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WABC has finally had enough of Steve Bartelstein after on-air spats with his co-anchors, a sexual harassment lawsuit, gossip about him clubbing, arriving late to work and sleeping through a news update last Thursday morning. As unexpected as the firing was, since he is co-anchor of the #1 rated morning and noon newscasts, the station seemed to expect problems since it is reported that in his contract signed last June that there would be consequences for bad behavior.
Bartelstein's bio was removed from the WABC website yesterday and on one of the station's Eyewitness News blogs, nobody from the station answered a question posted by a viewer asking about his status. When we called WABC this morning for a comment, a station spokesman said, "We do not comment on personnel issues. Thank you."
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who cares? the local news is nothing but crap anyway....except for NY1.
Good. I couldn't stand that guy. Always with the inappropriate comments. Too weird in the morning.
That clip of them arguing is great. AWKWARD!
I am spinning in my grave right now.
"On-air spats with his co-anchors, a sexual harassment lawsuit, gossip about him clubbing, arriving late to work and sleeping through a news update last Thursday morning -- the #1 rated morning and noon newscasts."
I smell correlation. After all, people are much more interested in gossip than in news.
Man,(allegedly) crystal meth and cocaine will really do a number on ya (allegedly).
If true, I hope he gets help.
Wow, that video is crazy. Imagine what was said off the air!
Crystal meth and a 5am calltime do not mix!
Coke-and-booze binge all today, and then rehab in 5-4-3-2-1 . . .
it's an open secret in the gay community that he's a gigantic crystal meth head... i imagine that's the only way he'd get away with sleeping with 25-year-olds.
Eat it, Harvey!
Sue Simmons could kick his ass with one hand tied behind her back.
Bring on Arthur Chi'en!
I always thought he made weird comments. huh.
I liked the guy, He was real . A bit of a slacker but real !
I really liked him. he was real and commented on the really horrible things in the news with the appropriate disgust. who cares what he does in his personal life? unfortunately it seemed to be his undoing. i will miss him.
I LOVED Steve in the morning! I thought he was the nicest person! I NEVER noticed any kind of spat on air with his co-workers! Maybe the station should have offered him help with his addiction since they were aware of it! I'm going to miss him! I won't be watching channel 7 in the morning anymore
I really liked the team of Lori and Steve. They appear to work well together and they really make the news fun. I watched them ever morning, but now I will be looking for a new channel..I like Lori Stoke,s and I like Joe Tores, but together they just do not have the chemistry that Bartelstein and Stokes had..I am very disappointed in ABC.
I REALLY ENJOY WATCHING STEVE, LORI, JOE, BILL & THE REST OF THE GANG IN THE MORNING. THEY REALLY START MY DAY OFF. IF ANY OF THIS IS TRUE ABOUT STEVE, PLEASE LET HIM GET THE HELP HE NEEDS AND THE PRIVACY WHILE HE DEALS WITH THIS SITUATION. STEVE, WHAT EVER YOU DO GOOD LUCK AND KEEP YOUR CHIN UP.
FOR THE REST OF THE MORNING CREW, I'LL STILL BE A FAN.
I very much enjoyed Steve & Lori in the am w/ a good cup of coffee - my day was started. I will greatly miss the banter between Steve, Lori & Bill and hope, that if the stories of Steve's personal issue are true, that he finds the strength to deal with them and make a full recovery. Steve- you have fans out here and we will look for you when you return to broadcasting. Be strong and Good Luck,
A fan
Sorry to hear about your troubles. Get help and come back !
Steve, Lori, Bill and Joe started my day off right. I wish you would bring Steve BACK..............It's not the same, and it would never be unless you bring Steve back......I really depend on those guys and I just don't like the news anymore without Steve....I trust that group in the early morning hours, and the afternoon...When they talk, people listen, so help him channel seven and bring him back to us New Yorker's....
Where can I find the clip of Steve Bartelstein and Bill Evans arguing on camera?
Steve,
Whatever you did in your personal life certainly didn't spill over into the news. I will miss you and the gang in the morning. Take care and if you do have an addiction, take care of it and get back to what you do best.
