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Showing posts sorted by relevance for query eyeopener. Sort by date Show all posts
Showing posts sorted by relevance for query eyeopener. Sort by date Show all posts

Wednesday, March 18, 2020

Kevin Roth joins abc13 KTRK

Former CW33 KDAF DFW chief meteorologist Kevin Roth joins abc13 KTRK


On his old CW33 KDAF (sister station to CW39 KIAH Houston) bio, chief meteorologist Kevin Roth said the number 13 was a lucky number. That certainly turned out to be true as Roth has joined abc13 KTRK Houston to help out as meteorologist Rachel Briers head to maternity leave.

"Everyone welcome Kevin! Kevin will be helping out the weather team while I’m on maternity leave," Briers posted on Facebook. "Of course, I’ll let you all know when we welcome our little girl into the world! Right now, I’m getting some rest before the big day!"

RELATED
Rachel Briers is expecting

In addition to Roth's DFW television work, if you live in Houston, or any other market Tribune's EyeOpener morning show was syndicated to, then you probably watched him deliver the weather there too.

It is unclear how long Roth stayed with KDAF after EyeOpener was cancelled. He might have stayed for MorningDose, but I am not sure on that either. His LinkedIn profile still says he actively works for KDAF which at this time has no news that I am aware of.

But his LinkedIn does tell us since May 2014, Roth has been chief meteorologist for website RotoGrinders.com. The site bills itself as "The leading Daily Fantasy Sports content provider." It appears that Roth not only forecasts for RotoGrinders, but he also provides forecasts on SiriusXM too.

It appears channel 13 has hired a talent known around the nation in multiple ways!

Before Texas TV news, Roth worked for KSLA Shreveport, LA (March 2011 to September 2013) and WABG Greenville, MS (February 2010 to January 2011).

"I’m often described as 'lovably-nerdy,' a title I consider to be the ultimate compliment," Roth wrote on his KDAF bio. "I have a Bachelor’s in Science from THE Florida State University and a Master’s Degree in Atmospheric Science from Mississippi State University. My strong science background is paired with a personality that is, at best, quirky (and at times downright goofy), allowing me to provide a forecast which is both informative and entertaining."


(Thanks Robin!)







Friday, September 11, 2015

Jerry Springer & Tom Green take over CW39 KIAH

The King of Trash Talk meets the King of Pranks

 photo Springer-6983_zpsfcwugp3i.jpg

Talk stars collided at the CW39 KIAH studios Thursday. The ringmaster himself Jerry Springer stopped by and so did comedian and MTV star Tom Green.

The two television staples had a pow wow in the middle of the NewsFix news room. I wonder if any chairs were thrown? Did anyone touch their bum to anything?

Jerry! Jerry! Jerry! was in Houston to meet with CW39 staff members because his show is turning the big 2-5 this year. That's right, if you remember the early days of Springer when he brought us such classics as "I married a horse," then you are old.

Get this, I worked in a TV market in the 90s where the Springer show was beating most of the 10pm newscasts.

The new season of the Springer Show starts September 21st.

I've been a fan of Tom Green since his MTV days. Been a fan of his talk shows including his new Webovision launch ever since. Green also does stand up comedy, which is the reason he's in Houston and Texas this month.

Upcoming shows
Tom Green @ Improv 09/11/15 8:00pm Houston, TX
10:30pm
Tom Green @ Improv 09/12/15 7:00pm Houston, TX
9:30pm
Tom Green @ Cap City Comedy Club 09/13/15 7:00pm Austin, TX
Tom Green @ Rivercenter Comedy Club 09/14/15 7:00pm San Antonio, TX

 photo Springer-7001_zps1eqnha6h.jpg
Tom Green with NewsFix's Grego.

 photo Springer-7019_zps7uldtsdg.jpg
CW39 EyeOpener Houston anchor Maggie Flecknoe with Jerry Springer.



Wednesday, August 02, 2017

Brandi Smith joins KHOU 11




Back in the dark days of last spring when I wasn't blogging, things actually did continue to happen in the Houston TV News world, with or without my obsessive posts.


