7:42 AM Tue, Oct 06, 2009 | Permalink
|
By now, many of you have read Virginia's post on the changes that are coming to N4 Awake, so I figured it was time to address them as well. I've been honest with you for 16 years, so why stop now?
October 23rd will be my last day as anchor of the morning news, and that will certainly be a sad day for me. I've been blessed over the years to have worked with some of the nicest, most down to earth people you would ever hope to meet, and in this business that's saying something. I've been joined on the anchor desk by 5 very talented women (Margie Ellisor, Kristi Shearer, Kristin Mitchell, Richelle Carey and Virginia) over the past 13 years, which made my job pretty darned easy! I consider each of them a friend, and I thank them for putting up with me. Stepping away from the anchor desk is not easy, but this is a very subjective business. The amount of hard work and effort put in is not always reflected in ratings, and ultimately that is one thing I have no control over. I will move on to a job as a reporter for KMOV, which is where I started back in 1993. Thanks to all of you who've watched the morning news team through the years, and I hope you'll continue to support Virginia, Matt and our new team. I'll catch you in a different time slot - with a little more sleep each day ;)
Marc
Ratings are subjective. My rating for you, and for Paul, have always been high. I cannot imagine the a.m. news without you. My reason for watching channel 4 in the a.m. has been you as anchor. I am sure that Smith and Knicely are very good people, but as reporters, I do not care for them. I cannot imagine either of them on the a.m. news. With all the upheaval at channel 4, I believe it may be time for me to choose another channel for my news. After channel 4, there isn't much to chose from, but at this point, it is a matter of principal. I do wish you the very best of luck and assure you, you will be missed in the morning. The jury is out as to whether I give the new team a chance after October 23.
Thanks, Pat. That means a lot to me, and I'll keep that in mind as this transition takes place!
Marc
Marc
I am sad to hear you are leaving the news desk. I have watched KMOV in the mornings since 1999 when I became a stay-at-home mom. And although I've liked the female anchors that have sat beside you through the years, I continue to watch the program because you come across as a professional. You are a class act and I wish you the best. I hope another station snaps you up and puts you back where you belong.
Thanks, Marc ... we will miss you in the a.m. Bob says, "Why?" Good question! My first thought was they are grooming you to take Larry's spot (?) - he's been at it a long time. Your delivery is professional, informative and keeps me calm in these crazy times. That in itself is worth a fortune to KMOV. We'll keep watching you.
Terry
Marc, you are the last of the original crew when I started at kmov in 2000. It was you, Kristi, Cory, and Sue. Everyone was great to work with. Good luck with everything and enjoy sleeping in those extra hours. Keep in touch, Marc.
Tom
Marc,
Sad, sad day to hear your leaving. But good things always happen to good people. Just remember your always welcome at Diablo McGee's. Best of luck in your future endeavors....Don
I cannot believe more changes are coming. Marc when 'we' lost Paul, it was very sad as I always enjoyed his antics in the morning. But you teamed up with Virginia has always been my favorite morning anchor team. I love Viginia and Matt, but I have to agree with some of the other posters on here, with you gone, I'm pretty much done. I posted here when Paul left, and stated then, how I enjoy the Channel 4 morning team, well that is not going to be the case any more, and I have to say that I will most probably switch my morning show to another channel. I want to think this is your own doing, but my gut tells me that it's not, and frankly all Channel 4 is doing is souring the stomach of the many faithful morning show viewers. Maybe some of them will continue to watch, I'm not one of those.
My best to you and your future endevors, and I hope that some news group recognizes your professionalism, dedication, and dependability and scoops you up!
The news at KMOV is changing too much, some good most bad. I know that you will enjoy the extra rest but you will be missed. I may have to switch to a different station, that seems to be the only way that viewers can be heard.
Marc,
My husband and I have watched you every weekday morning and you will be missed! Good luck to you. We really loved watching the four of you together every morning.
I agree you belong at the anchor desk; hope to see you there soon!
Marc, the management must be absolutely out of their minds. You've been the professional glue that has held "wild cards" like Paul in check. Virginia is good and we love Matt. I've already given KMOV management a piece of my mind for whatever good that may do. There is no rhyme nor reason for the stupid moves they've been making lately.
We will miss you and Matt because we will be getting our news from Fox from the day you leave the program. Maybe I can catch Matt on a GD from time to time, but I'm not home then.
