Q’s Hats in Review, Prepping for Rocky

The complaining about how much snow we “didn’t” get is taking up too much room in cyberspace. It is time to just enjoy TV reporters and the hats they are wearing out on the elements.

The last post had some doozies. Thanks for the submissions. If you have a photo to submit, send them in an email to me at IPTVPaul@gmail.com or just put them on Twitter @paulyeager.

Taylor Umland, KWQC, Davenport.

But one of the best ones came directly onto my Facebook wall. Here is the bar for today. A Wartburg College hat being worn on my old TV station, KWQC in Davenport. Taylor Umland was rocking the orange and black during his morning reports in the QC.

One of my former co-workers at KWQC was Matt Davis. Mr. Matt was a nightside reporter when I started and we would do liveshots without a hat. A certain morning radio duo named Dwyer and Michael’s would razz him on-air about not wearing a hat and looking cold on his evening live reports.

The radio guys decided to send a gift to Matt of a hat, which he would sometimes wear and other times it was just sitting on his desk, ready for the call of duty.

Bailey Dietz, KWQC, Davenport.

Sticking at KWQC, we bring in Bailey Dietz from her nightside live shot Thursday.

Former TV6 intern and now reporter at WGBA in Green Bay, WI, Jonathan Gregg is in on the action.

Jonathon Gregg

Jon is a former board member of the Iowa Broadcast News Association. I’m sure he’s already made plans to attend this year’s convention on April 20 in Johnston at the Stoney Creek Inn.

Now to some of the morning crew.

Arielle Nixon was wondering why she had to take a picture of herself wearing earmuffs. She wasn’t sure what the request was all about, but thanks to Pat Dix for this.

Pat’s Tweet.

Thanks for playing along.

Arielle Nixon, WHO, Des Moines.

Thanks to the MW ESPN bureau for this submission of KARE photojournalist Nate Anderson.

Nate Anderson, KARE, Minneapolis.

Jason Rantala, WOI, West Des Moines.

Kim St. Onge, KCCI, Des Moines.

My little reporter, Levi. That’s a hat OVER his hooded sweatshirt.

Megan Ruether is always a good sport about trying new hats and thanks to Travis Jungling for lighting up Megan Friday morning for this picture.

Megan Reuther, WHO, Des Moines.

But it was Megan’s former station that wins the day. You may remember Nikki Newbrough from last year with the space cadet interview subject.

This year she’s gone above and beyond with a sombrero and a friend, Danielle Wagner. I think Danielle is the Ice Princess? Did I get that correct?

Danielle Wagner and Nikki Newbrough of KWWL, Waterloo.

Thanks again for the submissions. We’re only a couple of days away from doing it again with Winter Storm Rocky approaching.

The Q-Tiful Hats

Winter Storm Q, at least the name The Weather Channel has given it, is alive and well.

It is also putting reporters out in the field to tell you to be careful, be safe and if you don’t have to, not travel.

I did start a Tumblr blog that is just the reporters and their hats. Check it out sometime.

This blog will still post pictures of reporters wearing hats while out standing in their field.

Megan Salois, WHO, Des Moines.

Jill Kasparie, KCRG, Cedar Rapids.

Kevin Phelps, KWQC, Davenport.

Now to the Omaha/Council Bluffs market and Cheryl Lemke.

Cheryl Lemke WOWT, Omaha.

Wait a minute, where is Becca’s hat?

Becca Habegger of KWWL, Waterloo.

Arielle Nixon, WHO.

Chris Conoan, WOI, West Des Moines.

Thanks for taking time to read the blog.

Patrick Bell, KCCI.

Phil Prazen, WOI, West Des Moines.

Vanessa Peng, KCCI.

Jessica Daley, WOI, West Des Moines.

And finally, WHO’s new reporter is setting the standard we haven’t seen in quite some time. Enjoy the photo of Jodi Whitworth. A big thanks to Lee Rouse for the snapshot. He’s a legend and he did it again.

