Changes at Fox 5’s ‘Good Day Atlanta’
Buck Lanford takes over the 7 to 9 a.m. "Good Day Atlanta" slot for Mark Hayes, who remains anchor from 5 to 7 a.m.
Loading ...Fox 5’s “Good Day Atlanta,” which now airs nonstop from 4:30 a.m. to 10 a.m., is getting a line-up makeover at least through the summer.
To give WAGA-TV’s reliably hard-working Mark Hayes more time to do reporting, he will now be anchoring only from 5 to 7 a.m. (He had previously been doing a bulk of anchoring work from 4:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. with only a short break.) Hayes has worked with “Good Day Atlanta” since 2002 when he teamed with Suchita Vadlamani. She left last December and I have heard nothing about her future plans.
Karen Graham will continue to helm the 9 a.m. hour but will also take over 4:30 a.m. for Hayes. She’s been with Fox 5 for more than a decade.
Weekend sports anchor Buck Lanford, who has been with Fox 5 since 1998, will replace Hayes from 7 to 9 a.m. and also do reporting.
Gurvir Dhindsa, who re-joined “Good Day Atlanta” from Washington D.C. in March, won’t see her hours change. She will continue to work with Hayes from 5 to 7 a.m., then co-anchor with Lanford at the 7 to 9 a.m. time period. She worked at Fox 5 in the late 1990s as well.
I’m told this is not necessarily permanent but will be the lineup for the time being.
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By Rodney Ho, rho@ajc.com, AJCRadioTV blog
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109 comments Add your comment
Dirk Diggler
July 19th, 2011
8:11 am
I sure miss Suchita. Used to have my best “Adult” thoughts seeing her on TV every morning.
Nerlman
July 19th, 2011
8:21 am
Ummmmm PAUL OSSMANN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Faye
July 19th, 2011
8:31 am
I wondered what happened to Suchita. I missed her and after all these years I miss (maybe Marc Bailey) tall, white guy with a good sense of humor. These people just all of a sudden were not there any more. If they loose Jeff, I will not make it a point to watch GDA. Don’t watch that much anyway except when I am working.
STEVE LLOYD
July 19th, 2011
8:34 am
Is that babe Stacy Elgin still on!
DC
July 19th, 2011
8:37 am
I miss Dagmar!!!!!
Chris
July 19th, 2011
8:38 am
@bulldog kieth…. it’s sandra golden, not goldman and she is far from eye candy… she has single handedly ruined 680 the fan’s rude awakening… i don’t even listen any more…. putting sandra on 680 is as political as putting buck in for mark… do the math!!!!
mary
July 19th, 2011
8:38 am
Dump Stacy Elgin,she is very annoying,a real station changer.
Goober
July 19th, 2011
8:44 am
Where’s Russ Minshew?
Elizabeth
July 19th, 2011
8:46 am
Do you really want to do this I love Mark might have to leave Good Day Atlanta that while I watch the show because I love the people on the show in the morning. Look at what you are doing.
Suchita Fan
July 19th, 2011
8:52 am
I had been a fan of Good Day Atlanta since the beginning with Paul Ossman and Amanda Davis but as soon as Suchita left- I left too! I do; however, miss Jeff (he sure is eye candy).
DripDrip
July 19th, 2011
9:00 am
I smell popcorn!
rabbit
July 19th, 2011
9:00 am
@ lee (post 7/18, 8:17pm) I miss Suchita too. The show is a drag now. Mark, Suchita, Cheryl, and the weather guy-for some reason I always forget his name. They are the best. I haven’t wathced the show much sine Suchita left. No offense to Gurvir but she makes me yawn.
Fay Woo
July 19th, 2011
9:01 am
Liked Suchita, but enjoy Gurvir. Like Karen and Buck. But Mark Hayes is my fave. Articulate, pleasant and good lookin!! ; )
Jazzy
July 19th, 2011
9:01 am
Bring Back Suchita!!!
Elaine Shaw
July 19th, 2011
9:18 am
Enter your comments here
Elaine Shaw
July 19th, 2011
9:22 am
I’m thrilled that Buck Lanford will be doing “Good Day Atlanta” on a regular basis. He’s good looking, very knowledgeable about Atlanta and everything about Atlanta since he grew up right in the heart of Atlanta, his father was a life long City of Atlanta Policeman and loved what he did. Buck is a great addition to “GDA”! Thanks for adding him as the morning host.
