You’ll see a new but familiar face on NBC4 Washington’s morning news, and a longtime fixture with the station will retire. Veteran journalist Tony Perkins will join the TV station in the morning, and Pat Lawson Muse, who anchors the afternoon news, will retire.
The changes will mean you see different anchors on the morning and afternoon newscasts.
Perkins will join Jummy Olabanji, Chuck Bell, Melissa Mollet, and Molette Green from 5 to 7 a.m. next week.
“I could not be more excited about joining the NBC4 family,” Perkins said in a news release. “This is, quite literally, a dream come true. I can’t wait to contribute to what is and always has been a remarkably great team.”
Perkins will be teamed up to anchor with Olabanji. Eun Yang will move to the afternoons, anchoring the 4 p.m. newscast that Muse is leaving. Yang will partner with Leon Harris at 4 p.m. and Jim Handly at 6 p.m.
Perkins has anchored at WDCA-TV, WTTG-TV, and WUSA-TV. He also worked several years as the weather forecaster on Good Morning America. His radio partnership with Donnie Simpson on Majic 102.3 in the evenings will continue.
“Viewers in the Washington area have known and appreciated Tony for decades,” said Mike Goldrick, vice president of news for NBC4 and Telemundo 44. “We think that kind of experience living in and covering our community is critical to a successful anchor team.”
Muse’s retirement comes 41 years after she joined the station. In the early 1980s, Muse made history as half of the nation’s first all-female local anchor team with Barbara Harrison. She has been anchoring the 4 p.m. newscast for 27 years.
“Pat has been an incredible member of this team in so many ways,” Goldrick said. “I’ve always appreciated her kindness to her colleagues and her commitment to our community.”
Here’s the new lineup:
News4 Today (4-5): Jummy Olabanji and Melissa Mollet
News4 Today (5-7): Jummy Olabanji and Tony Perkins
News4 Midday: Erika Gonzalez
News4 at 4: Eun Yang and Leon Harris
News4 at 5: Leon Harris and Shawn Yancy
News4 at 6: Jim Handly and Eun Yang
News4 at 11: Jim Handly and Shawn Yancy
Feature image courtesy NBC4 Washington
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