UPDATE DECEMBER 2023
Brandi Smith leaves KHOU 11


In February, you would have seen on my Facebook page post that KHOU 11 hired KBMT 12 Beaumont weekday anchor/investigative MMJ Brandi Smith as a multi-media journalist (yes things get posted there that are not on the blog).

Clearly, Smith knew she wanted to be in the TV biz at an early age.

At 19, the Umpqua, Oregon native (population 112 at the 2000 census) landed a job at KPIC Roseburg, Oregon.

There she learned to shoot, write, edit, produce, anchor and even direct newscasts on occasion.

Don't give anyone at TEGNA that news, because she still might get that opportunity at her current job! {insert rim shot here}

After graduating from the University of Oregon, Smith worked for:

- KIVI Boise, Idaho as a reporter/weekend weather anchor/producer
- a producer for KOIN Portland
- an evening anchor/MMJ/Producer at KEZI Eugene, Oregon

In 2015, before KBMT, Smith arrived in Texas to work as a fill-in anchor/producer at CW39 KIAH's NewsFix and EyeOpener.



Monday, May 02, 2011

KIAH 39 to start morning news with Eye Opener; Mia Gradney returns

EYE OPENER ID's with LOCAL TALENT from Creative Group | Central U.S. on Vimeo.


Here is an exclusive from mikemcguff.com (yes, I used to work there). KIAH 39 has let me know it is launching a weekday morning show May 9th. Called Eye Opener, the show will be a mix of news, information and entertainment according to the station.

“The Houston television market is crowded with traditional network morning shows and doesn’t have anything like Eye-Opener," said Roger Bare, KIAH-TV’s vice president and general manager. “It is designed to be irreverent, provocative and unpredictable—we want viewers tuning in to get a quick dose of the news they need, and to come back because they saw something new that they didn’t expect.”

Fans of former KIAH 39 News anchor Mia Gradney will be happy to know she is going to be on Eye Opener which runs 6-8am. Gradney, a native Houstonian, will anchor segments every half-hour with the basics on local news, weather and traffic.

“I’m excited to be a big part of Eye Opener and I think viewers will find it informative and entertaining and filled with news they can use throughout their day,” Gradney said.

The rest of the show will feature topics ranging from health and wellness to parenting issues to the latest tech gadgets.



EYE OPENER LAUNCH PROMO from Creative Group | Central U.S. on Vimeo.


Eye Opener's main anchors will be Kirby O’Connell, Sean Dowling and Adam Lee Campbell. In addition, the release says there will be contributors like Dr. Steve Salvatore, a board certified Emergency Medicine physician who covers a mix of wellness topics including fitness and nutrition, Teresea Pelham and Sarah Cody with the “Mommy Minute,” focused on parenting issues, and “Wrench,” the alleged hunky handyman who offers helpful hints on keeping your house in shape.

The show's executive producer is four-time Emmy winner Raymond J. Brune who previously served as executive producer of ABC's Good Morning America Sunday and World News Now. He also served as VP of News at E! Entertainment.

When you see someone like that in charge, it makes me believe the show will be syndicated or piped to other Tribune stations (Houston is the debut market). The Eye Opener website says this is a Houston-centric program, because as you can tell from the show's segments, it is produced in Chicago with Gradney providing the local updates throughout the two hours (for example the video on the click through features a bus in the background of the shot with a Chicago Transit Authority website url plastered on it).

From the few clips I have seen online, Eye Opener is not like NewsFix (now featured on KIAH 39), but it does have an irreverent tone that NewsFix is going after.

Watch if for yourself weekdays starting May 9th, 6-8am on CW39 KIAH.

eyeopener.tv

RELATED
Who is Kirby O'Connell?

Friday, June 25, 2021

Brandi Smith new KHOU 11 digital anchor

Brandi Smith - KHOU Digital anchor

Brandi Smith announced she will be the new KHOU.com digital anchor starting July 5th.

Currently she is the TEGNA Houston station's social media anchor for the #HTownRush morning newscast.

