KTVU Legacy Gone; Mibach to KPIX? Andria Borba Still Out; Dennis O'Donnell Basically Gone; Giants Should Call Ted Robinson; KCBS' Melissa Culross Leaving All-News SF Radio-740 AM; Seelig to Lose Another Veteran; Monday Pulse

MONDAY PULSE

HERE'S THE DEAL, folks.

I write and poke, yes, a lot at KTVU, it used to be a legacy station and now it's barely the birthplace of Romper Room. I care, wait, more I cared.

KTVU has been destroyed from a heritage outlet to a tattered, mismanaged, hodgepodge of mediocre-to-worse minutiae on-air with a bunch of dreck personified. Oh, you know who's favorite show on KTVU was? Romper Room, paging Mike Mibach.

*If Mibach were to end up at KPIX in the newyear, you read it here, first.

*One thing about Mike, he is a game-changer. He and Juliette Goodrich would immediately create buzz at 855 Battery but I'm just being me.

*Mibach isn't destined long-term at KTVU but it's all pretty much having to do with on-air aspects. He could help himself and slightly, Jules at PIX because they both compliment each other, plus Mibach needs a change of scenery. Oh, and he's NOT Ryan Yamamoto.

*It appears, according to my PIX spies, Andria Borba, the star reporter who has been absent the screen, has a far more worrisome issue (not serious) that will prevent her from being back anytime soon.

*Dennis O'Donnell has been off the air over a year and a half dealing with a serious medical issue--he will NOT formally return to PIX. They haven't announced it and DOD isn't talking publicly. In fact, CBS and O'Donnell have quietly met to go over a settlement package.

The last time O' Donnell was seen in public was at an impromptu gathering near PIX's studio, (with Ken Bastida and Liz Cook), late last year.

*The Giants' flirtation with Bob Costas as a mini-games TV guy is on the back burner--maybe money/logistics got in way, but if Larry Baer wants some good local talent, I'd hope he'd call Ted Robinson, who would make a great addition to the broadcast booth.

*A SCOOP at END: Melissa Culross is on her way out the door at KCBS, as I said the other day.

Culross and ND, Jennifer Seelig are apparenty in divorce mode--Seelig and her temper, temper, loses another KCBS veteran.

KTVU at Rock Bottom; Sweeps Failure; Disconnect and Loss of Bay Area Trust; Anchors/Reporters Mildew; Mibach Casualty Beckoning; Haener Could be Goner Soon; Holmes Could be on '23 Radar; Eikel Doomed No Matter What; Sunday Spotlight

KTVU is at ROCK BOTTOM.

Wonder they function with any degree of normalcy--it's a testament to the people behind the cameras.

The heart of KTVU's problems; the gist that is at the center of their dysfunction; their disconnect; it's something many of you see every day and night.

The very people that are on the air.

What was once KTVU royalty is now the greatest threat to its very existence. I say that in a general sense because KTVU will always exist just not the way we all thought it would.

KTVU is a certified goner now. The on-air talent has been exposed as complete phonies and frauds. The people that made KTVU; the esteemed anchors; reporters; vaunted news directors; they're either retired, left, gone and hurried out the door and seeking calmness away from the mass desecration.

What you have left is zero to what KTVU used to be. First and foremost, trust. KTVU has lost the public good will, the Bay Area's favorite news station is now fluttering away big time. I used to watch KTVU News by accident, now KTVU News is a daily accident. The talent is abysmal. I'm being kind.

We used to, yeah, trust them. Now we mock them and pity them, laugh at them

Mike Mibach, gimme a break. Gasia Mikaelian? Are you serious? Rosemary Orozco? I've seen more genuine people at a Hayward 7-11. I mean, get real.

And that's part of the problem at KTVU, nobody is real. They're all in their own world and the Bay Area public sees it, knows it.

KTVU used to be news gathering gold-standard --it was the station that garnered both local and national envy; now, it's a certified joke. My oh my, what a complete and utter failure.

Can it get any worse? Oh, take a good look and watch with your very eyes, of course it can.

