In the Sept. 28 Media Watch, John Schuster profiled KOLD Channel 13 news anchor Randy Garsee.
Make that ex-news anchor. He was fired this week.
John Schuster today talked to KOLD Vice President/GM Jim Arnold and Michelle Germano, the news director.
The backstory, according to John: Garsee sent out an e-mail criticizing Germano’s managing style, and KOLD pulled the insubordination clause card in his contract. He’s been with KOLD since March 1997. He and Kris Pickel anchored the No. 1 team in town, and they were voted Best of Tucson(TM) newscast.
JA: Randy is no longer at the station. As a manager, I don’t make snap decisions.
MG: As far as making the change and moving forward, we are moving forward. We expect to have an announcement on our female anchor within the next week. You will see her, and I think our viewers will be very excited and pleased with that decision. We are now searching for a male anchor, and we have a plan in place going into the November book. The content of our show is king, and viewers will still be able to get whatever they want out of KOLD.
MG: I’m not going to comment on a personnel issue that will lead to anything that happened with Randy. What I will comment on is KOLD’s news philosophy is live, local and late-breaking, and that encompasses weather and sports. It’s a total package. There’s a lot of people you can ask in the news industry of what viewers, especially in this community, want to take home every day, and part of that is weather. They want to know what it’s like when you walk out the door. Every day when we have our editorial meetings, we talk about what the viewers in this community want and what they’re asking for, and we respond to that and I think our ratings have shown they like what they’ve seen. It’s not anything about any personnel issue. It’s about moving forward, continuing our brand of live, local and late-breaking. That’s something we want to do every day, and in every editorial discussion we have.
This article appears in Sep 28 – Oct 4, 2006.
What the heck? We want Randy back! First Kris left, now Randy, and now I, the viewer, am leaving KOLD – something is not right in management when you cannot keep a good crew together.
Randy was great and had a great sense of community and humor.
Randy please let all your fans know where you go and what media job you choose, your audience will follow! BTW, Chuck – I will always have to switch the news channel to get back to you and your weather show.
If JA doesn’t make SNAP decisions why are they now SEARCHING for a male anchor?
“Where in the world is Randy Garsee”
Seems like KOLD hasd made a big boo boo. Randy was one of the best and I am sure that most KOLD viewers will agree with me and are going to miss him. First we lost Chris and now Randy. What are the people in management thinking!!! I may end up a channel four watcher at this rate. I will miss Chuck George, but we miss Randy more. I think this is a collossal mistake on managements part. Can’t take a little criticism? I was always taught that it is wise to listen to criticism. Maybe the news director is afraid of a little criticism, well here is more. You made a big mistake in letting him go. Now I wonder if Chris didn’t have another reason for leaving!
I used to enjoy watching KOLD news. I did not like Kris leaving but atleast I can see her occasionaly when I go home to visit family(I am from Sacramento) but getting rid of Randy. Big mistake. I guess it is time to watch KGUN news now.
They will end up being worse in ratings than the local fox news is.
KOLD, you people are not doing to well. You guys need to let Randy back!!!!!!!!!! He was one of the best people in “KOLD”. Now I think it is time to turn to Kgun9. That sounds good. Thank you “KOLD” for letting “Randy” come back. If you don’t well what a shame “KOLD” is.
KGUN has the HOTTIES. KOLD and KVOA both suck big time.
I suspect Jim and Michele will be looking for a new job soon as well.
Maybe you would be better off at one of those anti-American news stations in the mid-east. Learn to take criticism from someone that actually knows about your profession. It was a pleasure to have had Randy as our news reporter.
Robert, are you Robert Gaff, the KOLD Operations Manager ? ( http://www.kold.com/Global/story.asp?S=158794 )
Seems like most of you have short memories. The real news person at the station is Bud Foster. Because KOLD was superficial they hired Randy to be a better looking Bud Foster. Bud fought for the anchor position years ago and earned it. Finally the “Q” factor won out and Bud was replaced. I say it’s time to bring him back.
I was wondering if perhaps Randy was on vacation and I missed the announcement. What a shame. Normally I would miss KOLD news but since I will no longer be watching it, what’s to miss. The ONLY reason I ever watched it was to get the news the way ONLY Randy could give it. I loved his comments especially. I don’t see anyone at the other news stations who have any personality worth watching (not including the Morning Buzz). I usually don’t even watch the news, and only did so for Garsee. I guess at least I will be getting more sleep since I will be skipping the news from now on. Screw KOLD!
