OK, hats off to KGO Radio for picking up President Obama's UN speech...and a thumbs down to KCBS for going with regular programming, (like a thoroughly innocuous Steve Bitker sports update).
This is not an issue about politics. Don't start the anti-Obama rants. This is about the proper news judgement call.
KCBS, which should know better, punted. KGO, of which I've been a frequent critic, did the right thing. (For a change).
You're talking about a POTUS speech to the United Nations, not a campaign stump speech at an auto factory in Ohio.
Easy call on this one, but everyone makes mistakes now and then.
*A prominent TV sports anchor here told me that Gary Radnich is positively angry at Comcast SportsNet Bay Area's decision to pull the plug on him, (Radnich no longer does the 49ers post-game show and was removed from Giants pg also). "What? 'am I too old?," a dismayed Radnich supposedly told Comcast brass.
*I'm delighted to hear the old Gene Burns back to his usual self at KGO, (7-10 PM weeknights); The voice sounds like he's fresh and back to business. The analysis and banter with callers is crisp and fluid.
When Burns returned to the microphone a few months back from a myriad of health issues, he did not sound the same. His voice had a very noticeable slur and he seemed affected by the loads of meds he was on. Not so anymore.
I wish Burns all the best and hope his recovery is permanent.
*I rip KGO for playing en mass the frequent, FALSE, "such and such at :03 past the hour." Now nasal-voiced guy on same promo has begun announcing such and such at ":05 past the hour." Coincidence? Perhaps. You be the judge.
*Yes, I'm anal dept....God love Jon Miller of the Giants pbp core, but Miller is a frequent member of the "doesn't give the score" club. Lon Simmons had a memorable line many years ago: "You can never give the score too much."
Miller loves to tell stories in between pitches/batters and that's all well and good, but he regularly goes minutes without giving the real time score. That's not only irritating, but frankly, inexcusable. During last night's Dodgers-Giants game in the decisive eighth inning, it was a good five minutes before Miller gave the score. (Listen to the podcast.)
*Nice work by KTVU's Ken Wayne at the "Moneyball" movie premiere in Oakland the other night. Wayne's reports from the Paramount were exciting without being gushing and informative without being overly-giddy. And yes, Brad Pitt, needs no introduction.
An aside: I loved a Facebook poster making fun of SF media types having to report a "World Premiere"...in Oakland!
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Over the last two years,Radnich himself has pretty much said why Comcast has cut ties. And the answer is-He doesn't get along with the rest of the on air staff. He rips Dave Benz and Scott Reise as guys who got here and a few weeks later were high fiving over Giant wins..I.E., phonys.
ReplyDeleteHe also has ripped Kate Longworth,mumbling a few times-not once- that "At least she can read a teleprompter".."The questions her producer writes for her".
And then he was angry once on KNBR that the guys at Comcast wondered where Gary was once,and one cracked to him he said as he came in late, "Were you practicing those same jokes you told in the 70's?". Since he often says "He gets along with everybody"..I think he does not.
I wonder why insult comics like Radnich also want to be so loved? They want it both ways. And Comcast aint going both ways.
"What? am I too old?"
ReplyDeleteNo, you are unqualified and appeared disinterested. You'd rather try to make jokes with Willie Brown than discuss the game that it seems you didn't even watch.
Poor Gary. He takes a pay cut to remain at KRON,
ReplyDeletehas to share his microphone on the radio, and is dumped by Comcast. His explanation for being replaced on the post game show was "if they could get a cheaper host and draw about the same ratings, I understand that."
If it was strictly a financial decision, you don't think he would have accepted less to remain in front of the camera?
More likely they wanted football discussion and not a comedy act.
Red Barber was the innovator. He brought an egg timer into the booth and used it to remind him when to give the score.
ReplyDeletePeople....unless they are very popular have a "shelf life"! Gary has been past his sell by date for a while. Certainly Barbieri is a decade past his....Taliaferro too!
ReplyDeleteTime to retire or dust off resumes!
Barbieri is waaayyy past his.
ReplyDeleteHe offers absolutely nothing, and his "interviews" are embarrassing. It is ok to replace these people, starting with Ralph. Nothing against the guy, but he is awful.
Gary likes to frequently mention his wife and kids, a pathetic sympathy play. He obviously needs the money, 3 little kids, unemployed wife, and the ex wife took half his shit
ReplyDeleteBarbieri is waaayyy past his.
ReplyDeleteHe offers absolutely nothing, and his "interviews" are embarrassing. It is ok to replace these people, starting with Ralph. Nothing against the guy, but he is awful.
Wow...it's like I wrote that! Barbieri is probably safe because The Razor and Mr. T show has strong ratings. I don't think that this is due to Barbieris presence at all! He is the anchor that Tolbert drags around. The show is far more listenable and the flows better when he is there alone or steering the ship when Ralph deigns to be at work.
