LR Weather Guesser Gets Panties in a Wad Over ABC's Severe Weather Story
A report on World News with Diane Sawyer last week apparently chapped KATV weather guesser Todd Yakoubian's hide. According to an article on AB.com, Yakoubian called out ABC News on the statements, “Something terrifying took the South by surprise last night,” Sawyer said on air. “No warning. Twenty-five tornadoes striking in less than 24 hours, roaring through four states in the darkness. … And we know that tornadoes peak in May or June, so no one could believe this is happening now in winter.” The article says Yakoubian sent an email to ABC News but got no response.
posted by ATN @ 12:57 PM
138 comments
138 Comments:
That comment was totally incorrect. There were in fact warnings so if they do not want this story to blow up they better make an on air correction ASAP.
But you know if they were asleep..and didn't get the warning then the statement would be correct.
Todd is a clown!
He's a Ned want to be.
It's crap like this that makes me NOT watch Diane Sawyer. Whether or not someone had ample warning is on a person-by-person basis, and cannot be presumed by some blanket statement.
Good job, Todd. Don't take that NYC crap.
Yes, Todd is a little on the goofy side but it's kind of cool that he understands the weather instead of just reading what the weather service spits out.
That being said, he still reminds me of Jim Breuer's character Brian from the movie "Half Baked"....
At least KATV is watchable during wall-to-wall severe storm coverage.
Fox16 is good, too. I liked their balance during the NFL playoffs.
When Ed takes over and won't let anyone else talk, I refuse to watch.
KARK has a new team so I give them a pass. March is coming up, so they better get ready.
From the title of this section, I thought this was a story about one of the MM's getting ticked off at their male co-workers.
Give it up TODD! You laid down and let storms just blow in all night without telling a single person.
I think the national news just busted that ass, MR. Hardtopronounceyourlastname
Diane 1
Todd Yukibouhnington 0
9:11 PM, You must have been watching the wrong channel, but Todd and Berry were on non stop while the storms were going.
FOX as on and off but had to balance with the "big game".
KTHV my former favorite started out more confused at first.
and Todd is not a "Ned want to be".
Todd is one of the few weather people in the area that truly follows the weather all the time.
He is a self proclaimed "weather geek". Check out his Weather Blog if you don't believe me.
....and no I am not Todd and I don't know him, nor do i work for any of the stations.
Anybody is better than Ed Buckner. His severe weather coverage is unwatchable. Never lets anyone else talk so you then have long periods where nothing is being said, just a mouse moving over the screen changing maps. He's a joke just like his main anchors.
Hey I like Todd, fella. I believe he's responsible for more people taking interest in the "science" of weather than anyone that's ever been in this market. Keep up the good work, "geek"! (it ain't just you-I'm one too!)
Todd is one of my favorite weather people. So, I can't let you diss him. He really loves it and likes educating the masses. I can see why what was reported on a national level was upsetting. It makes AR look bad. He, and the other stations as well, work hard to protect us all. Whoever wrote that for Diane that night was a little over dramatic and he called them on it. That's all. Nothing more, nothing less. He wasn't alone. Another "weather guesser" in another state commented on Diane's report as well. His name escapes me. Google it.
I'd rather have a weather person, who actually is passionate about his craft, than one who is passionate for drugs and kinky homo sex, ala Brett Cummins.
Todd is a drama queen, and attention whore. He works himself into a lather whenever a weather event is about to happen, and becomes completely overbearing, rather than remaining calm and giving people the pertinent information.
Why KATV allows him to dominate their coverage rather than letting their top 2 guy talk I will never understand. It's like the Patriots playing Ryan Mallett, while Tom Brady sits on the sidelines and watches.
He jsut did this after he saw his hero James Spann in Alabama did the same thing. http://www.mediabistro.com/tvspy/wbma-meteorologist-james-spann-to-diane-sawyer-get-a-clue-on-tornado-reporting_b36902
Seriously Todd, the self promotion is getting old.
Y A W N..
You people act like a binch of 6 year olds in the playground calling each other names.
