WHEN TERRORISTS leveled the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, many Seattle TV viewers got the bad news from a familiar face—CNN’s Aaron Brown.

A recent recruit to the cable network after a decade with ABC News, Brown was a longtime Seattle anchor for both KING-TV and KIRO-TV. His Sept. 11 stand-ups got him noticed in a big way nationally—Los Angeles Times TV critic Howard Rosenberg labeled him “the steadiest man on television” and “a French horn in an industry dominated by kazoos.” Kay McFadden of The Seattle Times wasn’t as impressed, calling him “less than commanding.” Brown himself credits former colleague Peter Jennings with advising him to “be measured all the time [and] don’t get ahead.”

Incidentally, Brown’s serious style didn’t always go over well with co-workers in the happy-talk world of Seattle TV, where he’s still not so fondly remembered by some as “Arrogant Aaron.”

James Bush jbush@seattleweekly.com