Rachel Lutzker's Return

Rachel Lutzker, who disappeared so abruptly last week from her traffic reports on WFSB Channel 3, popped up just as suddenly Monday as a makeshift entertainment reporter on Fox 61 News.

She’s been hired as part of a new morning show on Fox 61 that’s to start next year, but she’s been put to work already on WTIC only scheduled news slot at 10 p.m.

She’s still employed by Clear Channel Total Traffic Network, and as such will still provide morning road reports for radio stations WWYZ, Country 92.5 FM; WKSS, Kiss 95.7 FM; WPHH, 104one FM, which recently changed from urban hip-hop to alternative oldies; WPOP, better known as ESPN Radio 1410 AM as well WHCN The River 105.9 FM, where Lutzker will continue to serve as evening host.

But presumably because Hartford streets after 10 p.m. don't need untangling, her new TV home had her on a beat almost as familiar as traffic – at least on Fox 61 – the fake "American Idol" story.

When the reality show is on and dominating midseason ratings, the news on the local afilliate does all it can to have a tie-in story after each one of the twice weekly programs (something, oddly, that doesn't occur on the other late local news).

Season seven of "Idol" doesn’t start for more than a month but there was Ryan Seacrest in the canned item Monday promising – what a surprise! – the best season ever.

Any news in the piece was between the lines – Randy looks even thinner than last year; Paula’s still as nonsensical as ever even as she slowed down her patter to a methodical near-stammer. There was a shot of somebody crying “I’m going to Hollywood!” which may be the first time you’ve seen the face of a finalist weeks before the season even starts (unless, even more misleadingly, it was a clip from last season).

Never mind that the real news in the "Idol" camp is that one website has figured out the names of all 50 finalists already after crosschecking MySpace accounts for weeks, cub reporter Lutzker didn’t mention that detail. (Also, there was a bit of a slowdown on 91 she neglected to mention). I shouldn't be critical; I had been misspelling her name as Lutzger all along.

Still, it was good to see her back to work in her new job so quickly (though the people who watch her at 5 a.m. are likely not around to watch when she appears on air closer to 11 p.m.). Normally, there’s a non-compete clause that keeps reporters in one market from appearing on another station for a year, but because her primary employer was Clear Channel Total Traffic Network (which changed its TV agreements), she was free to appear within days of disappearing on WFSB.

(Bet she wasn’t invited to sing in Scot Haney’s Christmas show Monday night).

Comments

[scot]

did anyone actually change their morning route due to her traffic report? she was nice to look at though

[Mark G]

This blog came up when I did a search on Rachel. After reading some of the comments, it's hard to believe we were all watching the same show...I stopped watching that obnoxious "Scooter" back when he called Rachel a pig & accused her of eating from a trough! You call that "friendly banter"!!? Or perhaps the time Rachel & Irene went to some sort of spa or some type of fundraiser & Scott "joked" how it must be a great place if it could make the two of them look good? I was wondering how he could get away with that kind of harassment, but after I saw the article the Courant ran some time ago, I understood. Rachel continually took the high road, even while being berated. A good team? What a joke! I'm sure Rachel is relieved to be out of there!! Best of luck to her!

[Jon]

Didn't Rachael bail out on FSB before? She beat feet to New York to work in a bigger market and then when things didn't go the way she wanted them to, she bailed on them and back to FSB! I don't know Channel 3's side. She posted to a blog that Clear Channel would't let her take a hosting position? So what is she doing on FOX?

[Dal]

Typical of Channel 3. Can anyone tell me what happened to Dawn and Ellie? Has anyone noticed Janet Peckinpaugh (sp) showing up on commercials during the morning show? Now THATS funny!

[Ray]

My mornings consisted getting my kids ready , a cup of coffee with Rachel and Scott bantering back and forth and the school bus song. Now that gone and so am I. I'll be looking for Rachel on channel 61

[Teri]

Rachel,
Both my mother and I are sorry you are not on Channel 3 anymore.
You and Scott did have a great Chemistry and helped to Brighten the mornings.

[Jen in TX]

As a Longtime friend of Rachels I can say that I am truly proud of her for taking this new position. Anything else would have been a sell out. I love you Rachel.... you know whats best, and you will Rock! I agree that the Scot and Rachel team will be sorely missed. Oh and SP whoever you are if the 3rd grade humor is above you than go back to watching sesame street :)

[karen]

Rachel,
Good luck to you. It isn't the same watching channel 2 in the mornings, you and Haney have great chemistry on the air. Hope WTIC embrasses you with open arms.

[annie jenkins]

i was surprised to see Rachael gone, but Iwas annoyed with the constant interruption in the morning when I needed to get to work. I even switched to Channel 8 so I could hear the news and traffic reports without Scott walking across the screen. Good luck to Teresa. I think you are a good pick and I'm back to Channel 3. Kara is great with Scott on Better Ct. I really like them as a team.Scott is funny but not overshadowing.