Face it, Little Rock has THE WORST broadcast TV "personalities" in the South.
Frankly, I don't understand what people see in the old, burned out team of washed up people on 7.
It would be nice to see someone do a real newscast and stop talking about stuff that is completely insipid. If I see one more "Breakfast with Tom" or one more "cereal drive" I'm gonna throw up. I want NEWS... and not just the same 3 stories left over from last night.
I hate TV & Radio here. They all suck.
Then why do you come over to this site? Loser.
"Frankly, I don't understand what people see in the old, burned out team of washed up people on 7."
Really? I wouldn't call them old, burned out or washed up. Christina is around 30 and Scott is around 40 I think. Hardly old especially when you compare them with the other anchors in the market. I would think they would all average out about the same. Ned and Steve are older but I would never call it an "old" desk.
Whatever happened to experience being a good thing. That team has more time together than any other in the market. If KATV was turning over anchors every couple of years you'd bitch abou that too.
When I saw this headline I assumed it was about a KARK met!
The news quality has decreased over the past few years. Most of which I blame on all stations and networks trying to incorporate social media into their newscasts and having the newscasts be a 30 minute promo for the station website.
The HD radar is great for saving lives, but when Crazy Ed takes over it is unbearable to watch.
Where a high school senior decides to play college football is not a major news story. Stop pandering to the idiots and losers who are obsessed with college recruiting and get back to real news.
When you have 1,500 viewers watching the stream on line, I think there is enough interest to be a news story.
@7:21 Christina WISHES she was 30.
Todd Yokabochiton (to hard to say) will NEVER be Ed Buckner. Takes more than a couple of years of knowing a science that isn't advancing to be compared to an Arkansas icon.
Move to another market and be the chief and stop talking yourself up on these blogs nerd.
There is a potential for severe weather today.
Will Crazy Ed make an appearance today?
Is Ned cancelling his tanning appointment?
Is Darby watching the skies for us?
I like Keith Monahan (sp?) at KARK. He was a good hire. He does a good job - especially in light what happened before him. Darby is still a little green. Greg Dee does a good job. KARK seems to be getting their act together.
@7:21 Christina WISHES she was 30.
What do you mean by that? I'm pretty sure she's either 30 or a year on either side.
@ 9:08 This is Arkansas, when the top recruit in the country has the UofA on his short list it is most definitely a news story. If you work in the business you need to get out, you obviously don't know your market. If you're a viewer, deal with it. It's a news story, plain and simple.
I deal with it by turning off the TV.
U so smart.
Perfect! Problem solved.
Christina looks about 10 years older than she really is. That is not an insult, that is the truth. Some people look younger for their age and some look older.
Keri O'Hara looks spectacular.
I hoped the headline was announcing the return of Tracy Douglas or Laura Huckabee. Forget about the overhyped recruiting.
It was good to see that KARK showed many of the kids signing letters of intent for schools other than UAF.
Meredith Mitchell turns into Ed's secretary during severe weather, just cant handle it. it shows how bad and uncomfortable she is. I'd think after all these years she'd get it.
Can Craig not coach Meredith on her ad libbing skills?
Is she intimidated by Ed coming in and taking over?
They are by far the worst severe weather team in the market.
Team? Really?
Beth Hunt looked great tonight. Nothing tired and old about her.
Todd does weather as good as anyone in the market, better than the main anchor on another local station. I have always trusted him to keep us informed.
Sawyer always looks like she is about to cry any second.
Can't stand to watch her do anything.
The weather guessers on TV would not know a tornado echo on their radar unless the NWS told them about where to look. The NWS gets most of their info from storm spotters around the state. The weather guesser just make a dramatic presentation, that's all. Wish all stations had a ***.2 to broadcast regular programming on via over-the-air transmission so they could do their weather watches and bulletins in the areas where the storm is worst and let the rest of us that are unaffected see our shows.
Here are my recent notes re KATV:
1. Why hasn't someone told Melinda the new hairdo is not working?
2. Ned & Barry,not being true weather geeks appearing too giddy over spring temps in winter in a manner of almost disregarding potential for severe weather.
