# Contrived TV Weatherperson Names **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 12, 2003, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/contrived-tv-weatherperson-names/218510 "2003-12-12T02:59:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![bughunter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/aeb1de/32.png) [@bughunter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bughunter)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2003, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/contrived-tv-weatherperson-names/218510/1 "2003-12-12T02:59:57Z")
(Inspired by [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=185571) on silly names.) So where you live, do the local TV Weatherbimbos\* have silly contrived names? I know they do, because I’ve lived in many cities, and every one had at least one example… Here in LA, the best examples are Dallas Raines and Johnny Mountain, both on KABC channel 7. I can remember in Florida, there was a Sonny Daye. The rest have been erased to make room for more useful information, like the lyrics to The Banana Splits theme. So who are the Sonny’s and Stormy’s and Wendy’s in your area? Do they have obvious fake tans like Dallas Raines? Cheerful and grandfatherly like Johnny Mountain? Or are they insidiously annoying like KNBC’s Fritz Coleman, who has a relatively normal name but an abnormally enormous ego? (\* A weatherbimbo can be male or female. Here in LA, the biggest weatherbimbo by far is Marc Kriski, morning show weatherbimbo on KTLA 5… a total airhead.) ---
**Author:** ![stuyguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@stuyguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stuyguy)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2003, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/contrived-tv-weatherperson-names/218510/2 "2003-12-12T03:40:04Z")
In NYC we have _Storm_ Field, if you can believe it. Thing is, it’s his real name. His dad was a NYC weather broadcast legend, Dr. Frank Field. (FYI, he named his daughter Gail – or Gale… not sure of the spelling.) ---
**Author:** ![sleeping](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/839c29/32.png) [@sleeping](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sleeping)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2003, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/contrived-tv-weatherperson-names/218510/3 "2003-12-12T04:06:20Z")
Damn you, **stuyguy**! Storm Field was mine! Anyway, here’s a [pic](http://www.upn9.com/news/personalities.shtml). ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2003, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/contrived-tv-weatherperson-names/218510/4 "2003-12-12T04:22:36Z")
Moving this to Cafe Society. ---
**Author:** ![Super\_Gnat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@Super\_Gnat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Super_Gnat)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2003, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/contrived-tv-weatherperson-names/218510/5 "2003-12-12T04:23:43Z")
Our NBC weatherguy is Topper Shutt. Don’t think it’s made up, though – it sounds like it should mean something, but AFAIK it doesn’t. I didn’t know meteorologists from other areas had interesting names too. ---
**Author:** ![doctordoowop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecc23a/32.png) [@doctordoowop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doctordoowop)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2003, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/contrived-tv-weatherperson-names/218510/6 "2003-12-12T04:34:34Z")
Dr George in LA in the past. (Honorary doctorate). Dr Frank Field was an optometrist, not meteorologist as he wanted us to think. BTW,Coleman was hired specifically as a comedian. He took Pat Sajak’s place. ---
**Author:** ![bughunter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/aeb1de/32.png) [@bughunter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bughunter)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2003, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/contrived-tv-weatherperson-names/218510/7 "2003-12-12T18:25:53Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by doctordoowop_ > **Coleman was hired specifically as a comedian.** Aha… then no wonder they kept trying to find some sort of vehicle for Fritz to vault beyond meteorology and become a game show host… or travel show host… or variety show host… or dating show host… or entertainment show host… God, I can’t remember how many failed fluff programs he’s hosted in the 15 years I’ve been living here. I think KNBC finally got a clue that he was boringly unfunny, and only slightly less annoying than Christopher Nance. ---
**Author:** ![kasuo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8c91f0/32.png) [@kasuo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kasuo)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2003, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/contrived-tv-weatherperson-names/218510/8 "2003-12-12T18:39:25Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by bughunter \* > \*\* (_ A weatherbimbo can be male or female. Here in LA, the biggest weatherbimbo by far is Marc Kriski, morning show weatherbimbo on KTLA 5… a total airhead.) \*\* Jillian Barberie (sp?) on the FOX 11 affiliate is worse than Marc Kriski. Not only is she on Good Day L.A. but now there’s a Good Day Live that is broadcast all over the country. Her evil and annoyance has begun to spread and it is only a matter of time before the apocalypse will begin. ---
**Author:** ![Gamaliel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b487fb/32.png) [@Gamaliel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gamaliel)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2003, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/contrived-tv-weatherperson-names/218510/9 "2003-12-12T20:04:17Z")
Flip Spiceland! ---
**Author:** ![bughunter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/aeb1de/32.png) [@bughunter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bughunter)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2003, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/contrived-tv-weatherperson-names/218510/10 "2003-12-12T20:10:27Z")
Yeah, **kasuo** , read my post in the rant on local news programs and I address Jillian Barberie and the FOX11 Morning show specifically. But I don’t consider her a weatherperson. Yeah, she does the weather, but so does the KPCC local anchor during All Things Considered. Besides, I don’t hold any loathing for her, at least not compared to Dorothy Lucey, who only has the damn job because her husband is the producer. And it shows. ---
