Les Smith returning as television news anchor, on WTKR

Posted to: News Norfolk TV

Les Smith

By Mal Vincent
The Virginian-Pilot
© April 25, 2008

Les Smith, a familiar face on the local television scene for 22 years on WAVY, returned to the airwaves Friday as anchorman for rival station WTKR’s daily 5:30 p.m. newscast.

Smith had been with WAVY-TV in Portsmouth for 22 years prior to his sudden and unexplained resignation there a year ago. His resignation date (April 24, 2007,) from the NBC affiliate, WAVY, is just a day past one year from his debut broadcast on the CBS local affiliate, WTKR.

WTKR general manager Dave Bunnell confirmed Friday that Smith is his station’s newest anchorman.

“We are glad to have Les as a member of our news family,” he said, while declining to comment on the length of contract or other details.

Smith was not available for comment as WTKR newsroom personnel said he was involved in meetings, “paper work” and other preparations for the first day of his new anchor job at a new station. The appointment confirms his previously declared choice to remain in the Hampton Roads area - pointing out that he, in fact, is one of the longest-running local newscasters at any market in the country.

When asked last year, before his surprise resignation, about the stresses of a five-day-a-week local telecast, Smith commented that “While many people in my business travel from town to town, I’ve enjoyed the support of people of Hampton Roads for more than two decades. It’s rare to find a television anchorman working in an area where he grew up. I’ve been honored to be able to fulfill the dream of working in the place I call home.”

Smith is a native of Newport News.

He left WAVY as anchorman of the 5:30 p.m., 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. broadcasts, which were and continue to be at or near the top of the ratings for local news broadcasts. WTKR’s news broadcasts have consistently finished behind WAVY and the ABC affiliate, WVEC.

Mal Vincent, (757) 446-2347, mal.vincent@pilotonline.com.

Les is good...but

Submitted by davidl55003 on Sat, 05/03/2008 at 1:28 am.

I get sick and tired of all the WTKR bashing that takes place around here, especially on vartv.com.

For thirty years, WTKR was THE powerhouse of news in this region. Hampton Roads' oldest TV station was (and still is) the best. Let's not forget that survey after survey proclaimed Ed Hughes the "Walter Cronkite" of local news as the most trusted in this area.

WTKR was number one in the ratings in 1996...that wasn't that long ago.

While WAVY wooed viewers by filling their newscasts with fluff, anchors have been leaving there for the last few years. That says a lot. The last WAVY newscast I saw was on Feb 4, and I had to endure minute after minute of some stupid airhead anchor going on and on about what Super Bowl commercial was her favorite. WHO CARES????

I'm glad Les is on WTKR. At least he'll be appreciated there. He's not Ed but close enough. I'm looking forward to him sharing the desk with Barbara. Channel 3 rules. Ed...you are truly missed.

You're forgetting someone Joanie

Submitted by robertg on Sat, 04/26/2008 at 4:10 pm.

Back a long time ago, when as you say the anchorman reigned supreme there was a gentleman named Ed Hughes who sat at the WTKR anchor desk.
Les Smith is certainly good and will certainly be a fresh breath for WTKR, but don't forget Ed.

rich mohogany

Submitted by joanie06 on Sat, 04/26/2008 at 1:49 pm.

There was a time, a time before cable. When the local anchorman reigned supreme. When people believed everything they heard on TV. This was an age when only men were allowed to read the news. And in Hamton Roads, one anchorman was more man then the rest. His name was Les SMith. He was like a god walking amongst mere mortals. He had a voice that could make a wolverine purr and suits so fine they made Sinatra look like a hobo.

Don't Forget That Umbrella!

Submitted by contractorva on Sat, 04/26/2008 at 8:32 am.

Don't forget that umbrella! More after the commercial break, or tune in at 11:00 for the rest. There is a 20% chance of precipitation, but, possibly may be in the form of fog. Or.. It will definitely rain today, so don't forget the umbrella. The front should reach the Hampton Roads area around 11:30 pm. Sensationalism is present on all of the channels, & is unlikely to go away. It's butter for their bread.... I love the Dancing With the Stars comment.. Thanks for the laugh. I know who it is, & agree. lol

perhaps esbar works for WTKR

Submitted by BCAT GRAHAM on Fri, 04/25/2008 at 11:49 pm.

