What's Your Favorite...
Tom Trtan: Meteorologist, KOLR10 and Ozarks Fox
If Tom Trtan was the voice on the GPS in your car, it would feel like every trip to the grocery store was an epic adventure. “Turn right on Campbell” would come away sounding more like a task on a noble quest than a mundane assignment. With his deep voice and quick laugh, the mustachioed KOLR-10 and Ozarks Fox meteorologist has a way about him that is engaging both on and off screen.
Although he’s on-air very early in the morning, his appeal manages to break through the morning grogginess. Perhaps it’s because the man who admits to not being a morning person is actually an actor. After an introduction to theater in high school, Trtan says, “I became one of the wandering, ‘Let’s see if I can make it in music and theater’ kind of people.” He managed to get on with a song and dance group that toured around Europe. He did dinner theater in Kansas City for a time. He even spent a semester at the American Conservatory of Music in Chicago.
Instead, Trtan chose broadcasting in Springfield and has been on television screens since 1985, working in the mornings for a dozen years. “The difference you have doing a morning show versus an evening show is that we can have a lot more fun in the morning,” explains Trtan. “I think people want fun. They want to wake up with something that’s fun, not something overly serious.”
Trtan is glad to oblige. He’s done everything on the show from hot glass blowing, to rock climbing, to fueling a commercial plane. “Nine out of 10 times, I’ll do something that I will never do in real life,” Trtan says. “Because there’s a camera there, I’ll do it.”
As far as getting back into acting, Trtan says, “I’d love to do that, but then again with my schedule it’s not the easiest thing to work.” For now, he’ll just have to act like he’s naturally a morning person.
What's Your Favorite?
Word with too few vowels?
“Mxyzptlk. Enemy of Superman.”
Not-green vegetable?
“Corn on the cob with plenty of butter.”
Type of knot to tie?
“Any knot that is not as wide as Rob Evans’s necktie knot. I believe it is a Steroid Windsor Knot.”
Thing to drink out of?
“I can do the 44-ounce paper cup full of Pepsi at the drop of a hat. But, not the hat.”
Place to get a hamburger?
“Ebbet’s Field.”
Mystery MeetsJeff Houghton will interview Tom Trtan on October 2 on The Mystery Hour, Jeff’s monthly talk show presented by The Skinny Improv, 301 Park Central East. Visit |
Thing about the morning?
“It’s way too early in the day.”
Brand of laundry detergent?
“I like to get any brand that will turn all my whites to a lovely shade of pink.”
Obsolete technology?
“There are certain people (who shall remain nameless, but their initials are Rob Evans) who would say Tom Trtan is the answer.”
Person you’ve interviewed?
“Carol Channing.”
Weather term?
“Occluded front.”
Mustachioed celebrity?
“Evil Roy Slade.”
Theater production you’ve been in?
“Cabaret. I played the emcee in college.”
Allergy?
“Ann Coulter.”
Odd place you’ve worked?
“I sold Popsicles and ice cream bars out of a three-wheeled bicycle/freezer before I caught on to the fact that my friends would steal as much as they could while my back was turned.”
Thing about Springfield?
“It’s not Gary, Indiana.”
Golf club?
“Wedge. It is the shortest club with an inverse ratio to throwing distance.”
Broadway show?
“The one I enjoyed most was the Marx Brothers in Animal Crackers. It is on film but is an exact recreation of the Broadway show.”
