It was only a matter of time but Mark Schumacher is leaving WPLG and the TV news biz for a job as director of the Chris Evert Children’s Hospital Foundation at Broward General Medical Center.
Schumacher was the anchor of the morning news on Channel 10 for 12 years and also part of the Problem Solvers team, but after WPLG hired a new guy Schumacher got moved to weekend mornings and part-time reporting during the week.
Miami Herald
Quitting The Biz
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85 Responses to Quitting The TV News Biz
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Definitely Channel 10′s loss. He was good. Who will fill his spot?
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That new dude Calvin whatever is the whitest black dude i have ever seen..
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WPLG made a big mistake by removing Mark from the weekly morning news and replace him with Calvin. I have not watched Local10 in the morning since the change took place.
On a side note…It has been great to see Joel Connable on NBC6′s Today in South Florida (and South Florida Today) this week. I wonder what his presence has done to the ratings.
…and in case Ralph Furley starts acting up on me mentioning Joel on this email…I DID IT BECAUSE I WANTED TO!!!
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Rob-G.
What do you mean the “whitest black dude you have ever seen?” That is a very racist comment. He is a well groomed, well spoken, attractive black man. How dare you call him white. If a black person speaks proper grammer he’s considered white? That is very insulting and racist.
Bigot.
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As far as rating at NBC6. When Joel filled in on the morning show, ratings stayed strong. I’m not sur eif they actually went up. They have actually fallen since Lonnie left. When Joel fille din on the 5pm with Jackie, we were number 1 several times. I’m not sure if anyone has the power to bring in tons of ratings, but he certainly kept people watching. Tey didn’t turn Channel 6 off like they do with all the other channels. Have you all noticed that. If you have seen the ratings, NBC spikes when the news starts, the other stations fall. Sometimes, ABC goes up a little but not as much as NBC. As for Mark, he is a good guy and he should have stayed where he was. That new guy is awful. I think the comments before were a little racist, but I see what you meant to say. He is very rigid and full of himself. He sound stoo much like a news anchor. He needs more personality. Have more fun Calvin! Don’t be so Ron Burgundy
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JCF—at least I have you well trained. WTVJ has soo many witty and quick on their people: Bob Mayer, Kelly Craig, Lonnie, Ari Odzer, and yes, even JC. The 10am show is perfect for them. The 11pm needs to be like this if they want “something different”. Let Jackie, Segreto and Joe Rose chat for 10mins about the day, let Deanno give the forecast and Joe can give a few scores.
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Marc Schumacher was the best anchor in the South Florida market — JUST ASK HIM!
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Yeah I’m not feeling that new morning guy at all. He comes off a bit high brow for mornings.
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Schumacher was a good anchor and I enjoyed watching him every morning. I too have not watched since they replaced him with Hughes who seems very robotic to me.
Schumacher will be missed on television – good luck Mark!
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Who keeps calling the RobG guy a racist? If he (RobG) is black and and made the comment face to face with you, you would not have thought anything of it. You might have laughed. And you don’t know if he is black or not.
Lighten up.
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Right now NBC6 is all about Jackie. They feel she will take the ratings higher in February. We’re all not so sure about that here. Mr Furhley, I’m not sure if you saw, but Lonnie is gone. One witty person has left the building.
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Get rid of Calvin. He should be in Indiana or something…boring and stiff. He has great hair though…so its not all bad.
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Racist?? The guy was taking a shot at white people, if anything. By saying he was the “whitest black guy,” it meant he was stiff and robotic…like a white person. I’ll admit that white people are stuffy and uptight sometimes. Have you ever seen Dave Chappelle’s impersonate a white guy? Hilarious. Does that make him a racist? Pleeeeez
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Unless its ratings time, there is always an NBC 6 anchor on vacation- is that just me or does anybody else notice that as well?
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Calvin is awful!!! Soooo uptight and stiff. Is that what someone wants to see in the morning of all things. I couldn’t take him in the evenings either. NBC Insider nailed it; don’t be so Ron Burgundy. This man white or black takes himself way to serious. And why I don’t know. Have stopped watching 10 in the morning now.
