John Beard on How He Became "Arrested Development's" Unlikely Star

Even John Beard was surprised by the amount of face time he got in the new season of "Arrested Development." The former Los Angeles TV news anchor, now in Buffalo, spent a 12-hour day last year shooting all kinds of footage for the show's new Netflix run. Most of those scenes ended up spaced out throughout this season.

I last spoke with Beard back in March, before the show premiered. Now that we've seen this season, I asked him to talk about his experience -- read the story here.

An excerpt:

In the "Arrested" world, the newscaster has become the host of a "To Catch A Predator"-like show, quits his anchor job and defaults on his house. House of Lies' Ben Schwartz even plays his slacker son, John Beard, Jr.

Creator Mitchell Hurwitz says the story of Beard's career collapse on the show mirrors the Bluths' prospects. "I don't know why this guy isn't taking some of Brian Williams' jobs in comedy," Hurwitz says. "He's excellent. He plays it serious and also makes fun of himself, and also seems real. I just love him."

Beard says his character's career evolution in Season 4 also "mirrors that of every long-time TV news anchor, as the business transitions into a much leaner enterprise than it was when we started." He knows that situation first-hand, having left KTTV in 2007 when his contract wasn't renewed. "I think news viewers in every market have seen that change reflected in many local stations," Beard says. "Mitch managed to put that and the housing market collapse to good comedic use."

Q&A: John Beard on L.A. News, and His Return to "Arrested Development"

In Southern California, we all still remember John Beard for his lengthy stints as a news anchor at KTTV/Fox 11, and before that, at KNBC/4. But Beard gained a whole new level of recognition for playing the news anchor of fictional "Fox 6" on "Arrested Development," frequently reporting on the exploits of Orange County's Bluth family. (Beard also played a newscaster on another Fox series, "24.")

Beard is now in Buffalo, hosting a morning show there (where he wins the timeslot), having departed L.A. in 2009. But he still keeps tabs on Los Angeles, and recently flew back here to shoot some scenes for the "Arrested Development" revival, set to hit Netflix in May. I recently asked Beard to answer a few questions over email:

FRANKLIN AVENUE: As talk of an "Arrested Development" revival swirled for years, did you ever imagine that one day you'd be reprising your role as "Fox 6 News Anchor John Beard"?
JOHN BEARD: I was looking forward to the series revival as a viewer, but since I’m not on the air now in LA I wasn’t sure if I’d be a part of it. But at the taping, the head writer told me I was always going to be in the new series no matter what. I’m very appreciative for that!

FRANKLIN AVENUE: Usually TV show news anchor cameos are "one and done." But you made regular appearances throughout the show's original three seasons. How did it first come about? Did Mitch Hurwitz write the anchor role with you in mind?
BEARD: You get called on to do a lot of cameo appearances when you’re on the air in Los Angeles, but I said no to most of them over the years. When the producers called me about “Arrested Development” I told them no as well. But they explained they wanted me to play myself and that Mitch and the writers appreciated my sense of humor. They said “Just let me send you the script for the pilot. If you say no I’ll understand.” Well, I thought it was one of the funniest things I had ever read, I couldn’t turn it down.

FRANKLIN AVENUE: What are you up to now?
BEARD: I’m now anchoring the morning news at WGRZ, the NBC station in Buffalo, NY. This is the first time I’ve done a morning show except for filling in on “Good Day LA” and the "Today Show." I think maybe I should have been doing morning all along, it fits my personality and I’m having great fun.

FRANKLIN AVENUE: How was shooting the show different for you this time?
BEARD: The first time around, most of my work was done in studio at KTTV, only two episodes were shot with the rest of the cast and crew. This time I shot 12 scenes, all on the lot in Culver City. Most of my scenes were on a “news” set, but there is one long and hilarious scene with David Cross (Tobias).

FRANKLIN AVENUE: I'm sure most people recognize you on the street for being a news anchor, but how often do people want to talk "Arrested Development" with you? What do they ask, and what do you tell them?
BEARD: It’s a mix. In Buffalo, most people know me from the morning show. In LA, they know me from KNBC and KTTV…including some who think I’m still on. People everyplace (even in Canada) come up to talk about “Arrested Development." And there are sometimes those who say they used to watch me in Chicago. I’ve never worked in Chicago.

FRANKLIN AVENUE: What do you miss most about working in L.A. news?
BEARD: I miss my friends in the news business there, both the ones I worked with and the ones I competed against.

FRANKLIN AVENUE: What do you miss the least?
BEARD: I don’t miss having to fight every day to do real news and not fluff.

