Dorothy Lucey purges co-host's 'mean' at 'Good Day L.A.' [Video]

Dorothy Lucey joked about her promise not to cry during her guest shot Monday on her former rival "The KTLA Morning News," her first TV appearance since being let go a little more than a week ago from "Good Day L.A.", the Fox 11 news/entertainment show where she had worked for 17 years.

But Lucey, whose contract was not renewed, almost teared up when recalling how distraught she was by unflattering comments the show's "weather and lifestyle" anchor Jillian (Barberie) Reynolds had made about her on Howard Stern's radio show. Reynolds in 2009 spoke to Stern about her dislike for Lucey, calling her "very Christian and Bible-thumpy."

Lucey said she would call her friend, KTLA entertainment reporter Sam Rubin, on her way to work, sobbing and saying, "I don't know if I want to be there anymore," she was so upset by the "mean."

The KTLA morning news team and Lucey were discussing Reynolds' apology to Lucey about those insults on the morning before Lucey's farewell. Footage of the apology -- and the conciliatory hug between the women with anchor Steve Edwards between them -- has provoked considerable buzz from some observers and bloggers who felt Reynolds was insincere and faking tears.

Rubin on Monday told Lucey that he felt Reynolds had taken "this unfortunate thing that happened to Dorothy, and made it all about herself." Weather anchor Mark Kriski said he felt Lucey was being blamed because things at KTTV "are not going well."

Lucey said she was also surprised by what she called her firing, since station management had told her that they wanted a "nice" newscast and that she fit right in. "I'm the nice Christian girl, the charity girl," she quipped.

She said she had a sense that she was going to be let go: "People were looking at me for a few weeks with sad eyes. I knew for a couple of weeks. I went through a period of denial."

But Lucey noted that despite the hard times, "for the most part, it was really fun." Saying she loved Edwards and Reynolds, who she called "a sister," Lucey added that she was touched by Reynolds' apology.

"I thought it was something that was deep and lovely, because [the comments] had been gnawing at me," Lucey said. "It helped me say goodbye." She suggested she had never confronted Reynolds about the statements: "You like to think you're the bigger person, that you forgive and forget, but it had gnawed at me."

Edwards remains on "Good Day L.A." while Reynolds will appear on a more limited basis that will allow her to participate in other projects. Executives said they would soon start holding auditions to replace Lucey.

 

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-- Greg Braxton

KTLA weatherman on his 'hissy fit': 'It wasn't a pretty sight'

 

KTLA weatherman Henry DiCarlo, who stormed off a recent broadcast during a live report, expressed some regret over the incident, although he didn't entirely apologize.

"It doesn't matter what the circumstances were — it wasn't a pretty sight for me to act like that, and I get that," DiCarlo said as he appeared on the "KTLA Morning News" to explain. He was seated alongside one of the show's producers, who was at the studio working with DiCarlo when he erupted during the live segment at Union Station.

But he added to his colleagues: "But personally, you guys have seen much worse from me, so I didn't think I was that bad."

DiCarlo was at Union Station conducting an interview for Toys for Tots. Afterward, when he started his weather report, a full screen graphic appeared and DiCarlo was heard to say, "You know what, it's so interesting, I'm in the communications business and it seems like there's so little communication. When you send a weatherman out to do the weather but you also want him to do a story, you might want to give him a little extra time. But that's just me."

He became more agitated, said someone else would handle weather in the studio, and then exited — as the camera showed DiCarlo storming off.

The producer, who was identified only as "Roxane," gave her side of the episode: "He was supposed to do the weather first, then whatever time was left, he was supposed to get into the segment. I felt that people needed to get their weather first. I might have been yelling a little loud in his ear to get to the weather."

DiCarlo said he was planning to do a four-minute segment, but the producer started yelling at him about 35 seconds after he started. He also joked that he didn't have breakfast or enough coffee that morning.

At the end of the discussion, DiCarlo pointed to his producer and said, "She's great at what she does."

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— Greg Braxton

 

KTLA Channel 5 expands morning news block to weekends [Updated]

KTLA Channel 5 will launch a weekend edition of its weekday morning news starting April 9.

The Saturday and Sunday versions of the news will be anchored by Chris Burrous and Mary Beth McDade. The newscasts will air 5 a.m. to 7 a.m. on Saturdays and 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. on Sundays.

Burrous most recently co-anchored "PIX Morning News," the morning newscast for KTLA's sister station WPIX in New York City. McDade has been a reporter at KTLA since 2009, preceded by stints at KCAL/KCBS and Fox 11 KTTV.

