This is a tough question for you to ask, because you will probably not like the answer.
Real news broadcasting is no longer practiced by network and cable-y yell fest shows.
The network news has turned into nothing more then personality vehicles and Variety shows. The only real news shows left are the Jim Lehrer, and British and Canadian news shows where real actual news is read. American newscasts are a kind of embarrassing sort of roller ball variety entertainment events.
Trying to keep the under-educated masses, busy enough so that they wont switch the channel to bowling or a Nascar race. Real unbiased news reporting has vanished and news shows have become an entertainment/ variety show, designed to keep home-bound people, company. The news caster's need, to be perky, winky, cheerful, and constantly be giving important news like what the washed up movie star thinks about his chances on DANCING WITH THE STARS is kind of Pathetic. When a news program makes time to pass on valuable information like what Anglina Jolie had for lunch yesterday and great ways to remove ketchup stains, you know your in the crapper. the ONLY reason I watch network and local news is for the weather, and the internet is now better then you at that.
So here's to all the aspiring newscasters who's dream it is is to become the epitome of journalism pond scum, Nancy Grace.
Get a job at a local, or network news show, and your on your way....to becoming a pathetic onscreen giggling goof.

who has breaking news about a new way yo cook Pasta.

Bravo, Carlos. Bravo.

Eric, keep up the great work. I fear it won't be that long until you too end up having to move to another station in the market.

I just wanted to respond to Robin's comment which I throughly agree with. People want to feel a connection with the people that bring them the news everyday. I must say I felt that way when I met the team at KTLA last year for the Make-Us-Dessert contest. When I walked in the door I was nervous and confused by it being my first time on television. Michaela shouted from the news desk, "Hey Charlene girl how are you doing"? As if she had known me all of her life. Before long I was laughing and joking with
Mark, Carlos, Sam as if we had been life long friends. The staff was great too.

I guess that's what makes this separation between the anchors at KTLA and the viewers who hates the show (I don't want to admit but I am one of them) soooo hard for me. Because I know that there is good in them. God bless you all.

So Eric my dear, it's been well over 24 hours since my last post to you. Are you going to let this 74 year old lady see you post the ratings for the 9 - 10 AM show for the last 6 weeks??? Please???

Eric ... The list of what bores us viewers is pretty accurate, however I think that KTLA morning news is usually a fine exception. The quality of the relationships is real, the humor great, and the variety well done. Keep up the good work!

Jason:

Yes, I find it all very interesting. I also find it interesting that from when I have seen they only read positive emails at the end of the 9:00 hour.

Eric, keep shaking that fist. You're the only one who listens to us at KTLA. And the only one who cares.

Paul. Rat Packer and F.S.S.G. Member and Old Fart.

Bill:

Sam Zell didn't get the nickname "Grave Dancer" and become the biggest landlord in this country from being a nice guy.

So all we can expect is more changes that we are not going to like.
Oh well, that's why they have other channels.

Paul. Rat Packer and F.S.S.G. Member and Old Fart.

Friends...The following comes from www.imdb.com and their "Studio Briefing"..

Zell Goes On The Air -- Unbeknownst To Him

National Public Radio's All Things Considered has played excerpts of a talk delivered by Tribune Co. owner Sam Zell to the company's top Washington journalists in February. In it, Zell accused of the journalists of not generating revenue for the company, "so all of you are overhead." He maintained that Tribune employees -- the company owns 23 TV stations and 11 newspapers -- have failed to find ways to attract more viewers and readers. "Three guys in a garage create YouTube, and we've got 800 people in Chicago [Tribune's headquarters] who don't know their ass from a hole in the ground." Since Zell took over the company, Tribune outlets have been hit with substantial layoffs and cutbacks. "And I promise you the next 60 days will be even more tumultuous," Zell added. While he declined to discuss his remarks with NPR, his lawyer, David Bradford, told the public broadcaster: "He's somebody who speaks the unvarnished truth."
###

So, thoughts or comments? I think the picture is becoming clearer. Add Mr. Zell's comments to Carlo's comments from a April 9 and we can start formulating opinions based on fact and not emotion. Web link provided, for the nay sayers...

http://www.imdb.com/news/sb/2008-04-10/

Dan:

Great idea to give Eric his own group. I all for it.

