Arkansas Blog

if you look up "gravitas" in the lookin-up stuff book, there's a picture of craig, certainly.

Is this a joke. Hey, I'm a big fan of Craig personally and he's brought a lot of mirth and such to mundane local sports coverage, but that's his shtick: making it fun. Is Gannett moving him up to make news coverage more "fun"?

"It's the end of the world as we know it" -
REM

If he is a newscaster, will he be Randy Hankins or "Craig O'Neill"?

I wonder what will happen when he has to lead off a newscast with a report about an arrested Razorback player.

Head explosion comes to mind.

Every year, my admiration grows and grows for Paddy Chayefsky and his movie, "Network". When I was young, everyone used to say how correct Jules Verne's vision of the future turned out to be. Chayefsky's vision for network television becomes more true everyday and Craig's promotion is another nail in the coffin.

This guy is a jerkwad. Very arrogant, has to be the center of attention, and god forbid anyone can be funny except him. Please, I've asked for this before, but now it's more important than ever: Save television while you still can. Someone please find a copy of the movie Pass The Ammo (where are you, Annie Potts?) and post the clip of Mr. Hankins squawking "let's buttf***k the preacher!" on YouTube right away.

yuk-yuk-yuk. joke's on us?

i'm confused.

nothing like getting your news from a clown. at least ron burgundy is funny.

On the other hand, Randy a/k/a Craig has reached a certain age. He's a grandfather. Maybe he's just tired of being funny. Maybe he's tired of pretending to take monosyllabic-speaking 'athaletes' seriously. After a reasonable break-in period (which he'll need as he learns to stifle his kneejerk reflex to make everything a joke), I'll be curious to see what he can do with real news. I'll watch.

The UofA Athletic Department (Frank of the Ozarks) made a big, big mistake years ago removing Craig from being stadium announcer at the Hog football games. Big mistake.

Yeah Cato, life as we know has not been the same since he was replaced at Hog games. He introduced that adorable and ingratiating "and that's another Arkansas 1st down!" He's a joke and now KTHV news will be an even bigger joke. Gag.

Well, Nemo, we wil try to get the pregame prayer returned so you will be happier knowing God is on the side of the home team and divine intervention will be just around the corner in desperate, solemn fourth down situations. *grin*

SIGNS THE END TIMES ARE UPON US.....

Isn't it a little odd that the sports guy who constantly lobbied the newsroom to never have to put a story about drunk driving, gun toting, drug dealing, girlfriend beating Razorbacks in his portion of the newscast is now a news guy? Will Craig wear his little costumes and use his odd voices on the air? I have always found his alleged impersonation of a small town football fan somewhat insulting.

Memo to Craig.....it is not always about you.

Memo to Larry....take a break from eating your sandwiches brought from home and get out in the community. I think you will find there are some fairly smart people not amused by Craig's 1975 style humor.

Memo to Max....I'm sure you have enjoyed watching the Gannett stock just dive into the toilet this year. They have lost like half the company value.

Memo to Gannett....your stock is in the tank and your value has been cut in half because of ridiculous stunts like this. I guess when Walter soundly beat you in Little Rock you learned nothing.

At least when KTHV was locally owned it put on a nightly newscast that was respected by the other stations. KTHV did not have much promotion but the people in the newsroom could hold their heads up. It was never a joke like this.

So this is what local TV news has come to? How sad.

Slack!

Craig's done a BUNCH of charity stuff at no pay, so I gotta cut him some slack and give him a chance.

Plus he's a local boy.

/I miss Andy Pearson

If anyone happened to watch Craig emcee the dog competition at RiverFest this year, they would know that he is not funny at all. He is juvenille! Is this guy ever going to grow up? What are the local news stations becoming? KATV Daybreak has the inane Morning Buzz segment in the morinng, so I quit watching them, KARK is what I call the "religious right" channel, and now KTHV has Craig O'Neal as an anchor???? WTF??????

Was Win Noble not available?

If you've ever seen Craig try to do his "stand up" routine or emcee an event, you know how not funny he is. I'll take a prayer any day instead of "funny news guy."

Congratulations, Craig!

I don't know about some of these comments here.

Craig O'Neill, to my knowledge, is one of the most generous, upbeat, funny and considerate local and statewide celebrities Arkansas has.

Is there a non-profit auction he's ever said, "No," to conducting? I'd love to know the total funds Craig's raised over the years for various charities in his trademark tux jacket, shorts and running shoes.

Plus his wife, Jane Hankins, is a prominent artist and equally generous, upbeat, funny and considerate.

So what's not to like!

This couple have made successful lives in the media and creative arts, in a state not known for much opportunity in either field.

Plus, neither of them ever met a stranger.

I've nothing but admiration and respect for both of them.

O.K. Norma, that makes one viewer.