A decade after leaving Milwaukee for Washington D.C., native journalist Kidd O’Shea has returned to town he calls dwelling, becoming a member of TMJ4’s morning information crew as visitors anchor and neighborhood correspondent.
The Mequon native and Homestead Excessive College graduate started his broadcasting profession at age 16 with WKTI-FM in Milwaukee, the identical constructing the place TMJ4 nonetheless operates at present. His homecoming has been full of visits to acquainted faces and favourite locations that formed his early profession.
Watch: Visitors reporter Kidd O’Shea returns dwelling to his favourite locations and faces
New TMJ4 Visitors reporter, Kidd O’Shea, returns dwelling to his favourite locations and faces
O’Shea’s return tour started at Winkie’s in Whitefish Bay, the household enterprise the place he labored from age 6 to 13 as what he jokingly referred to as the “self-proclaimed supervisor of the decrease degree.” His mother and father are small enterprise homeowners who nonetheless function the shop.
“When he was very younger he might maintain prospects, as a result of he is at all times been actually good with individuals,” his mom mentioned throughout the reunion.
His father joked that O’Shea’s unofficial administration position had its challenges for different staff.
“You wouldn’t take any orders, and the opposite staff that had been really getting paid didn’t like that,” his father mentioned, laughing.
These early days on the household retailer included journeys to Chicago shopping for reveals together with his father, the place a pivotal second occurred at a museum. O’Shea and his dad recorded a faux newscast, an expertise that will spark his broadcasting goals.
“We acquired to put on jackets and fake we had been on TV,” O’Shea mentioned. “I might lie in mattress at evening and simply pray that we might do it once more.”
Earlier than leaving Milwaukee in 2015, O’Shea co-hosted “Kidd and Elizabeth within the Morning” on WMYX-FM (99.1 The Combine), a present celebrated a number of instances by the Wisconsin Broadcasters Affiliation because the Greatest Morning Present.
His decade in Washington D.C. included becoming a member of WJLA-TV’s “Good Morning Washington,” the place he delivered way of life and neighborhood stories protecting high-profile occasions like The Oscars, CMA Awards, and the Kennedy Middle Honors. His dedication to visibility throughout the LGBTQ neighborhood earned him recognition as Greatest Radio Persona and Greatest TV Persona by the Washington Blade in 2024.
As a journey correspondent, O’Shea linked viewers with over 20 worldwide locations, showcasing cultures from Iceland to Jordan and areas throughout Europe, Asia, and the Center East.
The return to Milwaukee has been full of observations about how town has modified throughout his absence.
“After a decade in D.C., which was unimaginable and superior, you overlook how good individuals are within the Midwest,” O’Shea mentioned. “You hear that on a regular basis, however I am going to even prime that and say individuals in Wisconsin are the nicest.”
His tour included stops at acquainted haunts, together with the Public Market the place he was an everyday buyer, visiting three to 4 days per week for a similar order: three floor beef tacos, “gringo model.” The proprietor instantly acknowledged him upon his return.
“He at all times comes for a similar factor! Tacos, however he can attempt one thing else,” the proprietor mentioned.
O’Shea additionally highlighted different Milwaukee favorites, together with Zaffiro’s pizza, which he referred to as “completely my favourite pizza.”
The homecoming would not be full with out visiting his former radio co-host, Elizabeth Kay, at The MIXX, the place they labored collectively doing morning radio earlier than his 2015 departure.
“It felt such as you had been at a sleepover along with your finest good friend and also you did not wish to go to mattress, like up all evening, there was by no means a scarcity of issues to speak about and say,” Kay mentioned about their on-air chemistry.
Kay had predicted Milwaukee would welcome O’Shea again with open arms.
“I mentioned Milwaukee, this metropolis, will embrace you whenever you come again, should you come again—and so they certain have, have not they?” Kay mentioned.
This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been transformed to this platform with the help of AI. Our editorial crew verifies all reporting on all platforms for equity and accuracy.
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