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Present - The Weather Channel 2000 => OCMs & Personalities => Topic started by: PAweatherman on March 03, 2015, 05:21:52 PM

Title: OCM Kim Cunningham let go
Post by: PAweatherman on March 03, 2015, 05:21:52 PM
Kim says her contract will not be renewed and her last day is April 3, though she may free lance.
Title: Re: OCM Kim Cunningham let go
Post by: alex979 on March 03, 2015, 07:00:18 PM
Too bad. Not surprising though, given what they've been doing with their employees lately. I bet she'll join the large group of TWC freelancers.
Title: Re: OCM Kim Cunningham let go
Post by: weatherfan_2013 on March 03, 2015, 07:01:13 PM
 :furious:

This is just unbelievable!!  :censored: See this is the reason why live hours have been cut and limited storm coverage. I suspect TWC is in so much debt because of the 2012 long form increase and can't afford these talented OCM's! It's only a matter of time before TWC crumbles and it's approaching faster than ever anticipated!

  :finger: TWC!  :chair: This has just made me very Mad!

 :furious: :furious:

 
Title: Re: OCM Kim Cunningham let go
Post by: Eric on March 03, 2015, 10:40:02 PM
I'm sure The Weather Channel would love to have only freelance OCMs.  Bizarre, non-guaranteed schedules, much lower salaries... and more money saved from payroll goes into non-weather longform programming.

Just how low is TWC going to sink?  Taking away talented, liked, experienced OCMs is literally taking away the face of the channel.  I tell you... the day will come when TWC turns into longform only, maybe still with the LDL and an occasional local forecast segment, but that's it.
Title: Re: OCM Kim Cunningham let go
Post by: toxictwister00 on March 04, 2015, 12:58:55 AM
*Turns the TV to our local NBC affiliate station 11 Alive waiting for Kim to make her appearance.  :whistling:

Just sayin'. Cheryl, Sam, and Julie have come and gone (and come back) to this station. It wouldn't surprise me if she popped up a time or two as a freelancer.
Title: Re: OCM Kim Cunningham let go
Post by: Metarvo on March 04, 2015, 01:04:20 PM
TWC = Terminate Workers' Contracts.  It's an easy equation if you ask me.  This is a vicious cycle: more longform translates to less need for OCMs due to fewer forecast segments.  Less OCMs on the other hand may cause the channel to add more longform.
Title: Re: OCM Kim Cunningham let go
Post by: TWCJim on March 04, 2015, 01:10:58 PM
Tsk tsk tsk.  :facepalm: Why must the best OCMs get the boot? Kim is one of my favorite OCMs and it sucks that TWC isn't renewing her contract.  :(  Best of luck to her.
Title: Re: OCM Kim Cunningham let go
Post by: Mike M on March 10, 2015, 12:21:14 PM
 Never was a big fan of Kim's presenting over the last ten years (although I'm sure it wasn't her fault). I liked her early years at TWC. Hope she lands somewhere else soon.
Title: Re: OCM Kim Cunningham let go
Post by: jason on March 13, 2015, 11:16:47 PM
she is a class act   sad to see this
Title: Re: OCM Kim Cunningham let go
Post by: Star4000 Fan on March 14, 2015, 03:53:15 AM
....another fellow Buckeye gone.

I think Mike Bettes is the last of the Ohioans on TWC. 

Jill Brown, Sharon Resultan, Bruce Edwards, Bill Schubert, Kevin Robinson, and now Kim (Perez) Cunningham.
Title: Re: OCM Kim Cunningham let go
Post by: alex979 on April 06, 2015, 08:05:45 PM
Today was her last day at TWC. I have to admit I got a little choked up during her goodbye at the end of the 7pm hour... it's really sad to see her go. I'm struck by her genuine humility; she doesn't seem bitter at all, even though TWC basically dumped her. She's a true pro and I'll miss her.
Title: Re: OCM Kim Cunningham let go
Post by: jrhtwc on April 06, 2015, 08:11:43 PM
OK, that was the hardest TWC goodbye I've seen! It's not fair!!!!! Kim was tears though the whole thing! Somehow, she's still pulling for/believes in TWC. I believe in TWC too, when their LIVE ON AIR!  Did TWC do any tributes to her? I only caught the last 5 min. I didn't see her husband there.
Title: Re: OCM Kim Cunningham let go
Post by: PAweatherman on April 06, 2015, 08:19:49 PM
If someone has video of her goodbye I'd love to see it.
Title: Re: OCM Kim Cunningham let go
Post by: TJTWX on April 06, 2015, 10:40:33 PM
Did TWC do any tributes to her?