Paul. Rat Packer and F.S.S.G. Member and Old Fart. I think that covers it.

I've no idea why that posted twice. Sorry!

Thank you Eric. I hope someone is reading this that really can make some changes.

Yes, all of those points are valid (and as someone pointed out above, completely obvious).
I read Lee Abrams' screwball ideas for changing the Times over on the LA Observed blog. My skin crawls to think of what he might suggest for the KTLA news.

I am one of the teeming masses who hates the new 9am show, and I was a loyal morning news viewer, but you know what?

I don't want it back. Nope. I want something better. You owe me now. I loved Hot Topics and would pause at 9am, go get my coffee and breakfast, and watch it through. It was hit and miss, depending on the guest and the subject--but it was about real issues that I mostly cared about, and I wanted to hear what other people thought. I can't tell you how I miss that segment.
I want something that focuses on our local issues. (love Mike G's ideas) I want to hear real dialogue and hear from real people that matter to our city. Slap some local politicians in those seats and talk to them for 10 minutes. They LOVE to talk! Get the crazy ones in there! It'll be fun! Definitely keep the celebrities coming in to promote their projects and tell us what they think. Do a segment on entertainment business trends--not what Paris Hilton is wearing, but what is really going ON in our industry. Find out what that is. Review some restaurants. Visit some schools. You know, JPL is just up the hill--drop on in! Get someone in from the MTA, and DWP, and the LAPD. Talk about the local arts scene. There are AMAZING things going on all around us. Start a message board on this site and let people tell you what they want to see, and let them post questions for upcoming interviews with the mayor or the city council or Bill Cosby or Santa or whomever you're going to pull. Make it about our community.
Invite more Times columnists to come in and talk about their passions. Heck, I don't know anyone who DOESN'T read Steve Lopez--bring him in when the Mayor is in studio. Lopez has been chasing him for months. Zell, you want to marry the Times to KTLA, I will gladly be the flower girl. But c'mon, give us something less insulting this time.
You can even change the blue.

Oh, and BTW? Having an entertainment reporter who doesn't know who she's reporting on? In Hollywood?!! I hope you know how ridiculous that makes you look. It may not be so important in other markets, but it sure is here.

Thank you again, Eric, for opening this up for discussion.

Friends.
I would like to propose a splinter group completely separate from the Ratpack.
The Fist Shakers Support Group of Southern California. (F.S.S.G.) Eric deserves to have his own dedicated support team and the Ratpack is more dedicated to being heard as a collective voice, in our discussion about the 9 am hour.
Eric covers so many topics with such clarity that he is truly deserving of his own support clan. Also, he correctly stated that he is an employee, not a supervisor. As such, he needs support. Not demands being placed upon him.
Who's with me?

Eric darling, I have a few questions that I would like to present to you. You my dear are 1 of the 3 men there who have the cojones to answer them.

1) Would it be possible for you to post the ratings for the KTLA 9 AM hour from March 3rd to the present day for each week?
(This way we the viewers can see what it was 2 weeks before the new format and how it fairs since the change.)

2) Can you please tell us if there is any buzz behind the scenes there from sponsors as to whether they acknowledge hearing from us the viewers?
(Have the producers or this so called "guru" made any statement about sponsors calling in concerned at receiving emails from the viewers.)

3) What do the "powers that be" say about all of the negative emails, bloggings, and phone calls regarding the 9 AM hour and what is their reasoning for NO positive feedback from viewers on the blogs whatsoever about the new format?
(Do they read the blog comments, or do they have to rely on you bringing it to their attention?)

