Regis announced last week he will be stepping down from his daytime talk show sometime this summer. TMZ says he was not happy about a pay cut. Keith Olbermann's announcement and departure from MSNBC last Friday were more immediate, but his battle with management had already come to light with his two-day suspension last fall. Both men were responsible for establishing a brand that made big bucks for their corporate bosses. They are not easily replaceable. Geoff Fox is one of the few local weather people I have never met. He clearly could have gone on to more guest spots on Good Morning America or bigger markets, but he loved Connecticut. For the past 26 years, Geoff Fox has been the evening weatherman at WTNH Channel 8, a station I grew up watching. His contract was not renewed, and his fans' Facebook campaign to keep him on News 8 seems to have only backfired to the point where management pulled him off air sooner than expected. With all the anchor shuffles at a station in a tight ratings battle, Geoff Fox, Doctor Mel and Ann Nyberg were the constants. I know life goes on, but I have to wonder what WTNH was thinking.
Here's my contribution to Geoff's blog after hearing the news: Connecticut television has been blessed by a wealth of pros over the years, but you brought a presence and personality that gave WTNH and WCTX an edge in a very competitive market. As a longtime Connecticut radio guy I know how crazy this whole business can get. Establishing a consistent one-on-one connection with listeners or viewers is a unique gift; you have accomplished that.
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