A routine weather update on the streets of West Hartford turned into one of the first viral news moments of 2026 yesterday when FOX61 reporter K. Patty Foot found herself in an impromptu skirmish with a local mascot. What started as a serious segment on the January 19 winter storm quickly dissolved into on-air chaos, leaving viewers in stitches and the reporter ducking for cover.
The Segment That Went Sideways
It was supposed to be a standard live shot covering the 3 inches of snow that blanketed Hartford County on Monday morning. Foot, broadcasting live from a snowy West Hartford center, was updating anchors Bridgette Bjorlo and Brendan Mackey on road conditions following the overnight storm. After delivering the necessary safety warnings about slick roads and parking bans, Foot decided to lighten the mood.
"We're going to do something fun," Foot announced to the camera, introducing a surprise guest: 'Joe the Faux Dog,' a local mascot known for community events. The plan was innocent enough—a lighthearted demonstration of winter fun to cap off the report.
Rules of Engagement: Ignored
Before the first snowball was thrown, Foot attempted to set strict ground rules for the engagement. "I gave him the rules, I said nothing in the face," she told the audience, gesturing to her face. "This is the money maker. So anything else is fair game."
Unfortunately for the FOX61 reporter, Joe the Faux Dog had a different interpretation of "fair game." As soon as the countdown hit zero, the mascot launched a flurry of pre-packed snowballs, completely disregarding the "no-face-hit" treaty. The segment instantly devolved from a choreographed bit into a desperate scramble for survival, with Foot shrieking and dodging as the mascot pressed the attack.
"Watch Your Back, K!"
The studio anchors could barely contain their laughter as the feed showed their colleague being pummeled by the fuzzy aggressor. "Oh my gosh!" Bjorlo exclaimed as one snowball made partial contact with the forbidden zone. The blooper, which aired live around 6:45 AM, immediately began circulating on social media platforms, tagged with #HartfordNewsBlooper and #SnowballSabotage.
A Viral Winter Storm Moment
By Tuesday morning, the clip had garnered thousands of views, joining the ranks of classic Connecticut winter storm funny moments. Viewers praised Foot for her good-natured reaction to the ambush. Despite the freezing temperatures—which hovered in the teens with wind chills dipping near zero—the unscripted moment provided a warm laugh for residents digging out from the weekend's accumulation.
Foot returned to the air later in the broadcast, slightly disheveled but smiling, to finish her report. "I'm waiting to see the memo tomorrow morning," she joked on-air. "Please no snowball fights when you're out doing live shots in the snow, per management: too dangerous."
Context: January 2026 Winter Weather
The humorous incident occurred against the backdrop of a busy winter weather pattern for Connecticut. The January 19 storm brought accumulating snow to much of the state, with West Hartford recording approximately 2.8 to 3.0 inches. While the roads were cleared quickly by public works crews, the icy conditions and frigid temperatures made for a treacherous commute—facts that were momentarily forgotten as viewers watched a mascot reign supreme in a snowball fight.
As for Joe the Faux Dog, his career as a weather field correspondent may be short-lived, but his aim will certainly be remembered. For K. Patty Foot, it was just another day in the unpredictable world of live local news.
