The Unlikely Nightly Duo

There are times when things should be left well enough alone and we’re quite miffed when “someone” messes with what always works.  It’s just the way we’re wired.  Other times, change is forced on us and, despite a lot of kicking, screaming, weeping, wailing, and gnashing of our pearly whites, we discover that we actually like if not love the changes made.

Take the WFAA’s nightly newscasts for instance.  Since first moving to the Dallas area in 1989, Channel 8 was the Patterson tribe’s go-to station for all news local.  We quickly grew to consider the late Chip Moody, the hard hitting Dale Hansen and the affable Troy Dungan as friends and guests of our family every evening.

In early 2004, my career moved my family out of state to where local newscasts were unintentionally funny to watch.  It made us miss our Channel 8 “family”.  However, thanks to the miracle of the internet and video to the desktop, I would look up Dale Hansen’s annual “Thank God for Kids” piece.  Even from a long distance, Dale could always manage to bring a tear or two to my eyes.

In mid 2007, I was thrilled to learn that my company was moving me back to the Dallas area.  FINALLY, I would be able to enjoy a REAL, professional newscast.  Imagine the horror that overwhelmed me when I saw someone besides our dear Mr. Dungan giving us the weather report.  Who was this Pete Delkus guy anyway?  Didn’t he know that he was supposed to wear a bow tie when he presented the weather to Dallas?  Isn’t anything sacred anymore? 

I felt betrayed.  Cheated.  It was like being victimized by the worst bait and switch scam ever perpetrated on the TV viewing public!  I also felt trapped.  Even though I’m not a sports fan, I relished watching Dale Hansen give various sports icons the “what for”, often to the laughter of fellow cast and crew members emanating from off screen.

With time, the banter and insults between Pete and Dale caught, and kept, my attention.  I kept watching and listening, thinking that Dale would surely run this guy off within two or three months.  It would serve the pretty boy from Cincinnati right!

But then I realized that I liked these guys together and looked forward to the broadcast each night for entirely different reasons.  It didn’t take too much brain power to figure out that these guys really liked each other despite the insults and jabs they hurled back and forth.   The more I watched, the more I liked these guys and was thrilled with the changes that were forced on me. 

To satisfy my curiosity about the impact of the on-air relationship between Delkus and Hansen, I contacted Dale and Pete and inquired about their relationship and how it’s affected viewership and the chemistry on the set. 

I asked Dale how long after Pete joined Channel 8 did it become apparent that the two of them could have a lot of fun ribbing each other?  Hansen shared that it was “very soon.  The station told him he could, and should, have some fun with me and we hit it off pretty quick.  He’s a little goofy and I like goofy.”

When asked what his first impression was of Dale after he came on board, Delkus says, “. . . he came in like gangbusters, joking, being very loud, and pretty much taking over the newsroom.  I thought to myself, ‘Who in the world is this guy?’  All in fun, I confront Hansen with something like, ‘Hey! What do you think you’re doing?’ and he comes right back with, ‘Hey! Who the heck are you?’  We hit right off and have been good friends ever since.”

I was very curious how the relationship between the he and Delkus affected the camaraderie among the rest of the Channel 8 News team.  Hansen believes that it’s helped, adding, “I’m sure there are some times when some people feel left out but I think it has brought Gloria and John along in a fun way.  It’s a fine line and sometimes we cross it but the “set” needs to have a little fun sometimes . . . before Pete it was pretty dry.”

Is that a bow tie I hear spinning?

I asked Delkus if the WFAA environment was much different from his previous employer, WCPO in Cincinnati.  “There are lots of similarities between the two stations.  Though Dallas is a much larger and diversified market, both stations are staffed with very professional, hard working (except for Hansen) people.  I loved WCPO and I love WFAA.  They’re both great.  I will say that the on-air team tends to be much more ‘visible’ here, which I find interesting.”

I queried Hansen if there is a lot of viewer backlash regarding his on air banter with Delkus. Dale is pretty straight forward.  “Not really.  We do get quite a bit of feedback on the “Boston Legal” promotions we spoofed and it’s 50-50.  Some choose me, some choose Pete.  He got a lot of negative reaction early when people thought he really was making fun of me, and apparently not understanding I like it!  But I’d say now it’s 50-50.”

In a similar vein, I asked Mr. Delkus what he thought the biggest misconception was of his on air sparring partner.  “People mistake Dale’s sarcasm for being obnoxious or arrogant.  Dale’s paid to have an opinion and not just to deliver sports news and data.  Anyone can do that.  By being opinionated, and especially if his opinion differs from the more vocal viewership, he’ll usually be labeled as obnoxious, etc.  Yes, he’s very opinionated but he’s shown me that he can take as much as he dishes out.”