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A non-race specific observation about Cal–what about those eyebrows? Looks like two fake mustaches glued above his eyes. Please don’t let Jackie talk to anyone on 6. She has absolutely no ability for interplay and always comes off sounding like a dolt. The brass at NBC clearly think they can run those ads where she looks really hot, but then she opens her mouth and |DUH comes out. And isn’t it amazing that with all the sharp witty people at 6, they choose a female Ron Burgundy to front the flagship broadcast for the station? I just read about another market where the morning news went from third to first in 4 months and they owe it all to chemistry of the on-air folks. 6 clearly has more first-rate people who all seem to have that chemistry…don’t you think that’s how they got to first in the morning? Schumacher had that with Wendy Corona, and Jacquie Sosa and Glenna Milberg before that. I’ll miss Mark, but he is not the party at fault for those numbers. It’s the folks who kept trying to pair him with deadwood at the anchor desk.
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There are a number of factors that play into Ch.10′s *lack* of chemistry in the morning. Something just doesn’t gel. Maybe its not just about the two main anchors???
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At some event recently, Calvin Hughes told people he would take over for Dwight Lauderdale next year. By the way, has anyone ehard that Tony Segreto may retire in the Spring?
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If it is true that Tony may retire in the Spring, then NBC6 will be in big trouble. Hopefully they are smart enough not to make Jackie solo anchor the 6 pm show. And I cannot imagine them using Julia Yarborough with Jackie at 6 pm. I can only get so much of the two of them together.
Maybe this will be the chance for Joel to be promoted to Main Anchor???
We will miss Tony…however you know I would love to have Joel each and every night.
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I’m not sure what they will do. We all know here that the General Manager loves Joel. She has known him for years and tried to get him to leave Los Angeles several times and come to Miami. The news director likes him a lot too but she is very big on promoting African Americans to high positions. If you look at our management staff, they’re either black or gay. Very few other people get management positions. There are a few people here who absolutely love Joel. He is a very funny, nice and level headed person. But a few peopl ehere hate him becasue he speaks up a lot. He tries to make things better and they want the power. We have a managing editor here who is mean to everyone. She hates Joel and talks behind his back all the time. Joel would make a great anchor but I don’t think he wants to be the main guy here.
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I saw a story on 6 tonight which featured one of my pet peeves. A sotry on transfats used the word “dietician” in the onscreen graphics instead of the correct “dietitian.” Maybe if the managing editor sticks to proofreading they can stay out of everyone’s way. Also, Paul Deanno is filling in this weekend on “Today” up at the mother ship. He is smooth. I could deal with a 6/11 team at 6 featuring Joel, Julia, Paul Deanno and ANYONE but Joe Rose doing sports. Tony was always the best sports anchor in this town, and I don’t mean to rap him doing news, but I am so tired of dumb ex-jocks who bitch about the media while cashing their media paychecks. Tony was and is a good guy, and he should stay as long as he wants. He was great with Kelly Craig, but we can’t have Kelly on all the time, can we? BTW, has anyone caught Kelly and Trina together? One of them always says something beyond the pale when they work together. Trina commented on how many men were sorry that Lonnie got married. My point in this ramblefest is that 6 seems to have more watchable intelligent on-air talent than anyone else in this market, so if the ratings blow, it’s because of who is running the operation behind the scenes.
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is it true ratings have dropped at 6 since Lonnie left???
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Ok People. While I love the people at NBC 6. Here is the main reason, I think the morning show works and all their other shows sucks.
In the field they are know as the history channel, they have become very slow on breakingnews. That 10am show is too much talk and no substance. They should make it a today show style format with less of their “personalities” in the way. Pam in the morning is the eye candy and she is good. Kelly Trina, and the gang at 10am? Really I can stand 5 minutes. Shumacher is a big loss, he overstepped his boundaries behind the scenes and alienated everyone and that hurt him. He is a great talent, he will be missed and will do very well in his new job.
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Is this a post about NBC6 or about Mark Schumacher? To me, this post should be about Channel 10′s ridiculously horrendous choices in their News talent (sans the hire of Laurie Jennings who is the bomb). It’s a sad day when another good, smart, talented middle-age white male anchor gets pushed aside for a younger, minority anchor who has no ties to South Florida and who may – one day – be as good as Mark but clearly not right now. And he has absolutely no chemistry with Kristi Krueger if you haven’t noticed.
