Ukee Washington
Encyclopedia
Ulysses Samuel "Ukee" Washington III (born August 20, 1958) is an American news co-anchor for the weekday morning newscast on KYW-TV
in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
. He anchors Eyewitness News This Morning on CBS 3 and The CW Philly with co-anchor Erica Von Tiehl, and co-hosts Talk Philly with Pat Ciarrocchi
weekdays at noon. Washington is also the son of Ulysses S. Washington
, a noted professor and former football coach at Delaware State University
. He is also the Godfather of Eagles safety Nate Allen, as stated in a radio interview by Nate Allen. He attended University of Richmond
, and is an openly-avid fan of that school's Spiders
basketball team.
and eventually become the station's primary sportscaster. In 1996, he took on his current assignment as co-anchor. In addition to his daily anchor duties, he provides viewers with "Keepin' It Reel," a special segment of the morning newscast during which he previews one of the week's theatrical releases and interviews the releases' stars
and directors. He is credited with being one of the first African American newscasters to have a shape-up. Washington also hosted the local teen issues discussion show "Rap Around," which dealt with topics such as race, prom fashions, and having a brother. In 2004, he put together a special report on the still controversial Philadelphia Experiment
.
On November 11, 2011, a performance was aired on KYW-TV where Washington joined the Philadelphia Boys Choir & Chorale
, of which he is a former member, and the "Facebook
Volunteer Choir" at the Zion Baptist Church in north Philadelphia in singing God Bless America
, in tribute to America's military veterans. He had been asked by the Philadelphia Phillies
to sing God Bless America at a seventh-inning stretch
at Citizens Bank Park
during the 2011 National League Championship Series
, but because the Phillies had been eliminated from the playoffs in the previous round by the St. Louis Cardinals
(who went on to win the 2011 World Series
), he could not perform for the Phillies. Instead, he chose to film a performance for Veterans Day
.
and has had small parts in such movies as Unbreakable (2000), Signs (2002)
, Shooter (2007), and the 2004 remake of The Manchurian Candidate
. He appeared in an episode of the short-lived CBS
drama
series Hack. He also appeared on The Happening (2008)
portraying a television news anchor, his real life profession. He had a minor, non-speaking part in the film Live Free or Die Hard (2007)
.
KYW-TV
KYW-TV, virtual channel 3, is an owned and operated television station of the CBS Television Network, located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. KYW-TV shares a studio facility with its sister station, CW flagship WPSG just north of Center City Philadelphia...
in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
. He anchors Eyewitness News This Morning on CBS 3 and The CW Philly with co-anchor Erica Von Tiehl, and co-hosts Talk Philly with Pat Ciarrocchi
Pat Ciarrocchi
Pat Ciarrocchi co-anchors the weekday noon newscast of CBS3 Eyewitness News on KYW-TV, alongside Ukee Washington. She joined the station in 1982. Previously she had served as anchor of the weekday morning and noon news for almost two decades. While at KYW-TV, she served as co-anchor of Evening...
weekdays at noon. Washington is also the son of Ulysses S. Washington
Ulysses S. Washington
-References:...
, a noted professor and former football coach at Delaware State University
Delaware State University
Delaware State University , is an American historically black, public university located in Dover, Delaware, and there are two satellite campuses located in Wilmington, Delaware, and Georgetown, Delaware...
. He is also the Godfather of Eagles safety Nate Allen, as stated in a radio interview by Nate Allen. He attended University of Richmond
University of Richmond
The University of Richmond is a selective, private, nonsectarian, liberal arts university located on the border of the city of Richmond and Henrico County, Virginia. The University of Richmond is a primarily undergraduate, residential university with approximately 4,000 undergraduate and graduate...
, and is an openly-avid fan of that school's Spiders
Richmond Spiders men's basketball
The Richmond Spiders men's basketball team represents the University of Richmond in Richmond, Virginia and currently competes in the Atlantic 10 Conference...
basketball team.
Career at KYW-TV
He joined the station in 1986 as a weekend sportscasterSports commentator
In sports broadcasting, a commentator gives a running commentary of a game or event in real time, usually during a live broadcast. The comments are normally a voiceover, with the sounds of the action and spectators also heard in the background. In the case of television commentary, the commentator...
and eventually become the station's primary sportscaster. In 1996, he took on his current assignment as co-anchor. In addition to his daily anchor duties, he provides viewers with "Keepin' It Reel," a special segment of the morning newscast during which he previews one of the week's theatrical releases and interviews the releases' stars
Movie star
A movie star is a celebrity who is well-known, or famous, for his or her starring, or leading, roles in motion pictures. The term may also apply to an actor or actress who is recognized as a marketable commodity and whose name is used to promote a movie in trailers and posters...
and directors. He is credited with being one of the first African American newscasters to have a shape-up. Washington also hosted the local teen issues discussion show "Rap Around," which dealt with topics such as race, prom fashions, and having a brother. In 2004, he put together a special report on the still controversial Philadelphia Experiment
Philadelphia Experiment
The Philadelphia Experiment is the name of an alleged naval military experiment said to have been carried out at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA sometime around October 28, 1943. It is alleged that the U.S. Navy destroyer escort USS Eldridge was to be rendered...
