Thursday, June 1, 2000

New Talent Arriving at NEWS 2 Soon!

This morning on NEWS 2, Scott Sumner was the meteorologist, in for Ira Joe Fisher, who is usually only on NEWS 2 This Morning Mondays and Tuesdays. Scott is expected to be only temporary, as a new weatherman is coming to NEWS 2 soon. The New York Daily News reports that Tony Pann, from Baltimore, will be the weekend forecaster, starting this summer. Also from Baltimore is anchorman Todd McDermott, who will join NEWS 2 next week.

Thursday, May 25, 2000

Mark Danon Arrested

NEWS 2 Meteorologist Mark Danon was arrested last night at around 8:30 for buying cocaine at 59th Street and Lexington Avenue. Last night, Mark Danon was not there to do the weather at 11:00. Tony Petitti, WCBS-TV VP General Manager released this statement today: "Mark Danon joined Channel 2 in August 1998. In April of this year, we informed his representatives that the station would not be renewing his contract when it expired at the end of July. Beyond that, we have no comment other than to say we wish him well."

Statement from PrincetonWeather.Com
"On behalf of princetonweather.com, we feel upon request, it is necessary and appropriate to comment regarding the pending situation with former WCBS-TV meteorologist, Mark Danon. We’ve had the privilege and continued honor of having Mark as an advisor and mentor for the Princeton High School weather center and it’s staff. We are of course disappointed to hear about the pending allegations against him, but nevertheless, have faith and continued unanimous support for him. In addition, support and best wishes will remain with him whatever the outcome may be. Finally, we remind the public that this is an ongoing situation and that they not jump to conclusions. We may issue a continuation of this statement when more information is available.
- Princeton High School Weather Center Team
www.princetonweather.com
"

Saturday, May 6, 2000

Linda Church Leaves NEWS 2, Craig Allen Joins

Yesterday morning on NEWS 2 This Morning, at around 6:52, Amanda Grove mentioned that it was Linda Church's last day with the NEWS 2 team. This evening on NEWS 2 Weekend at 6:00pm, Craig Allen was the meteorologist. At the end of his weather report, Dana Adams told him, "Welcome on board!"

Craig Allen has been with WCBS Newsradio 88 since 1980. Craig Allen was also on 2 News for a while, until the start of CBS's "This Morning" with Mark McEwen and Jane Robelot in August, 1996. He stayed on CBS Television until 1999, when "The Early Show" premiered in November.

Thursday, May 4, 2000

Mark Danon Staying With NEWS 2 Until August

It has been confirmed, by sources at PrincetonWeather.com, that NEWS 2 Meteorologist Mark Danon will be staying on air at NEWS 2 until his contract expires, which is in August. Last week, the New York Post reported that Mark Danon, Dana Adams, Linda Church, and Kraig Debro were all leaving NEWS 2.

Sunday, April 30, 2000

NEWS 2 Begins To Use New Graphics, New Music, and New Openings

On Thursday, April 27th, NEWS 2 began to use new graphics, new music, and new openings. The CBS 2 logo is now smaller and higher than it used to be. The bottom graphics are animated, as well as the new Over-The-Shoulder graphics. There is also a new COMING UP animation. A new split-screen also. And, the new openings look somewhat similar to the older ones (which premiered January 24th) because they show scenes of the city, and use the same words, but there is much more animation used. In my opinion, the new openings, graphics, and music are MUCH better than they used to be!


































More People Will Be Leaving NEWS 2

The New York Post reported on Friday that weekend anchor Dana Adams, meteorologist Mark Danon, meteorologist Linda Church, and reporter Kraig Debro are leaving NEWS 2. The Post says that Dana Adams did not want to become a field-reporter, which might have caused her fiancee Mark Danon to leave. Linda Church did not like the idea of moving from the weekends to NEWS 2 This Morning. The paper does not say when they will leave.

Wednesday, April 12, 2000

BREAKING NEWS: Jim Rosenfield Leaves NEWS 2

Jim Rosenfield's last newscast with NEWS 2 was NEWS 2 at 5:00 on Tuesday, April 11th. The New York Daily News reports that Jim Rosenfeild was unable to come to terms with Joel Cheatwood, the station's new news director, about his future role with the station, so he was let out of his contract.

