Saturday 415 Media Coffee Shop; Shields Passing at KRON; The Fake Anchor 'Concern' Over No Rain; Drex And Karel Downside/Upside

 Never met Brian Shields--KRON's digital manager passed away suddenly on Friday--I'm told he was a real nice guy--nobody deserves to die at 53.

According to a staffer at KRON, he was well-liked and free-spirited. Oh, and he was terrific at his gig.

"Lots of people are just shocked," offered one worker.

Life is cruel.

*It's been mentioned here several times but I have to mention it again: The faux look of concern by anchor as the weatherman says no rain. First off, it looks lousy. Nobody's dying. And it's a phony persona, as if the concern that "we need the rain" will be magnified by that look. Ridiculous. Please anchor people, STOP this fake shtick! You want to remedy your concern? Give 20 bucks to a food bank. Volunteer for Glide Church. Contribute to the cancer society. In other words, be real.

*Hey, Mike Amitori, KGO/KSFO: "Stay in your booth and quit talking to people!"

*"Drex" --good news/bad news: bad news: Another experiment destined for failure. Good News? No Karel.

*John Lobertini: power freak. Hey Lobes: between you and Amatori : KGO male yenta factory. (But at least you have talent).

*Sherry Brown, KGO anchor --my mock quote: "I can't anchor worth a shit but I do really look like Ann Wilson from Heart if she were 53!"

*Seriously, Karel, just why are you an entertainer? What is it that you do that YOU'RE an entertainer? If you're an entertainer I'm Queen Latifah!

*KTVU Weekend MO2: The new SF "Fox and Friends." Minus the politics.

*Normally I'm not one to compliment but Lyanne Melendez' of KGO-TV's follow-up of that nasty fire in the Mission district was absolute first-rate. Good, concise reporting. Interviews galore. Keep at it, LM!

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KRON Digital Manager, Brian Shields, Dies at 53

 By all accounts, Brian Shields was a cool guy, a dedicated craftsman and excellent in his field.

Shields, KRON's digital manager, passed away suddenly at his home in Sausalito, Friday. He was 53.

Shields spent over 10 years at the station.

Funeral services are pending.

We offer condolences to his friends and family.

KGO Radio Friday PM Bullet Points; 'Drex' 7-10; Karel Is Furious, (Again); Coiro Sunday Only 11-1 PM

FRIDAY PM QUICK BULLET POINTS

*"Drex Show" replaces 7-10 PM News--(said a broadcast observer: "Even in death, 'Kevin Metheny still making moves!")--Peripatetic newsman, John Lobertini, is being moved to nights to work the show.

*According to my spies: "This was a 'Metheny--Rene Bakos--Randall Bloomquist idea."

Of course Bloomquist is gone now--so too Bakos and Metheny died in early October. The transition from KGO's idea of "all-news" to a talk/news hybrid is the blueprint that is now being implemented.

There's no way but up for KGO although there's plenty still time to make this new alteration run amok --and they most likely will.

"Drex?" --I'll have a whole lot more to say--for now, this has a 90-day expiration point written all over it. Stay tuned.

*KAREL Said to be "seething." --The entertainer is throwing temper tantrums for not being considered for the 7-10 PM gig--yeah, like even the Neanderthals at KGO know Karel is hopeless. Maybe he should get off the red carpet and redecorate ---Bye Bye, Chuck.

*Angie Coiro has now left Saturday for a Sunday only show from 11 AM-1 PM...KGO's business editor, Jason Middleton,  will do a finance show on Saturdays--I can hardly wait.

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The Race: Cheeseburger and Fries Versus Goings-On at KGO Radio/Cumulus--Burger Wins

One of the things I've learned about doing this project is to maintain priorities; to make sure the truly important matters be tended to and not be wholly consumed on the machinations of some fully-excrement pencil dicks in Atlanta about to further eradicate the leftover crumbs of once-mighty 810 AM.

I've been monitoring my IPhone for various texts from the audio spy as to what's the next move from the Cumulus garage boys but I've encountered a problem...I was just extended an invitation from Sheila, my future ex-wife about meeting for lunch and devouring a greasy cheeseburger at the local counter. And when I eat, I don't blog--I mean I can't blog because I hate typing and relaying--you can't justify the incredible awe of real edible grilled dead cow and lovely heart-inspired cheddar cheese. What I'm saying is that certain things are only divine if cared for exclusively and THIS is one of those times. The burger and fries win--if and when the body count is altered at the small little radio station you'll have to wait, or maybe, potentially, check my Twitter account to read about further mass human degradation at the local radio slaughterhouse headquartered at 55 Hawthorne.

