FOX 29 is tweaking its 10 p.m. show by adding lots of chit chat, including a segment called, "Hot Topics", ala "The View" on ABC daytime.
Tonights "Hot Topics" segment kicked in at 10:16 p.m. with guest, Dom Giordano, of WPHT's "Big Talker" at 1210 on the AM radio dial. Giordano gave his thoughts and opinions on the military trials process of the 9/11 terrorist suspects, the webcam lawsuit of Lower Merion School District, a story that broke the week before last, as well as the national unemployment rate of 9.7%.
By 10:24 p.m., just four minutes later, a similiar "Hot Topics" segment, this one called "a reality check" as FOX 29 called it. Yet, ANOTHER on-set talking head with opinions and conjecture by Buzz Bissinger, "a long-time Philadelphia journalist/author" as FOX introduced him. Kerri Lee Halkett and Thomas Drayton exchanged some irrelevant/uninteresting personal viewpoint then went to a break.
By 10:31 p.m., yet some more discussion with my least favorite weekly segment, "Mob Talk", by reporter Dave Shratwieser...a five minute and thirty second segment! And, by 10:39 p.m., we shouldn't forget the lame "Top 5 Bad Days"...a stupid segment the newscast has done for quite some time that provides video clips of stupidity across the nation. The segment ended with more personal thoughts/banter by Halkett and Drayton.
Throw in two stories and yep, MORE BANTER, this time between John Bolaris, Halkett and Drayton about the new airport body scanners "coming to an airport near you".
This is what FOX 29 calls a newscast. I vote for throwing this newscast to the test signal of days gone by. Considering FOX's competition is "NBC 10 News at Ten on PHL-17" and "Eyewitness News at 10 on the CW" one can see why they win their timeslot. Certainly, not much competition in my opinion.
FOX-29's leadership has managed to slowly dig a deep grave for its newscasts compared to the news from ten years ago led by Rich Noonan and Jill Chernekoff. We've seen many faces come and go since those days, like Carl Cherkin, Frank Cariello, Donya Archer, Traci Matisak, Don Tollefson, David Aldrich, Rob Guarino, Bill Vargus, Nefertiti Jaquez, Dawn Stensland, George Mallet, Tom Burlington and the list goes on.
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14 comments:
Also notice the start of the newscast which seems like a monologue rather than an anchor's lead for the top stories.
Exactly! I don't like it at all.
FOX-29 is horrible. Halkett is a joke and Drayton is a stiff.
Don't forget John Atwater too...and Jim Castillo as well as Andrea Laka and Dorothy Krysiuk
Have ya ever seen their ratings for the 5 and 6 news? It's a 2.0 rating...their 6 gets beat by 6, 10, 3 and some show on PHL seventeen.
I know I'm the minority here but I just do not and have not been able to take a liking to Kerry Lee Halkett. Her sign songy voice just grates on my ears...I can't stand it. Listen sometime to her delivery. You'll see what I mean. Her sentences all sound the same with that sing songy tone. Kinda hard to explain. I just think she's so overrated while Dawn Stensland's delivery seemed much more genuine. Personal choice I'm sure. Just my two cents though.
I couldn't disagree more! I love Kerry Lee and Thomas. I love their deliveries, soothing and graceful with a lovely lilt and they are smart. I also hear their ratings have improved in the last few months not bad for a new team. And you are in the minority everyone I know loves them and feels the same way.
Ohhhhh I hate to hear this about someone so nice and sweet. I also love Kerri (or "KL" as her corworkers call her LOL) and think she is really really very good. Philly is lucky to have her
Oh and I also love KerriLee and Thomas. Like a lot.
Actually, for a brand new 6pm show competing against 6pm's that have been around for decades, a "2" sounds like it's pretty good, since 10 gets 2's and 3's and 6 gets 6's. Outstanding FOX. Cheers!
And if her singy songey tone is "hard to explain" it can't be much of a problem, can it? She can sing song me the news any day of the week.
Watching the 29 newscast last week. It was my 1st time (I was passing through town). Have to say I was impressed with Thomas and Kerrilee didn't notice the criticisms you all point out. Live and let live? Turn the channel if you do not like it? AND if I lived in Philly would watch regularly. JMO (I'm also a Phillies fan what can I saw LOL)
I'm shocked. It is her voice that I love most about her. I really think Kerri Lee is awesome
It's all moot now. WTXF did not renew Halkett's contract. She is now a street reporter in Hartford, Connecticut.
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