RELATED
- Kimberly Davis joins KHOU 11
- Brandi Smith appears on The Ellen DeGeneres Show
- Brandi Smith and the viral storm
- Yes, Justin Stapleton and Brandi Smith are a couple

"I have this idea for a digital anchor role," Smith said in a Facebook video.  "And the way it's different is this is not reporting...this isn't reporting on social media, it's reporting on social media. So when there's breaking news anchoring our coverage on KHOU.com, anchoring our coverage, that streams on our Facebook page...doing Instagram lives, Twitter, even TikTok.

"Being that digital presence, because there are so many of our viewers throughout the day who don't have the time to sit down and watch a 30 minute newscast, but who can when a big story comes up, open up social media. Open up their favorite platform, pop on to KHOU.com and see the latest."

Smith leaves mornings 

This new KHOU digital anchor job means Smith is leaving the #HTownRush morning newscast and her Saturday morning anchor duties.  And she is pretty happy about the new daytime work hours.

"I feel most days like I do a pretty good job of hiding the fact that I'm not a morning person," Smith said. "But a lot of you have picked up on that fact. I am actually a night owl. For four years, I have worked the exact opposite schedule of what my body tells me it wants. So, I am super excited to share with you that I will get to sleep in."

So who is taking over Saturday morning anchor duties? Smith said Sunday morning anchor Lauren Talarico will now anchor both weekend morning shows. 

What Smith thinks about Ivory Hecker's FOX 26 revelations

During her Facebook video announcement, Smith was asked about and gave her thoughts on FOX 26's Ivory Hecker teaming up with Project Veritas which led to the KRIV reporter's termination.

"I don't think there was anything bombshell in what Ivory Hecker shared with Project Veritas. I watched it. I mean, yeah, when we know that mostly suburban moms are going to be watching, say, the 4:00 p.m. newscast, it's going to be geared toward that audience and issues and topics that they'll be interested in, what will get them to tune in.

This is speaking from my perspective. I've been in TV news for 20 years. The way it was phrased, the way it was handled, by the management Ivory worked with, I can tell you that that would not fly in in my shop and actually violates a lot of TEGNA's, our ownership company's, guiding principles, just the way things were referenced. 

Also, in 20 years in this business, only once have I ever felt forced to do a story. And that was back when I lived in Boise. I had a really aggressive news director and I was young and I didn't know to push back. 

But most journalists in this market, and I am so proud of so many of the journalists, I work with a KHOU 11. If they feel like something's not right, they will speak up. They will push back. I'm sure it's not always appreciated, but we have some really experienced journalists here. And so I've never...here been forced to...I don't know...carry the corporate dialogue, or message, so that's  what I will say on that."

Where Smith worked before KHOU

Smith has been with KHOU since February 2017.  

Before channel 11, Smith worked for:

- weekday anchor/investigative MMJ KBMT 12 Beaumont  

- fill-in anchor/producer at CW39 KIAH's NewsFix and EyeOpener

- evening anchor, MMJ, producer at KEZI 9 

- producer KOIN Portland, Oregon

- reporter, weekend weather anchor, producer for KIVI Boise, Idaho

- MMJ - fill-in anchor, producer for KPIC Roseburg, Oregon 





Tuesday, March 03, 2015

Houston media members battle it out in goat milking competition

The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo "Celebrity Goat Milking Competition" has media members squeezing out a win


The annual "Celebrity Goat Milking Competition" is one of the events that helps kick off The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo today. You can watch television anchors, radio show hosts and newspaper reporters get down and squeeze out the milk on an unsuspecting goat.

No autographs here please, the goats are really divas!

Seriously though, the winner will have the fullest cup of milk by the end. As you can watch in the above video, CW39 EyeOpener Houston anchor Maggie Flecknoe took top honors in 2014.

You can watch the event today.
· Event time: Tuesday, March 3, 4 p.m.
· Location: East Arena, Hall A, NRG Center

Yesterday, media participants also dueled in the Reliant Energy Rodeo Roundup.

RELATED
What radio stations are doing for Rodeo Houston




Tuesday, July 05, 2016

Texas TV & radio job moves June 2016



DALLAS - FORT WORTH

WFAA8 losing reporter Mike Castellucci -- for second time.

