Former Fox 5 ‘Good Day Atlanta’ anchor Mark Hayes joins NBC affiliate in Dallas
Now we know why Mark Hayes so willingly stepped away from his gig at “Good Day Atlanta” on Fox 5 earlier this month: he has a new gig in Dallas as a morning anchor for the NBC affiliate, KXAS-TV. He will start in May, anchoring from 4:30 a.m. to 7 a.m.
“When a viewer turns on the news in the morning, Mark is the kind of person they want to see,” said Susan Tully, NBC 5 Vice President of News, in a press release. “He has a warm delivery and makes the early wake-up just a little more enjoyable. Mark had a deeply loyal following in Atlanta because of his personable approach to giving viewers their first news of the day.”
Tully declined to be interviewed.
Hayes, who was at “Good Day Atlanta” for ten years, hasn’t returned a phone call or text yet. He did emote in the press release using all sorts of big adjectives:
Their extraordinary vision and passion for journalistic excellence was what attracted me to this opportunity and I can’t wait to be part of such an outstanding news organization, rich with history and tradition, and dedicated to covering North Texas news. It is an honor and privilege to join NBC 5.”
According to Ed Bark, who has covered Dallas TV for more than a quarter century, Fox4 in Dallas is No. 1 and the NBC affiliate is a solid No. 2. I sent him an email and this is his response:
It’s a very competitive and close early morning race, with NBC5 trying to hold off the ABC affiliate, WFAA-TV, while also trying to catch front-running Fox4.
NBC5 still has an early morning overhaul in progress, and will still be adding a new featured meteorologist. So I don’t think it’s a bad movie for Hayes. And I’m sure he’ll be getting a fairly substantial promotional campaign in times when NBC5 seems to be serious about upgrading its product.
Brett Martin, the former Road Warrior at Fox 5, called this “a good move. He ran his course at Fox 5. But he’s a huge Giants fan. He’s going to have to adjust to life in the big D [with the Cowboys.]”
In case you missed Hayes’ goodbye on April 6 from “Good Day Atlanta,” here it is:
Mark Hayes Says Goodbye to FOX 5: MyFoxATLANTA.com
Join my Facebook fan page and Twitter.
By Rodney Ho, Radio & TV Talk
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136 comments Add your comment
Ummm....
April 16th, 2012
3:56 pm
So was he gay? Not trying to sound funny or anything? But he always made me wonder…. And he worked with a lot of hot chicks (especially Suchita) and he never seem to ever try any of them…. If I worked with any of those ladies on there, I would had been fired (for sexual misconduct) in a heartbeat…..
doodb
April 16th, 2012
4:02 pm
Losing Suchita and him is bad, but losing the Grape Lady was the worst. OOOOOOO, OOOOOOOO, OOOOOOOOO, OOOOOOOO STOP. OOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOO STOP.
Scooby
April 16th, 2012
4:11 pm
GoodDay quit being a good day when Suchita and Mark left. Hate the new format. I switched to Robin Meade on HLN in the morning.
Scrap
April 16th, 2012
4:12 pm
Good man …hate to c u go!
blkshepherd
April 16th, 2012
4:23 pm
UMMMM
Thats why folks Lose everything by chasing after skirts. If thats your only way of proving your a MAN and Not Gay i feel sorry for you. If you think sexual misconduct is something to feel proud of your an idoit and dont need to be working around women period. Now go register as a sexual offender since thats probably what you are.
rojer
April 16th, 2012
4:24 pm
Agree that the dude was a little on the soft side but I still liked him. He kept it upbeat every day… tough for me to get up every day, much less be happy. Dont really watch it anymore though… the new people range from OK to piss poor. Been watching HLN a little more and Mike and Mike but would prefer something local.
garth
April 16th, 2012
4:32 pm
Good riddance. This guy was not a reporter. He was just a mid-range news reader. If he was all that great then why was he eased out? The longest good-bye ever. Grow some balls Fox-5 you did the right thing in cutting this guy loose. But why the long sorry parade? When the fish starts to stink throw it out now. He will not be long for the Dallas market! Next stop Detroit or Cleveland..better yet Huntsville AL.
doodb
April 16th, 2012
4:33 pm
UMMMM is overcompensating. Most people who make these types of comments are the ones hiding their true feelings. Tell us the truth, UMMMM….you like Mark’s innocent smile and kind eyes, and tailored suits.
Who Cares?