FRANKLIN AVENUE: When will we see you back on the air in Southern California?
BEARD: Good question… when somebody has a good answer just leave it on my website (johnbeard.com) or tweet me @jb111.

Ten Things Los Angeles Lost in 2009

It was another rough year for farewells in Los Angeles, where frequently there's truth to that old cliche that nothing here is ever permanent.

A few things we lost in 2009:


(Pic by the San Gabriel Valley Tribune.)
1. Much of the Angeles National Forest, sadly, to the massive Station Fire. The fire burned 160577 acres (251 square miles) and killed two firefighters. Ash from the mountains continues to rain down on Angelenos, and it will be decades before the forest starts to recover.


2. Indie 103.1 (KDLD/KDLE) and 97.1 FM Talk (KLSX) both disappeared in 2009, the victim of a weak radio economy and the rise of personal people meters -- Arbitron's new way of measuring radio listenership. Indie was never a big ratings grabber, while KLSX's replacement, KAMP "Amp Radio," has turned into a strong performer for owner CBS Radio.


(Pic by Gary Leonard.)
3. Richard Ankrom's guerilla 110 Freeway sign art installation disappeared after Caltrans replaced its signs on the 110 North. Ankrom attempted to find the signs he made and secretly installed -- but discovered that they'd already been crushed for scrap metal.


4. KNBC's Paul Moyer (above, when he decided to give his on-air farewell from the golf course, rather than show up to say goodbye in the Channel 4 studios) retired due to budget cuts, while former KTTV anchor John Beard, fed up with L.A. news operations, headed to his old stomping grounds in Buffalo, N.Y. Also, Rick Dees gave up his attempt at an L.A. radio comeback, as "Movin' 93.9" flipped to a Spanish format.


5. Former Police Chief William Bratton made major strides in decreasing crime and turning the Los Angeles Police Department around. And although the chief would be the first to tell you that (modesty isn't his strong suit), much of that conventional wisdom is true -- crime is down in the city of Los Angeles, while the LAPD's image has been greatly improved. Bratton stepped down in late fall, replaced by Charlie Beck.


6. A preservation group managed to "Save the Derby" -- at least, the Los Feliz building (the last surviving one-time Brown Derby restaurant) where the Derby nightclub was housed. But The Derby itself -- the club known best for its cameo in the movie "Swingers" and as ground zero for the 1990s swing dance revival --shut down in early 2009. Other clubs closing in 2009 included the Knitting Factory and the Key Club.


7. Chili My Soul, the Encino eatery known for its adventurous chili selections (my fave was the Habanero/Mango Chicken), shut down in late summer after the death of owner Randy Hoffman. Other eateries closing in 2009 included Fritelli's Doughnuts and Twin Palms; also shut down were popular book store Cook's Library, as well as Little Tokyo grocer Mitsuwa Marketplace.


8. The first big event I ever took Evan to, the Echo Park Lotus Festival, didn't take place this year -- a victim of budget cuts, and even sadder, the death of the once-vibrant lotus blooms in Echo Park. Also nowhere to be found this year: Another favorite event, Little Tokyo's Tofu Festival.


9. A year after the Lou Ehlers Cadillac showroom was torn down, a similar fate was in the cards just down Wilshire for the mid-century Columbia Savings Bank building. Demolition has already begun on the 1965 Miracle Mile building, which the L.A. Conservancy notes is "an important example of postwar bank design as well as the innovative integration of art and architecture." The building had most recently served as a Korean church.


10. Army Archerd passed away in September at the age of 87. Army spent more than 50 years at Variety (where I saw him on a nearly daily basis for 10 years), spanning several generations of Hollywood. A lot of us cover Hollywood -- but none of us will ever have the career that Army had at Variety. The stars changed, the pictures changed, the whole industry evolved -- yet there, until nearly the end, was Army, chronicling it all daily in his "Just for Variety" column.

Share your thoughts on L.A.'s great 2009 losses below.

The End of Local TV News As We Know It?

Once a local mainstay, former KTTV (and before that, KNBC) anchor John Beard decided earlier this year to leave the No. 2 market and take a job in Buffalo, N.Y. His departure is indicative of the state of local TV news, circa 2009. Long criticized by news purists, local TV news has now been smacked by even bigger problems -- including draconian budget cuts and shrinking personnel.

Here's an excerpt from my story:

As a top anchor in Los Angeles, John Beard worked during the heyday of local TV news -- covering earthquakes, riots and the occasional celebrity on the loose.
Beard was a familiar presence on L.A. TV screens for 30 years, via lead anchor roles on KNBC and then KTTV. But three decades after arriving on the West Coast from Buffalo, Beard is back where he started, anchoring a morning newscast in that small western New York community.