Atlanta native
July 19th, 2011
9:28 am
I dislike Fox 5 and what they have become. Who are these people? When did this station crash and why? I grew up watching the station. These people hosting the morning show are not worth watching. Don’t like the 11pm guy with the glasses. Bring back the WAGA past!!
Not a fan of that gurl Rodeny Ho
July 19th, 2011
9:34 am
Mark Hayes being referred to as a damn WORKHORSE is so rude and dispectful, I guess it should be no surprise coming from a creep such as yourself.. This is 2011 and people still refer to other humans as damn work-horses. He deserves an apology.
WOW!
July 19th, 2011
9:37 am
Bring back Cory Thompson and replace them all!!!
sapplin
July 19th, 2011
9:38 am
Really people. First Suchita, now Mark? What are you guys thinking. I see you falling and I don’t know how to help you.
M
July 19th, 2011
9:41 am
Where do I apply? I Love sports. I need a job.
Atlantian
July 19th, 2011
9:44 am
Don’t fall for it Mark!!!!
ADL
July 19th, 2011
9:49 am
Can Fox5 dop something about the funky shape of Karen Graham’s head? She looks like a Lego person.
It creeps me out.
J. J.
July 19th, 2011
10:06 am
None of these people matter in one’s daily life…NEVER LIKED FOX 5 ANYWAY!!!!
Goober
July 19th, 2011
10:07 am
To: “Not a fan of that gurl Rodeny Ho” – are you serious about the Workhorse comment? If this is somehow offensive to you, you need to get a clue. There is nothing rude or disrespectful about it – it is a simile – and our expressive English language contains many of them. How dull would it be if journalists wrote only in 4- or 5-word sentences that were direct to the point with no embellishment. Why don’t you take your pompous, overly sensitive self to the woodshed.
Malcolm X
July 19th, 2011
10:28 am
Rodney Ho – You called Mark Hayes a “workhorse”. I find that offensive to all black people. We don’t work in the fields anymore plowing for the white man. We don’t pick the cotton of the white man anymore. I demand you print a retraction and apologize.
WAGA Shuffles Morning Anchors to Free Up Mark Hayes for More Reporting - TVSpy
July 19th, 2011
11:15 am
[...] on the air from 4:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. WAGA will cut his on-air time back by more than two hours, according to The Atlanta [...]
Not a fan of that gurl Rodeny Ho
July 19th, 2011
2:37 pm
To: Goober..your name speaks enough volume for you.. I rest my case. WORKHOUSE is rude, nasty, disrespecful, and depicts such ignorance towards another human being..
Our community can do better...
July 19th, 2011
3:01 pm
J.J….
Get out of the blog…We in the “Bring back Suchita Fan Club” want to vent.
Mark, Suchita, Jeff, and Cheryl(weather and traffic lady) was the best lineup locally and nationally. They really had chemistry.
TwinMom
July 19th, 2011
9:41 pm
No Mark at 7 what the %$#%. That really sucks!! Miss u already Mark:(
tvBoy
July 19th, 2011
9:47 pm
cheryl white is horrible. she speaks thru her nose and talks down to the viewers like they are 3 year olds. she has the least personality of anyone and she’s as big as a house
swatguy
July 19th, 2011
11:55 pm
You sensitive puscatours. Workhorse as a term is not offensive in fact it is a compliment. Workhourse means he can do the work of many. You guys need to mature.
My Name
July 20th, 2011
7:14 am
I’m pretty sure Mark Hayes would be upset to think you people are DEMANDING an apology for the term “workhorse”. That in NO WAY, SHAPE OR FORM has anything to do with race, but thanks for bringing that card to the table. As usual. This has nothing to do with race. If you are unhappy with the changes in personelle or format, why don’t you contact the station and tell them your desire to stick with the old format and anchors? Quit hiding behind the Internet and grow a pair!!! And, please don’t bring race into EVERY, SINGLE issue, especially when it has nothing to do with the subject. It’s getting old.
Definition Master
July 20th, 2011
7:31 am
work·horse (wûrkhôrs)
n.
1. Something, such as a machine, that performs dependably under heavy or prolonged use: “the 50-year-old DC-3 … one of aviation’s most effective workhorses” (Christian Science Monitor).
