Twin Cities: KSTP or WCCO?

I don’t watch KARE-11 news (too skippy) or that other channel’s news…you know, the channel with Judge Judy…because it is too…I don’t know what…too forgettable?

So I tend to watch The evening news on either KSTP or WCCO, and in reality mostly WCCO.  I hate to say it, however, but I am beginning to sour on WCCO and find myself logging more time with the gang on Channel 5.

First of all, the evening news these days is more of a quick headline review with pictures and graphics so does it really matter?  If you’re generally tuned in and paying attention, you can get most of your news from all sorts of sources throughout the day.

If you’re tuned in and paying attention, that is.

A lot of people are not tuned in — at least not to the news of the day — nor do they seem to be paying attention.  For more and more people, it is a big deal if they get any news at all.  And for many it is television news at the end of the day.  So I like to see television news take itself seriously.

KSTP isn’t my ideal.  Far from it.  They are less objective about news and generally lean toward the conservative side of issues.   KSTP’s reporters also tend to be a bit more melodramatic than most television reporters, too (and that’s saying something).

The Golden Days

But KSTP gets the edge when it comes to news.  They simply cover more of it, especially local and state news.  They also have a better handle on my favorite subject:  The Weather.

(They do make stupid mistakes, too, and that can be fun.  Tonight I believe KSTP told us Kenya is 76,000 miles from Minneapolis.  They give Republicans too much credit, too.)

WCCO, on the other hand, increasingly resembles the crap the networks broadcast in the morning.  It’s too informal, too lifestyle-driven, too much human interest.

Where KSTP specializes in inexpensive young talent, WCCO specializes in stroking overpaid egos and inviting you in to feel like you are part of the gang.  Neato.  Unfortunately — for me, at least — I would rather see more in-depth coverage of local and state politics, business, and the like than someone  ice bowling with a frozen fish.

When I grow impatient with a WCCO skit posing as a news story (road trip, anyone?), I just switch over to KSTP and can count on seeing something of substance, even if it is biased and slanted.

Look, WCCO has polish and traditionally maintains a degree of sophistication that is rare today, but seem busy squandering it.  I fear they are slipping.  Too much gimmick, not as much substance.  With all their talent, they should be doing more.  (Where is that I-Team tradition?)

Go back to your roots, WCCO.  Pat Kessler and Esme Murphy are models to follow.  Jason DeRusha does a fantastic job crossing between news and human interest and is a key asset in this market.  Keep him and keep him front and center.

WCCO’s prime time anchors, on the other hand, feel stale.  You’d think they were married or something.  I don’t need that kind of chemistry.  I need a bit more substance, something like a mix of gravitas with panache.  Maybe I just miss Don Shelby‘s ego and intellect, but that’s what I miss.

What do you think, Twin Cities, am I right or am I wrong?  Or doesn’t it matter?  How much news is in the news?  I know…It is only 30 minutes, but it is thirty minutes that can matter.   Respect my time.

Letterman is on the air now.  Maybe he has something newsworthy to say.

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Giddy as a School Boy…Snow!

Snow, fabulous snow!  I love snow!  In fact of all the things I enjoy, I can say I don’t think I have ever experienced my limit of snow.  Not once from my lips have ever been uttered:  Enough.

So today is a great day for Mr. Me.  I am a little tired — I didn’t sleep much last night, too excited — but there will be plenty of time for naps.  (I just awoke from one minutes ago.)  At the moment, the focus is snow, not sleep, anyway.

Much to be done, such as decide which heavy socks and which boots to wear.  Then the pants.  Do I break out the snow pants or just layer up a pair of cords?  (Great fun!)  Then the shirt and sweater…layering offers a lot of possibilities.  And I might even wear my new car coat, even though it isn’t really “snow gear” per se, I want to see how it handles in the weather.

Seriously…I can’t think of anything to complain about…

Wait.  There is one thing.  One thing indeed.  TV and radio news people who complain about the weather.  Come on, really?  It must be a course in journalism school.  Two common — too common — tropes that news people lay on us that drive me nuts and both are weather related.  The “bad hair day” and the groan whenever the weather isn’t sunny and mild.

If you live in Minnesota, it is going to get cloudy, cold, and wet every once in a while, at least once upon a time this was true.  Now, well, we’ve ruined the planet so it’s hard to say what the normal is anymore.  Nevertheless, whatever happens, suck it up and enjoy it.  If there is anything that is going to annoy the pants off me, it is weather whining.

Oh, and Black Ice.  Black ice IS NOT any ice that happens to form on the street or sidewalk.  News people like to hype things and tend to get overly melodramatic (another J school course, for certain) and in Minnesota it is the dreaded evil element known as Black Ice that gets the hyped attention.

Black ice really is the thin sheet of ice that can form in extremely cold conditions.  In Minnesota the real culprit is ice that forms where car exhaust freezes, usually at intersections where cars idle.  It is black primarily because it is thin and dirty, like the women I love, and it is especially dangerous because it is hard to see and unexpected.  Black ice can form on otherwise dry winter roads.  Whenever I see a news yokel stare into the camera with his or her best gloomy doom face and emphatically warn of “black ice” I want to punch someone.  So don’t do it, unless, of course, there really is black ice out there.

Ok, now back to enjoying the day…the beautiful snowy day!  I’ll have to get out and take some pictures.  It was too dark earlier and my camera phone isn’t doing so well these days.  (I need a new camera.)   Until then…I am getting geared up with what I have and going out to have some fun pushing people out of ditches and walking old ladies across the street.  Don’t be surprised if you see me recapping it all in a pub or two along the way either.

It is snowing!

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Tell me I’m wrong on this one…

A short post before I take my late-afternoon (now early evening) nap.

It is windy as heck here in Minneapolis.  So what will be mentioned on every freaking damn local newscast tonight?  Hair!  I guarantee it.  Look…there isn’t a more insecure crowd out there than the local news stiffs trying to look pretty AND smart all at the same time.  And nothing…and I mean NOTHING…gets them more riled up than hair problems.  I won’t mention names, but…there’s a channel between 3 and 5 in our town that tops them all.  And that’s the best station in town!

I’m handsomely near-bald (shave a lot of it) so what do I care?  Pish posh.  My windows are wide open and I’ll let the wild winds — dust and all — blow through my hair as I dream of little lambs playing on grassy windswept knolls.

While I nap, you read.  Scroll down and read one of my better posts.  Tell your friends when you find one.  (Send a note to me, too.)  Righty now…Nap time.

(P.S.  If you’re a Republican, the channel between 3 and 5 is 4.  Don’t say I’m not out here trying to help.)