Messages

1291

OCMs & Personalities / Re: Alexandra Steele Let Go

« on: November 14, 2010, 01:36:14 AM »

* Martin finishes sweeping

I took the liberty of cleaning some of the off topic discussions so that members would be more comfortable with keeping this topic active! I want to clarify a few things and make some comments.

In early October it was brought to my attention that Alexandra Steele had most likely been let go. This was also the belief of several of my sources/friends who are familiar with the situation at The Weather Channel. I would like to point out that I would NOT make a topic unless I believed the information I received was factual and accurate. Over time the story has changed a little bit.


Here are the facts:
Alexandra is NOT on vacation leave
Alexandra is NOT on medical leave
Alexandra is NOT currently working at The Weather Channel (meaning on air, behind the scenes, etc)
Alexandra IS in some dispute with The Weather Channel

If you do not wish to discuss in speculation please refrain from posting in this topic. If you wish to dispute my facts, please contact me. Thanks everyone

1292

General Discussion / Re: The Pot Belly Stove

« on: November 12, 2010, 08:36:49 PM »

It's fun to see the winter icons starting to show up

I don't know about you but I am still digging these wx icons 

1293

IntelliStar 2 Discussion / Re: IntelliStar 2 Beta Launch

« on: November 12, 2010, 12:17:40 PM »

I wish there was a timeframe to look forward to for a Rollout.

But it is being rolled out 

At this rate, the members of this forum still in high school will be grandparents by the time the whole country has access to one, but, yes, you are technically right - it is being rolled out! 

Haha!

1294

General Discussion / Re: The Pot Belly Stove

« on: November 12, 2010, 12:16:05 PM »

My iWitness weather pic aired at 9:10 PM this evening! It was of this morning's freezing fog.    

Congratulations I am sorry I missed it but I am glad you made it on air!!

1295

OCMs & Personalities / Re: Re: Alexandra Steele Let Go

« on: November 12, 2010, 11:36:05 AM »

This is stupid, seriously. They're kicking out the good-o classic ones just so they can make room for the "hot" weatherwomen. What a great way to attract perverts. (not to offend anyone).

lol I hope we don't have any perverts here to be offended by that

It is the nature of the career in these times.

1296

General Discussion / Re: The Pot Belly Stove

« on: November 12, 2010, 05:28:30 AM »

I honestly dont know what to do with my mom and her anger anymore  today she came home and saw that the clock above my desk was still not changed and I try to be funny with a response like "well i can translate it "; however its that my mom has a weakness to where she cant disperse sarcasm between harshness or humor, and always goes with the harshness side so we argued for about 10 minutes and of course Im blamed. I called my dad after she went outside to "forget it", told him what happened and he said to leave her alone and hell talk to her. god i hope cuz Ive had enough emotional damage done by her in my life

or you could have just changed the clock. All families have fights like these. I remember my Mom would come home after work and would be cranky and bitchy. It's life. I don't think your situation is any different than many working families. If you think/know your mom can't tell between sarcasm and humor than why say what you did in the first place?

1297

OCMs & Personalities / Re: Your Weather Today With Abrams and Bettes!

« on: November 12, 2010, 02:12:13 AM »

Who Will Stephanie Abrams Miss The Most? YWT Reaction

I thought the whole connection with the movie was cheesy considering it was advertising. However it is nice to see them having "fun" moments still on YWT

1298

IntelliStar 2 Discussion / Re: IntelliStar 2 Beta Launch

« on: November 12, 2010, 01:15:27 AM »

I wish there was a timeframe to look forward to for a Rollout.

But it is being rolled out 

1299

Programming and Graphics / Re: 11/15 Schedule Changes

« on: November 12, 2010, 01:12:58 AM »

They show the same episodes of shows over and over again, Just now that same SS episode about the Georgia Flooding I know just came on a few days ago at the same time it did before. If they're doing that already without any complaints I doubt anyone will notice (except you). 

Hush

1300

OCMs & Personalities / Re: Re: Alexandra Steele Let Go

« on: November 12, 2010, 01:09:05 AM »

Interesting...  here is the case I was referring to

From the NY Post in 2005/2006

A storm of controversy has engulfed The Weather
Channel, after a 40-something former anchor accused
network brass of washing her out of a high-ranking job
to make way for a hot front of sexy young
weatherwomen.

