Then There Were Three Hosts for Daybreak
Well it took just over 5 months for KATV execs to wise up that the all female format of Daybreak wasn't cutting it. Effective today Shareese Kondo and Nicole Capri are gone from the once top morning program in Arkansas. Left are Melinda Mayo, Beth Hunt and Jason Harper. And another sign the great experiment is over, the Daybreak intro has been changed.The new version of Daybreak originally debuted as gma Daybreak on April 18,2005. Steve Powell and Julia Grayson were booted from the program at that time. Powell still hosts Good Morning Arkansas at 9am weekdays while Grayson is no longer at the station.
A look back:
April 8, 2005: KATV ND: New AM Program Won't be Local "The View"
May 16, 2005: Koon: gma/Daybreak "Tends to Grow on You"
June 21, 2005 Ratings Not Good for New Daybreak
Additional: The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette picked up on the change as well and has this little tid-bit in its Paper Trails column:
"Looks like KATV-Channel 7’s morning show, Daybreak, may be getting revamped yet again.
The last makeover was in April, when current KATV employees Beth Hunt and Melinda Mayo were joined by TV newbies Nicole Capri and Shareese Kondo to create a chick clique similar to ABC’s national show, The View.
Then-current Daybreak hosts Julia Grayson, Steve Powell and Jason Harper were bumped to make way for the new quartet.
But last Friday was Kondo’s last day on the air. She was told "it wasn’t working out."
No word yet on the fate of Capri or KATV vets Mayo and Hunt; news director Randy Dixon hadn’t returned calls from Paper Trails by press time."
posted by ATN @ 6:04 AM
127 comments
127 Comments:
Why keep Mayo. Her bad hair just makes me want to tchange the channel. Bring back Steve Powell and you might get me to watch again.
they shouldn't be too upset. They got to go drinking in NY on the KATV dime.
Steve Powell has no personality at all. Definitely bring back Jason Harper. Too bad Julia is gone, because she was really good. KATV really screwed up on this one and took a long months to realize it.
Capri got fired, too.
Dixon won't admit it because they were high school pals.
"Things aren't working out" seems just about everybody on Daybreak has heard that since Matt and Julie got fired. How long before Cayou(sp) and Clifford the Big Red Dog on AETN start beating Daybreak in the ratings.
Today was much better.
The energy was good and the segments okay.
What took KATV so long to figure out that professionals should host a show? If you want to copy The View, you need Barbara Walters!
Where is Julia these days?
Heard she is in Little Rock, peddling drugs for a pharma co.
Hot chicks are good at being drug marketing reps.
Julia just got canned... without notice, right? Why does KATV management work like that?
So Capri and Dixon were highschool pals? That explains how she got the gig to begin with. How does Mayo continue to hang on? Makes one kind of wonder what kind of past they have together.
I heard Alice Stewart will be joining the morning show as a special news investigative person. Then they won't have to run all the old news from the night before.
What's happened to the Channel 7 dog? Did she get the axe too?
Dogs are smart... I'm sure it jumped the sinking ship week ago!
What's happened to the Channel 7 dog? Did she get the axe too?
I just heard that for the November ratings period, viewers will get to vote on which evacuated family will get to come live on the Daybreak set. Of course they'll be there just until the end of the book only to disappear and never be seen or heard from again.
Dogs are good to eat... donate it to a hungry evacuee !
"Steve Powell has no personality at all. Definitely bring back Jason Harper. Too bad Julia is gone, because she was really good."
Are you freakin' kidding? Talk about no personality, Julia had as much personality as a can of creamed corn.
That is not true about Julia. When did you meet her? You must have tried to date her and she was obviously not interested in you.
Julia's hair was the color of creamed corn... and her voice was so soft that it was barely perceptible.
Beth Hunt for General manager and michelle Rupp for Vise President for KATV and that can fix this mess down here at KATV!
she did have a great shade of blonde! If her voice was too soft, that'snot her fault, that's what microphones are for and it should have been turned up.
This is hysterical!
If KATV would do a daily blog update and read some of this stuff on the air, the ratings would go SKY HIGH.
Keep up the entertainment. It's much better here than any morning show--and sometimes we get news, too!
"Steve Powell has no personality at all. Definitely bring back Jason Harper. Too bad Julia is gone, because she was really good."
