Not attiTUDE but gratiTUDE!
This is going to be one "big cookie". That's the best analogy I can come up with. Remember as a kid how you would try to make one big cookie from the dough, instead of the individual smaller ones dropped from a spoon.
Well, this is going to be one big thank you to everyone involved in the live broadcast of "21 News This Morning" from Hersheypark and the Viewer Appreciation Party. One big thanks, instead of several individual ones.
It all started in a little cabin in the woods -- oh -- wait -- that's another story.
It all started with Jim Berman, General Manager for CBS 21/CW 15. Jim took the helm roughly six months ago and has really sparked a new attitude among the "station family". Following Jim's call to "create a buzz" with our local programming, I came up with the idea of taking our morning newscast "on the road" for a live broadcast from Hersheypark -- to coincide with our 4th annual Viewer Appreciation Party. From there I ran it by the directors, Steve Metzger and Dave Mallon -- and our producers Christina Wilson and Beth Legner to see if we should attempt this feat. From jump -- they were all on board and there was no stopping us. We then took the idea to our engineers -- Rob Hershey and Scott Swearingen -- because let's face it folks -- they are the ones who make possible anything you see on our air -- from sign on to sign off -- with everything from duct tape, spit and a Phillips screwdriver. (okay -- I'm sure the tools they use are more involved, I just don't know what the heck they're called). But the man in news who does know all that "technical stuff" is photojournalist Jim Stanton. I asked Jim to spearhead the project with "Hershey and crew" and they took it from there. These three are like the Tin Man, Lion, and Scarecrow to my Dorothy. They took the vision in my head and with the finesse of Michaelangelo and his Sistine Chapel -- painted an incredibly exciting, energetic and entertaining show on the air!
Thanks to Samantha Herman and Michelle Rydzanich in Creative Services for creating special graphics and an adorable animated special open for the newscast -- just part of a lot of work that went in to the newscast before it aired.
You probably can't imagine everything it takes to take a 2-hour newscast on the road. I still don't know because I left much of the details to others. But what I did see were reels and reels of cable to cover 5 different locations at the Boardwalk, the microphones, the back up microphones and the back-up - back-up microphones. The lighting, the portable cameras -- and throw water in the mix, because we were at the water rides area of the park!
Thanks to Pat Cowherd, Jeff Shelly, Nellie Stinson and Garth Millen -- our field crew along with Hershey, Swearingen and Stanton.
And then there's the production crew back at the station - Steve Metzger, Dave Mallon, Mike Taylor, Adrien "pops" Dietz, Jason Friedman, Steve "dude" Dunn, Karl Dietrich and Don "J-baugh" Johnsonbaugh. Holding the fort in the newsroom were Tara Parker, Christina Wilson, Kim Lucey, Courtney Monie and Paul Lynch.
You think I get up early (1am on this particular day) -- that was nothing to the literally sleepless night for many of the production crew out in the field and back at the station.
And when they're usually sleeping, reporters Jaime Meyers and Ben Russell from our dayside and nightside newscasts were "up and at 'em" for the special morning show -- Ben even being blindfolded and getting wet for the cause.
Thanks to Acting News Director Tiffany Coleman-Morrin for rallying the entire news department around this "early morning" gig!
Getting some behind the scenes shots of the newscast was Gregory Harden with our Creative Services department -- several hours before his normal shift.
Field Producer Beth Legner was invaluable in keeping Shane, Steve and I on track and Production Assistant Aaron "Ahoff" Hoffman put his wheels to work running back and forth from all 5 locations making sure Shane had a monitor to see his weather maps and I had my scripts and rundown and any other need that came up. It was a "no-brainer" to put Ahoff in that position because we've seen him run the bases in our softball games.
Once we signed off at 7am -- then it was time to get ready for our Viewer Appreciation Party! Reporter/Anchor Shannon Davidson and the ladies from our Sales Department - Marian Stanislawczyk, Angela Sigler and Kelli Passow greeted the 21 winning viewers and their friends and families with goody bags that included t-shirts that say "We Watch CBS 21"! What a great idea, because you saw the blue shirts everywhere around the park! So these contest winners are now Ambassadors for our newscast -- even well after the party is over.
Kim Hammel and Amy Riegel with our promotions department joined Gregory Harden and grabbed more behind the scenes footage as well as testimonials from our viewers -- so we'll be watching THEM at some point!
For the Luncheon part of the party -- it was so nice to see many of our family come to greet our viewers. Director of Operations - Lou Castriota, Jr., Meteorologists Tom Russell and Chris Sowers, 11pm producer - Bruce Alderfer, Jason Bristol and Jaime Fettrow from our sports department, Our Weekend Morning Team - Angela Watson and Paul Lynch and morning reporter Courtney Monie.
In my 21 years of television broadcasting (I know, I know I'm not making up that number) -- never have I been more proud of "the team" that made the broadcast and party such a success!
Even though this is a collective thank you to the CBS 21 team - I can't leave out the folks at Hersheypark -- the managers , grounds crew, food services department, lifeguards, interns, marketing department, performers and characters for their hospitality and for getting up so early to accommodate our team.
And last but certainly not least because unlike our engineers -- our viewers keep us on the air with just one tool -- the remote control. And we are so appreciative of the loyal CBS 21 viewers who choose to make us a part of their day -- and who made our "day at the park" unforgettable.
On behalf of Steve Knight and Shane Schillaci -- I present this "big cookie" to all of you.
Sherry
