Well, the time has come to say good-bye. I am retiring! After almost 19 years at Q13 (18 years on the morning show!), it’s time to move on and get more sleep! I think my last day will be October 1st. BUT, I may be on air a little on October 4-6 as I train our new morning meteorologist, Brian MacMillan. He is currently working at FOX 12 in Portland, but he and his wife are both natives of Western Washington and their families are here. With 2 young children, he’s thrilled to be closer to his kids’ grandparents.
Meanwhile, I will spend my last 2 weeks here reminiscing about my time at Q13. Here are a couple of photos of our morning anchor team! I consider these colleagues my friends and, over the years, we have shared some amazing times!
Aleta Schultz • October 6, 2021
Wow! Just got back from vacation and I am happy to see that you are retiring but sad to see you leaving. I have always enjoyed watching you and your pet walk. Best wishes on the next chapter of your life.
Christopher Romei • October 6, 2021
I have been in the commercial roofing business here in Seattle for the last 40 years. Weather has always been a critical issue and you are the best. Not just with the weather but YOU. Am watching your final show as I write this and you will be missed. It has been a great combination of MJ, Bill, Adam and yes even Liz. Just like with any great team it’s all about the combination of the players. Hope I can hang with Fox morning news as I experience the changes😎
Best of times to you. Get some 😴
Phyllis Hoefer • October 6, 2021
MJ, Congratulations on your retirement. I’ve enjoyied watching you on ch 13 for years & of your weather reporting. You’ve always been informative, fun natured & a pleasure to watch. You will be missed. Enjoy your Retirement, have fun, be safe & well.
Suzan • October 6, 2021
I just want to ditto everything Nanci Lien said. You will be missed
Anita strom • October 6, 2021
My husband and I will miss you! We enjoy our Q13 in the mornings ! Wishing you happiness in your retirement.
Albert. • October 6, 2021
Wishing you an happy retirement MJ, from a fan of you from British Columbia.
Enjoyed watching you every morning.
Gonna miss you.
Carrie Nunez • October 6, 2021
MJ Happy Retirement. Going to miss you and the Morning News will not be the same. Even on the rainy pnw days you have always been the ray of sunshine 🌞 in my day. Thank you for your love and dedication to the weather and pnw. Make sure to have pizza on Fridays for all of us.
Judy • October 6, 2021
A legion has retired. Will miss you much. Congratulations and best wishes.
Nanci Lien • October 6, 2021
MJ – What can we say to the weather reporter who is a renowned meteorologist at the TOP OF HER GAME? The words come easy. You are fun, personable, witty, kind, and the one we trust to listen to EVERY MORNING. But most of all you are incredibly intelligent, not only about the weather, but about life in general. You’ve never needed a shtick to catch our attention or keep it. You are the real deal and a true ambassador for this region. We’ve been lucky to have you in our lives these past two decades, and we will miss you each morning. We bid you a heartfelt congratulations in your retirement and some well deserved “sleeping in” time. Thank you, MJ for your many years of service to our household and so many others! You are OUR Chief Metorologist and have been a bright spot of SUNSHINE in our morning lives. Jeff & Nanci
Werdall • October 6, 2021
MJ~ You will be missed! We have enjoyed you and your trusted reporting for many years. Please know you have been a true joy. All the best is wished to you. Happy retirement!
Thank you~ The Werdall Family
Cynthia • October 5, 2021
Am shocked and dismayed that you’re leaving MJ! You’re my favorite weather person. You’re fun and knowledgeable and I looked forward to my morning coffee and watching the weather and traffic. You should be the lead meteorologist.
(not a fan of the girl with the clown clothes.)
Bigfoot206 • October 5, 2021
MJ happy retirement! Now you can sleep in, stay up late and enjoy normal hours! You’re full of quality, cheerfulness, positivity
and a true local. You lasted longer than almost everyone looking back 19 years. I was so glad to turn on my tv and see you. I wish you all the best! Miss you already.
….p.s. little known fact, my husband had a big crush on you!
Ernie Hayden • October 5, 2021
I, too, will miss MJ in the mornings!
I was saddened she wasn’t named the Chief Meteorologist. Regardless, she made Q13 a great place for the weather from a great professional!
Wishing you well!
Shoyu • October 5, 2021
MJ you’re my most favorite weather person. I will miss you!
Michelle • October 5, 2021
I am so sad to not see MJ on the news in the mornings. I will miss her wit, her fancy Fridays, Star Trek spirit, and her incredible smile. I hope she gets rest, goes to the theater, and travels with her family. Cheers to you MJ and the positive impact you have on our communities. Happy retirement.
