Let the hunkering begin!

With a blizzard warning blanketing New York, area stations are treating the impending storm with necessary seriousness.

This afternoon, ahead of the snow, WCBS started its wall-to-wall coverage. Anchors Maurice DuBois and Kristine Johnson led the team into action at 3 p.m., with reporters stationed throughout the tri-state area. Joining Lonnie Quinn in the “Weather Center” was John Elliott, who was seen shoveling the icy, snowy mix on the roof. A WCBS spokesperson tells FishbowlNY that the same group will be in place starting tomorrow at 6 a.m.

WABC also got a 3 p.m  start with Bill Ritter and Lori Stokes at the desk. Weekend meteorologist Jeff Smith assisted Lee Goldberg.

WNYW did not offer extended coverage until its 5 p.m. newscast. Channel 5 did give viewers hourly updates with Nick Gregory. Sister station WWOR also broke in for top-of-the-hour reports with Audrey Puente. Channel 9, like most stations, ran a live press conference by New Jersey Governor Chris Christie at 3:45. Harry Martin briefly did a recap.  WNYW skipped the governor’s news conference to stay with The People’s Court.

WNBC ended the Christie remarks from Trenton by sequeing into the start of its “Severe Weather Coverage” at 4 with Tom Llamas and Shiba Russell.

NY1 and NY1 Noticias were in non-stop mode for the blizzard. On Saturday morning at 9:30 a.m., NY1 will present a special half hour with the latest storm information.

Offering a serious tone on this morning’s funeral of Mayor Koch, New York stations covered the entire solemn proceedings.

But, WCBS/Channel 2 went one step further. Channel 2 brought in its main anchor team of Maurice DuBois and Kristine Johnson to lead the 11 a.m. coverage.

At WABC/Channel 7, Bill Ritter joined morning anchor Lori Stokes for its special reporting.

Related: FishbowlNY, Memories of Longtime Media Favorite, Mayor Ed Koch

Otherwise, it was the morning talent that handled the coverage. Good Day New York anchors Rosanna Scotto and Greg Kelly hosting the programming that took WNYW viewers to Temple Emanu-El. Sister station WWOR stayed with it regular lineup.

WPIX/Channel 11 opted fot its usual “must see” daytime TV, starting with Jerry Springer.

Michael Gargiulo and Darlene Rodriguez anchored for WNBC.

In addition, WLNY was used as the way station for WCBS shows pre-empted by the special coverage.

2009 swearing in for President Obama (with First Lady Michelle).

While the historic magnitude of 2009 is not present this time, everyone still likes a good inauguration. As is dictated by the Constitution, President Obama will take the Oath of Office on January 20th to officially start his second term. But since it falls on Sunday, the White House will hold the traditional pomp and circumstance Monday. Coverage will be found on many New York stations.

1010 WINS will use the resources of its network personnel, while also having a reporter available from D.C.’s All-News WNEW-FM.

The chestnuts are roasting, the yule log is burning, and it’s another shot at those weighty new year’s resolutions. It’s also the season for the Barmash Awards. The third annual examination of the best TV news personalities in New York.

We begin with the Best Morning Newscast.

Everyone is chasing WABC. The veteran team of Lori Stokes and Ken Rosato, the epitome of morning anchors, along with senior meteorologist Bill Evans are a great combination of talent and chemistry.

Best Sports Anchor—The local Emmy Awards can’t be wrong year after year. Bruce Beck is the most popular sports anchor in New York. Although entertaining, like his predecessor Len Berman, Beck is more nuts and bolts. And it works effortlessly.

Best Weather Anchor–Although Evans and Lee Goldberg at WABC hold their own, this is Lonnie Quinn‘s year. The weatherman shined with his, seemingly, non-stop Sandy coverage. Quinn finds a way to entertain and inform, and especially with severe storms, He understands his role perfectly, never causing a panic.

Special Superstorm Sandy Achievement: WPIX

Everyone worked hard to provide Sandy coverage. But Channel 11 took it further. The PIX Morning News did three remotes from areas devastated by the storm. Sukanya Krishnan, Frances Rivera, and Tamsen Fadel took viewers to parts of the Jersey Shore, Staten Island, and Nassau County.

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Obama and Biden accept the Democratic nomination in 2008

The battle between Mitt Romney and President Obama moves to the convention floor next week for the nominating process, and TV and radio stations are ready for extra coverage of the key moments.

The Republicans lead off in Tampa, with Romney awaiting his party’s endorsement next week.

WABC/Channel 7 is sending anchor Bill Ritter to the GOP convention, along with political reporter Dave Evans.  Reports begin Sunday night at 11.

One week later, the Democrats convene in Charlotte, with morning anchor Lori Stokes joining Evans on scene.

As for WCBS/Channel 2, veteran political reporter Marcia Kramer is the station’s lone representative at the conventions.

A spokesperson tells FishbowlNY that Kramer will cover the national news in addition to the New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut state delegations.

WNBC/Channel 4 will also not have an anchor presence. Only reporter Melissa Russo is covering both events live.

