Maria Genero WGRZ 2 Weather

Maria Genero is doing the weather now for WGRZ 2.

Updated: July 28, 2009, 9:19 AM

Maria Genero has been doing the weather morning, noon, night and weekends on Channel 2 lately, so it is time to clear up her cloudy situation. She confirms that she has signed a two-year contract with the NBC affiliate to do the weather on a part-time basis.

“It’s a perfect fit,” said Genero. “Permanent part-time. I couldn’t be happier.”

In essence, she is getting the open spot of full-timer Chesley McNeil, who left Channel 2 to join a sister Gannett station in Atlanta.

Channel 2 saves half a salary in the new weather department organization. Andy Parker, a full-timer who had been the primary weather backup, took over for McNeil in the mornings. Autumn Lewandowski is a part-timer doing weekends. Kevin O’Connell, a full-timer, remains the lead weather anchor. As a part-timer, Genero will do weekend mornings and fill in when the three other staffers are on vacation or off.

“A little of me goes a long way,” cracked Genero. “I’m like Tabasco sauce.”

The broadcasting veteran returned to Western New York to become a Channel 7 anchor in 2001 after working in the large markets of Miami, Los Angeles and New York. She left Channel 7 in 2003, took some time off and began working at Channel 2 a few years ago. She noted that she never really left Channel 2, having stayed as a producer of the Saturday morning program “WNY Living” after Janet Snyder replaced her on the air.

After leaving as the host of “Living,” Genero went to work—part-time again— for the Buffalo Sabres as a feature reporter for a magazine program that aired first on its Web site and later on Channel 2. Her status with the Sabres is unclear.

“If they need me to do features, I’m there for them,” said Genero. “It will also be on a part-time capacity.”

A former Channel 4 weekend weathercaster, Genero’s return to weather here more than a decade after she had the same role at a Los Angeles station wasn’t initially her idea. She said she was approached about applying for the job by Channel 2 General Manager Jim Toellner.

“I said, ‘Are you sure? Are you sure?’ He said ‘I am sure, give it a shot and see what you think.’ ”

She admits the first time she returned to do weather was “pretty scary.”

“I was pretty nervous,” said Genero. “I still feel some nerves when I get out there. But I enjoy it because there’s some freedom to it that you don’t have in news in any other role.”

By that, she means she can ad-lib during happy talk with co-anchors.

“People were surprised to see me back doing weather,” said Genero. “But they remembered, I think.”

Things went well enough for Toellner to eventually offer her the part-time job. It’s a category that will be more appealing to stations in these difficult economic times.

“The moment we put her on the air we got a lot of positive feedback from the community,” said Toellner. He added Genero also tested “very, very positively” in focus groups.

There are perks with working part-time, like being able to take your birthday off as Genero did last week. She is in her mid-40s.

“I’m happy, I’m healthy and I’m celebrating,” said Genero, who is in the financial position to be able to work part-time in TV and do a few other things outside the business.

“I’ve worked [in broadcasting] for 22 years,” said Genero. “I’ve saved my money and I don’t live big.”

Does Genero feel fortunate to land a job at the same time stations around the country and here are laying people off?

“What do you think?” replied Genero. “Of course, I am.”