This morning's FirstNews, Thursday August 23, was the very last newscast from the original KMBC studios, located in the basement of the Lyric Opera Building, downtown. Starting at 5:00 p.m., the Channel 9 news will be coming to you from the brand-spanking new facilities over near the KC Zoo...which, based on how TV folks sometimes behave, seems appropriate. In addition to being a whole new look, the broadcasts will be in High Definition. I'm not sure what that means, but I have been reading Webster's Dictionary, just to be on the safe side. So far, I'm up to the letter "K." For example, did you know that kumiss is a drink made from the fermented milk of a camel? Now, that's a high definition!

The old studios looked pretty sad this morning...as if the Grinch had made an appearance. Many years ago, I found an old Channel 9 blazer in the back room. I used to wander around on the edges of the building a lot and not just to avoid work. Anyway, I would put on the brown tweed with the Channel 9 logo on the pocket every now and then, just to annoy Maria Antonia. According to a patch inside the coat, the jacket was "tailored exclusively for Dick Hocter." Mr. Hocter was a very popular TV personality and weatherman in KC for many years...a lot of them at KMBC. Thursday morning, in honor of the history and legacy of KMBC, I wore the blazer again. It's about 40 years old but, sadly, it maybe the highest quality sport-coat I have hanging in my closet.

My first visit to this building was nearly 20 years ago. I flew in from Wisconsin (and boy were my arms tired. Thank you very much.) for an interview and audition. I've always thought this old building deserves the credit (or, blame, depending on your perspective) for my getting a job in the first place. There just had to be some sort of gas leak or high level of unsafe materials floating through the vents for an otherwise brilliant news director to actually hire me. That morning was also the first time Bob Barker appeared on The Price Is Right with his natural hair color and it caused a hullabaloo! Everyone in the newsroom was transfixed by the sight. Later I did my audition with Maria. She was terrific at making a cheesehead feel at ease.

While the new building is cool and totally high tech, the kids around my house are lukewarm about the move. For them, this old building is Channel 9. They would hang out quite a bit when they were just little punks...climbing on the Jellybeans obstacle course...running up and down the marble staircases...bothering the big shots in the newsroom. Of course, as they've gotten older, they try to avoid any association with me so their visits have become far more hit and miss. In fact, just the other day, I caught two of them trying to get into the witness protection program. However, back in the old days, they loved coming to the station.

This is a great time to say thank you to all of you who have watched FirstNews for the last couple of decades. Hope you like the new look which starts Friday morning. Also, starting on Monday, I will be hosting a good group of channel 9 viewers on our big trip to Ireland! If possible, I may try to check in now and then from there but that could well turn out to be just a bunch of Blarney.