There is tension being reported on the set on NBC 10 Sunrise at WJAR-TV in Providence. But as with most personnel situations, the facts and what's being reported can often conflict with each other.
A source connected to NBC 10 told New England One that, in fact, Frank Coletta served a one week suspension due to a human resources issue. Frank was taken off the air from September 21 to September 25, and returned to the broadcast on September 28. In his absence, Alison Bologna anchored the Sunrise show alone, and filled-in on the noon show Monday and Tuesday. Kerri Corrado filled in for Frank on Wednesday and Thursday. There was no noon newscast on Friday due to special NBC News coverage of the Pope's visit to America.
All week, after introducing herself at the top of the newscast, Alison reported that "Frank has the day off."
The suspension was the result of a male masturbatory gesture Frank made while Alison was reading a story on-air. The inside source tells me that the gesture was meant in a "bullshit" kind of way, not to simulate masturbation. The Urban Dictionary defines the gesture, which they call the "jerk off gesture," as boredom during a conversation; annoyance at what is being said by someone; and symbolically show that what is going on is pointless.
Radio talk show host John DePetro has reported that this was the last straw regarding Frank's "inappropriate behavior" from Alison Bologna. I'm told that any "inappropriate behavior" being reported is not sexual in nature, and is out of character for Frank.
Any issues between Frank and Alison are mostly related to "old school versus new school" - Frank has been with WJAR since 1978, and has anchored the Sunrise show since 1985. Another issue is that Frank does not enjoy having a co-anchor, and prefers to anchor the show alone - which he has done for the majority of the time he's been on Sunrise. He has an old school matter of fact approach to the news, and does not like to read the station branding ("Developing Now," "Breaking News," "Seen only on NBC 10" - typically the wording you see in the on-air graphics) and will skip over it, even if it is in the TelePrompTer. Alison, on the other hand, does read all of the branding in the script.
During the newscast being reported, Frank skipped over some branding in the script. When it was Alison's turn, she read all of the branding. This is what resulted in the gesture that Frank made. DePetro has reported that Alison reported issues to local management, including NBC 10 news director Chris Lanni, several times and nothing was done.
It's reported that Frank and Chris Lanni do not get along and that there is tension between them - Frank refuses to even talk to Chris. Chris is in between a rock and a hard place, due to Frank being a popular personality at the station and bringing in strong ratings.
Sources say that Alison reported this incident to Sinclair Broadcast Group, the company that took over NBC 10 in December 2014. The company has a policy that allows employees to report any incidents directly to human resources, and avoid the local chain of command. In turn, Frank's suspension was handed down by Sinclair itself, and not WJAR management.
Chris Lanni declined to comment on the situation, saying that the station does not comment on personnel matters.
Alison joined Frank on the Sunrise show on August 24, and is well liked at the station. She is well educated and professional, and presumably would not have gone to corporate if this was a situation she felt was under control.
Frank was back at the anchor desk this past Monday, and started the show with his usual coffee mug toast with Alison. If there is tension, Alison is professional enough to not let it show on-air.
Whether this situation will work itself out, or Sinclair has to step in again is not yet known.
So as they say... Stay tuned.
