Elegant dining, uproarious stories

WBIR new anchors Russell Biven and Abby Ham cracked up the audience -- and themselves --- at a recent Elegant Dining event.

WBIR news anchors Russell Biven and Abby Ham cracked up the audience — and themselves — at a recent Elegant Dining event.

Jeff Lee, the general manager of WBIR-TV Channel 10, took the podium at a recent Elegant Dining event to benefit the Knoxville Symphony. (He serves on the Symphony Board.)

“Many times you see people on TV and you think you know them,” Lee said to the group gathered for hors d’oeuvres and cocktails at the stunning lakefront home of Randy and Jenny Boyd. “But trust me. You really DO know these two!”

He was referring to the evening’s guests of honor, news anchors Abby Ham and Russell Biven. You may wake up in the morning to the pair as they anchor 10News Today, the station’s morning show, which goes on the air at 4:30 a.m.

Ham laughed that she and Biven are like the “bratty brother and sister” of a family, while WBIR’s evening anchors, Robin Wilhoit and John Becker, are “the very responsible parents.”

It’s clear that Ham and Biven, who have worked together since 2009, are a very close team. Ham said they are “soul mates.”

“I love you. Will you marry me?” she quipped to Biven. Actually, the two are very happily married — to other people.

The purpose of the evening was to hear some behind-the-scenes stories of the news business, and we heard some funny ones. Unfortunately, they can’t really be repeated here.

OK, maybe a couple can.

Russell breaks up.

Russell breaks up.

The station’s homespun agriculture reporter Neal Denton, who also works for the University of Tennessee Ag Extension Service, was reporting one time from the Tennessee Valley Fair. Unbeknownst to him, in the background as he gave his report, two cows began to have sex. When he heard people laughing, he turned around and saw what was going on. He was nonplussed. “Well, everybody has fun at the fair,” he deadpanned.

On another occasion, to celebrate Easter, two rabbits joined the reporting team on the anchor desk. During the newscast, well … Click here to see what happened.

That clip made the New York Daily News and Al Jazeera, among others!

It was a fun evening with the approachable down-to-earth pair and their hilarious tales.

The Elegant Dining series is a project of the Knoxville Symphony League, which supports the Knoxville Symphony by raising about $200,000 per year for the orchestra’s budget. Although the Elegant Dining series is winding down, the League does have another fun event coming up May 15. It’s dinner, wine pairings and fireworks at the Tellico Village Yacht Club. Also on the program: a Chamber Orchestra performance conducted by Concertmaster Gabriel Lefkowitz. Click here for info on that great evening and make plans to attend. I’m getting a table of eight.

From left, Christy and Jeff Lee, Abby Ham, Randy and Jenny Boyd, Russell Biven.

From left, Christy and Jeff Lee, Abby Ham, Randy and Jenny Boyd, Russell Biven.

Just look at this stunning view.

Just look at this amazing view.

Now THIS is an infinity pool!

Now THIS is an infinity pool!

Abby poses with Rose Moseley, left, and Harriet Hodge.

Abby poses with Rose Moseley, left, and Harriet Hodge.

Russell with the hosts, Randy and Jenny Boyd.

Russell with the hosts, Randy and Jenny Boyd.

From left, Bob and Becky Paylor, Elizabeth Grant and League President Edie Volk.

From left, Bob and Becky Paylor, Elizabeth Grant and League President Edie Volk.

Tom and Evelyn Shaw.

Tom and Evelyn Shaw.

John and Lauren Miller. (Lauren is with Moxley Carmichael and does a great job!)

John and Lauren Miller. (Lauren is with Moxley Carmichael and does a great job!)

Mary Cushman and Jim Wager.

Mary Cushman and Jim Wager.

Harvey and Sylvia Sproul.

Harvey and Sylvia Sproul.

Jo and Sid Blalock.

Jo and Sid Blalock.

It might have said hors d'oeuvres, but they were filling!

It might have said hors d’oeuvres, but they were filling!

Doug and Rochelle Veum.

Doug and Rochelle Veum.

The roses were blooming.

The roses were blooming.

Frank and Jane Venable.

Frank and Jane Venable.

From left, Elizabeth Offringa, Patricia Jobe and Rhonda Webster.

From left, Elizabeth Offringa, Patricia Jobe and Rhonda Webster.

From left, Alan Carmichael, me, Jeff and Christy Lee.

From left, Alan Carmichael, me, Jeff and Christy Lee.

Betsey Bush, center, with Rick and Mary Johnson.

Betsey Bush, center, with Rick and Mary Johnson.

Cathy Briscoe, left, and Joyce Simms.

Cathy Briscoe, left, and Joyce Simms.

A carving by the Makonde tribe.

A carving by the Makonde tribe.

The Boyds purchased this piece, carved out of one tree, in Tanzania. Members of the tribe carve images of people in the tribe into the wood. Isn’t it amazing?

Here's a closer look.

Here’s a closer look. The detail is incredible.

Click here for some more information about Makonde carvings.

The Boyds own a vineyard and winery in Argentina and I was excited to taste some of the wine from there.

The Boyds own a vineyard and winery in Argentina and I was excited to taste some of the wine from there.

If you come to the Symphony League’s wine event on May 15, you can taste some, too, thanks to the generosity of Randy and Jenny.

 

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6 Responses to Elegant dining, uproarious stories

  1. Becky Paylor, on May 2nd, 2016 at 6:32 pm said:

    It was such a wonderful evening with Russell and Abby. Of course it couldn’t have happened without Jeff Lee giving them permission to tell some of those stories and the beautiful Boyd home as a setting. Funny, funny night!

  2. Cynthia Moxley, on May 2nd, 2016 at 6:40 pm said:

    Becky: I agree! One of the best Elegant Dinings ever! Thanks so much to Abby, Russell, Jeff and the Boyds.

  3. Alan Carmichael, on May 2nd, 2016 at 11:17 pm said:

    Another nice evening for support of the Symphony thanks to the League, Randy and Jenny Boyd and Abby and Russell.

  4. Lauren Miller, on May 5th, 2016 at 9:55 am said:

    This was a fun event. We were genuinely laughing out loud the whole time.

  5. Bette Bryan, on May 5th, 2016 at 3:19 pm said:

    Sounds like a great evening and a beautiful setting….but I was a little confused – 2 COWS having s–? Don’t they know that there are cows and then there are bulls? But I guess they hadn’t spent much time on a farm. Just had to chuckle at some obvious “city slickers”. But, yes, funny stories!

  6. Cynthia Moxley, on May 5th, 2016 at 9:15 pm said:

    Bette: Hahaha! Good point! What’s going on with sex education today??

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