Popular Vegas weatherman Kevin Janison takes on a KTNV tryout

The weekly forecast of the Las Vegas media landscape shows an unexpected gust.

Kevin Janison is back on the air.

The massively popular (and recently retired) Vegas weatherman is joining the KTNV Channel 13 broadcast team this week. Janison is paired with anchor Tricia Keen at 5, 6 and 11 p.m. through Thursday.

“We’re feeling it out to see if this leads to something more than just this week,” Janison said Monday. “But so far, everyone at the station has been very welcoming.”

Janison left KSNV Channel 3 on New Year’s Eve, ending a 15-year run at the Vegas NBC affiliate. Prior to that, he was at KLAS Channel 8. At the time, Janison said he wanted to achieve better balance in his life. He said on-air, “It’s a good chance this is the last weather cast I’ll ever be involved with. At some point, I will formulate exactly what I want to say as to why.”

On Monday, Janison played “gotcha” with himself, re-posting his farewell video from December on Twitter. “Tough to nail every forecast,” he posted, adding, “Just filling in for a few days,” along with a favored hashtag, #Rewiring.

I guess I did say this in December. Tough to nail every forecast. Unbeknownst to me at the time.... JUST KIDDING. See you tonight, up the dial on Channel 13, hopefully with some t-storms. (Just filling in for a few days) @KTNV #Rewiring pic.twitter.com/ASl5ervgB2

— Kevin Janison (@KevinJanison) July 25, 2022

Two KTNV broadcasters left the station after Friday’s shows. Veteran Vegas anchor Dave Courvoisier stepped down to return to his wife, Victoria, in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, closing out his 30-year career on local TV. Meteorologist Dani Beckstrom is also leaving the station, for a position at WABC in New York. Beckstrom spent three years at KTNV.

A bit further back, lead anchor Todd Quinones also left the station last month to start the media consulting company HCue with former KTNV reporter Yasmeen Hassan. General Manager Chris Way and news director Nancy Bauer left the station at the beginning of June. Incoming Vice President and General Manager Jeff Kiernan, late of WXYZ and WMYD in Detroit, was due to begin his stint at the station Monday.

Janison is taking the temperature of his new environment before committing to any extended stay.

“I’m starting to look down the road and at some other commitments before figuring it out,” the weatherman said. “But so far, it feels good to be back.”

What works in Vegas …

Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. Valli drew a strong crowd at the Smith Center’s Reynolds Hall on Saturday. He seized the opportunity to break the news that he’ll be headlining International Theater at Westgate Las Vegas on March 10-11. Valli, 88, is the rare headliner who can refer to 79-year-old Barry Manilow as “kid.” Tickets are onsale 10 a.m. Friday at westgateresorts.com.

Their hearts will go on

Spoiler alert: Celine Dion’s team offers no comment about the following note.

“Titanique” opens a limited run Tuesday at AsylumNYC comedy club in New York. This is a titanic skewering of the legendary film, and also of the legendary Vegas headliner. The show promises “a musical celebration that turns one of the greatest love stories of all time into a hysterical and joyful slay-fest.” The New York Times reports, “Near, far, wherever you are, Celine Dion will be there in this sendup, which doubles down on Titanic and Celine Dion as MODERN CAMP ICONS!” Vulture says, “Swim, don’t walk, to see this Celine Dion jukebox fantasia!”

We hope Dion has an answer when she opens at Resorts World Theatre, hopefully this fall.

Cool Hang Alert

Sax specialist Justin Young kicks it up at Notoriety Live’s Robin Leach Lounge the last Sunday of every month, including this one. He’s at 2 p.m. this weekend, with guest vocalist Rachel Oliver Cobbin of Atlantic Starr. Tickets are $25, $35, $45 (not including fees), go to NotorietyLive.com for details. And drop Dave Koz’s name, if only just to fit in.

John Katsilometes’ column runs daily in the A section. His “PodKats!” podcast can be found at reviewjournal.com/podcasts. Contact him at jkatsilometes@reviewjournal.com. Follow @johnnykats on Twitter, @JohnnyKats1 on Instagram.