carlos_amezcua's Blog

Each year the Los Angeles television community gets together to honor excellence.  Work that is deemed worthy receives the coveted "Emmy" award.  Last Saturday Fox11 was honored with multiple "Emmy " awards as were many of the other stations.  Here, however is where I would like to make my point.  With all the talk about "new media" and the TV business changing, one fact remains, television is about people.  People make news and people tell the stories.  Without us you would not know what is going on in the world and you would not experience all those stories without our efforts.  I know we're all intoxicated with the technology and all that high def stuff and video streaming, but what are we all looking at?  We're looking at people telling stories or people doing whatever they do be it worthwhile or not.  I am proud of our profession and the people I work with.  We work diligently to bring you the very best, most accurate news each and every day.  It doesn't happen on its own, very talented people in front and behind the cameras  make it work.  I also want to say to all you bloggers who feel like you now rule the world, those of us who occupy this space do it with our names and reputations on the line.  What do you do?  You all hide behind your internet monikers and anonymous locations.  I salute my television brethren who fight the daily battle of getting it right and getting it straight and do it knowing the consequences can be career ending.  

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Ok all you junior journalists, you're on notice!  Over the past few years anyone with a camera or a computer is calling themselves a reporter or "journalist".  Blog away, shoot that video on your phone and voila! you have a story.  Well not so fast buckaroos, it's not that easy to earn your your stripes.  Yeah, I think technology has helped all of you to peek inside the great news profession, but there is so much more to it than what you may believe.  On a daily basis I read forwards sent to me by bloggers who report stories that are full of factual errors.  A quick key stroke here or there and I disprove just about every story that gets sent to me.  I understand the need to spread propaganda if you want to make a point or push an agenda just don't  pass it off as gospel truth, it ain't.  I guess when you hide behind fake monikers you get away with all the crap that is sent out in the name of journalism, but I have news for you it's not news, it's crap!  Even videos can be doctored to portray an event as real when, in fact, it is fake.  Home editors can now create effects that George Lucas couldn't do in the original Star Wars movie.  So my point is, with all the information out there in the new media world I still rely on legitimate news organizations and proven journalists to get my news.  Fox11 has a team of respected reporters, writers, producers, photographers, editors, anchors and technical staff who ensure that what we report is true, factual and the very latest information available.  It's easy to "Google" topics and get news from various sources, I just hope you continue to trust the profession that I work in to deliver the story honestly.  At some point down the road, I predict some untrained fool will poke an eye out and find himself in front of a judge declaring he was doing exactly what any reporter would do.  The judge might just say "son, that's not true, you should have checked your facts".

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Wow, What a match! As a golf fan it doesn't get any better than this. The world's greatest golfer against the nicest guy in golf. Both gutsy performers under the pressure of the U.S. Open in Torrey Pines. As I watched the tournament from my home I kept saying I should be there! It is, after all, just a short drive from L-A. Watching on TV was really the only way to view the whole experience and I feel lucky to be watching sports history. The fact that a 45-year old guy put up a fight against a man who is becoming the greatest golfer of all time was something to behold. I so admire Rocco for his gutsy play and easy-going style. The crowd just loved him and he seemed to be relishing his moment in history. Then there's Tiger's lucky chip-in on Saturday and clutch putt at 18 yesterday, just eight weeks or so since knee surgery he puts on a show like that. What can you say but wow, how does he do that time and time again? Tiger is a champions champion. He has, as they like to say in sports, ice water in his veins. How great was this contest? Well, it took an additional 18 holes on Monday and even that wasn't enough! It went to a 19th. hole and sudden death and finally Tiger prevailed. It was the kind of sporting event I will remember for a long, long time.

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Do you realize that without Mt. Wilson there would be no television in Los Angeles? Yesterday I took a pleasant ride to the top of the mountain, yes I have been to the mountain! I have seen the future and also the past. There atop the 7-thousand foot summit are all the broadcast towers for just about every radio and television station in L-A. It's quite a sight and I got a chance to visit with KTTV's engineer Tom Black. Tom gave me a VIP tour of the Fox11 mountaintop and all the engineering marvels that make a TV station work. I don't think our technical staff ever gets enough credit for the terrific work they do. I couldn't go on the air night after night if brilliant people weren't making sure that every little technical detail was being taken care of. I don't really understand how all this stuff works but I know that they know and I'm glad they are there. Mt. Wilson is relatively close and a beautiful drive on a clear day. I invite you to go up and see the towers on the mount and while your at it, check out the Mt. Wilson observatory.

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I have been fighting the battle of the bulge for most of my adult life. Yes, I surf and ski and stay pretty active, but I'm also quite active at the dinner table, I love to eat! So I'm always in the gym working out and trying to keep the weight in check. I have been on quite a rigorous workout regimen for the past three years with great success. Those of you who have watched me over the years have seen me at my heaviest and now I'm 60 pounds lighter than that. I owe it to working out every single day and doing pushups away from the table. Lately I've changed up my workout to include what I thought was a girlie workout, Pilates. Well I'm here to tell you PIlates is no girlie workout! It is kicking my buttttt! The stretching, breathing and exercises are challenging and painful.. I thought I was in pretty good shape, but clearly I am far from being in excellent shape and certainly not as flexible as I should be. Anyway, as a former critic of the so called "fad" of Pilates, I sincerely apologize for all those girlie comments and humbly bow down to the inventor of this impressive form of exercise Joseph Pilates!

