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Bridget Blythe is out at Channel 7, which is revising its low-rated morning program lineup once again.
Starting next Monday, the new “Good Morning Western New York” team will consist of co-anchors Ginger Geoffery and Patrick Taney with Mike Randall on weather.
Blythe and Randall had been doing the mornings with little ratings success opposite Channel 2’s “Daybreak” and Channel 4’s “Wake Up.”
From Sept. 20 when the new season began through Monday, “GMWNY” has averaged a 2.1 rating from 5 a.m. to 7 a.m., which is about half of what its competitors have averaged.
From 5 a.m. to 6 a.m., Channel 4′s “Wake Up” averages a 3.2 to a 2.3 average rating for Channel 2′s “Daybreak” and a 1.4 for “GMWNY.”
From 6 a.m. to 7 a.m., ”Daybreak” averaged a 6.1, ”Wake Up” a 5.5 and “GMWNY” a 2.7.
Blythe apparently has taken the fall, though the low ratings can hardly entirely be blamed on her. The Channel 7 program doesn’t have anywhere near the resources of its competitors.
Blythe’s biography has been removed from the station’s website. Her last day was Friday. Staffers have only been told that Blythe is no longer with the company.
It isn’t clear if Blythe had a contract but that doesn’t really matter much because they usually only guarantee eight or 13 weeks of pay these days.
The moves of Geoffery and Taney will mean other changes are on the way. Taney has been the 5:30 p.m. weekday anchor. Keith Radford, who anchors at 5 p.m., 6 p.m. and 11 p.m., is expected to add the 5:30 p.m. duties for now.
Geoffery had been anchoring on weekends, with Kendra Eaglin the most likely replacement, according to sources.
* The local news treatment of the less-than-great gubernatorial debate Monday night made it clear that the format worked to the advantage of Democrat Andrew Cuomo, who has a big lead in the polls.
Channel 4 and Channel 2 both couldn’t resist emphasizing the funny prepared sound bites from minor candidates Kristin Davis, Charles Barron and Jimmy (“The Rent Is Too Damn High) McMillan that may wind up on “The Daily Show” or “The Colbert Report” tonight.
It is never good for a trailing candidate when humor wins out over substance in the coverage of a debate.
“Business will leave the state quicker than Carl Paladino at a gay bar,” cracked Davis.
And just think the pre-debate thinking was that Paladino was the one going to play the comedian.
Paladino also lost some style points. He was slumped so deeply in his chair that he appeared to be one of the old Muppet characters, Statler or Waldorf, in the balcony. Local TV reporters also noted how often he stumbled early in the debate. At one point, he confused Medicaid with Medicare.
Paladino’s supporters tried to sell the idea that his lack of polish just illustrated that he wasn’t a career politician, which is an asset these days. But that’s a tough sell.
Perhaps the expectations that he would throw as many bombs Monday as he has done during the campaign were just too damn high.
Acting as an analyst on Channel 2, Republican Carl Calabrese told anchor Scott Levin that he was impressed by Paladino’s final statement. Of course, that was the one time that the seven people on the ballot could script so they better look good then.
On my scorecard, Paladino was near the back of the pack in performance and effectiveness. Cuomo was the most polished but Libertarian candidate Warren Redlich gained the most by being knowledgeable, reasonable and dryly funny at times.
As all local TV analysts noted Monday, the losers were the voters who might have been hoping for a real debate.
And the winners? The comedy writers for “Saturday Night Live,” David Letterman, Jon Stewart (see above) and Stephen Colbert. Can’t wait to see their “damn” takes.
* Channel 2 General Manager Jim Toellner wished his station would have been allowed to carry Monday’s debate and would have made room for it even though there were no commercial breaks.
“We were not able to run it,” said Toellner. “We weren’t allowed to stream it. It is too bad only half the people in Western New York (those with TWC’s YNN, C-Span 2 or who paid to see it on the internet) were able to see it. I think it was greatly in the public interest and we definitely would have run it (if allowed).”
Toellner added that the 7 p.m. start time would have made it easy for the NBC affiliate to drop two syndicated entertainment magazines programs in the first hour. He added that he also would have preempted the first half hour of NBC’s “Chuck” to carry the debate.
“We are the political station,” said Toellner. “We wanted to run it.”
Alan Pergament was the television critic for The Buffalo News for 28 years. He currently is an adjunct professor at Buffalo State College and Medaille College, teaching courses in communications. He also writes a monthly column on the media for Buffalo Spree magazine.
Well, best of luck to Bridget, but the only time she ever looked like she was comfortable at all was when Stanonis filled in on weather. Those two had chemistry that she didn’t have with either Mike or Aaron.