April 16th, 2012
4:40 pm
Local TV is soooo awful, and not just in Atlanta. Hayes always seemed like he was trying too hard with a big smile and happy delivery. Just another fake local TV personality.
emack06
April 16th, 2012
4:43 pm
Congrats Mark. I was wondering what happen to you. It’s just ain’t been the same since you left. In fact, I now watch Morning Joe in the am.
Taboo
April 16th, 2012
4:43 pm
Good luck Mark!!! I miss you already!!! Not only were you great at your job, but you looked GOOD IN THOSE SUITS!!! Whew!!! ; )
Jackie
April 16th, 2012
4:43 pm
CONGRATULATIONS MARK !!! I miss you already. I agree with Willie Lynch what a gracious exit. And you really was a BREATH of fresh air. Peace & Blessings!!
CuteChemE
April 16th, 2012
4:51 pm
I loved Mark, Suchita and the traffic guy together. It started going downhill when Suchita left. Her replacement is stiff and too dry to work as a duo with Mark.
former Good Day Fan
April 16th, 2012
4:56 pm
Congrats Mark! Continued success to you and your family. Someday I will understand why Fox Atlanta producers fix what ain’t broke.
Mark Hayes
April 16th, 2012
4:57 pm
Two snaps in a Z folks!
Jack Mehoff
April 16th, 2012
4:59 pm
Congrats Mark! You and your partner will love Dallas!
Jimmy J
April 16th, 2012
5:06 pm
When Suchita left you could see the writing on the wall. The management at Fox 5 must be on dope. Suchita made that show and if she chose to begin her own show she would bury the competition that’s currently out there. Everybody hates on Stacey Elgin but she was easy on the eyes as is Joanne Feldman. Love to see a morning show with Suchita, Stacey and Joanne now that would be a prime crew!
Kimmie
April 16th, 2012
5:07 pm
He was one of the main reasons I watched. He will be greatly missed!! He brought a lot of energy to the show. Best wishes to him and his family.
kathy
April 16th, 2012
5:09 pm
Mornings haven’t been the same without you! Good luck on your new endeavors!
'trtainmntatitzbest
April 16th, 2012
5:10 pm
The Guvir that was here before must not be the same one. Very boring and not exactly eye candy.
JS
April 16th, 2012
5:13 pm
Whoa… I really liked Mark H. and Suchitha V. much better. I do not like Guvir. I focus now on WSB. Oh, yes, he will be missed. I thought he had a great sense of humor and a quick wit! Congratulations to you, Mark. Dallas is a great and unique environment.
Gavert
April 16th, 2012
5:26 pm
I wish you nothing but the best because you deserve it! I really miss seeing you in the morning, it’s just not the same when I turn on the TV now.
FOX Human Resources
April 16th, 2012
5:37 pm
Now that Hayes has left the building.when will Cheryl and Karen join him? They are the worst and please take Ken Cook with you also.Pink slip will be forthcoming next pay period.
duston
April 16th, 2012
5:41 pm
I never liked this guy!! Always seemed very boring to me. I had to quit watching cause he just put me right back to sleep!
mamaj
April 16th, 2012
5:44 pm
@ garth 4:32
Sometimes people are not “eased out”, like some want to think; but choose,or are offered other avenues for their career, just like what Mark did. I liked him, but that’s a personal choice.Who is beginning to grate on my nerves though, is Karen Greer. I also like Guvir, but she seems to be disappearing right before my eyes. The woman needs a sandwich on top of a burger.
Betty
April 16th, 2012
5:53 pm
Congratulations, Mark; Dallas is lucky to get you. Mornings in Atlanta haven’t been the same since you switched roles.
AJ
April 16th, 2012
5:59 pm
Good riddens! He is PRESIDENT Obama, not Mr. Obama, Mr. Hayes.
Eric
April 16th, 2012
6:00 pm
Mark and Suchita was Good Day’s dream team. I don’t know if their departures will help or hurt FOX 5 in the long run. Gurvir considers Good Day as the best job that she ever had. I still remember the original team or Amanda Davis and Paul Ossmann from 20 years ago. Times have truly changed.
james
April 16th, 2012
6:19 pm
glad he is gone..he was a racist,please bring back my baby(SACHITA) ….
J.T.