After a three-year stay, weekend meteorologist Ashton Altieri is leaving Dallas-based WFAA 8.

Splitting up: NBC5 and consumer-investigative reporter Deanna Dewberry.

Yona Gavino is CBS11 KTVT's newest reporter.

Melissa Harrison joins Mike Rogers and Scott Sams as co-anchor of the KRLD Morning News.

HOUSTON

David Herrera has left KAKW Univision 62 Austin to join sister station KXLN Univision 45 Houston.

Rich Pangilinan Joins KKHH (Hot 95.7)/Houston As APD/MD, CoCo Dominguez Takes Over Afternoon Drive.

After many years in Houston at stations like KPRC 2, KTRK abc13 and KIAH 39, design director Dennis Garcia joins WSMV in Nashville.

Millie Cardenas-Quintanilla is new Telemundo Houston KTMD Assignment Manager.

After writing about personal computing and tech since 1993, Dwight Silverman stops his Tech Blog to focus on his new job as Houston Chronicle Senior Web Producer for Premium Products.

Rowdy Yates Brings Country Gold To KTHT Houston.

Houston newsroom veteran Melissa Lanford has left her managing editor role at KPRC 2. Maryanne Hubbard takes her place from KUSA Denver.

I hear longtime FOX 26 KRIV photographer Eckhart von Ellenrieder is heading off to San Francisco.

Jeanne Lyons Davis Joins Houstonia Staff.

Coordinating Producer Heather Itzen is leaving KHOU 11's Great Day Houston for the new KPRC 2 lifestyle show.

Sheryl Grigsby, who spent the last decade with Cox Media Group as an Account Manager, is the new General Manager for True Blue Media.

- KHOU 11 makes major anchor changes
- Deborah Wrigley exits KTRK abc13
- KPRC 2 ND Rhonda LaVelle heading to WXYZ Detroit
- Pablo Alsina leaves KHOU 11 sports
- Jack Williams leaves 88.7 KUHF & Houston
- Courtney Perna departs KHOU 11
- 'The Buzz Lady' Roseann Rogers checks in for K9s4COPs
- Russ Lewis joins KHOU 11 as promised
- Ned Hibberd joins WCNC NBC Charlotte


SAN ANTONIO

After 20 years in television and 12 as an on-air staple of KENS-TV lifestyle show, "Great Day SA," Eileen Teves is leaving broadcasting to start a new career.

Great Day SA executive producer Kinya Cano, a 10-year veteran of KENS-TV, will leave San Antonio next month for a new gig with EyeOpener in Dallas.

'Joe Pags' Pagliarulo Inks Extension With iHeartMedia's WOAI/San Antonio, KPRC/Houston.

Don Smith, Director of Creative Services at KOVR/KMAX Sacramento, will be the new Director of Marketing for KENS-TV.

Radio icon Bruce Hathaway recovering from back surgery.

AUSTIN

Adam Winkler, KEYE’s weekend sports anchor for the past six years, is heading for Norfolk, Va., where he’ll be sports director at CBS affiliate WTKR.

After four years, KVUE’s investigative reporter Andy Pierrotti has accepted a similar position at WXIA Atlanta.

KRGV Rio Grande Valley investigative reporter Erica Proffer joins KVUE.

TEGNA named Kristie Gonzales president and general manager of KVUE. Gonzales will replace Patti Smith, who is retiring at the end of June.

KXAN's Lindsay Bramson is the new Investigative Reporter for WSMV News Channel 4 in Nashville.

AROUND TEXAS

Reporter Risa Morris leaves KYTX CBS 19 Tyler for WBBH Fort Myers, Cape Coral & Naples, Florida.

KVIA ABC-7 investigative journalist Ashlie Rodriguez is now the weekend anchor and weekday reporter for San Diego's KUSI.

Lubbock reporter/anchor Monica Yantosh jumps across the street to KAMC from KLBK.

KFDX Wichita Falls Morning Anchor/Reporter Jon Hansen leaves to become the Evening News Anchor/Reporter at KLBK Lubbock.

