WFAA-TV The unidentified man ran in front of Bert Lozano's live shot. Also Online
Watch an edited version of the report
TiVo users were busy pressing rewind Sunday night, following Channel 8's 10 o'clock news report on The Colony's wildfires.
As WFAA-TV reporter Bert Lozano was describing the dry grass conditions on live television, a naked man ran between the camera and Lozano. The streaker appeared on screen for just slightly more than one second.
"He came out of nowhere," Lozano said. "We figured the man was hiding in the bushes and decided to show his stuff. We think he had been given a cue from nearby residents that we were filming there."
"I thought about putting my hand over the lens, but it was all over in a split second, so I decided to continue with my introduction," Lozano added. "The show has to go on."
WFAA-TV's executive news director, Michael Valentine, issued an apology for what happened and said the station will cooperate with any police investigation.
"The station's reporters take every precaution to control the environment of their live shots, but some situations can't be anticipated," he said.
"We can't control the actions of those who want to purposely disrupt a newscast."
Channel 8 was inundated with calls and e-mails Monday from viewers asking if they really saw what they thought they saw.
"Was that a naked guy blowing an air horn and running past during the piece about the wildfires in The Colony?" wrote Lisa Smith. "I am a teacher and a mom, I can do a lot of things at once, but I had to make sure I am not going crazy."
"Did I just see a naked person run across my TV set? It brings back memories of the sport of the 70s," wrote another viewer.
Streaking became an international phenomenon in the mid-1970s. In 1974, a naked man flashed a peace sign as he ran behind actor David Niven during a live broadcast of the Academy Awards. "The only laugh that man will ever get in his life is by stripping... and showing his shortcomings," Niven quipped.
More recently, a naked man ran on the field during the halftime ceremonies at Super Bowl XXXVIII in Houston.
"People have been taking this with a sense of humor. Nobody is complaining," said Channel 8's assignments editor Carlos Rosales, who has been fielding some of the calls about Sunday night's incident.
Police said the man could face public indecency and public lewdness charges.
"It was certainly the most interesting live shot in my 11-year television career," Lozano said.