When live news shots turn bad

KTNV-TV, Channel 13, reporter Steve Ryan's live shot-gone-bad is all over the national news.

CNN's Anderson Cooper featured Ryan's run-in with an overly persistent, intoxicated man as the "shot of the day."

MSNBC's hard-shelled Keith Olberman aired it and quipped, "I feels your pain."

Video of the incident is popping up all over: YouTube.com, TMZ.com, Fox News, DListed.com, AOL.com and Gawker.com.

Ryan, 30, had just started his report on reaction to the death of Michael Jackson from Fremont Street on June 25 when a heavyset man with a drink in hand began manhandling the reporter.

Seconds into the report, it was clear Ryan, an ex-cop, anticipated trouble. Ryan started moving away as the man approached and tried to grab the reporter.

Several times the man made the hand-to-throat signal, the universal sign to cut.

The intruder tried to grab the mic. He yanked at the ISB box on Ryan's belt, a device that allows a reporter to hear the anchor feed. Ryan did his best to fend off the man during the 50-second confrontation.

Had the troublemaker gained possession of the mic, KTNV-TV could have faced a fine from the Federal Communications Commission for indecent language.

Just before the cutaway as the struggle intensified, Ryan was seen striking the man in the face. When the feed was tossed back to the 6 p.m. telecast, co-anchors Tricia Kean and Nina Radetich were seen reacting with open-mouthed astonishment.

By the next day, video of the live skirmish had gone viral.

Ryan deferred comment to management.

Jim Prather, vice president and general manager of the ABC affiliate, said Ryan "was doing his best to complete his live broadcast report in unusual circumstances. He continues to work for KTNV. Beyond that, we do not comment on personnel matters."

Ryan's peers had mixed reactions.

"I actually had sympathy for him," said a reporter at a competing station. "We've all been in that position where someone won't leave you alone. But I wouldn't have reacted the way he did. The guy was clearly belligerent, but in today's society, you just don't put your hands on somebody else. You don't know if they've got a gun or a knife."

The reporter added, "I thought the photographer and producer were at fault. I tell my photographers to shoot at the ceiling. The director should have seen there was a problem."

Another veteran reporter called Ryan's physical response a "rookie" mistake. "Reporters have to maintain a professional demeanor. ... His life wasn't at risk."

THE SHOW MUST GO ON

Oscar-winning actor Jamie Foxx had a major challenge last week with the death of Jackson.

Producers of the BET Awards decided to turn Sunday's show into a tribute to Jackson, and revamped it in three days.

Foxx, the host, told the Mark and Mercedes morning show at KMXB, 94.1 FM, that he had to learn the dance steps to "Beat it" by watching it on YouTube.com.

Using Jackson's music presented another obstacle.

They could not play any music from a CD, Foxx said, because they could not get the licensing cleared.

"To those grading the show very hard, please grade on a curve, and if anything was out of pocket, you can put it on me," said Foxx, who is performing at the Hard Rock Hotel tonight and Saturday.

Foxx also revealed that he and Martin Lawrence are working on a movie based on their famous characters of obese black ladies Sha Na Na and Wanda.

Foxx played Wanda in the popular 1990s sketch comedy show "In Living Color," and Lawrence played Sha Na Na, his alter ego in his TV sitcom "Martin."

MAY I RECOMMEND ...

Fourth of July fireworks will illuminate the Las Vegas Valley on Saturday, from Lake Las Vegas, throughout the suburbs and over the Strip. Caesars Palace is launching at 9 p.m., and Station Casinos' nine-property show blasts off at 9:30 p.m. (from Aliante Station, Boulder Station Fiesta Henderson, Green Valley Ranch, Palace Station, Red Rock Resort, Santa Fe Station, Sunset Station and Texas Station/Fiesta Rancho. The second annual American Pie 4th of July at Fremont Street Experience starts with entertainment at 6 p.m. and includes a virtual fireworks show on the Viva Vision canopy. For a red, white and water experience, there's the $20 fireworks yacht cruise at Lake Las Vegas. Boarding of the 80-foot La Contessa begins at 6:45 p.m. for a 7 p.m. cocktail hour. The cruise begins at 8 p.m., with fireworks at 9 p.m. Limited space. Cruise reservations: 702-856-0078.

THE PUNCH LINE

"The past couple of years there have been a whole bunch of scandals involving governors. You know things are bad when the most normal governor of the last decade was Jesse 'The Body' Ventura." -- Craig Ferguson

Norm Clarke can be reached at (702) 383-0244 or norm@reviewjournal.com. Find additional sightings and more online at www.normclarke.com.