I watched most of the 6 and 7pm shows, and saw no tributes.
Title: Re: OCM Kim Cunningham let go
Post by: alex979 on April 06, 2015, 10:59:44 PM
If someone has video of her goodbye I'd love to see it.

A screengrab was the best I could find so far, from Kim's Facebook.

(https://scontent-ord.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xaf1/v/t1.0-9/11149306_10155473317385724_6855374480936962883_n.jpg?oh=c8996e98db9ea66b6c8de7ea00366032&oe=55A7B47F)
Title: Re: OCM Kim Cunningham let go
Post by: Star4000 Fan on April 07, 2015, 11:51:39 PM
Well, that's a true shame.  I remember watching her on TWC as far back as 1991 on overnights.  She always was professional while on the air.
Title: Re: OCM Kim Cunningham let go
Post by: 02Justin10 on April 11, 2015, 09:58:46 AM
*does happy dance.* 

I had no idea Kim was leaving...if I had known earlier, I would have tuned in Monday night for her farewell...I could have celebrated that episode of Weather Center Live.  :censored:

But at least she's gone now. ;)
Title: Re: OCM Kim Cunningham let go
Post by: Eric on April 11, 2015, 02:13:04 PM
*does happy dance.* 

I had no idea Kim was leaving...if I had known earlier, I would have tuned in Monday night for her farewell...I could have celebrated that episode of Weather Center Live.  :censored:

But at least she's gone now. ;)

Before you get eaten alive, I'd like to say a couple of things.

First, no one should hold it against you that you have certain opinions for and against certain on-screen meteorologists at The Weather Channel... but they will.  I remember Kim Perez from her earliest days on TWC, and, while she was never one of my favorites, I liked her in the early days as opposed to now.  Honestly, I think it's sad she's had to do what she had to do to conform to TWC's new "Barbie girl" image of its female meteorologists, and that's a shame.  She had talent and experience, but that's what bothers me... regardless of how much I do or don't like her on-screen presentation, TWC is shedding itself of nearly all of its talent, especially its talent with a long time of experience.
Title: Re: OCM Kim Cunningham let go
Post by: 02Justin10 on April 11, 2015, 08:18:39 PM
Hi Eric,

First and foremost, I really do not care if anyone likes or dislikes my opinions/comments because they are my own.  And hey, at least I'm being honest.   :wave:

And since you were nice enough to give some insight, I will do the same.  You all may or may not believe this, but I have NOT always disliked Kim.  Up until early 2009 I had no real opinion about her one way or another.  She was not a favorite, but she was definitely well up the pecking order over Stephanie Abrams and Mike Bettes and other newer individuals.  Let's remember how TWC terminated Dave Schwartz, Cheryl Lemke and Eboni Deon late in 2008.  Then after that, they went on another termination binge in February of 2009 where they let go Kristina Abernathy, Kristen Dodd, Rich Johnson and Mark Mancuso...now this batch of cuts really angered me.  All of these individuals who had been let go had been with the network quite awhile and I was disgusted with how these individuals were treated.  Especially my personal favorite Kristin Dodd.   :(   Now to quickly fastforward, all of those people had permanent shows/times before being let go.  But not Kim and she got to stay.  Back then Kim was only floating and she was mostly filling in on Weekend Now. Now, not only did Kim stay around, she got paired up with Adam Berg and basically took over what Kristin was doing.  That never sat well with me.  Basically...I guess I directed most of my anger for TWC and put it on Kim?  Or maybe I found extra anger?  I have no clue.  Anyhoo...as time kept passing, other people were being sent away and Kim never was.  (Alexandra Steele, Nicole Mitchell, Jeff Morrow, Bill Keneely, Adam Berg and Heather Tesch)  And of course I liked a lot of those people, so to still see Kim there was always...blah.  And of course all of these years (since 2009) Kim's hair color kept changing, her skirts kept getting shorter, and I think she's had something done to her face maybe?  I've been tired of seeing her change, and change, and change to do whatever she had to look young.  If she would have just not tried to keep changing herself, I definitely would not have this much emotion toward her today.  But now that she is gone, I guess I need to let go of a lot of these negative emotions.  I know Kim is/was a terrific meteorologist...but I couldn't allow myself to just let go of the fact somehow she was still there.  *sigh.*  :unsure:
Title: Re: OCM Kim Cunningham let go
Post by: toxictwister00 on April 11, 2015, 10:41:28 PM
I've been neutral towards Kim, never disliked or liked her. Although, instead of letting her go, I would have liked if they went in the same route as they did with Carl Parker and made her an addition to the experts team with Brian, Greg, and Michael during hurricane season. It's not like she didn't have the experience/knowledge in that field, she was a hurricane hunter.

Sigh, I guess this means one of long time favs Vivian Brown is likely going to be shown the door as well sooner rather than later at this rate.  There's not that many veteran OCMs from pre-2000 left. :( Also, I never thought I would ever say this, but I've really begun to dislike Jim Cantore. I think that last Thundersnow mash up video only solidified it. Plus the way he sold out during that DirecTV/TWC fiasco last year. Very disappointing.
Title: Re: OCM Kim Cunningham let go
Post by: Eric on April 12, 2015, 11:08:54 AM
Yeah, it's only a matter of time before Vivian Brown is gone - I think that, too.  That would really be a shame.

TWC, like pretty much any and every corporation these days, cares less about talent and more about money - specifically, talented, long-time employees cost more in payroll than newer, less experienced employees, so the ones who have proven themselves over time have to go.  It's very, very sad.

I was neutral about Jim Cantore 20 years ago, but ever since he became the "face" of TWC I feel like he's just gotten very full of himself.  I don't like to watch him on TV anymore.
Title: Re: OCM Kim Cunningham let go
Post by: Star4000 Fan on April 12, 2015, 01:07:08 PM
*does happy dance.* 

I had no idea Kim was leaving...if I had known earlier, I would have tuned in Monday night for her farewell...I could have celebrated that episode of Weather Center Live.  :censored:

But at least she's gone now. ;)

Before you get eaten alive, I'd like to say a couple of things.

First, no one should hold it against you that you have certain opinions for and against certain on-screen meteorologists at The Weather Channel... but they will.  I remember Kim Perez from her earliest days on TWC, and, while she was never one of my favorites, I liked her in the early days as opposed to now.  Honestly, I think it's sad she's had to do what she had to do to conform to TWC's new "Barbie girl" image of its female meteorologists, and that's a shame.  She had talent and experience, but that's what bothers me... regardless of how much I do or don't like her on-screen presentation, TWC is shedding itself of nearly all of its talent, especially its talent with a long time of experience.
True, I keep thinking back to the overnights in 1991 when she would fill-in.  Her hairdos weren't the best (I only noticed the one, but it was fixable - no big deal, but HEY, she has a background in the Air Force, knows about hurricanes, and did a great job of presenting.  She knew her stuff!  TWC kind of compacted it later on and then NBCU just Stepforded it out. 

The Local Forecast being dumbed down the way it has is proof enough - where are the local and regional conditions?!  Three towns on the bottom bar? 

