Meteorologist Goes Travis Bickle

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - According to ratings, Harvey Bozelle was the most popular, well respected Weatherman in the entire history of the Ten O'Clock News on Channel 62, WSDT TV Indianapolis. Until last Thursday night, that is. Reportedly tired of what he called "the venal, monotonous routine" and "abject lonliness" of his position as Chief Meteorologist he went live on air dressed in an alarmingly accurate representation of Robert DeNiro's character from Taxi Driver. Obviously agitated and likely high on all manner of chemical intoxicants he delivered a frighteningly aggressive rant to his undoubtedly stunned audience that began with, "Listen, you fuckers, you screwheads..." and ended with him screaming, while being dragged forcibly from the set by station security, "Someday a real rain will come and wash all this scum off the streets! And there's a 60 percent chance it'll be tomorrow!"

Co-workers, unaware that the normally mild mannered Bozelle even knew of the existence of the Martin Scorcese directed 1976 cult classic, were visibly shaken by the bizarre display. "I thought it was odd to see Harvey wearing an army green flak jacket, yes." Admitted Sue Ellen Colander co-anchor and hostess of the very successful annual charity telecast, Pilates For Indigents. "To be fair, though, no one saw the mohawk until he whipped off his knit cap about four seconds before broadcast. Honestly? I thought it had something to do with that permafrost report he'd been working on until all the wrestling and screaming started."

Affectionatley nicknamed "Boze" by those who knew and loved him, the twelve year broadcast veteran had reportedly never shown any significant instability during his tenure at WSDT. Station Manager Denny Sporgelomis, speaking on condition of anonymity, speaks highly of Bozelle's record. "Sure, there was the odd incident at a company Christmas party or two." said Mr. Sporgelomis, resident of 227 Gopher Drive, Greenwood, "But, hey, who hasn't crapped in a Weeping Fig in an office lobby or passed out cold between some elevator doors at one point in their life? Harvey was a good shit and, frankly, a very attractively hairy man. Don't quote me on that."

Fellow area Meteorologists and interested enthusiasts are more sympathetic to Mr. Bozelle's plight. Cliff Maidenbank, Senior Stormwatch Correspondent to WSPU's Six O'Clock News out of Fort Wayne advised caution when dealing with such slippery terrain as the mental welfare of television weather forecasters. "Most people don't even understand the monumental, crushing weight of the stress we are under in this business," he said during an interview at his halfway house during which he was visibly, sweatily agitated by even the most casual inquiry into the subject. "Can you even comprehend it? You, you stinking "journalists", you make up whatever you want and no one even cares. Us? We get things wrong and people want to stab us to death. A total stranger called me a lying cocksucker at a donut shop this morning. I live in a world of shit."

As for Harvey Bozelle, Indianapolis Police report that he was not, unlike the film embodiment of urban alienation and rage he was emulating, in possession of any weapons, nor was Jodie Foster in any way involved. In a brief statement, Sgt. Jack Knadian announced that the television personality would not be held on any actual charges despite public outcry from a smattering of offended eldery viewers and suggested that anyone concerned about his behaviour might want to consider watching another channel. Meanwhile, WSDT Senior Management declined to answer any quesions concerning Bozelle's return to the airwaves before a hard look at the ratings books but would not rule out punitive reassignment to the Midday Newscast.

Theories abound as to the motivation behind the televised outburst. Some suggest a nervous breakdown due to job related stress while others consider the notion that the event may been a case of staged performance art and that Bozelle was intending to pay homage to other seventies film classics in future forecasts including a pensive performance of Gene Hackman's saxaphone solo from The Conversation. All agree that there was nothing deliberately offensive in his actions and are hopeful that the previously reliable broadcaster's only real intent was to deliver a message to anyone who would listen that he was indeed "a man who would not take it anymore."

Harvey himself remains quiet, unresponsive to direct inquiries, but sources close to his situation report that he is currently at his home considering serious offers from a number of national networks.