2009 Favorite Television Personality
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31.43% Melissa Long (Indiana News Center)*
Others with Votes (more than one):
* On the ballot |
When you've got it, flaunt it. With nine Whammys for Favorite Television Personality on her wall, Melissa Long has certainly got it. And whether or not she flaunts it, well, that depends on where she is -- behind the desk at Indiana's News Center (no), on stage as Ulla Inga Hansen Benson Yansen Tallen Hallen Svaden Swanson in The Producers at the Civic Theatre (definitely).
Long, who currently anchors the 5, 6 and 11 p.m. newscasts for WPTA 21 Alive, has been with Indiana's News Center since 1991. Since that time she's made a name for herself as a whip-smart newswoman who is as free with her insight as she is with her infectious smile.
She's also not the type to shy away from a challenge. Last year when she was asked if she was up to the task of anchoring the evening news alone rather than with her long-time co-anchor, Keith Edwards, she didn't hesitate. During that transition period she was also working hard to earn her black belt in Tang Soo Do karate, and she teaches the Korean martial art at C.S. Kim Karate.
So much for 2008. What about 2009? Well, she became the face of the news for Detroit's My TV20 (she and her co-workers Curtis Smith and Dean Pantanzi prepare a 30-minute news program for the city's 10 p.m. broadcast each night as part of Indiana News Center's efforts to branch out into other Midwest markets) and there was the whole Ulla thing. This summer Long auditioned for Civic Theatre's fall musical, The Producers, and wowed both critics and audiences alike with her charming portrayal of the Swedish bombshell.
Ulla was by no means Long's first foray into the footlights. She's also appeared in theatrical productions at IPFW and the First Presbyterian Theater, and when she's not on stage, in front of the camera or in the dojo she can be found playing one of four instruments -- the piano, violin, banjo or bagpipes (seriously) -- and acting as mom to Erik, a senior at Concordia High School, and Adam, a senior at Indiana University. She's also celebrating 27 years of marriage to David Long, president pro-tem of the Indiana State Senate.
Long's competition for Favorite Television Personality included Linda Jackson of Indiana's Newscenter and Heather Herron, Megan Stembol and Aishah Hasnie of News Channel 15.
After going up to accept her Whammy Long joked that she'd figured out why she'd been honored with her third triumph in this category in three years.
"They just wanted to give an award to an old fogy," she said. (Deborah Kennedy) |
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