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WFTS Tweaks Morning Weather, Traffic News
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Published: October 10, 2008
Changes are coming to the morning news programs on ABC affiliate WFTS, Channel 28.
On Monday, meteorologist Stephanie Roberts joins "ABC Action News," replacing veteran morning forecaster Wayne Shattuck.
Shattuck, who has been with WFTS since 1994, will take over weekend duty. He originally came to the station as chief meteorologist, a position now held by Denis Phillips.
Shattuck's move to weekends displaces forecaster Linda Gialanella, who will have backup duty and appear on the station's digital weather channel.
Also on Monday, traffic reporter Meredyth Censullo, who recently was let go by WTSP, Channel 10, will join the morning team. She will be in the WFTS studio weekday mornings. The traffic helicopter reports from pilot "Captain Al" (Taylor) will continue.
WFTS general manager Rich Pegram says the changes are being made to build up the morning news programs anchored by Deiah Riley and Dan Shaffer.
"Currently, we are in third place in the morning news ratings, but we see an opportunity to move up," he says. "We are adding people while others are making cutbacks."
Rival stations WFLA, Channel 8, and WTSP, Channel 10, have made staff reductions in the wake of the nation's economic downturn.
"Our research indicates that weather and traffic are important to morning viewers," Pegram says. "Stephanie's communication skills and weather knowledge will complement Deiah and Dan, making it the best way for folks to start their day."
Roberts worked in Cleveland for seven years, including four at Scripps-owned WEWS-TV. She came to Tampa in February 2006 and has spent the past 21/2 years freelancing with Bay area TV stations, including WTSP.
"This is a dream job for me," Roberts says. "I immediately felt at home when I arrived in Tampa. The folks I have met have been very open. I look forward to becoming their main source for weather information in the morning."
STARTER WIFE: "The Starter Wife," a short-run miniseries in 2007 that attracted more female viewers than any show in the USA network's history, has been turned into a weekly series.
Debuting at 9 tonight, it stars "Will & Grace" alumnus Debra Messing as Molly Hagen, a woman who starts her life anew after her wealthy movie-mogul husband dumps her for a younger woman.
Messing calls it a satire on Hollywood because Molly becomes a writer and still travels in some Hollywood social circles. The show also will resonate with women, she says, because Molly is a 40-year-old newly single mom who has to find a career and enter into the dating world for the first time in 15 years.
"SNL" BY THE NUMBERS: Political satire has been very, very good to "Saturday Night Live." An average of 8.3 million people tuned in for the first three shows this fall, 48 percent more than during the same period last year.
And a clip of Tiny Fey's impression of Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin from the first show has been viewed more than 9 million times on NBC.com since it aired Sept. 14.
THE CASSIDY BOYS: Shaun, David and Patrick Cassidy are joining forces on a new TV series, "Ruby and the Rockits," which will air on ABC Family later this season. Shaun, who was a teen heartthrob singer in the 1970s, is writing and producing the series.
His brother Patrick, better known for his stage roles, will co-star along with David, also a former teen idol ("The Partridge Family"). In "Ruby," Patrick and David play former teen idols whose lives have taken different paths.
TUNE IN TONIGHT
Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? 8 p.m., Fox
Ken Jennings, the former "Jeopardy!' champ, takes on the kids. So far only one person has been smart enough to win the $1 million prize.
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