Access Atlanta > Entertainment > Radio Talk > Archives > 2007 > October > 15 > Entry
10/15: Road Warrior Brett Martin goes to CBS
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
“Good Day Atlanta’s” long-time “Road Warrior” Brett Martin, dismissed by WAGA-TV in late May, has found a new home across the dial at WGCL-TV helping out its fledgling “Better Mornings” program. The show, which airs from 5 to 7 a.m., provides the usual weather and traffic info but nixes hard news for soft features. “Good Day Atlanta,” whichs airs from 7 to 9, is more like “The Today Show,” blending soft and hard news along with traffic and weather.
Martin is the film critic and reporter for “Better Mornings” and his prepackaged reports will eventually show up on other WGCL news shows. He said he travels frequently to Los Angeles and New York for junkets. His first report was a one-on-one interview with Robert Duvall and Mark Wahlberg for “We Own the Night.”
Here’s Martin’s bio on the “Better Mornings” page, which conveniently avoids reference to WAGA.
Why Martin was cut from WAGA has never been publicly revealed but while he was there, he was a popular figure on that highly-rated morning show as energetic comic relief promoting local events and being the show’s resident “American Idol” expert.
“I have signed a legal agreement and I can’t discuss what happened,” he said. “I loved working over there, but I’ve moved on. There’s no hard feelings. It’s the nature of the business.”
After his dismissal, he said he received thousands of emails from a specific email he posted on the Fox 5 Web site, brettmartintv@yahoo.com. He’ll be happy to take some more.
Comments
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By JoJo
October 15, 2007 4:35 PM | Link to this
Good for him ! That Better Mornings show is a bit early in the morning…but he will be a great addition ! Good for you CBS…Fox let a good one go ! JJ
By Annie O
October 15, 2007 5:04 PM | Link to this
I second that on good for him. I had wondered what happened to him as I frequently watch Good Day Atlanta. He was so funny and made the show a lot better. I’ll have to tune in to CBS and check him out there!
By Steamboat
October 15, 2007 5:15 PM | Link to this
Lately, the atomsphere seems a little tense on the Good Day set over at Fox 5. I’m glad Brett is returning to the aiwaves.
By Jujubee
October 15, 2007 5:15 PM | Link to this
Good Day Atlanta, so long to a lot of your viewers, Mark was the best part of your show. I’ll be watching Daily Buzz in your place!
By Sunshine
October 15, 2007 6:02 PM | Link to this
Good Day Atlanta made a BIG mistake when they got rid of Brett and got this other guy.He’s not funny and has no personality and the only thing he does is go someplace to eat. BORING They should have gotten rid of Cheryl White, but I guess they gave her a seconnd chance since she seems to be trying way to hard to have a perky personality, lose weight and finally getting new clothes. Brett, Good Luck and I’ll be changing channels to watch you, you were great and fun to watch.
By ted simmons
October 15, 2007 6:05 PM | Link to this
Are you kidding? This guy was and is an utter embarrassment. His celebrity interviews are the worst, with leering dirty-old-man “you’re so hot” whispers on-camera to young starlets. And he’s not funny— he’s just stupid. For funny, watch the Daily Show. The fact that you people like this guy shows exactly why local TV is so god-awful.
By Cheesehead
October 15, 2007 6:18 PM | Link to this
This new guy, hyman, acted like he was on drugs this past week at the Echo Project. Where do they find these bozos?
By Clinton 2X
October 15, 2007 6:27 PM | Link to this
I was wondering where Brett was. Glad to see he landed on his. It’s a great pleasure to enjoy the news, isn’t that what personality is all about. And I agree that the traffic looks a whole lot better than she used to. The new guy, well, let’s just say I got a kick out of watching a white dude go ballistic over collard greens.
By jeffrye
October 15, 2007 6:33 PM | Link to this
Brett Martin was the reason I watched Fox in the AM……The new ‘comedy relief’ guy is excrutiatingly taxing to watch, so I wont!!…..Bye,Bye Fox5…..Welcome back Brett!!
By Reg L
October 15, 2007 6:33 PM | Link to this
I wondered how long it would be before Brett found something better. I admit I never watch 46, but I may give it a gander. Brett was always quick witted and entertaining in a Jack Black kind of way. His replacement pales in comparison..too old and he tries too hard to be funny which he is not. Brett was a natural and never came off as rehearsed. Now I know what happened….kind of… I wish you the best..
By CC WINE
October 16, 2007 9:25 AM | Link to this
Wow…that’s great for CBS. Brett is a great guy. Not only is he a wonderful tv personality but he does great things in the community. Does anyone remember when he camped out in front of a Publix a few years back and raised more than 60-thousand dollars for Katrina victims ? Good for you CBS.. Love that man !
By OEStar68
October 16, 2007 10:01 AM | Link to this
I miss Brett “Road Warrior” Martin. I’m not feeling the new guy Mark Hyman. He seems dry and very UNFUNNY. I’m happy for Brett and knew he would land on his feet.
By jina
October 16, 2007 10:12 AM | Link to this
How many of these posts are from Brett? He is a tubby self promoter who now disappears into the black hole known as WGCL. Bye Brett. . take a thermos and a tent because no one will ever see you again.
