Monica Pearson, John Bachman to host new 4 p.m. Channel 2 Action News newscast, post Oprah
Monica Pearson and John Bachman will host the new Channel 2 Action News 4 p.m. newscast starting May 26 after “The Oprah Winfrey Show” ends its 25-year run.
Pearson has been with the station for more than three decades and currently anchors the 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. newscasts as well. She has said she plans to retire next year.
(UPDATE, 6 p.m. Here’s a question I forgot to answer on the intial blog entry. Here’s how this impacts the other newscasts.) Jovita Moore, who co-anchors the 5 p.m. news with Justin Farmer, will take over the 11 p.m. slot for Pearson, working again with Farmer. Pearson will continue to anchor the 6 p.m. newscast. Pearson has no complaints: “After working the 11 p.m. for 36 years, I can’t wait to go to plays in the evening and go to dinner with my husband without having to watch the clock to get back to work. I will have a life!!!!” she said in an email.)
Bachman, who joined Channel 2 about four years ago, has been the primary weekend anchor and has also done general assignment reporting and specials. He will now be a full-time weekday anchor.
General Manager Bill Hoffman, in an interview today, said the station has added 20 employees to supplement the upcoming 4 p.m. newscast. That includes three on-air reporters, three photographers and two additional news vans. He said the station also recently purchased a high-end radar for weather forecasting.
“We did research and we also took stock in where we are as a brand right now,” Hoffman said. “We really believe where we are right now, this time, this place, this state of the station, that the best thing we felt was go news.”
Channel 2 is not the only major market replacing Oprah with news instead of another talk show. Hoffman said ABC affiliates in Philadelphia and New York are doing the same thing.
The station will now have three consecutive hours of local news from 4 to 7 p.m. on weekdays.
The other 4 p.m. newscast in Atlanta is on the CBS affiliate WGCL-TV, which added a 5 p.m. newscast last fall.
As for the pending departures of soaps “One Life to Live” and “All my Children,” Hoffman said he appreciated how dedicated the soap fans are, but unfortunately, the audience was aging and shrinking. He said he plans to take the two new ABC replacement shows hosted by chef Mario Batali and fashion guru Tim Gunn.
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By Rodney Ho, rho@ajc.com, AJCRadioTV blog
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189 comments Add your comment
wow
April 26th, 2011
1:16 pm
When John Pruitt left WSB. The News in Atlanta changed forever! It will take years(IF ever) to find someone like John. He was the best and will always be considered the gold standard of class.
RJ's WIFE
April 26th, 2011
1:18 pm
NEWS, NEWS & MORE NEWS…..SMH!!!!
Just a simple teacher
April 26th, 2011
1:20 pm
@ enough is enough
“General Manager Bill Hoffman, in an interview today, said the station has added 20 employees to supplement the upcoming 4 p.m. newscast. That includes three on-air reporters, three photographers and two additional news vans. He said the station also recently purchased a high-end radar for weather forecasting.”
poof!!!
April 26th, 2011
1:22 pm
I guess WSB has to pay for that new state of the art radar. Bad weather is ratings bonanza for them.
OK Why?
April 26th, 2011
1:22 pm
@Zack and having an AA is a problem why, you moron? I take it that having a KKK member on TV at 4pm would suit you and your kind, huh? This is 2011, get a life and get over your prejudice. I’m sure “hate” is killing you, literally.
Zack
April 26th, 2011
1:22 pm
Dave in Marietta… you must work for WSB… in this day of Tivo and DVR’s who needs all this “convenience”. Give me a break. This just shows that WSB can’t find anything better to put on the air.
Zack
April 26th, 2011
1:25 pm
OK WHY, yes the hate from my own kind is killing me brother. I am what you probably call an UNCLE TOM…
Bob
April 26th, 2011
1:26 pm
You have such a creative programming director to add more wonderful news of all the fabulous things going on in the big city. I’d rather see a daily hour of testing of the emergency broadcasting system, or perhaps a infomercial to pump up my abs and get in shape. Or, maybe you can just show the tower cam at the airport for an hour or two and we can see if the air traffic controllers are working or sleeping. How about a monkey cam at the zoo? Actually I’m sick of Channel 2 news and so are lots of other people. Sorry for the sarcasm. Do I need to repeat it over and over for you?
JJ
April 26th, 2011
1:26 pm
enough news all ready!!!!!!!
i am glad for John, he is an excellent anchor.
i thought Monica was retiring? I cannot watch her. She reads so fast she gets the words mixed up and sounds like she is gonna pass out.
And why do we need traffic reports at 430AM?
Teacher
April 26th, 2011
1:27 pm
Will John be shirtless? If so, count me in!
A.D.