*The Mibach update: he's on borrowed time, say my sources at KTVU and this was before his "jock strap" jokes. He has LOST the station. Mibach and his crummy smirk were already on everyone's shit list only Mibach made it worse. He came into the job with enormous good will because most of the KTVU staff were fed up with Frank Somerville and wanted change and therefore, Mibach was welcomed aboard but he quickly lost whatever momentum he possessed.

He had a chance to win both staff and viewers alike but he has NO chance now, the damage is done. KTVU and The Firm will most likely have a new face come 2023.

*Julie Haener: I wouldn't be surprised if she were out sooner rather than later. Haener has been mailing it in the last year, assuming she was KTVU's last of the Big 4 but lousy ratings and Haener's own professional reputation have suffered a BEATING.

*Heather Holmes, (I'm still not a fan), is still waiting for her permanent time at 10 PM and her patience might have finally paid off given Haener's lessening juice.

*Watch out: Amber Eikel, the gruesome ND that is only there because The Firm needs a body.

Live from Dodger Stadium: Elton John --"Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me"; 415 Media Video Finale

About as good as it gets.

(ELTON JOHN --live from Dodger Stadium)

KRON's 1974 "Thirty Minute Day"

Jack Mckenna, Fred LaCosse and Eddie Alexander (on sports) --or, if you prefer, "Fast Eddie."

KRON news royalty in 1974. Stars without having to be stars. No-nonsense to the max.

They didn't have to showboat, they justvread the news and let the stories speak for themselves. And with subjects like Patty Hearst, The Zebra killers, old Gov Jerry Brown (moonbeam), well, as Fast Eddie would say later, "Good Luck, everybody."

415 Media Vital Stats

WHERE DOES THE MONEY GO THAT I ASK YOU TO DONATE TO 415 MEDIA.

Get asked that constantly. I will try to be direct and forward.

The money pays for my time, my investment, my energy, to make this a GO --24/7 every day, every hour. It pays for expenses like my cell-phone bill, my internet connection, the computer, the very, very necessary things that allow me to take time reading, calling, contacting my sources.

BUT MOST OF ALL, like you, I Need to live.

PLEASE, help me maintain 415 Media. Nobody does what I do in this market. NOBODY. And while I know you love reading the blog, I Love writing it but I need money to keep it going...now and on a daily basis. If there were no thirst for 415 Media, I'd stop immediately.

TO DONATE TO 415 MEDIA:

Scroll down the right side of the blog to the "Pay Pal" "DONATE" Button and CLICK ON IT. Follow the directions. It takes less than a minute and it's 100% safe and secure. You don't have to have a Pay Pal account to contribute. You can also donate anonymously if you wish to do so in that manner. All credit cards are accepted.

I will PERSONALLY call you/email you THANKING YOU for your donation.

Friday Quick Flash: ABC7-900 Front Grub Ran Out Disney Blunder; KTVU/NBC Bay Area Copy Escapade --Early Nov Sweeps

FRIDAY PULSE...

The Thanksgiving grub that was provided free by ABC/Disney for its ABC7 (KGO) crew at 900 Front RAN OUT of food for those working the Thursday holiday. They were as shocked as you all might be but I'm not.

*NBC Bay Area/KTVU surreal in the wrong way: Several of you contacted me and I saw what you saw.

I turned to KTVU at 10 Wednesday night and watched their news. Within ten minutes they ran a story about Twitter amnesty. What was odd is the KTVU story was word for word verbatim the same as the NBC Bay Area story I saw only a few hours earlier.

Identical.

I can think of no reason why two unaffiliated local news stations would have the exact same script for an entire story unless one copied the other. I backed up my DVR and confirmed it. Not sure who copied who (perhaps KTVU aired it earlier in the evening and NBC copied them). Either way, something is odd.

*NOVEMBER SWEEPS: KPIX was better than expsed but still poor across the board; ABC7 better than expected; KRON and NBC just ok --KTVU, helped late by World Cup Fox coverage.

Turkey Epilogue to Herb Alpert

WHILE you finish up wolfing down that last piece of turkey, enjoy this classic from Herb Alpert...

*You can also make a donation to the blog and I'll be entirely grateful --in addition to a full run of goodies on Friday.