What Steve no personality??? Have you ever met the guy? He is as good as gold. I miss his pleasant personality and want to see him back.
What they might consider would be a Steve Powell/Dewayne Graham/Ron Sherman/Jason Harper team. That would really be interesting.
The above team would be homo-riffic!
I bet Julia is making twice as much $ selling drugs than she ever did at KATV. She was great. Surprised she didn’t go to a bigger market.
Working at a morning show sucks... up at 2 a.m. and back to bed at 8 p.m. What does one give up for that job? Their life.
Steve, Jason, Melinda, Beth, Julia, Nicole, Shareese are all nice folks (and the dog i'm sure is nice, too). Truth is, the mix wasn't working and it's not right, yet. I hope they all land on their feet and the station begins utilizing the right people at the right times.
julia's hair...has anyone seen beth burnetts corn colored style
why knock Beth Burnett?
Who's Beth Burnett?
Right mix at the right time? Perhaps it's the content and not the talent? Have you ever thought of that? Sheesh, you change talent at the drop of a hat but it reamins the same old crappy show.
It's kind of like the more things change the more they stay the same. Go figure.
It's the talent. That's what attracts viewers - likeable people who are real peole. The content comes second. Harper is the most talented one they have. However, after they jacked him around, I wouldn't blame him if he left. Melinda's OK. But Beth is no better than what they have had in the past - Julia, and Julie. Still no magic combination there - yet.
Format, talent, guests... none of that matters. It's all about the LOOKS! Come on people!
Format, talent, guests... none of that matters. It's all about the LOOKS! Come on people!
Then how do you explain Mayo's hair still being on the air?
Mayo has the guns to be on the show.
Please explain guns...
It took Julia some time to get it right, and Nicole Capri was getting in the groove. Kondo was never the right choice, and Beth is the one that throws the balance for me.
Put the Mayo, Powell, Grayson, and Harper team back on.
KATV their is only one man that can help you win big rating's and he is a powerful man and you passed him up for a job and he is willing to still join you!
Pardon my english i am from Europe visiting here in Arkansas!
I want a bunch of doves in the morning.
Anonymous said...
KATV their is only one man that can help you win big rating's and he is a powerful man and you passed him up for a job and he is willing to still join you!
Yes, but Matt Jones is busy playing wide receiver for the Jags...
I think David Bazzel and Beth Hunt would be a cute couple!
When is KATV going to change their website. Usually when a person gets the axe KATV promptly removes them from the website. But then again KATV has shown they really don't care about keeping their website current lately.
KATV has the worst website ever. Broken links and the MOST outdated video section ever. It's a joke... but I digress.
How much $$ do you think these Daybreakers make?
Don't know about Daybreak but I heard that Sportsweek folks make $500 a show.
Good question. Mayo has been there the longest and should make the most. Hunt was a reporter until just recently.. and Jason was a reporter as of last week. But of the three, Jason has the most talent, by far.
"Don't know about Daybreak but I heard that Sportsweek folks make $500 a show."
Ha, ha-- no they don't, but that's funny. Why do people think everyone else makes so much money? It's a very small fraction of that. They don't do it for the money.
Making $500 a show would be about $130,000 a year. I doubt if Mayo and Hunt make that, put together. Jason gets the least, I'm sure.
Some people are in TV because they want to "be" somebody. Others are in it because they think they'll go national. Some really do enjoy it. Others are in it, because, they've put aside their life for so long, that it's become their life.
"Some people are in TV because they want to "be" somebody. Others are in it because they think they'll go national. Some really do enjoy it. Others are in it, because, they've put aside their life for so long, that it's become their life."
And one in 10,000 of them make enough $$$money$$$ for it to be truly lucrative.
I agree... television is seductive, and destructive.. and often leaves the brighest, most intelligent people with no money and no family. That's a high price to pay, just to get your face on TV.
You are right, Jason has the most talent - by far. He was the obvious choice for co-host at the last change. He's not abrasive, he's not too silly, he's just right.
I wish they would dump that annoying daybreak set, too. They have had it for 100 years. A fresh coat of paint can only go so far. Right now I think its pastel or pink...please just move the show to the newsdesk set.
Jason Harper is one of the top talents in this market- he is truly a natural- looks, smarts, wit, etc. He can go really far if he wants to.
