After 20 years on Fox 5 DC, first as weather forecaster and then anchor, veteran news anchor Tony Perkins is bidding adieu to his first broadcast home. January 18 and 19 will mark Tony Perkins’ final broadcasts on Fox 5 DC. What’s in store for the iconic anchor? Here’s what you need to know about Tony Perkins’ departure from Fox 5 DC.
Tony Perkins Announces Departure from Fox 5 DC
New York native Tony Perkins, 59, stated in a January 15 Facebook post that he is leaving Fox 5 DC. There’s nothing negative about his departure—he’s not being fired, nor is he leaving on bad terms—it’s just the close of one chapter in his career.
As he writes to his fans, “I have decided the time has come for me to move on from Fox 5.” His final morning broadcasts on Fox 5 DC will be on January 18 and 19.
Dear Friends,I have decided the time has come for me to move on from Fox 5. I have been a part of the Fox 5 DC…
Posted by Tony Perkins FOX 5 DC on Tuesday, January 15, 2019
His regular viewers are, of course, sad to see him go. They have nonetheless congratulated and thanked him for his stellar work on the network.
Among the many well-wishers singing his praise is Fox 5 General Manager Patrick Paolini Jr., who tweeted a heartfelt thanks for his work at the station.
Tony,
Best of luck to you going forward. You will be missed. Thanks for all you did to make the station a better one. Continued success with radio show. https://t.co/EJ0SXHKZ5J
— Patrick Paolini Jr (@patrickgmfox5dc) January 15, 2019
Perkins’ Fox 5 colleague Sue Palka also praised him on social media. Palka and Perkins have worked together since he joined the station and Perkins said he learned a lot from her. His other Fox 5 colleague, Allison Seymour, also thanked him and applauded him.
Can’t find the words really Ton. ..What I can say is that working with you was like not working at all. ? #thankyou https://t.co/ARI446HccC
— Allison Seymour (@Fox5DCAllison) January 15, 2019
He Will Continue on Radio
It’s too soon to miss Perkins yet. Although we won’t see him on Fox 5 DC, we’ll still hear him. He will continue his radio gig on The Donnie Simpson Show on Majic 102.3/92.7 as usual.
Before he was a news anchor, Perkins started his career as a stand-up comedian and enjoyed it for a decade. During that time, he also served as producer and on-air contributor to The Donnie Simpson Show until 1992.
He occasionally guested on radio shows over the years but his chemistry with Donnie Simpson was missed. Fortunately for the show’s longtime fans, Perkins returned to the radio show in December 2017.
With the radio show airing in the weekday 3:00-7:00 p.m. timeslot, Perkins moved his Fox 5 broadcast hours from evenings to Friday and Saturday morning shows.
Perkins is far from retiring. He hasn’t announced any immediate plans to return to TV broadcast. Instead, he’s going to focus on The Donnie Simpson Show, his “true passion” as Sue Palka called it.
Our much loved colleague @TonyPerkinsFOX5 has announced he’s leaving @fox5dc to devote his time to @MajicDC with @DonnieSimpson. It’s a return to his true passion, but wow we will miss him. Tony is a true professional, & it’s been a privilege to have shared so many years together pic.twitter.com/M1EWV7SNhe
— Sue Palka FOX 5 DC (@suepalkafox5dc) January 15, 2019
Tony Perkins’ Family
Perkins is married to Rhonda, who worked as a social services administrator. When he got a job at GMA, they moved from Fairfax County to New York before returning to D.C.
Rhonda and Tony are parents to a son they named Connor. Fox 5 viewers would remember Connor from when he stood in for his dad behind the newsdesk with Shawn Yancy’s son in 2014.
When Connor was a few months old, he was held by the former First Lady, Barbara Bush. Perkins paid tribute to the Bush matriarch when she passed away in 2018 by sharing the picture of her with his son.
I cherish this picture of former First Lady Barbara Bush with my son Connor, taken when he was just a couple of months…
Posted by Tony Perkins FOX 5 DC on Wednesday, April 18, 2018
He Was on Good Morning America
The American University graduate started his career in stand-up while working on The Donnie Simpson Show. However, his first step into a broadcast career was at the ABC News Washington bureau as a desk assistant.
Perkins first joined Fox 5 in 1986, originally as a weather forecaster. His work at Fox 5 caught the attention of ABC News who brought him on board the Good Morning America cast in 1999.
He covered weather on GMA and worked with Charlie Gibson, Diane Sawyer, and Robin Roberts. On GMA, he became known for his signature phrase, “the weather in your neighborhood.”
In December 2005, he returned to Fox 5, transitioning from weather to anchor. After a total of two decades, Perkins is leaving the Fox 5 newsroom.
Also Read: What Happened to Jon Scott from “Happening Now” on Fox News?