4) What happens if you lose the majority of your viewership because of this disastrous change in the format - does it jeopardize anyone's job there?
(I hope that if it does, it's only the person responsible for this change! It would be a damn shame if it would jeopardize any of you on camera talent.)

Please Eric, if you can't answer all of them, at least post the ratings for KTLA 9 AM from March 3rd to present. Maybe WE'RE ALL WRONG about this, but I can't believe we are!

Eric...
16 years ago I started watching the KTLA Morning News because it replaced whatever syndicated program was on 5 at that hour. I can honestly say it changed my life. Carlos, Barbara, Mark, Michele, and of course you delivered the news in an entertaining but professional way. I threw the idea of becoming an attorney out the window and went down the TV news path. You remember, I showed up at scenes, and learned from you and some of the other great reporters in Los Angeles how to put a story together. I interned on the morning news while going to school and learned even more.
It's now been 10 years in the news business and things have certainly changed. Viewers can see it at KTLA and here where I work in Spokane. It's all about the bottom line. There are some talented people left in front of and behind the camera, but many of them have left... just too tired of the day to day battle to put on a quality newscast. Plain and simple: people don't watch tv news anymore, because we don't give them anything to watch. I hope as I am sure you and others at KTLA do, that this is just a cycle and things will turn around. I hope that Mr. Zell will allow the professionals left at KTLA to go back to the basics and regain the title of the most trusted source for news in Los Angeles. Hal and Carlos may be gone but the tradition that lies within that building on that historic lot still exists. I hope it does or my goals of one day returning there to work along side some of my mentors are in vain.

SA, a few weeks ago I sat through that dreadful hour for the 1st time since I stopped watching on day 3 (and so did a few others) and we did note ALL of the Advertisers for the 9am show and posted them for anyone that wanted to contact them and/or boycott their products. A lot of us have done that but like I said, that was a couple weeks ago.

If you can sit through the show, (or anyone else), please note the current Advertisers and then re-post them and we can do it again, (I’m sorry, but I just can’t sit through it again).
I don’t mind spending another hour or so this weekend to re-contact the Advertisers.
You are right, it’s all about the $$ and if they realize it’s not coming in, maybe they’ll finally get it.

One thing that I have been thinking about…a lot is, Sam used to put in his entertainment reports where KTLA stood in the mornings, (whenever he got the rating reports). They were always on TOP and very proud of it…as they should’ve been.. If you have noticed, he doesn’t mention morning ratings anymore. We all know why, the show is tanking and going down the toilet…quickly.

Gotta say, I followed my own self imposed exile this morning. partly because I was still sleeping after a long day at work and partly because, after waking up, I wanted to check out the local compitition. Three words come to mind regarding the local shows. Bland, Boring and Uninspired.
un·in·spired---Show Spelled Pronunciation[uhn-in-spahyuhrd]
adjective not inspired; not creative or spirited: an uninspired performance; an uninspired teacher. Inspiration is not lacking, on the part of Michaela or Cher. It's just not working. As I have said, across the forums/blogs, I am not a Michaela hater. I just think the 9a hour is the wrong set up for her. And Cher? I am sure she has days when she thinks that Las Vegas does not look so bad anymore. Any one remember when KTLA management stifled her free speech and forced the woman to take down her personal website because it was deemed "...inappropriate..."
Oh, and in closing...So Miss Holmes botched another entertainment segment by not doing basic research. Eric, can you give Miss Holmes a little nudge? Give her one of your secrets and point out www.imdb.com or Google. Tell her that this internet thingy must just catch on.
Still, Eric, you rock. You were a favorite of mine before the Republican Convention, and you have remained so all these many years. Now, I gotta bust your secret life a little bit. Folks. Eric is SOoooo not Hollywood. After I gave Eric and his staff a tour of our remote studio, he asked me for a business card. Said he would send me some KTLA SWAG. I thought "Oh yeah, that will happen." Guess what? Less than a week later, I recieved a hand addressed package from Hollywood. In it was a short, hand written note from Mr. Spillman. A KTLA Morning News Coffee cup and an 8x10 pic of the Carlos, Mark, Barbara Beck, Jennifer Lopez, Sam and Eric. All had autographed it. Thanks Eric. I still have my KTLA cup and use it daily, the photo is in my "I love me" Scrap book, along with the personal pic of you and I, sitting behind the ABC World News Desk, in the studio. Thanks Eric. You are one of the soothing constant, at a station that is in flux.