April 26th, 2011
1:28 pm
Does Channel 2 really need another hour of news to read the same stories, in the same order, over and over? On the other hand, if they want someone new to sit there and read the teleprompter, I’m available.
Eric
April 26th, 2011
1:30 pm
I’ll never understand how WSB is number one in this town. Their newscast is just sensationalism at its grandest. If you listened to the them and all the crime and murders that they endlessly cover, you wouldn’t leave your house.
Whatever.........
April 26th, 2011
1:31 pm
Wow, you people really need to read some books..
mrj
April 26th, 2011
1:32 pm
More Linda Stouffer please!
p.s. “Jim Miller”… as an IT security pro I’d be less than forthright to my duties in not advising you that posting your personal info on an open and public forum was a poor decision. so…
Posting your personal info on an open and public forum was a poor decision.
You may be best sticking with the Lake City and Tallahassee newscasts as your local sources to Waycross, Sir.
Amelia Island
April 26th, 2011
1:33 pm
I love Action News. That Ross Cavitt guy is the best reporter in town. He kicks serious butt in the north metro…….
Barbara
April 26th, 2011
1:33 pm
Why do we need three hours of local news a day? I get all I need for the day in 10 minutes every hour from the radio! I have also wondered why there are all those stories you’ll see “only on channel 2″. What are they not reporting?! Maybe that is why they need the extra hour! I miss the old re-runs and game shows, myself. (And I mean good game shows, not stupid people tricks!) How about some positive only news? What a concept!
The T
April 26th, 2011
1:36 pm
Another hour of negativity is not what the metro area needs!
Whatever.........
April 26th, 2011
1:36 pm
Oh yeah, I agree with more Linda Stouffer, I would watch those eyes for hours. And give me some more Cavanaugh too, yummy.
Them Lyin' Atlanta Papers
April 26th, 2011
1:36 pm
Wow. If a program comes on which I don’t want to watch, I turn the channel or find something else to do. I don’t spew vile rants on a message board.
Bobby
April 26th, 2011
1:43 pm
Good Grief! There’s not that much news in Atlanta to cover, this is just overkill. Can’t they think of something original to put on at 4pm?
Road Scholar
April 26th, 2011
1:43 pm
Will they actually report the news with reasons and history behind the story or continue to give 30 second sound bytes? I stopped watching them because of the sensationalism and strings of violence stories.
The evening news is just as bad. You can watch NBC at 6:30 and get the exact same stories…in the same order…and with nearly the same film clips at ABC at 7pm! Deja vu all over again…..over and over!
In my next life I want to return to be a weatherman in Atlanta! Where else can you make six figures, be wrong 90% of the time, and keep your job? Even better than being a politician!!!
Just Peachy
April 26th, 2011
1:43 pm
It will give them another hour to say “coming up at 6…”
hmmmm
April 26th, 2011
1:47 pm
I have lived my entire life in GA, thunder storms are common in the spring and summer. I don’t need two continuous hours of 3D severe storm radar graphics. Chances are, you can see a story today at 5:00pm and it will be repeated tomorrow at 11:00 pm. This is all about advertisment dollars and very little substance.
Atleast they have lowered Ga unemployment by 20.
Cookie of Decatur
April 26th, 2011
1:49 pm
Could the 4pm news be nothing but GOOD NEWS things positive that happens everyday in the METRO area. Positive school, community, workplace, health issues, noteworthy information. Do something different, enough of the same old stuff.
Daryl Tillman
April 26th, 2011
1:50 pm
What an ego! Most of what they report isn’t even news worthy. I already watch either the 5pm or 6 pm news…I never watch both. What idiot wants to sit through two hours of the same news. CNN you are not! Get over yourselves!
WAR EAGLE
April 26th, 2011
1:55 pm
Gee in NY we had the Godzilla movies from 4:30PM to 6pm and 4-4:30 was cartoon time. Why can’t they bring back the 1960’s/70’s cartoons instead of the garbarge they have on new. Can’t wait for Monica to Retire-Crayola is running out of colors for her to tint her hair with. EEEKK!
xhuff
April 26th, 2011
1:55 pm
Why don’t they go ahead and run the news noon – 7 pm? This is crap and they know it. Just a cheap way to fill an hour on TV.
pmuckle
April 26th, 2011
2:02 pm
Wow Serioulsy are you for real!
U Gotta B Kidding
April 26th, 2011
2:02 pm
Here’s the bottom line folks; if no one watches this show will disappear faster than the soaps. There’s not another “Oprah” out there to bring in the viewers and it’s good bet enough people will tune in to a 4 pm newscast to make it profitable for WSB. And that’s all that matters!
biddingweena
April 26th, 2011
2:03 pm
What happened to James at 15?
