Good Monday morning everyone! Today’s Twitterview guest is @Matt_Brickman or @wcco TV. So thanks for “tuning in” to #jectv to follow us!
Q – #1 To start @Matt_Brickman, please share with us where you grew up and attended HS and college.
Matt: Good morning Joel! I’ve bounced around a bit. I grew up in Windsor, CT, HS in Marlboro, NJ & college at the U of IL
We moved for my dad’s job a couple of times, he’s a hospital administrator – currently working in Denver, CO
But, I’m thrilled to be in #MPLS now. I have two nieces (2 y.o. & 7 mo.) that I get to see whenever I want!
Q – #2 Interesting. What kinds of things/activities did you like doing in HS, and what was your major in college?
Matt: I was your typical angsty (I made that word up) teen. I played football, didn’t study as much as I should have
But, I took a newspaper class my senior year, & really enjoyed writing.
So, I decided to study Broadcast Journalism at the U of IL, b/c who doesn’t want to be on TV?!
Unlike most mets, I didn’t always love the wx, in fact, I didn’t get into it until about a year into my career in news.
Q – #3 You found something that you enjoyed doing! So where did you intern 1st for TV, and what was your path to @wcco?
Matt: I interned at @WICD in Champaign, IL when I was a senior at the U of I. W/ a few months left in the semester (cont.)
I was offered the overnight producer job. I worked from 11p-8a every day & went to classes my final 3 months of school.
After I graduated, I started news reporting & did that for about a year, until a week before my wedding 2 @katebrickman
My ND asked me if I’d try wx, I said “why not?” After my honeymoon, I started wx on the weekends & loved it immediately
I got promoted to AM wx, started the #MSSTATE Met program & 3 yrs later I got the offer to come to @wcco
Q – #4 I see. So are you NEW to MN? I see on the the Saturday @wcco AM news that you ask for places to check out locally.
Matt: The “Best of MN” series on @wcco has been a ton of fun. One thing I’ve learned is Minnesotans love MN, as they should..
I get the benefit of having the best tour guides show me around MN, highlighting lots of great places along the way
@WCCO Saturday Morning w/ @jamieyuccas is the perfect vehicle to do those stories. It’s such a fun show to be a part of.
Did I mention that I’m having fun? :)
Q – #5 Did you know when you came to @wcco that you’d be a part of the SAT show? Have any memorable weather reporting stories?
Matt: I knew that I’d be starting a new SAT AM show on @wcco, but, all I knew is it would be w/ “one of our new reporters”
I didn’t find out it would be w/ @jamieyuccas until a week or two before I started
I did a live shot at @WICD in 50 mph winds w/ swirling snow. The flakes felt like darts when they hit you. Not fun.
@JoelECarlson: @Matt_Brickman You and @jamieyccas bring a very good caffeinated show. Lots of energy and enthusiasm. Good work!
Q – #6 On to more about YOU. Your FAVORITE(S): Restaurant, store, comfort food, recent book or blog, hobby or activity.
Matt: I’ve been to @LoringKitchen a few times already b/c it’s so close. But also like @uptowncafeteria & @bluedoorpub
I’m a big online shopper – @Bonobos & @ctshirts are my favorite spots at the moment. I have too many ties.
@CKlosterman is my favorite author. “Killing Yourself to Live” = favorite book. Looking forward to “The Visible Man”
I love to run, I’m doing the #MonsterDash Half-Marathon this Sat. I also love taking my dog Gus to the dog park
And comfort food? I think I could eat fried chicken every meal of every day. Need to find the “Best in MN” soon!
Q – #7 Which dog parks have you tried locally and what breed of dog is Gus? Any other pets?
Matt: Gus is a beagle-mix. We love the Lake of the Isles dog park, that’s our go-to. Minnehaha Falls is also great.
Q – #8 Has the @wcco crew prepped you for this coming winter? Clothes, weather terms and being disliked by the public? #wx
Matt: They have. I’m OK w/ that. I grew up w/ New England winters, so snow & cold don’t scare me.
If I can brag about my wife @katebrickman quickly. Her film, “This is My Journey” just got accepted into the @Mplsuff
@katebrickman is by far the more talented, interesting & attractive Brickman.
Q – #9 Sure. In closing, any goals/accomplishments that you hope to achieve in the next year or two?
Matt: I just want to continue to grow the @WCCO Saturday AM show. I think it’s a terrific show & offers something (cont)
that other newscasts don’t. It’s fun. You get all the info you need & at the end hopefully there’s a smile on your face
@JoelECarlson: @Matt_Brickman Thanks for your time and comments today! Welcome to MN and enjoy exploring the state!
Matt: Thanks Joel! I really enjoyed it!