S. A. Former Viewer - your comments are all right on the money! I couldn't have said it better.
I don't know if anyone saw "Boston Legal" the other night, but they referenced the Movie "Network". When I was watching James Spader weave "Network" and Paddy Chayefsky's brilliant screenplay into the story line, all I could do is think that we the KTLA Viewers need to have a "Network" moment. We need to run to our windows - throw open those windows and scream "I'm mad as Hell and I'm not going to take it anymore!". Many of us have written to the sponsors - a few responded and many didn't. Some mentioned they will be monitoring the show and others said they are not responsible for format content on a show. Well, if we the consumer quit purchasing their product....they'll quit buying air time! It is that simple!

Eric, thank you for having the backbone to stand up for what is right and to stimulate some intelligent dialogue around the calamity which has become the KTLA morning News. -- I find it ironic to even associate the word NEWS with that circus side show. I read Carlos's blog entry and back is sentiments 100%. He represents what I and many former viewers miss about the KTLA show in the morning. And he points out what most people don't think about -- it's all about $$$ and power. So when you read the list of "brilliant observations" made by Zell's "idea guru" and you compare that to what the Morning News used to be -- you're puzzled because that show, in fact, contradicted all those stereotypes and inserted personality, honesty and did not insult the viewer's intelligence. So you say to yourself -- then why did they change everything?? Answer: $$$ and power --- the new owner and his minions have to throw their weight around. So by ignoring the loyal viewers' objections, they send a message that says --- "WE know better, WE DON"T CARE what YOU want to watch. You will watch what we throw at you --- CHEAP talent, moronic content, lame set, etc. Well, Mr. "Idea Guru" -- NO, WE WON'T watch the Cr_p you throw at us and haven't for a while. A TV show is no different than any other product -- if the consumer doesn't like it, we don't buy it. So, as a couple of other bloggers in other blogs have suggested -- we need to hit them where it hurts - in the wallet. Let's note the advertisers that advertise during the "Michaela and the Chipmunks" show at 9:00 am and send a note to them advising that we will boycott their products if they continue to advertise during that time slot. That WILL get their attention! Carlos obviously saw this coming and made a wise decision. I could not figure it out when he first left but it all makes sense now. Eric -- hang in there. You're always professional, honest, witty and personable. -- Luv YA!

KUDOS to Carlos Amezcua's post. I've been around long enough to have seen TV news change..and not for the better. The Morning Show used to be great. You folks were allowed to be yourselves, but at the same time you were professional enough to know when to be serious and when to lighten up. That is why it caught my eye all those years ago. Alot of changes, to be sure. The powers that be always think they know better. They are driven by $$.Greed at it's worst. They ruin perfectly good shows. I quickly got the feeling, even before Mr. Zell bought the station, that restrictions were put on all of you. They broke something that was going along wonderfully. There is still plenty of humor on the show, news is reported in a very professional and thorough manner, but I just got the feeling from watching all of you, that things have truly changed. By Carlos's post, I now know why he is no longer there..and that is a shame. Mr. Zell would be smart to take Carlos's advise and ask you Eric, for ideas.

Of the many reasons we watch KTLA in the morning because they have fun, it is not scripted, you can tell they enjoy their work and will talk about anything. The only two things I can suggest to make it more like me having coffee with my friends/neighbors, talking about neighborhood/world events are: wear hawaii button down shirts or polo shirts and get Gail or one of the other news personnel to have coffee time with a KTLA viewer to discuss the news/events, etc... Love the show and all of you but pleazzzzz, if anything, get out of those suits and ties...

