[Grippin]

Somebody was talking about Houston’s best TV reporters of the last 25 years or so and I started to think it over. IMHO the following staff would completely dominate. A few have been anchors too, but I mean serious J-people who made their mark in the field every day. Can ya top this.....





A+

Dan O’Rourke (KPRC) producer/director

Chris Bury ( KPRC) ABC Nightline

Nancy Holland (KHOU) On to better things

Charles Hadlock (KPRC/KHOU) NBC reporter

Dan Lauch (KHOU)



A

Don Kobos (KTRK) Channel 13 management

Art Rascon (KTRK)

Jim Moore (KPRC) Author

Janet Shamlian (KHOU) NBC News

Dan Molina (KPRC) Consultant

Dave Fehling (KHOU)





Also for best sports reporter I would pick Pam Oliver who was at KHOU early 90’s and deserved more attention while here and has done some real good journalism at ESPN, FOX etc.

[Vertigo58]

Two best weather guys we ever had.

Roland Galvan - ABC 13

Gared Silverman - Channel 39

Best Weather Ladies

Cecilia Cinclair - Fox 26

Toni Novarra - Channel 55?

[Pumapayam]

Who are the all time worst. . .

Where are teh D-'s and F's.

[TJones]

No mention of Jack Cato, are you kidding me. He had ALL the clout with HPD, so he could get the real story. He was A++ !

I am also partial to Alvin Van Black.

This post has been edited by TJones: Wednesday, May 16, 2007 at 3:30 PM

[sunburst]

TJones, on Wednesday, May 16th, 2007 @ 3:30pm, said:

No mention of Jack Cato, are you kidding me. He had ALL the clout with HPD, so he could get the real story. He was A++ !

I am also partial to Alvin Van Black.

A+

Dan O’Rourke (KPRC) producer/director

Chris Bury ( KPRC) ABC Nightline

Nancy Holland (KHOU) On to better things

Charles Hadlock (KPRC/KHOU) NBC reporter

Dan Lauch (KHOU)



A

Don Kobos (KTRK) Channel 13 management

Art Rascon (KTRK)

Jim Moore (KPRC) Author

Janet Shamlian (KHOU) NBC News

Dan Molina (KPRC) Consultant

Dave Fehling (KHOU)


Rock solid list, Gripper. I would add Ron Regan from Channel 2 in the 80's and 90's, dont know where he is now? Probably out of the local news business if he's as smart as the rest of these names.


Looking at your list it seems all the best reporters have had in common a kind of modesty about their own skills (pretty rare in TV) and a willingness to put "the story" in front of their own egos. Only a few active reporters get that. Art Rascon I think. And Nancy Holland, no big surprise she's leaving. Also at 11 Dan Lauch is terrific, a journalist who writes in a minimal way that supplies just enough words to empower the pictures. It will be a shame if poor health causes him to quit.

KPRC was loaded at one time with some really excellent people. Charles Hadlock in his quiet self-assured tone, with painstaking attention to detail. Ron Regan and Bebe Burns, very good and dedicated reporters. And of course Dan O'Rourke who won AP best reporter in Texas like 4 or 5 times then stopped entering. A tremendous writer versatile in everything from hard news to feature. People like O'Rourke, Hadlock, Holland, etc aren't attracted to local news anymore because standards have fallen off so much that Houston stations no longer value their skills or want to pay for them. Our loss.

[Heights2Bastrop]

Starting Lineup:
News - Ron Stone and Shara Fryer
Weather - Doug Johnson
Sports - Bill Ennis


Worst ever:
News – (I know his face, but can’t remember the name)
Weather - Sid Lasher (Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz)
Sports – (Tie) Anita Martini and Bob Allen

[Vertigo58]

TJones, on Wednesday, May 16th, 2007 @ 3:30pm, said:

No mention of Jack Cato, are you kidding me. He had ALL the clout with HPD, so he could get the real story. He was A++ !

Yes, Jack Cato!

I freaked out when I was in LA around 1988 he was doing news there! I felt like I was home again in Houston. I was like, what's Jack doing here of all people? He eventually came back like I did.

We can't leave out

Mr. Marvin Zindler

[ymh01]

Not too many anchors in Houston (or anywhere I guess) have been outstanding reporters. Ron Stone was very good at both and got out from behind the desk more than most main anchors male or female. Art Rascon should go out more, he's a good no-nonsense reporter, I never feel like he's forcing the story on me. Glad you mentioned Ron Regan from KPRC, it's funny how most good reporters dont have to hype everything they do. Same with Lauck, just tell me the story and shape it in a context, I'll watch you every night. I'm with you completely about Dan O'Rourke, he would nail the lead story one night and the feel-good closer the next, was a good anchor too. Now stations seem pretty careful who they send out on the important stuff. Ch 2 pretty much leans on Phil Archer as the go-to guy. 11 is still searching for somebody after Nancy Holland. 13 has Art, he really ought to report full time IMO. Wish they would ask more from Melanie Lawson, she's smart and could deliver some good stories. It pays to be around for a while, did you see 13 borrow Bob Allen to do news insetad of sports after hurricane Ike, it was like he does it all the time.

