Sonny's been making Detroiters smile about the weather for years. Unlike any other in the country, Eliot's weathercasts are a mixture of fast-paced humor, bits of far-out philosophy, one liners, improbable analogies and similes, and, not to be overlooked, easy-to-understand weather forecasts. The National Association of TV Program Executives has named his witty reports the nation's best.

Born and raised in Detroit, Eliot attended Central High School and Wayne State University where he received a B.A. degree in English and an M.A. in Mass Communication. It was at WSU that he began his broadcasting career as an actor in several University dramatic productions. He also appeared on network radio shows The Lone Ranger, The Green Hornet, and Challenge of the Yukon. On stage, he appeared at Will-O-Way Playhouse, The Sun Parlor Playhouse in Leamington, Ontario opposite George C. Scott, and Detroit's Northland Playhouse and Vanguard Theatre.

During World War II, Eliot was a B-24 bomber pilot when he was shot down over Germany and spent the next 18 months as a prisoner of war. While in captivity he lifted the morale of the other prisoners by staging original skits and revues. He holds the rank of Colonel in the U.S. Air Force Reserve and was named Air Force Liaison Officer for the 1st Congressional District.

Some of the many awards and citations Eliot received include the Sloan Award for his traffic safety tips at WDIV, citations by the American Legion and American Meteorological Society, and the Toastmaster International Award. The Michigan Association of Broadcasters has awarded him with the Broadcast Excellence Award in the Broadcast Personality or Team Category for Best of Category for "Sonny Eliot, 11/20/98".

In spite of his busy schedule and personal appearances, Sonny still has time for his hobbies, which include co-owning and piloting his own plane -- a Cessna 210. He also enjoys reading and has even authored his own book entitled Eliot's Ark. The book is a delightful collection of fact and fiction on animals, both friends and foes of man. He also writes book reviews for the Detroit Free Press, with an occasional magazine article. You can hear Sonny Monday through Friday at 4:20pm and 5:20pm. For several years he was also Marketing Services and Promotion Director for The Detroit News. Sonny and his wife, Annette, an Educator of Note, reside in Farmington Hills.