It is too bad..but the real talent at that station is Mindy Blake. We miss her in the evenings, but enjoy the early news with Mindy and Barbara.
Although I agree there are other talented journalists working for KOLD, I have to question whether I can continue watching KOLD news after reading about Randy’s recent termination. I have to say that my husband and I truly enjoyed (looked forward to) Randy’s newscasts. He was able to interject a humorous spin when appropriate and made the news as enjoyable as possible. When you spend a half hour of your night listening to the troubles of the world it was always nice to have a lighter side and a laugh to go with it. KOLD has made a huge mistake and did not seem to consider the real reason they are even on the air—the people that watch your newscast. If you can’t give us a reason to then why should we? I will be searching for any news on where to find Randy and be using the remote to switch the channel.
First Kris now Randy.Time to change the channel for news. If a integral part of a team cannot express opinions even if they are diverse you become stagnant. The only decent one left is Chuck, but most likely his days are numbered. Sorry watching Barbara G is like having dental work, painful.
Bye Bye boring KOLD!
I am happy to see Randy go. Somewhere, I have missed his mass appeal. He always seemed slightly uncomfortable on the air, and I couldn’t relate to him. I will watch KOLD more now that he is gone.
Interesting that KOLD TV would fire Randy. In the past few months, we have seen many people leave…Aaron Anderson, Barak Shapiro, Erin Christiansen, Kashal Patel. It is really disappointing to hear that Randy is gone. Other news personalities simply are just to disconnected. Randy was human, and that was what I liked about him most. Management of KOLD TV has made a huge mistake but it looks like there is more going on at this station than Randy sending an email.
I feel just as many of the other people have mentioned. Kold has lost many of the people that have made their station worth while watching. I wondered what happened to Randy and thought maybe he was on vaction, but realized that you have always said that they were on vaction or something before the news started. It is time to watch another station because management seems to only worry about themselves and not the viewers. I feel sorry for the employess that are left as I’m sure they feel they have no job security.
Bring Randy back! It was bad enough that Kris left but now with Randy and his wit and humor gone what is the point to watching channel 13? This was the only news I would watch at 10 but it was because of Randy and Kris. Now they are just as dry and boring as the rest of them.
When we realized that Erin was no longer doing the weather and Kris was leaving the ONLY reason we turned in was because of Randy. Now that is gone we have switched stations and are watching Erin do the weather again. KOLD has just lost too many good people – there must a reason why they all left.Maybe Randy’s email hit a nerve ?? I wish Randy well wherever he lands a job and hopefully it will be on another station in Tucson.
Randy Garsee did a fine job at the now graceless KOLD News. I appreciate Mindy and Barbara who, in my estimation, are the only reediming factor along with Chuck George. Communication is about connection and Randy, along with Chris, has this gift. He made the viewer care even about the “fluff” that passes for (filler) “news”. We could sense his aversion to mediocrity and his passion for news that mattered to the locals. I anyone knows where Randy is working at, could you kindly let the rest of us know?
To tell you the truth, we’re not huge fans of the news broadcasts considering all the negativity it involves. However, what used to be the only channel we would watch, KOLD and only because of Randy and his witty humor….and of course props to Chuck.Anyways, bad move Kold we’ll just be getting our news on the web or 2nd hand.Good luck Randy.Your personality will be missed.
In just a few short months, Aaron Anderson, Barak Shapiro, Erin Christiansen, Kashal Patel, Kris Pickel, and Randy Garsee have left for other news stations. As a viewer, so have I. It’s time for KOLD’s managers to leave, too.
I was disappointed when Tom Johnston left,then Kris,now Randy. Something is afoul at the KOLD. Time to change the channel
Can you see a pattern emerging in almost all of these comments? Randy was fun and witty! He brought a great presence to the news. I’m so tired of hearing how people are chastised and/or punished for speaking their mind! What’s the matter Michelle G.? Do you have a problem with accepting criticism? If you do, then you’re definitely not suited for the news business, and YOU should be the one leaving the premesis! Add me to the growing list of people switching to another local news station!
First Katie Couric dumbs down the CBS news, then KOLD drives its best newspeople away, and substitues blandness. Bye, CBS. Bye, KOLD.
I was an avid fan of the KOLD news. I enjoyed randy’s sense of humor. Too bad KOLD’s powers that be are so thin skinned. I’ll be enjoying another new source. I would be happy to watch any local station that can stomach his anchoring style.
I too mis Randy Garsee and hope he stays in Tucson. Kold News is pretty sad and they can not honor freemdom of speech from one of its own employees. Aparantely freemdom of speech is only allowed when convenient.