It's Our Anniversary! Jim and I celebrate 11 Years of Bliss...
Jim and I are about to celebrate our 11th anniversary. I know. It’s hard to believe. In just a few months, we will have anchored together for ELEVEN years at Channel ELEVEN. The symmetry is so beautiful, I just want to weep.
I recall, as though it were just yesterday, the lunch at which we met. Jim has just been hired, and it is our “get acquainted” meal. I am late. I run into the restaurant, out of breath, apologizing to my bosses and to Jim who is already into his appetizer. He makes some crack about how this is not a good way to start a relationship. I make a crack about how I never wanted to work with a guy who was prettier than me.
Right then and there, I knew we were going to get along just fine.
And we have. Here’s a picture of the two of us in our very first week! This was something like my 8th New York City Marathon…anchoring it, I mean, not running it. And Jim’s first. Hmmm. Notice I am the one holding onto the mike. Wasn’t going to give up control to the new guy quite that quickly!
Co-anchoring for so long is a lot like being married. You can be lucky, as we have been, in actually really liking and respecting each other. No need to fake it! It makes working on- air together a breeze. The chemistry, thank God, is easy and genuine.
But as with marriage, it takes work. Certain simple rules must be established. You need: Communication. Compromise. His recognizing that I am always right. Jim’s still having a little trouble with that last one.
You already know about the adjustments I’ve had to make in the studio to accommodate Jim. The two pillows on which I must balance during every newscast, so there isn’t a ridiculous disparity in our heights. The apple boxes I must stand on whenever the director decides he wants the two of us to STAND next to each other.
(An aside: When I worked with the late great Tom Snyder at Channel 7 back in the ‘80’s, we did much the same thing. Snyder was even taller than Jim, and there was one complicated maneuver at the end of the 5PM show where Tom and I would get out of our anchor chairs to let the 6PM team, Roger Grimsby and Bill Beutel sit down, all this during a 20, maybe 25- second break, so that when we came back, the 6PM guys were ready to go, sitting in the chairs, and Tom and I standing behind them.
Are you still with me? It took the precision of a Marine Honor Guard to achieve this one move. My point being, I had to stand on a giant box so that my head was not somewhere around Snyder’s belt buckle. And one night, as we are tossing over to Roger and Bill, I fall off my box. What the viewers at home saw was: One minute, Tom and I standing together. Next minute, Kaity disappears from the screen. You hear a small shriek off- camera. That was me. Anyway, I digress.)
There have been some pretty hilarious things along the same lines with Jim and me. During one period when the station was experimenting with different studio shots, one of us would deliver a report, standing, while the other would be just off-camera, also standing, ready to tell the next story.
Well, this one night, I had just finished giving my report, and I guess I was standing a little off my mark. As Jim begins, I hear in my earpiece, this panicked “You’re partly in Jim shot!” So, thinking I was being clever, I drop to the floor, and crawl along behind Jim so as not be seen. Unbeknownst to me, the shot of Jim was WIDER than normal. So, yes, dear reader, what the viewer at home was treated to was the sight of Jim, delivering a pretty serious report, and ME, on my hands and knees, creeping as quietly as I can along the floor behind him. Happily, neither one of us was aware of this, at the time. Later, what could we do but laugh? If you can’t see the humor in screw- ups like that, you don’t belong in this business.
And you do develop pet peeves about each other. One of mine is that Jim is often too warm in the studio during the newscast, and I am not quite that sensitive. To cool us down (translation: to cool JIM down) we have a vent high up on the wall that just happens to be on my side of the desk, and the stagehands open it up to allow more A.C. in. The problem is, Jim likes it open completely. But I am the one getting the full blast; it’s like gale force winds blowing on me. And it’s not messing up HIS hair!
But trust me, he has plenty to be annoyed about with me. Just a couple of things: I sometimes whistle or tap my foot on the set while waiting to tape something (drives Jim up the wall); me knocking my water off its perch under the desk, drenching Jim's shoes (never seems to fall in my direction!); when new copy is printed during the newscast, Jim is the one who has to retrieve it because the printer is closer to him, and when I toss used copy into the trash can behind the desk, 9 times out of 10 I miss. (I am not Yao Ming.) And because it ends up near Jim, he’s picking paper off the floor and putting it in the trashcan, getting stuff out of the printer, drying off his shoes.....all while trying to do a show. What a pro!
He, on the other hand, loves jokes that wouldn’t make a fifth-grader laugh. When I give him my blank “that was not even CLOSE to being funny” look, he says” You’re just like my wife. She gives me the exact same expression.”
Oh, there is SO much more! Have to do some other things right now. But I promise to divulge all in another blog. Or two. Stay tuned!
Comments: 25
Wow ! I cannot believe it has been 11 years either---but you and Jim look the same !! Great :) Whatever your differences--you make a terrific news team and the best on TV.
11 years! If you and Jim are
like a married couple, then he robbed
the cradle, you were a child bride.
Shouldn't he be prosecuted?
Enjoy watching you both!
You two are great to watch and your blog made me laugh! I needed it too! What ever happened to Jack Cafferty? One day he was there and next day - he wasn't.
Kaity, I feel really sorry for you that your career and your serious work as a journalist who has worked with greats like Tom Snyder and Jack Caffery is now besmirched by having to sit next to a blow-dried airhead, pretty boy like Jim Watkins. It is really demeaning for you.
