January 13, 2005
Weather Channel Cat Fight
I was trying to get JohnL to run a Babes of the Weather Channel poll over at TexasBestGrok the other day. Now it seems that there is a darker side to the whole thing: former Weather Babe Marnie Stanier is suing TWC on grounds of age discrimination. Her suit maintains that TWC is actively pursuing an agenda of bringing in younger, hotter on-air talent and booting older staff like her.
As a regular viewer, I don't doubt that this is exactly what they're doing. The question is whether it constitutes actionable age discrimination. Suffice to say, it's a tricky standard and very fact-specific.
I will say one other thing, however, and that is that I think TWC is going too far. The new Evening Edition co-host is one Alexandra Steele who, in my humble opinion, is a first-class bimbo. (Oh, and gratuitious equal-opportunity slam: Jim Cantori is a colossal mimbo.) The great thing about the old varsity squad of Kristina Abernathy, Jennifer Lopez (no, not that one) and Sharon Resultan was that they are both easy on the eyes and smart.
(Okay, now that I see it in writing, it's beginning to disturb me a bit that I know so much about this. Well, everybody needs a hobby.)
Posted by Robert at January 13, 2005 09:21 AM
It's like the Hollywood ingenue -- every two to three years, they need new ones. The weather industry is like that, writ small.
Tough industry.
Posted by: The Colossus at January 13, 2005 10:15 AMIt's himbo when you're referring to the male bimbo.
Sadly, I tracked with your post, which tells me that I have watched way too much TWC in years past. I'm not as current on the weather readers these days.
Posted by: jen at January 13, 2005 11:02 AMWell, Alexandra Steele has a BA from Brown and a MS from Northwestern, so she can't be a total airhead. Is it possible to be smart and a bimbo at the same time?
Posted by: Ted at January 26, 2005 09:28 PMI think the male eqivalent of "Bimbo" is "Bozo."
Himbo may be too simple and sexist. I'm happy to say that prior to reading this I did not know anything biographical about that weather channel bimbo, Alexandra Steele, who is so full of herself. 15 years will fly by and then they'll bounce her for being too wrinkled.
Marnie has been a great meteorologist for the weather channel, I have also notice Jill Brown is gone. She was there along with Marnie and Jeanetta Jones, who is also seeing less airtime. As for Cantore..get rid of storm stories, they are all reruns anymore and during severe weather season, who wants to watch that while you are in a tornado watch? But I do agree that they are pushing Marnie out because of age, the men can hang in there til they die, like John Hope, who was awesome. But the women...doesn't happen. Also, when I first saw Alexandra Steele, I thought they recruited a porn star...but can't argue with her credentials. Just the appearance and name...was a cold thought, but honestly, my first. But she does a good job.
Posted by: Bill at October 2, 2005 06:52 PMAlexandra is totally plastic from the dark roots to the bleached teeth and the indoor tan, but something about her is HOT! She;s the MBA who worked her way through the IVY league as a high priced call girl at night and a librarian by day, so obvious she'sa mystery. Im in Love man!
Posted by: Buck Dyaln at October 27, 2005 11:26 PM
