While I do watch all the local news stations with some degree of regularity, I find WAPT to be the most appealing to me. They don't seem to be as sensationalistic as WLBT and especially WJTV. Instead of scaring people about the latest sex offender on the loose or street-justice thugs, WAPT does at least try to find solutions to problems like those and other things like the King Edward, south Jackson's economy and personal use of state-owned vehicles.

I also like meteorologist David Hartman, best in the city...ever!

WAPT, especially Andrea Molloy, has been doing a stellar job -- but there are some impressive signs of life coming from WLBT. Cheers to them as well. I do feel as if the bar for Jackson media is raising lately.

Now, WJTV, seems to be hiding in the shadows somewhere. Someone alert me if they do something impressive; I've never found a reason to watch them. But things can change, I realize. The Clarion-Ledger has even done a little journalism in recent weeks, and I never thought I'd see that.

And, again, cheers to WLBT for a great story on the Goliath scheme.

David Hartman, Mary's Brother? Bah. I prefer Barbie, miss Woodie (Fav Quote" The weatherman says it's gonna rain today, but I doubt that, so don't worry." Honest!) Otherwise, I like WJTV's weather.

I've always loved WLBT's on-air staff. WAPT has better reporting, but it's hard to beat Howard, Maggie, Walt, Barbie, etc.


Cheers,

TH

"WAPT, especially Andrea Molloy, has been doing a stellar job..."

Not according to Frank Melton. He said on WOAD a few weeks ago that he was in a grocery store and Andrea Molloy asked him if she could ask him some questions on a certain topic and then when the cameras came on, she asked him totally different questions and he refused to answer them. He called her a poor reporter and he also said he used to respect WAPT but no longer does. I think it Frank has sour grapes. Just because they refuse to rubber stamp the things he say and do doesn't make them a poor organization.

just because I grew up on it as a kid, I'll say WLBT. but eversince I got dirct TV I don't watch local news much anymore, I can see it happening...lol..I mostly watch local news for the weather.

WLBT has real, honest to goodness, people. Maggie Wade has to be one of the sweetest people I have ever met. She not only talked to us, but paid attention to our children as well. (We were visiting the Versailles exhibit when we met her.)

They were the first newscast I watched when I came down here. Woodie is missed greatly. It's also the only morning show that does the birthday announcements. The kids love that.

I watch WAPT since they were the first to really go after Melton while WLBT (who used to be my favorite since the Woody Assaf days) and WJTV were still trying not to get on his bad side. I really started watching them when Harvey Johnson started his "Ask the Mayor" segments, which were sometimes pretty informative about the City's latest goings on. Plus I don't mind admitting I think I've developed a bit of a crush on Joyce Brewer and Havonnah Johnson!

Sure, we all miss Woodie, but it was time for him to enjoy retirement. I have become alittle attached to Barbie Bassett. And I agree about Maggie Wade--class act! The WLBT people just seem like family.

Woodie and his wife haven't been in the best of health lately. In fact, last year, their two daughters sold their estate to help pay for their health care costs at an assisted-living community in Rankin County. This article tells more about it.

I saw Woodie and his wife I believe at the Melton inaugeration last year. He did not look well then and needed assistance to get around, but there was much love and admiration shown to him from the crowd. But he was such a TV icon for so many viewers in Central MS that I know WLBT was sorry to have to see him retire.

It would have been nicer if WLBT had asked Woodie before retiring him. Like Farmer Jim before him, both got sick and their bosses decided to retire them. Barbie's nice, but I miss Walt Grayson doing weather over there. But then he got the boot because, well, they wanted Barbie in there.

Walt got the boot??? If that is true, I'm boycotting WLBT- I like the rest of 'em (including Barbie), but there is no way they could have fired Walt Grayson- is there???

Maybe he means being booted from doing weather. I'm sure Walt's still doing his Look Around Mississippi shows.

Walt got the boot from weather (i should have been clearer) in favor of Barbie. No offense to Barbie, but I never knew she was a meteorolgist at all. She was a newscaster at 16 before Dave Hartman started harassing her.

I have a friend who works at WLBT. Here is the scoop on all of the above: Woodie was not forced out and made to retire. His daughters asked that he retire because he has Alzheimers (and so does Mrs Woodie). It was showing on tv and it was best for all involved. Walt wanted to do Look Around MS full-time and thats when they moved Barbie to nights. Before coming to WLBT, Barbie was the morning meteorologist for 16. According to her bio page on the station website, she has her BS in news and her MS in broadcast meteorology. Lets not crucify her because someone else made the decision to move her up. According to my friend, she wanted to stay on 3's morning show anyway.

Barbie is still fine (meaning good meterorologist) after having 2 kids. I'll watch her any day over Walt. Have y'all ever gotten a good look at Rosalyn Anderson? She a good anchor and weather woman too. I saw her on the streets once walking with two male co-workers. I strongly considered hitting those guys in the head and taking thier places. Sitting behind that desk doesn't do her full justice. I mean on the anchoring tip.

As far as channel 16, Desaree has been in my office. I like Joyce Brewer too. They're nice looking women too, on the news front, I mean.

^^^lol^^^^

True story: About 8 years ago, I was stuck in the Dallas airport with a long layover (7 hours). I spent most of the time sitting in the bar drinking beer, and got to know the bartender pretty well. The bar was one of those that is wide open to the passenger traffic passing by in the terminal, and every single female that went by, the bartender rated on a 1-10 scale... He was a pretty harsh judge too- most were given ratings between 4 and 6, although I would have given 'em at least an 8- perhaps because of the "beer goggles" I had on at the time.

Anyway, after about 6 hours of this, he said "Oh my God, history is being made here today! For the first time in 4 years, I am finally seeing a *perfect* 10!"

I looked over to see who in the world he could be so awestruck over, and there was Jackson's own Stephanie Bell coming in for a beer! He could hardly wait on her because of his excitement, and I couldn't contain myself from falling on the floor laughing at him!

If anyone reading this knows Stephanie Bell, please pass this along- I'm sure that she noticed how odd we were acting!

Now I have to wonder where I got my story from. Clarion Ledger, probably. :D

Walt has done Look Around... and some special segments here and there. I liked him on weather, but I'm not sure that was the most efficient use of his talents. I think he would be better doing regional pieces, like he's doing now, plus special reports.


Cheers,

TH

I prefered him on weather, actually. His Look Around stuff is great, but I still feel like it's being demoted.

Love Look Around Mississippi. Not being from here, Walt can show me wondrous places to visit when we can travel again. He's the perfect person: wonderful voice to listen to, and he just seems so down to earth.

I thought it was fun seeing Barbie up in the Skycopter while she was pregnant this last time: plus, watching her ever-expanding midsection and her wardrobe choices. Most of those were nice, but I still remember being able to see part of the green screen in her blouse.

Hey, look! The baby's in Arkansas! :D

Before coming to WLBT, Barbie was the morning meteorologist for 16.

For whatever reason, I don't remember her being on 16.

Another great-looking woman on Jackson TV is Stephanie Doss on 16. I once saw her in person...wow! I also think morning meteorologist Meg Ryan and WLBT's weekend meteorologist Joanna Beaumont are nice-looking women too. Erin Pickens of WJTV is nice-looking, too, but she wears way too much makeup.

I usually watch WLBT's newscasts.