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I have to admit folks, I'm having a real hard time with this blog thing. I guess I'm so old school that I believe in keeping my opinions to myself and any observation on my part only reveals who I really am. Of course I have opinions and even prejudices but I try very hard to stay objective so that you (the viewer) will trust me to deliver the news without bias. It has become increasingly difficult in this new media world to not reveal just about everything about oneself. We have tools like Myspace and Facebook and even publicists to tell the world what we are all about. I am not comfortable with this new trend and see it watering down the credibility of just about every journalist in our business. We are directed to blog on a regular basis and some are better at it than others... me.. not so much. Let me know how you feel as a viewer when you know more about your news anchor than perhaps you wanted to know. It's a big deal to me, because for all my faults, I still want to provide you with a balanced look at the news. Like I said, I'm old school and I was trained by old school journalists who probably wouldn't blog, they'd probably talk about their old cars or a favorite TV show or their favorite sport. Oh yeah, then they would be criticized for not tackling more meaty subjects on their blogs. I don't care what other journalists think as long as they are honest brokers of information, you know, fair and balanced. Tough to do when everyone knows your biases!

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I've been enjoying the HBO/Playtone production of John Adams. Each part was so carefully crafted that it drew me in and kept me mesmerized through each and every episode. I have always been fascinated by the vision and sacrifice of our so called "Founding Fathers". Through much personal sacrifice they created a nation that has become the shining example of democracy throughout the world. The portrayal of John Adams by actor Paul Giamatti is nothing short of spectacular. His wife Abigail was beautifully portrayed by Laura Linney. Together, they display the kind of power and strength that surely was needed to survive those turbulent times. If ever there was a "power couple" this was it! Separated for years by service to his country Abigail forged ahead with dignity and strength, while John traveled to Philadelphia and eventually to France to build a necessary alliance. I salute the producers of this series and thank them for providing a rare glimpse into that time period. The scenery, costumes and setting were at times, painfully authentic and raw. I was so intrigued by what I was watching that I would spend an additional hour or two on my computer reading about John Adams' life. I went out and bought David McCullough's book and am now reading it. I am grateful for what these men and women did to insure our nation's future. I take pause and look to our current election process and marvel at how fortunate we are to live in this country. Yeah, there are lots of problems but there isn't another place in the world that compares to the United States of America and we have the likes of John Adams, George Washington and Thomas Jefferson and their families to thank for what we so enjoy today. If you get a chance, check out the series "John Adams" on HBO you will be richly rewarded.

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American Idol has once again proven that when it comes to giving, America has no equal. I certainly appreciate the effort of so many so called "A"list celebrities. They're the reason millions of Americans watched the broadcast. As I watched the stories from New Orleans to the Sudan I was touched and horrified by the living conditions endured by my fellow human beings. I am also impressed that so many celebrities including Simon and Ryan have traveled to these far off lands to lend their support. Annie Lennox's tears moved me to tears and I loved her performance. To the producers of American Idol I say, thanks! Thanks for giving us not only a great show this season but for "giving back". You are to be commended for your efforts

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Billions around the world believe and I believe that soccer (football) is life! I grew up playing it in empty dirt lots near my home and eventually played at the collegiate level. Yeah, I know what you're thinking, my dad was also a rabid soccer fan and he somehow brainwashed me into believing that soccer was a gift from the almighty. Not the case, he was and is a soccer fan but I have always loved the game. I have spoken about my passion for "the beautiful game" on as many broadcasts as I can and tried to convince as many as will listen that there is great joy and sense of community in following your favorite clubs around the world.

Just yesterday I watched the England versus France friendly match on the big screen at the King's Head Pub in Santa Monica with a couple hundred fans. It was a lot of fun and I can't wait for the Galaxy to begin their season this weekend. David Beckham is more than just fodder for the tabloids he continues to be one of the world's best players and he proved it, once again, at the highest level of the game. England needs him and they will do well to let him play as long as he is able to keep sending those glorious crossing passes right into the box. His impact on the Galaxy has yet to be fully realized but soon you will all see how he will elevate the team's play just by being out there.

I am challenging all Fox11 viewers to take your children to an MLS game this year. I promise you will have a great time with your family and you will see terrific soccer, great sportsmanship and be in a wholesome environment. I will be there as I have for more than ten years ( yes, I buy tickets to support the cause) and I would love to say hello to you new soccer fans.

I also want to challenge LA's sportscasters on television and radio to seriously cover our Galaxy and Chivas teams instead of just acting like soccer doesn't matter. It does, and your ratings might go up if your seriously do your jobs as sports journalists! Remember soccer is life and for those who love soccer as much as I do keep watching the Fox Soccer Channel when you're not watching the Fox11 Ten o'clock News!