By Joey Mills
October 16, 2007 10:53 AM | Link to this
Mark Hyman is a tool.
By 2clos
October 16, 2007 11:44 AM | Link to this
Viva Brett ! Glad to see he is back…
By Bud
October 16, 2007 2:37 PM | Link to this
Joey…I agree…especially after meeting his brother Buster.
By Ro
October 17, 2007 8:37 AM | Link to this
I loved Brett Martin as the Road Warrior on Fox Five! He was funny, entertaining and genuine. I have missed him since he left Fox Five. He made my mornings start off with a smile! I’ll definetely will check him out on WGCL. Mark Hyman is boring and seems a bit dazed and confused!
By Critic
October 17, 2007 9:22 AM | Link to this
I have to agree with Ted Simmons. BM and American Idol are the 2 reasons I quit watching Good Day. His schtick got old and tired really fast. And that CBS-46 show is totally mindless, so I suppose he will fit right in. But I’ll never go back to Good Day, even if American I-dolt vanished without a trace.
By Branny
October 17, 2007 10:15 AM | Link to this
Brett will help the shows over at WGCL. My husband is in the advertising business and he tells me the ratings numbers have dropped quite a bit over at Fox. I think Brett being gone has a lot to do with that. Like him or not…he has quite a following…and he’s good for Atlanta’s tv market !
B. Lee
By AC
October 17, 2007 10:21 AM | Link to this
I watched Fox 5 in the morning ONLY to see Brett. I haven’t watched since he left. He made me smile.
By Zachary
October 17, 2007 10:44 AM | Link to this
Re: the Fox5 morning show: Mark Hayes and Suchita Vadlamani have the most uncomfortable, forced banter I’ve ever seen on a program like that. It’s amusing and cringe-worthy to watch them try to think of things to say to each other. Jeff Hill and Cheryl White should be hosting that show, but they’re both off half the time.
Both Brett Martin and Mark Hyman are useless. Brett tried waaaaay too hard to be funny, and just ended up looking stupid. And Mark tries to look interested but just looks angry. Has anyone else noticed his violent, emphatic hand gestures when he’s talking?
By Buck Naked
October 17, 2007 10:53 AM | Link to this
When Mark Hayes, Suchita Vadlamani (sp?), Jeff Hill and Cheryl White are all there, Good Day is actually a pretty good morning show. Those four have a very good chemistry that allows their humor to show through, helping to ease still sleepy viewers into another day. Take any one of them out of the mix, especially Mark Hayes, and the whole show goes over like a fart in church. And please, keep Art Franklin away from the show… PLEASE. (His top lip never moves… ever!) As to Mark Hyman, while he is a fine reporter, he fits the Road Warrior role like a very square peg in a round hole. He tries; he almost looks like he’s forcing it. But in the end, he just winds up looking like a big dork. It’s painful TV. I did, though, get a kick outta the Netherworld creeps scaring the %$#^@ out of him this morning. That was funny!
By Fazoom
October 17, 2007 11:35 AM | Link to this
The banter on usually is lighthearted and fun… it seems a little bumpy lately. Mark and Suchita seem to have a friendly relationship and it’s fun to see their cultures clash sometimes.
I do miss Brett though… his banter with Jeff Hill was a riot at times. Who knows who got mad with who and who did what that led to his departure. The show won’t be as good without him.
By Rocco
October 17, 2007 1:15 PM | Link to this
Congratulations Brett! I hope it works out for Better Mornings. They could use you. But I won’t be giving up Suchita, Mark, Jeff, & Cheryl. They WAKE me up every morning at 5:30!
By Kirk
October 17, 2007 9:06 PM | Link to this
When this guy was let go from FOX5, I was barbequed on here for pretty much saying what Ted Simmons and Critic said.
That’s all.
By Belinda
October 18, 2007 9:01 AM | Link to this
Brett was the BOMB ! The funniest and most entertaining white boy I have ever seen here in the ATL. He is the best and I am glad that CBS got some smarts. The majority of these posts are so complementary of Brett…and as for you sad little haters…keep hating. Any good tv personality needs a few haters. Brett was the best thing to happen in local tv. He is just below Monica Pearson over at channel 2. They hated her for her “hairdoos”…so keep hating…and the rest of us will keep lovin on Brett. You go Brett !
By sanchez
October 18, 2007 9:15 AM | Link to this
Good for Brett ! He was the best…I hope he does the same thing over at CBS. A bright spot on any show. Great talent, great reporter ! Funny too ! The haters here really must have something against Brett. Sounds like they read the all the other great messages and then just say something negative. If you don’t like the guy, don’t write anything mean. Its not like anyone is forcing you to watch him. For the 99.9 percent of the rest of us…Go Brett !
By another fan
October 25, 2007 8:46 AM | Link to this
I truly miss watching him on Good Day… The renaissance festival bit that him and Jeff did every year, just will not be the same. God I wish they would get rid of Hyman. Every time he comes on, I just change the channel and don’t even think about switching back. I may have to get up a little earlier to check out Brett on his new channel.