7 Mostly Mum on Gross
Channel 7 spokeswoman Ginny Lund does confirm that after 21 years at the station, meteorologist Todd Gross "is no longer on our air" and that his last broadcast was Thursday. But when asked for an explanation, Lund responded that "I can't comment on personnel matters." She did say that for now, Pete Bouchard would be taking over for Gross during the 4 and 11 o'clock newscasts.
And before anyone pooh-poohs the importance of the man or woman standing in front of the TV weather map, read this tidbit from a story I wrote a few years ago.
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"Not surprising, a 1998 RTNDA survey found that weather was the leading local news draw: Nearly three out of four local TV news watchers said they were very interested in the weather segment, compared to only 31 percent who felt the same way about sports."
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For my money, Gross had the right kind of on-air weather persona -- a dash of nerdiness, a genuine excitement about moving air masses, and a certain sense of authority. I certainly liked him better than CBS4's recently departed Ed Carroll.
And before anyone pooh-poohs the importance of the man or woman standing in front of the TV weather map, read this tidbit from a story I wrote a few years ago.
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"Not surprising, a 1998 RTNDA survey found that weather was the leading local news draw: Nearly three out of four local TV news watchers said they were very interested in the weather segment, compared to only 31 percent who felt the same way about sports."
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For my money, Gross had the right kind of on-air weather persona -- a dash of nerdiness, a genuine excitement about moving air masses, and a certain sense of authority. I certainly liked him better than CBS4's recently departed Ed Carroll.
20 Comments:
I dunno, Mark. The orange hair just didn't do it for me...
These days if management types see a guy approaching 20y service time,they get nervous.
They don't want someone who has built up a nice salrey and certainally don't want the Corp to actually have to fund a retirement a few years down the road.
Keep the talent cheap and on the move: everbodies fungible.
More than just a persona, Todd Gross has the combination of expertise and the knack of explaining even complex weather topics. He was the first among Boston meteorologists to talk about the differing computer models that underlie modern forecasting.
He has also in the forefront of New England weather discussion on the Internet, founding two usenet groups and a Yahoo group for the discussion of weather in the northeast US.
Hey Steve, just because he was able to entertain and educate all the weather geeks out there, it doesmn't mean the masses who mostly care about if it's going to snow or rain tomorrow,really bought into his orange-haired dweeb act. On TV news, it's all about the appeal and how you relate to the audience, and not how the doplahhhhh works...Sorry. That's why the masses will remember Willard Scott and Al Roker for years to come, but not Todd Gross.
anon 8:03
Obviously Ch 7 agrees with you about audience appeal (though Pete Bouchard is not my idea of eye candy).
But that doesn't mean it's a good thing for me or other "weather geeks". (And if you can't be geeky here in Boston, where *can* you be geeky?)
What is it with Boston's Met's being replaced with young, perky females? I have nothing but admiration for young, perky females, but N.E. Weather is interesting, and you won't find anyone else who can make it more interesting than Todd. I'll miss his enthusiasm and certainly skip channel 7 the next time a storm comes around.
THey don't ask for my input. Ch. 7 agrees with the fakey TV industry. They pay big bucks for research, focus groups and flashy news sets.
I think Pete Bouchard is goofy and knowledgeable enough about the weather to hold people's attention for 2-3 minutes. He'll do well.
Meanwhile, Gross should crop 7's logo out of his head shot on his weatherman.com . He doesn't work there anymore.
A nice guy...yes. A great meteorologist...no. Full of him self....yes. The only reason he was the "Chief Meteorologist" is because Harvey left, not because he merited it. The reason the station got rid of him is because everyone watched ch 5's weather, not 7. And, Ansin thought he looked like a short twerp with his bright orange (dyed) hair!!
Yeah, the orange hair was a bit much and the way it flipped up sometimes like he was the Shoney Big Boy.
However, I liked his demeanor and manner, and the way he would draw those big white arrows out on the weather maps.
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Hey anonymous, do you work at the station? It sounds like this is slander to me?
I didn't mean to go after anyone; I just always respected Todd for his involvement with spotters. I just thought that personal comments might be inappropriate about someone who just lost a job.
I also agree. Gross' met skills were questionable at best. It was Harvey who did all the work on the Perect Storm, not Gross. The only reason he moved up the ladder there is because people kept leaving after not getting the loot. Tom Chisholm was a very good morning met there in the mid 90's and when his contract was up he asked for more money. Of course, he didn't get it and left. So they moved Gross from weekends to mornings. Then Harvey tried to break the bank and they wouldn't pay. Harvey left to go to ch. 5 and they moved Gross from mornings to nights. And of course, as it now turns out the orange-haired nerd was a major bust with viewers.
Sad move on 7 news' part. I will switch over to channel 5 to see my old friend Harvey, and wait to see where Todd shows up!
Mark is right about how important the weather portion of the news is. Just look at how many responses this post got. If only we cared about the political reporters this much
Good riddance to a self-important weather dwarf. He was unwatchable.
He just reeked on the air of being pompous and arrogant. It is one thing if he was a STAR in the market but he was not. I think lots of people saw right thru him on the air and got a sense of what he really is like.
Ouch,
i never 'liked him'. But Christ! talk a bout kicking a dead dog. This guy is ann easy target now. Where were all these comments when he got the evening job.
Look, all I'm syaing is that none of you seem to know him. I had the pleasure of knowing Todd a few years back and I can say that he is a very family-driven person and I am really shocked that anyone would slander someone like this that they don't know.
When you publically belittle your colleagues like that arrogrant brat has done on air several times, you can expect to be canned.
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