Bat dive-bombs morning TV newscast anchors in Tennessee

KNOXVILLE, TN -- Some morning TV newscast anchors got a jump-start to their day, when a live bat made a surprise appearance on their news set.

The bat guest starred Wednesday on 'Good Morning Tennessee,' the morning newscast for WATE in Knoxville. At about 5:45am, the bat emerged from whatever comfortable hiding place it had and dive bombed anchors Bo Williams and Tearsa Smith and meteorologist Julya Johnson.

The anchors managed to keep their seats, although there was some shrieking and ducking.

"I've never been dive bombed by an animal or attacked by an animal while on set," Williams said. "That was a little too close."

The station reported that the bat evaded capture for hours until a professional crew finally caught up with it. The bat was to be released in a wooded area.