**Author:** ![SanibelMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e4f/32.png) [@SanibelMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanibelMan)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2003, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/contrived-tv-weatherperson-names/218510/11 "2003-12-12T20:19:14Z")
Preggie McPregnant Preggers. At least, that should be the name for the women of The Weather Channel. I swear, they have litters. (And I think Jim Cantore is the father of them all.) ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2003, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/contrived-tv-weatherperson-names/218510/12 "2003-12-12T21:01:37Z")
Gotta’ love a city like good 'ol Buffalo, where television meterologists have names like Kristin Wedemeyer, Aaron Mentkowski, and Mike Cejka. I think the names of local weathercasts are more interesting, like “The Channel 64 Doppler Radar StormTrack Severe Weather Watch Alert Team.” ---
**Author:** ![KGS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/90ced4/32.png) [@KGS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KGS)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2003, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/contrived-tv-weatherperson-names/218510/13 "2003-12-12T22:46:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by kasuo \* > \*\*Jillian Barberie (sp?) on the FOX 11 affiliate is worse than Marc Kriski…Her evil and annoyance has begun to spread and it is only a matter of time before the apocalypse will begin. \*\* Man, that’s the second time today I’ve read a rant trashing my Jillian. I can’t start the day without my “Good Day L.A.” fix! Yeah, both her & Dorothy are total airheads, and they hardly ever cover actual news (I sure wish they’d drop those lame “Adopt a Puppy” spots, especially since Jill always adopts the damn dog for herself anyway!) – but I _love_ how both of them rag incessantly on Steve Edwards through the whole show (poor Steve!) and, perhaps more importantly…both of them are HOT HOT HOT!!! BTW, wasn’t there a “Stormy Weathers” meterologist once? I seem to vaguely recall one… ---
**Author:** ![fiddlesticks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddlesticks/32/18129_2.png) [@fiddlesticks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fiddlesticks)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2003, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/contrived-tv-weatherperson-names/218510/14 "2003-12-13T00:53:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by elmwood \* > \*\*I think the names of local weathercasts are more interesting, like “The Channel 64 Doppler Radar StormTrack Severe Weather Watch Alert Team.” \*\* You forgot the “3000” (adjusted from 2000 a few years back). ---
**Author:** ![crypto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b3f665/32.png) [@crypto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crypto)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2003, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/contrived-tv-weatherperson-names/218510/15 "2003-12-13T01:09:42Z")
Philadelphia - Amy Freeze And let’s not forget Glen “Hurricane” Schwartz, a weird little fellow who wears bow ties and this nickname like a medal of honor. When you have to give yourself a nickname, you aren’t very impressive. SFP ---
**Author:** ![drewbert](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drewbert/32/15890_2.png) [@drewbert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewbert)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2003, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/contrived-tv-weatherperson-names/218510/16 "2003-12-13T03:24:56Z")
I don’t live near Charlotte anymore, but as of a few years ago, WCNC had a weather guy named Larry Sprinkle. ---
**Author:** ![Rico](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rico/32/3582_2.png) [@Rico](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rico)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2003, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/contrived-tv-weatherperson-names/218510/17 "2003-12-13T05:44:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Stink Fish Pot \* > \*\*Philadelphia - Amy Freeze \*\* [That’s her real name!](http://www.famousmormons.net/) Click TV/Movies/Radio then scroll down - she’s the seventh on the list. When I worked at KTSM in El Paso, the weatherman was Ted Bender. He’s a local legend - and one hell of an all-around good guy. ---
**Author:** ![widdershins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f0a364/32.png) [@widdershins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/widdershins)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2003, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/contrived-tv-weatherperson-names/218510/18 "2003-12-15T15:27:34Z")
Got to admit CNN became less fun to watch without Flip Spiceland doing the weather, just to see the news anchors say that name with a straight face. WBRC in Birmingham, Alabama has a weekend weatherman named Dr. Ted K. No idea about if the Dr. is legit or what the “K” stands for. Not contirved but it stood out, WHNT in Huntsville used to have a cute weather girl named Lila Marigza. Actually, I liked the name because it was fun to say. I think she’s a regular news reporter in Nashville now. And I have to admit to sometimes watching _Good Day Live_ despite how awful it is just for Jillian Barberie. But the only thing worse than Dorothy Lucey’s facelift is her voice, at least now I know how she got her job… Not a weatherman/woman/bimbo/etc., but MSNBC used to have an anchor named Gulstan Dart. I always thought the name sounded like a character on a David E. Kelly show or a model of car from 1964. ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2003, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/contrived-tv-weatherperson-names/218510/19 "2003-12-15T15:38:07Z")
Glen Hurricane Schwartz in Philly: He was recruited as a reg newscaster, but they decided to give him an image and make it part of his contract. To counter and lend balance to their other ‘hip’ weather guy, they took Glen Schwartz, made him contractually obligated to use the name “Hurricane” and make him contractually obligated to wear a sport coat, round rim spectacles and bow tie. ---
**Author:** ![TurdFerguson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9a140/32.png) [@TurdFerguson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TurdFerguson)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2003, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/contrived-tv-weatherperson-names/218510/20 "2003-12-15T15:45:03Z")
Jay Walker on Channel 21 in Fort Wayne, IN [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/contrived-tv-weatherperson-names/218510.md?page=2)