TV/RADIO
Troutman says goodbye to TV gig
Morning host isn't ruling out return to political life
MARK WASHBURN
YALONDA M. JAMES/Observer staff
Says Beth Troutman: "My passions are politics, sociology and world events. You can't do a three-hour morning show about those things. I'm more interested in the human experience -- and I do not mean Paris Hilton's latest boyfriend."
Beth Troutman said her farewells Friday, sometimes tearfully, to the audience and cast of "Fox News Rising," which she's hosted since 2005.
Next act: She's not saying.
"I've got a few new doors in front of me."
At 31 and newly married, Troutman plans to spend a little time in a world where the alarm clock doesn't go off at 2 a.m.
"I haven't slept in 3 1/2 years," says Troutman, who reported to work daily at 3 a.m. for the morning show.
On Friday's edition, Fox political analyst Chris Wallace -- a weekly guest -- wished her well. He does cut-ins for many Fox affiliates from Washington and noted their weekly chats "are the best-informed conversations I do."
That's a nice way of saying she knows her stuff. And she should -- the Concord native has racked up an impressive resume in the last decade on both sides of the camera.
After graduating from UNC Chapel Hill, she took a chance on a career in Hollywood. She cold-called the NBC political drama "The West Wing" pleading for a job. She got an offer that day and wound up as assistant to Alex Graves, the show's executive producer.
Later she returned to North Carolina and challenged Republican Rep. Robin Hayes for his congressional seat. "West Wing" star Martin Sheen even came to Kannapolis to campaign for her. She lost, but it was a close race.
Live TV was a growth opportunity, Troutman says, but she admits to some philosophical problems with the show.
"My passions are politics, sociology and world events. You can't do a three-hour morning show about those things. I'm more interested in the human experience -- and I do not mean Paris Hilton's latest boyfriend."
Too much of TV news, she believes, is condensed into the sound bite at the expense of explaining issues. And TV's competitive nature works against it.
"Everyone's vying for the viewer's attention -- as a result, things get sensationalized. You have to oversell to get their attention."
Troutman doesn't rule out getting back into politics. And maybe the TV gig won't hurt. Cleaning out her e-mail this week, she found fan mail from people who said they came to like her on the show -- despite the fact that she's a Democrat.
Mark Mathis, whose zany weather forecasts brought him attention on Fox's 10 p.m. news, is her likely successor, but no contracts have been signed. He will host the show next week.
Up there, in the sky
MetLife's blimp is making circles over Charlotte this weekend, providing aerial shots for CBS coverage of the Wachovia Championship at Quail Hollow.Coincidentally, the blimp is also the star of its own show today, "The Best Shot in Golf" (2 p.m., CBS, Channel 3), a documentary about the airship's role in televising PGA tournaments.
Media Movers
On Jeff Katz's page on the WBT AM (1110) web site, there was a photo of Barack Obama standing without his hand over his heart for the pledge of allegiance. "And this man could be our next president?" the text said. Problem is, in the picture -- widely distributed on the Internet and later debunked -- Obama was standing during the playing of the national anthem, not the pledge. Katz, conservative host in afternoon drive time, says he got e-mails about the display after Wired pointed out the debunked photo. He says the picture was news to him. "I don't personally maintain the web site," Katz said, explaining that an assistant had posted the picture and caption without his knowledge. "I sent a note to the producer and it got fixed." ...
Minor media feud going on over "American Idol" -- "Fox News Edge" host Brotha Fred criticized Howard Stern for his vote-for-the-worst campaign against TV's No. 1 show. Stern heard about it and shot back at Fred and "Edge" on his show on Sirius satellite radio. ...
Charlotte native Chandler Parker has another prime time role -- he plays Franklin Palmer in Sunday's "Cold Case" (9 p.m., CBS, Channel 3). ...
"Sunshine and Shadows," an independent film about a midlife crisis and produced by Charlotte's Lee Baber, airs in today's season debut of "North Carolina Visions" (11 p.m., , UNC-TV, Channel 58). Baber is a former producer for WSOC (Channel 9) ... Former Channel 9 reporter and anchor David Hains plays an anchorman on "One Tree Hill" Monday (9 p.m., CW, Channel 46). He worked for Channel 9 for 12 years and is now spokesman for the Catholic Diocese of Charlotte. ...
Four Telly Awards go to "Everyday Edisons," the PBS show created by Louis Foreman, CEO of the Charlotte-based product development firm Enventys. "Edisons" was honored for documentary, education, use of animation and editing.
Mark
Washburn