[Disastro]

With regard to the topic of this thread:

Without a doubt -- Mary K. Isaacs of the Channel 39 News On The Hour (1970's).

This post has been edited by Disastro: Monday, September 22, 2008 at 2:14 PM

[arisegundo]

I agree that Art Rascon should hit the road more. He's a really bad teleprompter-reader but shines when he's reporting. His Bolivar reporting last week has been fantastic. Alas, now he's back in the studio (and a lot tanner).

[Daniepwils]

Wayne Dolchifino (spelling) (and yes I am kidding)

[editor]

Daniepwils, on Monday, September 22nd, 2008 @ 4:02pm, said:

Wayne Dolchifino (spelling) (and yes I am kidding)

Just so you know -- Wayne is one of the many reporters who is also a HAIF member.

[Reefmonkey]

I had kinda a crush on Jan Carson as a little kid.


I always really liked Steve Smith from Channel 11.

And of course, Ron Stone.

Of the big three local anchors from the 70s through my childhood, it's funny that the one I liked the least, Dave Ward, is reporting still. Although, some of my reasons for disliking him are off-camera, as, without revealing the relationship, I will say my family is acquainted with him.

Sam Saucedo from Channel 11 was good.

Does anyone remember a reporter with Channel 11 during the early 80s, I can't remember his name, but he had dark hair, eventually ended up being their designated reporter for all things NASA. During Alicia, he reported from the Flagship Hotel, and while he was giving a report a piece of stucco came off the balcony above him and nearly hit him?

This post has been edited by Reefmonkey: Monday, September 22, 2008 at 5:20 PM

[editor]

Reefmonkey, on Monday, September 22nd, 2008 @ 5:12pm, said:

I always really liked Steve Smith from Channel 11.

Sam Saucedo from Channel 11 was good.

There was an 11 reporter who was the Austin bureau chief who got a lot of talk. I forget his name, but it was one of those odd names that you're not supposed to forget. I never met him because he left 11 just before I joined, but for YEARS his name would be occasionally mentioned in the newsroom with reverence and fondness. That kind of respect is usually reserved for long-time anchors, and rarely for reporters so he must have been good.

Can anyone remember the name?

[sifuwong]

Reefmonkey, on Monday, September 22nd, 2008 @ 5:12pm, said:

I had kinda a crush on Jan Carson as a little kid.


I always really liked Steve Smith from Channel 11.

And of course, Ron Stone.

Of the big three local anchors from the 70s through my childhood, it's funny that the one I liked the least, Dave Ward, is reporting still. Although, some of my reasons for disliking him are off-camera, as, without revealing the relationship, I will say my family is acquainted with him.

Sam Saucedo from Channel 11 was good.

Does anyone remember a reporter with Channel 11 during the early 80s, I can't remember his name, but he had dark hair, eventually ended up being their designated reporter for all things NASA. During Alicia, he reported from the Flagship Hotel, and while he was giving a report a piece of stucco came off the balcony above him and nearly hit him?

John Gettor i think.

[sifuwong]

editor, on Monday, September 22nd, 2008 @ 5:18pm, said:

There was an 11 reporter who was the Austin bureau chief who got a lot of talk. I forget his name, but it was one of those odd names that you're not supposed to forget. I never met him because he left 11 just before I joined, but for YEARS his name would be occasionally mentioned in the newsroom with reverence and fondness. That kind of respect is usually reserved for long-time anchors, and rarely for reporters so he must have been good.

Can anyone remember the name?

i think he had a long moustache and quite a bit of grey hair right?

arisegundo, on Monday, September 22nd, 2008 @ 3:58pm, said:

I agree that Art Rascon should hit the road more. He's a really bad teleprompter-reader but shines when he's reporting. His Bolivar reporting last week has been fantastic. Alas, now he's back in the studio (and a lot tanner).

Yeah, the dude is a bore in the studio. He is great when out and about.

[RedScare]

editor, on Monday, September 22nd, 2008 @ 4:16pm, said:

Just so you know -- Wayne is one of the many reporters who is also a HAIF member.

Since we love to jump on Wayne when he is bad, let me compliment him when he is good. He's done some good reporting on the devestation on the coast after the hurricane.

[e streeter]

a couple of sports anchors that i missed when they left were dan lovett (ktrk) and craig roberts. glad that craig is back on the air.

anyone remember dan connor who reported on the dean corryl murders? i was around 12 when that happened and remember that event as the first investigative reporting that covered days, maybe weeks.

