Exclusive: Chrissy Russo on her move to the new Fox 5...

I've been keeping you posted the last couple of weeks with the return of two of San Diego's most popular TV news anchors, Kathleen Bade and Susan Lennon. Just the other day, I wrote about Chrissy Russo making the move from XETV over to the new Fox 5 News on KSWB when the station launches its new morning show on August 1. Chrissy will be doing weather and traffic along with Arthel Neville anchoring on the new program, Monday through Friday.

A friend of Chrissy's got in touch with me the other day and that started an email exchange between the bubbly Ms. Russo and myself which culminated in an in-person meeting (which produced the photo on the left, and this disclaimer: I didn't want to run this photo. She did. Seriously. Can't you see how...bemused...I am in the photo? Besides, she was yelling "self-portrait!" How could I say no?). Chrissy is genuinely touched by all of the attention she's getting--and has gotten throughout her years on XETV--and was gracious enough to do an interview and send along a few photos she wanted to share with you, her fans and viewers. (The captions are by her, too.)

I can tell you that in person Chrissy is as smart, funny, and high-energy as she is on the air. We met near Petco Park on Saturday for a quick visit after which she dashed off to do the Padres Pre-Game Show on Channel 4, a role she will continue to do, as mentioned below.

IB: First off, let's confirm you've made the switch to the new station, since there's nothing "official" out there.

CR: It's true, I am now an official employee of Fox 5, which launches it's news programs August 1. I think there's a release coming out soon, too.

IB: Where were you born and raised?

CR: Born in Portsmouth, Virginia, raised in a country town called Suffolk. It's right outside of the Norfolk-Virginia Beach area.

IB: Big family? Lots of brothers and sisters?

CR: Huge Italian family. (An) incredibly loving, powerful, caring, hungry, domineering, laughing, smart, engaging family. I have one older sister who is definitely a role model for me. She's super smart and the funniest, goofiest thing you've ever seen. I guess my parents were the only ones who discovered birth control during that time because I have about 78 cousins. I love them all so much. Our grandfather just died this week. I just got back from Virginia on Thursday. He was the patriarch of the family. It was a very hard time for all of us. He was deeply loved by many people. People that have watched the show may know who I'm talking about when I say "Big Joe" died. He was my dad's dad, and I talked about them quite a bit on the air.

"The last picture I took with Big Joe and my grandmother. Thank God, but I'd just gone back to Virginia two weeks before he died for a cousin's wedding. This picture was just three weeks ago."

IB: Was it your childhood ambition to grow up and be on TV?

CR: I remember sitting in my 11th grade economics class and thinking to myself, "Hmm...what am I best at? My answer was "talking." Once I got into the business, I quickly realized that listening is a much better quality to have than talking when it comes to the media...and generally that's a pretty good rule of thumb in life.

IB: Where did you get your start in TV and what were your first jobs?

CR: TV start was with Metro Traffic in Norfolk, VA. I did the traffic reports there while still in college. I then went to Harrisonburg, VA and anchored and produced there for a while, then back to Norfolk for an anchoring and reporting job, then out here to Orange County News Channel, Metro Traffic here in San Diego, and XETV for the past 7 years.

IB: How did you get into the weather end of the biz?

CR: I just asked my old XETV boss, Al Pando, if I could. I was happy with the skills I'd developed over the past 5 or so years in news but was tired of the scandals, the death and destruction, and truly just wanted to lighten up a little bit...a lot. Plus I went to college as an oceanography major so I loved science and wanted to get back into it. For the record, I didn't major in oceanography, i majored in communications. I think it was the dynamics class that made me switch majors.

Chrissy and friends: (At left) "Me and my gorgeous best friend, Natasha Stenbock, down in Mexico. You'll recognize her from Channel 8. She is my homegirl." (At right) "My best friend from home, Mandy, and myself at a Kentucky Derby party this year. She'd just gotten me off the mint julip fountain. She said it wasn't lady-like to be upside down on that thing. She's always kept me in line."

IB: You've kind of broken the mold when it comes to weather people...especially with your energy and the way you dress. You're definitely not the slacks and jacket type, and we're taking a wild guess that that's part of your popularity. Do people--men and women alike--write to you and comment about your clothes or ask where you got a particular piece of clothing?