STEVE
I LOVED WAKING UP TO STEVE BARTELSTEIN IN MORNINGS, ALONG WITH LAURIE STOKES, BILL EVANS & JOE NOLEN. THE CHEMISTRY BETWEEN THIS TEAM, WILL NEVER BE DUPLICATED. I AM SO DISAPPOINED IN PERSON OR PERSONS WHO DECIDED, TO FIRE STEVE!!! I MISS STEVE & LAURIE IN THE AM! (THE NEWCAST IS SO VERY BORING! NO CHEMISTRY! ). NO OFFENSE TO JOE TORES, I LIKE YOU ON THE WEEKENDS. STEVE STAY STRONG..I WILL ALWAYS BE A FAN..
Steve Bartlestein, in my book, is still the best of the newsmen. He and Lori made the 'perfect' team. Will definitely miss him.
The Chemistry between Steve, lori & Bill was so thick that u could not cut it with a knife. i am really sadden by the firing of Steve. 1st my Carol Martin was gone.. Than Lynn White (her beautiful voice)gone, now Steve.Steve if the allegations are true, May GOD BLESS you, so that you be drug free & hurry back into my house.I am heart broken by the morning & afternoon news, til he returns...
The Chemistry between Steve, lori & Bill was so thick that u could not cut it with a knife. i am really sadden by the firing of Steve. 1st my Carol Martin was gone.. Than Lynn White (her beautiful voice)gone, now Steve.Steve if the allegations are true, May GOD BLESS you, so that you be drug free & hurry back into my house.I am heart broken by the morning & afternoon news, til he returns...
This guy is a total loser. I met him one night last year and he lied about drunks and was high as a kite on Meth.
It is a sad story. I do hope he gets help and it prevents others from going down the same unfortunate road.
Bartelstein was awesome! He seems like such a nice guy and down to earth person despite all the accusations against him. I will really miss him in the morning. He was an awesome team with Lori Stokes and Bill Evans.
Troubles and all, what human doesn't make mistakes and not everyone is going to be liked, I still considered him to be one of the best in the business. Perhaps this was a wake-up call for him to get his life in order, and hopefully he'll be back on the air some time soon. God be with you Steve and those who were left behind.
Its funny how they fired Steve, and let Rosie O'donnell say what ever she wants no matter who she insults, Whats up with that?
If Steve's life was off the charts,which I don't believe, who at ABC offered any help?
I've been wondering where Steve was and finally googled. I have really been missing him these last few weeks in the AM and there has been no explanation about his absence on air. Then I noticed this AM that the promos for the morning news don't even mention Lori's name. Lori has been paired with Michelle Charlesworth (I love her!), Lisa Colagrossi (no thanks) and Joe Torres (too stiff for the AM) and the news is just not the same without Steve's easygoing banter and joking. I really miss him and if the allegations about his persoanl life are true, I hope his firing is the wake up call he needed to seek professional help in overcoming his addictions.
Steve, I wish you all the best.
I think the chemistry between Lori Stokes, Bill Evans & Joe Nolan was fantastic. Steve had the quick wit, great one liners and delivered the news whether sad or good with the perfect emotion. Steve's personal life is his business, taking a man's security and future for being late and sleeping through and annoucement is unacceptable. You don't destroy someone, never play with their family or job. It's amazing after 9/11 our compassion lasted such a short time.New Yorkers have become crueler, and more self centered. Steve hold your head up, be proud of who you are, and, I wish you the best. Rumors will go on. Go out have lunch show yourself and I'm sure your family especially your Mom is right their. I'm changing news channel and so are so many other people. Good luck
I miss Steve Bartelstein. The morning team is not the same without him. I hope he gets the help he needs if all these rumors are true.
ABC BRING BACK STEVE. THE MORNING SHOW IS NOT THE SAME. Steve, Lori, Bill and Joe Nolan are the best morning news show around.
ABC HELP HIM AND BRING HIM BACK SOON!
I live in Barbados, West Indies and I do not leave home on mornings unless I tune in to ABC News. I make a habit of doing this each weekday morning because Steve, along with Lori, sends me off to work in 'high spirits". The two of them together make a very fine team and when they laugh, it's infectious. I really enjoyed listening to their jokes in the morning, and almost everyday I would encourage my co-workers to tune in to ABC News because Steve and Lori really help to put one's day off to a good start. Only yesterday one of my colleagues asked me what's the latest on Steve and Lori and I told them that it appears as if Steve is on an assigment; that he is on sick leave or that he might have taken an extended vacation; hence listening to ABC is not that excited anymore. Lori still laughs at times, but it's not the same. I'm sure she misses Steve also.