[editor]

sifuwong, on Monday, September 22nd, 2008 @ 10:55pm, said:

John Gettor i think.

It was closer to something like "Charles Ogg" or something.

[FilioScotia]

editor, on Tuesday, September 23rd, 2008 @ 7:39am, said:

It was closer to something like "Charles Ogg" or something.

It was John Getter, and he was one of the best TV reporters this town has ever had. Very intelligent and able to get in to very complicated stories and make sense to viewers without talking down or up to them. He had KHOU's NASA beat for a long time.

He was terminated in 1998, and joined fellow former reporter Norm Uhl in filing an age discrimination lawsuit against KHOU. I don't know how that came out. He left town and went to work for Space Hab, a private company working toward commercial development in space. I don't think he's still with them though.

Norm Uhl is now head of Public Information at HISD.

This post has been edited by FilioScotia: Tuesday, September 23, 2008 at 8:41 AM

[sifuwong]

editor, on Monday, September 22nd, 2008 @ 5:18pm, said:

There was an 11 reporter who was the Austin bureau chief who got a lot of talk. I forget his name, but it was one of those odd names that you're not supposed to forget. I never met him because he left 11 just before I joined, but for YEARS his name would be occasionally mentioned in the newsroom with reverence and fondness. That kind of respect is usually reserved for long-time anchors, and rarely for reporters so he must have been good.

Can anyone remember the name?

Maybe Jim Marsh?

[editor]

sifuwong, on Tuesday, September 23rd, 2008 @ 11:21am, said:

Maybe Jim Marsh?

Nope, it was Norm Uhl, mentioned in the message above. Thanks to FilioScotia for jogging my memory. I never heard the name John Getter when I was at 11.

Norm Uhl, Steve Smith, and Sylvan Rodriguez were the three biggies. Even Dan Rather was only very rarely mentioned and it wasn't until my last year there that I heard someone mention that he was a KHOU alum. Naturally it was in connection with storm coverage.

I saw I worked for a short time with Steve and Sylvan, but never got to know either.

[banking214]

Ron Stone and Steve Smith will always remind my of being a kid growing up in Houston. I remember when Channel 2 was actually a good station with good reporters. I am sorry, but they are such a sad channel today.

[jm1fd]

arisegundo, on Monday, September 22nd, 2008 @ 3:58pm, said:

I agree that Art Rascon should hit the road more. He's a really bad teleprompter-reader but shines when he's reporting. His Bolivar reporting last week has been fantastic. Alas, now he's back in the studio (and a lot tanner).

I don't get it with Art Rascon. I thought his reports from Bolivar were goofy and akward.

[DrFood]

Let's split this historically.

1960's to 1990's
Best News Anchors--Larry Rasco & Ron Stone (Channel 2), Steve Smith & Marlene McClintoch (Channel 11), Dave Ward (Channel 13)
Worst Anchors--Jan Carson, Linda Lorrell, Melanie Lawson, Elma Barrera (better as a reporter than anchor)
Best Weather--Doug Johnson PERIOD
Worst Weather--Gene Norman (too bad Ch 11 took a risk with him now, and the Norman Number for today is ZERO)
Best Sports--Bill Ennis, no one else can touch him.
Worst Sports--Bob whats his name w/Ch 13
Best Reporter--Dan O-Rourke hands down
Worst Report--TOo many to name

Present
Best News Anchors--Bill Balleza and Dominique Sachsa hands down. They are not talking heads like the 2 airheads on Ch 11. And poor Dave Ward needs to retire. Half of the time I can't understand a word he says
Worst Anchors--Greg and whatever the latest bimbo anchors name is on Ch 11. Dave and whoever is stuck with him on Ch 13. And Ch 26, fire your anchors and run more King of the Hill reruns or something. It is overly painful to watch you folks.
Best Weather--Frank Billingsley
Worst Weather--2 time looser Gene Norman. Shoulda stayed in Hotlanta.
Best Sports--Randy McAvoy and Gif Nielsen tie. Too bad Gif has to put up with the BS at Ch 11.
Worst SPorts--Whoever is doing Ch. 13 sports on whatever night.
Best Reporter--Frank Billingsley. If you've seen his reports related to Ike, he deserves an Emmy.
Worst Reporter--Wayno Dolcho.....if I see one more posed storm shot in 25 mph wind with him acting like the umbrella is gonna blow away I will throw something at my tv.

