I don’t always watch TV. But when I do, I prefer local weather news.
Today, television executives in Los Angeles have figured out how to grab the public’s attention and eyes for the five- to 10-minute weather segments broadcast daily. And our local stations are fighting for ratings and market share, and it’s centered on our area’s weather. Yes, Angelenos, it’s the stations’ ratings war.
Growing up in Cleveland in the ’60s and ’70s, I’d turn on the 6 o’clock news after school and see the likes of gray-haired Dick Goddard or oversized Al Roker pointing out the freezing rain or arctic air headed our way. L.A.’s weather is much more boring then Cleveland’s. But the weather reporters in Los Angeles in 2010 are much more “interesting” and enticing. And, it’s in large measure why the male population sits down, turns on and tunes in.
Local station KCAL-TV (Channel 9) comes out swinging nightly with Jackie Johnson. Many of my buddies have mentioned it’s very hard to follow the weather map she’s pointing toward. “What weather map?” they ask. Jackie’s articulate, very pretty and endowed. She comes into our L.A. living rooms by way of Miami and Tallahassee, Fla.
Then there’s the right hook delivered by KTLA-TV (Channel 5), slugging for ratings points with Markina Brown as its primary meteorologist. The buxom beauty migrated to Southern California by way of Chicago and Cleveland.
KTTV-TV (Channel 11) news counterpunches soundly with Maria Quiban and Jillian Reynolds in the mornings, and Amy Murphy showcased on weekends. I could watch them report on L.A.’s monotonous weather every day. All three are talented and lovely, and they’ve just got to expand the channel’s local viewing audience.
Local icons
Weathermen Johnny Mountain and Dallas Raines are local icons while Fritz Coleman, at KNBC-TV (Channel 4) is a SoCal reporting legend. Fritz is witty and entertaining, and has been on the local news reporting weather since 1982 – but he’s no Elita Loresca, my friends. L.A.’s men are missing out if they haven’t tuned in to KNBC and watched Elita report on the latest storm system approaching the L.A. basin. The station has delivered a knock-out blow to the audience with her polished wit and fine physical conditioning. Of course, other competing channels have their own all-star beauties, too.
Today, Angelenos, it’s all about captivating the viewing audience to increase ratings and land big ad dollars. Local stations have taken the fight right to the public with some of the most beautiful female meteorologists in the land – sporting fashionable woven wear as they discuss the latest low- or high-pressure system headed our way. Many guys around town in gyms, sports bars, restaurants and in their own dens are wondering just when the swimsuit editions will appear. Ratings would undoubtedly skyrocket for those channels smart enough to catch on and showcase it as millions of men flick on.
During the week, ladies, when you’re relaxing at home and you see your husband or boyfriend glued with a grin to the 6:15 p.m. weather report, with a bowl of popcorn and a Dos Equis beer in hand, and he’s not watching Kobe and the Lakers – you now know why.
Today, L.A.’s men are certainly some of the luckiest in the world. Let’s stay lucky my friends.
Ted Lux, originally from Cleveland, has been involved in real estate lending in the Los Angeles area for more than 20 years.
