Courtis Fuller retiring from Anchor desk; will continue at WLWT with Let’s Talk Cincy
LEADING THE WAY. AN INQUISITIVE FOUR YEAR OLD HAD A DAY HE WON’T SOON FORGET. WHAT BEGAN AS A CHILDHOOD GAME OF HIDE AND SEEK IN THIS HOME ENDED WITH A RATHER UNUSUAL RESCUE BY FIREFIGHTERS. MEET LITTLE OMARION HORN. HE’S ALL SMILES TODAY AS HE PEEKS THROUGH THIS AIR DUCT. HE WAS STUCK IN YESTERDAY. OH. WHO IS THAT GUY? SO YOU SAW IT THERE. FROM RARE RESCUES TO IMPORTANT POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS TO HISTORIC CHANGES IN LOCAL LAWS AND EDUCATION, TO EXCITING MOMENTS IN SPORTS. AND SO MUCH MORE, CURTIS FULLER HAS BEEN A CONSTANT ON CINCINNATI AIRWAVES AND HERE AT WLWT. HARD TO BELIEVE FOR ALMOST FOUR DECADES NOW. LISTEN, HE’S NOT GOING ANYWHERE JUST YET, BUT THERE ARE SOME SCHEDULE CHANGES THAT WE WANT TO LET PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT. YEAH, AND IT PROBABLY PEOPLE HAVE READ ABOUT THIS ONLINE THAT THIS WILL BE MY LAST WEEKEND. I’VE BEEN DOING THE WEEKENDS FOR FOR QUITE SOME TIME, AND THIS WILL BE MY LAST WEEKEND. IT’S A DECISION THAT I’VE BEEN WEIGHING FOR QUITE SOME TIME, REALLY SEVERAL MONTHS, AND DECIDED I NEED TO STEP BACK TO DO I REALLY FOCUS ON LET’S TALK CINCY? YOU KNOW, WE JUST WON AN EMMY AND I LOVE THE SHOW. I LOVE WHAT WE’RE ABLE TO DO WITH THAT SHOW. WHEN YOU THINK THAT I HAVE BEEN DOING NEWS NOW FOR 45 YEARS, THIS WAS LONG BEFORE TAPES AND AND DVDS AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS, AND SO, YOU KNOW, LIFE CHANGES, CHANGE IS, IS SOMETHING THAT WE CAN ALL EXPECT. SO I’M LOOKING FORWARD TO IT. LISTEN, YOU AND I HAVE TALKED ABOUT THIS A YEAR AGO. CURTIS WAS KIND ENOUGH TO SHARE HIS PERSONAL MEDICAL SCARE WITH YOU ALL. AND I THOUGHT MAYBE THEN THAT YOU MIGHT SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT? I’M READY TO RETIRE. YOU KNOW, THIS THIS JOB CAN BE REALLY STRESSFUL. YOU DIDN’T. YOU WANTED TO COME BACK, BUT YOU’RE READY. JUST TO JUST SORT OF TAKE A STEP BACK. YEAH. TO TAKE A STEP BACK. I SHOULD LET PEOPLE KNOW THIS IS NOT HEALTH RELATED AT ALL. I FEEL GREAT, I CAN GET UP AND DANCE. I WON’T DO IT NOW, BUT I CAN GET UP AND DANCE AND SING. HE HAS A GREAT VOICE. YEAH, I WON’T SING EITHER. SO I’M FEELING FINE. THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT I REALLY WANTED TO DO. I LOVE DOING LONGER FORM PIECES WHERE WE’RE ABLE TO SIT DOWN AND TALK OUT AN ISSUE, SO I’M LOOKING FORWARD TO IT. AND, YOU KNOW, I’LL BE ABLE TO SPEND SOME TIME WITH MY MY 20 YEAR OLD WHO’S IN COLLEGE AND MY OLDER DAUGHTER, WHO IS DOWN IN ATLANTA. I’M LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT. WAS IT AT ALL A TOUGH DECISION FOR YOU TO SAY, OKAY, YES. I’M STILL GOING TO HAVE A FOOT IN THE DOOR AND STILL BE DOING THE PROJECTS THAT I LOVE. BUT LOOK, WE WE THERE’S SOMETHING IN US WITH THE NEWS BUSINESS. WHEN BIG THINGS HAPPEN, WE DO STILL LOVE IT. AND I KNOW YOU STILL BELIEVE IN WHAT WE DO. SO WAS IT A TOUGH DECISION? SOMEWHAT. YOU KNOW, BECAUSE AS I’VE READ SOME OF THE COMMENTS ONLINE, PEOPLE HAVE SAID, OH, NO. WOW. YOU KNOW, WE’VE BEEN WATCHING YOU FOR SO LONG. SO YOU FEEL AS THOUGH YOU HAVE TO MAKE A COMMITMENT TO THAT. BUT THEN THE SECOND PART OF THEIR STATEMENT WILL BE, BUT I UNDERSTAND. YEAH. AND I THINK PEOPLE REALLY UNDERSTAND AND AS YOU SAID, I’M NOT GOING ANYWHERE. I’LL STILL BE BECAUSE ONE OF THE PRODUCERS HAS A BIG CANDY JAR. SO I’LL BE IN THE NEWSROOM AND HE SITS NEXT TO HER. YEAH. AND SO I’LL BE DOWN THERE A LOT AND I’LL STILL BE DOING COMMUNITY EVENTS. AS A MATTER OF FACT, I LOOKED AT MY SCHEDULE AND I’M SCHEDULED FOR ABOUT 12 EVENTS OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS. SO I WILL STILL BE VERY BUSY, BUT I ALSO, YOU KNOW, LOOK FORWARD TO JUST SPENDING TIME WITH FRIENDS. IN FACT, NEXT WEEKEND I LOOK FORWARD TO A LITTLE FAMILY REUNION, WHICH YOU CAN’T DO. YEAH, IT’S HARD. YOU’RE WORKING THE WEEKENDS. THAT’S TRUE. YEAH, THAT’S TRUE. ALL RIGHT. WELL, AGAIN, THIS IS NOT GOODBYE. IT’S JUST OKAY, WE’LL SEE YOU AROUND. JUST NOT AS OFTEN. YEAH. ALL RIGHT. WELL, YOU KNOW, WE LOVE YOU. WE WE ARE BUDDIES. AND. ABSOLUTELY. AND I’M GLAD THAT YOU’RE NOT JUST LEAVING US FOR OVER. YOU’RE GOING TO. YES, I KNOW YOU CAME BACK AFTER RUNNING FOR MAYOR. YEAH, A YEAR AFTER I STARTED HERE. RIGHT. I WAS ONLY TWO. YEAH. ALL RIGHT. ME TOO. I WAS. WHAT? YEAH. ALL RIGHT, WELL, WE’LL CHA
Advertisem*nt
Courtis Fuller retiring from Anchor desk; will continue at WLWT with Let’s Talk Cincy
WLWT announced today that WLWT News 5 Anchor Courtis Fuller will be retiring from his role as WLWT News 5 Weekend Anchor effective this Sunday, Aug. 25.Beginning in September, Fuller will be focusing on WLWT’s Emmy Award-winning community affairs program, Let’s Talk Cincy, which he has hosted since its debut in 2019. In addition to Let’s Talk Cincy, Fuller will also be following his civic and community service passion by supporting organizations and people across the Tri-State as he has done during his almost 40 year tenure at WLWT. “I felt it was time to reduce my daily workload, to take a step back,” said Fuller. “I also wanted to devote more time to our Let’s Talk Cincy program. This new role gives me more of a work/life balance, and still allows me to share the stories about all the good folks and organizations in our area. It has been a blessing to anchor the news for many decades at WLWT."“Courtis is literally a living legend in Cincinnati and in the broadcast industry,” said WLWT President & General Manager Branden Frantz. “While we will miss his presence on the weekend behind the anchor desk, we can’t wait to see what the future holds for his continued contributions on Let’s Talk Cincy, a program that touches so many lives through his impactful storytelling.” “Everyone in the WLWT newsroom is excited that Courtis has decided to stay on the WLWT News 5 Team and continue to have a major impact on our community”, said WLWT News Director Jeff Benscoter. “Courtis’ new role allows him to clearly focus on his passion for our community, and his goal of highlighting issues and solutions across Cincinnati.”About WLWTFor over 76 years, WLWT has been Leading the Way as the first TV station in Cincinnati, and the first NBC affiliate in the country. WLWT serves the community by delivering local news, weather, sports, and entertainment programming on WLWT 5-1 NBC, WLWT 5-2 MeTV, WLWT 5-4 Story Television, WLWT 5-5 Get TV, online at WLWT.com, through the WLWT App, and streaming on Very Local. WLWT is owned and operated by Hearst Television.About Hearst TelevisionHearst Television owns and/or operates 35 television and two radio stations serving 27 media markets across 39 states reaching 24 million U.S. television households. Through its partnership with nearly all major networks, Hearst Television distributes national content over more than 120 video channels including programming from ABC, NBC, CBS, CW, MY Net, Met, Estrella and more. The radio stations are leaders in Baltimore news/talk and rock music listenership. Its Hearst Media Production Group unit produces original programming across linear and streaming platforms for domestic and international distribution. Its Very Local app, free to download on household OTT devices and available across popular streaming services, offers 24/7 access to local news, weather, and an array of local and regional programming. Hearst Television is recognized as one of the industry's premier companies and has been honored with numerous awards for distinguished journalism, industry innovation, and community service. Hearst Television is a wholly owned subsidiary of Hearst.