3.Why does it look like Christina is wearing a trenchoat of some sort on air sometimes.
4. The new sports guy is lousy.
5. More Beth Hunt.
The new promo of Sawyer walking down the street with the wind blowing through her hair is disturbing,
SHE IS OLD! ABC needs to quit trying to sugar coat it.
Hey KATV the 70's called they want their circle 7 pins back
@11:14 That's so funny! My kids actually asked why the Channel 7 anchors wear those "silly pins".
I guess people will make fun anything they can when they are getting dominated in the ratings.
What's the deal over at THV? I heard a producer just bailed on them. Anyone?
I don't think any of the KATV people look washed up or old. I think they look pretty distinguished. And happy.
KARK and KLRT people look pretty happy too.
I, on the other hand, think Dawn Scott looks miserable. She doesn't look like she's enjoying her THV gig at all. If you watch her on THV2, she's never smiling or anything, usually just complaining about something.
The KATV building is an embarassment to downtown Little Rock.
I question the accuracy of the ratings and I'm just a viewer.
I do watch 7, unless Munoz is on or two dudes are hosting Daybreak.
OMG! Seriously, now you're going after the building? What won't you guys complain about at KATV? It doesn't matter anyway, they'll have a new location in a year or two.
The ratings are right btw. If your station swept everything I bet you wouldn't question them.
And what is your problem with Munoz? One of the best anchors in the market, more experience than most of the other anchors and pretty easy to look at too.
I swear, the pettiness and jealousy that you guys bring to this blog is amazing. Bottom line is this, KATV has been the dominant station for a while and looks like it will continue to be for at least the foreseeable future. Just because you can't work there or figure out what to do to beat them you have to resort to pathetic, adolescent whining and name calling. It really is a reflection on you and your general attitudes. It's no wonder why you are where you are and they are where they are.
Seriously, grow up.
@4:21 That producer was FIRED
Do tell.
Probably because her shows got horrible ratings. Like most THV newscasts.
Who was fired?
I don't think it was a woman, according to stuff on Twitter.
"Can Craig not coach Meredith on her ad libbing skills?
Don't know about that but I bet he could coach her on talking loud. I wonder if the new FCC law on turning down the sound on commercials covers on-air people.
Tracy Beene should be the #2 at KTHV!!!!! She is great.....
I heard he crossed the Queen. That's a no-no at THV.
Totally off topic (not that it really matters) but is Melissa Dunbar-Gates pregnant again? I happened to catch a short bit of THV this morning and noticed that she looked a little full in the belly area. Maybe it was the shirt?? Just curious.......
Maybe it's the big hair!!!!
They buy it.
They buy it.
That, too
Yeah, baby
They love broken gold.
They buy it all.
Bock bock BOCK!
And that my friends pretty much sums up the Little Rock TV market.
@7:23pm He wasn't fired.
He WAS fired. He'd gone down hill anyway though.
He wasn't fired. He quit and walked out. Ge did THV mgmt a favor so me they don't have to pay unemployment.
It was either he quit or they were going to fire him.
Sad all the way around for his family. Jobs are hard to come by right now.
As Sissy said, "Life's too short for a cute little ring." Great spot during the Super Bowl.
Super Bowl commercials sucked again this year. Game was a yawner too.
So, watched a movie on Movie Channel and caught some Ax Men and Pisswillie. Lot better than any sitcoms on tv today.
How do you know the commmericals and game sucked if you were watching The Movie Channel? Commercials were good and the game was great.
@6:09pm Let's not let the facts get in the way of a good story. "They were going to fire him" is not the same as "They fired him."
They Buy It, They Buy It, That too... Yeah Baby.. Bock Bock Bacoooock!
"How do you know the commmericals and game sucked if you were watching The Movie Channel? Commercials were good and the game was great."
Okay, 9:10, I will explain it to you. I am typing real slow so, hopefully, you can get the idea on your first read.