.
On November 11, 2011, a performance was aired on KYW-TV where Washington joined the Philadelphia Boys Choir & Chorale
Philadelphia Boys Choir & Chorale
Philadelphia Boys Choir & Chorale is a boys' choir and mens chorale based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, currently under the direction of Jeffery R. Smith. They are known as "America's Ambassadors of Song" and are considered to be one of the best boys choirs in the world...
, of which he is a former member, and the "Facebook
Facebook
Facebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
Volunteer Choir" at the Zion Baptist Church in north Philadelphia in singing God Bless America
God Bless America
"God Bless America" is an American patriotic song written by Irving Berlin in 1918 and revised by him in 1938. The later version has notably been recorded by Kate Smith, becoming her signature song ....
, in tribute to America's military veterans. He had been asked by the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
to sing God Bless America at a seventh-inning stretch
Seventh-inning stretch
The seventh-inning stretch is a tradition in baseball that takes place between the halves of the seventh inning of any game – in the middle of the seventh inning. Fans generally stand up and stretch out their arms and legs and sometimes walk around. It is a popular time to get a late-game snack as...
at Citizens Bank Park
Citizens Bank Park
Citizens Bank Park is a 43,647-seat baseball park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, part of the South Philadelphia Sports Complex, and home of the Philadelphia Phillies. Citizens Bank Park opened on April 3, 2004, and hosted its first regular season baseball game on April 12 of the same year, with the...
during the 2011 National League Championship Series
2011 National League Championship Series
The 2011 National League Championship Series was a best-of-seven playoff pitting the winners of the 2011 National League Division Series, the St. Louis Cardinals and Milwaukee Brewers, against each other for the National League championship and the right to be the league's representative in the...
, but because the Phillies had been eliminated from the playoffs in the previous round by the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
(who went on to win the 2011 World Series
2011 World Series
The 2011 World Series was the 107th edition of Major League Baseball's championship series. The best-of-seven playoff was played between the American League champion Texas Rangers and the National League champion St...
), he could not perform for the Phillies. Instead, he chose to film a performance for Veterans Day
Veterans Day
Veterans Day, formerly Armistice Day, is an annual United States holiday honoring military veterans. It is a federal holiday that is observed on November 11. It coincides with other holidays such as Armistice Day or Remembrance Day, which are celebrated in other parts of the world and also mark...
.
Other television appearances
Washington is the second cousin of actor Denzel WashingtonDenzel Washington
Denzel Hayes Washington Jr. is an American actor, screenwriter, director, and film producer. He first rose to prominence when he joined the cast of the medical drama, St. Elsewhere, playing Dr...
and has had small parts in such movies as Unbreakable (2000), Signs (2002)
Signs (film)
Signs is a 2002 American science fiction horror film directed by M. Night Shyamalan. It was adapted from a screenplay also written by Shyamalan. Executive producers for the film comprised Shyamalan, Frank Marshall, Kathleen Kennedy and Sam Mercer. The story focuses on a former preacher named Graham...
, Shooter (2007), and the 2004 remake of The Manchurian Candidate
The Manchurian Candidate (2004 film)
The Manchurian Candidate is a 2004 American thriller film based on the 1959 novel of the same name by Richard Condon, and a reimagining of the previous 1962 film....
. He appeared in an episode of the short-lived 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...
drama
Dramatic programming
Dramatic programming in the UK, or television drama and television drama series in the US, is television program content that is scripted and fictional along the lines of √a traditional drama. This excludes, for example, sports television, television news, reality show and game shows, stand-up...
series Hack. He also appeared on The Happening (2008)
The Happening (2008 film)
The Happening is a 2008 science fiction thriller film written, co-produced and directed by M. Night Shyamalan that follows a woman, her husband, the husband's best friend, and the friend's daughter as they try to escape from an inexplicable natural disaster. The plot revolves around a mysterious...
portraying a television news anchor, his real life profession. He had a minor, non-speaking part in the film Live Free or Die Hard (2007)
Live Free or Die Hard
Live Free or Die Hard , is a 2007 American action film, and the fourth installment in the Die Hard series. The film was directed by Len Wiseman and stars Bruce Willis as John McClane. The name was adapted from the state motto of New Hampshire, "Live Free or Die"...
.