Phil Archer, Deborah Wrigley and Tom Koch retirement party

As we were all cheering on the Astros Thursday night, the Houston TV world was celebrating the retirements of Phil Archer (KPRC 2), Deborah Wrigley (abc13 KTRK) and Tom Koch (abc13 KTRK).

The star studded Houston TV event, hosted by Bob Martin (aka "The Accountant to the Stars"), took place in a packed party room at Carrabba's - The Original On Kirby.

And we can't forget abc13 KTRK investigative reporter Ted Oberg, also in attendance, who is leaving H-Town for Washington, D.C. TV!

TV names from channels 2, 11, 13 and 26 were all there to celebrate now since it would have been difficult to gather when the trio all actually left in the past years.

Also in attendance were Houston mega attorney Rusty Hardin, former Harris County Judge Robert Eckels and former Harris County District Attorney Pat Lykos.

No one was safe from the prying eye of the mikemcguff.com camera!

Kevin Quinn leaves KTRK 13, joins Harris County Precinct 1

Longtime abc13 KTRK reporter Kevin Quinn signs off, announces new roles as full-time spokesperson with the Constable for Precinct 1 in Harris County, Alan Rosen and media liaison for Houston Crime Stoppers

Jennifer Rosen, Harris County Pct. 1 Constable Alan Rosen, Kevin and Elizabeth Quinn

Back in March when he announced his resignation, lots of my readers were shocked reporter Kevin Quinn was leaving the abc13 KTRK airwaves after covering the news at the Disney–ABC Television Group owned stations since 2003.

Last Friday was his official last day.

And the mikemcguff.com roving camera sneaked into his Quinn's goodbye party Saturday night which was thrown by colleague Miya Shay at Union Kitchen on Washington Avenue.

"I have accepted a full-time position as a spokesperson with the Constable for Precinct 1 in Harris County, Alan Rosen," Kevin announced. "I’ll also be working some as a media liaison for Houston Crime Stoppers. I’m excited about these new challenges and I look forward to what’s to come."

As you will see in the photos, Constable Rosen was at the party and spoke very highly of Quinn.

Clearly Quinn will be missed in the TV newsrooms. Lots of people from all sides of the camera and from various stations showed up to say goodbye.

But don't worry, he'll still be dealing with the media, just in a new role!

Kevin and Elizabeth Quinn

Kevin Quinn and Mary Benton

Blanca Beltran, Casey Curry, Miya Shay

Casey Curry, Elizabeth Quinn, Carl Hahn

Kevin Quinn and Elissa Rivas

Mike and Trace Menchaca with Jennifer and Wayne Dolcefino

Denise Davis and Doug Miller

Jonathan Chastain, Jerry Nunez, Chris Stipes

Mike Glenn and Mike McGuff (Photo credit: Natasha Barrett)

KHOU 11 demolition photos

Decades of Houston television memories torn down after Hurricane Harvey's wrath

UPDATE
KHOU property on Allen Parkway being sold to SCI entity


This week, the old KHOU 11 studios on 1945 Allen Parkway were getting demolished. The TEGNA owned station sold the property earlier this year.

I headed down to the location that is on the edge of Midtown/Montrose, in the shadow of downtown Houston, to snap the photos you see here.

You will notice evidence of the Belo-owned days still exists with the painted "Spirit of Texas" slogan fading away on the now collapsed roof.

There I met nearly 30 year area resident Laura Conely who referred to her famous neighbor as a beacon in the neighborhood.

"It's very sad to see them gone," Conely told mikemcguff.com. "Channel 11 has been such a great neighbor for all of us and it's a landmark. It's bizarre to think of it not being here anymore."

Conely told me something I never knew.

Technically the longtime KHOU studios are located in the Temple Terrace neighborhood. While the station is famous for facing the very heavily trafficked Allen Parkway, the backside of the station is a different story. A quick walk around the property shows a mix of quaint older houses mixed with modern condos.

"The on air personalities felt like they were our neighbors too," Conely added. "A lot of them lived in the neighborhood and got their hair cut in the neighborhood so over the decades they were really apart of our community."


Never ahead of Hurricane Harvey, did I think months later I'd be photographing the demolition of the storied CBS affiliate studios.

In fact, I was one of the hubris-filled native Houstonians that was telling my kids, this hurricane probably won't be a big deal.

We were all in for a rude awakening by Sunday, August 27, 2017 as the water poured in.

Channel 11 viewers saw it first hand as KHOU personnel were forced to evacuate. I couldn't believe that I was live blogging about the station moving the studios to its second floor and then quickly updating that post to say the station staff was leaving and temporarily shutting down its transmission.

