05-03-2010 QURAISHI COMMENTS Former investigative reporter Ash-har Quraishi even weighed into the controversy over replacing the morning hosts at KCTV. He is now working in Chicago (LINK) after being dumped by the station.
Chris Pisano
04-30-2010 TRANSITION TO NEW KCTV5 TEAM UGLY; VIEWERS VERY UPSET According to numerous sources, the final show of the KCTV "More in the Morning" team of Dana Wright and Chris Pisano did not go smoothly Thursday (4/29) morning. Both Wright and Pisano are being replaced (LINK) by a new morning team of Kelly Jones from San Diego and KCTV reporter Greg Adaline in a story broken by Bottom Line in March. With the arrival of Bobby Totsch as the station's GM from KMOV in St. Louis change has become a way of life at the station (LINK). Reportedly, around 7:30 a.m., Wright was explaining to viewers that she was moving full-time to doing investigations (link to her sweeps piece Thursday night). However, we have been told that Pisano, a seven-year veteran at KCTV who has made it very clear that he was being let go by the CBS affiliate, said something to the effect that "I'm just being forced to leave..." That did not seem to sit well with KCTV excecutives. When the third hour of the broadcast began on KSMO-62, Wright was anchoring the hour by herself. Alert viewers said Pisano was obviously pulled off the desk to avoid him saying anything more about his situation. Viewers have bombarded KCTV's Facebook page reacting strongly to the change. Kansas City Star TV critic Aaron Barnhart finally (5/4) waded in on the controversy (LINK) that has been discussed for weeks on Internet sites after he received a news release from KCTV. Barnhart reportedly heard from ONE person about the change. Great reporting.
FEEDBACK
05-25-2010 "At my work, I was asking everybody if they knew what happened to Dana Wright and Chris Pisano and no one seemed to know anything! So, I let it go for a couple of weeks and said to tem, I'll just have to GOOGLE it on the computer! But I kept forgetting and I finally remembered today after work to do it! And to my amazement they let them go! I was so sad! They made my morning! I'd watch the National News every morning, followed by the Channel 5 team! They were "GRRRRREAT!!!" in my eyes! Now my eyes are saddened! I was told to watch channel 41 cuz they're suppose to be as funny if not funnier than Chris and Dana! SORRRRRRRRYEEEE!*
05-20-2010 NEVER WATCH AGAIN...
"THIS IS THE ONLY REASON I WATCH CHANNEL 5 NEWS IN THE MORNING, THEY WERE ALWAYS FUNNY AND I ENJOYED WATCHING THE MORNING NEWS WITH THESE GUYS. I WILL NEVER WATCH THIS NEWS STATION AGAIN." ---DEBBIE SMITH
IT'S A SHAME "It is such a shame that these people will not be anchoring the morning news broadcast any more.I too enjoyed watching them every morning.Change is always inevitable but I don't believe this change was for the best.I wish Chris Pisano and Dana Wright the best."
05-17-2010 SO CRUDE "I can't believe your were so crude in dumping KCTV "More in the Morning" team of Dana Wright and Chris Pisano. Hello Channel 4 and 9. -- Ron Shepherd
05-13-2010
NOT WATCHING ANYMORE "I really used to enjoy waking up with KCTV5 in the morning.Chris & Dana were my favorite part of waking up. They were like my friends, clever, witty and fun.Never just the same news and weather dull and boring over & over.They had real personality and I will miss their show and banter. "I've tried but will not watch anymore.I really don't understand how they could treat Chris that way!I'll turn on the radio and not to an affiliate of KCTV5 from now on in the morning or just watch another channel if I want to hear news & weather.I hope one day to find Chris again in Kansas City on another station." --Cindy Nordin
05-11-2010 IS KATIE HORNER NEXT? "Drastic changes. Kind of reminds me of President Obama, the blind leading the blind. What a shame. "Dana, Chris and Gary were a good team and it's a shame that business can be so cruel to people who provide a great service to the community. I wish Dana and Chris the best of luck. "I will find a new station to watch in the mornings, but I will remain faithful to watching Katie since she is the best Meteorologist in KC. Hopefully, KCTV5 won't be stupid and let her go, too. If they do, I will never watch KCTV5 again."
