Joe Moore

Joe Moore is a United States television personality. He is known mainly as the principal news anchor at KHON-TV in Honolulu, Hawaii; the state's Fox affiliate and highest-rated station. Moore is also a professional (SAG) actor and playwright. He has starred in two Independent motion pictures, MOONGLOW (2000, co-starring Milo O'Shea and Joanna Cassidy) and GOOD-BYE PARADISE (1991, co-starring James Hong and Pat Morita). He also has appeared in various episodes of island based television series and starred in live theatrical productions; most recently, the stage play PROPHECY AND HONOR, which he wrote (2007, co-starring Richard Dreyfuss and George Segal). In earlier stage comedies, Moore co-starred with his long time pal, Pat Sajak in Neil Simon's THE ODD COUPLE (2001) and THE HONEYMOONERS (2004).

Military

Growing up in Honolulu, Moore attended Aiea High School for three years, but graduated from Beavercreek High School in Ohio, where his father, a career Air Force officer was stationed. He attended the University of Maryland, College Park where he majored in communication and history, but after two years of college, he enlisted in the Army. Moore served two tours of duty during the Vietnam War with the United States Army 25th Infantry Division in Cu Chi, Vietnam, and the American Forces Vietnam Network in Saigon with close friend and fellow entertainer Pat Sajak. Moore returned to Hawaii in 1969 and joined KGMB-TV as sports anchor under mentor and news director Bob Sevey. After nine years as part of the market-dominating news team at KGMB, Moore moved to KHON-TV which was then Hawaii's NBC affiliate (it joined Fox in 1995). Within a few years, KHON had passed KGMB as the top-rated station in Hawaii--a lead it continues to hold to this day. In 2008, KHON-TV extended Moore's contract as lead news anchor for ten years.

Controversy

While Moore enjoys immense popularity and is considered one of the most influential voices in Hawaii media, he has had a few critics. He has at times shared his opinions during broadcasts. One of his most discussed comments came at the end of the 10:00 p.m. news broadcast on May 7, 1998. He harshly criticized commercial television.

::"This has been a long time coming, ever since two years ago when we became a Fox affiliate. Regular viewers know I was not happy about that change for a variety of reasons. As you probably also know, a short time later, after getting feelers from two other TV stations in town, I signed a long-term contract to remain here at Channel 2. It was with mixed emotions that I did that. Obviously on the plus side, long-term job security. On the negative side, I had a hard time, a very hard time, getting comfortable with some of the Fox programs. Then, two months ago, my son was born. Amazing how an event like that can help crystallize your thinking. What was my problem with Fox? The fact that many of its shows are clearly aimed at a younger audience? The fact that some, like tonight's" Wildest Police Videos "and" Scariest Police Chases 12 "(or whatever the number was), the fact that I find those shows repugnant and offensive? Yes. So why didn't I go to work for another station? Several reasons. One, I like the people here. Two, when I thought about the programs on the other stations, there's a lot of what I think is trash there, too. In fact, I counted the number of shows I really (and I mean really) like to watch on the different networks. On NBC there's four, soon to be three; on ABC, two; CBS, one; on Fox, three. Sitting down and making that list helped put things in perspective. There is a lot of crap on TV. Does Fox have more than its fair share? In my personal opinion, yes. But that's the opinion of a fifty-year-old newsman who's interested in well-made dramas, historical pieces and thought-provoking comedies. So would I be happier at another station? No. Why? Because it's not the Fox programs, that will come and go based on the strength or weakness of their ratings that make this station what it is. It's the people who work here. The people I work with day in and day out. The people in our newsroom, in the studio, the control room, the tape room, the front office. It's these people who have made Channel 2 what it is today, and who will make it what it will be tomorrow. And they're the best. I don't know why looking into my little son's eyes helped clear my head about all this, what's important, what's not important, but it did. And as viewers of this newscast, I felt you had a right to know. That's our late news for this Thursday. Thank you for joining us. Have a good night. And if our owners and management are so inclined, I'll see you tomorrow. If not, well, I guess that's television. Thanks for letting me into your homes over the years. Good night."

Family

Moore has been married to Teresa Moore since 1991. They have one son, Bryce.

External links/references

* [http://www.khon2.com/inside/bios/news/3726756.html Bio at KHON's Web site]