CINCINNATI —
WLWT announced today that WLWT News 5 Anchor Courtis Fuller will be retiring from his role as WLWT News 5 Weekend Anchor effective this Sunday, Aug. 25.
Beginning in September, Fuller will be focusing on WLWT’s Emmy Award-winning community affairs program, Let’s Talk Cincy, which he has hosted since its debut in 2019. In addition to Let’s Talk Cincy, Fuller will also be following his civic and community service passion by supporting organizations and people across the Tri-State as he has done during his almost 40 year tenure at WLWT.
Advertisem*nt
“I felt it was time to reduce my daily workload, to take a step back,” said Fuller. “I also wanted to devote more time to our Let’s Talk Cincy program. This new role gives me more of a work/life balance, and still allows me to share the stories about all the good folks and organizations in our area. It has been a blessing to anchor the news for many decades at WLWT."
“Courtis is literally a living legend in Cincinnati and in the broadcast industry,” said WLWT President & General Manager Branden Frantz. “While we will miss his presence on the weekend behind the anchor desk, we can’t wait to see what the future holds for his continued contributions on Let’s Talk Cincy, a program that touches so many lives through his impactful storytelling.”
“Everyone in the WLWT newsroom is excited that Courtis has decided to stay on the WLWT News 5 Team and continue to have a major impact on our community”, said WLWT News Director Jeff Benscoter. “Courtis’ new role allows him to clearly focus on his passion for our community, and his goal of highlighting issues and solutions across Cincinnati.”
About WLWT
For over 76 years, WLWT has been Leading the Way as the first TV station in Cincinnati, and the first NBC affiliate in the country. WLWT serves the community by delivering local news, weather, sports, and entertainment programming on WLWT 5-1 NBC, WLWT 5-2 MeTV, WLWT 5-4 Story Television, WLWT 5-5 Get TV, online at WLWT.com, through the WLWT App, and streaming on Very Local. WLWT is owned and operated by Hearst Television.
About Hearst Television
Hearst Television owns and/or operates 35 television and two radio stations serving 27 media markets across 39 states reaching 24 million U.S. television households. Through its partnership with nearly all major networks, Hearst Television distributes national content over more than 120 video channels including programming from ABC, NBC, CBS, CW, MY Net, Met, Estrella and more. The radio stations are leaders in Baltimore news/talk and rock music listenership. Its Hearst Media Production Group unit produces original programming across linear and streaming platforms for domestic and international distribution. Its Very Local app, free to download on household OTT devices and available across popular streaming services, offers 24/7 access to local news, weather, and an array of local and regional programming. Hearst Television is recognized as one of the industry's premier companies and has been honored with numerous awards for distinguished journalism, industry innovation, and community service. Hearst Television is a wholly owned subsidiary of Hearst.
