Best TV Newscast
KVOA-TV, Channel 4
READERS' PICK: Many of us desert dwellers only watch TV
news for the weather report. The unexpected retirement of unrelentingly
quirky weatherman Michael Goodrich in July has KVOA working
hard to keep its audience from blowing away with the monsoons.
Among a number of recent changes, long-time meteorologist Jimmy
Stewart shifted from the morning Daybreak segments to take
over the 5, 6 and 10 p.m. weather slots. Former weekend weatherman
Tom Lang has returned to the station for the morning and noon
segments. The weekend weather post is still open, with young wide-eyed
Frank Field temporarily looking as uncomfortable as Goodrich once
did. Still, the station has a long way to go to find on-air talent
with the weirdly engaging personality of Goodrich in a world of
indistinguishable talking heads and unnaturally white teeth. We'll
see how newcomers Tom McNamara and Christine Bellport work. On
weekends, look for the adorable Savannah Guthrie, a Tucson native
who's secretly as smart as she is perky. While the changes swirl
like a dust devil, take comfort in the stability of our old friends,
news anchors Martha Vasquez and stalwart Patti Weiss.
READERS' POLL RUNNER-UP: KOLD-TV, Channel 13
