Posts Tagged ‘Mandy Murphey’

With a drastic vacancy in office buildings and emptiness in the hallways of hotels, the Renaissance Grand Hotel has been no exception other than Saturday night when the local Emmys took place.  As for the hotel, let’s be reminded of Ogden Nash‘s line, “Progress was a good thing once but it went on too long.” There was no end of fascination during the presentations, although big names of news anchors, reporters, sports and weather on-air talent seem to be a thing of the past.  Cable penetration, pubic TV, production houses, universities and online video websites have forced the competition and its out-of-town judges to use the same measuring stick against free commercial network affiliates, due in part to the recession or just the need for a full house. Conspicuously on hand for the event were KSDK’s Mike Bush and Fox2′s Mandy Murphey, but MIA were Larry Conners, Vickie Newton, Dave Murray, Russell Kinsaul, Leisa Zigman, Cindy Preszler and a few news reporters. But there were teams of talent from Springfield, Mo.,, Kansas City and Little Rock.  Strange that the entire Channel 4 management and on-air team weren’t on hand, while the station’s promos tout, “We’re 4 St. Louis.”  Presenter Patrick Clark, trimmed and slim, came in from L.A., carrying his guitar to the stage. WIL Radio’s deejay Cornbread grabbed an Emmy for Best Commentary/Editorial on KSDK and quipped, “I thank KSDK  for giving a fat man a chance to express himself.” Shocker of the night: Channel 4′s David Souza, Jr., nabbed an Emmy, while he said of his missing female colleague, “I told her to keep her ass at home – there was no need to come.” Ted Koplar revealed that his World Events Productions will be back in 2011 with a global release of 26 new animated episodes of “Voltron” in partnership with Mattel Toys and a full-length theatrical movie of robotic action. Yesteryear chief of KPLR, Hal Protter, confided that he and CW Network in Burbank have parted ways.  Protter joined Koplar to back-pat Spencer Koch’s marketing exec Suzi Schrappen, who was inducted to the 2010 Emmy Silver Circle. Not to be outdone by Oprah’s gifting audiences with exotic trips and cars, Schrappen got guffaws for having servers pass out hundreds of Fox2/KPLR 11 branded cookies during her presentation.

A record 200 area volunteers, consisting of firefighters, civic and media celebrities joined Kim Slay, Robin Smith, Michelle and Fire Chief Dennis Jenkerson and Mandy Murphey, and Charlie Dooley in hawking dough for energy assistance charity, Heat-Up St. Louis from both Rams and New Orlean Saints fans outside of the Edward Jones Domes, two hours before the game. They raised about $20,000 to help area needy with their heating bills. Allan Cohen, Donna and Dr. James Knight, Melanie DiLeo, Evening Whirl’s editor-in-chief Anthony Sanders and his lovely side-kick Nancy Sides were seen chatting up with the volunteers during a chilly mid-morning…