Steve is down-to-earth, cool and humble and after 2 weeks I became concern when I did not see him appear on the tube. I found it strange that Torres or the other anchor persons would never say that they are sitting in for Steve, as is done usually and this caused me to decide to do a search. However, tonight while doing the search my eyes almost popped out of my head when I saw "Gothamist: WABC's Steve Bartelstein Snoozes etc." Now that I know Steve is no longer there, I called to mind why the station lacks the lustre it had when Steve was there... No offence to you Joe... You are a warm guy with humility, similiar to Steve.
To the powers that be at ABC, I feel that you should not allow Steve's personal life to get in the way of his professional life especially when his personality lights up the studio and also because he is so much loved by many people.
To Steve.. If you see this Post... I'll be praying for you. If the allegations that are made against you are true, I urge you to get help. Listening to you when on air, one would never know that you are guilty of those things. Who doesn't snooze on the job sometimes? Perhaps the measures that were taken might lead to a better life for you for the future.
Keep humble and in time you and everyone will see what God has in store for you. Keep the faith Steve. Be Blessed!
A Barbadian
I was so upset to hear Steve was let go on channel 7 news, the chemistry between lori, bill steve and joe was priceless.. ABC should have gotten steve some help that's if these rumors are true, goes to show you how companies are these
days.. Steve I wish you all the best!! You are
missed!!!!!
I was so upset to hear Steve was let go on channel 7 news, the chemistry between lori, bill steve and joe was priceless.. ABC should have gotten steve some help that's if these rumors are true, goes to show you how companies are these
days.. Steve I wish you all the best!! You are
missed!!!!!
I really liked Steve Bartelstein. Of course I am a die-hard eyewitness news and GMA fan have watched both since there inception. I hope Steve is OK. Is ther e a chance he will be back? I didn't realize he had issues!
ABC - Why didn't you give Steve some help. With his other co-anchors they had good chemistry. STEVE: One door closes another opens. Good Luck.
Best Wishes Steve. I enjoyed you and Lori.
I totally missed the spat! But I love the guy, he just kills me!!
I really enjoyed getting up in the morning just to watch Steve, Lori and Bill. They all made the show very interesting to watch. Now that he is off the show, I don't think I will be watching the show any more. They all had a special chemistry. Now I have to search for another news station to watch in the morning from 5am to 7am. Sorry you had to fire him. What a great loss to your show.
Steve, Lori, Bill and Joe have started my morning for me for a very long time. I have never watched a better team in the morning. I even wished they could be on on Sundays but they need their rest. So I hope Steve will be back with the rest of the gang.
I miss Steve, the chemistry between Lori, Steve, Bill and Joe cannot be replaced. I had switched from Chanel 4 because I became addicted to this team. Now it is over, how sad, Torres is boring, the entire show is boring. I guess I will go back to Chanel 4 or even try Chanel 5. I miss you Steve.
I can't believe this news. Steve was the main reason I watch ABC news in the morning. That and Bill Evans and Joe Nolan. It's just not the same without him.
I MISS STEVE AND HOW HE MADE THE SHOW WORK. I WISH HIM THE BEST IN GETTING HELP.
ABC, Please, please, please bring Steve Bartelstein back. I really, really like him. The chemistry between, Steve, Lori, Joe and Bill was tops. No other news show could touch this group. How could you possibly fire such a talented man. His wit, compassion and great one-liners made the show. It is boring without him. Please, please bring him back. We need that missing link.
ABC - You really blew it this time. Granted - missing a newscast is not good, but there should have been someone on the news set to make sure Steve was up and ready. It is a tough job. Suck it up ABC and bring Steve back. Steve, Lori, Bill and Joe were the best thing you had going.
I miss Steve!!! HE starts my morning. god bless and keep your head up.
The morning news is not the same anymore, the stories themselves were horrible, but the morning team made watching worth it, I would rather they moved Laurie not STEVE!
I was so upset to discover that Steve BArtelstein is gone. It's an enormous loss to the viewers, and even a greater loss to ABC because of it!
I had (what I consider to be) the greatest pleasure, and honor one can have, to have had Steve Bartelstein host a concert in honr of scultor Tom Otterness, that I was headlining at Symphony space 2 years ago. He was such a gracious gentleman of the highest integrity, and style. I thought him to be terrific. It's a crying shame that ABC let him go. If he did have a drug problem the very least ABC could have done was, give him a leave of absence, and get him the help he needs. That's what companies do when they have a person as wonderful as Steve, who brought, and contributed so very much to the team. SHAME ON YOUE ABC!!
