I got the call last night that Craig Koplein was sick and the station was hoping I could work the morning shift on short notice.  Absolutely!

I have been at Today's TMJ4 for two and a half years and this was my first morning show..non-snow storm.  I had a blast.  I have done morning shows most of my career except for the 5 years I was on the 11pm newscast in Jacksonville.  There is just something about mornings.  They are a little more laid back and there is time to have some fun and make jokes.  I am a morning show type of guy and I hope the Today show comes a calling to fill-in for Al one of these days.  What an honor.

I loved mornings for the year I worked in Wausau and the morning show in Minneapolis was out of control..OK, I was out of control, but what a blast.  I still get emails form viewers in Minnesota and western Wisconsin talking about some of my antics...oh the memories.  I was always tired, but I looked forward to getting to work at 3am because I knew we were going to have fun and laugh until we cried on most mornings.  The negative about the morning show is the schedule, I stayed up too late...9 or 10pm and the alarm goes off at 2:25am..not so good!  But there is no way I was going to bed early, especially in the summer.  Throw in Grad School and a new born baby, I was toast, but I always found the energy to wake people up in the mornings...it was my job.  By the way, I have never had a cup of coffee in my life.  Tina says I am just the Energizer Bunny.

Today was fun and everyone was so nice and happy to have me fill-in.  We laughed a lot and it was like riding a bike...it felt natural.  I was very reserved this morning compared to how I used to be, but this is not my show and I don't want to scare the poor people..baby steps.  I would fill-in for Craig more often, but I have also become very used to my great TV shift...I will enjoy it for as long as I can.  But if they ever need me to fill-in, I will be honored..tired, but honored.  The positive of this shift...I am done after the noon newscast at 1pm..giddy up!  Tina is in Chicago today and I am picking Ali up early from school...she is not feeling well and we are going to have a father daughter afternoon..too bad it is not 75 outside, but I will enjoy my afternoon.

The best moment this morning...Vinny was talking about his favorite concert of all time.  I said mine was my first concert...DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince and the opening act was Technotronic...you know, "Pump Up the Jam!"  My mom drove me and a few friends down from Fond du Lac to the Pabst Theater here in Milwaukee to partake in the fun.  I at least got everyone to laugh this morning and then they got me.  Rob Lowry our Morning Executive Producer found video of "Parents just don't understand" and played it during my weather.  Awesome stuff...I love that unexpected part of jokes...makes TV more natural and unscripted.  Susan Kim asked me if my mommy went to the concert with me?  Classic.  She did not...just dropped us off in the big city.

Thank you to everyone who made my first morning show in years so easy and fun.  I had a blast.  Now I am getting a little sleepy and have to wake up for the noon show...then an afternoon with Ali...good times.