Todd Tongen brought his unique style and warm personality to Local 10 in December 1989. Viewers have witnessed Todd bungee-jump, train with the Miami Dolphins, fly with the Air Force Thunderbirds, sky dive and train whales at the Miami Seaquarium.
His "10 Taxi" features were both innovative and popular. Using a 1967 Checker cab, Todd drove viewers through the story. Guests in the taxi included ABC Nightly News anchor Peter Jennings, comedians Dana Carvey, Joan Rivers and George Lopez, actors Vin Diesel, Eva Mendez, and "The Rock." He also had an assortment of characters and creatures in the cab's back seat, including a live alligator. Todd has since retired the taxi and is now taking his style to the weekend morning anchor desk.
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Todd began his broadcasting career in 1983 in a podunk Minnesota farm town. He started broadcasting on the airwaves as a radio disc jockey on KMRS-AM, a country and western station. Then he moved to Grand Junction, Colo., in 1984 to join KSTR-AM/FM, an adult contemporary station. A year later, he became a movie host and weatherman on KJCT-TV. From 1986 to 1989, Todd was a feature reporter and weatherman at KARK-TV in Little Rock, Ark., where he once ate crawfish with future President Bill Clinton.
Todd received the Associated Press Award for Best Weather Segment in 1988. In 1989, Todd received the Associated Press Award for Best Feature Report and in 1993, he made a special appearance on ABC's "Primetime Live" to report on Hurricane Andrew. In the same year, the New Times named Todd Best Weather Reporter. He said his Hurricane Andrew coverage remains his proudest professional achievement. Todd has also won an Emmy for Feature Reporting and has been nominated on six other occasions. Todd has appeared in several independent films and had a cameo on the ABC sitcom "Just Shoot Me."
Believe it or not, this fearless reporter has had some embarrassing moments. One that stands out in his mind has something to do with a bloody nose and a tiger with a bad bladder.
Todd is the proud father of two sons: Tyler and Ryker. He lives in Sunshine Ranches and enjoys a variety of sports including snow skiing, mountain biking, roller-blading, scuba diving and horesback riding.
His registered quarter horse is now a Miami-Dade police officer. His wife, Karen, owns two German warmblood hunter/jumpers and is teaching both boys to ride. He also has two dogs and two barn cats.
In addition, Todd is an avid fan of blues music and says his favorite restaurant is Marola's in Cooper City.
You can e-mail Todd here.