# What ever happened to Tricia Toyota **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 13, 2004, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-ever-happened-to-tricia-toyota/244892 "2004-05-13T01:58:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2004, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-ever-happened-to-tricia-toyota/244892/1 "2004-05-13T01:58:59Z")
I remember watching Tricia Toyota on the local news when I was in high school. I don’t remember if she was on KABC, or KCBS, but I do remember she was really pretty. Yesterday I played my old _Dawn of the Dickies_ CD (“I was stuck in a pagoda / With Tricia Toyota / We were watching Abe Vigoda / And then everything will be fine…”) What ever happened to her? ---
**Author:** ![yosemite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/3ab097/32.png) [@yosemite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yosemite)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2004, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-ever-happened-to-tricia-toyota/244892/2 "2004-05-13T02:09:00Z")
Yeah. I remember her. But sorry, I don’t know what happened to her. [I did find some mention of her on this page](http://www.ronfineman.com/WhereAreTheyNow.html) but a quick scan doesn’t show any answers. And she’s mentioned fondly on [this page](http://www.socalhistory.org/Hoffman%202.htm) along with a lot of other names you’ll recognize: > [@](#): > > erry Dunphy (1922?-2002) was another Los Angeles TV news institution. Beginning in 1960, he anchored and reported the news for KCBS (when it was called KNXT), KABC, and KCAL. His “From the desert to the sea to all of southern California, a good evening” greeting became familiar to millions of television viewers. A biography of his career would also be a mirror of the major news events that have affected southern California and the nation for almost half a century. Other local newscasters should be working on their memoirs–George Putnam, Hal Fishman, Tricia Toyota, Kelly Lange, Warren Wilson, and Furnell Chatman, for example. In future years they will be fertile subjects for biographies, for in reporting what was happening they made contact with business, political, religious, and other leaders, and, of course, lots and lots of celebrities. Other than that, I’m not finding much. ---
**Author:** ![yosemite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/3ab097/32.png) [@yosemite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yosemite)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2004, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-ever-happened-to-tricia-toyota/244892/3 "2004-05-13T02:11:21Z")
And I found [this small picture of her](http://www.photoeditinc.com/results.asp?cat=MDA+201) (waaaay at the bottom of the page, with Michael Tuck—remember him?) as well. Now you’ve got me wondering . . . ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2004, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-ever-happened-to-tricia-toyota/244892/4 "2004-05-13T02:13:08Z")
I remember Jerry Dunphy’s greeting well. Speaking of KABC, Dr. George Fishbeck was, IMO, the best weather personality ever. He was _so_ into it! I heard he’s retired to Arizona. I wonder too, what ever happened to KNBC’s Christopher Nance? But it’s weird how Tricia Toyota just disappeared. ---
**Author:** ![yosemite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/3ab097/32.png) [@yosemite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yosemite)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2004, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-ever-happened-to-tricia-toyota/244892/5 "2004-05-13T02:19:18Z")
Still haven’t found any answers about Toyota, but there’s a scandal behind Nance. Apparently he was really awful! Check out this cite: [Storm watch: fired by NBC4 after a history of inappropriate relationships, violent outbursts, and ethical lapses, terminally sunny forecaster Christopher Nance has turned out to be the troubled nino of L.A. weather.](http://www.findarticles.com/cf_dls/m1346/2_48/97551591/p2/article.jhtml?term=) I remember reading in shock about him a few years ago in an LA Magazine article. Could’ve knocked me over with a feather. He seemed so _nice._ And I was always so fond of Jerry Dunphy. When I was a little kid, (I mean, _really_ little), I thought he was my dad. He looked a little like my dad, and when I saw him on the TV, I thought that my dad was in there. Strange . . . And Dr. George? I don’t know really, but I think he was getting up in years. I do recall someone saying that he was getting so eccentric on the news that they finally phased him out. I never saw him as that eccentric, but he was a character! ---
**Author:** ![yosemite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/3ab097/32.png) [@yosemite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yosemite)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2004, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-ever-happened-to-tricia-toyota/244892/6 "2004-05-13T02:20:22Z")
Well, I should also say that I know that Dr. George retired ('cause you just said so), but I got this impression that it was strongly “suggested” that he retire. (But he was getting to that age anyway.) ---
**Author:** ![Briny\_Deep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/briny_deep/32/17188_2.png) [@Briny\_Deep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Briny_Deep)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2004, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-ever-happened-to-tricia-toyota/244892/7 "2004-05-13T02:22:21Z")
First thing I thought of when I saw the thread title? “Stuck in a pagoda.” Right on, Johnny L.A. I used to know her vaguely, actually, when she was on Channel 4 in Los Angeles. She was an absolutely sweetheart, a doll, a genuinely Nice Person. Once I gave her a slice of apple pie that I had baked, in a pie-wedge-shaped Tupperware container. She later returned the container (washed, of course) with a thank-you note enclosed, and she had origamied the note into a wedge shape. I still have it somewhere. At the time I knew her, she was of equal status (i.e., local only) with Connie Chung. I thought then, and think now, that Tricia should have made it big in Connie’s place. ---
**Author:** ![Cardinal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardinal/32/4000_2.png) [@Cardinal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardinal)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2004, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-ever-happened-to-tricia-toyota/244892/8 "2004-05-13T05:37:51Z")
Yeah, this made me think of Connie Chung, too. It’s easy to forget now that she was just a local L.A. anchor for a while there. Another one I still think about sometimes is Keith Olberman doing sports for old KHJ-9 (now KCAL). He was the wisecracking guy even then, and then he disappeared! We didn’t have cable, and I didn’t find out for years that he’d gone to ESPN. ---