It's called a DVR. Stands for digital video recorder. After a few minutes of watching the game and a couple of commls, I switched channels and watched Ax Men. Then, before posting I watched the game and yes, I saw the black singer give everyone the finger. They just have to resort to juvenile behavior to get their message across these days. Now, do you understand, if not, read again.
"They" a little racist? No wonder you are watching Ax men.
A racist smartass. They are the worst.
I wish the mod would delete every posting here which does not directly deal with the topic at hand, or at least in some way relate to broadcasting, the local markets, personalities, etc. The person(s) who posted all the buying gold gibberish, the person who explained his DVR habits and procedures, and all the boring little asides relating to these postings...it gets old.
They buy it.
They buy it.
That too.
Yeah baby.
They love broken gold.
They buy it all.
Bock! Bock! Ba-bock!
Life's too short for ordinary jewelry.
THIS IS LITTLE ROCK TELEVISION.
I'm the only certified meterologist!
Don't forget about Mr. Teeter and the Landers Boys.
Hey darlin' get dressed. Were a goin' to Sissy's Log Cabin and pick out you a diamond rang.
And as the penguin says, we aim to please.
Downtown Jacksonville - cool!
What's going on at Channel 7's Master Control. I've heard that 3 people have quit in the last month.
So what, who cares?
Do you know what relly matters?
Beth Hunt's Decade of Hotness.
That's what.
And it also matters that I misspelled "really" in my previous post.
there is something wrong that all some of you can do is comment about hot or "not" a news anchor is....
That's what it is all about.
10:08 2 people left. one guy retired after 40+ years. 7 knew that was coming. A second person left after getting a job offer from the lottery.
Whoever wrote this really needs get head out there butt. That title is uncalled for. Todd is a meteorologist with a Certified Broadcast Meteorology License which is a prestigious award. I am also a meteorologist and if you could have heard that from our point of view, you could completely understand why we acted out the way we did. So before you post things like this be a little more careful about what you say. For the rest of you on here that made an rude and hateful comment about Todd. I bet you wouldn't dare say the same thing you posted on here in person to him. That's why you posted anonymously.
Easy Perme, let Todd defend himself on this blog, and you just stay in your tanning bed!!!!
At least Todd predicted Monday's forecast correctly...the Nexstar station in town butchered it...they should get Brett back.
Not many places on this site anymore to vent... can't we have a continuous post where we can review newscasts?
For instance, last night's Fox 16 newscast with the lead story from that reporter that makes Edward R. Murrow turn in his grave; Hubert Tate.
What polaroids does this guy have. I'm sure he's a nice guy, but he couldn't ask a coherent, grammatically correct sentence in asking teh assistant police chief in Pine Bluff a question--and then he make SURE to use it on the air.
Whew... Little Rock is fast becoming Yazoo City, Mississippi TV.
im just curious, but how did the nexstar station butcher the forecast? seems to me some of the other stations were saying this was going to be a major snow event, however it didnt really amount to much. now i cant speak for 11 or 16, but i know 4 never said that this was going to be a huge snow event. i had someone from out of state ask me if we were having a major event just because of the stuff that todd was posting on his blog and on twitter.
All, and I mean all, of the stations forecasts missed the mark. I went with the NWS and they were closer than any of the weather guessers. See what happens when you change the official forecast just a little to make the people think you are going to get it right. Only thing they accomplished, as usual, was emptying the shelves of milk and bread at the local stores.
What ever happened to KARK's "Four Degree Guarantee"? Actually it was Eight but . . .
lol i forgot about the 4 degree guarantee. man that was WAY back in the day
Actually 7 and 11 had more accurate forecasts than the NWS. Fox and 4 were farther off the mark. I was a huge Mike Francis fan but if you look at Keith Monahan's predictions you will see he is pretty spotty. Maybe he is just getting used to Arkansas Wx. BTW I read all of Todd's blogs about Monday's snow and he stressed from the jump that it would be pretty minor...although sometimes his enthusiasm can be a little alarming imo.
