Latest news with #UpClose
New York Post
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- New York Post
WABC-TV ‘Eyewitness News' announces major lineup reshuffle involving veteran anchor Bill Ritter: ‘Feels like a good time to make this change'
Longtime 'Eyewitness News' anchor Bill Ritter stepped back from the 5 p.m. broadcast on WABC-TV Channel 7, making way for a new co-anchor while continuing his presence in the station's evening lineup. Ritter, 75, passed the torch to reporter and anchor Mike Marza, who joined Sade Baderinwa as co-anchor of the 5 p.m. edition of 'Eyewitness News' on Tuesday. 'I've been anchoring the 6 p.m. newscast since 2001, and I did the 11 p.m. show from 1999 until just a couple of years ago,' Ritter told The Post. 5 Longtime 'Eyewitness News' anchor Bill Ritter is stepping back from the 5 p.m. broadcast on WABC-TV Channel 7. ABC7NY 5 Ritter this week passed the baton to Mike Marza (left), who will co-anchor the 5 p.m. hour of 'Eyewitness News.' ABC7NY 'That's three shows a night for a long time. I'm almost 75-and-a-half — it feels like a good time to make this change.' Ritter, a mainstay of New York City television journalism for decades, emphasized that he's not retiring. He will continue co-anchoring 'Eyewitness News at 6 p.m.' on weekdays alongside Liz Cho and hosting 'Up Close,' the Sunday morning political affairs program. Ritter had succeeded legendary local newsman Bill Beutel on the 11 p.m. newscast. Marza joined WABC in 2019 after working at KSHB in Kansas City. 5 Ritter, who at one point was co-anchoring three hours of nightly newscasts on WABC-TV, is scaling back his schedule. ABC7NY 'We have a lot of people here who've been at Channel 7 for a long time, myself included, and now we're looking toward the future. I'll still be working here for a while longer,' Ritter told The Post. He went on to note the importance of mentorship and succession. 5 Ritter will continue co-anchoring the 6 p.m. hour alongside Liz Cho. X/Bill Ritter 'I want to get these younger people on the shows — it's a big thing,' he said. 'I'm happy we're going to start opening the door for some other people. I'm going to be here and work with them, and it's going to be great.' The transition is especially meaningful for Ritter on a personal level. 5 Ritter and Cho have been co-anchoring the news for more than two decades. 'The same day this change happened, I became a grandfather. It's a moving thing,' he shared. 'No one has ever been as old as I am on Eyewitness News. I want to spend more time with my family, my kids, and now my new grandchild. But I'll still be here.' Reflecting on his decades-long partnership with Cho, he added, 'She's been doing the 6 with me longer than any anchor team in the history of Channel 7. We started together in July 2003, so this month marks our 22nd anniversary.' 'I'm honored to be part of Channel 7, the biggest station in the country, and I'm going to continue being part of it. It's nice to get this kind of recognition — and it's not for a funeral! I'm still here.'
Express Tribune
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Bill Ritter steps down from WABC 5 p.m. ‘Eyewitness News' after historic run
Veteran anchor Bill Ritter has officially stepped down from his role as co-anchor of WABC-TV's 5 p.m. edition of Eyewitness News, with reporter and anchor Mike Marza set to take over the position starting June 3, 2025. Ritter made the announcement during the June 2 broadcast, citing a desire to spend more time with his family, including his newborn granddaughter. Though stepping down from the early evening slot, Ritter will continue his roles at the station — co-anchoring the 6 p.m. newscast alongside Liz Cho and hosting the Sunday morning public affairs program Up Close. This move marks the second major change in WABC's anchor lineup this year. In March, Ritter also stepped away from anchoring the 11 p.m. newscast, a spot now held by Mike Marza and Sade Baderinwa. Ritter is the longest-tenured co-anchor of the 5 p.m. broadcast in WABC history. He emphasized during the announcement that his connection to the station and its journalism is strong, calling it 'in [his] DNA.' Mike Marza, previously a weekend evening anchor and ABC News correspondent, expressed gratitude for the opportunity and acknowledged Ritter as a mentor. Colleagues have praised Ritter for his decades-long impact in the newsroom and his commitment to quality journalism. With Marza stepping into the 5 p.m. slot, WABC continues to evolve its Eyewitness News team while honoring the legacy of one of its most recognizable figures. The transition reflects a broader shift in local news as veteran anchors make way for a new generation of journalists while staying connected to the communities they've served for years.
IOL News
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- IOL News
Get the inside scoop: Christall Kay's 'Savior' performance behind-the-scenes
Crystal Kay singing her latest single 'Savior'. Image: Screenshot/Instagram One of Mzansi's favourite housewives is turning the volume up on her pop music journey. "The Real Housewives of Joburg" star Christall Kay is not just about the drama and designer labels; she's also been chasing her passion for music, one bold performance at a time. Viewers of the popular reality show already know that Kay never misses a chance to grab the mic. Whether it's a spontaneous song in the middle of a cast trip or a dramatic performance at a housewives' event, she's always ready to show off her voice even when the crowd isn't fully on board. But love it or side-eye it, fans can't deny she brings full star power every time. Her music career is steadily gaining momentum, with her recent single "Savior" marking a clear step forward. She recently took to Instagram to share behind-the-scenes footage from a live performance of the track, giving fans a sneak peek into her growing stage presence. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ 'Enjoy some backstage clips of my performance of my latest release, 'Savior',' she wrote. 'Catch me on 'Up Close with Theodore Mashed' this Saturday for the full TV broadcast of my performance and interview at 17:30 on eNCA (DStv channel 403)! We're talking music, fame, and my journey in reality TV and pop music. You don't want to miss this one.' From local TV interviews to polished stage moments, Kay is proving that she's not just a reality TV queen but a pop artist with a plan. In 2019, she released the single "Wonder", accompanied by an official music video that showcased her performance style and artistic vision. In 2024, Kay announced the release of "Underwater", which she shared with her followers on Instagram.