Best of luck and I know you will land on your feet at whatever station you move to. (because that is probably coming as well unfortunately)
Marc,
This is DREADFUL news! I haven't seen a blog from Virigina. The chemistry that the morning show had with you, Virigina, Matt and Paul was enough to make any one's day start off a little brighter! I have to agree with the other bloggers, I think that I will have to change my morning show.
Too many changes on KMOV since the first of the year... first Larry's hair (grin!), then Paul leaving, and now this.
Best of luck to you though!
Dear Marc,
I can't believe that you won't be at the Anchor Desk in the morning. You will be missed. I can't understand why KMOV is taking you off the desk - it's you that we watch, yes Virginia is great, but you are the main person. ANd without you Virginia....well lets just say, YOU ARE THE MAN. You will be deeply missed.
Cathy Matteoni
Bummer dude- you willbe missed as an anchor , however I will watch for you as a reporter. Any & everyone would be honored to work next to u or with you ! Best wishes -godbless, light,love,peace.Lori C.
Mr. Marc, this seems like an irrational decision, taking you off the morning anchor desk. But Ms. Virginia is also a favorite personality of mine, mostly because she is so sunny and funny as a reporter, and now so effectively professional as an anchor, and I think it would be remiss of anyone not to continue to support her by watching, even in protest of losing you, though that temptation is very strong. There's a saying about throwing the baby out with the dishsoap... or something. I think it applies here. Nevertheless, it's difficult to believe that the channel 4 morning news will be the same without you. Sad to see you go, but also hope to see you reappear soon, wherever it might be.
Well, I have watched 4Awake this week since the news of Marc leaving and I just cannot imagine why they are bringing in an outside anchor. This still makes no sense. Local market should be a consideration, KMOV. I realize that Robin Smith IS local, but her personality does not fit. Marc Cox is the professional balance to Virginia and Matt. I also have tried to find another news station that I am content watching in the a.m. and I am struggling. I guess I will just listen to KMOX or catch the news on BBC. I would like to again offer my best wishes to you, Marc, and wish you well. Someone out there should be able to recognize your anchor qualities and snap you up. KMOV has failed me, and it appears many others, by making this change. I don't know how people no longer watching 4Awake will affect the ratings, but hopefully the powers that be will recognize their mistake.
Sincerely, thanks to all of you for the supportive comments. While this change will not be easy to accept, I will move forward with high expectations, and I hope you all will continue to show Virginia and Matt your support.
Marc
Marc, you can't keep a good man down. You brought the professionalism and a sense of stability to the morning news broadcast that it really needed. I have watched your show for many years, and it won't be the same without you.
Changes in the lineup are understandable, but two changes so close together seems to me to lack foresight. It just doesn't come across as a measured response to the challenges KMOV faces in it's attempts to increase viewership. My wife called this article to my attention with the announcement that we're going to have to look around for a new morning news show, and I am sure there will be others doing the same.
Marc, I'm convinced you'll do fine. With the maturity, professional delivery and integrity that you project as an anchor, your qualities will be recognized, if not at KMOV, then by a better station.
Good luck, Marc!
Marc,
I am sorry to see you go. I am sorry to see them brake up the team. I think one of the reasons on the low ratings wasn’t because of the personalities it was the look of the show. You and Virginia made the show work. That was not the problem.
The look of the show with no chairs, you both standing all the time and always showing behind the scenes didn’t work. It almost looked like a college type of news cable show, very unpolished. That look may work in other parts of the country but not here in St. Louis. You and Virginia as well as the rest of the team deserved a professional looking set.
One of the reasons why KSDK works is that they present themselves as a polished news broadcast. There sets work.
I also felt the writing of the show was weak as well, repeating the same thing over, and over, and over again got old. You both can report the news very well they should have let you do it more often, a better mix of local and national news would have been nice.
Marc, you and Virginia and the rest of the team was the only reason why I watched in the first place, and to be honest Virginia's smile as well.
You leaving will only take a way from the broadcast...
Best of luck to you,
John
Marc,
I have to say that you leaving the morning show, now '4Awake', that I will also be leaving the viewership. While I absolutely LOVE Matt Chambers and Virginia. You and your fabulous hair have been a pleasure for me to watch every morning through all of the previously listed women, your antics with Matt, Paul and Virginia started our day off great. I wish you nothing but GREAT success, and hope to see you back at the anchor desk soon. Please let us know if there is anything we can do to support you in any way.