CR: Sure they do, and I appreciate hearing from people. Remember that gold shirt? Holy cow, I'd never seen so much email over a shirt! (Chrissy wore a gold shirt one day a few weeks before she left XETV that had the whole on-air staff commenting on it. In fact, Ruben Galvan, off doing numerous live shots in a restaurant, showed up in one of the segments dressed in his own version, which, if memory serves me right, included bubble wrap and packing tape. Chrissy's shirt was something...Ruben's version was something best left forgotten.) It's great though. I really love hearing from people. I always say this and I mean it, there are the best people in the world in this town. People here are so kind, caring, and supportive. I still have to pinch myself. I will say though there is negative feedback sometimes too, but you should know that I don't take that stuff personally. A lot of the time they're right! By the way I get a lot of my clothes at a place in La Jolla called "Let's Go" and that mall right by the border, that outlet mall? I love that place even though I freaking hate to shop.

IB: We're assuming you're going to pick up where you left off and join Arthel Neville on the new Fox 5 morning news show. Is that correct?

CR: I will be doing the weather and traffic on that show 5:00-9:00 am Monday-Friday.

IB: In addition to your weather duties at your old station, you also co-hosted a morning talk show. Do you have nything like that on the horizon in the future at your new station?

CG: Sure do! Look for that launch on January 1. We're going to get the news on the air by August 1, and the show that we're calling "Better" right now on the air January 1. I am really looking forward to it all.

IB: You were also part of "Outta Left Field," a Padres pre-game show when they played at home at Petco Park. Are you still involved with that and will you continue to do so?

CR: Absolutely! "Outta Left Field"with Troy Johnson, Bob Scanlan, and myself got canceled. So Bob and I are now on the Honda Dealers Pre-Game Show which is right before the game, and Troy is hosting a show on Channel 4 called "Brain Wave". Troy finally published a book too that he's been writing for years. I forget what it's called but it's about the fact that he has two mommies and they sleep in the same bed, you know what i mean? I hear it's hilarious! (It's called "Family Outing," and you can get your own copy by clicking here!)

IB: It's never easy to leave a place that has been home for a number of years. How do you feel about leaving Fox 6?

CR: Personally, it's heartbreaking to leave them. Ruben (Galvan), Lynda (Martin), and Marc (Bailey) are really my friends and are deeply caring, talented people. We did have a great thing going over there and I agonized about my decision to leave. We all still keep in touch for sure. I tell you it wasn't easy. I'm very excited about my future over at Fox 5 and know I made the right decision for me, but every once and a while a wave of sadness comes over me when I think about the genuine people I left. So I just keep looking toward the future, you know?

IB: While the new Fox 5 is being built with an array of familiar San Diego faces--Kathleen Bade, Susan Lennon, Arthel Neville, and yourself--you're the only on-air person (to our knowledge) that is carrying over from the "old Fox" to the "new Fox." Any thoughts on that?

CR: I think Rich Goldner, the News Director at Fox 5, is putting together a dream team. I don't think he particularly targeted XETV or any other stations in the market, I think he just hired people he liked. I had dinner with Kathleen Bade, Susan Lennon, and the gang from Fox 5 the night i got back from Virginia this week. I was totally wiped out but showed up with makeup on and my hair done and everyone was just so confident and excited about this new project. It was energizing.

(At left) "My dog Sally" and another one of the dogs--named Matias--where Chrissy lives.

IB: You're obviously a pet person, and viewers know you recently adopted a goat. What other pets do you have at home, and, more importantly, will the goat make an appearance on the new Fox 5 morning show?

CR: Oh heck yes, Bettygoat will make an appearance on the new Fox 5 show! She's my girl! No kidding, yesterday morning I heard some frantic style hoofing outside. I was dead asleep in the bed and jumped up and ran outside worried that Betty had gotten her horns caught on something and was hanging somewhere. Turns out she'd jumped on the roof of the house and was running around. I ran for the camera but she got down before i could snap the picture. This is the same goat that broke into the house when I was on a run one day, jumped on the bed and took a nap. I found her curled up in my bed when I came back. That goat is a trip.

I'm staying with a friend in Bonita right now and between the two of us we have three dogs, a goat, two chickens and a duck. I told Kathleen the other night that the yard is like a petting zoo and to bring the kids over. In fact, Lynda's husband brought over their oldest son the other day to play with the animals.

IB: Finally, if you weren't doing this, what would you be doing?

CR: I can't even imagine.