[Updated at 1:50 p.m.] An earlier version of this story said the newscasts would launch tomorrow.

— Greg Braxton

 

KTLA weatherman Mark Kriski to return Monday after long illness (Updated)

KTLA-TV Channel 5 weatherman Mark Kriski, who has been out since November after being stricken with pneumonia and a hospital-borne bacterial infection, is on the mend and is planning to return to the station on Monday.

"I'm doing great, but what a ride it's been," Kriski said Friday during a phone interview from his home. "I''m down a few pounds, and I will have to put on a little weight. But my energy is back and my color is back."

The 20-year veteran, who appears on the "KTLA Morning News," was hospitalized in early November with pneumonia. He later contracted vancomycin-resistant enterococcus (VRE), a "super bug" he caught at the hospital, which was resistent to medication and antibiotics. His lungs became so full of fluid they collapsed, and his heart was also in jeopardy.

"The fluid just exploded, and I  had to be placed in the intensive care unit," said Kriski. "I was on the operating table and had to drain all this fluid."

He said he also had to be intubated for almost two weeks and sedated when doctors feared he might get infected. He had to undergo a second operation to remove more fluid.

"It was like a domino effect," said Jennifer Gould, a reporter at KTLA who is Kriski's girlfriend. "His body was like a war zone."

Kriski called his illness "a life and death experience that has given me a new perspective: On one hand, this was the worst thing that has ever happened to me. On the other hand, it is the best thing that has ever happened. You really do start to appreciate the little things in life."

His return to the station will be gradual: Kriski said he will work on the 7 to 10 a.m. edition of the morning news for two or three days a week  while he gains strength.

Don Corsini, president and general manager of KTLA, said, "We are pleased that Mark's health and strength is improving daily, and we all look forward to his return."

[Corrected at 3:15 p.m.: A previous version of this post incorrectly stated that Kriski had been incubated for four days, rather than intubated.]

[Corrected at 3:34 p.m : A previous version of this post incorrected stated that Kriski was intubated for four days, instead of two weeks.}

--Greg Braxton

 

 

 

Lu Parker goes from reporter to special correspondent at KTLA

KTLA News reporter Lu Parker, who is best known for being the girlfriend of Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, announced on Monday that she is going from covering breaking news to working as a "special feature correspondent" at the Los Angeles station.

Parker, who has been at KTLA-TV Channel 5 for six years, said in a statement that the job change is by mutual agreement, and that she will focus on stories of interest to her while also getting "more freedom to pursue additional projects."

Said Parker: "I am excited at this juncture of my career and am grateful to KTLA for supporting my wishes to evolve in new areas."

Those areas include stories "that inspire and represent residents in Los Angeles" while pursuing several upcoming TV projects and continuing her animal advocacy work through her organization, the Lu Parker Project.

-- Greg Braxton

Photo: Lu Parker. Credit: Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times

 

Jerry Springer still has some fight in him after 20 years

There's something about talk show host Jerry Springer that brings out the worst in his guests. Fights are always breaking out around him. And he couldn't be more pleased.

Springer is celebrating a milestone Wednesday, marking the 20th anniversary of "The Jerry Springer Show," the syndicated talk fest featuring outrageous topics such as mistresses battle wives and threesomes with Grandma. Read the feature on Springer here.

Springer is also being recognized as one of the pioneers of reality television, the genre that has sparked the confrontational "Jersey Shore" and "The Real Housewives" franchises.

Here are some video highlights -- and lowlights -- from Springer's greatest hits:



-- Greg Braxton

 

CBS 2 News to catch the early bird at 4:30 a.m.

CBS 2 will join the early-morning news race Tuesday when it adds a newscast at 4:30, station officials announced Friday.

The newscast, which will be anchored by Kent Shocknek and Lisa Sigell, will replace the CBS Morning News.

With the addition of the news broadcast, the pre-dawn local news race will become even more competitive. KNBC, KTLA, KABC and Fox News 11 all have newscasts starting at at 4:30 a.m., hoping to attract early-morning commuters and students.

— Greg  Braxton

Jason Martinez leaves KTLA

KTLA Channel 5 weekend anchor Jason Martinez has resigned from the station, executives said Monday.

No official explanation was given for the departure of Martinez, who resigned "abruptly" last Tuesday, said News Director Jason Ball. Martinez was assigned to the weekend spot in August after anchoring the station's weekday 10 p.m. newscast. 

A replacement for Martinez has not been named.

— Greg Braxton