It can be goofy. Sometimes even a little juvenile.
But the morning crew at WDAF-Fox 4 seems to really connect well with viewers while blending serious news stories with some not-so-serious.
The formula seems to work as the May TV Sweeps period officially concludes tonight and it looks as if the Fox 4 morning show will be the ratings leader in Kansas City.
“I wish our management would allow us to do the goofy, fun stuff they do at 4,” a competing morning host shared a few years ago with Bottom Line. “Viewers in the morning seem to be able to really relate to them since they come across as so open and enjoying themselves.
A recent example of the kind of antics they often do at Fox 4 involved Nick Vasos (below, left) and Mark Alford pretending they were doing a WWE entrance. Both of them really got into the entire skit and had fun with it (photo links to video) and Alford sent clips to this site and tonyskansascity.com for promotion.
It is doubtful any other morning team in town would have followed their lead.
‘REAL’ PEOPLE
The reason viewers connect with them is because they come across as “real” people instead of just talking-head journalists.
Real people have funny stories about their kids, their dogs, things they do outside of work, etc. FOX 4′s morning crew makes that a regular thing. It seems like the only time we see other station’s on-air talent more personal qualities is if one of them gets cancer.
When Don Harman took his life, FOX 4′s morning crew had permission from its viewers to grieve on air and grieve WITH its viewers because we felt the loss, too.
It’s all that that has made me a loyal viewer for 13 years or so.
NOT A FAN
I know some people love this crap. I’m not one of them.
I want my news delivered by someone who I believe is serious about the news. I don’t need to know — and I don’t want to know — about their personal lives.
I won’t watch a newscast that goes from a story about a serial rapist on the loose to the news crew dancing to the latest hit to a straight-faced anchor reading a story about a double-murder last night. Sorry, it just doesn’t work for me.
I will say, though, that the Fox4 team does seem to genuinely enjoy all doing all their shenanigans.
MORNING SHOWS ARE COMBOS
News delivered by someone who is serious about the news? On what morning show/station do you get this delivery? All the morning shows in KC feature at least a small amount of fun for their viewers, even if it comes from the weatherman.
Morning news shows are generally a combo of news, interviews, cooking, local events, etc. We actually enjoy Fox4 and enjoy the difference in their style vs. the styles of some of the other late breaking, sensationalist type of news delivery.