I miss Steve terribly, and although I like Lori stokes very much; I still haven't been able to watch.
BRING STEVE BACK!
since i first heard him broadcasting i wondered how he was hired as he had a voice that sounded as if it was coming from a deep garbage cans, much to deep hard to understand what he was saying, years ago it was the main asset to be a news person, a nice distinct clear voice, not one so mumbly
Wow, I have been asking everyone where's steve,
Sorry to here he had problems, how does a news station remove someone without telling their public, christ, thought the guy was sick or something. I guess if your not lindsey lohan it does't make the paper. Shame on ABC
Dear Steve,
I hope you read this post. I miss you. I was worried about you. Now that I googled and found out you are fired, my world is crushed. You and Lori had THE BEST chemistry on-air. You and Lori on air are the ONLY reasons I watch the morning news. Now that you are gone, I don't watch the news anymore, I read it. I don't watch ANY morning news programs. They are all boring. You and Lori's banter was hysterical and sometimes cute. It was like watching a married couple . . . now it's like divorce! It's unfair, ABC! If you do have problems with drugs and alcohol, ABC should have helped you because their ratings are going down without you. They should have recognized your value. You were real and acted like a human around stories that provoked emotion. Yes, you had stupid comments, but humans with flaws always have stupid comments and that is why I liked you. Lori always had a good comeback. With Joe Torres next to Lori, it's so boring because he has no stupid comments! As a matter of fact, he has nothing to say. So, Lori has no comeback - now there is no banter! I miss the banter. . . I miss you. You made news fun. Now I have no place to turn.
Shame on ABC!
Please get the help that you need. Maybe once you get the help and ABC's ratings plummet, ABC will see the error in their ways and hire you back. Lori looks lonely! I know that you care about Lori because I remember when you were so excited when she got a chance to sit in Star's chair at the View! I can see the care in your eyes and because I saw the care in your eyes, I too was rooting for Lori. This is the realness that I am talking about. ABC can't replace that.
Well, I wish you well STeve. Maybe you can go into entertainment news. I don't think they will care so much about your past because "real" people drink, real people do drugs, and real people go to rehab and those people with an ounce of care don't knock people when they are down!
I wish you well, Steve . . . and God Bless You!
Dear Steve,
I, like millions of ABC viewers, missed you from the first day not sitting at your anchor desk. When no one announced that they were sitting in for you, I knew something was very wrong. I kept asking other people, I even e-mailed the news station to get an answer,( with no luck, of course ). It is difficult now to watch the news without you being there, I'm not as focused on it as I was when you were there. You and Lori together had that certain chemistry that made the news interesting to watch. Now it is like Jelly without the Peanut Butter. I will be Praying for you. I Pray that you will overcome whatever it is that is ailing you, and return to someones TV station soon. I will watch for that.
A very concerned Fan.C.D.R.
I still miss Steve; the morning news is just not the same without him. Does anyone know if he's been picked up by another NYC station, or has he left the city? Channel 7's ratings have to have gone down since he left. The camaraderie among him and Bill and Joe Nolan was terrific, and his friendship with Lori seemed real.
Let's hope that WABC will come to their senses and ask him back, or that another local will realize that they need a ratings boost and hire him.
Chloe in Mercer
I am really upset that Steve is no longer with channel 7 Eyewitness News. Steve was wonderful and I loved watching him and Lori in the morning. The news is not the same without Steve!!! I am very disapponted!!!
People come and go, and so it is with Steve Bartelstein. A funny thing about jobs: They do expect you to show up (on time)for the money, and if you can't do it (and party instead) move over because there's always someone else to take your place, and someone has!
I was away from N.Y. when all that was going on with Steve Bartelstein, and I have been trying to find out what happened to him, I really miss him on the a.m. news. Maybe some other smart t.v. channel will pick him up. I'll be looking for him.
Took me this long to google steve to find out what the hell happened to him. I have to say he and lori had GREAT chemistry. just isn't the same w/o him. Anyone have an update??
never had any idea he had such a sketchy personal life. all i know is i miss the energy that he and lori had to get me going in the morning....now it's just coffee and NY1 for me...the off to work