Jodi Whitworth, WHO, Des Moines.

If you have a hat to share with others, send me a photo to IPTVPaul@gmail.com

A Blizzard of Hats

This storm is serious for many people. If you have power, internet, food, and no place to go, you didn’t think this was a problem.

For others in the dark, stuck on the interstate, or working, this was a tough day.

Many our TV friends were in the elements. And, they were wearing hats.

These are the Hats That Saved Christmas. Brett McIntyre starts off this batch.

Brett McIntyre of WHO-HD

Kevin Phelps stands in the place I did several times for KWQC-TV in Davenport. Gotta love the Brady Street Reports.

Kevin Phelps, KWQC-TV

WOI-TV’s Jason Rantala was out early Thursday morning, ready for duty.

Jason Rantala, WOI-TV.

Megan Reuther is no stranger to the hat blog. She let me know she had a new hat for the season. Good work, Megan.

Megan Reuther of WHO-HD.

Another KWQC entry comes from Erica Cervantes.

Erica Cervantes, KWQC-TV

Jackie Schmillen tells us the traffic for KCCI, but she was in the warm, dare I say, hot, studio. No hat, but the snow season is young.

Jackie Schmillen, KCCI-TV

This is Amber O’Brien’s first time on the blog in our hat parade. Welcome.

Amber O’Brien, KWQC-TV

This was not Amanda Lewis’ first winter storm. She was out in the cold wind for KCCI.

Amanda Lewis, KCCI-TV

And our last KWQC entry comes from my longtime friend, Elizabeth Goodsitt. The weekend anchor is always in full fashion.

Elizabeth Goodsitt, KWQC-TV

Arielle Nixon was not in a full hat out front of WHO-HD.

Arielle Nixon, WHO-HD.

And a returning entry comes from Mark Tauscheck of KCCI. That black stocking cap is classic, but always works.

Mark Tauscheck, KCCI-TV

Thank you for checking out the hats. As you can see, I’m a little light in the Waterloo/Cedar Rapids market. Send me any entries to IPTVPaul@gmail.com and we’ll get them in the mix.

The Hats That Saved Christmas

KCRG/SMG’s Chris Earl is ready.

The entries are coming in and are impressive so far.

This is a rough looking start to the contest as it is being done on a mobile device. There are more important things than cable or Internet.

Be safe out there friends.

Stephanie Moore was on night patrol Tuesday night.

Stephanie Moore, WHO-TV.

Someone needs to inform Ron Marasco of WOI that he needs a hat.

Ron Marasco, WOI-TV.

See, Phil Prazen gets it. He’s in his standard stocking cap.

Phil Prazen, WOI-TV

Noelle Smith was on the ‘side of the road’ report location.

Noelle Smith, KCCI-TV

Patrick Bell had multiple hits Wednesday night.

Patrick Bell, KCCI-TV

Kera Mashek’s entry was from Tuesday night, but still a good one.

Kera Mashek, KWWL-TV

The Hats That May Save Christmas

Nikki’s live shot on earth. (KWWL in early 2012)

The first winter storm brings a lot of things.

New forecasting models, snowplows strategies, gloves, and my personal favorite, hats.

We had a limited hat choice on local TV reporters in 2012. Can the last 12 Days of the Year Finally Give to me, a new crop of hats on my TV?

Let us see.

Please submit any entries on your local TV station to iptvpaul@gmail.com

BTW, we do have media movements to get to as well. Chris Hassel to ESPN, John Campbell retires, Angie Hunt goes to ISU and the return of Scott Sanborn to TV on KGAN. Another day, another blog post.

But first, the hats of Draco.

Just because they may be thin, doesn’t mean the hats aren’t mighty

Nikki Newbrough, KWWL - TV Waterloo.

Thank goodness winter is here. We needed the snow to help bring out the hats.

We had one crop already this season. This would be the second round of lids.

