TV Talk: Stephanie Allison hired at WPXI; WQED to debut Esther Bush documentary; ‘Ghosts’ pop-up in Altoona

Ever since the departure of Danielle Dozier a year ago, Channel 11 has been down to three staff meteorologists even as KDKA-TV and WTAE-TV staffed up to five.

Freelancer Stephanie Allison did fill-in work on Channel 11 and the station advertised the fourth forecaster position late last year. Now, Allison has been hired as a full-time forecaster at the NBC affiliate.

A Washington, Pa., native, Allison made her debut on Channel 11 in a noon newscast with Peggy Finnegan in June 2017.

“I was so nervous, but Peggy made me feel at home,” Allison said. “I’m from here, so this is my dream come true.”

A 2006 graduate of California University of Pennsylvania, Allison has a degree in earth science with a concentration in broadcast meteorology. Prior to her freelance role at WPXI, Allison worked as a meteorologist in Salisbury, Md., covering hurricanes and even a blizzard.

“My news director [at the time] said, ‘We don’t get snow like [what you’re forecasting] here. You’re from Pittsburgh, it snows at your house, but not here. Are you sure?’ And I was like, ‘We’re gonna get it,’” Allison recalled of a winter storm that brought a foot of snow to the Delmarva region.

During that stint at WMDT-TV, Allison also served as an on-call meteorologist for “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” when the show was building two houses in the area. Hurricane Irene impacted the production and Allison made it into an episode.

From there, Allison did freelance fill-in work at WJAC-TV in Johnstown and later landed an on-staff position as a weekend forecaster at WTOV-TV in Steubenville, Ohio.

During her WTOV tenure, Allison started freelancing at WPXI and eventually left WTOV, working steadily at Channel 11 from October 2019 to the present.

Her current shift is weekend evenings and the noon newscast Monday through Wednesday. Allison said she was notified “fairly recently” that she was being hired to fill the fourth meteorologist position (no word on if the station plans to hire a fifth to equal its competitors).

“They just said I was a great fit for the team,” Allison said. “It just worked out.”

In addition to Allison joining the staff in a full-time capacity, WPXI has picked up another freelance reporter.

Lauren Talotta, a Montour High School and University of Pittsburgh graduate, joins Channel 11 later this month from WCHS-TV in Charleston, W.Va.

Meanwhile, at WTAE general assignment reporter Kylie Walker will exit the station July 8 for an anchor/reporter job KOCO-TV in Oklahoma City. Walker, a Dallas native, joined Channel 4 in 2019.

Some bittersweet personal news ???? pic.twitter.com/PP33QVQ7i0

— Kylie Walker (@kylieWTAE) June 21, 2022

‘Ghosts’ in Altoona

To keep its first-season hit “Ghosts” in the public’s consciousness between seasons, CBS is staging “Ghosts” activations across the country, including a one-day fan experience in Altoona, the hometown of series co-creator Joe Port and the show’s fictional character, jazz songstress Alberta Hayes (Danielle Pinnock, who will be in Montreal filming the show’s second season and not in attendance in Altoona).

The Alberta Hayes Museum, a pop-up experience, will be erected at the Amtran Metro Transit Garage, 3301 5th Ave., Altoona, noon-6 p.m. June 29.

“Ghosts” fans are invited into “an immersive content playground totally transformed into Todd Perlman’s fan-obsessed collection of personal artifacts in tribute to Altoona’s singing diva.”

The pop-up will feature a display of costumes, musical artifacts and “Ghosts”-branded give-aways.

WQED-TV salutes Esther Bush

Written and produced by Minette Seate, “A Force for Change: Esther Bush and the Urban League” (8 p.m. June 30, WQED-TV) chronicles Bush’s journey from Westinghouse High School to the Urban League’s national office and back to Pittsburgh through interviews with community leaders who worked with Bush.

Kept/canceled

AMC renewed “Dark Winds” for a second season.

Hallmark Channel renewed “When Calls the Heart” for a 10th season to air in 2023.

TNT’s “Snowpiercer” will end with its upcoming fourth season.

HBO is developing a “Game of Thrones” sequel series centered on Jon Snow with actor Kit Harrington attached.

Channel surfing

“The Bob’s Burgers Movie” debuts on HBO Max and Hulu July 12. … “My Life as a Rolling Stone,” a four-part docuseries timed to the band’s 60th anniversary, debuts on Epix on Aug. 7. … Already we’ve seen a “Wild Kratts”-“Odd Squad” crossover and coming July 18 the animated likenesses of Chris and Martin Kratt will visit PBS Kids’ “Molly of Denali” (7 a.m., WQED-TV).