An Era Has Ended as Jim Gardner Does His Final 11 o'clock Newscast of Action News as 6ABC Names Rick Williams the 11 pm Anchor

Action News news anchor Jim Gardner broadcasts his final 11:00pm broadcast on Channel 6 Action News (WPVI-TV) Philadelphia. The anchor, who has been at the station for over four decades, will officially retire at the end of 2022. Until then he will anchor the 6 pm show. His replacement at 11, will be Rick Williams, who has been anchoring the 5 pm newscast and reporting news at the station himself for over three decades.

One of the best news teams that has ever been assembled in television history. Their consistent formula is simple. Don't change your news team every one or two years. The turnover of 6ABC news anchors and reporters is minimal. They all feel like members of your family. They have been the top rated news station for what seems like forever. They don't miss a beat as they seamlessly transition from Gardner to Williams.


Gardner was featured on the new ABC sitcom Abbott Elementary which is set in Philadelphia. (Note: Jim Gardner would never appear on TV during the daytime, but don't let details such as that get in the way of a good story.)

One more time for @Jim_Gardner as he steps away from the 11 pm news. My absolute favorite clip. 👏🏾 pic.twitter.com/rHP6OwOSis

— O.J. Spivey (@OJPhilly) January 11, 2022

#BREAKING: Rick Williams has been named anchor of the 11 p.m. newscast, beginning Jan. 12, 2022. Williams will replace the legendary Jim Gardner, who is stepping down from the role in 2022. MORE INFO: https://t.co/4fIlPLoI88 pic.twitter.com/KWCdZerWla

— Action News on 6abc (@6abc) January 11, 2022

April 1988: WPVI hires 27 year old @rickwilliams6 as general-assignment reporter.

January 2022: Rick Williams is named the new 11pm anchor of 6abc. pic.twitter.com/NTyfZeLkFw

— David Grzybowski (@DavidGrzyTV) January 11, 2022

Update: 1/12/ Jim Gardner 

Here’s @Jim_Gardner final 11pm newscast send off. (Video via 6abc) pic.twitter.com/tlWsSq6wPp

— David Grzybowski (@DavidGrzyTV) January 12, 2022

Final part. Nice moment to have Rick Williams on the set at the end of the newscast. 11pm anchor chair was officially passed on. pic.twitter.com/6iWRFA2cch

— David Grzybowski (@DavidGrzyTV) January 12, 2022

Gardner has categorically denied years ago that Will Ferrell's Ron Burgundy character in the movie Anchorman was based on him. But it sure looks like it.

Yep...Ron Burgundy was definitely based on Philly ABC 6 anchor Jim Gardner. pic.twitter.com/dCymCdqE9N

— Matt Michaels (@MattyMike0718) May 26, 2018