Friday, February 21, 2014

Beeeeeeeeeeeerrrrrt to WAPT

Yes, you read that right.  Beeeeeeeeeeeerrrrt Case is going to WAPT.  There will be no players to be named later. No draft choices in exchange.  The old warhouse still has some horsepower in him as he pushes back the sun to perform for yet another day. WAPT issued the following statement on its website:


Having one of Mississippi’s finest journalists join 16 WAPT News means we will serve our viewers better than ever. I’ve known Bert for more than 30 years and I’m so excited that he is now on our team. He will not only make us a better news organization, he will be an inspiration to his fellow 16 WAPT journalists," said 16 WAPT General Manager Stuart Kellogg.

Cases' work at 16 WAPT will be highly visible, with investigative reports that air in all newscasts, including an emphasis on the 5, 6 and 10 p.m. weeknight newscasts. The investigative reports will focus on finding who's accountable in high-profile local stories, while also serving as a consumer advocate.

The move represents a full-circle journey for Case, who originally started his career at 16 WAPT as a news director in 1970, before his legendary run as an anchor across town.

"I’m coming home. I'm coming back to something I started all these years ago," Case said.
Case owns just about every professional journalism accolade possible, and is already a Hall of Fame inductee of the Mississippi Associated Press Broadcasters Association.

Good luck to Mr. Case. This is welcome news after the passing of Orley Hood and Epicurious.

20 comments:

Bob Pollard said...

I built Burt's news set at WAPT years ago (out of 2X4's) After that, I was his first cameraman. This was in the early days of TV technology before electronic scrolls. We got around it by making a 4' metal drum on which we attached magnetic letters. WAPT was the first station in Mississippi with chromakey capabilities, putting a picture electronically behind the news and weather set. Burt and I are probably the only guys left who remember what WAPT stands for- "American Public Life Insurance Company". Is his wife Mary Weiden going to WAPT with him?
What a guy.

Anonymous said...

Awesome for Bert. Just awesome. You better believe he will bring legions with him.

Anonymous said...

Go Bert! If I'm not mistaken this is the same path Mrs Bell-Flynt took to WAPT.

WLBT has long had this strange death-wish.

PS: Leave Mary in the helicopter.

Johnny Weir said...

What a acquirement. Great to see the icon going a real news station! With Megan West Allen (great pout)and Keegan Foxx (good looks)WAPT is going to take all the market shares. What happen to Darrin Dedo????

Anonymous said...

you must be kidding? The last time I saw him he looked as though he was on the verge of rolling out of his chair and hitting the floor!(and not getting up) heck, why do I care..I don't watch the local news anyway.

Anonymous said...

Hey 4:02, I worked at WAPT as a production assistant back in the early 80's (when Mary Weiden) was the evening anchor, btw). We all thought "WAPT" stood for White Amateurs Playing Television. : )

Johnny Weir said...

Yea Bert! Looks like WAPT is going to take TONS of market share from WLBT. What a line up, Bert, Megan West Allen (cute pout), Keegan Foxx (nice looks) and old crusty Bert. Hey, what happened to Darrin Dedo?

Anonymous said...

WDAM Hattiesburg-Laurel was doing full screen chromakeys in the mid-60s.
Bert didn't start his career at WAPT. He was on WJTV Ch 12 before starting the news department at Ch 16. Good to have him back.

Anonymous said...

Berts a Honey. He tickles the hell out of me. I laugh everytime I think about Fordice trying to tangle with him. Bert probably woulda' whupped his ass. ;)

Anonymous said...

WLBT is starting to be like the Clarion Ledger. Getting rid of the good ones and going down hill.
Even Barbie is hard to find anymore.
Pops

Pugnacious said...

I want to see Bert do a face-to-face TV interview with Dr. Arnold Smith...provided he's not "suicidal," stripped naked,prescription medication confiscated, and forced to lie on a concrete slab with lights blaring 24/7, as was done to my friend Byron Weeks of Columbus, Mississippi.

Anonymous said...

Bert puts more journalistic skill into the WAPT newsroom than all the other staff combined.

Good move by WAPT management.

Stupid move by WLBT.

thisbe said...

Ol' Bert is *sui generis*, all right. I can hear the "grating roar" of legions of viewers, practically pulverizing the buttons on their remote controls, as they switch from WLBT to WAPT!

Anonymous said...

Can some kind soul loosen Pug's tin foil hat before it kills him?

Taking away his keyboard would also work.....

Anonymous said...

Only been here 15 years but did not know Chopper Mary was Bert's wife!

I also wonder what happens to Darren or Darrin D? Anyone?

Anonymous said...

He has gone to Des Moines on a "better deal".

Pugnacious said...

