TV Talk: Janelle Hall moves to mornings on WTAE as part of shakeup

The other shoe finally dropped following the abrupt departure of Kelly Frey from WTAE-TV last fall: Janelle Hall, most recently an anchor at 6 and 11 p.m., will join Michelle Wright weekday mornings, 4:30-7 a.m.

Ryan Recker, who has been filling in since Frey’s departure, will also be a co-anchor on the morning newscast.

Kelly Sasso will continue to anchor the 4 p.m. broadcast and will add the 6 p.m. newscast to her duties, anchoring alongside Mike Clark.

Channel 4 did not announce who will anchor at 11 p.m. with Clark.

Shannon Perrine, who anchors at 5 p.m., would seem like the logical fit in this reconfiguration, but WTAE general manager Charles Wolfertz III offered a statement suggesting the position is open.

“At WTAE, we are blessed with talented people inside the station, as well as across Hearst Television along with any others who might be interested in joining WTAE and the Hearst Television family,” he said.

Channel 4 also named Chandi Chapman the solo weekend evening anchor. Recker had been anchoring weekend evenings solo following the seemingly acrimonious departure of former Channel 4 weekend anchor Brittany Hoke in January 2021. Chapman, a New Castle native, will also report for some weekday newscasts.

You can reach TV writer Rob Owen at rowen@triblive.com or 412-380-8559. Follow Rob on Twitter or Facebook . Ask TV questions by email or phone. Please include your first name and location.