Chris Wragge
Encyclopedia
Christian P. "Chris" Wragge (icon ; born June 19, 1970) is an American
news anchor
. He is the co-anchor for New York
's WCBS-TV
News at 6 p.m. weeknights alongside Dana Tyler
. He was previously in the station's 5 p.m. and 11 p.m. broadcasts, until he moved to CBS's The Early Show
(nationwide), where he continues as CBS's AM Anchor and CBS 2's PM Anchor.
and raised in Rutherford
, Wragge attended Mahwah High School
in Mahwah, New Jersey
, where he was an athlete. He received a football scholarship to the University of New Hampshire
. He earned three varsity letters and graduated a year early with a Bachelor of Arts degree in communications to pursue a career in professional sportscasting.
Wragge became sports reporter for WMUR-TV
in Manchester, New Hampshire
, where his first television appearance was as a reporter as part of a 48 Hours expose on NBA Spring Break 1991. He then became anchor for the nightly sportscasts on WVIT-TV, an NBC affiliate in Hartford, Connecticut
. Wragge was also a reporter for NBC Sports, including the NBA
, the WNBA
, Notre Dame football
, the Gator Bowl
, the Sun America Sportsdesk, and the Olympics
.
From 1996-97, he was a correspondent with the nationally-syndicated entertainment news show Entertainment Tonight. His first interview was with actor Kurt Russell
. He went on to cover the Oscars
, the Emmys
, and the Grammys
.
In 1998, Wragge joined NBC Sports
and became Sports Director and anchor of the nightly sportscasts on News2Houston on KPRC-TV
in Houston, Texas
, and was the recipient of the 2002 Associated Press "Best Sportscast" award for the Houston area.
In December 2000, while still with NBC Sports and KPRC, Wragge joined USA Sports
as the on-site correspondent for PGA Tour Sunday, the PGA Tour
's leading broadcast partner. He also became presenter of the Ask DIY
, HGTV
and the Travel Channel
.
In 2003 and 2004, Wragge was a behind-the-chutes reporter for the PBR's Built Ford Tough Series
during their NBC telecasts, and during a couple of events served as the play-by-play announcer in George Michael
's absence. In 2004, after broadcast legend Warner Wolf
was abruptly fired, Wragge joined WCBS-TV
as lead sports anchor. On November 6, 2006, Wragge become news anchor for CBS2 News at Noon and CBS News at 5 PM with newly-hired Kristine Johnson
. The pair replaced Mary Calvi
and news veteran Roz Abrams. On January 3, 2011, Wragge became the lead weekday anchor (with Erica Hill
) for The Early Show
on CBS
after serving as in the same role on the Saturday version for the past few years (while also working his primary job at WCBS).
Playmate of the Year Victoria Silvstedt
at Tuxedo Park Country Club in Tuxedo, New York
.
Six years later, Silvstedt and Wragge threatened legal action against Sky News
for slander, after pictures of her in Sardinia
with another man made their way onto the Internet. Sky News removed the page. They separated in 2007, but reportedly have not yet divorced.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
news anchor
News presenter
A news presenter is a person who presents news during a news program in the format of a television show, on the radio or the Internet.News presenters can work in a radio studio, television studio and from remote broadcasts in the field especially weather...
. He is the co-anchor for New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
's WCBS-TV
WCBS-TV
WCBS-TV, channel 2, is the flagship station of the CBS television network, located in New York City. The station's studios are located within the CBS Broadcast Center and its transmitter is atop the Empire State Building, both in Midtown Manhattan....
News at 6 p.m. weeknights alongside Dana Tyler
Dana Tyler
Dana Tyler is a senior news anchor and reporter at WCBS-TV in New York City. She currently anchors the 6 pm newscasts with Chris Wragge, and also hosts Eye on New York, a half-hour weekly community affairs program for WCBS, as well as annual local specials CBS 2 at Tony's, CBS 2 at the Met and...
. He was previously in the station's 5 p.m. and 11 p.m. broadcasts, until he moved to CBS's The Early Show
The Early Show
The Early Show is an American television morning news talk show broadcast by CBS from New York City. The program airs live from 7 to 9 a.m. Eastern Time Monday through Friday; most affiliates in the Central, Mountain, and Pacific time zones air the show on tape-delay from 7 to 9 a.m. local time. ...
(nationwide), where he continues as CBS's AM Anchor and CBS 2's PM Anchor.
Career
Born in Hackensack, New JerseyHackensack, New Jersey
Hackensack is a city in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States and the county seat of Bergen County. Although informally called Hackensack, it was officially named New Barbadoes Township until 1921. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was 43,010....
and raised in Rutherford
Rutherford, New Jersey
Rutherford is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 18,061. It is an inner-ring suburb of New York City, located west of Midtown Manhattan....