I remember the rise of Gary Radnich in the early 90s as a Bay Area media figure on KRON and KNBR. His KNBR show, when it debuted, was appointment listening. It didn't hurt that Bonds had arrived and interest in the Giants was up. So it's sad now to listen to what his show has become. The Damon Bruce "Awkward Show" didn't work but Larry Krueger hasn't helped things. Larry's probably just happy to be back on KNBR and won't rock the boat. So Gary's back to tired lines, tired subjects ("Giants a good TEAM"; "Mr. Davis does it his way"), and trying to find security or comfort in his opinions or jokes from Larry or Kate Scott. I mostly like Kate Scott but the fawning over her seems to be overdone just so GLAAD doesn't make any complaints to Cumulus.
ReplyDeleteI am getting bored with your site. These posts offer no insight. With Ken Wayne and the Moneyball premiere, did you happen to catch anyone else's reporting? How did it compare? Tough to say Ken was great when I doubt you saw anyone else. Did others gush? ho-hum.
ReplyDeleteDid the SF media report on the premiere? The Chron had no mention of it in yesterday's paper at all. I saw something on KGO that focused on the fund raiser for Children's Hospital and less on the actual premiere.
ReplyDeleteIn other biased SF news: The story about the City of Oakland's Building Services Dept. grand jury report made the front page of the Chron. The SF PUC story about the guy who embezzled wheelbarrows of money and spent some on sex parties with prostitutes was buried on page two or three of the Bay Area section. Said guy is going away to prison for three years. Story buried.
Add to that the incredibly racist comments section at the Chron's online version and I'm done with them.
It might be high time for the dinosaurs (e.g. Ralph-a-roo and Mr. Radnich / Superfly) to move on. They are getting old. The stations are paying them both absurd amounts of money and they have nothing either important or irrelevant to offer listeners (other than regurgitating the same old crap).
ReplyDelete@anon 3:37 PM
ReplyDeleteSFGate had an article and a photo essay. Ain't it a bitch when you're revealed to be an idiot?
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/09/20/SPH31L3F5K.DTL
The biggest problem with Gary has nothing to do with his age, it's that he simply lazy. Gary shows up for his program at KNBR five minutes before he goes on the air and walks out the door two minutes after it ends. He never goes to any games unless he has to, and then during the game he spends his entire time in the press box regaling everyone with his stories and jokes.
ReplyDeleteHe constantly teases people who actually have something interesting or knowledgable to say about sports, because he doesn't like being shown up. And he thinks that if you talk sports on a sports station that it will be boring and that people might turn off the radio. Well don't people tune in to an all sports radio station to hear interesting sports discussions and get sports news? Talking about the latest rap singer or Beoncye's wardrobe has nothing to do with sports, and contrary to what Gary says, isn't going to attract the 'younger demographic.'
Gary is a nice guy, but he's been very lucky to have lasted this long. Most people think of Gary as an entertainer, not a sportscaster. He does know sports history and minutae, but he prefers to banter with the younger interns and star wanna bes like Dibbley and now Kate Scott that have any serious discussions with the callers about sports.
In a market such as New York or Chicago he probably would have had a shorter career than he's had in the bay area with his tired and worn Las Vegas lounge act. Comcast wanted someone who was going to actually pay attention to what was going on in the game and not just banter with Willie Brown (who never should have been put on a post game football show to begin with). Sorry Gary, but your best days are behind you! That's the way the cookie crumbles in the broadcasting biz!
Miller is a babbling, overrated has been. He's like a relative you put up with during holidays. Telling you this, that, but nothing you really want to hear and he has gravy on his chin. Criminal that he got Fricke award and HOF before Bill King.
ReplyDeleteI don't read the sports section, ever. Film premieres are entertainment. The story is buried as far as I'm concerned.
ReplyDeleteBack at ya idiot.
"More likely they wanted football discussion and not a comedy act."
ReplyDeleteSpot on!!! Hard to take the team and show seriously if the host doesn't.
I haven't listened to Gary since he did his cowardly move in not coming back until Damon was gone. It just came off as petty and immature. His schtick just doesn't work for me anymore. So after about 12 years of listening, a clean break. No more Gary.
Other than Giants games and Marty Lurie, I'm trying to avoid KNBR and give more love to THE GAME. I'm liking Greg Papa and John Lund. Townsend's alright. Urban is coming off as a dick and like he has a chip on his shoulder ("Excuse me, are you going to let me finish?"). I'm giving Tierney and Davis a shot as well. Tierney is making an effort to adapt to this market and tone down the East Coast love. I'm appreciating the effort so I'll give him a listen.
Great to see Gene bounce back!! It is easy to go negative on KGO but Burns is still one of the station's highlights. All the best, Gene!
It is wonderful about Gene Burns. Life just wasn't the same without him. I think his first week back was tenuous, but sounded like himself after that. Gene Burns is the star act over at KGO, not Ronn Owens, as Ronn seems to think.
ReplyDeleteThe problem with most KGO talk shows hosts and other talk show hosts is that they think the system is fair and most problems can be solved in five NY minutes. Their listeners are too f--king idealistic. Both are sucking too much drugs. When it is all said and done, is it all said and done?
ReplyDelete