Here's the scoop on the new TV anchorman

With Jeff Heitz, anchorman for WTOL-TV, Channel 11, heading into retirement after tonight's newscasts, it's time to get to know the new guy. Here then, is the dossier on Bill Hormann, who'll be sitting alongside Chrys Peterson at 6 and 11 p.m. starting tomorrow.

Full name: William Hormann, Jr. (no middle name).

Hometown: Baltimore.

Age: 38.

Zodiac sign: Gemini.

Education: Bachelor's degree in journalism, University of Maryland.

Marital status: Engaged.

Pets: Orange tabby cat named Dutch, age 14.

Renter or owner? Renter. A condo in Sylvania.

College football fave: Michigan. All my life.

Why TV journalism? I was watching TV news at 4 years old and always thought “I want to do that.” I'm a visual person.

Why Toledo? I interviewed at WTVG 10 years ago. They didn't hire me, but I always wanted to come back here. I like the Midwest and Toledo's sense of community.

Favorite TV news show: Hardball with Chris Matthews, CNBC.

Favorite network anchor: ABC's Peter Jennings because, “I like his conversational style and the depth of his knowledge and experience.”

Everyday reading: The Blade, the Washington Post, and the New York Times on the Internet, and the Drudge Report online.

Hours per day spent trawling the Internet: At least a couple.

Leisure reading: Books about the history of baseball, American politics, and American history.

The anchorman stereotype that most fits: Perfect hair. I'm a nut about my hair. I like every hair in its place. My secret is Suave hairspray.

Most disliked anchorman stereotype: That we're self-important and arrogant. I don't like anchors who act like they're they most important person in the newsroom.

Hormann: Begins as anchor at WTOL tomorrow.

Favorite word to say on the air: Eponymous.

Least favorite: Genre.

Hardest to pronounce: Rural.

You know the news director likes you when: He talks to you. I had one who didn't speak to me for 18 months. He fired me by letter delivered to my front door.

Worst on-air screw-up: I blew a live shot once. I didn't memorize it, and when I got on the air, I realized I forgot what I was supposed to say. I learned from that you have to know the story and tell it to the viewer as clearly as possible.

Ten years from now he hopes to be: Still working as the main anchor at WTOL.

Viewers would be surprised to know: I am painfully shy. I've found myself hiding behind potted plants at parties.

Song he sings most often in the shower: “Sweet Emotion” by Aero-smith.

What's on the CD player at home right now: Cole Porter. Harry Connick. Some '40s Big Band stuff.

Special skills: I make a mean spaghetti sauce, with cinnamon, mushrooms, oregano, fresh parsley, and garlic.

Biggest drawback of being locally famous: Anchors can never go to the complaint department.

Elaine Liner is The Blade's media editor. E-mail her at eliner@theblade.com. or call 1-419-724-6126.