Connie Strain • October 5, 2021
We will miss you M.J. Happy retirement! ❤
Christine Podosek • October 5, 2021
MJ,
Will miss you. You and your voice have been a delight in the morning when I’m working out in my basement. Always look forward to your forecasts. I do wonder if Brian will point out the rowers as much as you do. I always thought that was really cute about you.
Take good care and enjoy your sleep! 🙂
Gabrielle L Wilkerson • October 5, 2021
You will be missed. Your humour made me smile and laugh in the morning. And I love your haircut!!!!!! I wish you all the best. ❤️
Fred Kmiechick • October 5, 2021
MJ,
Regardless of how rough the forecast was, I’ve been comforted by your smile and pleasant personality. I wish you the very best in all your future endeavors. Thank you for always being a bright spot within the daily news!!!
Carol Marang • October 6, 2021
M.J. I wish you were not leaving. You are upbeat and you brighten up my day regardless of the weather forecast. I will miss you. Your quick wit is uplifting. When you are talking I listen intently. You are authentic. I doubt if you will be sleeping in for too long. Maybe you could begin your own TV talk show. Please return!
Ronald Riveira • October 5, 2021
Godspeed MJ. Going to miss you.
Linda Collins • October 5, 2021
I’ll missed sitting with my husband watching M.J. and wondering if she’d ever move on from the wedge haircut. Then we’d comment how in a world of weather often being reported by women in figure revealing outfits, M.J. stood alone. We would try to count just how many different baggy jackets from the eighties she owned to go with her baggy black slacks. It was/is what makes her unique and interesting. I always wanted to have a conversation with her to discover what went into the decision to present herself this way. If it was an effort to focus on weather rather than her appearance…it didn’t work for us. We’ll miss you!
Stacy • October 5, 2021
Does this have anything to do with the covid vaccine mandate? MJ will be missed.
Sanaye Birney • October 5, 2021
Wishing you all sunny days and rainbows. You will be missed and the pet paws. Stay healthy and safe in your retirement.
Patti caudle • October 5, 2021
Good luck on retirement MJ! I have always enjoyed your fun upbeat weather reports on Fox 13.
kevin thomas • October 5, 2021
No matter what the weather is, you have always brightened my day! We will miss you, praying for a happy retirement your journey is just beginning. Wish you all the best.
Robert McEvoy • October 5, 2021
MJ Thank you for helping keep my pets paws dry you will be missed ! I’ve been retired for over 3 years and it’s great welcome to the other half of your amazing life.
Kathleen Huber • October 5, 2021
MJ, I have enjoyed your enthusiastic optimism, and at times some funky outfits over the years. It seems so hard to believe it has been almost 20 years of watching you. Congrats, you deserve to sleep in and do what you want and when you want, best wishes in what ever is next for you and your family.
Cathy garske • October 5, 2021
Sad to see you go but time to enjoy life an do what you want now Wishing you all the best always will miss you in the morning for sure ❤❤
Katie • October 5, 2021
My morning news will not be the same without you. But so happy you are moving on to take care of yourself and enjoy the life you have to live. God bless your retirement and future adventures. You will be missed!
Charles Parham • October 5, 2021
God bless you and yours you will truly be missed🤣
Larry J • October 4, 2021
MJ,
Sad to see you go, even though you really deserve the retirement life. Believe me, it’s great on the other side of work. However, IMHO , you’re right up there with the other notable weather casters. Bob Hale had his cartoons, Steve Pool was cool & MJ, you light up the mornings with your unique brand of energy, humor & style. We will truly miss you. Enjoy your future life!
Nanci • October 6, 2021
So true – and can I add King 5’s “Larry Schick” to your list of notable weather casters? Larry was another forecaster at the top of his game. I’ve never forgiven King 5 for removing him from the show (1983 – 2003) at a time when he was part of the most watched morning news show in Seattle. He would don on ski cap and give the mountain forecast with a video of a downhiller running in the background. Maybe that’s why I LOVE MJ so much – she reminds me of Larry’s spirit.
Jim • October 3, 2021
MJ,
So sorry you’re leaving, but really happy you’re going to get to enjoy what a lot of us already know, more sleep is a good thing. You were always such a bright light on the gloomiest?days.
Always wanted to ask, why the black pants ?
Have fun, will miss you !
Walter • October 1, 2021
In my youth I was devastated when the Beatles broke up, now as an adult I’m devastated my morning news team is breaking up.
Seriously, thank you for helping to start my mornings off, here in Poulsbo.
Best wishes for you in this next phase of life.
