TV News anchor gets fired for using bad words.
By burrito88
@burrito88 (2774)
United States
April 26, 2013 12:47am CST
In the past week there was a news anchor in North Dakota who was fired for uttering two of the 7 words (according to George Carlin) you can't say on television (or on MyLot). What the guy did seems rather stupid. He was going through his notes before what was going to be his first broadcast as a news anchor on the weekend news. He didn't realize his microphone was on as the news show started and his co-anchor, a woman, immediately went into the news. After a few days, the station fired him. What a career start.
This sort of reminds me of an case on TV before the days of cable. There was a somewhat famous local weatherman in New York who at the time was the highest paid weatherman in US TV. He did the weather for a network station after being hired away from a rival station where he had also done weather on a morning network show. One night on the 6 o'clock news there was a news story about rape that the weatherman only half heard. He came on the air and quoted Confucius If rape is inevitable, you should lie back and enjoy it." Saying that would be bad enough except the story was about the rape of an 8 year old girl. When the 11 o'clock news came on, he was no longer there. While he did a short bit on another New York TV station, that one comment was then end of a 30 year career.
2 people like this
7 responses
@lelin1123 (15595)
• Puerto Rico
27 Apr 13
I remember that quote of his about the rape and couldn't believe he was stupid enough to say something like that live on TV. That was the famous weatherman Tex Antoine. As for AJ Clemente I saw the clip too and thought he is definitely not ready for TV. In fact Live with Kelly and Michael brought him on the show last week to give him a second chance. So they had him to to a preview of a movie which Pierce Bronson is starring in. He had to interview some of the stars. I personally didn't think he did a good job at all. Even though everyone seeing the clip was clapping and said he did good.
@Fishmomma (11377)
• United States
28 Apr 13
I remember the Soupy Sales green paper and he deserved being out of work for a week. In fact, I think he should have lost his job for a longer period of time, but it did send a message that there are things you can't do on television.
1 person likes this
@stealthy (8181)
• United States
27 Apr 13
Sounds like he got what he deserved. People who do the news and the weather, etc. should always be aware that they are in the public eye. They all take on the mantel of a responsible reporter and either must live up to that or seek some other profession. Unfortunately, many celebrities of other types such as movie, TV and sports stars do not feel or realize that they too have a similar responsibility.
@stealthy (8181)
• United States
28 Apr 13
Yes, he should have gone over his notes. However, he still wouldn't have had a problem if he would have avoided such language in the work place whether he was on air or accidentally near an open mike or whatever. I know I never used bad language at work or heard anyone else use it. I consider it to be common courtesy to your fellow workers to avoid bad language at work.
@burrito88 (2774)
• United States
27 Apr 13
Actually, watching him on Letterman explains things a bit more. He did not have an earpiece and no one told him he was on the air. There also seemed to be some bad planning. He was looking through his notes before going on the air and realized he couldn't pronounce the name of the winner of the London marathon which is what caused the oops. He really should have gone over his news items BEFORE going into the studio.
@Fishmomma (11377)
• United States
26 Apr 13
I felt he should have been fired for using poor judgement. People across the country need to trust the local news anchor and I certainly don't respect people that use 2 of the 7 George Carlin words. There is no reason to be unprofessional and talk like some of the cable shows. He certainly will have trouble getting another job and today there are a lack of great jobs.
We have certainly seen several big stars make such a huge mistake that nobody wants to work with them. Many years ago we saw some very big names get no work for many years. I'm sure you remember the years where certain names just weren't uttered by another because actors were afraid they would be next. Famous movie on the subject not long ago.
@Fishmomma (11377)
• United States
28 Apr 13
I am shocked that the ABC Network is considering a spin off of Once Upon A Time with Paul Ruebens as the star. ABC is owned by Disney in case people reading this don't understand why I was so surprised. I understand people change, but I'm still shaking my head wondering how many people will watch should the show be picked up by the network next season.
@sarahruthbeth22 (43143)
• United States
28 Apr 13
" lie back and enjoy it" Well I hope he enjoys retirement. What an idiot! This reminds me of all those Republicans that lost their seats by saying that rape isn't rape.Will they ever learn? I guess not! as for the anchor, the story he told was they came back on the air 30 seconds early. He was reviewing his notes and he kept making mistakes and that is why he said what he said. The ironic thing? now we know him and he has been on national t.v. more than he would have been if he didn't swear! I hope he gets a second chance at a bigger station.
@jenny1015 (13366)
• Philippines
26 Apr 13
If there is one thing that an anchor should avoid, it is speaking a foul language. He must learn to zip his lips everytime he is in the studio coz you never know that sometimes the microphones are left on.
@burrito88 (2774)
• United States
27 Apr 13
Well actually, I just saw the Youtube video and the co-anchor wasn't all that smooth after the oops.
@Zer0Stats (1147)
• India
26 Apr 13
I did just watch that video on youtube.I think that was actually kind of funny! I hope he gets another shot at it.
@burrito88 (2774)
• United States
27 Apr 13
Getting another job will be tough. It was a weekend job in Bismarck, North Dakota. It's not like getting fired in New York and having to move to Cleveland. Or Scranton. Especially rough is the youtube video spreads it worldwide and the guy has also been on shows like Letterman. If he did get hired somewhere, his first newscast would be guaranteed to be highly watched.
@fatimaobien (156)
• Philippines
26 Apr 13
Public people really has a responsibility to the public in terms of manner and us eof words. They have to be extra sensitive because millions of viewers could be offended with a simple word or gesture thta have uttered. Unfair? Well, to be a public person is a choice theybhave chosen and therefore, they have to embrace the responsibility.
@burrito88 (2774)
• United States
27 Apr 13
Public people do need to protect their image, however, with real famous people their are too many people digging into their background or you have paparazzi chasing them down for photos so they have no privacy. Years ago, I remember Dan Blocker, a famous TV star from the TV classic show Bonanza, tried to take his son to a baseball game. Because of his large size, 6 foot 3 inches tall and weight 300 pounds, he was easily recognizable. After a few innings of the game, a long line formed with people seeking his autograph so he couldn't even take his so to a sporting event.
