Jim Gardner is retiring
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Diner
Nov 10, 2021, 3:28:29 PM11/10/21
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Gardner, lead anchor at 6ABC Action News in Philadelphia and the top-rated (by far) anchor in the city for his entire run, has announced he will be leaving the 11 pm newscast in January but continue to do the 6 pm newscast until his retirement at the end of 2022.
Gardner is 73 and has been the 6 and 11 pm anchor since 1978, when he replaced Larry Kane.
I believe he is the last remaining solo anchor in a major market.
Oh, and I ran into him once at a car wash.
Diner
Nov 10, 2021, 3:35:11 PM11/10/21
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Correction: 1977, not 1978.
Mark Jeffries
Nov 10, 2021, 3:52:46 PM11/10/21
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Qualified that in Chicago, WBBM weeknight 10 p.m. anchors Brad Edwards and Irika Sargent do get weeknights off individually and in those instances the other does the newscast by themself. (Edwards may get nights off because he's still with the station's investigations unit--WBBM does a lot of enterprise reporting on their 10 p.m., not just easy to do crime stories and sweeps crap.)
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Diner
Nov 10, 2021, 6:13:04 PM11/10/21
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Great clip:
On Wednesday, November 10, 2021 at 3:28:29 PM UTC-5 Diner wrote:
Diner
Jan 11, 2022, 3:03:31 PM1/11/22
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And the station has named Rick Williams - who has been an anchor at 6ABC since 1988 - to be Gardner's successor at 11 pm.
Good choice. He's a solid anchor.
And I'm glad they stayed with a solo anchor rather than switching to a team.
BTW, the new ABC sitcom "Abbott Elementary" had a scene in which they watch Jim Gardner on the news and fawn over him. Pretty darn funny.
Diner
Dec 6, 2022, 1:33:07 PM12/6/22
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Brian Taff, currently co-anchor on 6ABC's noon and 4 pm newscasts, will take over the 6 pm newscast when ol' Jimbo retires.
Gardner's last newscast will be on Wednesday, December 23.
Taff, who is in his early 40s, has been with the station since 2009.
Rick Williams will continue to anchor the 11 pm newscast, as well as co-anchoring at 5 pm.
Interesting that the station is keeping a solo anchor on both its 6 and 11 pm broadcasts - definitely a rarity these days - but splitting Gardner's old job between two anchors.
BTW, check out this adorable video of Gardner and "Abbott Elementary" star Quinta Brunson finally meeting - and gushing over each other - at this year's Philadelphia Thanksgiving Parade.
Bob Jersey
Dec 21, 2022, 9:25:53 AM12/21/22
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Not sure about availability outside the Philly DMA, but 6ABC will toss a "Celebrity Wheel of Fortune" repeat for a tribute special. https://twitter.com/6abc/status/1605363671844143106 (link)
And, have a street sign, Jim! https://6abc.com/jim-gardner-way-street-dedication-monument-road-retiring/12594018/ (link)
B
Diner, in part, Dec 6th:
Mark Jeffries
Dec 21, 2022, 10:05:31 AM12/21/22
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I would not be surprised if Gardner's tribute might go on Hulu. They have put on things from the ABC-owned stations before--and Saturday night, Hulu will have a "Tracking Santa" show produced by the ABC-owned stations and I assume featuring appearances from the various anchors, so Gardner may be on this one as well to represent Action News. As long as they play the theme song.
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