Eric:

I have to agree with the problems about news shows. But we all know that. If news shows all look the same, then it comes down what and who you enjoy watching and how they give the same info. For me that was KTLA. I grew up in Los Angeles and KTLA was always there. Sure people come and go. But's that the busniess. But the new suits at KTLA should listen to the people they are trying to woo . . . the viewers. KTLA has taken the time to set up these blogs to get feed back and they don't seem to listen. And how is doing a cheap copy of the "View" being different? The old format was different from what else is on at 9:00. I was never a fan of Carlos, but he made some good points. Sam Zill should put his money where it would do the most good. And it's not paying some high priced so called expert who points out the obvious. Anyway that my two cents. So rock on Eric. And I hope you stay around for a long time.

Rat Packer Paul

I don't believe it! Jessica is doing a report on "Idol Gives Back", talking about the performance of "Band from T.V." (a band made up of all television celebrities) and she speaks about one of the members and says; "Oh and that guy from 'Desperate Housewives' is in it, what's his name, he's the plumber?" - It's JAMES DENTON YOU IDIOT! Eric, this is exactly the incompetence we the viewers are talking about at KTLA. You don't put the girl from the helicopter in for Sam Rubin doing Entertainment Report and she can't even think of the celebrity's name. No wonder she didn't mention any of the other 8 or so members in the band that are all well known from television!

I’ve said my peace already but I do have to say, it broke my heart when I found out Carlos left for Ch11 but with every new comment he leaves, I understand more and more. As a viewer, it is extremely frustrating to see a news station/program that you are so devoted to go down the toilet, (and for the most part being slapped in the face because no one cares). How must it be for the Anchors and other staff to literally see this day in and day out. Truly sad to see this happening.

Eric, I have to ask. Will this be like the time you wrote a blog and asked our opinion, about your idea for the new 9 o'clock format and it went NOWHERE? The request for "our" opinion is simply "rhetorical"?!?!

We don't get Channel 11 in San Diego. :-( Would sure be nice to see Carlos particularly those times that "Our" beloved Chargers when a Big game.

Since 911 there is something reassuring about turning on the mundane Morning News. Give me the weather, traffic and movie report. All I need is a cup of coffee, and I'm set for the day.

If you want to increase viewer ship you've got the most diverse news team in the city. Explore their diversity and interests by inviting guests who represent a wider cross section of the Los Angeles basin's population.

Your boss has a lot of money, right?

Is Ryan Seacrest visiting you to discuss AI Gives Back tomorrow morning? Where's Kobe Bryant, Tiger Woods, Carrie Underwood, Jay-Z and Beyonce? Pump up your guest list.

Get out of the studio more often. The Helms off-site looked like fun. It rained on your mini-cruise, but that shouldn't stop you from trying off-sites again.

As Mike suggested, if people are complaining about the Museum of Tolerance, do the Morning News from there one day. Or the Getty (museum or villa). Or the Kodak Theatre the day before an Awards Show. Or the Mayor's office. Or the LATimes newsroom. Location, location, location.

As Carlos said, you're a talented group of people. You know what will make you successful. All your bosses have to do is open the coffers and ask you where best to spend it. Best wishes.

Eric,
Virtually everything on that list is spot on. I still watch morning news on KTLA and FOX while eating my breakfast, flipping back between the two as each newscast becomes too annoying.

First, don't be afraid to throw out some context on the crime stories. The LA Times has the homicide blog with stats on all the crimes, and the LAPD has their online statistics. Just showing a map with a dot for every homicide would make a dramatic statement about the state of our county.

Second, don't be afraid to do lighter interviews with local politicians. Interviews on the news are always happy interviews with celebs or "serious news face" interviews with the politicians. Let the politicos come in, chat about what's going on in their district in a casual way. Introduce the politicians to the people. Plus, show a map of their district.

Third, minimize reporting on those things that online services do better: traffic, weather, weekend box office. Just mention the highlight and then refer people to your website for more info.

