This unusual story about WGRZ-TV anchor Scott Levin caught my eye, but maybe not for the reasons you’d think. Levin was a popular on-air personality for the Buffalo NBC outlet’s newsroom, but abruptly quit a few months ago to become, of all things, the head of a Western New York car dealership(!)
 
But before you can say ratings book, Levin has decided to suddenly return to the station he left, despite claiming he wanted more time with his family and better hours. That was fast! What’s weird about this to me is that I can’t think of too many instances in which a high profile personality quits, gives a heartfelt goodbye on air and then suddenly returns to their old job as though they were never gone.
 
Luckily for Levin, his numbers for the station were good and since his departure, competitor Channel 4 has begun creeping up in the ratings, and I suspect that’s why they were so willing to let him return. Plus, he went to a separate industry altogether, which meant there were no non-compete contract issues.
 
I can only think of two other instances like this. I was told by a friend about a co-worker of his (who will remain nameless, because he’d kill me) who left a Toronto TV newsroom, went to a major radio station in this city for two weeks or so, and wound up hating his new job so much, he called his former news director and got his old position back – which fortunately for him, they hadn’t filled yet.
 
The only other person I can think of who’s been welcomed back to a station where he’d been fired or quit is Michael Coren, who seems to have been off CFRB and then back on again more times than I can count.
 
I’m curious if anyone knows about any other examples of someone who quit a radio or TV job, only to be accepted back a few weeks or months later after their long goodbye.