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Meteorologist Inbound from Cleveland
By Michael Page | November 26, 2009
Cleveland is buzzing about the loss of FOX 8 meteorologist Melissa Mack. Mack, the station’s morning meteorologist, announced this morning that she is leaving the station for Boston. I have no official word on where she is headed, but I am working to get that information as soon as possible. Regardless, it seems that we will be seeing Melissa on Boston airwaves sometime early in 2010 as Thanksgiving was her last day on air in Ohio.
11/30 Update: WBZ has now confirmed that Melissa is headed for their airwaves early in January 2010. Station spokeswoman Ro Dooley-Webster tells me, “WBZ-TV has hired a new Weekend Morning Meteorologist. Melissa Mack will be joining the station on January 4, 2010. In addition to her weekend duties, Melissa will be reporting on environmental issues and filling in during the week.”
This means Melissa will take the place of current weekend morning meteorologist Sarah Wroblewski and will report on issues much like Mish did before her departure from the station earlier this year.
Topics: WBZ (Channel 4) | 63 Comments »
November 27th, 2009 at 6:32 am
maybe melissa is headed to wbz
November 27th, 2009 at 10:20 am
WBZ’s posting for a meteorologist is no longer up. So perhaps you’re right, Rich.
November 27th, 2009 at 10:39 am
taking the place of the ‘Guy-who-looked-like-he-never-wanted-to-be-here-in-the-first-place?’
November 27th, 2009 at 11:05 am
..or Mish Michaels.
November 27th, 2009 at 3:09 pm
She didn’t do mornings. She did weekends and traffic three-days a week at FOX 8.
November 27th, 2009 at 3:59 pm
Really? I got that info from their website…
“Meteorologist Melissa Mack teams up with Scott Sabol to bring you the latest weather during Fox 8 News in The Morning.
You can also catch her delivering your forecast on Fox 8 News at Noon.”
November 27th, 2009 at 5:15 pm
She did the noon a few days a week (the same days she did a.m. traffic) but she also did weekend nights. Rumor is that she left because she wanted a better shift. Watch out WBZ, she didn’t take this job to do weekends or she would have stayed in her hometown.
November 27th, 2009 at 8:50 pm
Shes doing bz weekends .
November 27th, 2009 at 11:58 pm
Whose place will she be taking at WBZ? And who’s the guy who didn’t want to be there in the first place?
November 28th, 2009 at 12:11 am
Probably Sarah Wrobleski, because she is also working a second job for WSI, and might be getting tired of that. Unless Barry Burbank is planning on moving on/retiring, which I doubt.
November 28th, 2009 at 12:16 am
Let me just reiterate that WBZ has yet to confirm this speculation, although it does seem very plausible that WBZ is in fact her destination. I am working to get official confirmation of this, and what role she will fill ASAP.
November 28th, 2009 at 12:25 am
One can only home she will take Ken’s place. If it’s true that she’s going to WBZ, I would expect an announcement early next week after everyone has returned from the Thanksgiving holiday.
November 28th, 2009 at 6:55 am
i dobut melissa will get ken’s postion
November 28th, 2009 at 7:44 am
Maybe not immediately, but you’ve gotta believe that’s her ultimate objective. As for Ken, it was said by some that he didn’t much like being here. On screen, he continues to have an ‘uncomfortable’ look about him. But that’s my observation.
November 28th, 2009 at 3:40 pm
Hasn’t Ken had the title of “chief” meteorologist at BZ? If she were to take his place, she wouldn’t be, would she? And not Todd yet, I would hope. They have been known to anoint some new arrivals as “chief.” I always wondered why Barry got passed over on that after his tenure there and reputation.
November 28th, 2009 at 4:06 pm
Mack was on Fox 8 mornings doing weather. She did not do any traffic reports. Pat Brady was WJW’s longtime traffic reporter and was recently replaced by a Metro networks staffer doing voiceovers over skycam shots.
Mack and Scott Sabol both did weather in the morning. Mack wasn’t on every morning as she did handle weekend nights, but it was rare that she wasn’t on in the morning and even rarer for her to not be doing the noon newscast. Usually, Mack showed up around 7 am with Sabol doing the rest of the show solo. She also contributed as a reporter on the morning show usually during severe weather, with Sabol in the studio and her in the field. She also did “weather school” events, where she went to local schools to teach them about weather, with segments broadcast on the air.
