‘My heart is so full’: TV anchor Lynette Romero debuts on NBC’s ‘Today in L.A.’

Native TV anchor Lynette Romero retuned to Angelenos’ TV screens on Monday, making her debut on NBC’s “Right now in L.A.” morning newscast.

The Emmy Award-winning journalist greeted NBC audiences for the primary time within the 4 o’clock hour Monday morning, telling viewers she has been “ready for [Oct. 10] such as you can’t imagine.”

“I’m so comfortable to be right here,” a beaming Romero continued. “I maintain saying this, however my coronary heart is so full. You understand how you’re feeling like your coronary heart is gonna burst whenever you’re so excited? That’s how I really feel.”

Romero, 55, will co-anchor “Right now in L.A.” from 4 a.m. to 7 a.m. on weekdays together with Adrian Arambulo, meteorologist Belen De Leon and visitors anchor Robin Winston — all of whom she thanked Monday for embracing her and making her really feel welcome.

Scattered all through Monday’s broadcast had been “get to know you” segments regularly introducing Romero to the “Right now in L.A.” viewers. The primary enjoyable reality about herself that Romero supplied viewers was that she likes to eat “french fries and nachos collectively.”

“It’s thrilling. It’s contemporary. It’s slightly scary as a result of there are a whole lot of eyeballs on the market,” Romero admitted on her first day. “I feel they’re type of rubbing their eyes as a result of they’re like, ‘Ooh, it’s 4 a.m., Romero. That’s awfully early.’ In order that they’re of their PJs. They’re watching, and I’m so glad they’re there as a result of I can really feel you.”

“Lynette, we knew immediately everytime you joined us that you simply felt like household,” De Leon added, “so we all know what everybody on the market feels, and we’re so comfortable that you simply’re a part of our crew.”

She takes on the place vacated final yr by Daniella Guzman, who moved to an NBC affiliate in her hometown of Houston

The previous KTLA weekend morning information host final month abruptly left the independently owned station, the place she labored for almost 24 years, to affix crosstown rival KNBC-TV Channel 4. Her departure was introduced in a 37-second send-off throughout KTLA’s morning newscast that deeply upset followers and led to her former co-anchor Mark Mester unexpectedly lambasting the station’s administration on air, alleging it mishandled the state of affairs as a result of Romero didn’t personally say goodbye to viewers. (Mester was suspended then fired shortly after.)

Romero reportedly needed to cease working weekends at KTLA and had requested administration there to permit her to work a weekday anchor shift so she may spend extra time together with her household, however she was instructed there have been no openings.

Throughout Monday’s NBC broadcast, Romero supplied some candid perception into her sudden exit from KTLA, revealing she had “no thought” {that a} present she taped in mid-September could be her final.

“You understand how contract negotiations go — or possibly you don’t — however it’s not enjoyable,” she mentioned. “So then I really by no means went again … slightly over a month, however it appears like ceaselessly. And other people … have been saying, ‘When are you coming again? The place have you ever been? I miss you.’ … I’ve missed you guys too.”

Romero added that since departing KTLA, she has obtained a “touching” and “overwhelming” wave of help from viewers who’ve watched her for many years.

“There’s a lady who reached out to me … and he or she mentioned, ‘You had been there when when my husband died, and I’m gonna be there for you tomorrow,’ ” Romero recalled. “I simply suppose that’s so particular … They’ve been there with me by way of all my ups and downs in my life, so I feel that’s the way you join with folks.”

Final Thursday, Romero wrote on Instagram that she had been “welcomed with an enormous heat hug” at KNBC and shared the primary of a number of promos that had been made for her debut.

“I’m undoubtedly in good palms. Standby for extra! I wasn’t kidding once I mentioned our #nbcla crew is superb. #4lynette #todayinla,” she added.

“It’s humorous how one can instantly join,” Romero instructed KNBC on Thursday after a rehearsal with the brand new crew. “I’m trying ahead, I’m prepared.”

On Friday, she hosted a Fb Reside session to indicate viewers round KNBC’s Los Angeles newsroom and plug the station’s cellular app.