KLBK Reporter/MMJ Robin Deehan is the new Weekend Sports Anchor & Sports Reporter for WBRE/WYOU in Northeastern & Central Pennsylvania.

KAMC Lubbock Morning News Anchor Rachel Spangenthal is now NBC33-FOX44 Reporter/Anchor in Baton Rouge.

Longtime Denver anchor Mike Landess will return from KYTX Tyler to anchor a new 4 p.m. newscast at KWGN.

- Oscar E. Garcia named KIII Corpus Christi News Director

REMEMBERING

Former 101 KLOL and Country Legends 97.1 KTHT personality Thomas E. ‘Tubby’ Lawler III died in early June after a battle with cancer.

San Antonio public TV pioneer Joanne Winik dies.

============================================================================

As good as people think I am at tracking Texas media job moves, my image is better than reality. Don't expect that I see every Twitter or Facebook post about your new job. Don't get mad at me, contact me below to make sure I don't miss your big career move!

- Contact here for job changes
- Looking for TX TV jobs?

RELATED
- Texas TV & radio job moves May 2016
- Texas TV & radio job moves April 2016
- Texas TV & radio job moves March 2016
- Texas TV & radio job moves February 2016
- Texas TV & radio job moves January 2016
- Texas TV & radio job moves December 2015
- All the new and disappearing faces on Houston TV screens in 2015





Friday, December 01, 2023

Brandi Smith leaves KHOU 11


Brandi Smith, the KHOU 11 Houston digital anchor, announced she is leaving the station in November 2023 and from what it looks like the television news business.  

UPDATE: Following my Friday post about her KHOU 11 exit, Smith revealed she has joined Rice University as a multimedia journalist (MMJ).

Here is a portion of what Smith wrote on Facebook after I posted the news here about her channel 11 departure:


"Houston, thank you for trusting me with your stories and allowing me to share them with our community. This 22-year whirlwind of a career has been a blessing beyond blessings — and it’s not over yet, though my chapter at KHOU 11 is. 

When I started this career in 2001, I had no idea what was to come – the experiences, the heartbreak, the moves and the growth – but I’m so glad it brought me to Houston. This is an incredible city, filled with some of the most compassionate people I’ve met in my career. I’ve been lucky enough to document how you all stepped up for each other in the worst of times and celebrated each other in the best of times. Y’all lift each other up every opportunity you get and are truly an inspiration to see in action. As long as you keep doing amazing things, I hope you’ll keep letting me share those stories, even if it’s just here on social media. 

We have seen each other through so much these past (almost) seven years and I am so grateful to all of you and my supportive coworkers for helping me to truly grow as a journalist, neighbor and human."


Smith has been with KHOU 11 since February 2017.  

Over the years, Smith has been channel 11's morning newscast's social media anchor, Saturday morning anchor and reporter.

In fact, Smith made a viral splash early on during Hurricane Harvey when she was the only person on the air from her live shot location while the KHOU studio was flooding. She even managed to help save a man's life.

- KHOU 11 demolition photos

Smith is in a relationship with KPRC 2 meteorologist Justin Stapleton, so you will often see them together on social media. 


Before channel 11, Smith worked for:

- KBMT 12 Beaumont weekday anchor/investigative MMJ 

- CW39 KIAH's NewsFix and EyeOpener fill-in anchor/producer

- KEZI 9 News Eugene, Oregon evening anchor/MMJ/producer

- KOIN 6 Portland, Oregon producer

- Idaho News 6 KIVI Boise, Idaho reporter/weekend weather anchor/producer 

- KPIC 4 Roseburg, Oregon MMJ/fill-in anchor/producer




(This post has been updated with Brandi Smith's message on leaving KHOU 11 Houston after I had posted Friday, December 1, 2023.)




