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REPORT: John Bolaris to join FOX 29 WTXF

Julius May said:
Michael Klein of the Inquirer is reporting that John Bolaris will join FOX 29 in January as the 5 and 10 PM weather forecaster according to a source. To read the article: http://www.philly.com/philly/hp/news_update/20071010_Source__Bolaris_to_join_Fox29.html
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One of the rumors, is fox29 will be expanding its news. Adding a 6:00 and 11:00, and that they will be doing sorta what ch 6 does. That being havning John on at 5:00, and 10:00, but Rob on at 6:00 and 11:00. I sure hope this is the reason, because if they dumped Guarino, to get Bolaris (and at a price NBC10 wasn't willing to match), then they're idiots.
 
The guy who was originally billed as an MTV-type weatherman returns to the city of his biggest disgrace. Lucky for him the forecast is for a milder than usual winter. The usual best bet if you want accurate weather, go online and get it yourself. Channel 29 doesn't go to the bottom of the barrell, it goes below it.
 
Bolaris apparently didn't reach the same levels of popularity in New York as in Philadelphia.
My understanding is that he was a regular in the local gossip columns there.
In New York, he didn't get much press for his exploits, mainly because there are real stars in NYC so the weatherman for the third place station isn't going to get much press.

Also, New York is a less weather-centric market compared to Philadelphia. Bolaris also didn't seem like a good fit for the station. Although, WCBS has gone through a lot of changes since he started and only of late has started to really get their act together.
 
This is quite a shame too. What a waste of talent Rob Guarino is to an idiot no one else in this market wanted BUT Fox29. Channel 10--for a fact--wanted no parts of Bolaris' return. It should be funny to see what kind of spin Fox and Bolaris put on for "his return to Philadelphia". Surely they won't promote the fact that the guy has a mortgage to pay and is coming back not on his own free will -- but -- because his contract wasn't renewed at WCBS in New York. New Yorkers saw right through the guy...all hype, hairspray and glitz but no meat of the matter. A poster on another board had the best suggestion. Channel 10 hiring Guarino as their new Chief Meteorologist and replacing Glenn Schwartz. Let's face it, Channel 10 used to be "the place for weather" but they've definitely lost their place in line. Rob definitely could fit the bill and deserves a place who appreciates his true weather talent and weather passion...not just "a pretty face" i.e. "Bolaris". The difference between Bolaris and Guarino is like night and day. Guarino's passion shows. He's the best in this market -- especially for winter storm forecasting.


Hopefully, Guarino will find another gig as satisfying as he had here in Philadelphia.
 
Bolaris recently sold his Wainscott house for $2.695 million, so I don't think he has to worry about a mortgage.
He was basically looking for a gig near NYC where he could be close to his daughter and her mother, WPIX anchor Tiffany McElroy.

Now, New York's two best meteorologists, Nick Gregory of WNYW and Janice Huff of WNBC, are not flashy and down to earth. They are also two of the nicest people you are going to meet, and that comes through on air. Bolaris, with his turtlenecks seemed more like a Las Vegas magician than a weather presenter. When WCBS had the debut of the much maligned and short lived Doppler 2 Million, Bolaris used it to show his boyhood home among other things.

Still, Bolaris never really fit in with the market's idea of weather, which really never seemed to help channel 2 in the ratings, and is better suited to Philadelphia, where which is probably the most weather-centric market I have seen anywhere.
 
Irishfl said:
One of the rumors, is fox29 will be expanding its news. Adding a 6:00 and 11:00, and that they will be doing sorta what ch 6 does. That being havning John on at 5:00, and 10:00, but Rob on at 6:00 and 11:00. I sure hope this is the reason, because if they dumped Guarino, to get Bolaris (and at a price NBC10 wasn't willing to match), then they're idiots.
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Dan Gross reported that Rob's contract is up at the end of December. Rob is in the process of setting up a website (robguarino.com) so reading the tea leaves I would assume he's not being brought back at the end of his deal. Fox has brought on a new news director (guy is from Cleveland) and he has been making many changes (Clayton Morris being dumped for one).

Someone who is close to Rob has said Rob has already started talking to NBC 10, possibly to be the Doug Kammerer role (work the 5 on 10 and the 10 on 17) and to be the eventual chief met when Hurricane decides to step back in his role (Hurricane's 56 according to Wikipedia, not old at all but Rob is a good dozen years younger, at least). Rob could also go out of market but I think he does want to stay in Philadelphia.
 
philadelphiawx said:
Fox has brought on a new news director (guy is from Cleveland) and he has been making many changes (Clayton Morris being dumped for one).
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Don't be shocked if Dawn Stensland and Dave Huddleston get the boot from the station also soon.
 
Rustyfender said:
This is quite a shame too. What a waste of talent Rob Guarino is to an idiot no one else in this market wanted BUT Fox29. Channel 10--for a fact--wanted no parts of Bolaris' return. It should be funny to see what kind of spin Fox and Bolaris put on for "his return to Philadelphia". Surely they won't promote the fact that the guy has a mortgage to pay and is coming back not on his own free will -- but -- because his contract wasn't renewed at WCBS in New York. New Yorkers saw right through the guy...all hype, hairspray and glitz but no meat of the matter. A poster on another board had the best suggestion. Channel 10 hiring Guarino as their new Chief Meteorologist and replacing Glenn Schwartz. Let's face it, Channel 10 used to be "the place for weather" but they've definitely lost their place in line. Rob definitely could fit the bill and deserves a place who appreciates his true weather talent and weather passion...not just "a pretty face" i.e. "Bolaris". The difference between Bolaris and Guarino is like night and day. Guarino's passion shows. He's the best in this market -- especially for winter storm forecasting.


Hopefully, Guarino will find another gig as satisfying as he had here in Philadelphia.
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Weather enthusiasts would agree with this but those who don't follow the weather much would put Bolaris' name recognition at a higher level than Rob's, simply because Bolaris is in the headlines more for his off-the camera exploits than on the camera.
 
Philadelphiawx -- isn't it sad though that...as you say "Bolaris' name recognition is at a higher level than Rob's, simply because he is in the headlines more for his off-the camera exploits than on the camera" in that 'off-camera antics' place a higher priority in viewer's minds than talent? That's where, in my opinion, the TV news biz is just that...'showbiz' and that it isn't based on one's talent. I don't think most would argue that if you're a viewer of Rob Guarino, you can tell the guy knows weather, cares about weather and cares about getting it right. Whereas with Bolaris, it seems to be more about presentation and appearance. That's why I go back to my earlier post where I say I hope Guarino lands somewhere where his talent is truly appreciated.
 
"Weather enthusiasts would agree..."
Technically weather enthusiasts (of which I am one…though my wife calls it a weird obsession) get their weather from sources other than local news. So while weather acumen may play a part in the choice, I tend to agree that the more superficial aspects such as look and name recognition likely drive this type of decision.
 
Rustyfender said:
Philadelphiawx -- isn't it sad though that...as you say "Bolaris' name recognition is at a higher level than Rob's, simply because he is in the headlines more for his off-the camera exploits than on the camera" in that 'off-camera antics' place a higher priority in viewer's minds than talent? That's where, in my opinion, the TV news biz is just that...'showbiz' and that it isn't based on one's talent. I don't think most would argue that if you're a viewer of Rob Guarino, you can tell the guy knows weather, cares about weather and cares about getting it right. Whereas with Bolaris, it seems to be more about presentation and appearance. That's why I go back to my earlier post where I say I hope Guarino lands somewhere where his talent is truly appreciated.
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I would agree with this. Guarino is a talented weatherman and I think he will land quickly along the East Coast somewhere.
 
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