Local news isn’t rocket surgery. It’s simply television. It’s taking engaging personalities, putting them on camera, and having them tell stories – compelling stories that are sometimes funny, sometimes tear-jerkers, oftentimes tragic, but always relevant and authentic. That’s it. Do that on any platform, and an audience finds you. Every time.

I know this to be true. I produced a newscast that – completely by accident – became a massive “hit show.” No journalism-focused, integrity-driven news producer would ever equate their local newscast with the likes of a “hit show.” I certainly didn’t. But then a pattern developed. I had another hit show. And still another.  I always thought hit shows were scripted, prime-time network comedies or dramas like Seinfeld or This Is Us or even reality and game shows like American Idol or Who Wants to Be A Millionaire?  Those are hits. Who would ever label a lousy, little, local newscast a hit TV show?

• THE KTLA MORNING NEWS

The two-hour KTLA Morning News (KTLAMN), which I was lucky enough to start up from scratch, create, staff, and showrun from 1991 to 1997 in Los Angeles, became the highest-rated local morning newscast in, well, the history of local morning newscasts – that according to John Reardon, former President & CEO of Tribune Broadcasting. But it didn’t start out that way. This was a local, independent station airing old reruns of The Brady Bunch five days a week at 7AM. A lot of viewers were pissed off when Greg, Marcia and Peter were replaced with Barbara, Carlos and Mark.

Here are some scenes from the original KTLA Morning News:

6TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL

 

KTLA MORNING NEWS (2 1/2 Year Anniversary Special)

THE MORNING SHOW

NORTHRIDGE EARTHQUAKE (Emmy Award)

TRAVELS WITH THE MORNING NEWS (SPECIAL)