- VIDEO: Summary of KHOU 11 studio flooding Harvey
- VIDEO: How WFAA in Dallas helped out KHOU and Houston
- Brandi Smith and the viral media storm

The TEGNA owned station utilized its good relationship with Houston Public Media KUHT TV8 to move into the PBS affiliate's studio where it still operates today until it can eventually move to its new studio location on 5718 Westheimer.

I'm told the new location will consist of 43,000 square feet of space and occupy three floors. That space will include two studios, two control rooms, an open collaboration space for all content producing departments, technical operations, sales and executive offices. The move is expected to happen in early 2019.


According to Wikipedia, KHOU moved from its original Galveston location to the Allen Parkway studios in April 24, 1960.

Most people have heard how former CBS News anchor Dan Rather passed through the halls, but so did other network notables like Jim Nantz, Linda Ellerbee, Jessica Savitch and Ron Franklin.

Once moved in to its new spot, KHOU will join most of the other Houston TV stations on the southwest side of town. However, it will eventually open satellite studios on the east side of downtown Houston. (UPDATE: I'm told that new downtown studio could open mid to late summer 2018).


Conely says she will miss those iconic red K-H-O-U letters that adorned the station's big tower displaying some of the coolest call letters for a Houston station.

She'll especially miss them around the holidays.

"At Christmas for years and years, they would block out the letters so it would just say H-O, H-O, so it would flash Ho, Ho, Ho," she told me.

Conely might be happy to know those six-by-six foot letters have been saved and could make a return at the new location.

“We are going to incorporate them, somehow, into our new building," KHOU 11 General Manager, Susan McEldoon, said on the TEGNA owned station's website. "I’m not exactly sure how that’s going to look at this point."


As far as I know, the future of the 1945 Allen Parkway property is unknown at this point.

Conley says her kids were hoping for a park.

We both agreed that probably won't happen. Even after a catastrophic flood, that property is just too valuable.

It might join lots in rest of the area and become a high-rise or multi-story apartment building. And the famous spot will fade into history just like the past locations of KPRC 2 (Post Oak Boulevard) and abc13 KTRK (Cullen).

LEAVE YOUR KHOU MEMORIES HERE

Andy Cerota transforms into a super KPRC 2 anchor

It's an anchor, it's a reporter, it's Super-Andy Cerota!


When I first saw this photo of KPRC 2's Cerota in his homage to reporter Clark Kent transforming into Superman, I didn't know if he was really excited about the November sweeps ratings or participating in an art project.

Maybe it's both, but definitely the latter.

"As for his 'Superman' persona, I loved the old Clark Kent-as-newsman episodes and it struck me that Andy would make a great subject to bring back that timeless memory," Houston photographer Jay Rusovich told mikemcguff.com. "What made me want to photograph Andy was his willingness to put himself out there, to be who he is with confidence, pride and perseverance."

Rusovich's photos of Cerota are just one of many subjects he's featuring in an upcoming book on some of Houston's many fascinating people.

The local photographer says he has been busy creatively photographing Houstonians from athletes, artists, entrepreneurs, to everyday heroes who stand up for what they believe, often in the face of adversity.

"But most of all, the book is about people stepping outside of themselves, being silly, doing silly things that make us all human, who we are when we're not, in this case, on camera," Rusovich added. "This is a paradoxical city, and one most people on the outside simply do not understand. So I thought that a human road-map of sorts might prove helpful."

As for Cerota, he tells me he's been a longtime fan of the Man of Steel.

“Houston has been my home for almost 15 years, so I was thrilled to be included in a project that showcases and celebrates some of the people who make up the diverse fabric of our community," Cerota told mikemcguff.com. "Jay has such creative vision and was able to articulate his concept before and during our shoot."

Rusovich promises a beautifully crafted coffee table book, which will be introduced to the public next year. He says proceeds will be donated to charity.

To follow updates on the book, go to Rusovich's website.

I'm always interested in the intersection of art and media.

Just last summer, I blogged about how morning.dose Houston anchor Maggie Flecknoe had an entire art installation inspired by her work on CW 39 KIAH.

