Fox 10 has chosen a familiar face to replace John Hook, the longtime anchor who is leaving the Phoenix station 33 years after he started there.
Marc Martinez, who has been with Fox 10 for a while himself ― he came to the station in 2002 as a reporter ― will take over Hook's co-anchoring slots at 4 p.m., 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. on weekdays, beginning Tuesday, Sept. 15. He will anchor alongside Christina Carilla, who replaced Kari Lakein 2021. It's the end of a local TV news era.
Martinez had been the sole anchor of the 6 p.m. newscast and co-anchor, along with Ellen McNamara, of the 10 p.m. newscast.
Other changes are coming to Fox 10
It's not the only change at Fox 10. McNamara, who joined the station in 2021, will now be the sole anchor for the 6 p.m. newscast. Steve Nielsen will anchor the 10 p.m. newscast solo,
and will move from the weekend morning desk to co-hosting "Fox 10 Talks" in the afternoon and at 8 p.m. on the station's website. McNamara will co-host "Fox 10 Talks" with Nielsen.
Hook's last day at Fox 10 is Monday, Sept. 14. He announced in August that he was leaving. "This community has been so good to me. Really from the moment I arrived at Channel 10. CBS back then in ‘93," Hook wrote on the station's website. "I think viewers know if the person on TV has a connection to the community and is an Arizona guy. From my time at ASU, which brought me here, to working in radio in Phoenix, this is home. I think of viewers as extended family. They have always been so kind and supportive when I run into them. And I love those interactions."
As for his plans after signing off for the last time, Hook wrote, "I want to travel and experience some parts of the world I haven’t seen. I want to dive the Great Barrier Reef… surf more… ski more… play a little more golf… play more music… volunteer, and I want to mentor."
Reach Goodykoontz at bill.goodykoontz@arizonarepublic.com. Facebook: facebook.com/GoodyOnFilm. Media commentary with a side of snark? Sign up for The Watchlist newsletter with Bill Goodykoontz.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: A familiar face is replacing John Hook after 33 years at Fox 10
