Post by imissvtv on May 12, 2007 2:49:16 GMT -5
Come September, You'll see Tony on Tuesdays and Wednesdays only.
Dana Gee
TheProvince.com
Friday, May 11, 2007
In an interesting twist the guy who usually delivers the news has himself become the news.
In September, the venerable Global TV anchor Tony Parsons will scale back his anchor job to two days a week and, says Parsons, weekend News Hour anchor Chris Gailus is slated to take over the No. 1-rated newscast for the other three days of the week.
"I was in Kelowna doing a function and some of the local media came out and someone asked me point blank, 'When are you going to retire?' I said, 'Funny you would ask that as I just signed a contract that will see me scale back to make way for Chris Gailus, who will succeed me," says Parsons, who during his three-plus decades at BCTV and Global saw the show rise to be one of North America's most watched local newscasts.
"The time is right. I think it's going to work out great for me and hopefully it will work out for Chris as well," says Parsons.
The 68-year-old Parsons - who took over the 6 o'clock anchor spot on CHAN (better known as BCTV) in 1975 - says he will retire to Kelowna after the 2010 Olympics.
"He's due some time to himself," says Global news director Ian Haysom, who adds Parsons will in the future do some documentary and mentoring work for the station. "He's been an icon in broadcasting in this city, this country, in North America for decades."
Having two anchors split up the week is a unique situation, a situation Parsons says he has never heard of before, but one that appealed to him at this stage in his career.
"I will be there Tuesday and Wednesday," he says. "Really it is the best of both worlds. I can still keep my oar in the water and enjoy more time to golf and do what I love to do. You know, I'm happy with the plan. It's a good way to go out."
While Parsons mentions Gailus as his successor, Haysom would not confirm that.
"I think the future is in incredibly capable hands," says Haysom, adding an official announcement is forthcoming. "We have incredible bench strengths in anchors across the board and the content is incredibly strong. You know Tony would be the first to say it's a team approach and that's what makes Global strong."
As for Gailus, he's playing this one close to the lapels on his anchorman's blazer, only saying that it's a bit premature to discuss who will ultimately take over the mighty weekday News Hour.
"It's very nice to have an icon like that in your corner at any time in your career," says Gailus, who joined Global last spring. "I can say I am very proud and happy to think he thinks I am worthy of that job. All I know is that if I was given that chance I would be more than honoured to follow Tony and to sit in that chair every night."
So as they say in TV, stay tuned.
dgee@png.canwest.com
Dana Gee
TheProvince.com
Friday, May 11, 2007
In an interesting twist the guy who usually delivers the news has himself become the news.
In September, the venerable Global TV anchor Tony Parsons will scale back his anchor job to two days a week and, says Parsons, weekend News Hour anchor Chris Gailus is slated to take over the No. 1-rated newscast for the other three days of the week.
"I was in Kelowna doing a function and some of the local media came out and someone asked me point blank, 'When are you going to retire?' I said, 'Funny you would ask that as I just signed a contract that will see me scale back to make way for Chris Gailus, who will succeed me," says Parsons, who during his three-plus decades at BCTV and Global saw the show rise to be one of North America's most watched local newscasts.
"The time is right. I think it's going to work out great for me and hopefully it will work out for Chris as well," says Parsons.
The 68-year-old Parsons - who took over the 6 o'clock anchor spot on CHAN (better known as BCTV) in 1975 - says he will retire to Kelowna after the 2010 Olympics.
"He's due some time to himself," says Global news director Ian Haysom, who adds Parsons will in the future do some documentary and mentoring work for the station. "He's been an icon in broadcasting in this city, this country, in North America for decades."
Having two anchors split up the week is a unique situation, a situation Parsons says he has never heard of before, but one that appealed to him at this stage in his career.
"I will be there Tuesday and Wednesday," he says. "Really it is the best of both worlds. I can still keep my oar in the water and enjoy more time to golf and do what I love to do. You know, I'm happy with the plan. It's a good way to go out."
While Parsons mentions Gailus as his successor, Haysom would not confirm that.
"I think the future is in incredibly capable hands," says Haysom, adding an official announcement is forthcoming. "We have incredible bench strengths in anchors across the board and the content is incredibly strong. You know Tony would be the first to say it's a team approach and that's what makes Global strong."
As for Gailus, he's playing this one close to the lapels on his anchorman's blazer, only saying that it's a bit premature to discuss who will ultimately take over the mighty weekday News Hour.
"It's very nice to have an icon like that in your corner at any time in your career," says Gailus, who joined Global last spring. "I can say I am very proud and happy to think he thinks I am worthy of that job. All I know is that if I was given that chance I would be more than honoured to follow Tony and to sit in that chair every night."
So as they say in TV, stay tuned.
dgee@png.canwest.com