April 16th, 2012
6:27 pm
Mark, I cant speak for others but, I am really going to miss you. You are a very unique person. I only wish you the BEST. Ten years went by very fast it didn’t seem that long.Continue to be your Best in Dallas and you want go wrong.
cocotea
April 16th, 2012
6:41 pm
I miss both Mark and Suchita, they were a great team together. Unfortnately Gurvir and Buck have far to go. Gurvir is stiff, and always seems to have a fake smile on her face. Buck appears like he is still in internship mode. I am seriously thinking of swtiching to one of the other morning shows.
Jess Saieng
April 16th, 2012
6:44 pm
Can’t watch the show anymore, the guts have been stripped out of it. Mark seemed genuine, so did Suchita, I mean they delivered the news, yet remained a black guy and an Indian woman. I didn’t have to see Gurvir’s husband to know he’d be a large white dude, and I just heard about the horses one time too many.
SusanA
April 16th, 2012
6:55 pm
Congrats and best wishes, Mark. You will be missed. Fox5 just won’t be the same without you. God Bless.
frank
April 16th, 2012
6:57 pm
Good Day Atlanta is boring now they letting all the good hosts leave Suchita first and now Mark it makes no sense.
WillnAtlanta
April 16th, 2012
7:10 pm
Congrats on the new job and keep smiling, that’s your gift; that smile, that’s why people love you
ernest
April 16th, 2012
8:06 pm
Please tell the Lady that does the traffic to PUUUULLLEEEEZE lose some weight !! I know she can afford to go to the gym, let Guvir eat. And Garth GET A LIFE!!!!
Buck Langford
April 16th, 2012
8:47 pm
About time he left… holdin’ a white chocolate brother back yo!
Tune in for Joanne’s assets and stick around for a little Buck in the morning! Hey-oh!
John H.
April 16th, 2012
8:52 pm
Good For him! And bad for all of the haters on this comments page, get a grip!
Wes
April 16th, 2012
9:04 pm
Congrats Mark. Sorry to see you leave. Good Day’s new changes with Jeff being moved to weekends and the other Fox 5 sports anchors coming in just does not do it for me. Don’t know why the station changed something that was so successful. I now watch Good Morning America.
Who Cares
April 16th, 2012
9:09 pm
He sucked…
Nina Jones
April 16th, 2012
9:33 pm
I won’t miss him and I stopped watching fox five their always changing, they love to put black people in a bad light. Please, please, try to finds some stability. Thank you
Thomas
April 16th, 2012
9:41 pm
“He did emote in the press release using all sorts of big adjectives:” — Rodney… just because somebody DARES not answer your calls/texts — you take a cheap shot? Grow up, dude (and quit using Brett Martin for your FOX 5 source. He left years ago!)
Christine
April 16th, 2012
9:47 pm
He seems like a terribly NICE guy, but I hated him delivering the news. He was too goofy and I couldn’t take him seriously. Good luck to him in Dallas, but I’m sure that Fox 5 Atlanta will do just fine without him.
paco calderon
April 16th, 2012
9:53 pm
never saw even when i was home in the morning.
Michelle
April 16th, 2012
9:56 pm
I remembered Mark coming to the ATL and now I will remeber him leaving. It’s been great! What a privilege to see someone smile and grow at the same time. Good Luck!!
Rodney Ho
April 16th, 2012
10:14 pm
@Thomas I was actually mocking the publicist who wrote the quote because I doubt he actually ever uttered those words. Nobody actually TALKS like that. And Brett? Sure, he left years ago but he’s accessible and a nice guy. And yes, we journalists generally like people more when they return our calls. We’re human, too.
bswann
April 16th, 2012
10:52 pm
I enjoyed Mark. He has a warm personality. He will be missed but, I knew change was coming for him. He was too big to be out on the run of the circuit interviews. Thank goodness he know his worth. Fox 5 has lost its glee and I no longer watch it. Good Luck and God Bless Mark!
TV NEWS
April 16th, 2012
10:53 pm
JUST A huge jump – Atlanta is the #8 market Dallas- Ft. Worth is 5th, Good luck, Mark
bswann
April 16th, 2012
10:54 pm
I agree, Mark was tastefully dressed and he made a suit look so good.
BJ
April 16th, 2012
11:03 pm
Mark will be missed..like many posts before I WAS a loyal fan with Mark and Suchitha. They had great chemistry! The show began it’s decline when Suchitha left and I knew it was only a matter of time when they reduced Mark on air time. Sad, Good Day Atlanta is BORING now and I’m now a regular 11Alive viewer. GDA, get your ISH together!