Former KABC-TV anchor Kathy Vara joins KNBC

Former KABC Channel 7 "Eyewitness News" morning anchor Kathy Vara will join KNBC Channel 4's early-morning newscast this month, escalating the heated competition among local stations in that time slot.

Vara, who left KABC last year after a nine-year stint on the morning news, is scheduled to make her first on-air appearance March 29 on "Today in L.A." with current anchors Chris Schauble and Alycia Lane. She will be the sole anchor of the recently expanded 4:30 a.m.-5 a.m. newscast, and will join her fellow anchors from 5 a.m. to 7 a.m. as a "contributing anchor."

The hiring marks Vara's return to KNBC. She anchored "Today in L.A." from 1994 to 2001.

"Kathy has a lot of loyal viewers," said Craig Robinson, KNBC president and general manager. "She has been a presence in local news for many years, and she will be a welcome addition to our news."

Vara appeared to vanish abruptly from KABC last year, leaving many viewers to question what had happened to her.  Robinson said Vara described her departure from KABC as a "friendly and amicable separation."

--- Greg Braxton

Photo credit: KNBC

Comments

[jtbwriter]

Welcome back, Kathy! KNBC can only be better with you and your professionalism. Now if Craig Robinson can only admit his mistake and unload Alycia Lane-who is obnoxious and seems to lean her tits toward the camera and her co-anchor(s) every chance she gets! Lane has all the journalistic cred of a sorority girl and the behavior to match. Kathy Vara is a much better fit for the morning then Stalker Girl!

[DRE DAWG]

local newscasters have loyal viewers?

[DanasofOC]

Congratulations to Kathy! The next step should be to pair her Robert Kovacic. He is the only reason I watch in morning!

[PollyPie]

Hopefully, Craig Robinson and KNBC station management will wait until Kathy Vara's return before producing and airing a goodbye and farewell segment for Paul Johnson who according to his wife is not returning to the air.

It would be nice to have Paul's other former co-workers to pine a bit or two about Paul such as Kent Shocknek and Rachel Boesing.

Thank you Paul for all the years of your early morning traffic reports, they will be missed. All the best in your recovery, and get back to the golf links soon!

[Eve]

The ABC news team were fools to let her go, as well as Jane Monreal.

When they lose Dallas Raines, Garth Kemp and Phillip Palmer...I'm DONE with their local news.

[Judy Drift]

I agree - dump Lane and her fake tits and give us more Kathy! LOve her. Lane is just awful. Dim as a basement and caws like an old crow. Plus did you see Lane on the Oscar's Red Carpet when she embarrassed herself by not knowing a thing about the movies? She seemed to spend all her time getting dolled up and no time studying. Dump Lane - Give Us Kathy! (Plus remember Lane hit a woman cop in New York and called her a dyke - YIKES)

[John Loya]

I miss Jennifer Bjorklund in the morning. She was smart and funny. I do not understand the change.

[erica stephens]

Good thing you included her picture,otherwise I wouldn,t have known who moved where......smiles

[LTfan]

Since when is nine years considered a "stint"?

[mike]

Hooray! Kathy is thee best! I stopped watching KABC when she left. She's warm and professional and a great way to start the day. Now if they can only bring Phillip Palmer on-board, we'll have an Anchor team with real chemestry. They're kinda like the Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan of L.A. Morning news but smarter!!

Kudos to KNBC!

[ronald rosate]

kathy vara cant be beat shes rough and ready prime time all the way my set is on #4 all day long and it gos on at 4am waiting kfor the news with kathy vara thank you ronald rosate a loyal fan

[Thomas Stahl]

I also stopped watching KABC Eyewitness News when Kathy Vara ended her employment there. I started watching KTLA and am very impressed with Megan Henderson. Now that Kathy is back where she belongs at "Today In L.A." I will continue to be her loyal viewer from 4:30--5am. Then it's Megan, Emmitt and the gang at KTLA from 5am until 6:30am when I leave for work. KABC made a huge mistake letting Kathy go back to KNBC. They also let the phenomenal Wendy Burch defect to KTLA. I was a loyal Channel 7 viewer for many years and I now refuse to watch any of their newscasts.