Channel 2 got a lot of guff since the Washington Post folks bought it. But as a native Houstonian of 52+ years I have to say that for the present time Channel 2 seems to have gotten its act together moreso than the rest of the players. The Hurricane Ike coverage by 2 has been outstanding....no fear mongering, no sensationalism, they have been very educational and (I hate to say it this way) but neighborly. I grew up in a house where you were not allowed to watch anything except Channel 2 news and NBC nightly news. In the early 1990's I started watching Ch 11 because of Steve Smith and the departure of Ron Stone and Doug Johnson. When they hired the 2 talking heads on Ch 11 and ran Dr Neil off (course he also sunk his own ship when he refused to change the forecast for Rita even though it did change course) I gave up and went to Ch 2. Honestly I think they have the best local news in town (except for the wheel for fortune criminal thing that I still don't understand).

Agree or disagree with me....for now I am a Ch 2 fan. Oh yeah, and Eric Berger with the Chronicle. The guy is an amazing science guy and reporter.

[totheskies]

I'm a relatively new Houstonian (since 2005) but here's my impressions...

For morning program overall, I really enjoy Channel 13, although Tom Koch is kinda weird. Casey Curry's weather is outstanding... always very informative and welcoming. She also did a phenomenal job covering Hurricane Ike.

For evening news, I have to go with local 2--- very well-produced program. Dominique Sachse is a great anchor. I'm still a little partial to channel 13 in some respects though. Wayne Dolcefino's voice annoys me, but I really enjoyed his 13 Undercover series on North Forest ISD. He obviously pales in comparison to Marvin Zindler. I think Erik Barajas and Gina Gaston will make the ultimate evening news team once Dave Ward retires.

[toadfroggy]

I had said something about Ray Miller, then I saw the other thread, so nevermind.

This post has been edited by toadfroggy: Monday, September 29, 2008 at 3:17 PM

[Retama]

Glad to see Larry Rasco's name mentioned. I agree that he and Ron Stone were the best achors Houston ever had with Dave Ward pretty claose at #2.

I was friends with Amanda Arnold at KHOU and really liked her. I also liked Jan Carson, particularly when she was at KTRK in the 1970s. Anyone remember Ginger Casey at 26? I also miss Fran Fawcett over there. Mike Barajas has done a good job.

As for sports, Bill Worrell and Ron Franklin were excellent as is Mark Berman.

Worst? Tom Siler on the weather at KHOU and Jose Grinan at KRIV.

[Reefmonkey]

sifuwong, on Monday, September 22nd, 2008 @ 10:55pm, said:

John Gettor i think.

YES! As soon as I read it, the name rang true. Thank you!


I'm really not a fan of KPRC's morning team. Lauren Freeman is a dingbat - obviously chosen for her looks and nothing else. The traffic girl reminds me of Jackie from "That 70's Show". Owen Conflentes is okay, I guess.

I found an interesting article on Getter being laid off from KHOU due to age discrimination

http://www.houstonpr...pirit-of-texas/

[Reefmonkey]

DrFood, on Thursday, September 25th, 2008 @ 4:23pm, said:

Present
Best News Anchors--Bill Balleza and Dominique Sachsa hands down. They are not talking heads like the 2 airheads on Ch 11. And poor Dave Ward needs to retire. Half of the time I can't understand a word he says
Best Weather--Frank Billingsley
Channel 2 got a lot of guff since the Washington Post folks bought it. But as a native Houstonian of 52+ years I have to say that for the present time Channel 2 seems to have gotten its act together moreso than the rest of the players. The Hurricane Ike coverage by 2 has been outstanding....no fear mongering, no sensationalism, they have been very educational and (I hate to say it this way) but neighborly. I grew up in a house where you were not allowed to watch anything except Channel 2 news and NBC nightly news. In the early 1990's I started watching Ch 11 because of Steve Smith and the departure of Ron Stone and Doug Johnson. When they hired the 2 talking heads on Ch 11 and ran Dr Neil off (course he also sunk his own ship when he refused to change the forecast for Rita even though it did change course) I gave up and went to Ch 2. Honestly I think they have the best local news in town (except for the wheel for fortune criminal thing that I still don't understand).

Agree or disagree with me....for now I am a Ch 2 fan. Oh yeah, and Eric Berger with the Chronicle. The guy is an amazing science guy and reporter.

I agree with you on Dave Ward needing to go, and Bill Balleza and Frank Billingsley being good. I do see what you mean that Channel 2 is starting to get it's act together, but I think it sank so low that it still has distance to cover before it will have improved enough to be what it once was. This was once the station of Ray Miller and Ron Stone, and now it has gone so commercial, so young-demographic at the expense of solid reporting, it sucks. As I said before, the morning news has chosen pretty people over ones with experience and gravitas, or even intelligence. I don't think much of Dominique Sachsa as a reporter or anchor, and I thought her "I have a secret" several weeks of teaser promos before she revealed she was pregnant (gasp!) was shameless and solipsistic. The whole "Radar the Weather Dog" gimmick was cringe-inducing. Are they a news program or a children's program?