Marny Stanier Midkiff, 42, this week filed a lawsuit
claiming she was booted in the fall of 2003 as part of
a reputed "reorganization" of the storm channel, which
she believes was really an excuse to get more young
female weathercasters on the air.

Midkiff says that, in the months before she was let
go, her boss allegedly spoke of female staffers as
"matronly," "dowdy" and "nun-like" and asked that
female on-air talent turn up the temperature on their
look with more revealing "V-neck" shirts.

Midkiff and her attorney claim The Weather Channel
also began hiring new young weathercasters starting in
2003 as part of this effort, and the then-41-year-old,
who spent 16 years reporting on sun and rain for the
network, was left out in the cold.

"She got tossed aside because The Weather Channel
wanted a younger look," said Midkiff's attorney,
Daniel Klein. "She was one of the top
[meteorologists]. She was one of the best they had,
but she didn't fit the image they had in mind."

He said hires such as weathercasters Alexandra Steele
and Nicole Mitchell are among those who demonstrate
this trend. Klein's office also provided a picture of
what was called the "new look" of the channelF, in
which recently hired meteorologists wear
hotter-looking low-cut blouses.



According to Midkiff's suit, filed in Atlanta federal
court, the forecast looked sunny for the veteran
meteorologist in early 2003 as she was promoted to be
a high-level manager of the other on-air talent, in
addition to her regular duties reading the weather on
air.

But Midkiff claims her boss, programming chief Terry
Connelly, was becoming convinced the older look of the
staff was costing The Weather Channel viewers.

The network declined to comment on the allegations
because of pending litigation. But Midkiff claims the
first major step Connelly took was to hire an image
consultant.

"Connelly openly expressed animosity toward older
female [meteorologists]," the suit says. "He spoke
freely of his goal to 'young up' The Weather Channel.

"At one point, Connelly announced, 'We're old and we
can't be . . . Our ratings are going down.' "

The worst for Midkiff came in August of 2003 when
Connelly held an "open forum" in which he said viewers
thought the network's female weathercasters looked too
old.

1301

OCMs & Personalities / Re: Re: Alexandra Steele Let Go

« on: November 12, 2010, 01:00:54 AM »

Anyone know how old Alex is? I know TWC has had to deal with age discrimination problems in the past

1302

Programming and Graphics / Re: 11/15 Schedule Changes

« on: November 11, 2010, 05:28:10 PM »

Seems to be the start of those programming changes again

Also i went all the way through the guide and i saw a purple highlight (movie) @ 8-10pm EST on 11/26 with an encore @ 11pm - 1am EST

if it is indeed a movie TWC has decided to bring movies back

most likely only for the Thanksgiving holiday, like last year, so that the OCMs can be with their families maybe? god, you're so overreactive.

They don't have to show a movie just to do that, they can show long form programming like they always do, long form serves the same purpose.

if a movie is just replacing long form (and not replacing weather coverage) I don't have a problem with it. Showing the same old long form over and over and over again is boring

1303

Programming and Graphics / Re: 11/15 Schedule Changes

« on: November 11, 2010, 04:13:55 PM »

ICHT ads have been running on the network.
Comcast box goes out that far.

Oh gotcha.

most likely only for the Thanksgiving holiday, like last year, so that the OCMs can be with their families maybe? god, you're so overreactive.

I think TWC is really missing out though. Thanksgiving is the most traveled holiday of the year. Thanksgiving Evening would have been a good time for some weather coverage as folks prepare to head back home.

1304

Programming and Graphics / Re: 11/15 Schedule Changes

« on: November 11, 2010, 04:04:43 PM »

Where are any of you seeing this? My TV guide shows no changes nor does ZapIt

1305

OCMs & Personalities / Re: Re: Alexandra Steele Let Go

« on: November 10, 2010, 11:24:25 PM »

The most important thing is that Alex is OK. I hope she wasn't in something like a car accident or is having problems with her health, but since Martin said not to worry, I won't and will stop talking to avoid a member riot.

Health concerns... no. Legal issues... yes.