Wayne Shannon
Encyclopedia
Wayne Shannon is a veteran news commentator and humorist. Shannon became popular with San Francisco viewers from 1982 through 1988 for his nightly "Just 4 You" segments on KRON-TV
, where his name received billing in newscast introductions along with the anchors and weather
and sports presenters. Many of his commentaries, which frequently discussed local and global topics alike, were published in the 1986 essay
collection What's It All Mean?, which took its title from the catch phrase Shannon used to end many of his segments.
, Washington but moved soon after to San Francisco where he remained until age 12. Shannon attended junior high and high school
in the small community of Moses Lake
, where he first performed as an amateur/professional comedian
. Following high school, he went to the American Academy of Dramatic Art in New York City
, appeared off-Broadway
as an actor and directed children's theater off-off Broadway. Back in Washington, he graduated from Highline Community College
in Des Moines
, near Seattle and would eventually graduate college from the University of Washington
.
Shannon began his career as a stand-up comedian and entertained the troops in Vietnam
in the early 1970s, while serving with the Special Services of the U.S. Army. Upon his return to the Pacific Northwest, he worked as a typist for Boeing
and eventually landed his first television
job as a movie host. From there Shannon moved to Channel 2 in Detroit, where he reported on consumer
issues.
After moving from Detroit, he moved to Philadelphia's KYW-TV
where he was the station's feature reporter and essayist from 1980-82.
After Shannon's KRON-TV
contract was not renewed, he moved to CNBC
in April 1989 as one of the network
's originating commentators, delivering two humorous on-air pieces a night. Shannon and CNBC parted ways in the early 1990s, at which point he returned to the Pacific Northwest, where he currently lives.
KRON-TV
KRON-TV, virtual channel 4 , is a television station in San Francisco, California, serving as the Bay Area affiliate of the MyNetworkTV programming service; the station is owned by Young Broadcasting...
, where his name received billing in newscast introductions along with the anchors and weather
Weather
Weather is the state of the atmosphere, to the degree that it is hot or cold, wet or dry, calm or stormy, clear or cloudy. Most weather phenomena occur in the troposphere, just below the stratosphere. Weather refers, generally, to day-to-day temperature and precipitation activity, whereas climate...
and sports presenters. Many of his commentaries, which frequently discussed local and global topics alike, were published in the 1986 essay
Essay
An essay is a piece of writing which is often written from an author's personal point of view. Essays can consist of a number of elements, including: literary criticism, political manifestos, learned arguments, observations of daily life, recollections, and reflections of the author. The definition...
collection What's It All Mean?, which took its title from the catch phrase Shannon used to end many of his segments.
Biography
Shannon was born in SpokaneSpokane
Spokane is a city in the U.S. state of Washington.Spokane may also refer to:*Spokane *Spokane River*Spokane, Missouri*Spokane Valley, Washington*Spokane County, Washington*Spokane-Coeur d'Alene-Paloos War*Spokane * USS Spokane...
, Washington but moved soon after to San Francisco where he remained until age 12. Shannon attended junior high and high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
in the small community of Moses Lake
Moses Lake
Moses Lake is a lake and reservoir along the course of Crab Creek, in Washington state, USA.Moses Lake is part of the Columbia River basin, as Crab Creek is a tributary of the Columbia River....
, where he first performed as an amateur/professional comedian
Comedian
A comedian or comic is a person who seeks to entertain an audience, primarily by making them laugh. This might be through jokes or amusing situations, or acting a fool, as in slapstick, or employing prop comedy...
. Following high school, he went to the American Academy of Dramatic Art in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, appeared off-Broadway
Off-Broadway
Off-Broadway theater is a term for a professional venue in New York City with a seating capacity between 100 and 499, and for a specific production of a play, musical or revue that appears in such a venue, and which adheres to related trade union and other contracts...
as an actor and directed children's theater off-off Broadway. Back in Washington, he graduated from Highline Community College
Highline Community College
Highline Community College is a junior college located in Des Moines, Washington, south of Seattle, Washington. Highline was founded in 1961 as the first community college in King County. The main campus is located on of hilltop land that overlook Puget Sound and Olympic Mountains to the west...
in Des Moines
Des Moines, Washington
Des Moines is a city in King County, Washington, United States. The population was 29,673 at the 2010 census. Property within the city has been the subject of land buyouts because of noise from aircraft landing or taking off from the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport two miles to the north of...
, near Seattle and would eventually graduate college from the University of Washington
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
.
Shannon began his career as a stand-up comedian and entertained the troops in Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
in the early 1970s, while serving with the Special Services of the U.S. Army. Upon his return to the Pacific Northwest, he worked as a typist for Boeing
Boeing
The Boeing Company is an American multinational aerospace and defense corporation, founded in 1916 by William E. Boeing in Seattle, Washington. Boeing has expanded over the years, merging with McDonnell Douglas in 1997. Boeing Corporate headquarters has been in Chicago, Illinois since 2001...
and eventually landed his first television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
job as a movie host. From there Shannon moved to Channel 2 in Detroit, where he reported on consumer
Consumer
Consumer is a broad label for any individuals or households that use goods generated within the economy. The concept of a consumer occurs in different contexts, so that the usage and significance of the term may vary.-Economics and marketing:...
issues.
After moving from Detroit, he moved to Philadelphia's KYW-TV
KYW-TV
KYW-TV, virtual channel 3, is an owned and operated television station of the CBS Television Network, located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. KYW-TV shares a studio facility with its sister station, CW flagship WPSG just north of Center City Philadelphia...
where he was the station's feature reporter and essayist from 1980-82.
After Shannon's KRON-TV
KRON-TV
KRON-TV, virtual channel 4 , is a television station in San Francisco, California, serving as the Bay Area affiliate of the MyNetworkTV programming service; the station is owned by Young Broadcasting...
contract was not renewed, he moved to CNBC
CNBC
CNBC is a satellite and cable television business news channel in the U.S., owned and operated by NBCUniversal. The network and its international spinoffs cover business headlines and provide live coverage of financial markets. The combined reach of CNBC and its siblings is 390 million viewers...
in April 1989 as one of the network
Cable network
A cable channel is a television channel available via cable television. Such channels are usually also available via satellite television, including direct broadcast satellite providers such as DirecTV, Dish Network and BSkyB...
's originating commentators, delivering two humorous on-air pieces a night. Shannon and CNBC parted ways in the early 1990s, at which point he returned to the Pacific Northwest, where he currently lives.
External links
- http://www.edrants.com/wayne-shannon-a-case-study-for-the-internets-failings/
- http://youtube.com/watch?v=HJKBh1LBvaY
- http://youtube.com/watch?v=76cjeUo5eUs
- http://youtube.com/watch?v=scEMEonLLRk