Jason Sandford
Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.
Rarely has Ashvegas been so overwhelmed with comments and feedback, so, by popular demand, I’m reposting a photo I posted a few weeks ago of WLOSer Charu and former WLOSer anchorman Frank Kracher.
Since I wrote that post, readers’ comments have been pouring in. They’re showering admiration and affection on Frank. And they desperately want to see him back on the local television news. It’s been quite a tsunami of love for a man who was literally at death’s door a little more than a year ago.
I know Frank is watching. He’s e-mailed me, and he’s told me so on the street. He, too, is a little astounded by the reaction he’s been getting, and truly grateful for the support.
I guess it’s now up to WLOS. Will management find a way to bring this beloved on-air personality back to local television? If not, will Ashvegas solicit Frank to read the news for an online-only rendition of the local news? (Only time will tell, loyal readers.)
To read more about Frank and his amazing story, here’s the original post.
Here’s my follow-up post.
Here’s a sample of the comments streaming in:
Way to go Frankie! We’ve missed you.
Glad to see you looking so healthy!
Would love to see you and Darcel back together again.
Who do we call to make that happen????
mrvert
Hey WLOS–look at the man. He’s the best thing you’ve had on your station since I moved here seven years ago. Please, please bring him back.
Jeanne Charters
Handsome, smart and funny as hell. Obama better hope Frank doesn’t change his mind and run as a write in! He’d take NC, WA and a few other states for sure.
Great to see our favorite anchor doing so well and looking so great.Now let’s see him back on WLOS!
Christenna
So great to see Frank lookin’ so good!
David Gans
I’ve been saying it all along: bring him back! he is missed by many. he’s a real person on TV, not just a talking head.
Evander in Asheville
Don’t think I can top what has already been said about Mr. Kracher. I never met him, but watched his broadcasts for all the time he was on WLOS. I always enjoyed having him in my living room every evening after dinner. That says it all for me.
toothfairy
Frank Kracher back in town and Larry Blunt still anchoring the news. What’s up with that?a.west
How do we get the powers that be to make the right move and get Frank back on WLOS?????
Judy
Wow. Frank does look good. Glad to know he has recovered so well. As I recall, it was touch and go for awhile. I don’t think he will ever return to WLOS, but it’s nice to dream about. He sure was a class act.
Debbie
Hey Smith. First of all, so sorry for not being able to resist another response. For what it’s worth, I only posted "maybe".
Whether liberal or conservative, the "reality of it all" is that politics is and always will be as American as baseball, hot dogs and apple pie.
Many journalists, mostly of the television variety, have left the news business to become political candidates and some have even been elected. In other cases, admittedly not as many, the reverse has occured. Ousted or retired polticos have made the jump over to the anchor desk in their electoral broadcast markets and managed to earn the trust of discerning viewers and listeners. I think it would be a fair assumption that many of those same local news consumers did not agree with, support or vote for the same lawmakers who eventually became successful local journalists. I guess the point I am trying to make is that these situations are in no way unprecedented.
So Frank Kracher is currently an unemployed American citizen, who has chosen to occupy his free time productively by volunteering for a campaign. He is not personally running for political office.
I would be awfully surprised if even his Sinclair-owned, former employer considered grass roots, community involvement a liability– or held it against him– should a job come open at WLOS. I would be even more surprised if News 13 viewers rejected Frank’s return by voting with their remotes and tuning-out. Mountain folk are smarter than that.
What do you say we meet at a local bar with a big-screen TV some evening and have a beer, Smith? Let’s do it right around 11:00pm, so we can watch Frank anchor the news with Darcel. I’ll buy.
Do you really think anyone cares where the local teevee news readers’ political ideals lie? Sure, we all (except, it seems Fox News die hards) want our news presented without bias. But do we really think the reporters, anchors, producers, et al., are purely apolitical? We all have our personal opinions and biases, but does anyone really think it makes a difference whether Frank or any other news person, in his/her private life, supports a cause publicly or privately? Either way, that news person has the same possibility of bias; the difference is in whether the viewers have a frame of reference for those occasions when said news person is believed to have let those biases impact his/her work.
I have no doubt Kracher would be fair and balanced and a great re-addition the to the news staff. But, you have to look at it from the perception of a conservative and/or republican. Regardless of how well and unbiased he may do on the air he will always be seen as biased by that group. So the credibility would be in question whether warranted or not. The other point is that all contracts have specific clauses about running for office or open participation in an election. Even though the activity may have occurred before a re-hire it would still be a liability.
I know it may not seem fair, but that’s just the reality of it all.
