Reggie Aqui
More on those stories in a moment...but we start with my resume. We'll keep this short because that Margaret Cho story is good.
Reggie Aqui is an anchor for ABC7 Mornings. He came to the station in October 2015 after anchoring at KGW-TV in Portland, Oregon. Prior to that, he worked for CNN in Atlanta as an anchor for the network's streaming news service, CNN.com Live and as a freelance anchor for CNN International. At CNN.com, he anchored CNN/Facebook coverage of President Obama's inauguration, at the time the most viewed streaming event. He also extensively covered the 'Arab Spring' uprising and the Japanese Tsunami disaster on CNN International. On CNN U.S. he reported from Virginia Tech's campus after the nation's deadliest school shooting and traveled to breaking news across the country from wildfires in California to record snowfalls in upstate New York. He began his career in Green Bay, Wisconsin at WLUK, followed by WDJT in Milwaukee and KHOU in Houston, Texas. He is a graduate of the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University.
Okay, back to Margaret Cho. I took a stand-up comedy class that ended with a show in front of family and friends. When I walked in the door, Margaret Cho was there. I was stunned and told her I was about to do my graduation set and she said, "Oh, I know. I'm going to perform right after you." She took pity on me and laughed at my jokes. It was the best $5 cover my friends ever spent.
Dolly Parton remains the favorite interview of my career. She surprised me live on CNN.com with a proposal to sing a duet. We sang 'Islands in The Stream' and I will never do anything cooler in my whole life.
Finally... a 6'4 mouse? I saved up for college by working at Chuck E. Cheese in high school. Mostly I did birthday party hosting but sometimes they would need me to wear the costume. It's as awkward as it sounds.
If this news thing doesn't work out I still know all the words to Chuck E.'s birthday song. Okay, back to business.
Reggie Aqui lives in San Francisco with his husband Phil and their beagle-mix, Woodstock. He is obsessed with Disney theme parks and is finally okay admitting it now that he works for a station owned by the Walt Disney Company.
Reggie's Stories
'A Strange Loop' musical coming to San Francisco
"A Strange Loop" won the Pulitzer Prize even before it got to Broadway -- it's based on a frustrated writer working as a "Lion King" usher writing a musical about being a "Lion King" usher. We talked to the creator about the show here:
ATM found ripped out, smashed in front of last remaining Walgreens store in SF's Mission district
San Francisco police are looking suspects who ripped out an ATM at a Walgreens store in San Francisco.
ABC7 archival film sheds light on earliest known 'gay liberation' uprising in US
A striking find in itself, historians now say this video may document the period of time before and after a riot in San Francisco that predated the Stonewall Uprising in New York.
SF's D'Arcy Drollinger included in Out's most impactful, influential LGBTQ+ people of 2023
Out100 announces 2023's most impactful and influential LGBTQ+ people including San Francisco's very own D'Arcy Drollinger.
Bay Area author Mac Barnett, illustrator Shawn Harris release new children's graphic novel
Bestselling author Mac Barnett and Caldecott Honor winning illustrator Shawn Harris appeared on "ABC7@7" to talk about the book, their friendship, and how they're hiring ABC7's Reggie Aqui to do their audiobook.
Hot tips to help you get the most out of your Beyoncé Renaissance World Tour experience
Beyoncé is heading to Levi's Stadium and her tour is truly one of one. It's the only one. It's UNIQUE! This is what you need to know before you experience the Renaissance World Tour.
Queer author tackles real stages of grief in 'I'm Never Fine: Scenes & Spasms on Loss'
If you've ever lost someone close to you, you'll hear it from therapists, clergy members and friends -- And it's totally unhelpful.
Pixar's new film 'Elemental' brings wonder, humor and romance together
You can watch "Elemental" only in theaters starting June 16.
New memoir 'Leg' explores gay pride and how author didn't know he had cerebral palsy until he was 30
Growing up with a disability is one thing. Growing up with a disability that has been kept secret from you for decades while you deal with being gay, have a mom going through chemotherapy and a father dying of ALS... Is. On. Another. Level.
'Hope for Ryan White': Book introduces us to teen who contracted HIV after hemophilia procedure
This Pride month, we're highlighting LGBTQ authors who are releasing new books about their communities and the issues affecting them. Dano Moreno is our first writer in the series. Learn about his debut children's book, "Hope For Ryan White."