So you're thinking the Daybreakers make $25-30 K year?
Daybreak is now watchable. The only thing left to change is the music. Get rid of the feminine sounding bumper music.
Harper can't do it alone. He has the talent and is a really nice likeable guy. You have to do something about Beth. Melinda is ok but Beth just need time to get into the groove and develop chemistry. This is not the last lineup change at 7.
No.... basic reporters make in the mid-$20's. The Daybreak people must have in the $40s.
S
Who has the highest ad rates in town?
Wonder what would happen if all these bloggers put this energy into their OWN careers ?
Morning shows come on too early for me.
Maybe there's enough room for ME to join the morning show? I could use a gig like that !
DeeeeeeWayne Graham
When is Robyn coming back ?
Now KATV says they listened to their viewers. Shouldn't they say, we listened to the sound of our viewers changing the channel.
Can't wait until Christmas. That's about the time we'll see the November ratings and I bet there's plenty of coal to go around.
Note to anyone working at KATV:
Never trust Randy about anything, except, that he'll turn on you when he thinks it's best for him.
And 5 minutes on the couch only lasts about 1 and a half
Randy has made a career out of breaking his word.... wonder if it's worth it?
Jim Pitcock and Bob Steel got the boot from channel 7 because the stood up to Dale. They fought the knee jerk changes Dale wanted. Dixon fits in fine, because he does everything Dale asks.
The reason they keep changing is because they can't beat THV in the morning. There is no talent on KATV that even compares to BJ Sams, Robyn Richardson, and Tom Brannon. The proof is in the ratings. If KATV wants the number one spot again in the morning, I guess they will have to steal talent from KTHV.
Does KATV not realize that consistency matters? KTHV has stuck with the same crew for years and it has paid off.
I still laugh at B.J.'s first name... get it... B.J?
Tee hee hee
You think Robyn will ever lose that baby weight? Her weight has literally tripled since she started the show! I bet she's 250 if she's an ounce! That's like an eighth of a ton !
You think Robyn will ever lose that baby weight?
I keep thinking the same thing about KATV. Eventually Randy will have to go.
Robyn is beautiful. I heard she lost a ton of weight and is coming back next week. She looks awesome considering she has had 3 kids in 4 years!
Well I wasn't going to chime in for fear of someone saying that I work at 11. But, since someone else mentioned it, here goes: 11 is by far the best in the morning. They are likeable. Morning habits are hard to change. They have a good thing going for them at 11.
Pitcock was the best ND at 7 and got screwed over by Dale. Bob Steele wouldn't know talent if it slapped him, or how to run a newsroom if he had detailed instructions, look at his history and how 7 had dropped in ratings when he took over. The only good he did was raid KARK and bring in Brandt and Sullivan.
I hear THV has had the same exact crew for several years. True?
Morning habits ARE hard to change. I always have to pee right when I wake up!
KATV is not the # 1 news leader it is more like the news looser!
Come on Rusty Mizel you S.O.B. i know that you will respond to this!
Hi every one this is Beth Hunt of KATV i would like to thank everyone for rooting for me and i will try to do my best!
I can't believe the above poster is Beth Hunt... grammar is too simplistic.
Yes to the poster above it is me.
Hi Beth i herd that you were on A.TV.N. and i think you are doing a great job and keep up the good work.
No... Beth Hunt doesn't look at blogs at 1:24 in the afternoon. It's not her.
If it's really Beth, where did you attend graduate school?
Beth knows better than to say: "It is me."
The proper phrase: "It is I."
Beth here, I attended grad school at ASU-Bebee
Now I think it might really be Beth... interesting and surprising.
Still not convinced... what's your full name?
Beth Hunt is really writing to this blog? We have a legitimate star in here? I don't want to get my hopes up, but, I also want to believe it's true!
Here's a softball for Beth:
Why do you like Daybreak? And, what would you say to encourage viewers to watch?
People should watch Daybreak to see the chemistry Jason Harper and I have.
Beth wouldn't say that.... too self-serving. Sorry, this isn't Beth. Notice that a full name wasn't given?
Beth and Jason do have great chemistry... that is true. Lots of people have noticed that.
I would call it more sexual tension than chemistry
On whose part? Or mutual?