Tuesday, February 10, 2015

Police angry with Dallas TV, Houston FM station returns plus more


MORE VIDEO
- WFAA uses iPhone to tape half-hour show
- Opens from bad 70s TV, 80 sci-fi shows and kid television
- Jimmy Kimmel Says Local Anchors Have Funny Names
- Anthony Yanez going away video from KPRC 2
- Weather guy has to deal with REALLY high temps
- Monty Python gang guest hosting on AM America 1975 (Thanks Mike)
- Live Report On Dangerous Driving Conditions Interrupted By Car Wreck
- 'Big Bang Theory' star Jim Parsons has strong Houston roots
- WTTG Celebrates Working Naked Day! Weather in the Almost Buff
- The cartoons that inspired 'Family Guy' and 'Office Space'
- KHOU Houston Feb. Sweeps Promo/Story

Sheriff’s Deputy Tries to Block Live Shot While Reporter is Live
When FOX 4 KDFW reporter Saul Garza went live with a story yesterday about a Montague County Sheriff’s deputy who was shot and killed, viewers were treated to the added voice of a Wichita County Sheriff’s deputy named Hatcher.

Ft. Worth police lash out at Dallas station
The Ft. Worth Police Officers Association is not too happy with KTVT in Dallas.

"Morning people come in as many flavors as sunrises do"
D-FW’s Gannett8 has been on a roller coast ride of late with its early morning Daybreak program.

Talking points in D-FW television news
Saturday’s 10 p.m. newscast on NBC5 may have been a first for a D-FW English language TV station.

The scoop -- and the poop -- on Kaley O'Kelley's impromptu CBS11 anchoring debut
CBS11 opted to sneak preview new anchor Kaley O’Kelley Friday night during a 10 p.m. newscast that might best be remembered for her touting of a “glowing toilet seat.”

What are they thinking? Jim Moroney’s digital-reaching Dallas Morning News
Jim Moroney’s newspaper once dominated Dallas as only a monopoly daily can.

Ex-TV reporter Charles Duncan still preaches ‘Eat, Drink & Be Wary’
Dinner invitations may be a little scarce for Charles Duncan. Don’t get me wrong. The former WFAA-TV (Channel 8) investigative reporter is a charming guy with great stories — including one about new romance. But he’s probably a little too conversant in cockroaches and E. coli.

In 1962 Dallas’ KBOX-AM was an early pioneer of sampling and mash-ups. Here’s proof.
In the 1960s there were two top-of-the-pops pop stations in Dallas: the immortal KLIF and the lesser-remembered KBOX, born from the ashes of KGKO.

Where Is 94.5 The Buzz's Doug
What happened to Doug Faulk of 94.5 The Buzz KTBZ's Rod Ryan show? Facebook and Reddit are wondering? So are my readers.
- What happened to Doug from The Rod Ryan Show?

How the Houston Chronicle is catching up to a changing city
Top editor Nancy Barnes opens up about the paper’s transition.

Federal indictment for former KCOH owner
A prominent Houston businessman is learning the hard way you don't play with Uncle Sam's money.

Houston news anchor's tattoos tell a story
Greg Onofrio - he prefers just "Grego" - isn't your typical tie-and-jacket, clean-shaven, straight-arrow news anchorman in Houston.

It's official
Maggie Flecknoe officially becomes morning cut-in news anchor for EyeOpener on CW39. She shot a promo with NewsFix voice Grego. That job was previously held by Mia Gradney.

KTRU Returning to Houston Airwaves
Rice's student-run radio station received an FCC permit today to resume broadcast on a new frequency, 96.1 FM.

ESPN Broadcasts UH Game But Doesn't Bother To Send Any Announcers
ESPN, which was broadcasting the game, didn't even bother to send any announcers to the game, instead choosing to have them broadcast the game, won 57-44 by Tulsa, from some studio in another state

Sweeps debut! KENS-TV opts for sexy ‘swingers’
After KENS-TV was slapped last sweeps period with what could be called one of its worst ratings showings for local news – it fell to No. 3 in some key news periods, behind traditional ratings-trailer WOAI-TV — San Antonio’s CBS affiliate comes out, well, swinging in the latest book.

Major anchor, weather changes at WOAI/KABB
WOAI/KABB is introducing a new weekend team that will lead the newscasts on both stations.

The Perea Story
Producer fired by KTBC last year kills himself at Fox headquarters

KXAN shuffles weather lineup
The forecast at KXAN calls for new assignments for some members of the station’s weather team.