Don't do this "I'm reporting on Paris Hilton but I feel guilty about it" crap. If you want to do a TMZ story, do it, own it, be proud of it. If you don't want to, don't do it. I don't need your guilt.

Election coverage can be better than polls, demographics and who has the money. If a race or gender is leaning toward a specific candidate, don't just mention the stat. Ask people why. Ask people what the issues are for them.

Here are a couple of stories I'd like to see.

1. Neighbors of the Museum of Tolerance are protesting its expansion.
2. According to the NAEP, LA Latino students now write English better than black student at 8th and 12th grade level despite often not speaking English at home. Urban black kids often see learning as a "white" activity.
3. The new MTA long range plan says that in the *best case* scenario with all the big plans funded, traffic will continue to get worse.
4. Because it has been ignored by developers, South LA now has a higher percentage of single family homes, more vintage homes, and larger lot sizes than West LA. Densification of West LA continues.

Good luck. Sorry I rambled.

Eric the first thing you do is LISTEN TO YOUR LOYAL VIEWERS! You read the blog comments and you comprehend that when people say they aren't watching that 9 AM Schlock then THEY AREN'T WATCHING THAT 9 AM SCHLOCK! You have people screaming to bring the men back with Hot Topics and go back to the old format. It doesn't take Quantum Physics to know that that's what you do! You have a slew of loyal viewers calling themselves (myself included) The Rat Packers and The Old Farts we've bonded with each other and we all have something in common. WE WANT OUR SHOW BACK ERIC! Why do we feel as though no one hears us, or more that they just don't care? How much more loyal can we be than to have written to Sam Zell via the only email address we could Google or to contact all the sponsors of the 9 o'clock hour. Eric, your ratings have got to show a major drop since March 17th - they've got to. I don't care how many candy coated viewer mails you read on air, we the loyal viewers aren't fooled, in fact it's more insulting that you would air those candy coated emails and not a good majority of the ones that tell you how we really feel!
Very great to read Carlos' insight. You know the saying "you don't know what you have til' it's gone" is so true. I admire Carlos so much more now after reading his comment than ever before. He must think the World of you Eric! At least Carlos is listening!

TV News has been headed in the wrong direction for a number of years. Take channel 13, which will cover a dog stuck in a hole in China and call it news. You can keep the UTube Gen in mind by providing better graphics and bells and whistles, while at the same time you must move in the right direction - covering issues in depth with journalistic research and integrity. Look at 60 minutes - loved personalities + Hard hitting news = hit TV for the last 5 million years.

Eric,
16 years ago you and I were part of a team of innovators who set out to re-invent morning television. OK, we weren't sure what we were going to do but we did our best and inserted our own take on the news of the day. I remember Barbara Beck saying "we may not be good but at least we're honest!" I think TV news executives have taken their eye off the ball and now only look at budgets instead of content. At the peak of the KTLA Morning News popularity, the station made millions of dollars because millions of people watched. Then it all changed when the "suits" decided they knew TV News better than those of us who actually do it. It's short sighted greed and the need for power that drives many a TV executive and I clearly blame them for the collapse of our business. Once in a career you come across a guy like Steve Bell who was our first boss. He was a man of vision and a man who knew enough to stay out of the way of people who knew how the TV news business is supposed to work. Yeah, we were goofy and fun and all of that, but underneath it all we were solid journalists who didn't have to pretend to be news people! We won Emmys for fire, flood and earthquake coverage. We interviewed world leaders and made news when they came to visit. Year after year for nearly ten years we succeeded and then it all began to erode. Our profit "margins" began to shrink and our managers decided that less experienced (cheaper) employees could do the job we were all doing. Then they began to cut our experienced producers and some of the experienced talent was let go or salaries reduced. It was a downward spiral that is now bearing the horrible fruit which is television news today. To their credit the news crew at KTLA soldiers on without some of us who just couldn't take it anymore. Sam Zell and his "Idea Guru" think they have the answers. I'll tell you what Mr. Zell, give your people the tools and some of that money you love to brag about and let them do what they do best. Your people might surprise you with what they can do. If you don't, then all your big talk and cursing, to put it in your language, is pure bull-s@#t and the same goes for all media owners who continue to cry over shrinking margins. The reason people go elsewhere (FOX11) is because the product you're producing sucks! Yeah, that's called plain speaking, something I used to be able to do as an anchor at KTLA. Rupert Murdoch gets a lot of heat for being such a media maverick, but guess what? He believes in his people and then puts his money and muscle behind some very talented people. By the way Mr.Zell I know you have a lot of smart people around you helping you out, why don't you spend a day with the smartest guy in the room, Eric Spillman, he'll give you an earful of ideas. Good luck!

