Local TV layoffs, pick-ups: You can't tell the players without a program

The revolving door continues to spin at the two-headed monster known as Channel 31 and Channel 2/The (snicker) Deuce. In July, the outlet laid off five editorial employees, including main Channel 31 weatherman Chris Dunn and reporter Charlie Brennan, who got away from the Rocky Mountain News before its closure...

By Michael Roberts

August 5, 2009

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The revolving door continues to spin at the two-headed monster known as Channel 31 and Channel 2/The (snicker) Deuce. In July, the outlet laid off five editorial employees, including main Channel 31 weatherman Chris Dunn and reporter Charlie Brennan, who got away from the Rocky Mountain News before its closure only to go down with a different ship. Now comes word that prep-sports expert Marcia Neville, who became a cost-cutting victim at Channel 4 after more than twenty years at the station, hasn't been offered a new contract at Channel 31, which hired her a couple of years back.

But as Neville fades from the Fox affiliate, a familiar face has reappeared. Specifically, Nick Carter, a weather forecaster who got the heave-ho from Channel 9 in January, popped up on a Channel 31 news program this past weekend. Apparently, the folks at 31/The Deuce discovered that putting on a show without any personnel is kinda hard. But that probably won't stop them from trying.

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Michael Roberts began his career with Westword in 1990 as music editor. In 1999, he took on a new role, full-time media reporter, as author of a column called The Message. In 2008, he became the lead writer for Westword's news blog, The Latest Word, a position he held until January 2023. Michael continues to freelance for Westword, covering everything from business to sports and the media; he also contributes to Jazziz, a national music magazine. He holds a bachelor's degree from what is now Colorado Mesa University and master's degrees from the University of California, Los Angeles, and Northwestern University.

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