Announced via a brief mention on KOLD’s website, Chuck George is taking another leave of absence from his gig as chief meteorologist. In 2011, following an odd on-air segment where George slurred his words, he took a month and a half off. This will make his third seemingly-unplanned break from broadcasting.
Recently, George has had some less-prominent odd moments on air, including the one above, which was sent to us with the header “Drunk Weather?”. Word is that George was having trouble on KMSB’s 9 p.m. news on Friday the 5th, but when asked if these events were connected, KOLD General Manager Debbie Bush replied to Media Watch columnist John Schuster: “If you are planning on reporting that he had a problem that affected his performance on Friday night or March 13, that would not be an accurate statement.”
However, George, a normally active social media user, has been absent from his public Twitter and Facebook profiles from that date.
This article appears in Apr 11-17, 2013.
does he have MS ??
So this clip is from March 13 — at 10? Maybe he’d had a toot in between newscasts. Clearly the guy has some sort of malady. Hope he gets the help he clearly needs.
I know my folks at the Weekly like to leap to dramatic and salacious conclusions but that’s not drunk. That’s struggling mightily to keep it together and get off the air. It seems to me more indicative of an anxiety attack of some description.
Even more alarming: the weather segment is almost 4 minutes long.
Chuck seems like a nice guy who is liked by his colleagues in what can be a cut-throat business as they compete for air time. Maybe he needs to do something more behind the scenes and show others how it’s done and done well. Maybe he just needs a new way to reorganize and recreate himself. Maybe lots of things, but I wish him well. And I am very tired of this stupid video that keeps popping up. So what. Bad day. He broke a leg. It healed.
What is it about local TV? I love the live shots they do at night. “Gun Fire in South Tucson”, well here is a news flash, gun fire in S. Tucson is like old white folks in Oro Valley, not news. Save money don’t send camera crews to record outside at night. Ch4 cans Martha but not the girl in the alley with her fireman friend. George, who we all love, is a GREAT Weather person, wish him well.
he must have some kind of problema, it seems that other than a REAL medical issue, KOLD does owe their viewers an explanation for his unplanned absences, and he needs to either put up with the flack or get out of the business.
oh my gosh, KOLD puts up with this, who are they kidding, standards not very high.
@Gandalf – on the weekends you can count on one station going to a crime scene at night and shooting the taillights of all of the emergency vehicles congregated there. Award winning.
Oh boy 120 comments here we come.
I fail to understand the popularity of this chap.
Judging from this clip, it does seem like a medical issue of some kind. I know people who suffer from panic/anxiety attacks and something about this clip makes me think that might be what the issue is. Anyone remember Michael Goodrich from Channel 4? I seem to remember he said he retired because he was having issues with anxiety. (Someone correct me if I’m wrong.) I’m most definitely not a fan of local news, but some of these personal comments about Chuck are not cool. I suffer from a neurological condition which at times makes me sound a little odd too and people make assumptions that are absolutely not accurate. As I always like to say, “Don’t assume!” On the other hand, if Chuck George chooses not to reveal what’s going on, then he can only expect people to come to possibly inaccurate conclusions.
Chuck is a great weather reporter’ He is intelligent, well informed and funny. We always enjoy watching him. Do think it is time for him to explain to his viewers what the problem is. It might help many people, and would certainly put a stop to rumors. In the mean time, we miss him and wish him well.
There is a lively debate on over at azstarnet now that a KVOA weatherman is also in the news – for DUI arrest.
Drugs and booze
http://apps.supremecourt.az.gov/publicaccess/caselookup.aspx
case number:
TR-10071180
Almost a year to adjudicate and the case was thrown out. Interesting. Extreme-extreme DUI.
Watch KOLD at 10 tonight to hear Chuck talking about his depression diagnosis. He’s to be back on the air tomorrow.