Readers' Choice: Topper on Top
Last week, The Capital Weather Gang rated the evening weathercasters, and Doug Hill (WJLA-7) earned the highest score, with Topper Shutt (WUSA-9) last in the standings. But when we asked you, our readers, who your favorites were, the tables turned. More of you mentioned Topper as your favorite evening forecaster than any of the others.
Over 90 of you commented on our ratings and about half of you expressed your own preferences. Seventeen of you said Topper's the best, 12 liked Doug Hill, while Bob Ryan (WRC-4) and Sue Palka (WTTG-5) tied for the fewest fans. By comparison, the Capital Weather Gang rated them in this order (from top to bottom): Hill, Ryan, Palka, Shutt .
So why did Topper stand out for so many of you? Here's a comment sampler:
During severe weather Topper takes the IBF, WBC, WBA and WWE title belts...he goes into your actual neighborhood on enhanced radar to show you where a tornado may be, and doesn't let the broadcast go to commercial until all is safe. - Dulles ARC
[Topper] is absolutely hilarious. - Mo Sno
Topper educates and informs. You can tell from his demeanor that he lives and breathes weather and storms really excite him. - Rick
His enthusiasm and his quest for snow excites the viewers and gives hope for a snow day. - bernydoode00
While Topper received the most positive feedback, nice things were also said about the other forecasters.
Doug Hill, the #2 vote-getter, is a "nice guy and class act" according to commenter 'Marcee'. Commenter 'Lovin' Doug' added he is "personable, clear in his explanations, interesting, and accurate."
Although some snow loving visitors were sour about Bob Ryan due to an anti-snow perception, commenter Kenny G, who claims to have personally spoken to Bob on the phone, learned "he definitely wants a big snowstorm to hit DC." But Bob isn't a wishcaster (someone who forecasts they kind of weather they want to happen), and has disappointed snow lovers countless times with an unpleasant dose of reality. "He'll be the 'party pooper' to dismiss hopes of a big storm" quipped commenter 'Rob-Rockville,' though acknowledging "he is more often right."
On the other hand, commenter 'ah' appreciated Bob's conservative forecasting tendencies:
Kudos to Bob Ryan for being conservative on snow forecasts . . . It's good to have someone dial down the hype, which is just used to drive ratings anyway.
Visitor 'weathergrrl' admired the same quality in Sue Palka, noting "....she's pretty good at TRYING to play down the hype when obviously Fox 5 wants to go nuts over the idea of a single freakin' snowflake." But most visitors praised Sue for her ease in competently explaining complex subjects - a quality which earned her the top score in the Capital Weather Gang's assessment of the forecasters' delivery.
Not all of the comments about the forecasters were so rosy. Bob Ryan, who was the most controversial forecaster among readers, got some criticism for accountability. Commenter 'bob h' complained he "will never admit when he blows a forecast." Some other commenters took issue with his delivery, with 'kg dave' observing: "it's his eagerness to share a lot of information in a limited time that gets him into trouble."
Little negative was said about Doug Hill, but 'in Alexandria' reminisced:
Does anyone remember when Mr. Hill was often referred to as "Doug of Doom?!" Years ago you could count on him to offer the absolute most pessimistic forecast. He has certainly softened lately, but it's still the running joke around my office.
Sue Palka and Topper Shutt were largely spared negative comments of substance, although both had their academic credentials questioned, as did Doug Hill. Commenters noted that unlike Bob Ryan, who has a master's degree in meteorology, Sue, Topper and Doug do not have similar degrees. For the record, all of them have studied the subject and have accreditation from the American Meteorological Society and/or the National Weather Association.
Overall, judging by the balance of the comments, you -- our readers -- agreed with the Capital Weather Gang: this is a high caliber group of forecasters. As visitor 'Rob-Rockville' concluded: "we're lucky to have solid lead [meteorologists] on all the local stations."
Post scriptum: So, if you could ask these forecasters a question of your choice, what would it be? The Capital Weather Gang will compile a list of questions for these forecasters based on your requests (and maybe a few of our own) and will give them all the opportunity to answer them for you. Assuming they respond, we'll post their answers on this blog.
By Jason Samenow |
January 29, 2008; 11:00 AM ET
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Posted by: FfxGal | January 29, 2008 11:18 AM
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I thought you were going to have similar features for the morning and weekend forecasters too.
Posted by: WSL | January 29, 2008 11:42 AM
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Who says Bob Ryan is "anti-snow?" He's by far the most over-the-top guy on television when it comes to dire forecasts. I still remember his "they won't be measuring this storm in inches, they'll be measuring it in feet" broadcast back in 1993---it ended up snowing a little under 3" that day. If you want doomsday, he's your man.
Posted by: mart | January 29, 2008 11:43 AM
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What are the predictions for rain in this area and the SE? This has the potential to become a very serious issue of nuclear power plants have to go off line because of the drought! Rolling blackouts, enforeced power reudctionie no AC etc and big time increases in your eletric bills 200% or more. And no I aint no chicken little. No significant rain fall in next 120 days could throw this country into a Depression!
Posted by: Anonymous | January 29, 2008 12:23 PM
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I wasn't aware of any viewer voting or anything close to it. I did see some people reply to your choices but I did not realize it was a poll. Not a great way to conduct a poll of your readers.
Posted by: No snow ? | January 29, 2008 12:35 PM
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WSL -- yep ... we plan to rate the morning and weekend crews in future posts.
Posted by: Dan, Capital Weather Gang | January 29, 2008 12:56 PM
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When I first moved to the DC area, I kept hearing Topper Shutt's name but wasn't getting it. I thought they were saying "Tom Bershut" or something like that. Whatever the forecasts, his name is certainly the most interesting!
Posted by: Takoma Park | January 29, 2008 1:56 PM
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I have a question to ask for Topper Shutt. "How did your parents come up with such a cool name?"
Come on guys, admit it, everyone wants to know but nobody asks. LOL :)
Posted by: weatherdudeVA | January 29, 2008 2:14 PM
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Topper Shutt is the best, hands-down. It's not even close. I remember back in the pre-Internet days, he used to educate the viewer about atmospheric dynamics while he was making a forecast. Doug and Bob rarely did that.
Posted by: Rob | January 29, 2008 2:35 PM
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I have to say that I don't have an opinion about any of these Mets. Why? Because I can't stand to watch even 5 minutes of local television news in order to get to the weather. My intelligence gets insulted enough by the stupidity I have to deal with during the day at work. I don't need more of it between the hours of 5 and 7 when I'm at home.
The CWxGang is my sole source of weather info, and unless they start posting stories about Jamie Lynn Spears, I don't see that changing anytime soon.
Posted by: doug | January 29, 2008 2:50 PM
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Doug Ryan is not anti-snow per se. However he doesn't generally cater to snow lovers UNLESS THE MODELS ALL COME INTO AGREEMENT on a major storm.
Posted by: El Bombo | January 29, 2008 4:38 PM
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The one question I would ask the TV forecasters is: Do they read CWG?
Posted by: ~sg | January 29, 2008 9:24 PM
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~sg's is good.
hah
My question: How much for Luray!!?
Posted by: Chase, Luray | January 29, 2008 10:46 PM
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The comments to this entry are closed.
I used to like Doug Hill, when he was on WUSA. After he left the CBS Station, I just couldn't watch him anymore.
Topper....oh, Topper. I have loved you since I moved here. It may even be a little crush. You just seem to have more personality than the others.