I move the conversation towards the area of the two of them adapting to technology.  I told Delkus that I got the impression that he was dragging Hansen, kicking and screaming, into the era mobile communication.  Chuckling, he says, “Yeah, Dale’s not exactly an ‘early adopter’ to technology.  He’s very good at answering viewer e-mail and I’ve introduced him to ‘Twitter’.”  Then, with a laugh, he adds, “I’m trying to get him on board with this stuff called ‘text-messaging’!”

With ratings being the lifeblood of any broadcast, I asked Hansen  if there was any quantifiable evidence that the sparing between the two of them has impacted Channel 8 News’ ratings and, if so, in what way?  “ . . . I think the fact we have moved to number 1 after slipping for a few years is part of that.  I think there is some research that would indicate it plays well.  Otherwise, the station wouldn’t promote the two of us as much as they have.”

Many Metroplexers do not realize that Pete Delkus played professional baseball with the Minnesota Twins for six years.  I asked him if he ever wishes that he was reporting on sports rather than the weather.  “Not for a second!  These days, I actually get to enjoy sports more by not being directly involved in it.  If I was still involved professionally, either playing or presenting it on TV, I would be viewing the game from a completely different and less enjoyable perspective.  I love watching sports and am happy to keep it that way!  Besides, I can’t wait to hear what Dale has to say about it all each night!”

With my interview just about over, I decided to tread into potentially dangerous territory and ask about the difference in haberdashery that they exhibit on the broadcasts.  Taking a deep breath, I mention, “Both of you will often mention your ‘guy’ who supplies your clothes for you.  Do either of you ever feel that they are pulling a very cruel joke on you?  I mean, c’mon!  Sometimes you two really dress “special”.  Is that part of the shtick or is it really a ‘learning experience’”?

Dale, taking as well as he dishes out, immediately replies, “It’s not a joke to me!  You c’mon!  I have learned this about ‘fashion´:  it’s in the eye of the beholder.  I don’t wear anything I don’t like.  Does everybody like every ‘outfit’?  Obviously not. But it’s like my sportscast:  some people want me to change a lot of things because they know better and I don’t agree.”

Obviously on a roll, Hansen continues: “Pete dresses like a damn drone.  I like a little more, uhhhhh, flash sometimes.  Sometimes it works sometimes it doesn’t but I really don’t care or worry about what some people think.  Maybe I should but I just don’t.”

Wrapping up my interview with the two TV personalities, and  in the spirit of the wildly successful Metroplex game, “Delkus or Hansen”, I asked them a rapid fire series of questions:

Timex or Rolex?

Dale:  “Closer to Timex.  My watches usually cost between $100 and $200 . . . maybe.”

Pete:  “It depends on what I’m doing.  If I’m hunting or doing other outdoor activities, then it’s definitely a “Timex”.  If I’m here at the set, out dinner with my lovely wife, or other similar activities, then it’s definitely “Rolex” time!”

Starbucks or Mickey D’s?

Dale:  “I’ve never had a Starbucks.  It’s definitely McDonalds!  It’s obvious, isn’t it?

Pete:  “Oh, McDonalds, for sure.  I think Starbucks tastes nasty!”

Dillard’s or Nordstrom’s?

Dale:  “Hmmm.  Again, a little cheaper than most (is that Delkus I hear laughing?) . . . my ‘work’ clothes are custom made at a reasonable price, though.”

Pete:  “If I have to pick between the two, then Nordstrom’s.  However, my real first choice is Cabella’s!”

Hearing this made my duck call quack and I don’t even own one!  I live for the day when Delkus does the weather wearing camo and one of those floppy-eared hats.

According to Jim or Dancing with the Stars?

Dale:  “If it’s a choice between the two . . . ‘Dancing with the Stars’ . . . I never did think that Jim Belushi was funny.”

Pete:  “Oh!  Definitely “Dancing with the Stars’!  Have you seen Edyta Sliwinska?  She is SMOKIN’ HOT!  But not as smokin’ hot as Mrs. Delkus!” (Good save, Pete!)

Beatles or Rolling Stones?

Dale:  “Please!  The Beatles!

Pete:  “I like them both quite a lot but, if I had to chose, I would pick the Stones.  However, I’m a huge Peter Frampton fan and have had the privilege of meeting him several times at charitable events while I was in Cincinnati.  He and his lovely wife are great and giving people.”

While I am more than happy with the changes that the management made during my absence from the Metroplex, I do expect that they consult with me before they make those kinds of decisions. 

Can you make sure that happens, Dale?