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I got word that Mark’s employment at WPLG put them over the zero quota goal for white, heterosexual males on the air. If they kept Mark I heard the FCC and the International Gay & Lesbian Human Rights Commission were going to have the station’s license pulled, so he was fired.
In fact the FCC is also petitioning to move all South Florida broadcaster’s headquarters to Wilton Manors.
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how clever of you
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Calvin is a well polished anchor. He does a good job.
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Guys, be careful of your racist comments. We all know ethnicity plays a part and it has since its all about connecting with you viewers. Just be careful
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I don’t watch 10 much… so I don’t have any comments about Schumacher, but since there is so much discussion about 6, I thought I’d join in. I’ve always agreed with whoever said NBC6 has a great morning show but some not-so-great other shows… but now with Lonnie gone… their morning show has died! Bob and Pam are great together but they need Lonnie to pull them all together… and I guess they didn’t look to hard for a replacement because.. well.. RYAN PHILLIPS!? It’d be nice if Joel Connable could do weather lol… to bad he’s a reporter/anchor.
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Hey, why is it whenever there is a criticism of a black anchor, it’s racism? Take a look at the facts in the case of Schumacher – he’s 48 and white. Did a good job in his role as AM anchor for Channel 10 – had great chemistry with his co-anchors. Apparently he didn’t kiss Bill Pohovey’s ass enough. Replaced by an unknown younger black anchor who has zero chemistry with his co-anchor.
It’s not being racist to criticize this move by Channel 10 and it’s not a personal attack on the color of Calvin Hughes skin.
Cmon people, look at the facts and don’t make it more than that.
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Hey Jamboi,
Reading thru this blog I see nothing racist here. Perhaps you don’t know or have be miseducated on what racism really is.
What you think is racism (mentioning, discussing and even poking fun at the how and why news talent is sometimes hired) is actually the most vile suppression of free speech there is. It’s called political correctness.
Your quote, “Guys, be careful of your racist comments. We all know ethnicity plays a part and it has since its all about connecting with you viewers. Just be careful”
Your PC double speak really means, “Come on guys we know some of these things are maybe true, but you aren’t allowed to say them publically. So, be quiet.”
Those that have worked in newsrooms know management hires people at times because of their skin color or because of their ethnicity. To say otherwise means you never worked in a news station or you are not an observant person. But somehow discussing that openly makes you a racist somehow in the eyes of the politically correct police. Certainly a news director would want to impose this sort of politcal correctness. They would never admit, nor want public the real reasons or motives for hiring certain people.
I would bet no one in this disscussion group is a racist. Perhaps they’re just tired of being told what they can say and think in public by people that write comments like yours and are simply taking advantage of this forum to exercise their freedom of speech.
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My initial beef is with the “That new dude Calvin whatever is the whitest black dude i have ever seen” comment.
Lets not beat around the bushes. The fact that Calvin is well spoked and polished means he is a white back dude.
Who or what determine how white and black people should act?
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Hes a god damn anchor, he should be well spoken – im sure thats not how he talks in social situations.
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Jamboi,
I was not “beating around the bushes”. I was very cleary whacking at them.
I am not sure what, “well spoked” means. Your post is not well written. Are you are an AP?
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Jamboi,
you just don’t get it. he’s basically making fun of white people because they sound stiff. before pulling the race card, educate yourself
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Gmiller,
You go by your interpretation and I will go by mine. Since it wanst you who made the post, I who are you to tell me what he meant. Were you in discussion with him.
So not only are we advocating racism, we’re also dealing with stereotpyes.
Educate yourself and try to get away from the rocl you’re living under.
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Give Calvin a chance.
Sure he’s no Schumacher, but neither are all the cronies in South Florida. I mean think about it:
When Ann Bishop, rest her soul, retired, they flipped to Diane Magnum, then Kristi Kruger, now Laurie J. Yet we still gave them a chance.
Khambrel Marshall and Anne Roberts left ‘FOR in ’99, So Fla gave Angela Rae and Steve Wolford a chance.
