A poke in the ‘eye’
Go Deeper.
Create an account or log in to save stories.
Like this?
Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.
Can the Paul Douglas saga get any weirder?
Let's review. Douglas Paul Kruhoeffer, popular weatherman with WCCO TV, is fired by Channel 4 while he's on vacation. He's asked to stay through the end of May. He declines and then, shall we say, doesn't go out of his way to dispel the uproar from fans who reached the conclusion that he'd surely say goodbye to them if it weren't for CBS.
Tonight he pops up on TV, this time on KARE 11, whom he left years ago in search of fame and fortune in Chicago. KARE 11 is going to make Douglas the centerpiece of its Extra segment on Thursday, giving it an opportunity for a ratings boost and a chance to rub the competition's nose in it.
Meanwhile, the Star Tribune, which bumped then KARE 11 weather dude Ken Barlow from its weather page when Douglas returned from Chicago, gives Douglas a less-than-lukewarm reassurance that "for now," Douglas' weather column will stay. Where's the love for Paul?
The attention seems to undermine the notion that the era of the "celebrity" newscast personality on TV is over, at least in the Twin Cities, which should, no doubt, make weathercasters at WCCO's competitors nervous.
Turn Up Your Support
MPR News helps you turn down the noise and build shared understanding. Turn up your support for this public resource and keep trusted journalism accessible to all.
Dear reader,
Your voice matters. And we want to hear it.
Will you help shape the future of Minnesota Public Radio by taking our short Listener Survey?
It only takes a few minutes, and your input helps us serve you better—whether it’s news, culture, or the conversations that matter most to Minnesotans.