Well now that Jim is getting older and wrinkly, maybe they will fire him and replace him with a better looking 29-year old. Watching Jim on HDTV really exposes his wrinkles, pimples, and the dark bags under his eyes.
11 years working with Jim must be fun from what I have been reading up here. So do you really need to stand on top of a apple box??? I wonder which kind cause I love my green apples. Well may the next 11 years be better and packed with more exciting situations in which we will all laugh atleast if we get to see or hear them.
And a tip to Jim maybe you should use some flip flops...
Congratulations to a great news team. Together for a decade, plus. Here's to another decade, plus
He ordered without you!!! I would have waited.
I don't understand why he's comfortable doing the news without a suit jacket(eg - tonight) while you and Mr. G dress so impeccably.
I think Jim needs to get a shorter chair in addition to kneeling cuz you're the giant in this news team, Kaity.
Did he even remember your anniversary? :-O
Wow! 11 years on channel 11! Congratulations to both you & Jim, Kaity! As always your inside stories are insightful & entertaining.
I once saw Tom Snyder walking on 6TH Avenue back in his "Tomorrow TV Show" days,... and you're right, he was REAL TALL! Met Roger Grimsby once also, & he defiantly had a rock n' roll side to him,... but now, "I" digress.
Kaity, may you & Jim both have many, many more successful years together.
(Meantime,... I'm gonna see if "YouTube" has that broadcast of you crawling behind Jim on air!).
Sounds like real fun!
(Also; note to Jenny; I think Jack Cafferty is now on CNN).
21.Hi Kaity,
Very entertaining blog!! Congratulations to you and Jim on the achievement. Cheers for a next 11 years.
PS: "Our 11th Anniversary", "the lunch at which we met", "the two pillows", "The chemistry, thank God", and "being married". Suppose Jim's wife reads this blog. OHH NOO!! LOL..
its been that long? wow. 11 years and you and jim have not changed. you guys are the reason why i watch the 10 o clock news. kaity, you are the best. i hope you can continue serving us along with the channel 11 crew.good luck and happy 11th years to both you guys.
For July 23,....
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY, KAITY!" May you, ( and the family), be continuously successful, prosperous, & safe & happy with many more great birthday's to come!!!
(Big Virtual Hug!).
Wow, this is a remarkable week then: Congratulations on your 11th with Jim and, of course, happy birthday! And best wishes for many, many more happy years on both calenders!
Wow, this is a remarkable week then: Congratulations on your 11th with Jim and, of course, happy birthday! And best wishes for many, many more happy years on both calenders!
Before I say anymore, John P. Zeen you are way out of line! Your personal attack on Jim is nasty, hurtful and uncalled for. This blog is about a celebration and not a forum for juvenile ranting.
Kaity and Jim, CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR 11TH. You guys are really great together and it shows nightly.
Now that I have said this I am going to pick on somebody, but not sure who. Kaity, you should not have to sit on a bunch of pillows or stand on crates during broadcasts. As funny as your comments are regarding this, it is dangerous for you. I think Jim should have a lower chair or have to sit on the floor. OR, maybe we could have his legs shortened. I think I could find someone to do the job. Oh, before I forget, when do you want his wallet returned?
CityCop: HaHa! Very funny comment, which I shared with Jim! Perhaps you can arrange to shorten his legs and return his wallet all at the same time.
Chuck, thanks for the birthday wishes. (but didn't I tell you I'm not having any more birthdays?! so, shhhhh)
And to everyone else who wrote in such sweet and funny comments, thanks. You can make my "not-having-a birthday" even better by coming OFTEN to my blogs. Love the hits! :)
"OOOPS!"
OK---Happy "no-more-BD" and many more years to a great team and crew :)
LOL! That part about you crawling on the floor had me in hysterics! How funny!
Both of you look absolutely beautiful, in the pic and now. What a great team the two of you make. New York wants another 11 years of the two of you on our screens.
Hello Kaity,
Grace is ageless and timeless -- that's you!
Wishing you and Jim many more!
Cheers! Katherine
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What a terrific blog! I must say that you two are the BEST newscast reporters I have ever seen/heard! Unlike other news broadcasts, it seems that you two care about the news and the community so deeply so as to regard it more than a job but a commitment. You two are very professional!
I think that besides getting the Best Newscast in NYS Award, you two deserve much more. Often I find the WP11 news much more pleasing than CNN.
Also, Kaity (if I can take the pleasure in being so informal) you have an amazing sense of humor. Getting off topic is sometimes a wonderful thing.
What a terrific blog! I must say that you two are the BEST newscast reporters I have ever seen/heard! Unlike other news broadcasts, it seems that you two care about the news and the community so deeply so as to regard it more than a job but a commitment. You two are very professional!
I think that besides getting the Best Newscast in NYS Award, you two deserve much more. Often I find the WP11 news much more pleasing than CNN.
Also, Kaity (if I can take the pleasure in being so informal) you have an amazing sense of humor. Getting off topic is sometimes a wonderful thing.
Watkins got booted from Channel 4, one of the main channels. I guess he couldn't cut it.
The solution to the height differential is simple: either you get Jim to sit on a low stool, or Kaity stands throughout the broadcast. Next up: I solve the recession.
Congratulations on eleven wonderful years anchoring the news together, Kaity & Jim, and I wish you both many more great years ahead!