Beard had a great run in the nation's No. 2 market -- but his exit is indicative of how local TV news is changing across the country.

If you think local TV news is irrelevant and has long sacrificed real news coverage for flash and trash, just wait until stations have no money to even pretend they're covering the important stuff.

Despite their obligations as inhabitants of the public airwaves, cash-strapped stations may find it even more difficult to properly inform the public.

Once upon a time, local TV stations were a license to print money -- and were frequently the most profitable link in a media conglom's portfolio.

Those stations' newscasts were a great business (and continue to generate nearly half a station's revenue) -- even if news purists scoffed at the medium's time-consuming "happy talk" and focus on sensational crimes and inane human-interest stories.

But stations don't generate the kind of major profits they once did. And as the biggest expense at most TV outlets, news operations are feeling the pain.

The once-proud operations are slashing costs and, in the process, downsizing news coverage and dumping highly paid and experienced talent.

Read the rest here.

Fire Coverage: Why Is Local TV Missing In Action?

Local TV news has been taking a beating for its decision not to break into regular programming to cover the event, despite the magnitude of the fires. As of 10 am, as we're choking over the smoke and several thousand homeowners remain evacuated around the region, only KABC/7 is covering the fires -- and that's because it's their normal "Eyewitness News" time slot.

Former KTTV anchor John Beard -- who just announced plans to take a job in Buffalo, citing in part his disappointment in L.A. news -- is probably feeling pretty good about his decision right now. Yesterday, he tweeted:

@jb111 3 major fires burning near LA... Injuries reported, homes threatened and not one LA station is live. How times have changed.

Today, he adds:

@jb111 Will LA tv take another day off as fires thrtn hmes and lives? Does anybody in mgmnt have the guts to spnd $$ to give viewers critical info?

@jb111Are LA TV Stations not doing live fire coverage (with lives at risk) because they spent so much on excessive Michael Jackson coverage?

I retweeted Beard's commentary yesterday in agreement. A few followers added these comments:

@trojanchick99 It is disturbing because if this fire were in Malibu we'd be getting 24/7 coverage.

@cajunasian It's sad that the only way I could get updated about the fires was by listening to AM 1070.

@dodgerthoughts Scale is 1 celebrity = 10,000 commoner homes

What do you think? Have the local TV stations completely abdicated their duty in this case to inform via the public airwaves?

Sad Day for Local TV News: Two Industry Vets Depart Los Angeles

"Stay sexy, Los Angeles!"

I can't quite wrap my head around it: After nearly three decades here in Los Angeles as a top anchor -- on KTTV Fox 11, and before that, KNBC 4 -- John Beard is leaving Los Angeles to do a morning news show in Buffalo.

Sorry, John, but considering considering some of the recent hires in our market, that's unacceptable. We need you here, more than ever.

But alas, our loss is Buffalo's gain. Beard explains the move on his website:

Beginning September 14th I’ll be anchoring the 5-7 and 11 am newscasts at WGRZ-TV in Buffalo. The station has a progressive management team in place that believes in professional news coverage and community service, that was the most important selling point.

In all honesty, my salary is much less than it was in LA…but it’s never been about the money for me, it was always about being involved in a newscast that I was proud of…and that’s a feeling I haven’t had for a long time.

Beard, who spent an early part of his career in Buffalo, said he has still has good friends there, and is looking forward to a change in lifestyle (not to mention the seasons).

MEANWHILE, IT'S ALSO depressing to see the departure of news director Bob Long from KNBC, which had become a bit more hard news-centric under his run. There was a period of time where Long even banned car chases, that L.A. staple, from the station.

But according to KNBC general manager Craig Robinson, Long had always planned to retire in 2009, and will now embark on a teaching adventure in Turkey:

He is leaving on October 1st to teach a semester of journalism ethics at Bahçeşehir University on the Bosphorus, the legendary waterway that divides Europe and Asia in Istanbul, Turkey.

Those of us who have worked with Bob are members of a small and privileged club. Trying to explain the gift of this experience to someone who hasn't is nearly impossible. He taught us something new every day, and every morsel was accompanied by laughter and humor. I had the rare chance to work with him twice and I don't take that privilege lightly.

Bob's professional acknowledgements include numerous Golden Mikes, Emmys and Edward R. Murrow Awards as well as a 2005 Peabody Award for broadcast excellence. These awards speak to his journalistic accomplishments; just as notable is how good he made you feel about doing your job every day. Long was on the cutting edge of digital technology and program content development when he launched “News Raw” on KNBC’s Digital Channel in 2005.