Jim Rosenfield joined NEWS 2 in October, 1998. He anchored NEWS 2 at Noon with Cindy Hsu, and NEWS 2 at 6:00 with Lisa Hill (formerly Lisa Cooley). On January 24th earlier this year, his assignment switched from NEWS 2 at 6:00 to NEWS 2 at 5:00.

Wednesday at Noon, the NEWS 2 opening just went like this: "From the heart of the tri-state area, street level on Fifth Avenue, this is NEWS 2 at Noon." There was no anchor introduction. And at 5:00pm that day, it went like this: "From the heart of the tri-state area, Lisa Hill, Cindy Hsu, Mark Danon's weather, and Warner Wolf on sports, this is NEWS 2 at 5:00."

It is not known at this time if Cindy Hsu will be the permanent replacement for Jim Rosenfield at 5:00, and if she will continue to anchor the morning and noon newscasts on NEWS 2.

Tuesday, March 28, 2000

Reggie Harris, 1953 - 2000

From WCBS-TV New York: Hearts were heavy at newsrooms around town Monday night. Reggie Harris, a reporter at UPN-9 News and former News 2 weekend anchor, died suddenly Monday afternoon at his home in Teaneck. He had been exercising at home when he suffered from a heart attack.

It was only a few hours before he was to report to work for his 3:30 p.m. shift at UPN-9. He was working out on an aerobics machine when he collapsed, said his wife, Diane. Harris had an irregular heartbeat but no other known heart disease, she said.

Reggie's tireless reporting was well known to New Yorkers. He began his career at WNBC in the early 1980s. He then worked for News 2 for nearly 10 years as an Emmy Award-winning reporter and anchor before moving on to Channel 9 in January 1997. He was the lead reporter and anchor at the Secaucus-based UPN-9 since January 1997.

WWOR-TV news director Will Wright said Harris was known for relentlessly pursuing a story up until the minute he was scheduled to deliver a nightly newscast, searching for new information or leads. "He was always breathless in his delivery. He would never let a story stand still," Wright said. "Sometimes it would drive us crazy, because we'd be up to the countdown and he'd be out digging."

Reggie was passionate about his stories and about the homeless and underprivileged. Harris was involved in a literacy program in schools throughout the New York metropolitan area, Wright said. In 1990 at News 2, he was proud to be part of the nation's first African-American co-anchor team, with Dana Tyler, in the country's top TV market, New York.

Reggie was a devoted family man. He leaves his beloved wife, Diane, their daughter Rachel, a college student, and their son Darren, a high school student. Reggie's enthusiasm and commitment to his work and this community will be dearly missed.

A native of St. Petersburg, Fla., Harris graduated from Florida State University and went on to become a reporter at KXAS, the NBC affiliate in Dallas-Fort Worth, before coming to WCBS in 1987. Funeral plans have not yet been made.

Monday, March 13, 2000

NEWS 2 at 4:00's Schedule For This Week

Due to "March Madness" on CBS 2, NEWS 2 at 4:00 will not be on Thursday and Friday. Also, today on NEWS 2 at 4:00, the three monitors in the Metro Traffic Center had a new logo, now an animation. It says, "TRAFFIC" for a few seconds, then "NEWS 2", then back to "TRAFFIC", etc. Last week for 2 days on NEWS 2 This Morning, there was an animation which said "TRAFFIC" three times, then "NEWS 2" three times.

Sunday, March 5, 2000

NEWS 2 Last Week and This Week

-It was originally planned that Tiki Barber, the 24-year-old New York Giants running back, would join NEWS 2 This Morning as a morning sportscaster Wednesday, March 1st. He actually began the next day, Thursday, March 2nd. So far, NEWS 2 This Morning has not yet had a new opening with Tiki Barber it in, but I expect them to add him soon, maybe tomorrow morning! Stay tuned!
-Also on Thursday, NEWS 2 at 4:00 had special guest Hillary Clinton, who is the New York State Senate candidate. NEWS 2 political reporter Marcia Kramer interview the First Lady for two segments (interview, commercial, interview)! There was also a special "FIRST AT 4:00 NEWS 2" logo on the bottom-left of the screen.
-Friday, Cindy Hsu announced that all this week, Sukanya Krishnan will be filling in for her for NEWS 2 This Morning, because Cindy Hsu will be filling in for Lisa Hill all this week on NEWS 2 at 5:00.