It's obvious that in an attempt to save money, they aren't paying attention to the experience.  They lost a great meteorologist....again.
Title: Re: OCM Kim Cunningham let go
Post by: Star4000 Fan on April 12, 2015, 01:10:21 PM
I've been neutral towards Kim, never disliked or liked her. Although, instead of letting her go, I would have liked if they went in the same route as they did with Carl Parker and made her an addition to the experts team with Brian, Greg, and Michael during hurricane season. It's not like she didn't have the experience/knowledge in that field, she was a hurricane hunter.

Sigh, I guess this means one of long time favs Vivian Brown is likely going to be shown the door as well sooner rather than later at this rate.  There's not that many veteran OCMs from pre-2000 left. :( Also, I never thought I would ever say this, but I've really begun to dislike Jim Cantore. I think that last Thundersnow mash up video only solidified it. Plus the way he sold out during that DirecTV/TWC fiasco last year. Very disappointing.
They moved Jim to icon status and figured they could use him as a pawn.  Jim is probably doing what he can to keep his job.  It's a national network and he is known.  The move the network made to have him on in the morning was kind of shocking to me.

It's weird like that everywhere these days.
Title: Re: OCM Kim Cunningham let go
Post by: Metarvo on April 12, 2015, 01:28:47 PM
Come to think of it, Jim did in fact present one of TWC's earliest long-form series — "Storm Stories."  Not that the series was that bad, as it did at least concentrate on weather, but nonetheless I feel it was the forerunner of the network rot we have now.

All they care about are celebrities now.  You have Jim Cantore, Al Roker, and Sam Champion.  Meanwhile, the meterologists that made TWC what it was have gradually been let go.  I still haven't gotten over Nicole Mitchell being treated the way she was!  :thumbdown:  She was actually a hurricane hunter!  Kim Cunningham's departure is indeed another straw on the camel's back, and it's only a matter of time before a loud break will be heard.  Verizon's heard it on the horizon, and there's no doubt DTV and Dish can feel it coming, although the former only temporarily acted on it.
Title: Re: OCM Kim Cunningham let go
Post by: WeatherWitness on April 12, 2015, 05:53:59 PM
Hi Eric,

First and foremost, I really do not care if anyone likes or dislikes my opinions/comments because they are my own.  And hey, at least I'm being honest.   :wave:

And since you were nice enough to give some insight, I will do the same.  You all may or may not believe this, but I have NOT always disliked Kim.  Up until early 2009 I had no real opinion about her one way or another.  She was not a favorite, but she was definitely well up the pecking order over Stephanie Abrams and Mike Bettes and other newer individuals.  Let's remember how TWC terminated Dave Schwartz, Cheryl Lemke and Eboni Deon late in 2008.  Then after that, they went on another termination binge in February of 2009 where they let go Kristina Abernathy, Kristen Dodd, Rich Johnson and Mark Mancuso...now this batch of cuts really angered me.  All of these individuals who had been let go had been with the network quite awhile and I was disgusted with how these individuals were treated.  Especially my personal favorite Kristin Dodd.   :(   Now to quickly fastforward, all of those people had permanent shows/times before being let go.  But not Kim and she got to stay.  Back then Kim was only floating and she was mostly filling in on Weekend Now. Now, not only did Kim stay around, she got paired up with Adam Berg and basically took over what Kristin was doing.  That never sat well with me.  Basically...I guess I directed most of my anger for TWC and put it on Kim?  Or maybe I found extra anger?  I have no clue.  Anyhoo...as time kept passing, other people were being sent away and Kim never was.  (Alexandra Steele, Nicole Mitchell, Jeff Morrow, Bill Keneely, Adam Berg and Heather Tesch)  And of course I liked a lot of those people, so to still see Kim there was always...blah.  And of course all of these years (since 2009) Kim's hair color kept changing, her skirts kept getting shorter, and I think she's had something done to her face maybe?  I've been tired of seeing her change, and change, and change to do whatever she had to look young.  If she would have just not tried to keep changing herself, I definitely would not have this much emotion toward her today. But now that she is gone, I guess I need to let go of a lot of these negative emotions.  I know Kim is/was a terrific meteorologist...but I couldn't allow myself to just let go of the fact somehow she was still there.  *sigh.*  :unsure:

Unfortunately, I am pretty sure that was the station's decision to change her wardrobe, not her own.  TWC, like most stations nowadays, wants to attract attention to the hot, young weather girl so that people will want to tune-in.  It is pretty amazing to see the difference between Kim Perez and Kim Cunningham (as I feel like the change started once she got married).  Also, I am pretty sure she stayed around while they let the veterans go so that they could fill a more permanent position for less money.  Now they must have reached their threshold on her or something, who knows?  So I understand if you do not like Kim, but I think it's more of the station's fault than her own.