When both Sabol and Mack were on in the morning, they usually split the weather casts up with one on the patio outside and the other in-studio. WJW has a similar arrangement during their weeknight newscasts with Andre Bernier and local legend Dick Goddard.
It’s possible that Mack did want a better shift but she’s leaving the most popular newscast in Cleveland to do it. WJW’s morning show is a force in the ratings – hence there’s a huge cast on the show, usually between 6 and 8 people when counting anchors/reporters and forecasters. My guess is she wasnt going to keep waiting for Goddard to retire, and playing second fiddle in the mornings to Sabol.
November 28th, 2009 at 4:49 pm
maybe barry doesn’t want to be the cheif meteorlogist at wbz. i bet that todd would be promoted to cheif if ken left
November 28th, 2009 at 4:54 pm
Aw, I hope Sarah Wroblewski doesn’t leave, besides, she’s too good to be a weekend meteorologist, and I think she’s really pretty too…
November 28th, 2009 at 5:02 pm
Tim, Sarah doesn’t hold the industry’s seal of approval; which may play into all of this.
The legitimacy of the entire certification process can be questioned but that is another matter.
Here’s what I would hope happens:
AM – Gutner
Noon/6PM – Burbank
5PM/9PM/11PM – Barlow
Weekend AM – Wroblewski
Weekend PM – Mack
This gives Ken Barlow the opportunity to be out in the public for the 5PM news, forming a relationship with viewers, being able to double-team with Barry Burbank during major weather events, and allowing Todd Gutner to visit classrooms which, again, promotes the AM news brand to working families. (“The guy from channel four came to my classroom, let’s watch him!”)
November 28th, 2009 at 6:22 pm
That would be ideal, Boston Mediaguy. But unfortunately, I have a feeling that won’t happen.
November 28th, 2009 at 6:50 pm
I recently saw Joyce Kulhawik on WGBH (44). She was interviewing the Celtic Woman.
Always nice to see them back on the air.
November 29th, 2009 at 10:21 am
I hope Ken Barlow isn’t leaving! I think he does a fine job on wbz.
November 30th, 2009 at 8:30 am
A lot of speculation here…why would she a pretty good job large market to pick up a shift on the weekend here?
Stay Tuned….I guess
November 30th, 2009 at 9:07 am
Marky,
Working at an O&O brings someone one step closer to the network.
November 30th, 2009 at 9:47 am
Oh I see….Thanks B.M.
November 30th, 2009 at 12:20 pm
OK I finally have confirmation and details posted in the story! Thanks for your patience.
November 30th, 2009 at 12:25 pm
That’s Cool!! Sorry to see Sarah go….she’s a very person anyway. TV isn’t her only gig.
November 30th, 2009 at 11:12 pm
There’s a word or two missing from your posts Marky, makes it a little tough to read. You must be a quick typist
December 1st, 2009 at 8:21 am
Sorry Jack…not fast…just sloppy. I’m going to invent a the Etch-A-Sketch computer monitor where you can just pick it up over your head and shake it.
“That’s Cool!! Sorry to see Sarah go….she’s a very busy person anyway. TV isn’t her only gig….I understand she has other weather jobs.
December 1st, 2009 at 12:57 pm
Sarah is a real loss for WBZ. She is a real hottie. She does intellicast . com weather for the Kansas City area on weekends…
December 1st, 2009 at 1:29 pm
Sarah Wroblewski may be a lovely person; but I find her presentation unsteady and unpolished. I don’t feel she is major market material. It seems to me Channel 4 transitioned Sarah from behind-the-scenes weather producer to an on-air position because her inexperience translates to lower pay.
December 1st, 2009 at 7:51 pm
I like the idea of the etch-a-sketch Marky, just shake it and the info will come from the brain and into the toy.
Sorry to se Sarah go also, she seems nice and does good on the weather reports.
December 2nd, 2009 at 6:57 pm
and Kerry (co-)anchored BZ this morning. She is so smooth in that role and she has such a pleasant, upbeat voice to wake up to.
December 3rd, 2009 at 11:02 am
I love Ch 4 news. I think the morning team is great with the exception of the new traffic lady – what a joke she is…get rid of her!! I have it on at 5am every weekday! I watch the weekend to see the weather because I think Sarah does a great job. I hope she does not go.
December 3rd, 2009 at 11:21 am
Seeing Kerry at the anchor desk reminded me of the good ol’ days with Scott and Kerry. I think that role suits her better than the traffic. I don’t like how traffic is presented now with those graphics. I also agree with Des about Sarah; nice person but watching her is like watching someone on a local access cable station.