2. A horse that is used for labor rather than for racing or riding.
3. Informal A person who works tirelessly, especially at difficult or time-consuming tasks.
Stories Posted Tuesday, July 19, 2011 : Media News At This Hour
July 20th, 2011
7:42 am
[...] **Changes at Fox 5’s ‘Good Day Atlanta.’ Rodney Ho at AJC.com says WAGA’s morning shows are getting a line-up makeover at least through the summer. [...]
sidney
July 20th, 2011
9:07 am
no mark no fox 5 news
Mary
July 20th, 2011
10:56 am
Fox continue to play musical chairs.What are you thinking? Mark and Suchita were the glue that held the program together. Fox you are leaving your viewers both angry and confused. This is just plain DUMB111111111111111
WHO
July 21st, 2011
10:08 am
Where is Monica Kaufman?
Ms. Davis looking good !
July 21st, 2011
3:42 pm
Is it the Atlanta heat or Amanda Davis causing my temperature to rise? Ms. Davis
sure has been looking pretty awesome during her newscasts.
Eric
July 21st, 2011
6:18 pm
@hmmmm (posted on 7/18/11 at 9:57PM) You’re thinking about Janette Smith. I believe she’s been doing a show on DIY (Do-It-Yourself cable network) since leaving 5 back in early 2002.
I like 11’s morning news… Like Karyn Greer and Ted Hall… and will miss Jill Becker… I feel that Chesley McNeal has gotta go. I don’t particularly care for 5’s Good Day. I find 2’s morning news to be sort of bland. 46’s Better Mornings is somewhat okay… but not the same since Laura Huckabee left.
Eric
July 22nd, 2011
11:50 am
I remember Good Day being co-hosted by Amanda Davis and Paul Ossmann, and CBS This Morning (now CBS Early Show) getting pre-empted….. to me, it was very good back then. I believe that 5 used to be good when they were still a CBS station.
Today is Paul’s last day (and last night) on 11. I assume Paul may have the non-compete clause in his contract, which could keep him away from Atlanta TV airwaves for 6 months to 1 year. We really don’t know if Paul is considering jumping back over to 5.
annie oakley
July 22nd, 2011
3:05 pm
Enter your comments here
annie oakley
July 22nd, 2011
3:08 pm
I was really wondering what happened to Mark. He makes the show very good, no matter who his co-person is. But he and Suschita really did have good chemistry together. I don’t watch as much since he is not on there.
lmharris
July 22nd, 2011
10:46 pm
I am not really liking this new line up. I can’t believe Mark Hayes’ time is being reduced. He has so much personality and keeps things entertaining while still remaining professional and reporting the news. I don’t like these new changes!!
glodean
July 25th, 2011
9:06 am
I’m not feeling Gurvir and she is not appealing either. The chemistry between her and Mark is not working. I really liked the morning line up with Mark, Suchita, Cheryl, and Jeff. Forget giving Mark a break; this is just your way of insulting Mark and encouraging him to look for a more substantial position elsewhere. Looks like I will be moving up the dial to better things.
glodean
July 25th, 2011
9:06 am
I’m not feeling Gurvir and she is not appealing either. The chemistry between her and Mark is not working. I really liked the morning line up with Mark, Suchita, Cheryl, and Jeff. Forget giving Mark a break; this is just your way of insulting Mark and encouraging him to look for a more substantial position elsewhere. Looks like I will be moving up the dial to better things.
JT
July 25th, 2011
10:32 am
Awww- I was wondering where Mark went:-( Now those of us who enjoyed his on air personality will have to get up with the birds just to see him…I guess it’s time to turn to 11 alive.
butch
July 25th, 2011
6:30 pm
I get up early to see Mark Hayes ,he has an uplifting personallity and always happy.The world needs that, because the news is sad enough itself .Come on Mark make the sacrfice. Karen I love you too.
marcy
July 26th, 2011
9:10 pm
Why not have Buck do 4-7. Mark is much better reporting the news and does a much better job. Buck should stick to sports. You tried to make Jeff an anchor and that was horrible. I will be watching Good Day America.
Bring Mark back.
Charlotte Canada
July 26th, 2011
9:19 pm
What a disapointment when I tried to find my favorite news station and saw this wrong person sitting where Mark hayes should have been sitting.
What is going on at Fox 5 and who is making these terrible decision to replace Mark Hayes? He and Cheryl and Jeff have good chemistry and relate well to each other. They make a good team.
I will go to ABC if they continue to have the boring news reporting that is now happening on Fox 5.