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Ernie Bjorkman - media's idea of life-after-job-loss

By James B. Meadow, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published January 30, 2009 at 12:05 a.m.

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Ernie Bjorkman admitted being a little nervous but said he enjoyed Wednesday's appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show.

Photo by Michael Rozman / Warner Bros.

Ernie Bjorkman admitted being a little nervous but said he enjoyed Wednesday's appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show.

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Where's Salvador Dali when you need him?

After all, who better than the late surrealist artist to paint the portrait of a man who's been demoralized, torpedoed and flung from the career womb that nurtured him very well for 36 years - only to be enjoying a wave of good will and notoriety that deluges anything he's ever experienced in his nearly six decades on Earth?

We speak, of course, of Ernie Bjorkman, the former Denver TV news anchor-turned-ex-Denver- TV-news-anchor-turned-veterinarian-technician-turned-mediasupernova. And if that sentence makes you a little breathless to read it, well, imagine how the guy who has become the media's poster child for life-after-job-loss feels.

"It's all been surreal, a whirlwind; that's the only way I can describe everything that's happened to me," says Bjorkman, 58, following an appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show. Which, if you're keeping a tally, followed an appearance on 2 0/20. Which followed stories about him in The New York Times - as well as both Denver dailies.

As Bjorkman utters these words, a thread of wonder is woven into that smooth baritone. The same one that calmed and informed Denver viewers for 26 years, earned him a pretty fair piece of change as a salary, and allowed him and wife Susan to own two homes and live comfortably.

Until it sort of went poof!

In October, his employer, KWGN-Channel 2, announced it was merging with KDVR-Channel 31. Since KDVR was the big dog in the deal, all KWGN people had to "re-interview" for their jobs, a procedure that Bjorkman found "humiliating" and "demoralizing." He also found it confusing, since not a month earlier, he'd signed a new $250,000 contract. Surely, they wouldn't . . . .

They would.

Fortunately, Bjorkman had somehow divined his anchorman mortality three years prior and begun following his "passion." And that passion was veterinary medicine, something he'd been interested in his entire animal-loving life. Hey, his confirmation name wasn't Francis - as in St. Francis of Assisi - for nothing.

Led by his passion, in 2006 Bjorkman enrolled at Community College of Denver, following a regimen of classroom or animal clinic by day and studio by night. No, he wasn't going to be a veterinarian - he was a little long in the canine for that. He was going to be vet tech, an animal nurse. He figured by the time he was 62 or so, he'd be ready to "ease out" of TV and make the switch.

Uh-uh.

On Dec. 14, Bjorkman signed off the air for the last time. By then, he'd been written about in the Rocky and The Times, which had seen the Denver paper and featured him in a front-page story. Then, The Denver Post chimed in with a story. The common theme of all the articles was how Bjorkman had "reinvented" himself. How instead of waiting for the boom to be lowered, he had laid the groundwork for a new career. How, after his $250,000 contract ran out, he'd have to get by on a vet tech's salary, which figured to be 35 grand, tops.

It was a nice human-interest tale and Bjorkman appreciated the attention. But knowing the ephemeral nature of the news business, he figured he'd had his moment. Time to go job hunting.

Not so fast.

ABC News had gotten wind of Bjorkman's "inspiring" story, and so, on Jan. 16, there he was with Susan, being interviewed in New York for 2 0/20. As it turned out, DeGeneres was watching. Which is why last week, Bjorkman was in his mountain home he owns (and is trying to sell) in South Fork, when the Ellen show called. How would Ernie like to fly to L.A?

As it turned out, he liked it fine.

"Ted Danson was my opening act," he quips, recounting his latest burst of media fame, which ran 8 minutes and 13 seconds on Wednesday's show. Although he admits he was "a little nervous" - he seemed short of breath for the first few minutes - Bjorkman thoroughly enjoyed himself, noting "I've had more publicity in the last two months than I got in the 26 years I was on TV in Denver."

Even better than the pub was DeGeneres' on-air offer to donate a year's supply of Halo pet food - a company she has an interest in - to the animal clinic that hired Bjorkman as a vet tech.

"That's a pretty good incentive, huh?" says Bjorkman with the tone of a man who knows he probably doesn't need the boost. You see, the day after he got back to Denver, he was already being interviewed for a job at a clinic in Colorado Springs. He feels pretty good about his chances there. Actually he feels pretty good about his chances in general.

Not only is he confident that his veterinary skills will land him a job, he's pretty sure he'll also have the chance to do some sporadic media work - industrial films, commercials, stuff for Arvada's community cable operation.

Whatever opportunities lurk for him, Bjorkman is convinced "I'm going to be happier than I've ever been before." Ministering to animals, following his passion has "given me a whole new power."

And the urge to move on.

"Now, that 2 0/20 is over with and the Ellen show is done, the last chapter is closed on one career," he says. "I'm a blank page ready for my future in the animal world. I'm looking forward to it."

But won't he miss the pub? He's flown to both coasts for TV gigs. How about the Midwest?

"Well, I haven't been on Oprah yet," he says, laughing, sounding like a man who's been having the time of his life being tossed about by a surreal whirlwind.

Comments

  • January 30, 2009

    10:10 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    Scott writes:

    Good luck Ernie. When I was able to catch the evening news, I always enjoyed watching you.

    There is a reason I don't watch FOX31 evening news. It's because of Ziphead Zappolo. The guy is a washed up sports broadcaster. I couldn't stand him when he was on KCNC broadcasting sports either.

    Scott

  • January 30, 2009

    10:28 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    jersey writes:

    Ernie: My man my man! You were the epitome of class and professionalism and I enjoyed your ride every step of the way. Been living here for over 28 years and have been spoiled. You set the bar to an incredible height. As for your wardrobe what can I say. 5th Ave., Madison Ave, Delancy St. and Rodeo Drive all rolled up into one. Your Tie collection must be immense. Being a fancier of fine attire myself, sans your deep pockets, I got just as much pleasure in anticipating what you would be donning as to your nightly newscast itself. Best of luck in your new career and you are dearly missed.

  • January 30, 2009

    11:45 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    redwhiteandBLUE writes:

    Ernie
    Our family watched you for many, many years.
    We enjoyed you very much, not to mention those piercing green eyes. :) Best Wishes in all you do.

  • January 30, 2009

    12:25 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    onthebeach writes:

    Ernie and I were reporters together at WSB-TV in Atlanta in the 70's. Ernie was/is an ethical, fair and extremely tough journalist.

    But he definitely has soft side to him. I don't if his passion for animals has been life-long, but there was a particular story he covered involving a kitten. If he reads this post, he'll know exactly what I'm talking about.

    Stations are dumping veteran journalists like Ernie at a fast clip as our television industry implodes.

    It doesn't surprise me Ernie would have prepared for his next life. I suspect he 'sensed' the coming tsunami. Great reporters make excellent psychics.

    Yes, Ernie's departure is a loss for Denver's tee-vee news ... but a lot animals will be saved by his skills and gentle nature.

    Good luck, pal.

    -- Andrew Shinnick