Hey @10:08 Feb. 11
3 in master control quit at 7... did you research how long they worked there? 20-30+years, they retired!
Todd's enthusiasm for winter weather actually occuring in winter is refreshing. Seems like a nuisance for Ned & Barry to either mention the possibility of or to discuss; Melinda just likes to look at the camera & smile & be a show host with a met title.
It's all a show, folks. Pure show.
no one comments anymore?
He's (Todd) still complaining on twitter about it. He just posted another deal this am to Dianne (like she actually reads it). Let it go man!
Todd is not this important
I think Todd is great, love to watch him on Sat. mornings and anytime he does weather.
The word around 11 is we are considering some major and exciting changes if this book isn't strong. Get ready to be shocked!
Are you going to get a real anchor?
Someone will be leaving the AM show. Guesses?
I sure hope it isn't Ashley. She worked her way up the ladder for that position, unlike Alyse.
Why would anyone be leaving the AM show? Hopefully Joey the Cat.
The a.m. show is the best thing they have going for them. I bet they'll cut some of the dead weight in the evenings.
Changing staff after a dismal ratings book. What is so shocking about that?
No one is going anywhere at THV. It's obvious that whoever posts this crap has no clue what thy are talking about. Things are finally stable and consistent with the on-air talent. Look to see these folks around for a long while.
Ashley Blackstone got that job the old fashioned American way-hard work! She's dependable to a fault and she is great at what she does.
What's more bothersome is it has to be a member of management that is posting the crap and stirring stuff up!
Why is there a whole post about Todd Yukobian? He comes across as one weird dude.
"The word around 11 is we are considering some major and exciting changes if this book isn't strong. Get ready to be shocked!"
You don't mean to tell us that the Weather Garden Shack is going into the dumpster. Even Joey is tickled.
Managaement? Why would management post about about changes on at THV 11. You think they want to cause internal problems?
I doubt management posted that but anything is possible I guess. I can tell you that rumors are definitely swirling at 11 but little paens like me won't know anything until and unless it actually happens.
So what's the rumor?
Will someone please tell me the purpose that Stephanie Bryan serves at KTHV?
Changes at KTHV!!!! Here's my votes : Ashley for Liz; Tracy Beene for Meredith, firmer KATVer Chris May as the main male in the newsroom replacing the clown Craig. Maybe Karen Fuller would come home again for the right job!!! You guys have more ideas?
I second the motion for Ashley in for Liz. I do really like in the mornings though. The night crew needs an overhaul.
As someone who watches THV in the mornings, I adore Ashley. When I see her in the community, she is just a real person. She seems like a positive role model and she certainly has breathed life into the morning show. I like Tracy Beane too!
Nothing is changing at THV. Big salaries will continue in the mornings and at night and the mmj's will continue to be overworked and underpaid.
Not everybody makes big salaries.
Producers and MMJ's don't make much at any of the stations. Which pays the best?
Are there really for sure changes coming to THV,or is somebody just trying to start some junk as again?
The morning staff is getting better although Alyse still needs some work. But what do you expect with no experience. She's getting better though. Ashley is fairly solid but Tom just seems like a bitter old man who hates being stuck between two young women. The night crew is far from good. I don't know what they were thinking putting Liz and CraIg on the desk. They are completely unwatchable. Craig is almost a parody of hImself at this point and Liz just isn't good or pleasant to see or hear. And don't even get me started on the weather team. Horrible!
Rumor around here is that Craig will anchor early newscasts only and a new male anchor will be used at 10. Also, I'm hearing Chuck is on thin ice with the new GM and that a former news director may be on his way back -- may be Lane?
Arkansas Business reporting that Rob Heverling has been let go by KARK. New news director already hired. What's the scoop? Anyone know?
what's up with liz and dawn talking during the THV2 breaks? you can almost tell what they are gossiping about.
The NWS advised me KARK 4 gets the same info on watches and warnings that other stations do (they took about 2 1/2 hours to advise.the ENTIRE NW corner of AR was under a Tornado Watch)
Post a Comment
<< Home