Later.

There's A Lot of Nervous Nellies At KGO Radio Today; Update: KGO/Cumulus Hires Dreck, Uh, I Mean 'Drex'; Impending Doom At Night

 The last day of the business month at KGO/Cumulus...and it's dreaded.

*Big powwow meeting and speculation is that heads will roll. Nobody knows for sure and it could amount to nothing but already there's signs.

*One of my spies has informed me that schedules have been pulled off the wall and nothing posted.

"Schedules are always posted," said the spy.

*There's been many rumblings of "something 'major' going down--we'll see. Could be nothing but hot air--which might be welcome at 55 Hawthorne.

*Developing...

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*Keep it here at 415 Media--Check back for updates.


UPDATE 8: 54 AM PT:
Management has hired some ex-San Jose music dork named "Drex." Presumably he'll work at night from 7-10 PM which may mean trouble for the evening news block. We'll see.

Drex

Chances Are If You Were Watching KTVU Years Ago You Ran Into These Guys

{Charley & Humphrey}


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KPIX 'Girls Rule, Boys Drool'; Rudderless KGO Radio; Newsroom 'Siege Mentality'; Larry Mendte Ratings Double Ronn Owens; A's/Raiders Want Out Of 'The Game' But Lack Of Available Alternative Hurts; Thursday Rundown

 'GIRL POWER' at PIX: A couple of name ladies at KPIX who appreciate their territory and want it marked have quietly established a 'guy-free' zone. Nothing official mind you because the women are cool--they're just hopeful the 'boys' respect their place. You'll know more sooner or later.

--CUMULUS had their 'holiday party' a month late on Wednesday at the Public House--the vegetable tray, I'm told, was loaded.

Who holds holiday parties in late January? Cloud company, that's who.

--KGO Radio is rudderless. The newsroom is a virtual edifice of siege mentality --yes, again, inmates running the asylum and nobody seems to know, (or frankly care), just who's in charge. Therefore you have an operation that is testing the nerves of some of the more veteran people who man the floor. It's mitigated by some management suck-ups who will do anything to keep their gigs--like the 'gruesome twosome' who didn't possess any shame in sitting in the 7-10 PM news slot once held my Lisa Campbell and Peter Finch...Good News/Bad News: Finch was liked by a majority of the staff but 'Finch Files', not so much...Campbell: A woman, Black, and fiercely independent: I smell a lawyer beckoning --by the way, as much as the voice is irritating, Campbell at least provided a presence on the air and always showed up on time. Her 'individuality' may have cost her a few friends but her '86 surprised many...so much so, that the best rumor going around is the 'death' of the 7-10 PM News--and a talk host on the horizon: sure, Angie Coiro, would be great, but don't hold your breath.

--As an astute reader pointed out: Larry Mendte, a WABC talker out of Philly, who filled in for Ronn Owens for two weeks had considerably BETTER ratings than Ronn --bad news for Ronn and the manicure shop on Union Street.

--The Raiders and A's want OUT at Entercom's way-under-performing 95.7 FM, 'The Game'--that's not huge news--the problem is that there's virtually no radio outlets that can take on both franchises--advantage, The Game. For now.

--TWO IN A BUBBLE: Ronn and his clueless producer--he recently told an aide: "I just come here and do my show." As if to say, screw the 'others. Seriously, that's his state of mind. Meanwhile, his producer has the blinders on.

--Mike Amitori and Ronn: Fire and ice.

--Add Ronn factoid: The loyah, Len Tillem, had considerably BETTER ratings than Ronn too--which might explain why Ronno was brown-toilet-papering Randall Bloomquist.

--Debs Munroe running a newsroom: sort of the equivalent of Mel Gibson emceeing a bar-mitzvah.

--KTVU air talent pimping 'American Idol' on Twitter -- straight out of the FOX Corp. handbook. Hey, they own the place, is anyone that surprised?

--Metered-out: KGO weatherguy, Mike Nicco: Fine, you win. If that's winning, that is.

--I can do the weather: Bay Area forecast: morning fog, sunny later. See 'ya all in February. Simple enough?

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