News anchor, Andy Cerota, channeling the Man of Steel for my new book of Houston people. This city is so diverse, I couldn’t Resist this project. #photography #photographer #photographylovers #photographyislife #photographysouls #portrait #portraitphotography #portraiture #portraits #portraitpage #fineart #fineartphotography #phaseone #profoto #news #newsanchor #houston #anchor #kprc2 #journalist #jayrusovichphotography

A post shared by Jay Rusovich (@jrusovich) on Nov 5, 2017 at 2:39pm PST

News anchor, Andy Cerota, click2houston after a rough day. #photography #photographer #photographyislife #photographylovers #photographylife #portrait #portraitphotography #portrait #portraiture #portraitpage #portraits_ig #portraitmood #phaseone #profoto #jayrusovichphotography #fineartphotography #news #newsanchor #houston

A post shared by Jay Rusovich (@jrusovich) on Nov 17, 2017 at 4:47pm PST

Dave Ward giving back to veterans

Dave Ward's World War II book collection is now available for residents of Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center


Former abc13 KTRK anchor Dave Ward might not be on the nightly news anymore, but he is still plenty busy in the Houston community.

This week, ahead of Veterans Day, Ward visited residents living at the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center in the world famous Texas Medical Center to see a special donation he made there almost a year ago.

"There must be over 200 books in this collection, and nobody will believe me, but I have read everyone of those books over the years," Ward told mikemcguff.com.

Ward, an avid student of World War II, donated his personal library of books covering the event in his early life that he still believes is shaping the world even today.

"I grew up during World War II, I can remember Pearl Harbor Day and I can remember the reaction of the people in Huntsville, I was growing up in Huntsville," Ward recalled to me. "And I can remember the feeling of genuine fear all over the United States after that had happened. We're fighting Japan in one hemisphere and the Nazis and Germany in the other hemisphere and it was a frightening time. A very frightening time.

"As I grew older, I was fascinated about that period from 1935 to 1945 that I think changed the history of the world. It was certainly the most definitive ten years in the 20th century."

Ward talked to a group of gathered veterans about his father, Henry Ward. The senior Ward served during World War I in France.


As he shared his father's story, Ward passed around a photo of his father along with a snippet of his Individual Pay Record Book.

According to the University of North Texas history library, this book was carried by WWI soldiers for their records. It would serve as a way to track items like total monthly pay, deductions, net monthly pay, date paid, and the name of the quartermaster making the payment.

"I've often told my friends that if that war had continued another couple of weeks, I might have never existed, but thank heavens it did end and he came back," Ward told me.

Besides his charitable works, Ward was in the news this week thanks to his former TV home. KTRK named Dave and Laura Ward as a Houston power couple.

To all of the people who have emailed me about how they miss Dave Ward on television, I have included audio of my interview with him below.

You can follow what Dave is doing now on Facebook at @davewardshouston.

Dayna Steele and supporters rock Numbers Night Club

UPDATE FEBRUARY 06, 2018
Melissa Etheridge and David Crosby show support for Dayna Steele campaign


With appearances by Bowie guitarist Earl Slick, Dane Sonnier of the Galactic Cowboys, former Houston Mayor Annise Parker and Outlaw Dave


Monday night, Houston institution Numbers Night Club was full of rock music and Dayna Steele supporters.

As you probably heard, the legendary 101 KLOL DJ is running for office in Texas's 36th congressional district.

Former David Bowie and John Lennon guitarist Earl Slick flew in from New York to hit the stage with an assorted group of musicians including Dane Sonnier of the Galactic Cowboys (who have a new record coming).

Former Houston Mayor Annise Parker, Outlaw Dave and Dayna Steele

Former Houston Mayor Annise Parker was a special guest as well as Outlaw Dave! Parker told me she now works for BakerRipley which was formerly Neighborhood Centers Inc. That is a group I have helped support with this blog in the past.

As you know, I have a documentary that will one day be coming out all about Dayna Steele and the KLOL crew covering the years of its existence from 1970 to 2004. You'll get all the crazy stories and find out why this station still holds a special place in the hearts of listeners.

The KLOL doc is in final edit and I hope to have it out in the next year or so.

That is unless I decide to scrap it for a 97 Rock documentary. Just kidding. However, 97 Rock and crew are featured in the film.

daynasteele36.com/

Earl Slick

Mike McGuff and Dayna Steele

Watch more of the performance.

See even more photos on Flickr.

KPRC 2 launches new graphics package 2016

KPRC 2 has launched a new graphics package with a refresh of lower thirds, full screens, weather...etc. Here is a quick rundown of the new look.

The last time I published about KPRC getting a new graphics package was back in 2011, but I'm pretty sure they had some changes after that.

My question is, what will happen to KPRC's newscasts when it moves to its new building next year? Will they move the current set or debut a new one? Will these graphics remain? Stay tuned.

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