December 3rd, 2009 at 2:51 pm
this is alomst as bad as when you bostonians bought manny ramirez away from us in cleveland!
December 3rd, 2009 at 5:21 pm
Sarah Wroblewski was too earthy; she had that unsophiscated look, from unruly hair to a dress code suitable for a collega type bar in Harvard Sq. Looks like a grad student with an unsophiscated delivery which is why WBZ has gone for someoone who makes a real impression on the screen.
December 3rd, 2009 at 10:06 pm
Oh sarah fan, the traffic lady,you dont know her name by now? Bzs numbers are up and the only new change is Kerry Connolly.Number one with women on Tues,Women dont like Paula .Nice try Paula(Sarah Fan)
December 3rd, 2009 at 11:25 pm
So, is Sarah leaving?
December 3rd, 2009 at 11:45 pm
I didn’t really get a definitive answer from WBZ, but it seems that if she is going to be on in the future it would on be on a fill in/freelance basis.
December 4th, 2009 at 3:58 pm
[...] Melissa Mack (pictured right) is joining CBS’s WBZ Boston as their weekend morning meteorologist. Mack comes to WBZ from Gannett’s WKYC Cleveland. [...]
December 4th, 2009 at 8:45 pm
I was a morning weatherspy for Fox-8 in Cleveland and watched Melissa from her first time on Cleveland TV on November 30, 2006, she came from her home town of Youngstown, SE of Cleveland, I was under the impression that her fella was in your area, I think she left NE Ohio to be with him, a lucky guy. Don’t get too down on her if she wears Cavs gear to a Celtics game when they play Cleveland or a Browns shirt when they tangle with the Patriots or an Indians hat when they play your Sox, she was born and raised in NE Ohio and I suspect her roots will always be here, it is your good fortune that the guy who captured her heart is from your area, it’s the only reason I can think of her leaving us, I’m sure Fox-8 would have given her better hours. It was not uncommon to see her on in the mornings, noon, and evening durring bad weather here, she is a dedicated meterologist and will be missed by me, I still have the recipe for culliflower she and her Mom made on the morning show for one of the holidays, for Melissa I wish nothing but the best, she will never know how gratefull I am to have her wake me up most mornings for the past three years, I signed on to be a weatherspy for her, we report on the weather in our towns each morning, the snowfall can vary greatly from Cleveland to my township of LeRoy in the Lake Erie snowbelt, I sent in a postcard to the Fox-8 morning coffee quiz in the hopes I’d get to talk to her again. She was doing traffic for a few months but her expertise is weather, I can only hope Boston will give her a warm welcome, it was a real coup to get her from us, I’m more bothered losing her than Manny so I hope you will realize how blessed you will be to have her doing your weather.
December 10th, 2009 at 10:58 am
I second Tom’s thoughts..
I dreaded the day that Melissa left Fox-8 because she was one of the highlights of the morning show.
Fox-8′s morning show is the best but will be missing something now with her gone.
Boston will be gaining first of all a great meteorologist and secondly a great person. Melissa has a wonderful personality and will brighten up the airwaves with her smile.
Just like always, Cleveland just lost another good one.
December 13th, 2009 at 8:26 pm
Melissa Mack is my little Blue pill in life and I will miss her! Those SOB’s FOX8 in Cleveland,Ohio should have made room for her! Keep smiling my M&M!!!! “Ain’t No Sunshine When She Is Gone!”
January 3rd, 2010 at 1:25 pm
Well tomorrow should be her first day…I wonder who she will fill in for? Todd or Ken?
Also, Sarah made no mention of departure today during her broadcast (well at least the last 1/2 hour of the morning news).
January 3rd, 2010 at 10:02 pm
Boston is so lucky to be getting Melissa Mack. She is a wonderful lady and will be perfect doing your weekend weather. She is not only beautiful on the outside as well on the inside. She grew up across the street from us and has terrific parents. We will miss watching her on our Cleveland station. What a shame we can’t see her daily in Boston. Best of everything to Melissa.
January 7th, 2010 at 5:42 pm
i’m not so sure why Melissa leaving cleveland is bothering me so much. i didn’t watch the morning show or see the noon newscast ever. the only time i saw her was on the sunday night news or when she filled in at other times. she really is beautiful, but nice looking girls on the news are a dime a dozen. i think there is just something genuinely good natured about Melissa and it comes off when she’s on camera. a sweetness that you just can’t fake. the times i did catch her, i always thought that fox8 has got to put her into a better time slot very soon. i’m really sorry that she has left before that happened. i hope boston finds her as endearing as we did.
then again, if you don’t, maybe she’ll come back to us.