KEYE debuts new morning anchor lineup on Feb. 16
Chris Saldaรฑa and Allison Miller will take over as anchors of “KEYE TV Morning News” starting Feb. 16, the station said.

KUT aims to set the ‘Standard’ with new show
When it comes to radio news, Austin station 90.5 KUT-FM aims to set the “Standard” with its latest program.

New aerial photos show scope of damage to KCBD tower
KCBD continues to make repairs after the deadly plane crash Wednesday night that took down our broadcast tower.

Maverick Moves In College Station
Bryan Broadcasting has signed-on 100.9 KVMK Wheelock, TX.

SHSU hopes professors utilized by news media
With more breaking news coverage demanding expert analysis, Sam Houston State University is plugging more professors to news outlets for commentary.

Big Data Remakes Texas Campaign Ad Spend
Republican Texas gubernatorial candidate Greg Abbott’s team assembled a winning strategy featuring an integrated media marketing machine that included more for digital, less for TV. This story first appeared in TVNewsCheck's Executive Outlook winter edition.

REMEMBERING

Houston traffic's Vikki Taylor loses cancer battle
Vikki Cummings Taylor Rosenkranz, better known as Vikki Taylor, was a fixture on KTRK abc13 and 104.1 KRBE

Former KTRK abc13 producer Brian Shields has passed away. In Dallas he worked for KXAS, KERA and KRLD.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
- Ken Hoffman joins Twitter @KenChronicle & brings unique humor along
- Hey KPRC 2, where's the 'Local?'
- Minerva Perez tells the good and bad in 'I GOTTA STORY: My 30 Years in TV News'
- KPRC 2 to get a new station, plus secret of current building
- Fox 26 KRIV's 'Wake Up Money' seems to be sleeping in
- KHOU's Brooks Garner named TV Guide's '10 Sexiest Weathermen on Earth'
- Root Sports releases 2015 Astros spring training TV schedule
- Houston TV has been attacked by potholes
- Houston & Texas media job moves, plus Houston TV goodbye party





Monday, May 03, 2021

'Houston Happens' launches on CW39 KIAH

"Houston Happens," a new lifestyle morning show, launched Monday on CW39 KIAH.

The mid-AM show, airing weekdays from 9:30 to 10, is helmed by anchor Maggie Flecknoe and recently hired meteorologist Star Harvey.

So if you are watching the Nexstar Media Group's experimental AM newscast, "NO WAIT WEATHER + TRAFFIC," which starts at 6am, the new show flows right into it. 

Your intrepid media blogger made sure to tune in for the inaugural episode (watch the first segment of the "Houston Happens" first episode above).  

The show started off with Flecknoe and Harvey, who say on air they are actually friends off air, quizzing each about the other. In fact, regular CW39 viewers probably have noticed the duo have been appearing together in various segments leading up to the new show.

That was followed by a series of interviews with some noting with a "brought to you by" that they are paid for by the interviewee. This classifies "Houston Happens" as the CW39 version of KHOU 11's "Great Day Houston" or KPRC 2's "Houston Life." 

Some of the interview topics on the first-edition of "Houston Happens" included beauty and and an author talking about his book.  

Throughout, Harvey transitions the show into weather segments. By 9:30am, especially these days from what I hear, traffic is not as much of an issue in Houston. However if something breaks, I would guess the traffic tie up would be covered. 

Getting off topic for a moment, what's amazing is my readers have pointed out, some Houston stations don't even have a full-time morning traffic anchor anymore if you can believe that! Since the word "traffic" is actually in the name of CW39's morning news show, Hannah Trippett still performs the duty for KIAH.  OK, back to my "Houston Happens" coverage...

Flecknoe has become the channel 39 morning mainstay, having been in the AM hours since former owner Tribune's "EyeOpener " and "Morning Dose."  She has also been doing a segment called "Houston Happenings" which focuses on what's going on around H-Town.

RELATED
Maggie Flecknoe is engaged

Harvey joined KIAH earlier this year from KREX5 News Grand Junction, CO where she was the weekend weather anchor and multi-media journalist.