A Pizzazz Magazine Exclusive

Publisher Don Lemmon

Pizzazz Magazine: What directed your attention to your chosen profession to begin with and did you originally see your role (career) in it different than it is now?

Beth Fisher: When I was a little girl I used to walk around with a microphone and tape recorder interviewing family members. I'd even sing my own commercial breaks between interviews. I was a major dork. My co-anchor, Kendall Tenney, would be the first to tell you I still am a major dork. I suppose my career is different than I once imagined it would be. I used to have big dreams of having my own show...but I quickly learned it was more important to have my own life.

Pizzazz Magazine: What are your 5 favorite websites besides KVBC.com and mine?

Beth Fisher: Of course I checked out your website. I wanted to know what kind of crazy operation cared to interview me! OK, top five websites. They'd have to be orbitz.com, travelocity.com, travelzoo.com, tokoriki.com (that's where I honeymooned), and for a good laugh, check out amihotornot.com Now THAT's a funny, mindless website. People send in their pictures and you log on to vote whether they are hot or not. I know, it's shallow. The photogs in the newsroom turned me on to the site and then got irritated by the way I vote for people. I give anyone who looks like they would be nice a 10. The guys say I'm not supposed to consider "niceness" in my voting. One of our editors even sent his picture in! His average score was a 7. Not bad!

Pizzazz Magazine: Tell me something no one or very few people know about you. Got a secret you want to share? Something interesting that no one has ever asked you about until now.

Beth Fisher: I used to be a truck stop waitress. Farewell Bend Truck stop in Eastern Oregon. The truckers used to say, "Darlin', can I have anything on this menu?" I'd nod. Then they'd throw down the menu and say, "Stand on it." Sometimes they'd say, "Darlin', would you stick your finger in my tea and sweeten it up?" I had truckers offering to pay me for my underwear, and pay me for you-know-what. But I was sixteen! How sick is that? It was a real education as I grew up in a strict, conservative home. At least once a week, I'd have to call my Dad to come pick me up from work, because a trucker wouldn't leave me alone. After the truck stop, I worked my way through college as a laborer at a cement plant. Hard hat and steel-toed boots. I have the pictures to prove it.

Pizzazz Magazine: What's the craziest thing you have ever experienced in the journalism industry to date or maybe tell me about something you witnessed and didn't participate in that would shock me.

Beth Fisher: I once interviewed a Hispanic woman whose boyfriend was murdered. She was trying to raise money to send his body back to Mexico to be buried. During the interview, I asked to see pictures of him. She handed me a whole photo album of horrible photos! The guy looked awful! Turns out she had taken all of these pictures of her boyfriend AFTER he was dead to remember him by. Ugh!

Pizzazz Magazine: Anything embarrassing ever happen to YOU when you while reporting live on location that was unintentional? If so, what?

Beth Fisher: I was shooting a face lift surgery and passed out. That was embarrassing. It also prevented me from EVER wanting a facelift. It's really a bloody surgery to watch!

Pizzazz Magazine: The biggest lie that exists about journalism you feel is:

Beth Fisher: The biggest lie about TV journalists is that we have makeup people, hair people, and wardrobe people. Another big lie is that we are heartless...and will do anything for good story. The truth is I don't know a single person in the channel 3 newsroom who will do anything cruel or unethical for a story. I work with very caring people who hate doing those knock-on-the-door-shove-a-mic-in-your-face interviews. But sometimes they are necessary.

Pizzazz Magazine: What's the hardest and yet easiest part of dealing with the industry these days that you didn't realize when entering it?

Beth Fisher: I didn't realize how mean viewers could be about stupid things like the way my hair looks or my smile. And I didn't realize how wonderful viewers could be once they grew to like me and my work. Viewers can fire off some mean-spirited e-mails sometimes! Whew! But my strategy is to write back and remind them I'm a human being. Typically I get an apology. The truth is, this is a very rewarding job and I'm not sure I knew that when I entered this field.

Pizzazz Magazine: Is there a gender bias that exists within the Journalism Industry? If so, what is your opinion on the matter? Have women advanced at full force or is it a sure but steady climb?

Beth Fisher: Sure. There is still a gender bias. I'm 30 years old right now. In this business, I'm in my prime. Men age on the air very easily. Viewers are not as forgiving about wrinkles on women. People are too quick to blame TV executives for ousting women as they age, but the truth is, management would not get rid of an older anchor woman who was still popular. They get rid of older anchor women because they LOSE popularity. Viewers really are in control here. Having said that, I do think things are getting better. The women in my newsroom FAR outnumber the men. And our News Director is a woman.

Pizzazz Magazine: Have any family or friends around you changed since you got recognition for the things you've done? Maybe those who weren't so supportive in the beginning suddenly became supportive, or possibly vice versa? They became less supportive?

Beth Fisher: I have very few friends. That's the truth. I have many acquaintances, but very few close friends. Close friends are the kind of people who never waiver. So I guess my answer is no. My friends never changed the way they treated me. I choose my friends wisely.

Pizzazz Magazine: What is your most frequently asked question and/or what question makes you crazy whenever someone asks you it but somehow you remain composed enough to answer?

Beth Fisher: Who does your hair? For those of you who love it, her name is Stacie Sanderford. She works at Destination Spa on West Lake Mead. For those of you who hate it, stop e-mailing me. Ha.

Pizzazz Magazine: Is there a job that you were offered in the past but passed up that we would find interesting because it has nothing to do with what you do now?

