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Camera 8

As if I don’t spend enough time on camera.  (Actually, there are quite a few people who work in TV news who feel they never get enough time on camera.)  My son got me a web camera for Christmas so I can chat with him and our relatives everywhere.  At Fox Chicago, we have five cameras in the studio and Cam 6 in the newsroom.  I figure I work on Camera 7 whenever I’m out in the field so I refer to the newest location as Camera 8.  Besides, many Asians love the number 8.  In Chinese, the number sounds very close to the word for “prosperity” so, “Hello, Camera 8!”

My parents are senior Skypers!

Within a day of setting up my new web cam, I had a Skype account so I could start videochatting away.  The best part has been teaching my parents to Skype, too.  They had never used the built-in cameras on their laptops! They are clearly enjoying their novel new communication tool since we can Skype with relatives in Hong Kong or anywhere for free! It’s also nice to “see” my brothers more often and I may soon do a video chat with journalism students at my alma mater, the University of Oregon.

Of course, Oprah talked up Skype almost a year ago.  I’m behind!  I better go see what’s on her book club list.

My "co-anchor" today, Dr. Oz!

You never know what might happen during a live newscast. Today, I was supposed to anchor Fox Chicago News at Noon by myself.  And Dr. Oz was supposed to come on as a guest. He’s the doctor who now has his own program on Fox after becoming a household name on “The Oprah Winfrey Show”.

Dr. Oz showed up early for his segment.  He’s a great guy – very friendly and at ease with everyone in the studio.  During a commercial break, he plopped down in the chair where Patrick Elwood usually sits so I joked that he should just fill-in as my co-anchor.

The studio crew scrambled to rework the show and before you knew it, he was on the air announcing, “Patrick is sick today so the doctor is in!”  It was great fun to have him join me for two segments of the show.

I asked Dr. Oz if he’s ever considered doing broadcast news.  He was quick to say no but he enjoys television.  His true passion is medicine so his new show allows him to dabble in both.  And still have time to help me out… at least, for today.