San Diego TV News news...Neville and Levin throw in the towel...

I almost never write about San Diego TV News anymore because let's face it...there's not a lot to write about. For a big city, all local news stations here seem to be covering a small town. Fires, murders, traffic accidents. I'm sure it's this way around the country, in even bigger cities. That's why they call it local news.

But San Diego saw two major on-air news personalities leave the air this past week. Arthel Neville left the Fox 5 Morning News and Marty Levin retired from NBC 7/39.

Neville was the outside big name added to a roster of locally known talent (Chrissy Russo, Susan Lennon, and Kathleen Bade, since augmented by Aloha Taylor and Loren Nancarrow) when Fox 5 started up 2 years ago. The daughter of Art Neville, of the musical Neville Brothers, she came from E!, CNN, and co-hosted Fox's Good Day Live before landing in San Diego. While a good sport each morning, Arthel seemed a little too classy for a morning TV news show in San Diego and no one can ever blame anyone from walking away from a job that includes being in at 4:30 each morning. I can't find anything on this here Internet thingie that says where Arthel is heading next. I'm guessing the station's live reporter, Shally Zomorodi, will be taking Arthel's seat at the anchor desk.

Marty Levin has been a fixture on San Diego local TV for 33 years. His career includes all 3 of the major network-affiliated stations. I don't watch 7/39 very much, but they seem to have the local record for keeping talent on the air. There's not a lot of change there, which is a major comfort for viewers. I've always looked at on-air talent as the main face of local TV news, much more important than the news director, producers, and graphics package. It's also refreshing to see a person retire from the TV news biz because he felt it was time to go. The worst thing in the world is a news anchor hanging on until they literally die in the job (like Hal Fishman at KTLA), long past the age when they should have hung it up and gone fishin'. Levin reportedly gave away most of his ties to co-workers. That's a sure sign he has no illusions about retirement. I envy him.

Comments

[Haywood Hogans]

Hope to see her on future programs!

[Haywood Hogans]

It was pleasure to Arthel Neville through out the years& she will be missed!!

[Chas]

You're all very wrong about Arthel. If you knew her, you would know how genuine she is. Contrary to some of your thoughts about her on-air personality, she is a very classy, never arrogant and considerate to everyone she talked with from upper management, to the people whose job it is to sweep and empty the trash cans. I do miss her on Fox in the morning which is now just a silly broadcast. I wish her the best always - and appreciate what she does for school children of all ages; encouraging them to strive to excel, become creative with music and the arts, and staying true to oneself.

[Erwi36]

I want Lisa Lake back.

[Ricochico dePicopark]

'Uppity', I'm sure, is a much better discription of her on air attitude. Strong black personalities, women especially, dont do well here in the San Diego market. There is a distinct lack of color on morning and evening news programs in this county, and it does not go unnoticed by the Black community. Lisa Lake was the last. Arthel was a refreshing change, no nonsense and professional. Definitely not a locally acceptable type.

[Westcoastbound]

Where is Kendis gibson going?

[William]

So where did Kendis Gibson go to? Arthel did come off as arrogant and snobbish in her role. Did Kyle Hunter leave Fox 5 as well?

[Muhammed Finklesteen]

I was relieved to see Arthel Neville leave, I was always watching every morning, the more u watch the more u notice things,and she came off as rude and thinks her you know what didnt stink, I think she puts her status up there with The can do no wrong Oprah, Arthel should've got a job in chicago, Susan lennon has been doing morning lately and she rocks it, she really looks like she enjoys her job unlike Arthel.

[Donna Donoghue]

Too bad she left watched the news in the morning because of her. Oh well will be watching other news stations don't like who has been taking her place.

[non fan]

She is a bigot and she was the only reson not to watch...

[Norman]

It was nice to watch Arthel in the morning. I didn't really expect that she'd have a long stay at Fox 5 because she was too big for the San Diego market. I guess Tribune just used her to launch Fox 5. Wish her the best in New York. I noticed Fox 5 has a new fill-in evening anchor, former CNN International anchor Kaushal Patel.

As for Marty, wish he enjoys the new chapter of his life. Mark Mullen (former NBC News correspondent) will be taking his place in late June, according to 7/39's website.

"... but they [NBC 7/39] seem to have the local record for keeping talent on the air." Not so true. I still think it was stupid that they got rid of Pat Brown and just piped in Fritz Coleman from NBC4 in L.A.

Kyle Hunter (former chief meteorologist at Fox 5) tweeted a few weeks ago that Kendis Gibson is also leaving Fox 5. Who will be his replacement? I hope its Barbara-Lee Edwards. (Like that would happen, LOL.)

[Paul]

Too classy??? What??
How about no-class or little class?
How about snobbish? How about arrogant?

Good riddance! -- she belongs in Yew Nork!

[Gary]

Because they obviously haven't updated the website yet, Mike. Her last day was Friday.

[Mike]

If Arthel Neville quit Fox5 why is she still listed on their website?

http://www.fox5sandiego.com/about/station/newsteam/