This is going a little off-topic but is in response to what is being discussed: Jim Cantore has, unfortunately, gone too far.  Again, I am pretty sure since he is the face of TWC that they are pushing for him to be as dramatic as possible, but I think it's way too over-the-top now.  Yes, thundersnow is cool, but was it really worth that?  Probably not, but since it has become a tradition for him, he will try to take advantage of it in the highest-viewer rating way possible.
Title: Re: OCM Kim Cunningham let go
Post by: Mike M on April 13, 2015, 05:12:28 PM
This is going a little off-topic but is in response to what is being discussed: Jim Cantore has, unfortunately, gone too far.  Again, I am pretty sure since he is the face of TWC that they are pushing for him to be as dramatic as possible, but I think it's way too over-the-top now.  Yes, thundersnow is cool, but was it really worth that?  Probably not, but since it has become a tradition for him, he will try to take advantage of it in the highest-viewer rating way possible.
Him, and Jen Carfagno. TWC has really pushed her to the limit in recent years, too (even more than Abrams since they revamped the morning lineup actually).
Title: Re: OCM Kim Cunningham let go
Post by: Star4000 Fan on April 15, 2015, 12:38:09 PM
Come to think of it, Jim did in fact present one of TWC's earliest long-form series — "Storm Stories."  Not that the series was that bad, as it did at least concentrate on weather, but nonetheless I feel it was the forerunner of the network rot we have now.

All they care about are celebrities now.  You have Jim Cantore, Al Roker, and Sam Champion.  Meanwhile, the meterologists that made TWC what it was have gradually been let go.  I still haven't gotten over Nicole Mitchell being treated the way she was!  :thumbdown:  She was actually a hurricane hunter!  Kim Cunningham's departure is indeed another straw on the camel's back, and it's only a matter of time before a loud break will be heard.  Verizon's heard it on the horizon, and there's no doubt DTV and Dish can feel it coming, although the former only temporarily acted on it.
Yeah, Nicole Mitchell was very effective in her role, too.  Kim Cunningham had a similar background - both were in the Air Force, so you knew they knew their stuff.

Sam Champion's show was dismal in the ratings its first year so they brought in Jim Cantore to try and save it.  There, I said it.  It was better with Mike and Stephanie.

WooWah doesn't do it for me, either.
Title: Re: OCM Kim Cunningham let go
Post by: Lightning on April 18, 2015, 06:11:10 PM
It truly does stink for them to do this with TWC's best OCMs. It's such ashamed. NBC's goal seems to be the destruction of The Weather Channel.  :angry: :cry: I have a feeling, as mentioned already in this thread that Vivian Brown may be next.  :no: It makes me so mad. NBC doesn't give a  :censored: about the TWC's viewers. It's all about money to them.  They're greedy! :thumbdown:
Title: Re: OCM Kim Cunningham let go
Post by: Star4000 Fan on April 19, 2015, 02:34:21 AM
It truly does stink for them to do this with TWC's best OCMs. It's such ashamed. NBC's goal seems to be the destruction of The Weather Channel.  :angry: :cry: I have a feeling, as mentioned already in this thread that Vivian Brown may be next.  :no: It makes me so mad. NBC doesn't give a  :censored: about the TWC's viewers. It's all about money to them.  They're greedy! :thumbdown:
Well, they're failing dismally with MSNBC, too, and now with the Brian Williams scandal....I am sure a few people are beside themselves at NBC Universal.

Some of it .... the brought upon themselves.