4pm News Junkie
April 26th, 2011
2:04 pm
CBS Atlanta’s 4pm newscast rocks!!!! Pothole Patrol is the best!!
whatdoiknow
April 26th, 2011
2:04 pm
Do people really waste their time watching Monica or ANY local news program? Much of it is a waste. It is like reading the AJC. How about a news program modeled after The Atlanta Business Chronicle?
LaLa
April 26th, 2011
2:06 pm
Monica needs an extreme makeover of her hair, her clothes and her attitude!
John is hot, even with his lazy eye.
Idiotbox H8tr
April 26th, 2011
2:06 pm
Gee, how about turning off the idiot box for an hour and read a book? Better yet, go for a walk. And take the kids with you.
Charles
April 26th, 2011
2:08 pm
I’m not sure who has the record for longest running retirement watch … Monica Kauffman or Brett Favre. I still won’t watch the local or mainstream network news. They could run the same news footage over and over again for their news stories (house fires, robberies, consumer fraud, etc) and save money. Nobody would know the difference.
The King
April 26th, 2011
2:19 pm
sightings of Elvis atop stone mountain at noon, on chanel 2
GIVE ME A BREAK
April 26th, 2011
2:19 pm
How many times do you need to repeat the news? I think I hear viewers leaving. Someone, please, turn off the lights.
AJ
April 26th, 2011
2:20 pm
You people entertain me. “I’m boycotting ABC because my soap is canceled” “I’m young and watch soaps. I’m important” “Eye doent nid mor noos. Eym edjewkated.”
CHRIS
April 26th, 2011
2:20 pm
The news reporting in Atlanta is like watching little kids on the playground. Not much happening but must do something to fill the time with. And how many times must you hear this famous line intro ( ONLY ON CHANNEL 2 , OR WE ASK THE TOUGH QUESTIONS ———- BLAH, BLAH, BLAH ) Bring back the Three Stooges, oh wait they are reporting the news —– so sorry. MY BAD
dp
April 26th, 2011
2:23 pm
I’ll continue to watch Ellen on WXIA at 4pm like I have always done. Got tired of Oprah many years ago and don’t need that much coverage of local news everyday..
Martha
April 26th, 2011
2:24 pm
Do not do this without Linda Stouffer, please! Linda and John are the best looking newcasters on air today. And they are the future of WSB.
I agree, CBS is going to be really hard to top on the 4PM slot. I, also, will no longer watch ABC when and if they stop General Hospital.
joe
April 26th, 2011
2:24 pm
Unless we have a real threat of snow in winter or tornados in spring, I don’t watch any local news at all…or national for that matter. It doesn’t take 3 hours of local news to tell us that there were 3 house fires, 2 murders, 1 rape and a gangbanger smash n grab at the mall. And nationally, it is the same old story different day…new uprising in middle east, taliban killed someone in Afghanistan, unemployment rose again, as did the price of gas (thanks Obama for not drilling at home, you rock, NOT).
Blue
April 26th, 2011
2:28 pm
What really irks me is having to sit through 10 minutes of stupid meteorolgy crap that no one cares about just to get to the 5-day forecast.
Do we really need to know about arctic systems moving in from Alabama, the air mass in Tennessee, the Baroclinic Zone from north Georgia, the Gale Warning coming from the mid-West, etc … WHO CARES!!! These meteorologist take themselves way too serious!
Let me know if it’s going to rain tomorrow then get the heck off of the screen.
Mountain Man
April 26th, 2011
2:29 pm
I’m mad as hell and I’m not going to take it anymore!!!
carlaroqs
April 26th, 2011
2:40 pm
jim miller, baby i am soooo sorry. this is not a site where you give out personal information. do you read the comments???????????? you are going to get crazzzzyyy mail. the comments are so harsh, i was kinda hoping monica doesnt read this, but… for your sake, maybe someone decent will forward your request to her.
Monte
April 26th, 2011
2:42 pm
Now glenn burns can hijack all three hours of the newscast with dire predictions of hail cores and straight line winds.
Luther
April 26th, 2011
2:43 pm
I want more Karen Minton all snuggled up in her Spanx outfits.
Fred (with a capitol "F")
April 26th, 2011
2:51 pm
@enoughisenough, the fourth paragraph the station manager said they hired 20 people to help support the extra hour including 3 reporters and 3 cameramen. That sounds like extra jobs to me.
Following Other ABC-Affiliates, WSB Prepares to Launch Newscast in ‘Oprah’ Timeslot - TVSpy
April 26th, 2011
2:52 pm
[...] tells The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that the station has staffed up to meet the demands of an [...]
carlaroqs
April 26th, 2011
2:54 pm
pmuckle, wow has been banned from every blog but Rodney’s. just ignore him and maybe he will go away.