  Texorama Member Username: Texorama Post Number: 54 Registered: 12-2006 |
This is from Laydell Harper's "Community Affairs" column in the Monitor, which is always worth reading. This column was devoted to a memorial service held for former Detroit journalist Chauncey Bailey, murdered after investigating Your Black Muslim Bakery in Oakland, CA. "Bill Bonds, former WXYZ-TV news anchor, was also a speaker. 'Journalism is a lonely business. It's you and what you think. That guy was gifted,' Bonds said (pointing to a picture collage of Chauncey at the front of the room). 'It has to do with our inalienable rights--life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Right now, I know more about Anna Nicole Smith and Michael Vick than my congressman and George Bush.'" That same sort of reckless careening among half-digested big ideas that made his newscasts such an adventure to watch--still on full display! (Message edited by texorama on September 10, 2007) | ||
Quinn Member Username: Quinn Post Number: 1460 Registered: 01-2005 |
Our current crop of anchormen are no comparison to the "old school" favorites of mine, Mort Crim and Bill Bonds. Totally different in styles, but both were very commanding. Here's a little perez action:  Anyone know what the tv news rating is for Detroit now? I know that in the 80's we were still a top market (for advertising / viewers etc.) BTW...at least we still have Carmen. Love her. | ||
Iheartthed Member Username: Iheartthed Post Number: 1586 Registered: 04-2006 |
>I know that in the 80's we were still a top market (for advertising / viewers etc.) No longer a top 10. Now ranked 11... ETA: The Detroit market will probably be overtaken by Phoenix very soon, as well. So it will probably settle into the #12 spot. (Message edited by iheartthed on September 10, 2007) | ||
Gistok Member Username: Gistok Post Number: 5297 Registered: 08-2004 |
Unless Phoenix has a metro population of over 5 million (which I can't believe) how are we rated at #11?? Philadelphia gets to include Camden NJ, NYC includes parts of New Jersey and Connecticut in their market. And yet we can't include Essex County Ontario, and on some lists we don't include Ann Arbor. Even Flint, Toledo and Port Huron/Sarnia get Detroit stations, but are they included in our market.... probably not. That's why I always take lists with a grain of salt... they're often less meaningful than one would think. | ||
Iheartthed Member Username: Iheartthed Post Number: 1588 Registered: 04-2006 |
Well, this is the Nielsen DMA list which includes Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Washtenaw, Livingston, St. Clair, Lapeer and Sanilac counties. Lenawee was removed in the past 3 years(?) and included in the Toledo DMA. They do a separate system for Canada, which if they included out to London would probably boost Detroit to 5 or 6 temporarily. But these other metropolises like Dallas, Atlanta and Phoenix are still growing incredibly fast, so emphasis on temporary (as the American side of metro Detroit is not growing). Even the older metros like DC and NYC are continuing to grow, although at a slower rate than the new big cities. | ||
Cambrian Member Username: Cambrian Post Number: 1590 Registered: 08-2006 |
Whew! For a minute there when I read the thread title I thought he got popped for DUI again. | ||
Gistok Member Username: Gistok Post Number: 5298 Registered: 08-2004 |
Thanks for the info Iheartthed, it is kinda funny how they include Lapeer and Sanilac counties, but not Genessee (Flint). Sanilac County is much farther from Detroit than Genessee County is. That's why I take the list with a grain of salt. They do similar gerrymandering for Census Metro Area rankings. There's parts of other metro areas that have towns and cities included that are much farther away from their central cities than Flint, Toledo and Ann Arbor are to Detroit. So part of the problem is that the Detroit (TV) market DOES include Flint, Toledo, as well as Essex and Lambton Counties in Ontario. They're just not included into the tally for other reasons. | ||
Jiminnm Member Username: Jiminnm Post Number: 1408 Registered: 02-2005 |
Gistok, in 2006 the city of Phoenix was at 1.5-1.6 million, and the Phoenix MSA was 4-4.1 million. Not sure what's included (Maricopa county was about 3.7 million). | ||
Gistok Member Username: Gistok Post Number: 5300 Registered: 08-2004 |
Thanks Jiminnm, I didn't realize it was that high already. Sounds like they could run out of water in a few years! Hard to believe that the Colorado River water can sustain all that growth in Arizona AND Nevada. I'm sure that with Tuscan also growing fast, any aquafiers in both areas must be getting pretty low! | ||
Perfectgentleman Member Username: Perfectgentleman Post Number: 2489 Registered: 03-2006 |
Maybe if Channel 7 did a Spanish language version they would get higher ratings.  Univision #1 Network for Entire Week Beating ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX and CW Thursday September 6, 1:04 pm ET "Adios" to Separate Hispanic Ratings and "Hola" to Single National Service http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/070906 /20070906005934.html?.v=1 | ||
Iheartthed Member Username: Iheartthed Post Number: 1593 Registered: 04-2006 |
^Maybe network TV is more tolerable when you don't know what they're saying, lol. | ||
Frumoasa Member Username: Frumoasa Post Number: 53 Registered: 03-2007 |
Bill Bonds was an occasional visitor at a neighbor's home in the early 90's. My mother said that his driving was rather "erratic" when he would leave in the evening...He's not my favorite anchorperson, I much prefer the more subdued style of Huel Perkins. | ||
Waxx Member Username: Waxx Post Number: 267 Registered: 09-2006 |
Hey, Quinn, nice collage. The old-school vets were/are THE best. I do miss Bill Bonds and Mort Crim. They were the masters! HANDS DOWN! | ||
Jmarx Member Username: Jmarx Post Number: 25 Registered: 01-2005 |
As long as we're comparing Billy to current anchors, here's a question: Do you think any current anchor - even if they had the same talent - would be allowed to rant, tell stories, etc like Bill Bonds did? Put another way, do we not have a character like Bill on TV today because of a lack of talent, or is it because in todays climate no one is allowed to become a character like Bill Bonds was? | ||
Danindc Member Username: Danindc Post Number: 3254 Registered: 10-2003 |
quote: Maybe because Toledo, Flint, and Windsor have their OWN television stations? Just a stupid thought. | ||
Paulmcall Member Username: Paulmcall Post Number: 396 Registered: 05-2004 |
Big Bill and Mort didn't have cable competition like the new guys have to contend with now. That said, it seems like today's news people are light weights and air heads who seem to change from week to week. A cut throat business to be sure but it's too bad there aren't any charismatic newsmen around. | ||
Quinn Member Username: Quinn Post Number: 1462 Registered: 01-2005 |
quote: Unfortunately no. That was an era of machismo, ala Will Farrel's "Anchorman." Skyrockets in flight...afternoon delight..." http://youtube.com/watch?v=st8E9L2Uqmk  The closest we have is John Stewart and Stephen Colbert. |