Hopefully Taney and Geoffrey can improve on that.
Bridget is good people. For the last few years she’s served as the emcee of our breast cancer walk in downtown Buffalo. Always did a great job and our volunteers really appreciated how personally she took the fight against cancer. Best of luck to a really good person.
Bridget’s look the past couple of months left a lot to be desired.
She appeared disinterested in doing the noon newscasts.
I’m sure the technical glitches were maddening, but you need to overcome that.
Is she local? Any chance she waits on the sidelines for a bit and then surfaces on Ch. 2 or Ch. 4?
I will definately miss Bridget! Thanks WKBW, now i have no reason to watch “GMWNY”
Best wishes Bridget! You deserve somethign better!
Agreed that she seemed disinterested. Things seemed to unravel after the News trashed her during what was written as a week-in-the-life of Buffalo morning show. Their comments were unkind.
As for beauty, she was stunning in person. Her cheekbones give her a look that truly takes your breath away, Once she opens her mouth however you realize that shes not all there.
Bridget Blythe was the only life they had on that morning show. God knows that the Elizabeth Carey, the Business First reporter has ABSOLUTELY NO PERSONALITY!! They would have done better to replace Mike Randall, who’s child-like sense of humor is nothing but annoying to watch in the morning. And as far as getting past technical difficulties, that’s pretty difficult when they happen all of the time! The new morning crew leaves ALOT to be desired!
Bridget needed to be more free. She looked so squeamish and so bored of the morning news. I think she left because maybe she thought nobody was actually watching her. Who knows? lol bridget blythe lol. i win.
It looks to me like she was the scape goat to channel 7 ratings. I thought she was a great news ancor woman and I thought her and Mike clicked great together. She was ussually bubbly and had a great sense of humor. I cant stand dry , no smile news people that makes the news boring and dull. Now that is just what it is.. I hope Bridget finds a new place that appreciates her and hangs on to her… Good luck Bridget..
I remember watching Bridget ad lib coverage after that plane crashed into a local neighborhood..she was fantastic. That’s when I became a fan…even when they changed the format of the morning news to a GMA “news light” I knew she was better than that. I hope she turns up on 2 or 4. She was always doing community events and I like on air people that are good people. Will miss the Bridget and Mike field trips.
I really like Bridget Blythe. I was really bummed when Aaron left the morning show reporting the weather, and co-anchoring along with Bridget , I thought they had very good chemistry. Eventually I did get used to Aaron being gone , and was glad to at least still have Bridget and She and Mike seemed to have nice chemistry as well. Now Bridget has been let go , and I have to say that the two they have replaced her with are TERRIBLE!!!! Therefore, I will not be watching Channel 7′s morning show any longer .
Further , I hope that Ms. Blythe prospers and finds that WKBW actually did her a favor letting her go, hopefully She will go far. Good Luck Bridget, you are all ready missed.
Not an expert or anything on tv news, but I always saw Bridget as comfortable in front of the camera, very natural. She and Mike made the mornings a little lighter mood wise, but the ads seemed excessive.
Good luck to Bridget.
I cannot Believe they let Bridget go.She was down to earth.that’s the only reason I got hooked on watching channel 7. which indeed I will not be watching anymore.she was into fundraisers. Marathons.volunteer work people like that have a heart./ & they just toss her away.you got rid of a terrific person she clicked with everyone she worked with. Shame on you channel 7!!!I sure hope she gets a job in the area.channel 2 or 4. Should snag her up.she is a great anchor woman & she will be missed.
COLLEEN
I am sorry for bridget, and wish her the best, but I did not think she looked professional, nor did she deliver the news well.
What the??? They get rid of Bridgette but keep the old man Mike Randall? You can’t get anymore dull than that guy!! They need a good weather person, guy or girl who can liven it up a bit. Why do we love Don Paul? Because he is a bit kooky and Autumn Lewandowski on channel 2 is as cute as a button!! If they want to get rid of anyone how about Joanna Pasceri who is another bore…it isn’t Bridgette’s fault Channel 7 has lost its personality and fun!!
You folks are funny! You didnt watch but you get upset when they fire her. I like WKBW for its legacy, but that morning programs was a joke and she was horrible! She was total me tv! She talked more about herself than the news. she had to go bottom line!
First Julie fine leaves, then Bridget Blythe… who’s nest? I guess the idea is to get rid of the people with talent.. oh well with the NYS ecomine the way it is I’ll look for them down south…..to bad for kb they realy know ho to screw things up…best to Bridget and Julie you two are great good luck. Until I leave, I’ll enjoy channel 4 and 2 news.