells the producers to utilize
> it.
> > The result is that they overdo, and position people with
> no
> > real purpose other than to show off the set. Bulletin -
> > don't put them in front of the "satellite center" unless
> > there's an organic reason to be there. Just like a live
> shot
> > where nothing is happening "live". Viewers can spot
> > nonsense. It also drives a floor crew nuts trying to get
> the
> > right shots, and causes silly camera movements and
> lighting
> > problems. Less is more. Just keep it simple.
> >
> > And lose the ties. The rest of the world did a decade ago
> or
> > more, and the faux formality is yet another barrier that
> > drives viewers away - especially the younger ones. Just
> > dress nicely, and relate...instead of working off a staid
> > template with origins dating back half a century - one
> which
> > the vast majority of the great unwashed no longer
> observes.
> >
> >
> > Jody
> I still love it when sportscasters tried to look hip in the
> 70's wearing their hair long and wearing leasure suits. It
> looked like with the long lapels that they were awaiting
> flight clearance from DFW. The colors were so bright Iwonder
> what type of batteries they used for the suits. Then came
> the mid 80's with brown suits, yellow ties with brown polka
> dots. It looked like they walked into a flock of gackles
> under a tree. The 90's I loved Valerie Willimas reporting on
> the effects of a blue norther in Denton or Amarillo ( I
> still have the tape) The temp was 25 the chill factor was
> minus 10. Everytime she talked her tetth chattered. Chip and
> Tracy on Ch.8 were laughing hysterically at the sight.
>
 
Re: And never talk ... when sitting

> Turtlenecks. They all wore turtlenecks. When I was at 5,
> Boyd Matson would come in for his sportscast with two or
> three to choose from. And a shoulder bag. Men did not carry
> shoulder bags in the early 70's. We knew right then Boyd was
> destined for bigger things.
>
> And the whole ensemble usually matched the Austin
> Powers/shag carpet podium set we used for Texas News 5. Of
> course, Boyd was cool and could pull it off. Bill Hix and
> Roy Eaton just ate it up. Harold was not amused.



Ahh Harold. I really miss that guy.Shortly before his death,Rebecca Miller was hired. One day she was doing the weather at the begining of the Texas State fair and she did the unthinkable. She had drawning of a picture of Big Tex on the side of the forecast to indicate good weather for the fair. Harold hotlined her and reamed her out for that. "Weather is a serious business, we do not make fun of it here in Texas, especially Dallas-Ft.Worth" he intoned. Big Tex went missing at the 6pm forecast.



>
> Jody
>
> > > Yup. The whole four hours. And I try to never leave the
> > CR.
> > >
> > >
> > > One of the best ideas that turned out badly I ever saw
> in
> > a
> > > radio station was the idea of a sit down board with a
> > > headset boom-mic arrangement. It sounded like a great
> > idea,
> > > until you realized you could never get up and move
> around,
> >
> > > and could never be anything other than directly on-mic.
> > That
> > > took away a considerable amount of latitude.
> > >
> > > Back to TV...I keep waiting for a more informal
> approach.
> > > Rather than the anchor desk or cliche interview set
> > > decorated by Gabberts, I'd love to eventually see no
> > anchor
> > > desk or coffee table whatsoever...and a couple of simple
>
> > > stools or high chairs (I know what you're thinking here)
>
> > and
> > > relaxed anchors tossing to other reporters in areas of
> the
> >
> > > set. Otherwise it devolves into some kind of frenetic
> > > skittering about as if the people can't figure out where
>
> > to
> > > stand. Inevitably, when the creative servives people
> come
> > up
> > > with a new set, especially one that offers a bunch of
> > object
> > > shots, the news director tells the producers to utilize
> > it.
> > > The result is that they overdo, and position people with
>
> > no
> > > real purpose other than to show off the set. Bulletin -
> > > don't put them in front of the "satellite center" unless
>
> > > there's an organic reason to be there. Just like a live
> > shot
> > > where nothing is happening "live". Viewers can spot
> > > nonsense. It also drives a floor crew nuts trying to get
>
> > the
> > > right shots, and causes silly camera movements and
> > lighting
> > > problems. Less is more. Just keep it simple.
> > >
> > > And lose the ties. The rest of the world did a decade
> ago
> > or
> > > more, and the faux formality is yet another barrier that
>
> > > drives viewers away - especially the younger ones. Just
> > > dress nicely, and relate...instead of working off a
> staid
> > > template with origins dating back half a century - one
> > which
> > > the vast majority of the great unwashed no longer
> > observes.
> > >
> > >
> > > Jody
> > I still love it when sportscasters tried to look hip in
> the
> > 70's wearing their hair long and wearing leasure suits. It
>
> > looked like with the long lapels that they were awaiting
> > flight clearance from DFW. The colors were so bright
> Iwonder
> > what type of batteries they used for the suits. Then came
> > the mid 80's with brown suits, yellow ties with brown
> polka
> > dots. It looked like they walked into a flock of gackles
> > under a tree. The 90's I loved Valerie Willimas reporting
> on
> > the effects of a blue norther in Denton or Amarillo ( I
> > still have the tape) The temp was 25 the chill factor was
> > minus 10. Everytime she talked her tetth chattered. Chip
> and
> > Tracy on Ch.8 were laughing hysterically at the sight.
> >
>
 
Re: And never talk ... when sitting

Great Harold story, Ed.

