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Channel 13's Murphy Decides To Retire While There's Still Gas In The Tank

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 29, 2007

Bill Murphy is on his farewell tour.

The WTVT, Channel 13, anchor and reporter-about-town plans to retire in January.

On his weekday morning reports for 'Good Day, Tampa Bay,' he is revisiting some of his favorite stories.

Murphy and former Channel 13 anchor Leslie Spencer were the first anchors of 'Good Day' when it started in 1994.

'After more than 30 years in broadcasting, I decided to take it easy, slow down and enjoy life here,' says Murphy, who turns 62 this year. His last day at WTVT will be Jan. 4.

He says he may do something else in television after he leaves WTVT, but he's not ready to talk about that yet.

Murphy relocated from California to the Tampa Bay area in 1985 to host 'Murphy in the Morning,' a talk show on WTSP, Channel 10.

'That was a lot of fun while it lasted,' he says.

The weekday morning show ran six years. Murphy did some fun things, such as an annual morning show parade that featured accordion players performing 'Lady of Spain.'

At WTVT, Murphy is a co-anchor of the weekend news as well as the station's movie critic. He also is well-known for his 'One Tank Trips' reports, which have been turned into three paperback books that have sold more than 300,000 copies.

'I can't complain. It's been a good run, and I've have a good time for most of it,' he says.

WRITERS STRIKE: Look for the Writers Guild of America to go on strike Thursday or Friday.

If a new contract is not worked out with producers of films and TV shows by midnight Wednesday, then Hollywood will just about shut down.

At issue is compensation for DVD sales and Internet showings and downloads.

Most reality shows are unscripted and won't be affected. Most prime time dramas and sitcoms will continue for a while because the networks have stockpiled some episodes and scripts.

Late-night live and same-day taped shows will feel an immediate impact, which makes couch spuds wonder whether there will be a new 'Saturday Night Live' this week. NBC News anchorman Brian Williams is scheduled to host, and we'd hate to miss that.

RENEWED: ABC has picked up the new 'Pushing Daisies' for a full season of 22 episodes and ordered six more scripts for the new comedy 'Samantha Who?'

'Samantha Who?' starring Christina Applegate as a young woman suffering from amnesia, is the highest-rated new comedy of the season.

Airing at 9:30 p.m. Mondays, it benefits from having 'Dancing With the Stars' as a lead-in. When 'Dancing' ends in November, 'Samantha' will move to 9 p.m. Mondays.

'PEANUTS' ORIGINS: 'American Masters: Good Ol' Charles Schulz' is a new profile of the man who gave us Charlie Brown, Snoopy and the rest of the 'Peanuts' gang.

It airs at 9 tonight on WEDU, Channel 3.

Cartoonist Schulz connected with all generations, but he was most popular with the baby boomers who appreciated his adult observations on life as seen through the eyes of children.

This PBS profile reveals that although Schulz achieved great fame and fortune (in the billions of dollars), he spent much of his life struggling with self-doubt, insecurity and personal isolation.

He died in 2000 at age 77 after nearly 50 years of drawing and writing adventures for the ever-pessimistic Charlie Brown, the ever-confident Snoopy, and Lucy, Linus, Pigpen, Schroeder and the rest.

Included are excerpts from classic 'Peanuts' television specials, archival footage, personal photos and home movies.

At 8 p.m. Tuesday, ABC will repeat the 1966 'Peanuts' favorite, 'It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown,' followed at 8:30 by 'You're Not Elected, Charlie Brown,' in which Linus runs for class president.

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