[George]

Count me among the many who are relieved that Kathy left KABC. It was painful to listen to her each morning and Phillip Palmer's professional demeanor was what kept me there.
Kathy needs serious work with a voice coach that can help her to learn proper delivery by keeping it at an even pitch, rather than starting each sentence by sliding her pitch from low to high.
Wouldn't hurt to dump the Audrey Hepburn wannabe look, either. At least KABC will no longer be dragged down by her presence there.

[Shoto]

Interesting that in all these comments there is nothing about the fact that none of these stations does actual real news reporting...or very little of it, anyway. It's all about personalities.

So Kathy Vara moved back to KNBC. Will this change anything? Not likely.

As for the "team" over at 7. Dallas Raines, Garth Kemp and Phillip Palmer? Clowns.

When the bread is lacking, give 'em circuses...

[Kristancutekathyfan]

I would like to say!

!WELCOME BACK HOME KATHY!

I feel like singing to The Welcome Back Kotter theme song. You are back were you belong at home in front of all Today In LA fans again. GO KATHY! Perfect choice! Now lets get Kent Shockneck back also but I kind of like Chris Schauble too, but not as much when Kent Shockneck did it! He is a master at his craft and so is Kathy the Queen of all female TV news reporter besides Pat Harvey from KCAL 9. Kathy Vara and Pat Harvey deserves to claim the title, crown and the throne. Stay at Today In La permanently please until you retire. Us fans want you to retire as a TODAY IN LA KNBC 4 news reporter until the day you die to take the official title with you. Stay there! Do not transfer again ever please it is your home on CHANNEL 4! Kathy's smile and personality looks cuter than ever! I wish I had her looks! Relax and sit back Kathy you are officially home now until retirement!

[Kristan]

I would like to say!

!WELCOME BACK HOME KATHY!

I just feel like singing to the Welcome Back Kotter song theme song. All of us TODAY IN LA fans desperately miss you and your cute smile and personality and it is looking cuter than ever. I wish I had your looks and figure! You look so young for a woman your age! I envy your cuteness and your pretty looks! But I shouldn't be that way! You and Pat Harvey deserve to be the Queens of female TV reporters. Have the crown, the scepter and the throne. Now to get Kent Shockneck back on The TODAY IN LA show and back in the Burbank studio sometime before he retires. WE LOVE YOU KATHY! So sit back and relax and stay there permanently because you are officially back home were you belong. Please do not transfer anymore! Us TODAY IN LA fans love you so much and KNBC 4 is a place to call home. Your lucky number should be the number 4. The K in KNBC stands for Kathy at NBC to my opinion. So be proud of your position and what you stand for being a KNBC 4 news reporter and give it your all. Welcome home Kathy Vara of TODAY IN LA of NBC 4. Cherish the title!!!!!! Give me a K. Give me a A. Give me a T. Give ma a H. Give me a Y. What's that spell! KATHY! HOORAY FOR KATHY VARA! Thank you for coming back! Well Appreciated!

[Angry White Dude]

Bring back Christine Lund.....

[markiejoe]

Kathy Vara is just so-so. I wouldn't follow her anywhere, although I might tune in from time to time.

I have to laugh, though, at the few comments of praise for Phillip Palmer. The man can't pronounce half the words he's reading on the air. Forget proper names, he's totally lost with those. But it's his mispronouncing easy words that makes me cringe in my seat, and then wonder how they could lose Micah and keep Palmer.

And why Kent Shocknek look like he's flying high all the time? Really bad form.

[hawaii bob]

aloha Kathy VARA is a HOT SEXPOT! : ) ALOHA hb