When Laurie J and Rick S left the “News” station, and Belkys and Craig Stevens took over, South Florida “belive it or not” gave them a chance.
Back to Calvin, he’s new to the city, but I’ve seen his creds in Atlanta and Philly.
It’ll take some time to get used to it, but I’m sure the heat from the sun will beg to differ.
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Jamboi,
Get a dictionary. It comes in handy in the real world.
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YM -
agree that Calvin should be given a chance – but really, it’s more about how the news dept. at Channel 10 just keeps kicking good, talented people to the curb (and no, I am not a disguntled former 10 news employee). Schumacher was a class act on the air and great in the community – just don’t understand how they could let him go to bring in an unknown who at least for now, appears very stiff and uncomfortable and has no chemistry with Kristi Krueger.
I’ve made the move to Ch 6, given that there is really no other real options. Ch 4 is horrendous in the AM and I won’t watch the silicone news on Ch 7 (Diana Diaz/Elita Loresca, not sure about Christine Cruz).
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plenty of silicone on wplg in the mornings too…several pairs there.
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I totally agree with you , Jen Herrera the traffic reporter has to have fake boobs. She looks like she is about to tip over while she is doing her useless reports on the air. What i want to know is why is Jen Herrera the only original member from the wplg newsteam? What are they keeping her around for? what does everyone else think about her staying there and what are they going to do with her.
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That’s channel 10 for you – drop a quality NEWS talent like Schumacher and keep the silicone sisters on the air – Jen Herrera and Megan Glaros. What a joke!
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Perhaps the point here is not so much the silicone, but the absence of any intellect to justify a career in journalism. I am tired of faces with no substance behind them. There have been some strikingly attractive people of both genders on local air here who also have the goods between the ears. For whatever reason, the news directors in this town don’t realize how sexy intelligence can be. I guess developing chemistry among on-air talent of substance is too much work.
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I stopped watching local 10 in the mornings because of the named “silicone sisters”. I could stomach Herrera at first and her act on air but along came Glaros. Wow. What a class-less act. If she would worry more about her so called forecast and less about how attractive she thinks she is – she may come across a little better. She talks like she is a 13 year old girl from the valley. I now have to turn off the 11pm news on local 10 because she appears in spots promoting the next days morning news and if you want a laugh stay up and watch for one. Compared to the intelligent bunch they have in the evenings, when it comes on it is painful to watch – I feel embarassed for her.
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At my place of employment my whole office now watches WPLG in the morning just to laugh at Megan and Jen. The running joke around here is if Megan says it is going to be a bright sunny day you might as well go ahead and start loading the ark. It has become amusing watercooler talk around here. At halloween we had 3 sets of women in the office dress up as Megan and Jen and of course they were half dressed in clothes way too tight and all complete with fake boobs just like the real thing! I have heard rumors that this halloween we will see a Calvin, you know someone dressed up like a corpse. Man I thought my boss was stiff. That guy – WOW!!! Someone deflate the ego PLEASE!
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Let’s not let Krueger off the hook. She’s a vacuous buffoon as much as the “Gold Dust Twins” are, just more “seasoned.” Looks like 6 puts their best assets on in the morning while 10 uses early AM as a ding-dong schoolhouse on-air. 7, well everyone knows where I stand on that, but I will say this…shouldn’t someone throw Christine Cruz a lifeline? She’s too good for 7, and she has improved over the years. Someone help a sister out, please?
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i would have gotten such a kick out of seeing those women dressed up as JH and MG, ha hilarious! Speaking of costumes, you should see the st. pauli girl and gypsy type costumes the real JH and MG wore for halloween. even more ridiculous!
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Totally agree about Christine Cruz – like her delivery and style very much. Smart and attractive, gee what a unique combination for this market! Much better than the other anchors she has to share the desk with on Ch 7.
Also agree that Ch 6 definitely puts its best out front in the AM with Bob Mayer and Pam Giganti – they are a great team. Too bad it goes downhill with their evening newscasts – Jackie Nespral is not someone I can watch for any lengthy period of time. And bring back John Gerard for the weather at 6 and 11p!
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Nothing against anyone’s opinions but the name calling will have to pipe down
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Amen
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