Which local TV anchors have been on air the longest?
Post-Gazette TV writer Rob Owen answers reader questions online every Friday in Tuned In Journal blog at post-gazette.com/tv. Here’s a selection of recent queries.
Q: Who is the longest tenured news/weather/ sports anchor on KDKA, WTAE or WPXI? — GEORGE, DELMONT Rob: Although I have covered the Pittsburgh market since 1998, plenty of on-air journalists at each station pre-date me.
At WTAE-TV, Michelle Wright, who arrived at Channel 4 in 1994, just beats out Mike Clark and Andrew Stockey, who both arrived in 1995. For sports, Guy Junker worked at the station 1984-90 and then returned in 2006. On the weather side, WTAE once had the longest-tenured meteorologist with Joe DeNardo and now has one of the shortest with its most veteran forecaster, Mike Harvey, who joined WTAE in 2010. Among reporters, Sheldon Ingram is the most veteran, having arrived in 1992.
At WPXI-TV, David Johnson wins the longevity award, joining Channel 11 in 1985. His long-time anchor desk partner, Peggy Finnegan, joined WPXI in 1990, and the pair are the longestrunning anchor team currently in Pittsburgh and possibly historically in the market. On the weather side, Stephen Cropper has a long history in the market from his years at WTAE (where he first appeared in 1995) prior to moving over to WPXI, but among Channel 11 forecasters Kevin Benson has the longest tenure, having arrived at the station in 1987. Sports anchor Alby Oxenreiter has worked in the market since 1988 including stints at WTAE (nine years) and WPGH (nine years) prior to starting at WPXI in 2006. Among reporters, Rick Earle, who started at the station in 1994, ekes out a longevity win over Amy Marcinkiewicz and Renee Wallace, who both began in 1995.
Of course, even with some recent retirements, KDKATV still has the most veteran roster of on-air talent. Anchor Stacy Smith has been with Channel 2 since 1983, and sports anchor Bob Pompeani since 1982 (not counting two years prior as a station intern). Among reporters, Lynne Hayes-Freeland, who has moved to radio, started at the TV station as a producer in 1977, moving to an on-air role later in her tenure.
Q: Is “The Kominsky Method” coming back to Netflix? — JUDI, MT.
LEBANON Rob: Yes, it will be back for its second season on Oct. 25.
Q: Can you tell me if “Carter” has been renewed, and if so, when the new season will begin? Thank you. — ROBIN, PITTSBURGH
Rob: WGN America renewed “Carter” starring Jerry O’Connell for a second season, but the cable outlet has not announced an air date for the new season.