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What in the world is going on here? I wrote in a previous post about a religious litmus test and so here we go again. Obama is now trying to distance himself from the church he has been actively attending because of the incendiary remarks of the pastor, Rev. Jeremiah Wright. OK, no one is suggesting that what this pastor has said or is saying is not troubling, it is, but to somehow connect Obama to Wright's rants seems absurd. Yeah, perhaps Obama should have exercised better judgment and realized early on, that the pastor's words might hurt his presidential candidacy. And maybe Wright should not have been included as a "spiritual adviser" in Obama's campaign. So my point, whether a man chooses to attend The Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago or the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Salt Lake City, religion should not be used as an issue in choosing a president! All religion is personal and how a person chooses to worship is his own business. It is not up to others to judge what is a good religion or bad religion or whether a man of a certain faith is fit to serve as President of the United States. It seems to me that one must look a the complete candidate and yes, that might mean a peek at his religious beliefs so far as it goes to the issue of character, but that should be it. Obama has the right to attend whatever church he wants even if the, now retired pastor, said some real crazy things. I suspect Obama is no more a puppet of the Rev. Wright than Mitt Romney is of the Mormon Elders.

D A V I D   A R C H U L E T A
OK everyone, it's official in the Amezcua household, David Archuleta is America's next Idol.  This teenage sensation from Murray, Utah has an unbelievable voice, star quality and the linnocence of the boy next door.  My family has been in the music business for many generations and it's amazing to me that family-wide (that means pretty much everyone in my family) agrees that this kid is golden.  If  you missed last weeks episode where David sang his rendition of John Lennon's Imagine you missed a landmark moment in Idol history.  As I watched him I sat in disbelief that this youngster could interpret Lennon's lyrics with such vocal maturity.  I stood up and gave him a standing ovation.  How many times have you done that at home watching TV?  He is the real deal and reminds me of other youngsters like
Sinatra, Celine and Stevie Wonder who have come along over the years and become icons in the music world.  So, I'm with Simon Cowell this time I think it's a done deal, David Archuleta is your next American Idol!

People are always asking me about my cars, yes I have a couple more than I should but I love cars especially old ones.  Was that a run on sentence?  Sorry Mr. Shaver.  Wiley Shaver was my high school English teacher.  Anyway, with all this talk about Global Caliente and hybrid this and that, I dutifully drive my '67 VW.  It is my trusty car and gets great gas mileage and it doesn't pollute too much.  My VW van is a little bigger but it too is environmentally friendly.  Why am I telling you this? Because some 40 year old cars are actually just as good as anything produced today and still gets me comfortably from point  A to point B.  Sure I go slow and sometimes people honk at me on PCH to get out of the way, I just smile and wave.  Dude I'm in no hurry.  If I AM in a hurry then ok, I get it, I jump into my Porsche Turbo and leave you all in the dust!

Just 'cause you drive a 4x4 doesn't mean you're NOT gonna slide all over the road when it rains.  Please slow down.  I had a near collision today on my way to work with a guy who thought he could drive 70 miles an hour when just about everyone else was going about 45.  He lost control of his vehicle and began to spin, somehow he missed us all.  All I can say is we need to be cautious and extra courteous when the weather is wet.  Thanks. 

It seems unfathomable that in 2007 pundits and their ilk are still kicking around the so called religious litmus test for America's presidential candidates.  Didn't we learn with JFK?  Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney was forced to answer critics who claimed he hadn't come clean on his Mormon faith.  Well, he has, and now it's time as journalists, talk show hosts and voters to move on and consider the candidate on issues and record.  Religion, no matter who practices or where, is deeply personal .  It is for me and I don't expect anyone to worship the way I do, I just want the freedom to believe any way I choose.  It is a founding constitutional right, in fact, it was so important thousands laid down their lives during the American Revolution to insure it.  So, I agree it is interesting to discuss a presidential candidate's religion but his or her faith should not be considered as a criteria to become the nation's chief executive.  I leave you with this,  if religion concerns you then you should seek understanding and learn before passing judgement on the character of an individual based on what you DON'T know about his or her faith.

I've been at Fox 11 for a couple of months now and I'm wondering how many of you followed me over here from KTLA.  I enjoyed and appreciated all the great messages I received and I am so looking forward to this new chapter in my broadcasting career.  As you know,  I love to innovate and approach my work with a great deal of enthusiasm.  I have always said that my work is only a reflection of the tremendously talented people with whom I work.  For 16 years I worked with some incredibly talented people and I miss them, they are like family to me, but now I have a new group of colleagues who are an amazing crew.  Fox 11 has a commitment to news which I haven't experienced in years.  In my opinion it's the best news department in  Los Angeles and we prove it every single day by breaking stories no one else has and covering breaking news better than anyone else.  I'm not hyping KTTV just to talk, I really believe it!  The reason I came here is because this place is truly committed to covering news and serving the community.  I hope this blog gives you an opportunity to communicate with me about issues you care about.  From time to time I'll drop a line and give you my take.  For now happy blogging and hey, old friends welcome to Fox11!