Eric,
Agree on every point. That is why I am so very confused about the direction KTLA is taking. I remember meeting you at the Republican Convention, San Diego--many years ago. ( showed you my network studio and you did a live shot from it) This was back when Barbara B, Carlos, Sam and MARK pwnd the compitition both in LA and San Diego. Barbara held her ground in the Boys club. You did light and breezy as well as HARD HITTING, factual spot reporting. Back in those days, we had no idea what was coming next but we hung on for the ride. Gawd, I miss those days. Now we get "The View-Light" at 9. We have Sam's substitute telling us, in a Company town, that she does not watch or care for anything but Reality TV... (Can you envision a scenario that has a Detroit Reporter saying, on air, that he/she does not care for American Autos and prefers motorcycles or Beemer's?) Change is certain. Bad decisions being corrected, shoud be just as certain.

You know Eric,
I do believe that all news programs are the SAME.. As a viewer, I like to connect with the TV PERSONALITES. Yes, they do show too much weather, too much traffic, too much of all the same news, over and over again.... But, it is about the TV PERSONALITIES that I feel really matter to the viewers. The viewers want to feel comfortable and "AT HOME", if you will, with the people they watch on TV that give them all the information they need to be well informed as to what is happening, not just locally, but all over the world. It seems that ALL the news channels are making changes at this time. I am a happy camper just watching my "EARLY EDITION" news with Eric and Cher..and the "Morning news" from 7-9am. I would prefer "NO" changes, (okay, maybe one) but, the first thing I do when I wake in the morning is turn on KTLA.. PLEASE, no more changes...Oh, by the way, not a big 9am fan! No matter the future changes, I will most likely always be watching KTLA in the AM!!

The "news" format on network television is so yesterday. The talking heads have spoken, the people aren't listening! I am so bored by local stations and believe me, cable is not far behind. I find the most in depth and interesting stories are reported on NPR; they are consistently reporting the news and not interjecting themselves into the story and becoming the news. Sorry Eric, you are in a dying industry. I will take a muted running news "ticker" on the bottom of CNN than listen to another overpaid, egotistical talking head any day!

Well Eric, I’m not sure if there is a ‘hidden” message in here or not but here’s my take.

THAT’S WHY THE 9AM WORKED SO WELL!!

Take the majority of what you just wrote about. Turn on every local channel we have here at 9am…they ARE all the same. KTLA did an awesome job when they started the 9am show. It was fresh, different, interesting and fun to watch. I don’t know whose idea it was, but it was brilliant and just about everyone loved it. Now look at. Sure there are still some viewers staying with it, (btw, they call them selves “loyal”…well I’m just as loyal to KTLA but I wont waste what little time I have to myself to watch or listen to TV and have it be sloop…sorry). The person in charge of changing it is just so stubborn to admit they were wrong, with each day another viewer quits…very sad, (and I’m not one of the some that blame Michaela).

Maybe this new guy, Lee Abrams, will see what others cannot…maybe. Maybe he’ll go to each stations web sites and read their blogs…maybe. We can only hope that one day amazing KTLA 9am Morning Show will return…maybe :)

p.s. Have I told you lately Eric that you ROCK!!