M. McCann • October 1, 2021
I tried all of the other local morning shows and started watching the channel 13 morning news program just because of you!!!!! I like most of the other on-air personalities (…one of them drives me nuts…) but you are loved, and you will be missed very much. No matter how technically accurate your replacement is, he will never be able to match your way of sparkling up a gloomy morning and gloomy forecast. Please enjoy yourself and stay safe. Have I said yet that you will be missed?!?!?!
Louis • October 1, 2021
Yes MJ was a favorite and a pro. (And yes one is the reason I don’t watch any longer.)
Karyn Board • October 1, 2021
O-M-G…..I just heard the news today, your last day, that you are retiring. I am in a state of shock. You will be missed so much. Your sense of humor and way you present the weather are second to none. You have some big shoes to fill. Good luck in your retirement.
Nancy Mikolasy • October 1, 2021
Dear MJ – You have been my weather person the whole time you’ve been at FOX. You have been so entertaining and a staple in my morning. I am excited for you to retire – it’s awesome and weird at first to get more sleep. Thank you for being the best and I will miss you tons. Best of everything to you and your family!
Kathleen Morrison • October 1, 2021
I love the:morning team. They had such great chemistry together. I can’t imagine it without her. It is the end of an Era. She made understand the weather easy. I will really miss you MJ
Lizo • October 1, 2021
What? Have I been living under a rock? You’re retiring,!
I’m very happy for you and I hope you catch up on your sleep.
You’ll be missed
Lois Wood • September 29, 2021
We’ll miss you M.J 😔Enjoy your retirement. Remember, the kids had “Spaghetti with “Marinara Sauce” not “Marijuana sauce” 😂 Yes, I saw that day n we all got a good laugh. 😂 You’re a wonderful bubbly person n a great spirit. We enjoyed watching you. You will be missed. Hugs ! Have fun
Sue • September 29, 2021
You will be missed. After asking you to move slightly to one side so those of us in central Washington could see the forecast better, you never missed a beat. Thank you for being so accommodating. Hopefully your instruction to the new person will include a note to include us over here in Chelan and Wenatchee! Best of everything to you as you retire!
Shirley J Gunter • September 29, 2021
I loved her jackets.I couldn’t wait to see what she would wear for the day.Her fancy fridays were the best.You my dear will really be missed very much by me.Enjoy yourself kid,you deserve it.
Curt Russell • September 24, 2021
MJ,
Sooo glad you made it to retirement!
Alot of people (at your station) didn’t want you to make it. And it showed!
But you showed them! Ha ha!
Now enjoy your “now” time! 🙂
Tam Rose • September 24, 2021
Congarts MJ on your retirement. Will miss Pizza Fridays with you and Adam. Wishing you all the best.
Carrie McNamara • September 24, 2021
Loved to watch M.J. in the mornings, her and Adam cracked me up! Since COVID hit they were part of “my alarm” and helped me start my day, lots of laughs for sure! Oh and PIZZA FRIDAY’S for ever!! Congratulations and enjoy sleeping in.
Jean Teigen • September 24, 2021
Well…Rich Marriott has been on King 5 forever.
Tracy Connors • September 23, 2021
Will miss her in our mornings..professional, warm, always a clear view of the upcoming weather, good luck in your retirement..!! You always made us smile!!
jack • September 20, 2021
I was at channel 11 when mj was learning her on camera chops on a kids show with a puppet.
Jason Remington • September 20, 2021
There was the Ranger Charlie show on Channel 11. At least three different people portrayed Ranger Charlie. Charlie Burd, former radio and Channel 11 personality, Robin Lee Noll was the second ranger and MJ McDermott followed. A. Winslow Barger was the voice of Roscoe the raccoon. Robin Lee Noll went on to Hollywood and among other roles played Nurse Berman and two other characters on King of Queens.
Martin R. Howell • September 20, 2021
She was one of a kind and always made the weather report fun and worth watching. I do wonder though if the M.J. stood for Marilyn Jane.
Brandon • September 20, 2021
M.J. stands for Mary Jean.
T.K. • September 20, 2021
She certainly had Mary Jane on the mind when this happened: https://youtu.be/Kk8Ym2TrR-I
kjrol • September 20, 2021
Amazing that a weather person can last so many years at a TV station, these days. Just ask any ex-KING TV meteorologist.
Louis • September 20, 2021
I always liked MJ and wish her only the best. I am glad she was able to leave on her own terms. She was good at what she did, always happy and upbeat, and very personable.
In today’s environment Seattle TV is more concerned with how tight a weather a readers clothes are……..
Amy J Teigen • September 24, 2021
Louis. I agree. Most of the women’s clothes are too tight. They look uncomfortable as heck