We begin with Wartburg grad and now KWWL reporter Nikki Newbrough. She is the morning reporter for the NBC affiliate. Translation: She can be silly when needed.

Nikki's live shot on earth.

Earlier in the day, Nikki was at the University of Northern Iowa campus asking students about the cold and snow. Her interview almost stole the show. He was in a NASA-type space suit.

Earth to UNI dude, nice hat.

You can see in this picture, Nikki put the space helmet on her head for this still frame.

Brian Boesen, KWQC - HD, live on Brady Street Hill in Davenport.

Brian Boesen is reporting on Brady Street Hill in Davenport. I’ve done that shot a few times in my career.

The KWQC reporter and I met backstage at the Girl Scouts Night on Broadway a couple of months back.

I also met the clubhouse leader for hats in 2012, Megan Ottier that night in Bettendorf. More on her in a moment.

Back to Brian… I did ask him if he was related to the Des Moines Boesen’s. Specifically, former Dowling Catholic TE Ben Boesen who is now playing football at Iowa State. No relation between the two. Yes, I was that guy who asked.

Angie Hunt, KCCI - TV Des Moines.

Back to Central Iowa and an ‘ole favorite for hats here at PP&M and that would be Angie Hunt.

The Ames bureau reporter has been captured with many great lids on her head the last few years. She gets the plum assignments in all corners of the viewing area, many northern points, so wearing a good head topper is vital to her good health.

Thank you to Angie.

Krystle Kacner , WHO - HD Des Moines

Newly hired reporter Krystle Kacner of WHO-HD is now getting into the hat game. She’s new to the area and to the station.

But her hat is one of veteran caliber.

As she settles in, we’ll get her to tweet a couple of pictures of herself wearing a hat.

Chris Earl, KCRG Cedar Rapids

And back to eastern Iowa and KCRG reporter/anchor Chris Earl.

Mr. Earl deserves special attention for this furry wonder on his head.

Would you call that Cousin Eddy’s hat from Christmas Vacation? Or is that more Daniel Boone?

Now back to the hat that I received the most in my inbox.

Morgan Ottier of KWQC opens the competition with a home run.

Megan’s hat is spectacular. But some question if the hat is for show or if she’s serious about wearing the hat. Better yet, is she serious while wearing that hat?

I know many reporters were looking forward to getting out in the elements this weekend to talk about the ice and snow, but it looks like those pictures will have to wait, as the next winter death storm is staying to the west.

So Lauren Squires, bring us your hats from the Omaha market.

If you know of a hat to share, send the pic to IPTVPaul@gmail.com .

New Hats for the New Year of 2012

Morgan Ottier of KWQC opens the competition with a home run.

Welcome to 2012 and the return of TV reporters/photographers/producers wearing hats on the job.

You’ve all seen a reporter “braving the elements so you don’t have to.”

Sometimes they bring a hat to the liveshot to mix things up a bit.

This year we begin the look around the state and beyond with wonderful hats of winter. The winter that took forever to arrive.

We begin with Morgan Ottier of KWQC. The morning reporter hit a home run outside the Davenport studios this morning. I got to meet Morgan during my recent trip to the Quad Cities for the QC Media Night on Broadway Holiday Winter Spectacular Extravaganza.

Thanks to Joanne Phillips and Alan Campbell for pointing me in the direction of this hat. I know a couple of people are loyal readers of the blog, so thanks for the help. If you’ve seen a hat on your TV and get a screen grab, send it to me at IPTVPaul@Gmail.com.

Jill Kasparie, KCRG TV out in the snow.

Another entry comes from the best friend a guy can ever have in Michael Graham. Chef Mike sent this shot of KCRG reporter Jill Kasparie.

Jill has a twin in Iowa TV. Sister Kelly is a producer at WHO-TV.

I know that can’t be the only two hats out there today. Please consider your sisters and brothers outside your TV market who want to see the best in hats in 2012.

Again, send any pics to IPTVPaul@gmail.com
I can leave your name out of credit if you choose.