Well, with Lebron signing on to the 76ers stacked roster, and me being a big fan of the team, how about let's create a make-believe mix of current Seattle anchor talent and come up with our own teams of anchor all-stars. Looking at experience, personality, credibility, etc. but it's all totally subjective. Trying to picture these teams together on camera. Please weigh in:
WEEKDAY MORNING NEWS
FIRST TEAM:
Anchors, Jake Wittenberg, KING and Linzi Sheldon, KIRO
Weather, Nick Allard, KIRO
Traffic, Adam Gehrke, Fox 13
NOTE: I really think this is very strong mix of personality and market knowledge
SECOND TEAM:
Anchors, Bill Wixey, Fox 13, Mimi Jung, KING
Weather, Brian MacMillan, Fox 13
Traffic, Shante Sumpter, KING
NOTE: I think having a stronger co-anchor like Jung would better complement Wixey and make the show much better than with the former weather wizard.
NOTE: KING's Rich Marriott is obviously the dean of a.m. weather, but I'm giving the Nick and Brian an advantage for stronger on-air presence. Rich is going to the HOF, period.
WEEKDAY EVENING NEWS:
FIRST TEAM:
Elle Thomas, KIRO, Greg Copeland, KING
Weather, Shannon O' Donnell, KOMO
Sports, Paul Silvi, KING
SECOND TEAM:
Anchors, David Rose, Fox 13, Joyce Taylor, KING (could easily be First Team)
Weather, Morgan Palmer, KIRO
Sports, Aaron Levine, Fox 13
___________________________________
WEEKEND MORNINGS:
FIRST TEAM:
Anchor, Theron Zahn, (when he's not doing weather) KOMO
Weather, Ashley Ruiz, KING
SECOND TEAM:
Anchor, Farah Jadran, KING
Weather, Abby Acone (when she's not posting odd sudio social videos), Fox 13
____________________________________________
WEEKEND EVENINGS:
FIRST TEAM:
Anchor, Eric Thomas, KIRO
Weather, Stella Sun, KOMO
Sports, Chris Egan, KING
SECOND TEAM:
Anchor, Michelle Esteban, KOMO
Weather, Robert Van Winkle, KIRO (tough call vs. Leah Pezzetti, KING, but RVW has really helped stabilize KIRO on weekends. Slight nod)
Sports, Niko Tamurian, KOMO

These are some very interesting dream teams. I wonder how many of them might come to fruition some day.
ReplyDeleteWith no competes increasingly going away, you never know! People might starting getting better offers and jumping to the competition more readily. I believe Abby & Tyrah got good competing opportunities to leave for Fox and KIRO.
DeleteI share your belief. If you don't have a non-compete clause to worry about and the competition comes knocking with a better offer, it would be foolish not to at least take a look at it.
DeleteYou never know!
ReplyDeleteThis was fun to read! As someone who has produced for Joyce and David, I would pay money to have those two share the desk. Oof that would be a show and the jabs would be non-stop. Grabbing my popcorn!
ReplyDeleteSounds like this scenario would be particularly interesting.
DeleteGood list, but it’s shocking to me you’d pick Elle Thomas over Kelly Koopmans
ReplyDeleteI like Kelly but she just moved to the later shift, so I didn't include her. On mornings she would likely have topped Sheldon with Jake W.
DeleteAnd Mimi, too, with Wixey on #2 team.
DeleteHonorable mention to Kelly Koopmans, who is smart, beautiful and witty. She is a solid replacement for Mary Nam. KOMO has strong female news anchors.
ReplyDeleteYes, agreed.
DeleteKoopmans has proven to be an excellent successor to Nam. KOMO doesn't feel like it has skipped a beat since Nam's departure. Though, of course, Nam's presence on our screens is very much missed.
DeleteHow about building the best roster of newsroom talent Wayne? Anchors, reporters, sports and weather. Say 6 anchors, 6 reporters, 2-3 sports and 2-3 weather? I have ideas!
ReplyDeleteThanks... Just posted my top five reporters the other day and I think.my 'dream teams' post offers some of what you suggest, but would love to see your ideas and will give it some thought.
DeleteLove this discussion. Would be in agreement on most of this Wayne except I would slot Ilona McCauley in over Stella on the weekend evening weather.
ReplyDeleteStella jumps off the screen to me. Ilona good but lacks breakthrough potential, IMHO
Delete