DATE: Monday, September 22, 1997            TAG: 9709220069

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B2   EDITION: FINAL 

                                            LENGTH:   94 lines

WHATEVER HAPPENED TO...

After working as a weatherman for WTKR-TV Channel 3 for more than 35 years, Andy Roberts retired from the station in 1992. But he's still working.

Fans of Andy Roberts may not be able to see him on TV anymore, but they can still hear from him.

That's because Roberts continues to do voice-overs for a number of television and radio commercials broadcast both locally and nationally.

Most recently, Roberts could be heard pitching for the Rally's fast-food chain in a commercial played during the Emmy Awards broadcast earlier this month. Recent spots for the pain reliever ``Icy Hot'' also feature his voice.

``I've done no television since'' leaving WTKR in 1992, Roberts said. ``That's been great.''

Roberts' time at Channel 3 wasn't spent only forecasting the weather. He had his own singing program, called ``The Andy Roberts Show,'' for a couple years. He also served as a booth announcer and director.

Weather forecasting changed a lot during his tenure, but Roberts said he managed to keep up with constantly advancing technologies.

``When I started out, we used to have a map on a piece of paper and a felt pen to draw on it. With the computers we have today, the presentation of weather is so far advanced now.''

Roberts began recording commercials about 30 years ago, for Studio Center in Norfolk. He continues to record for the same studio and goes in just about every day to work for at least an hour or two, he said.

Born and raised in Hampton, Roberts now lives in Virginia Beach with his wife, Dottie. They have been married 43 years and have three children and three grandchildren.

Roberts still is recognized frequently by former viewers; he describes those times as ``very flattering.''

``A young man came up to me the other day and said, `You're Andy Roberts, aren't you? I sure do miss you.'

``That was really nice.''

Chris Bailey was a popular but often controversial morning disc jockey in Hampton Roads from 1985 to 1992, when he did the ``Z104 Morning Zoo'' show on FM 104.5. Now he's doing something different. Completely different.

Chris Bailey ended his 20-year radio career a couple of years ago and moved his family back to their old home in the upscale Broad Bay section of Virginia Beach.

Always one to enjoy surprising and shocking people, Bailey chose a second career that has proved to be surprising and shocking - he's the owner and manager of four area medical clinics, he said. Two of the clinics specialize in cosmetic surgery, the other two in weight loss.

``Yeah, it's quite a departure from what I was doing. But I want to assure people: I'm not doing any of the surgeries or treatments. I leave that to the doctors.''

Bailey left Hampton Roads in 1992 and headed for Baltimore, where he worked briefly as a DJ for another morning show.

``They were conservative, and they weren't ready for someone like me. To give you an idea of just how conservative they were, the owner was good friends with Jesse Helms.''

When Bailey said the word ``orgasm'' on the show, he was fired, he said. ``Apparently, the company doesn't have them,'' Bailey said with a chuckle.

He then moved to a station in San Antonio, Texas. And although he had more freedom to say what he wanted, he still felt he was being held back.

``It's just not the same anymore,'' he said of the radio business. Station owners ``started saying, `Don't do this, do this; don't say that, say this.' The fun just kind of went out of it.''

Bailey and his wife, Linda, and their 12-year-old daughter, Danielle, missed Virginia Beach. So they moved back to their old home, which they had been leasing since they left.

Bailey said he decided to get involved in the cosmetic surgery and weight loss business because they seemed to be booming in the 1990s. The weight loss center - Virginia Medical - has offices in Virginia Beach and Richmond. The cosmetic surgery centers - Virginia Surgical - are adjacent to the weight loss clinics. They also specialize in hair removal and restoration and tattoo removal.

Bailey often meets with potential clients to discuss procedures they are interested in. ``It's fun,'' he said. ``I'm still in the people business, and I enjoy that.''

Many prospective clients remember Bailey from his radio days. ``They always ask me what I'm doing here and why I'm not on the air.'' MEMO: Correspondent Jane Harper researched and wrote this report.

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Former weatherman Andy Roberts

Former disc jockey Chris Bailey.

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