I recall one Halloween at which the boys in the control room figured out how to make a tiny witch fly across Harold's radar screen. Most weather people would have gone on for five minutes about it. Harold's terse response?

"Oh, good night nurse." Perfect.

I miss him too...even though the last thing he did for me was to recall my name as that of a witness in the Don Carter's Roof collapse...and thence give my name to the lawyers. I would up going through nine hours of depositions, thanks to Harold.

> > Turtlenecks. They all wore turtlenecks. When I was at 5,
> > Boyd Matson would come in for his sportscast with two or
> > three to choose from. And a shoulder bag. Men did not
> carry
> > shoulder bags in the early 70's. We knew right then Boyd
> was
> > destined for bigger things.
> >
> > And the whole ensemble usually matched the Austin
> > Powers/shag carpet podium set we used for Texas News 5. Of
>
> > course, Boyd was cool and could pull it off. Bill Hix and
> > Roy Eaton just ate it up. Harold was not amused.
>
>
>
> Ahh Harold. I really miss that guy.Shortly before his
> death,Rebecca Miller was hired. One day she was doing the
> weather at the begining of the Texas State fair and she did
> the unthinkable. She had drawning of a picture of Big Tex on
> the side of the forecast to indicate good weather for the
> fair. Harold hotlined her and reamed her out for that.
> "Weather is a serious business, we do not make fun of it
> here in Texas, especially Dallas-Ft.Worth" he intoned. Big
> Tex went missing at the 6pm forecast.
>
>
>
> >
> > Jody
> >
> > > > Yup. The whole four hours. And I try to never leave
> the
> > > CR.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > One of the best ideas that turned out badly I ever saw
>
> > in
> > > a
> > > > radio station was the idea of a sit down board with a
> > > > headset boom-mic arrangement. It sounded like a great
> > > idea,
> > > > until you realized you could never get up and move
> > around,
> > >
> > > > and could never be anything other than directly
> on-mic.
> > > That
> > > > took away a considerable amount of latitude.
> > > >
> > > > Back to TV...I keep waiting for a more informal
> > approach.
> > > > Rather than the anchor desk or cliche interview set
> > > > decorated by Gabberts, I'd love to eventually see no
> > > anchor
> > > > desk or coffee table whatsoever...and a couple of
> simple
> >
> > > > stools or high chairs (I know what you're thinking
> here)
> >
> > > and
> > > > relaxed anchors tossing to other reporters in areas of
>
> > the
> > >
> > > > set. Otherwise it devolves into some kind of frenetic
> > > > skittering about as if the people can't figure out
> where
> >
> > > to
> > > > stand. Inevitably, when the creative servives people
> > come
> > > up
> > > > with a new set, especially one that offers a bunch of
> > > object
> > > > shots, the news director tells the producers to
> utilize
> > > it.
> > > > The result is that they overdo, and position people
> with
> >
> > > no
> > > > real purpose other than to show off the set. Bulletin
> -
> > > > don't put them in front of the "satellite center"
> unless
> >
> > > > there's an organic reason to be there. Just like a
> live
> > > shot
> > > > where nothing is happening "live". Viewers can spot
> > > > nonsense. It also drives a floor crew nuts trying to
> get
> >
> > > the
> > > > right shots, and causes silly camera movements and
> > > lighting
> > > > problems. Less is more. Just keep it simple.
> > > >
> > > > And lose the ties. The rest of the world did a decade
> > ago
> > > or
> > > > more, and the faux formality is yet another barrier
> that
> >
> > > > drives viewers away - especially the younger ones.
> Just
> > > > dress nicely, and relate...instead of working off a
> > staid
> > > > template with origins dating back half a century - one
>
> > > which
> > > > the vast majority of the great unwashed no longer
> > > observes.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Jody
> > > I still love it when sportscasters tried to look hip in
> > the
> > > 70's wearing their hair long and wearing leasure suits.
> It
> >
> > > looked like with the long lapels that they were awaiting
>
> > > flight clearance from DFW. The colors were so bright
> > Iwonder
> > > what type of batteries they used for the suits. Then
> came
> > > the mid 80's with brown suits, yellow ties with brown
> > polka
> > > dots. It looked like they walked into a flock of gackles
>
> > > under a tree. The 90's I loved Valerie Willimas
> reporting
> > on
> > > the effects of a blue norther in Denton or Amarillo ( I
>
> > > still have the tape) The temp was 25 the chill factor
> was
> > > minus 10. Everytime she talked her tetth chattered. Chip
>
> > and
> > > Tracy on Ch.8 were laughing hysterically at the sight.
> > >
> >
>
 
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