In Wednesday Paper Trail it stated that Nicole was fired!
I didn't see that... the paper said it, or, did they quote someone? It's usually just semantics. No real way to know what happened. And if KATV said that, it was a classless thing to do.
Okay... here's the BIG news and you all know it!
Robyn is coming back to KTHV next week... does that spell doom for the other two shows?
Robyn has a huge following and everyone will want to know about the baby... no reason for 4 or 7 to even do shows next week.
Who cares about a baby? People want weather, traffic, news, etc. Get a clue !
You must admit, KTHV is easily the #1 rated morning show when Robyn is around. And it will remain that way as she comes back.
Randy Dixon stated in the paper trail in the Wednesday Arkansas Democrat Gazette that" Nicole was no longer at KATV "and "It all comes down to ratings" "Our viewers spoke and we listened"
KTHV had #1 ratings in the morning when Robyn was on maternity leave. I have surfed all stations, and nobody holds a candle to KTHV in the morning. If THV were smart, they would put the morning crew on at night. The only reason I watch 11 is because of BJ, Robyn and Tom.
Is it true KATV had engineers snooping around on computers yesterday checking to see if people were posting on this site from company computers.
Correct me if I’m wrong. But, when Daybreak consisted of Steve, Melinda, Julia, and Jason, weren’t they #1 in during ratings periods? If they weren’t #1, they were a close second. When they started the train wreck morning show, KATV advertised it heavily. If KATV would have spent half the $ in promos toward the old show, they might be #1 consistently.
The THV morning show isn't on in the evenings because no one in the mornings want to move to the evenings. Who wants to go up against Oprah?
Check your Neilson history. KATV has NOT been #1 in the morning in a very long time. No, they were not #1 when Steve, Melinda, Julia, and Jason were on. Why do you think they made changes?
KTHV doesn't promote their morning show hardly at all. I suppose they think they don't have to.
THV has been #1 in the morning for at least 3 or 4 years. They have retained that position thru Robyn's materinity leaves, too. I agree with the blogger who said, I'd watch them at night, too...I would. Good folks they are.
Note to Channel 7 your morning crew recently have been filled with talent that is hard to get to know. They may be fine to hang out with at a River Market brewery, but not for breakfast. Remember Ron Sherman - he's a the kind of guy you wouldn't mind talking to over biscuits and gravy. If feels like I know the gang over at 11. 7's are the rich preppy kids that made fun of 'everyone else' at recess.
I would LOVE to have biscuits and gravy with Beth Hunt. Imagine her, um, well, I better stop!
Ron would eat all the biscuits and gravy, leaving none for us. I'd love to see him and Andy Pearson in an eating contest!
Diamonds are forever, and so is Beth Hunt (and her biscuits and gravy)
Yeah yeah... "Note to Channel 7... It doesn't matter WHAT you do or HOW you do it, we all on this blog are going to piss and moan and bitch about how you are doing things wrong!"
"Whoop, ohp, the ship's sinking now! Even the dog ran away because the end of KATV is near!"
I mean, god damn! Don't you jerks have ANYTHING else to do but sit on here and bitch all day! Why don't you put your efforts into something constructive?
To the last post. If you can't handle whats being said here on the BLOG why do you even visit the site. This is a BLOG so you are to post your comments. I for a fact that KATV,KARK, and KTHV all love this site if you walk by a computer in the newsroom there is a least 3 to 5 people on here or talking about what was said on here.
Did that person have to cuss?
Warnung nach Alabama
Die Schweine kommen und Hölle kommt mit ihnen.
"Breakfast with Beth," now there's a show title! All Beth all morning!
Larry the Garden Cat Beat up Katy the Dog. Larry is a true alley cat. A tough, no-non sense kinda kitty. He gets more pub than the anchors do at 11. Have you seen his bio??
Whatever happened to Katy? Finally have to put it down?
Katy was just a mutt from the pound... she was going to be killed anyway if nobody adopted her... so be glad she got some fame before she got a bullet.
Scuttlebutt in the precinct has that Katy will be the new offensive coordinator for the Hogs.
Melinda is a cutie and makes the morning news much easier to look at in the morming. Love Mel's Diner.
Pretty helpful piece of writing, thanks so much for your post.
Gosh, there's a lot of helpful information above!
Post a Comment
<< Home