Let's hope that Bert and Chopper Mary don't fly over David Thompson's house for a "scoop."

Anonymous said...

Please leave Chopper Mary where she is. She's the evening equal to that nutty broad on LBT's morning news. Both need meds.

Anonymous said...

@February 21, 2014 at 4:02 PM

Cool comment. thanks for sharing.

Anonymous said...

Wonder if Berrrt will end up in the anchor chair next to Stephanie Maxwell. That'll drive ratings. Simmons needs to stay put on the weekends.



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Trollfest '07 was such a success that Jackson Jambalaya will once again host Trollfest '09. Catch this great event which will leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Othor Cain and his band, The Black Power Structure headline the night while Sonjay Poontang returns for an encore performance. Former Frank Melton bodyguard Marcus Wright makes his premier appearance at Trollfest singing "I'm a Sweet Transvestite" from "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." Kamikaze will sing his new hit, “How I sold out to da Man.” Robbie Bell again performs: “Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be Bells” and “Any friend of Ed Peters is a friend of mine”. After the show, Ms. Bell will autograph copies of her mug shot photos. In a salute to “Dancing with the Stars”, Ms. Bell and Hinds County District Attorney Robert Smith will dance the Wango Tango.

Wrestling returns, except this time it will be a Battle Royal with Othor Cain, Ben Allen, Kim Wade, Haley Fisackerly, Alan Lange, and “Big Cat” Donna Ladd all in the ring at the same time. The Battle Royal will be in a steel cage, no time limit, no referee, and the losers must leave town. Marshand Crisler will be the honorary referee (as it gives him a title without actually having to do anything).


Meet KIM Waaaaaade at the Entergy Tent. For five pesos, Kim will sell you a chance to win a deed to a crack house on Ridgeway Street stuffed in the Howard Industries pinata. Don't worry if the pinata is beaten to shreds, as Mr. Wade has Jose, Emmanuel, and Carlos, all illegal immigrants, available as replacements for the it. Upon leaving the Entergy tent, fig leaves will be available in case Entergy literally takes everything you have as part of its Trollfest ticket price adjustment charge.

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In the spirit of helping those who are less fortunate, Trollfest '09 adopts a cause for which a portion of the proceeds and donations will be donated: Keeping Frank Melton in his home. The “Keep Frank Melton From Being Homeless” booth will sell chances for five dollars to pin the tail on the jackass. John Reeves has graciously volunteered to be the jackass for this honorable excursion into saving Frank's ass. What's an ass between two friends after all? If Mr. Reeves is unable to um, perform, Speaker Billy McCoy has also volunteered as when the word “jackass” was mentioned he immediately ran as fast as he could to sign up.


In order to help clean up the legal profession, Adam Kilgore of the Mississippi Bar will be giving away free, round-trip plane tickets to the North Pole where they keep their bar complaint forms (which are NOT available online). If you don't want to go to the North Pole, you can enjoy Brant Brantley's (of the Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance) free guided tours of the quicksand field over by High Street where all complaints against judges disappear. If for some reason you are unable to control yourself, never fear; Judge Houston Patton will operate his jail where no lawyers are needed or allowed as you just sit there for minutes... hours.... months...years until he decides he is tired of you sitting in his jail. Do not think Judge Patton is a bad judge however as he plans to serve free Mad Dog 20/20 to all inmates.

Trollfest '09 is a pet-friendly event as well. Feel free to bring your dog with you and do not worry if your pet gets hungry, as employees of the Jackson Zoo will be on hand to provide some of their animals as food when it gets to be feeding time for your little loved one.

Relax at the Fox News Tent. Since there are only three blonde reporters in Jackson (being blonde is a requirement for working at Fox News), Megan and Kathryn from WAPT and Wendy from WLBT will be on loan to Fox. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both and a torn-up Obama yard sign will entitle you to free drinks served by Megan, Wendy, and Kathryn. Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required. Just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '09 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.


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There will be a hugging booth where in exchange for your young son, Frank Melton will give you a loooong hug. Trollfest will have a dunking booth where Muhammed the terrorist will curse you to Allah as you try to hit a target that will drop him into a vat of pig grease. However, in the true spirit of Separate But Equal, Don Imus and someone from NE Jackson will also sit in the dunking booth for an equal amount of time. Tom Head will give a reading for two hours on why he can't figure out who the hell he is. Cliff Cargill will give lessons with his .80 caliber desert eagle, using Frank Melton photos as targets. Tackleberry will be on hand for an autograph session. KIM Waaaaaade will be passing out free titles and deeds to crackhouses formerly owned by The Wood Street Players.

If you get tired come relax at the Fox News Tent. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both will entitle you to free drinks.Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required, just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '07 is for EVERYONE!!!

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