Long's resume included stints at KCOP, KCBS and KNBC in the 1990s; he left for Washington's WRC in 1999 before returning to KNBC in 2003.

KNBC hasn't yet announced Long's replacement.

John Beard to KFWB?

It's still a shame that former KTTV/Fox 11 (and before that, KNBC) anchor John Beard is off the air in Los Angeles.

Now, Beard revealed Thursday (via his Twitter account) that he is talking to KFWB about joining the former all-news station's new talk lineup:

Just interviewed w/ KFWB 4 the open 3-6 slot in their new talk format...I could have sum fun w/ that! But not sure I'm gonna stay in LA

Beard -- now free from having to hide his opinions -- definitely has some things to say about what's going on in the news, if his past Tweets are any indication. Of course, he'd be an unusual match for KFWB's new lineup -- he's definitely not a Conservative in the vein of the station's syndicated fare of Laura Ingraham and Michael Smerconish.

But it also appears that KFWB is looking for someone with more of a local news background in the 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. slot. And perhaps Beard could thrive in that spot, much like another former TV newsman, Warren Olney, transitioned to radio 15 years ago, via KCRW.

Meanwhile, writing about John Beard always allows me the chance to run this classic 1970s promo pic:


"Stay sexy, KFWB!"

BREAKING NEWS: Paul Moyer Out at KNBC

It's true: After 37 years here in L.A., anchoring at both KNBC and KABC, Paul Moyer is set to retire.

I just broke it over at Variety. Some details:

Moyer informed the KNBC newsroom Wednesday afternoon that he intended to anchor his last broadcast in the near future.

Moyer, who currently handles KNBC's 5 p.m. and 11 p.m. newscasts with Colleen Williams, has had a regular L.A. TV presence since 1972 – making him the market's longest-running anchor.

"I have given Los Angeles my loyalty and my professional best, and if I was able to illuminate a dark and dangerous corner with an investigation, or communicate a complex story in a meaningful way, I have been more than repaid for my devotion to this remarkable city," Moyer said in a memo to KNBC staffers.

"Los Angeles has sustained me and will continue to with a vast store of amazing memories that I will carry close to my heart as I move on to the next adventure."

Moyer is still mulling an exact departure date; station will also announce his successor at a later date.

In a newsroom note, KNBC news director Bob Long said Moyer "perfected the role of news anchor in the town that can lay claim to inventing it, becoming all an anchor can be: a team leader and a link to our community.

"Paul's contributions to KNBC over the years are many and profound, and we will watch with great interest as he contemplates his next adventure," he said. "Our personal bond of respect and affection for Paul will never diminish, and we thank him for everything he has done for our station and the industry."

This reps the end of his second tour of duty at KNBC, having rejoined the Peacock-owned station after a fierce bidding war with rival KABC in 1992.

Moyer is said to make as much as $3 million annually. As station groups like NBC look to cut costs, rumors had begun to float that Moyer and his NBC counterpart, Chuck Scarborough, were being bought out of their contracts. But Peacock insiders insist that Scarborough is staying, and that it was Moyer's decision to retire.

Who will replace Moyer? His nephew, Micah Ohlman (who seems to have disappeared from KABC's roster of talent bios on its website)? The return of John Beard? Chuck Henry? Stay tuned.

KTTV Viewers Not So Keen on John Beard's Departure

The chatboards on Fox 11's website are running mostly against the station's decision to bring in KTLA's Carlos Amezcua to replace John Beard.

Actually, if you can read the graphic above, it's getting downright nasty. (I'm actually surprised KTTV has kept those comments up there, at least as of late yesterday.) Here's an example of the rough response:

KTLA did not want Carlos. I don't want Carlos. His face on ch 11 is as good a reason as any reason not to watch ch 11 news. Bizarre choice to be the face of a newsteam. Makes me wonder whose neck is going to get severed after this hiring decision!

***
Carlos Amezcua...is a fat faced talking head. In fact his neck fat folds over his shirt collar which is disgusting.
Looks like hes going to have a stroke with that tight neck collar and tie...maybe.

***
Carlos Amezcua?..Wow thats the best they could come up with as John Beards replacement?..I for one can't stand Carlos Amezcua, he's the sole reason I stopped watching ktla's morning show, and now the sole reason I will not watch Fox 11 news at 10!!
Good move Fox 11, whats next Carlos Amezcua on Good Day L.A....Geez, I sure hope that NEVER happens!

Ouch. Meanwhile, it's looking more and more like KTLA will promote from within for its 10 p.m. anchor (to replace the late Hal Fishman). More to come...