NBC15: 4 a.m. (Morning Show)


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Posted by madcityradio.com on February 01, 2009 at 09:35:31:

4 a.m. (Morning Show)
By Jane Burns | January 28, 2009 | 77 Square
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Everybody, at some point of the day, has to drag themselves out of bed and go to work. It's the rare few, however, that have to be awake and alert before dawn with thousands of people watching.
That's why Christine Bellport is parked in front of the mirror at the Channel 15 TV studios at 4:15 in the morning, doing her makeup and hair so she'll look good on the air in another 45 minutes. She's definitely awake, though; she's already been up for two hours.

"It's not a glamorous time of the morning," Bellport said. "I've been known to show up in my PJs and with wet hair. If I ever got pulled over, they'd get an eyeful."

Bellport and Sarah Carlson host "The Morning Show" with weatherman Charlie Shortino. They're just three of the dozen or so employees who put together the program each weekday. The two anchors arrive at about 3 a.m. and go over their copy, much of which has been written by the show's producer, Jackson Helmer.

The morning anchors' shift has nothing on Helmer; he comes in at 11 p.m. and works overnight. For several hours he's there alone, updating yesterday's news and listening to police scanners to find today's news.

"I come in thinking the people who are watching my show aren't watching the 10 o'clock news; they're in bed by then," Helmer said.

At age 24, Helmer said he's still used to the odd hours that he had in college and can manage the shift. It's good to be alert; as the only one in the office, whether or not Channel 15 finds out about a story overnight is a responsibility that sits squarely on his shoulders.

"Like the night Charles Weitzel (who allegedly murdered two people last year) was found," Helmer said. "If I hadn't heard the one APB that said he had been found, that would have been missed. If I hadn't had my ears open and my wits about me, I might not still be here."

Bellport has been on the early morning shift for 12 years -- five in Madison, and in San Diego and Tucson before that. Carlson has been on the shift for two years; she had a regular 9-to-5 job before coming to Channel 15 but left for "The Morning Show" job when she realized she'd be able to spend more time with her children.

"I don't think 'preference' is the way to put it -- it's the best option," Bellport said. "There's really no good shift in news. You're either doing 3 to 11 p.m. or 3 to 11 a.m.

"When I talk to people, especially students who are looking to get into the business, I say, 'Do you love your family? Do you love holidays, nights, weekends? Well, throw all of that away. If you can make peace with that, then we can continue the conversation.'"

The shift doesn't mix well with a social life. Bellport says she goes to bed at about 6:30 p.m., and Carlson closer to 8.

"In the summer, it's hard to get down before 9 because I have kids who play outside," Carlson said.

Bellport, helped by two gigantic cups of coffee, likes the energy of getting to the newsroom early and going right into overdrive. That's why the time in the makeup chair provides a bridge of calm before she goes on the air.

"This is my time of day," she said. "A lot of people work this shift because they have to, or because it's one of two jobs they have. For us, it's a choice. We don't complain; it's a choice, and we love it."


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