Hey Smith. All those things you list about WLOS having a top notch, well equipped and largely talented staff are true. It is truly remarkable that in this day & age and economy, a station of its size manages to field an exceptional and strong news department. I certainly "tip my hat" to that part of your thorough assessment. We agree on those points.
But what about that bias issue you brought up in your first post and are now ignoring? Seems you don’t want to touch my answer to your theory that Frank Kracher is somehow tainted for life by his support, as an unemployed American citizen, for the candidate of his choice. In case you didn’t know, Frank has until recently been in the TV news business for almost 30 years and has managed to keep personal political beliefs out of his journalistic career. He is a mature, unbiased professional who realizes he must stick to the job at hand. Ask any of his former co-workers about his ability to be "fair and balanced" when he is on the clock.
My final point is that Frank Kracher is just plain better than Larry Blunt, both on the air and as a newsroom leader. Go back and read the vast majority of previous posts. He is missed by viewers and WLOSers alike. I rest my case. Maybe.
Howard, Asheville, Greenville, Spartanburg is the 36th largest market in the country. That’s out of 210 total. If you have seen "small market" tv news you would realize the superiority of WLOS’s product. Its photography, editing, writing and yes "on-air talent" is far better than you’ll find in a market like Peoria or Wilmington. A small market can only dream of having the equipment, staff numbers, and ability to put on news that this market has. This is not to say WLOS has some anchors and reporters who aren’t very good and have no business on tv. But, they are outnumbered by those who are good, who do have talent, and who work very hard every day. Remember WLOS took home 7 Emmys this year. That’s more than any other station in the Southeast, including "big market" Atlanta.
It seems to me Howard you have that typical transplant attitute about local television and have no idea what you’re talking about.
As for Larry Blunt, you might want to pay attention to some of the other anchors at WLOS, WSPA, WYFF. WHNS and you will see he’s better than many.
Lastly you should be happy and appreciative your "poor local news station" saw fit to spend 4 million dollars on an HDTV upgrade, in this economy, with a set that rivals any top ten station. If you don’t appreciate that then do what anyone else can chose to do. Turn off the tv.
@Linda – it’s the PR position at Buncombe County Schools, and I think this quote from a Weaverville Tribune article sums up what a "small town thing" it was: "Our superintendent had a coronary when he heard." She’s got a way with words, that one.
Hey Smith. What’s the big difference between being an unpaid volunteer on a once every 4 year presidential campaign and having your wife work as a full-time, paid, city employee? And how do you handle something tragic(god forbid)happening at an Asheville Public School? Will WLOS be forced to go easy on spokesperson Mrs. Blunt, because Larry is the "big cheese" and her spousal protector? Wonder how that potentially biased scenario would play out. Give Frank Kracher a break for being politically active and believing in a candidate during the most important, historic election of our lives. I don’t think Frank would ever bring his personal or political convictions with him to the anchor desk. He is too good and professional a journalist to ever think about allowing personal beliefs to get in the way of his fine work. As far as TV news talent contracts? They are made to be broken.
Didn’t I read something recently about Larry (Glory Hole) Blunt’s wife getting a city govt job in Asheville? I recall it may have been a PR person for the AVL Police Dept. If so, what a small town thing to do. Guess they think they will have an inside track at WLOS. What a small town thing to do!
hey Ash, I don’t think you said they gave him the boot – I was just stating the fact that he left on his own. Larry Blunt may night have the charisma that Kracher had, but at least his voice doesn’t get distorted by the mic like Krachers did and some of the other WLOSers do. Maybe WLOS needs new mics to go with their new fancy-looking HD set.
Frank Kratcher would certainly be a major improvement over Larry Blunt.
Larry Blunt has got to be one of the worst local tv news anchors anywhere. Remember his first sweeps week series on WLOS was an over-hyped series about adult bookstores. He is a poor news reader and tends to be overly dramatic. I don’t know of anyone in WNC who likes him as an anchor.
But, let’s face it…WLOS is a poor local news station no matter how you look at it. Just look at the so-called on-air "talent" at WLOS…very typical of a small tv market.
Smith, thanks for the update. Guess it’s time to get Frank signed up for a YouTube vlog.
Won’t happen because a) he’s pubically involved in a political campaign and will forever be seen as biased b) the number of people he could replace are all under recently renewed contracts or have more than a year to go in their contract
that’s correct, greenasheville. did i say WLOS gave him the boot? i don’t think i did, but if so, i take it back!
I don’t recall WLOS giving Frank the boot. He left for snowy upstate NY on his own doing.