Trial by lightning. It was a thrill-a-minute welcome to the world of live television news for Reggie Rivers.
The one-time Bronco, signed recently as weekend sports anchor at KCNC-Channel 4, was literally going to television school Wednesday when he was suddenly thrust on the air.
The station’s regular sports guy, Vic Lombardi, was supposed to do a remote report from Douglas County, but lightning in the area prevented it.
At 9:50 p.m., management concluded that Lombardi couldn’t get back to the station in time for the 10 o’clock news and tapped Rivers, who was at the station practicing for his debut a week later, to take over.
“It was quite a surprise,” says Rivers. “I didn’t have time to be nervous. I was halfway done writing a sports script, which I didn’t finish until 10:20 p.m. and the thing went ‘live’ at 10:22.”
On top of that, the Rockies’ game was in extra innings and the teleprompter went blooey toward the end of Rivers’ 2 1/2 minutes.
Rivers’ boss, news director Tim Wieland, was impressed. “The guy’s never done a sportscast. He hadn’t shaved but he had a suit. He had less than 30 minutes to get ready. Under the circumstances, he did an incredible job.”
Or at least unscathed. “My real debut is going to be anticlimactic,” says Rivers. “I got the worst over with. I should get hazard pay.”
Just being on the same set with Jim Benemann is hazardous enough.
Shameless promotion
It was pure radio PR baloney when The James Gang, the new morning team on KWLI 92.5-FM, lounged for three days beside a battered RV parked near 16th Street and Broadway.
The gimmick was they were allegedly trying to get hired at the country station.
“Call the station!” they implored passersby with a bullhorn from atop the RV painted flat black with “The James Gang” graffito on the back. They made sure to repeat the country station’s call letters often.
Bottom line: They’re already hired, go on the air next week.
Around the dial
A familiar face turned up doing the weather on KWGN-Channel 2 over the weekend. Yep, it’s Sunny Roseman, who labored at KUSA-Channel 9 in the 1970s and ’80s. He’s back as a fill-in from time to time on Channel 2. … Syndicated talk-show host Ed Schultz sits in Thursday for vacationing Jay Marvin, a payback for the numerous times Marvin has done the same for Schultz (6-10 a.m. weekdays, KKZN 760-AM). … Thumbs up to KUVO 89.3-FM, named the major-market jazz station of the year for the second straight year by Jazz Week magazine. … Quotable: “Coward: One who, in a perilous emergency, thinks with his legs.” Ambrose Bierce
Dick Kreck’s column appears Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. He may be reached at 303-820-1456 or dkreck@denverpost.com.