A WNYW/WWOR spokesperson did not respond to our request prior to the deadline.

WPIX/Channel 11 is not sending any on-air talent to either convention. The station says without any mystery surrounding the nominees, WPIX will likely just cover it as a news story.

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WCBS' Lonnie Quinn and Chris Wragge accompanied by their new Emmys.

The best and brightest on the New York TV scene were on display last night at the 55th annual local Emmy Awards. FishbowlNY was on hand for the  four-hour awards ceremony at the Marriott Marquis in Times Square.

The biggest winner was MSG with 14 trophies, while WNBC/Channel 4 led all over-the-air outlets with 11 Emmys.

WCBS/Channel 2 took home the top prize of Best Evening Newscast–Over 35 Minutes–for its Hurricane Irene Aftermath. Anchors Maurice DuBois and Kristine Johnson were not there to accept their statuettes, but weathercaster Lonnie Quinn was in attendance.

Quinn already was selected Best On-Camera Weather Anchor, and colleague Chris Wragge was back at the podium as Best News Anchor. A one-time personal trainer, Wragge rushed back to Manhattan after competing in a Miami triathlon earlier in the day.

“This morning I knew my only shot of winning anything was coming to these Emmys,” Wragge deadpanned.

WABC cornered the market in the morning and daytime newscast categories. The on-air team of anchors Ken Rosato and Lori Stokes, meteorologist Bill Evans won for Eyewitness News This Morning and the noon broadcast following the Death of Osama bin Laden.

Telemundo WNJU/Channel 47 won the Best Newscast Under 35 Minutes.

More results from last night’s Emmys after the jump

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It’s that time of the year—time for buying Christmas trees, and subsequently decorating them with all the trimmings. Our Jewish friends are digging out the menorahs, and making sure they have enough candles.

But it’s also the season for countless awards. FishbowlNY is no exception, as we present our 2^nd annual Barmash Awards, honoring the local TV news scene here in New York.

As the title indicates, there is no committee making these decisions—just one co-editor.

While our intention isn’t to specifically balance the award winners, it does show the enormous talent we have to choose from across the dial.

Best Newscast (morning)

The chemistry works perfectly between WABC/Channel 7 veterans Lori Stokes and Ken Rosato. Stokes, though, brings that special connection to morning viewers. Stokes has a warm and friendly demeanor as she virtually “wakes” up people each day. Bill Evans is one of the best TV meteorogists, only falling short in the overall category to a colleague.

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WABC/Channel 7 maintained its dominance of local news, winning every daypart in the just-concluded November sweeps, according to Nielsen.

Starting in the weekday mornings, Eyewitness News This Morning with Lori Stokes, Ken Rosato and Bill Evans had the highest Household rating at 4:30.

At 5 a.m., WABC was tops in Households and Adults 25 to 54, while during the 6 o’clock hour, once again, more viewers watched Channel 7 than any other local newscast.

Stokes, Rosato, and Evans return at noon, and so do the great ratings. The broadcast holds a 39 percent advantage over its closest competition among Households. The lunchtime newscast also draws more than twice as many Adults 25 to 54 and Women 25 to 54 as its closest competitor.

A change of anchors at 4 p.m., but the result is the same for WABC. With Liz Cho, David Novarro, and Lee Goldberg, Channel 7 won in the pivotal Adults 25 to 54 grouping. The 4 p.m. newscast, which debuted in the summer, only falls short in the key Household rating to Judge Judy on WCBS/Channel 2.

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It’s a new era for WABC/Channel 7, which is set to debut a new public affairs program. As we reported earlier this month, a stroke in late July forced Gil Noble to step down after amassing parts of six decades as host of Like It Is.

Last week, the station aired a farewell tribute to Noble, who remains in serious condition.

WABC was scheduled to start the new black themed program, Here and Now, in the same Sunday at noon timeslot, this weekend. However, Channel 7 general manager Dave Davis tells FishbowlNY that it may be pushed it back a week.

“In the transfer of some of the audio … comments by Councilman Charles Barron were lost in that process,” Davis says. “They’ve located another copy of the tape.”

Activist group, the Committee to Eliminate Media Offensive to African People (CEMOTAP) has been vocal about the direction of the new show.

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As Hurricane Irene churns 1,000 miles away from the New York City, today’s noon newscasts on WCBS/Channel 2 and WABC/Channel 7 predictably emphasized the potential serious storm.

Both stations gave team coverage to preparations for Irene, which is expected to make landfall in the tri-state area Sunday.

On WABC, with anchors Lori Stokes, Ken Rosato, and meteorologist Amy Freeze (filling in for Bill Evans) tracked the now category three hurricane with the latest data.

The team coverage included reporters gathered throughout New York and New Jersey.

WCBS also dedicated a large chuck of their regular noon broadcast to Irene. Rob Morrison and Mary Calvi led the newscast with weather anchor John Elliott.

But, if you want to know how serious Irene may be for New York, just look no further than WNBC/Channel 4.

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