"Beetttyyygoooaaat!"

Comments

[Al]

Crissy your. Hot I just whatch the news to see you. From al

[Don (Niceguy)]

I love you Chrissy have dinner with me I will take you anywhere on the planet.

[C H]

The News Sucks But Chrissy is smoking hot.
The only reason I watch that channel. Whats funny is that she does the weather and traffic every 2 minutes. I love it........

[sergio rodriguez valdez]

y love you crissy im from tijuana

[Dave]

Chrissy rocks and Arthelle is extremely talented - both are full of life and are great to watch! (The rest of the news show is missing something - unfortunately!)

Keep carrying the Morning News, Girlz!!

:-)

[elma]

the fox 5 news is awful....everyone is cocky and its all about them...not the viewers

[Aaron]

The Fox5 morning news is horrible, I really tried to like it. But I still flip over just to see Chrissy's weather reports. :)

Chrissy you're the bestest!

[Admirer]

Why am I so FREAKIN' IN LOVE WITH CHRISSY RUSSO?

XO

Glad to hear you'll be spinning the weather again. Take care!

[DonInCarlsbad]

Guess I posted too soon, the new guy on Fox6 weather is a BLAST.

He is awesome, and that blazer, OMG.

;-|

Chrissy wears killer slacks, rolls her eyes around while talking, and RUNS from mark to mark. She even made that little gay entertainment guy seem interesting!

Now fast forward to the guy in the blazer. I want to laugh, but only for another week - then it's Chrissy time!

[Paul]

It will be good to wake up with you again in the am, abet on a differant channel. Chrissy, good move leaving TJ6. And a good move by FOX. TJ6 won't have licensed power by Mexico to transmit DTV to North County. With no FOX programs and sports, all the kiddy shows coming from CW, and added free service spots by the Mexican government, I think the station will be titanticized. I'm positive your friends at XETV will be joining you before the year is out.

[Chris]

Lipsmakin thirstquenchin acetastin motivatin goodbuzzin cooltalkin highwalkin fastlivin evergivin coolfizzin Chrissy!

Welcome back on 8-1-8 xxxxxxx

[Brandon]

Yeah, I remember once leaving for work one morning after watching Chrissy... I was noticeably in a better mode. Or is it moad? Or mude? I forgot.

[David]

Does Chrissy like to dance?

[DonInCarlsbad]

Can you imagine I had to GOOGLE Crissy, I should say something nice about her replacement at CW, but OUCH - definately the polar opposite of my favorite girl. Crissy I know it's a royal pain to WAKE-UP 3 hours before I do, but dang you get my day started with all kinds of energy and good vibes. I race to the TV at 7am to get there to see what you are wearing. I'll miss Marc and Linda, but starting in August I'll be watching you on Fox 5. You are an addictive personality, glad it's only a few weeks here to be without a jump start to the day. Really enjoyed the article here and thanks so much to the kind author for bringing it here with the great pics.

[Oscar]

Great to see you went over to the new 5.
See you @ petco.

-Oscar Hernandez

[Dave and the Family]

Our family loves Chrissy! Our two girls, ages 6 & 8 dont' select their clothes for the day until they see Chrissy!

Great move to the new channel ... we'll be watching!

[Dogopoly.com Guy]

I saw Chrissy at the big Legoland event a few months ago, as she was walking away from the Fox6 booth. I yelled out "Hi, Chrissy." She either didn't hear or didn't respond. I yelled once more and she turned and waved and then continued on. I was happy :)

Chrissy--gotta love that enthusiastic energy.

[TJ]

I just wanted to say excellent interview. I saw Chrissy at a Charger game and she was just as full of energy there as she comes through in your interview! Look forward to YOUR New Show... :_)

Yay Chrissy is coming back! Morning TV in San Diego will be sexy again.

[Natasha]

I love you, Chrissy! Thanks for including me. You are the best!

XOX- your homegirl

[Chris]

Wow great interview and the first break on exactly what happened with Chrissy. Sorry to hear the news on Big Joe.

Well I know what I will be tuned to on Aug 1st.

Can I wait a month for my fave mornin girl?

Chrissy I think that you are sorely missed on the Fox 6 morning show however great news you are back on our screens on 8-1-8 on Fox 5. Can't wait

[bub]

Excellent interview, thanks for getting the story. She seems as awesome in real life as she does on the show. Again, thanks!