I too have noticed a lack of basic English skills, diction, a tendancy to sensationalize most everything, and a general "Dumbing Down" of the News broadcasts. Everything is BREAKING NEWS!!, DEVELOPING STORY!!, TEAM COVERAGE!!, AMAZING FOOTAGE!!, UNBELEAVIBLE!! to the point of tedium. Not to mention one broadcasters infatuation with DANCING WITH THE STARS!!!!!!!!

When I moved here 24 years

Submitted by charlesr85353 on Fri, 04/25/2008 at 7:00 pm.

When I moved here 24 years ago I found the local newscasts abyssmal, unprofessional and unreliable. Nothing has changed. Too much fluff, no substance, and personalities not worth knowing. Once there was a glimmer of hope when Diana Morgan was here, but she left for better career potential and we stuck with what we still have. I don't even bother watching local news. It's not worth it.

Esbar, if they have the best

Submitted by tvpirate05 on Fri, 04/25/2008 at 5:20 pm.

Esbar, if they have the best newscasts, then why do they consistently finish near, if not, at the bottom of the news ratings. They consistently finish in sixth place out of six stations, behind competing WVEC and WAVY's newscasts (1 and 2 respectively). After that is Dr. Phil/Judy on WGNT, Maury on WVBT, and sitcom reruns on WTVZ. I've watched WTKR, and their newscast violates several journalistic principles, and it's quite apparent other viewers notice.

You're entitled to your opinion and have the right to watch whoever you want, but can the high horse routine, just because others make opinions you happen to disagree with.

some clarification

Submitted by geostrophic on Fri, 04/25/2008 at 5:03 pm.

(1) Why did he leave WAVY? My guess is that WTKR wooed him and therefore he went to WTKR and left WAVY. Because of his no-compete clause in his contract, he is not allowed to work in the Hampton Roads market for a year. That's why he "mysteriously disappeared" WAVY was certainly not going to congratulate him on moving competition, as they would have done if he moved to a bigger market.
(2) Just because WTKR cannot beat Judge Judy in the ratings, does not mean you shouldn't watch WTKR. That is part of the problem. They could very well truly be the BEST STATION in the area, but so many people are closed-minded about watching newscasts, that they only watch what is advertised as best. It's only best because you are a bunch of sheep following the herd to what could actually be a pretty bad newscast. With that in mind and having analyzed all three stations, WTKR has by far the better newscasts in this market. Their news personalities have just that: PERSONALITY! Their graphics are much more advanced and streamlined and they have much better Radar, VIPIR (and don't argue with me on that one; I KNOW MY RADAR!!)

Hooray!

Submitted by stevenm48348 on Fri, 04/25/2008 at 4:37 pm.

Its good to see you back Les!! We have missed you!!

Another over rated

Submitted by cigim94543 on Fri, 04/25/2008 at 3:42 pm.

ego driven "NEWS READER" - whew whew - Local News Programs are so lame and empty of relative substance, yesterday's weather, poorly pronounced words, 'uneducated' biased opinions with each report, too much street slang, riddled with truck and car advertisements, pitiful - just not worth my time nor intellect. All News programs are dumber than dumb..
the program producers are a huge disapointment - and oh, no news occurs on weekends ya'll, just monday through friday - weekends are just for fluff - whew whew 'let's just put them in a truck under the rain hose and then let them read the news' takes care of three birds is less time and much more entertaining ...

Familiar face

Submitted by tvpirate05 on Fri, 04/25/2008 at 3:33 pm.

Interesting...WTKR has been in the ratings cellar for the better part of the last 10 years, and the ratings slid even worse in the last few months (their 5/5:30/6 newscasts finish sixth out of six stations). Les brings credibility to a station that desperately needs it, but I don't think it'll be enough for them to overtake the two powerhouses at WVEC and WAVY.