Kopi Sotiropulos left his television career on Friday, not in the Hawaiian shirt, shorts and sneakers that were the Fresno weatherman’s signature look, but in a plaid sports jacket, lapels extra wide.
It almost seemed like a statement piece, but such was the style when Sotiropulos first wore the jacket on air for KMPH in the early 1970s.
The station was just a family-owned upstart at that point. It wasn’t even doing news yet.
But it did have some local programming and commercials. And Sotiropulos.
Five decades later, Kopi (as he’s become known to viewers) left the station as one of Fresno’s best-known TV personalities — a Hollywood actor-turned-local-weatherman-turned-morning-show-host, known for embedding himself into the community and for his “exclusive 10-day forecasts.”
Great Day dedicated a full hour of Friday morning’s broadcast to highlighting all-things Kopi, showing some of his early commercial clips and weather segments (sans toupee), plus interviewing past co-workers, friends and family. Kim Stephens (currently helming the station’s evening newscast) made a rare morning appearance to say goodbye.
The station dedicated its main studio as Kopi Studio A.
The whole thing culminated with one final “excluuuuusive 10-day forecast.”
Mr. Fresno needs no introduction
“If you’re not already watching FOX26 … you might want to right now,” longtime fan Sam Hansen wrote in a post on Instagram as the broadcast was happening. Hansen worked with the Fresno Grizzlies when Kopi won the baseball team’s Fresno Famous Bracket Challenge in 2016. That earned him the right to design an on-field jersey for the team. It was Hawaiian-themed, obviously.
“Truly the end of an era,” Hansen wrote. “Thank you, Kopi. You made generations of us feel connected every morning. You are one of — if not thee — biggest icons of Central California culture.
“We may no longer see you on our televisions, but I know you will stay rooted in our community. You didn’t just report stories — you became part of ours … and that’s why I know your impact will never sign off, but live on forever in legacy.”
Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer expressed similar feelings at Thursday’s council meeting, when he presented Kopi with a proclamation from the city. “It is my honor now to be able to bring up Mr. Fresno,” Dyer said. “He needs no introduction. You’ve all watched him for decades upon decades.”
The mayor praised Kopi for his humor, for doing the weather like “no one else in the nation” and for making himself available to the community by visiting schools and taking part in the city’s cultural events. “I’ll say this about Kopi: Everyday he puts a smile on your face. He makes you laugh, and he helps you have a better day.”
Kopi accepted the proclamation with a speech of his own, which he ended with a wave, a tagline and a joke.
“By the way,” he said, waving his hand above his head.
“Have a great day.”
Then, after some quick applause; “I get a quarter every time I say it.”
Note: Bee reporter Joshua Tehee is featured in a Great Day segment weekly on Friday mornings.
This story was originally published March 27, 2026 at 3:28 PM.
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Joshua Tehee covers breaking news for The Fresno Bee, writing on a wide range of topics from police, politics and weather, to arts and entertainment in the Central Valley.