Perkins Leaving GMA: WTTG “Moved Quickly” To Bring Weathercaster Home

> What are your reactions to Tony Perkins‘ departure from GMA? How will it affect the morning show wars? Who should become the new weatherperson? E-mail tvnewser@mediabistro.com or drop it in the tip box…

> Perkins will return to WTTG’s FOX5 Morning News as weekday Weathercaster beginning January 3, 2006. “WTTG Fox 5 has been looking for several years for the right opportunity to bring Tony back to Washington, D.C. where his broadcasting career began. When that opportunity availed itself, we moved quickly,” WTTG Vice President and General Manager Duffy Dyer said in a P.R.

> “Before joining GMA in 1999, Perkins was weatherman on WTTG’s Fox Morning News from 1993 to 1998 and then spent a year co-anchoring the show,” B&C says.

> Perkins says he will have the opportunity to “contribute in a variety of ways to FOX 5 and other FOX owned divisions.”

> “Tony never seemed quite comfortable on GMA,” an e-mailer says. “Always seemed like he did it for the team, but not himself. He didn’t seem very happy and you can fake happiness only for so long.”

> Sept. 8: Perkins “is the object of a bidding war between a number of outlets,” an insider says…