NOT PISANO FAN... "As someone who dealt with Chris Pisano on one of his reports years ago, I must say he was "less than upfront" about the real story he was working on. This completely changed my perception of him. I'm not sorry to see him go".
PISANO THE BEST "Upset that KCTV 5 fired Chris Pisano. He was the best. Only reason we watched KCTV 5." --Alan Jennerich05-08-2010 NOT JUST DRONES "I would like to add my voice to those who are disheartened by KCTV 5's decision to replace Chris and Dana.I'm no longer watching this channel in the AM; those two were clever, witty and personable...not just drones reading the teleprompter.I wish them both the best." ---Stephen Nolker
05-06-2010 NO LONGER WATCH "I too feel like KCTV has made a huge mistake by letting the team of Pisano and Wright go. Anytime a new regime comes in things change. How sadthe best always get affected.I, too, will no longer watch KCTV 5." --Kenneth Moore
05-04-2010 BYE BYE 5 "Bye Bye KCTV5 - Your ability to assess talent is in dire need and is the area that needs improvement (firing)."
"Can't believe they let Chris Pisano go. Dana, Chris and Gary were the only reason I watched KCTV 5 news. What a loss of talent. I will be switching."
(05-03-2010) NOT THE SAME ANYMORE "WE, ( MY WIFE & I ) JUST FOUND OUT THAT YOUR COMPANY (kctv5) HAVE LET CHRIS PISANO GO. WE WOKE UP AT 5 EVERY MONING AND TURNED TO THE TV TO THEM BECAUSE THEY MADE OUR DAY. "NOW ARE YOU GOING TO LET GARY GO TOO? I HOPE NOT BUT YOU HAVE CHANGED YOUR STATION IN THE MONING. IT IS JUST NOT THE SAME WAKING UP IN THE MONING. WE WILL LOOK NOW FOR ANOTHER STATION. "IN THE LAST 3-4 MONTHS YOU HAVE LET ALOT OF GREAT PLEOPE GO OR SWITCHED THEM. WE THE PLEOPLE LIKE TO SEE THE SAME FACES EVERY MONING. MAYBE THE BOSS THERE MIGHT BE THE ONES TO LET GO???" ----GEORGE (Email forwarded to KCTV)
PLEASANTLY SURPRISED "I was surprised the see the changes kctv5 has made with its staffing line up this a.m. But after gathering more information I became pleasantly surprised regarding the new faces and format. My only comment would be to let Katie Horner go. She lost her creditability long ago. Only the lean and mean ever survive."
(04-30-2010): "i wake up to chris pisano. i cant believe you fired him. he is a wonderful man."
BAD DEAL "That is a bad deal Chris Pisano is getting.He was the only reason our family watched KCTV in the morning.He was the only person that had a "sincere" personality and any sense of humor.If the ratings were bad don't point the finger at Pisano, point it at Katy Horner. She is as fake as they come."
BEST OF LUCK "I just found out this morning that Pisano is leaving. I will not watch this station in the future. He was the reason I watched it in the first place. Best of Luck to you Chris and your beautiful family." --- Rebecca
FAITHFUL VIEWER "I think after seven years you could have least gave him a two weeks notice, all the money yawn have given away, and all the money yawn has spent to go to all these schools on Fridays could have been used more wisely, I was a faithful viewer even when I had to take the kids to school I would tape the show, whatever happened to senior position having favor?"
DRASTIC CHANGE "I'm very upset that Chris is leaving, it took me by shock.He was the main reason why I watched the AM show.I don't know if I will continue to view your news station because of the changes that you constantly make. "Everytime we get used to someone they leave.I realize that we must learn to adapt to change, but damn, such a drastic change?" --- Valencia Murphy
CHRIS PISANO RESPONDS... "I've nothing left to say about my former station other than I wish KCTV5 all the best now and in the future. I cannot begin to thank everyone for their wonderful messages of support. Truly, words can't express my sincerest gratitude." As always, my best, Chris Pisano
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