[shelley]

Rachel, all of us miss you. You had charisma and it was fun to see you and Haney banter. I have watched the show a few times but
it is not the same, Scot tries to
tease Teresa but she does not have
the personality. Good luck to you, we watch channel 30 now and channel 61. Best wishes, Shelley

[al]

Im sorry to see rachael leave channel 3. she is a bright light with a great future i loved the banter with her and scot. she made such an impression on me that i googled her name to find out what happened to her. when i saw someone else on the wfsb cars ad and didnt ever hear her name mentioned on the weather i knew something was up good luck to her and her replacement teresa seems very nice and does a great job good luck to her as well i dont like 61 but i hope she moves on to BIGGER and better things

[D. Murphy]

Sorry to see Rachel gone from the WFSB Team. Definitely not the same and a huge loss for Channel 3.
I really dislike the morning show now and have switched to another.

Best of luck to you Rachel on your new job and engagement!

v/r
DM

[Dottie]

Miss you Rachel ! I figured you were on vacation....but, then it got to be too long a time!
You and Scot were the best together. Good old channel 3 WFSB strikes again. Guess it's time for a new morning show.

[alton r. taylor sr.]

Rachael Lutzker looks like a star to me. I see her going national soon. she's got it all. Looks,brains and beauty.

[Tom Monahan Sr.]

Rachel,
Just want you to know we miss you in the morning with your "time to get on the bus" we wish you the best of luck with FOX 61 we now have a new channel to watch.
so keep smiling be happy.
Tom Monahan.

[Jan Santos-Thorp]

Rachel:
My husband and I watched you for YEARS!! I switched to WFSB when I saw you and Scot together. I used to get up at 5am JUST TO WATCH THE TWO OF YOU. You were suddenly gone and the WFSB morning news show suffers GREATLY with your departure. You were a GREAT TEAM.
THEIR LOSS!! I hope you will have better opportunities with your NEW position, and we've ALREADY changed programs. We'll be watching FOX 61 from now on! Oh, Congrats on that "ROCK" we noticed on your finger last night! Best wishes to you.

[jennifer]

rachel...i will miss you waking up to you in the morning...i thought you and scot were great together...no one will be able to say "time to get on the bus" quite like you i wish you luck on your new job..only you know what is best for you!!!!!!!

[Tom O]

I wish you all the best....

[Amy]

Rachael and Scott were fantastic together, it is very hard to find that kind of chemistry with a partner at work, they should both think about their decisions, band together and hit a market that would really appreciate them. Togther- they could be worth millions. Standing alone they are good, just not as entertaining. Take a chance guys, the most successful people in this world take risks- you both know you have a huge following. We miss you together, its just not the same anymore!!!

[Rick]

So typical of big corporations.........it's ok for them to change employees schedules ultimately changing their lives for the better of their business, but when an employee attempts to improve on their careers by changing employers and the employee finds out they can them! I mean they even dumped Hartford!

Shame on WFSB for giving up their Babe Ruth!! Something tells me that they are about to suffer the soon to be morning show curse, I for one will be switching to Fox61 AM show and I have watched WFSB morning show since it started.

Racheal is a sweetheart who once hosted a fundraiser I put together, she is an awesome person who deserves the best in life!

I can think of several other great employees they let go that they should have done all they could to keep! Will they ever learn?

Kep moving forward Fox, you truly have the best show in Hartford!!!

Rick

[JOHN MARCHION]

WOW WHAT A LOSS FOR CHANNEL 3. SHE WAS SO GREAT WITH SCOT IN THE MORNING.BEAUTY AND BRAINS ARE HARD TO FIND IN TODAYS TV MORNING SHOWS BUT SHE WAS A GREAT PICK ME UP IN THE MORNING WHEN I HAD TO GET UP TO GO TO WORK.STILL WE ARE VERY LUCKY TO KEEP HER IN THE HARTFORD AREA.I WILL MISS THAT TRACY AND HEPURN BANTER THAT HAD ME LAUGHING AND SMILING EVERY MORNING. SCOT IS GREAT FUN AND DEDICATED TO THE HARTFORD AND CT. SCENE. I HOPE SOMEDAY THEY TEAM UP AGAIN. THANKS TO YOU BOTH FOR ALL THOSE MORNINGS YOU MADE ME WAKE UP WITH A SMILE.

[sp]

Hi,
I had been wondering what happened to Rachel.She will be greatly missed on channel 3(for me that is). I want to congratulate her on her new job. No one should ever stay at a place of employment where they are not appreciated.Good luck rachel

[Simba]

Am I the only one who's glad that Rachel is gone? The incessant bantering between her and Scot reeked of a 3rd grade mentality (I'm sorry if I'm offending any 3rd graders out there). It really was annoying at times to watch 2 grown women nip at each other rather than report on weather and traffic.

[Richard Anderson]

Good Luck to Rachel........

A very wise and smart decision on her part. And I do think WFSB did not give her the chances that she well deserved to blossom while being part of the team on Channel 3.
So - I will direct a great deal more attention to the Fox Network and check in with one of the more friendly and informative faces on morning TV. See You soon Rachel

Rick

[Tami]

No more 5:55:55 - you are missed Rachel.