Rebecca,
Thank you. Your letter says it all, and I'm sure it will be noticed by folks around here!
Wow. I am disappointed and saddened to hear of this change in the KMOV AM. Like MANY others have echoed here, the show was at it's best with you, Virgina, Matt, and Paul. I have watched KMOV in the morning every day since moving to STL in 2001. Glad we will still be seeing you and hope the best for you, Mark. The mornings will just not be the same, however.
Am I understanding everything correctly here - Robin Smith is replacing Marc Cox? This is simply horrible. Well, Channel 2, your ratings should sky rocket, I for one will be watching you now in the mornings. Let's see, the PERFECT morning news show: Marc Cox, Virginia Kerr, Matt Chambers and Steve Essell (sp) Channel 2 and anyone on traffic who STOPS calling Matt Chamber "Matty". He's an adult now, you can drop the "y". Marc - we will miss you and once you move to another network, we'll be there.
Ch. 4 was the last a.m. station worth watching. I guess it's time to take some morning walks or go into work a little earlier and beat the traffic.
It seems the networks like to add insult to injury with their management choices.
I totally agree with all posts. The chemistry you guys have on Awake is awesome. I too will probably change over to fox news. Mark will be missed as is Paul. I feel sorry for Virginia and Matt to be left in this situation. Also agree with the post about the set.....what's up with that. Get a normal set so the anchors can be professional.
I have watched this show since moving to this area 5 years ago, next week will be a new start again I guess.
Marc,
Good Luck! when I get up up in the morning I turn the show on and watch til 7:00 am and turn off my TV. Now I will listen to the radio you, Virginia and Matt are a good team. Whatever are they thinking, look at the non-sense on another station. You are a profressional and I'm sorry you have to leave us in the morning.
Marc,
Congrats on this new chapter in your life ! Hope and Pray that you will find peace and happiness with this change.
You,Virginia,Matt & Paul were such a great combination with you leading the ship.I am a night person but intentionally arose to watch you and the "group"! Now I will just continue to sleep as I do not want to have Robin talking to me so early!!! YOU MADE MY DAY START! Why don't they just leave the things the way they were? My mom always said "IF IT AIN'T BROKE, DON'T FIX IT!! nOW THEY BROKE SOMETHING VERY GOOD AND SPECIAL,what were they thinking. Next , is it Matt or Virginia?
Anyway, enjoy your new position get some rest and enjoy the time with your family.
God Bless You
Removing Marc from the morning anchor desk is a huge mistake. He and Matt are the only reason we watch. Sorry, Virginia, but you were a better feature reporter than anchorwoman. On days when Marc is absent we switch to Channel 2 in the morning, and now that will be our permanent choice. Best of luck, Marc, in all your future endeavors.
Marc, I am really disappointed you are leaving as morning anchor. If the ratings were slipping, it's not your doing. I hope management rethinks this decision; but the ratings in response to the change will show whether it was a good decision or not. At any rate, for now, I am changing channels.
Dear Marc, You are a very special person and news anchor to me, in 1999 you did a report on families that dealt with loved ones that had Alzheimers disease. My father Col.Howard Larkins and my self you not only showed our expeince with dignity and respect, I will always remember that was the last time I got to dance with my Dad-for that I will always be thankful. Also, I don't know if you received the thank-you note that I sent, but Thank-you so very much for the roses that you sent to his funeral, I will always be touched by that act of kindness. Which brings me to why I am writing you, I hope you never leave the St. Louis news community, I will follow your accurate and in-depth reporting, with the caring and down to earth manner in which you deiliver it. I hope to see you in that anchor chair in the future-you deserve it. Best wishes and many blessings to you and your family. Sincerly Rebecca Larkins Wozniak
Well, I had to get online this AM to find out where Marc went. I watch every morning and for 2 wks. - no Marc. I guess we turned in late one day and he must have made the annoucement earlier. Virginia was kinda weepy and we didn't know why.
We had assumed he was on vacation. Sorry to hear this is a permanent change. We really enjoyed the morning news banter with Virginia. Hope the future holds everything good for Marc, but we surely are missing him!