Beth Fisher: I was offered an internship with an advertising firm once. I passed it up for an internship on a TV morning show in Portland, Oregon. I guess that's a no-brainer except the advertising internship paid several thousand dollars for the summer and the TV internship paid--you guessed it--nada.

Pizzazz Magazine: Some people think when they see you reporting on TV that you just appeared overnight. They do not realize the work it took to get to where you are because their interests usually lie in the subject you are reporting and not why it is 'you' reporting it. How does it make you feel when people less talented or deserving get handed a golden opportunity literally overnight? Do you feel it gives the wrong impression to the average viewer looking from the outside in?

Beth Fisher: It's not my place to determine who is talented or deserving. I'd rather not pass that judgment on to anyone. In the channel 3 newsroom, everyone is talented and deserving. I work with an amazing group of people.

Pizzazz Magazine: What is your crowning achievement in life so far and what do you see yourself doing 10 years from now?

Beth Fisher: My crowning achievement? That's a hard one. I am incredibly proud to be an anchor at channel 3. But I'd have to say what's far more important to me is that I've made it here being a kind person. I am proudest of my relationships with people. I think being a good wife, good daughter, and good friend to the people I love is my crowning achievement.

Pizzazz Magazine: Tell me a joke! Or a funny story!

Beth Fisher: This isn't a joke...but I'm sure there is a joke in here somewhere. Let me tell you the craziest story I've ever done. I did a story on vaginal cosmetic surgeries. These women were taking Playboy pictures into their doctor, and asking him to make their most intimate parts look like the girls in the pictures. Face lifts, for vaginas, if you will. I apologize to any of your readers who are repulsed by this...but I have to tell you. It was all I could do to keep a straight face interviewing these women who were somehow convinced this surgery would make their lives more complete. My photographer and I laughed the whole ride home.

Pizzazz Magazine: Who is your favorite Musician or band? What in your opinion is the best entertainment Las Vegas has to offer? The worst? Favorite Vegas hangout?

Beth Fisher: I absolutely love the Scintas. I've been to see their show at the Rio several times. Each time I laugh so hard my stomach hurts. I've had the privilege of meeting them several times and it's nice to see such good people succeed. My favorite Vegas hangout? My living room curled up with my husband in the 'ole PJs. AAAUUUGH life is good.

Pizzazz Magazine: Tell me something about the industry you are in that people tend to forget.... and maybe something they do not realize either...

Beth Fisher: People don't realize the anchors write stories, report stories, and work full 8 or 10 hour days. People don't realize there is more to our job than sitting at the anchor desk and reading the news for 30 minutes.

Pizzazz Magazine: Once this is off your chest, what is the one thing you would change about your work if you could without hesitation and would you then be fine with everything else?

Beth Fisher: I love my job. I wouldn't change a thing. I anchor the four and six. I start work at 10 and go home at 7. I don't have to be here too early in the morning...and I don't have to work too late into the night. I have a great schedule, a great co-anchor, great producers, and a great company to work for. Our station has a gym for employees, a basketball court for friendly competition, a dog-run for our pets, and some really cool people. I am not the kind of person who always thinks the grass is greener somewhere else. I have it good here at channel three and I hope they keep me around for a while.

Pizzazz Magazine: Who do you feel is the most intriguing person in your business besides yourself? Why?

Beth Fisher: I am intrigued by Katie Couric. She has this great ability to be flirty pussy cat one minute and a tear-your-ass-off tiger the next. I admire versatility.

Pizzazz Magazine: My husband thinks she is a clown. Tell me the last good movie you can remember seeing that you saw in the theaters, and the last good video you rented:

Beth Fisher: Rian (my husband) and I love going to the movies. We recently saw Panic Room. I thought it was a good flick, but he didn't. Typically I like ushy-gushy romances...and Rian goes for the blood, guts, guy movies. Rental-wise I recently saw "Hootch" with Tom Hanks. My niece was with me, so we have to stick to the PG's when she's around. It was cute.

Pizzazz Magazine: What TV show do you watch and enjoy the most?

Beth Fisher: I love the West Wing on NBC. It's the only show I'll set the VCR for. I get a huge kick out of Sex in the City, as well.

Pizzazz Magazine: Does anyone in your family think you're nuts for doing this?

Beth Fisher: No. My family is amazing. I went through the typical teenage rebellion years, but I have incredible parents. My mother and I talk on the phone every day on my way to work. She is a great encourager. My dad is the most amazing man I know next to my husband. They are a lot a like. I think I married Rian because he reminds me so much of my Dad. My Mom and Dad are incredibly proud of me. My grandfather is a rancher in Oregon. He doesn't think I'm nuts...he thinks I'm rich. He thinks a limo picks me up for work every day.

Pizzazz Magazine: The worst pickup line ever used on you was? Did that pickup line work?

Beth Fisher: Cute dress. It would look even better on my bedroom floor. No. It didn't work. My husband had a good pickup line. He called me at the TV station and said, "You don't know me. I'm not a stalker. I'm a fireman and I'd like to treat you to dinner." Somehow that straight forward style impressed me enough to say yes. Smartest decision I've ever made. He's a hottie...and even more beautiful on the inside.

Pizzazz Magazine: If you were anyone else besides yourself, who would you be?.. Even if it was just for just a day. Is this someone you may have emulated growing up and do you still emulate or try to be like them now?

Beth Fisher: I can honestly say there is not a single person I would rather be. I recognize how blessed I am, and I thank God every day for the life I have. I've worked hard for this life...if I wanted someone else's life I would've worked hard for theirs.

For Beth Fisher's Official Website: CLICK HERE