Pat Kiernan, the face of NY1 for 20-plus years (known, most notably for his popular “In the Papers” segment), recently added a new project to his anchoring resume: hosting “Mornings on 1,” the network’s morning show that premiered Oct. 23 (6-9 a.m.) with Kiernan, co-anchor Annika Pergament, Jamie Stelter and Stacy-Ann Gooden.
“The bosses said they wanted to do a show … that would compete with the national shows on in that time period,” says Kiernan, 49. “We wanted to create something that’s familiar to the longtime NY1 viewer but still fresh — and that’s a balancing act we’ve had to follow.”
The Canadian-born Kiernan talks about “Mornings on 1,” his outside projects — including his 2014-15 stint on WABC (770 AM) — and if he would ever return to Canada.
What’s surprised you about “Mornings on 1”?
The extent to which our audience pays attention to details you didn’t think they were paying attention to is stunning. “Why is ‘In the Papers’ 30 seconds shorter?” “You normally run ‘The New Yorker of the Week’ at this time.” So there’s that. I shouldn’t really be surprised. People who watch morning TV are creatures of habit. It’s part of their morning routine. It’s why you have a relationship with the viewer. When you’re called out on minute changes it’s like, “OK, they’re paying attention.” We’ve been reminded by our audience that the number one thing they expect from NY1 is the news.
Were you interested in joining Kelly Ripa on “Live” after Michael Strahan left?
Back in 2011 when Regis [Philbin] was leaving, I said at the time that I thought what made him good at that job is what would’ve made me good at that job. We both had a real sensibility for what was happening in New York City, the combination of celebrity stuff, political stuff and pop culture. Regis came to that job as a broadcaster who was a longtime New York City resident and I felt I could offer that to them. The show evolved in the four years the job became open again [when Michael Strahan left in 2016] and it seemed like less of a fit. It’s a great gig. Had someone knocked on my door I might have had a conversation about it.
What happened with WABC?
They came to me and said, “You know all the news stories of the day. Can you clear an hour at end of the day and wrap it all up?” It was a great idea and I enjoyed doing the show, but ultimately it meant going home to sleep, setting my alarm for 3 p.m., coming into the studio at Midtown … it was a lot, a grind. If we could have figured out a way for me to do it from home and add more producer support, I would have been interested in continuing.
‘People who watch morning TV are creatures of habit. It’s part of their morning routine. It’s why you have a relationship with the viewer.’
Is there anything you won’t show on “In the Papers”?
One time I put a Post-It note over a portion of the page. There are times when, if there’s been a gruesome image on the front page, I told the director to “stay wide.” If the headline is ever a little too provocative, maybe it appears on-screen and I don’t read every syllable. We’re coming into people’s home and there are kids in the room. We’re on [TV] screens throughout the city and I try to be conscious of that and a little protective of that. People magazine had Blake Shelton as its “Sexiest Man Alive” and that cover had Nicki Minaj in a revealing and provocative pose. We shot it so wide; if someone’s TV had the resolution to see it in any detail, they deserved whatever they got.
Would you ever consider moving back to Canada?
I’ve thought about that and have had discussions about it, but by now I’m a New Yorker. The bar would have to be quite high to attract me back to Canada for a full-time job like I have [at NY1]. This the city I live in. Anybody is flattered to be sought-after, but you have to recognize that, in TV, it’s hard to build an audience. It takes years for an audience to develop sense that they can’t live without you in the morning. TV people have healthy egos, generally, so I’d have to have a healthy ego to recreate what I have at NY1 just by backing up a truck and moving to Toronto.
You’ve played yourself many times in movies and on TV series. Have you ever thought about playing someone other than yourself?
I did once. I was contacted by a casting director who said, “There’s a new series that’s going to be shot in New York and they’re trying to fill the part of a talk show host. Can you come to Silvercup Studios [in Queens] and do an audition?” It was a total cattle call — 30 guys, all with perfect TV anchor hair. I read my lines off the script and they said, “Can you do it more like Larry King?” I said, “No. I’m on TV every day. This is my character, this is what I do. If you’re looking for a Larry King character, then one of those guys out there is your guy.” So I left and I didn’t get the part. It turns out the series, “The Sopranos,” was very successful. The most acting I’ve ever done is when Pat Kiernan wasn’t feeling well and had to go to the hospital on “Nurse Jackie.”