Two hours ago, I posted a story speculating who might replace CBS46 chief meteorologist Markina Brown, thinking it might be awhile before a new person would be named.
I was wrong on that front. Larry Perret, the new news director there who arrived in September, just sent out a memo to staff announcing a new chief meteorologist from Kansas City (market No. 31): Jim Kosek . He previously worked at a Meredith station KCTV for all of five months. Prior to that, he was chief meteorologist at AccuWeather and a station in Salt Lake City (market No. 33). He has more than a quarter century experience in this business.
During his time at AccuWeather, which provides weather services all over the country, he became a bit of a Web sensation for his nutty on-air forecasts, which included screaming and strange voices.
There are some viral YouTube videos of Kosek doing some rather schticky stuff:
The Washington Post even felt compelled to write about his "over-the-top antics."
"You can get weather just about anywhere nowadays -- you don't have to pay for this stuff," Kosek says, "so I think you've gotta add a little uh-umph, some panache to it."
He toned it down quite a bit when he was in Kansas City for this August 23 forecast:
Kosek is joining CBS46 on Monday, Dec. 1. Brown's final day, after four years at CBS46, was Nov. 14.
After watching his videos, I know I have to talk to this guy when he arrives in Atlanta! We'll have to see how much leeway CBS46 gives him.
This isn't a pick out of the dark. Perret previously worked at KCTV as news director for a year until September. So he knows Kosek's work.
Perret said the timing was just right.
Kosek moves from market No. 31 to No. 8 so he does get a nice raise.
As part of Perret's memo, he wrote this:
Jim is also a big animal lover and has worked with pet rescue organizations in the past. He is looking forward to volunteering here in Atlanta. He has a 7 year old boxer/lab mix, Chopper and a 10 year old cat, Spurs. Watching sports is a priority for Jim along with playing golf.
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