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Welcome to My Family
I like Paul Sands. He's the President and General Manager of WPTZ - Channel 5 in Plattsburgh and, I guess I have to say it, Burlington. I think I'm correct when I say that he's the first general manager of WPTZ to be on the air and to broadcast editorials. I like his editorials, even though sometimes I disagree with his opinion. But he is a man who is willing to take a stand on issues of concern in our region.
I have loved Channel 5 since I was a kid. I have enjoyed news people like Bird Berdan, Al Hill, Lenny Kane. I even appeared on "The Dusty Boyd Show," a live dance program hosted by the big cowboy himself. My dance partner that day was my seventh-grade classmate Valerie Larocco, even though she was about a foot taller than I. My mother decided that day that Valerie would be the girl I would marry. I guess she figured that I'd grow another foot by the time I hit marrying age. I didn't.
Anyway, I have always been a regular viewer of Channel 5, especially for its coverage of local news, sports and weather. I like their expanded coverage over the past few years, adding the lighter news programs "First at Five" and "5:30 Now" before the "Newschannel 5 at 6pm."
But there is one thing they've added that I don't care for. It's their signature closing: "Thanks for making us part of your family." When did that happen? When did they decide to join the Gagnon clan? I like Tom Messner and I've known him for many years. Even downed a few sodas with him elbow to elbow. But he never told me he wanted in on my family.
And videographer and backup sports guy Ken Drake has worked for my North Country Cable Network, but he has never stopped in for a meal. And I think Gabrielle Komorowski is great every morning. I even wake up early just to see what she has to say, but I notice that even though it would be shorter and time-saving, she hasn't started calling herself Gabrielle Gagnon.
It's not that I wouldn't want the Channel 5 guys and girls to be a part of my family. It's just that I was never asked about it. All of sudden I found out one day that they were all a part of my family. In that case, I can hardly wait for Christmas. I'll save some room under my Christmas tree for gifts from Stephanie and Thom and Gib and Matt and any of the others at Channel 5 who want to buy something for cousin Foxy.
And being a bachelor I'd love to have some family member to cook for. I'd like to tell Erin and Mia and Michelle that I make a great batch of hamburg surprise. You'd love it. And if you love steamed clams, that's become my new specialty. I wonder if that would tempt my family members like Erik or Kelly or Jim.
I'd like to know whose idea it was that everyone at Channel 5 would become a part of my family. I sure would like to thank that person. I'll be doing fall housecleaning this week, and I sure could use some help from my family members. My brother Goose already told me that he could spare about ten minutes this week. He's been put in charge of knocking down cobwebs in the kitchen.
I've got a long list so you might want to sign up early. As they say, first come, first served, and the last to sign up will probably get stuck with latrine duty. Maybe even the head honcho himself, Paul Sands, will come over and give me a hand.
That's my opinion. What's yours?
Comments
When in Lake Placid or Montreal I try to tune into channel 5 to catch up on local stuff in the 'burgh. Our US channels here in Ottawa are out of Detroit. Very violent news.
My best memories were the early days of channel 5 in the mid or late 50's and a show called "Bar 5 Ranch Time", with the theme song lyric 'five o'clock on channel 5'. The sponsor was that goooooood Altamont Ice Cream.
What ever happened to Altamont Ice Cream?
(Foxy's note: Good question, Norm! Maybe the Old Timer is still around and can tell us!)
Posted by: Norm | October 3, 2007 7:20 PM
Sorry I can not accept them into my family. When you appear on Channel 2 and you call yourself Channel 5 you are not to be trusted. Maybe they think they are family because they suddenly appear in my bedroom every morning . Not so sure that is a good idea without knocking first. The other day I was just crawling out of bed in my unmentionables and there appeared one of the newswomen. Hardly proper.
Posted by: rubble | October 2, 2007 8:19 PM
Foxy, Like you I too grew up with Channel 5 live. I actually played on Teen Dance with Mike Pavone, Joel LaRouque, and Doug Dutilly. My dad had a copy of the tape which in later years we put on VHS. Years later we played many a Jerry Lewis Telethon's on live TV when Channel 5 was still on upper Cornelia St. I still check them out on line at least once a day. However, my favorite is still "On the Sly". I have been on the PAFB web site a lot lately and the topic has been restaurants from the 60's & 70's. Carburs has been sorely missed. Future Blog???? Keep up the great work!!! Randy
Posted by: Randy Vaughn | October 2, 2007 9:27 AM
Gave up on WPTZ a couple of years ago, strictly a WCAX news watcher, that way I find out what is going on in Northern New York but I am still a big fan of Fox on the Run.
(Foxy's note: Thanks, Doc. Don't give up on me! And I bet you enjoy Jack LaDuke's reports from New York.)
Posted by: Doc | October 1, 2007 6:51 PM
You did it again Foxy. you stirred up old memories from my 3 year tenure working for Channel 5 during the early 60s when Al Hill (remember Clutch Cargo, Space Cadet, and Teen Dance Party in addition Gaines' Shoppers World and Forest Hills commercials?)
Everything those days and the crew manning the cameras had a ball with Bird Berdan (the Atlantic Weatherman) and his Cartoon show weekday afternoons. We had country Western band like the Lytle Family on Saturday mornings and the annual Kiwanis auction .
Because everything was live, there was no retaping for flawed shows and the person who was in front of the camera had to think pretty quickly to cover up mistakes.
When I see you again I'll relate some of the things that happened.
(Foxy's note: Great, Skip. Hope to catch up with you sometime this week -- around 2:20pm.)
Posted by: skip zatonski | October 1, 2007 10:55 AM
It's mind manipulation at its finest, or marketing combined with repetitious auto suggestion for brand loyalty.
Perhaps you should test their familial claim by asking them for some money, or if you could barrow one of their company cars on a Friday night.
Posted by: Popcorn & Pepsi | October 1, 2007 5:23 AM
Foxy,
Just think if they were your family you would be related to everyone from the Northeast Kingdom to Southern New Hampshire. I just can't imagine you and the Channel 5 gang sitting down for a meal. I wonder what the menu would be. It's anybody's guess. Wait a minute let's call the family for suggestions
That's my opinion what's anyone else's. Write to Foxy's blog in care of the Press Republican.
Posted by: crusher | September 30, 2007 11:48 PM