January 10th, 2010 at 9:55 am
Sarah will be filling-in from now on. (http://twitter.com/sarahwroblewski/status/7590895093)
January 16th, 2010 at 8:17 am
Melissa started this morning. She seemed enrvous but wow she is easy on the eyes. Nothing personal agains Sarah I just never warmed up to her.
‘BZ always brought in the heavy hitters when a big storm came.
January 24th, 2010 at 9:06 am
I will miss Sarah Wroblewski on WBZ.
She was refreshing and a good weather person.
January 24th, 2010 at 3:10 pm
I saw Melissa last night for the first time and either she was tired or nervous but seemed distracted. This a.m. she was much better and was very chatty with Dawn Hasbrouck. In fact Melissa announced that it was Dawn’s last day. Dawn said that she was leaving for a major city to be the daytime anchor but said she could not say where she was going.
I liked Sarah and she had improved a lot from when she started.
January 24th, 2010 at 5:00 pm
i like melissa too
February 7th, 2010 at 9:26 am
melissa mack = betty boop
February 8th, 2010 at 10:12 pm
Melissa Mack=Bugged eyed met who stands right in front of the graphics and goes overboard with the hand motions…just find it so distracting…I cant watch
February 22nd, 2010 at 9:05 am
So I saw this morning that Melissa Mack was doing the Traffic?? I realize Kerry must be on maternity leave, but I find it awkward that she’s doing the traffic while Todd’s doing the weather. Not sure if this morning was the first time she did the traffic – haven’t been home lately. What do you guys think about it?
February 23rd, 2010 at 9:48 am
Liam,
I would agree with the ‘stands right in front of the graphics’ comment. Something she should work on.
I wonder that when weather people change regions, as Mack has done, if they are used-to or comfortable in a certain place/movement pattern on the floor as it did not block key areas in the previous locale? Just a random thought.
Give her time, she is a hard working Ohioian, pleasant, got that midwest thang goin’, and she will prevail.
March 22nd, 2010 at 12:09 pm
Poor Melissa, she wore a lovely blue blouse yesterday; problem is she disappeared into the weather map. You can catch her disappearing act on WBZ.com weather library.
Still I like her energy and her perky personality, and she seems to have picked-up on the correct pronunciations rather quickly. I have not heard a Whoa-burn nor a Bill-R-ica. Good job Melissa.
May 21st, 2010 at 8:10 pm
Anybody find it odd that Sarah Wroblewski got pushed out not once, but twice, now with NECN’s Joe Joyce replacing her?! Why would you stay on anywhere as a freelancer when you essentially got demoted TWICE?! Wonder why she hasn’t moved to a different station so she could be a full time weekend meterologist, instead of filling in whenever the others have a day off.
May 22nd, 2010 at 3:23 pm
You’re assuming that other stations have an opening for a meteorologist, Nedd.
While I’m not sure how permanent it was meant to be the first time they assigned her to the weekends, I do know that once Mack changed shifts WBZ immediately posted a job opening on their website. That would lead one to believe that Sarah had some idea this was not a permanent assignment the second go around.
Either way, I wouldn’t worry too much though. Sarah throughout her time as weekend meteorologist has had a job outside of WBZ.
May 22nd, 2010 at 4:26 pm
I’m actually not assuming anything in regards to the Boston area; I would think that as an on air personality she would want to go anywhere that would give her full time status, hence Melissa Mack relocating from Cleveland to Boston.
What I was implying was I couldn’t imagine being replaced twice and still sticking around at a station or company for that matter. First by Mack, who then got promoted to weekdays, and then again with Joe Joyce. Maybe she’s fine with it, who knows, just seems like a pride crusher even if she had a 2nd job outside of the weekend stint. Joe’s a great acquisition!
May 27th, 2010 at 8:46 pm
I have been watching WBZ all week hoping to see Kerry Connolly’s return. I was pleasantly surprised by Melissa Mack. She is doing a fine job and even handling David Wade’s stupid comment about her using a Boston accent while giving the weather forecast.
May 28th, 2010 at 5:55 am
sure is nice to see Kerry Connolly on Bz this morning .It feels like Iam not getting beaten over the head with the news.
August 18th, 2010 at 1:13 pm
Wow! I live in Cleveland and watch Fox 8 and just realized today she was gone. Hmmmm