, Wragge attended Mahwah High School
Mahwah High School
Mahwah High School is the four-year comprehensive public high school serving students from Mahwah, Bergen County, New Jersey, operating as the only high school of the Mahwah Township Public Schools...
in Mahwah, New Jersey
Mahwah, New Jersey
Mahwah is a township in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 25,890. The name Mahwah is derived from the Lenni Lenape word "mawewi" which means "Meeting Place" or "Place Where Paths Meet".The area that is now Mahwah was...
, where he was an athlete. He received a football scholarship to the University of New Hampshire
University of New Hampshire
The University of New Hampshire is a public university in the University System of New Hampshire , United States. The main campus is in Durham, New Hampshire. An additional campus is located in Manchester. With over 15,000 students, UNH is the largest university in New Hampshire. The university is...
. He earned three varsity letters and graduated a year early with a Bachelor of Arts degree in communications to pursue a career in professional sportscasting.
Wragge became sports reporter for WMUR-TV
WMUR-TV
WMUR-TV is the ABC-affiliated television station for the state of New Hampshire that is licensed to Manchester. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on VHF channel 9 from a transmitter on the south peak of Mount Uncanoonuc in Goffstown. Owned by Hearst Television, the station has studios...
in Manchester, New Hampshire
Manchester, New Hampshire
Manchester is the largest city in the U.S. state of New Hampshire, the tenth largest city in New England, and the largest city in northern New England, an area comprising the states of Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. It is in Hillsborough County along the banks of the Merrimack River, which...
, where his first television appearance was as a reporter as part of a 48 Hours expose on NBA Spring Break 1991. He then became anchor for the nightly sportscasts on WVIT-TV, an NBC affiliate in Hartford, Connecticut
Hartford, Connecticut
Hartford is the capital of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The seat of Hartford County until Connecticut disbanded county government in 1960, it is the second most populous city on New England's largest river, the Connecticut River. As of the 2010 Census, Hartford's population was 124,775, making...
. Wragge was also a reporter for NBC Sports, including the NBA
The NBA on NBC
NBA on NBC was a weekly presentation of National Basketball Association games on the National Broadcasting Company television network from 1955 to 1962, and again from 1990 to 2002. The NBA on NBC succeeded the NBA on CBS...
, the WNBA
Women's National Basketball Association
The Women's National Basketball Association is a women's professional basketball league in the United States. It currently is composed of twelve teams. The league was founded on April 24, 1996 as the women's counterpart to the National Basketball Association...
, Notre Dame football
Notre Dame Fighting Irish football
Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team is the football team of the University of Notre Dame. The team is currently coached by Brian Kelly.Notre Dame competes as an Independent at the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision level, and is a founding member of the Bowl Championship Series coalition. It is an...
, the Gator Bowl
Gator Bowl
The Gator Bowl is an annual college football bowl game played at EverBank Field in Jacksonville, Florida. Held continuously since 1946, it is the sixth oldest college bowl, as well as the first one ever televised nationally...
, the Sun America Sportsdesk, and the Olympics
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
.
From 1996-97, he was a correspondent with the nationally-syndicated entertainment news show Entertainment Tonight. His first interview was with actor Kurt Russell
Kurt Russell
Kurt Vogel Russell is an American television and film actor. His first acting roles were as a child in television series, including a lead role in the Western series The Travels of Jaimie McPheeters...
. He went on to cover the Oscars
Academy Awards
An Academy Award, also known as an Oscar, is an accolade bestowed by the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to recognize excellence of professionals in the film industry, including directors, actors, and writers...
, the Emmys
Emmy Award
An Emmy Award, often referred to simply as the Emmy, is a television production award, similar in nature to the Peabody Awards but more focused on entertainment, and is considered the television equivalent to the Academy Awards and the Grammy Awards .A majority of Emmys are presented in various...
, and the Grammys
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
.
In 1998, Wragge joined NBC Sports
NBC Sports
NBC Sports is the sports division of the NBC television network. Formerly "a service of NBC News," it broadcasts a diverse array of programs, including the Olympic Games, the NFL, the NHL, MLS, Notre Dame football, the PGA Tour, the Triple Crown, and the French Open, among others...
and became Sports Director and anchor of the nightly sportscasts on News2Houston on KPRC-TV
KPRC-TV
KPRC-TV is the NBC affiliated television station based in Houston, Texas, and serving the Greater Houston television market. It has studios located in the Sharpstown district on the Southwest portion of the city, and has a transmitter site in unincorporated Fort Bend County near Missouri City...
in Houston, Texas
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
, and was the recipient of the 2002 Associated Press "Best Sportscast" award for the Houston area.
In December 2000, while still with NBC Sports and KPRC, Wragge joined USA Sports
USA Network
USA Network is an American cable television channel launched in 1971. Once a minor player in basic cable, the network has steadily gained popularity because of breakout hits like Monk, Psych, Burn Notice, Royal Pains, Covert Affairs, White Collar, Monday Night RAW, Suits, and reruns of the various...
as the on-site correspondent for PGA Tour Sunday, the PGA Tour
PGA Tour
The PGA Tour is the organizer of the main men's professional golf tours in the United States and North America...