**Author:** ![yosemite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/3ab097/32.png) [@yosemite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yosemite)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2004, 7:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-ever-happened-to-tricia-toyota/244892/9 "2004-05-13T07:04:19Z")
> [@Cardinal](#): > > Another one I still think about sometimes is Keith Olberman doing sports for old KHJ-9 (now KCAL). He was the wisecracking guy even then, and then he disappeared! We didn’t have cable, and I didn’t find out for years that he’d gone to ESPN. I remember him from KTLA (Channel 5), where he was hilarious and made watching the sports report entertaining. I think he went to Channel 9 after that (or he could have come from Chan. 9 to Channel 5 for all I know). Whatever. Now he’s doing the Big Time on (I think it is) MSNBC? He’s still pretty good, anyhow. I also have vague fleeting memories of Tom Brokaw on KNBC. And Paula Zahn on KCBS? Remember that? And remember that Wheel of Fortune’s Pat Sajack used to be the weather guy on (I think it was) KNBC? I remember he was quite funny and I always enjoyed his reports. There are just way too many former LA newscasters that are now on to bigger and better things. Oh! Oh! Steve Kimetko? (sp?) I think he’s on E! now? He used to be on Channel 2, wasn’t he? I know he was a local newscaster, anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Neidhart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Neidhart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neidhart)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2004, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-ever-happened-to-tricia-toyota/244892/10 "2004-05-13T13:01:53Z")
I remember when Katie Couric was just a reporter for WRC Channel 4 here in Washington. She was known as _Katherine_ Couric then. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![DrMemory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/977dab/32.png) [@DrMemory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrMemory)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2004, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-ever-happened-to-tricia-toyota/244892/11 "2004-05-13T13:24:08Z")
When _IS_ Hal Fishman gonna retire? My goodness, he’s getting long in the tooth… ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2004, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-ever-happened-to-tricia-toyota/244892/12 "2004-05-13T15:10:25Z")
Here’s a bit o’ Jerry Dunphey trivia. Ted Knight modeled the Ted Baxter character after him. Haj ---
**Author:** ![yosemite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/3ab097/32.png) [@yosemite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yosemite)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2004, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-ever-happened-to-tricia-toyota/244892/13 "2004-05-13T18:14:00Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > Here’s a bit o’ Jerry Dunphey trivia. Ted Knight modeled the Ted Baxter character after him. I _thought_ so! And I’ve heard conflicting theories on this: is the newscaster on _The Simpsons_ inspired by Jerry Dunphy or Hal Fishman (KTLA)? ---
**Author:** ![bughunter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/aeb1de/32.png) [@bughunter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bughunter)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2004, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-ever-happened-to-tricia-toyota/244892/14 "2004-05-13T18:31:15Z")
> [@DrMemory](#): > > When _IS_ Hal Fishman gonna retire? My goodness, he’s getting long in the tooth… Not before Marta Waller, I’d wager. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2004, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-ever-happened-to-tricia-toyota/244892/15 "2004-05-13T18:53:13Z")
Two guys I went to college with in LA both had a crush on that newschick with the skunk hair. Can’t for the life of me remember her name now. Colleen something? Those guys are weird! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![yosemite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/3ab097/32.png) [@yosemite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yosemite)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2004, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-ever-happened-to-tricia-toyota/244892/16 "2004-05-13T19:03:26Z")
[Colleen Williams](http://www.nbc4.tv/nbc4/1273840/detail.html). Still looks the same, still doing news for Channel 4. ---
**Author:** ![bughunter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/aeb1de/32.png) [@bughunter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bughunter)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2004, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-ever-happened-to-tricia-toyota/244892/17 "2004-05-13T19:55:17Z")
> [@yosemite](#): > > [Colleen Williams](http://www.nbc4.tv/nbc4/1273840/detail.html). Still looks the same, still doing news for Channel 4. Actually, I checked Ch. 4 the other nite, and Colleen finally got rid of the skunk stripe… I never found her very appealing anyhow… lots of friends would confess their attraction, but I just never saw it. And besides, it’s hard to find a woman attractive when you hear nothing but sensationalism and fearmongering spewing from her mouth. ---
**Author:** ![START](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2bfe46/32.png) [@START](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/START)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2004, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-ever-happened-to-tricia-toyota/244892/18 "2004-05-14T02:20:12Z")
Unfortunately Jerry Dunphy died…anyone remember the reporter from WWF now WWE named Sean Mooney he is now a serious reporter. Bye see ya’ guys in a couple weeks. ---
**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2004, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-ever-happened-to-tricia-toyota/244892/19 "2004-05-14T02:23:42Z")
> [@Johnny L.A.](#): > > **What ever happened to Tricia Toyota** She traded up to a Lexus? (OW! Ow! Stop hitting! Moooooooom!) ---
**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:** [May 14, 2004, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-ever-happened-to-tricia-toyota/244892/20 "2004-05-14T05:13:55Z")
(nitpick) Her name was **Tritia** Toyota. (/nitpick) I went to my ultimate source, [Los Angeles Radio People](http://www.laradio.com), and in the Where Are They Now section, even this esteemed site has no idea where she is. (She is listed in a Radio site because she was a reporter for KNX NewsRadio in Los Angeles in 1970-1972) I’ll keep looking - good question. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-ever-happened-to-tricia-toyota/244892.md?page=2)