's leading broadcast partner. He also became presenter of the Ask DIY
DIY Network
DIY Network is a channel owned by Scripps Networks Interactive that focuses on do it yourself projects at home.Television stations air local versions with local hosts with segments produced by the network. Branded DIY Network programming is also broadcast in Japan and the Philippines...
, HGTV
HGTV
HGTV , is a cable-television network operating in the United States and Canada, broadcasting a variety of home and garden improvement, maintenance, renovation, craft and remodeling shows...
and the Travel Channel
Travel Channel
The Travel Channel is a satellite and cable television channel that is headquartered in Chevy Chase, Maryland, US. It features documentaries and how-to shows related to travel and leisure around the United States and throughout the world. Programming has included shows in African animal safaris,...
.
In 2003 and 2004, Wragge was a behind-the-chutes reporter for the PBR's Built Ford Tough Series
Built Ford Tough Series
The Built Ford Tough Series is the "major league" tour of the PBR competitions. It is a 30-city event series culminating in the PBR World Finals every year in Las Vegas, Nevada. The top 45 riders of the PBR compete in the BFTS with the rankings determined by points and money won...
during their NBC telecasts, and during a couple of events served as the play-by-play announcer in George Michael
George Michael (sportscaster)
George Michael was an American sportscaster best known nationally for The George Michael Sports Machine, his long-running sports highlights television program. Originally named George Michael's Sports Final when it began as a local show in Washington, D.C...
's absence. In 2004, after broadcast legend Warner Wolf
Warner Wolf
Warner William Wolf is an American television and radio sports broadcaster, perhaps best known as a local news sports anchor in Washington, D.C., New York City and his catchphrase "Let's go to the videotape!"....
was abruptly fired, Wragge joined WCBS-TV
WCBS-TV
WCBS-TV, channel 2, is the flagship station of the CBS television network, located in New York City. The station's studios are located within the CBS Broadcast Center and its transmitter is atop the Empire State Building, both in Midtown Manhattan....
as lead sports anchor. On November 6, 2006, Wragge become news anchor for CBS2 News at Noon and CBS News at 5 PM with newly-hired Kristine Johnson
Kristine Johnson
Kristine Johnson is a Filipino American co-anchor at WCBS-TV in New York City, New York, on the 5 p.m. and 11 p.m. newscasts with Maurice DuBois....
. The pair replaced Mary Calvi
Mary Calvi
Mary Calvi is an American television journalist.-Early life and education:She graduated magna cum laude with a degree in broadcast journalism from the S. I...
and news veteran Roz Abrams. On January 3, 2011, Wragge became the lead weekday anchor (with Erica Hill
Erica Hill
Erica Ruth Hill is an American journalist and co-anchor of The Early Show on CBS. Prior to her current position, she was the weekday news anchor and Saturday co-anchor of the show. Hill previously worked as an anchor and correspondent for CNN, Headline News and TechTV.- Personal life :Hill was...
) for The Early Show
The Early Show
The Early Show is an American television morning news talk show broadcast by CBS from New York City. The program airs live from 7 to 9 a.m. Eastern Time Monday through Friday; most affiliates in the Central, Mountain, and Pacific time zones air the show on tape-delay from 7 to 9 a.m. local time. ...
on CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
after serving as in the same role on the Saturday version for the past few years (while also working his primary job at WCBS).
Personal life
In June 2000, Wragge married Swedish model, actress and former PlayboyPlayboy
Playboy is an American men's magazine that features photographs of nude women as well as journalism and fiction. It was founded in Chicago in 1953 by Hugh Hefner and his associates, and funded in part by a $1,000 loan from Hefner's mother. The magazine has grown into Playboy Enterprises, Inc., with...
Playmate of the Year Victoria Silvstedt
Victoria Silvstedt
Karen Victoria Silvstedt is a Swedish celebrity model, actress, singer, and television personality.-Background:Born in Skelleftehamn, Silvstedt was raised in a family of five in Bollnäs, having one older sister and one younger brother...
at Tuxedo Park Country Club in Tuxedo, New York
Tuxedo, New York
Tuxedo is a town located in Orange County, New York. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 3,334. The town is in the southeastern part of the county. NY Route 17 and the New York State Thruway pass through the town...
.
Six years later, Silvstedt and Wragge threatened legal action against Sky News
Sky News
Sky News is a 24-hour British and international satellite television news broadcaster with an emphasis on UK and international news stories.The service places emphasis on rolling news, including the latest breaking news. Sky News also hosts localised versions of the channel in Australia and in New...
for slander, after pictures of her in Sardinia
Sardinia
Sardinia is the second-largest island in the Mediterranean Sea . It is an autonomous region of Italy, and the nearest land masses are the French island of Corsica, the Italian Peninsula, Sicily, Tunisia and the Spanish Balearic Islands.The name Sardinia is from the pre-Roman noun *sard[],...
with another man made their way onto the Internet. Sky News removed the page. They separated in 2007, but reportedly have not yet divorced.