FRIDAY SHOPTALK...
Have heard from a reliable source that KPIX let go of reporter, Robert Lyles...The source adds that ND, Dan Rosenheim walked him right out of the building on Thursday...
**There's also talk in the newsroom that Roberta Gonzales would be moved to weekend weather, but my source highly doubts that.
One thing to consider: Brian Hackney, a Rosenheim favorite, has done weather and now with the cancellation of "Eye on the Bay", is available. Then again, Gonzales is beloved by viewers, particularly men. And who can blame them. My guess: she stays on weeknights.
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Lyles is out?? hes a good and solid reporter. He will find a home somewhere in the market.
ReplyDeletePIX is my go to at 6PM after having not really watched Channel 5 since I was a kid with the super dooper Mac, Tokuda, Walker and Bartlett. They have a solid core with Bastida, King, Gonzalez and O'Donnell. Add to that the solid reporters- and Matier and they are hard to beat. Yes Roberta is easy on the eye and seems to be one of the friendlier and accessible media folk around. Hackney is cool- especially if you need someone to explain the Hayward Fault... but my wife and I would rather watch Roberta. My wife so she can sneer at her jet black hair and outfits and me to well get the forecast.
ReplyDeleteTV/Radio management are EVIL. Lyles was a solid reporter
ReplyDeleteLyles was smooth. I don't know what the hell is wrong with KPIX. I guess it was a salary issue.
ReplyDeleteIts all about those dollar, dollar bills at KPIX...Sad tho, Lyles was one good reporter...imho
DeleteIt always seem Hackney and Roberta are competitors..either with separate stations or like now for weather supremacy on KPIX.
ReplyDeleteWow - I am bummed. Lyles was smooth and professional. I dropped him emails a few times and he is one of the few to actually answer. A definite loss from KPIX. Hopefully someone will pick him up fast. Roberta going to weekends? I would watch another channel if that happened. Roberta is a class act -- forget that she is a beautiful woman I think she is very talented. Her power marriage to Randy Hahn makes her shine even further. KPIX -- hear me: I will change the channel if Roberta is moved.
ReplyDeleteWhat the hell is happening in local news? From what I saw of Mr Lyles he seemed more than competent with his reports and he is shown the door, accompanied by his news director? Was he given his ten minutes to pack his belongings, a la Ralph Barbieri at KNBR?
ReplyDeleteRich's mention of Van Amburg underlines how far the business has fallen. Younger and willing to do more work for less pay, you're hired. Uh,Mr/Ms
established reporter/anchor, can I see you in my office?
KPIX management absolutely doesn't have a clue. Now let's get this straight; they let Robert Lyles go, who is a solid and excellent reporter, BUT, they KEEP Elizabeth Wenger, the traffic girl, who they are constantly sticking in as a weather girl [she's NOT a meteorologist!] and also sticking in as a substitute anchor [which she is NOT, most DEFINITELY!!!]? They got rid of Grace Lee as the morning co-anchor [she was demoted to reporter], but they KEEP Frank Mallicoat [who is annoying as hell]? Probably the only GOOD thing KPIX has done recently, was to hire Cate Cauguiran, who is really good at reporting, and is totally HOT! What a station...
DeleteRoberta is a zero and there are far better looking women on our local
ReplyDeletechannels than her.
That's too bad. Robert Lyles is a solid reporter and a really nice guy.
ReplyDeleteWhile Lyles had a sensational air to his reporting, he was better than most of the newbies and cameramen turned reporters KPIX is filling its shows with. Good thing CBS has been number one in primetime or Rosenheim would be gone. His moves to replace the morning team with the bland Mallicoat and Grace Lee, and then replacing the capable Lee with the robotic Michelle Griego are typical Rosenheim missteps. Oh and did you read the legal decision on the Schechner/Lobertini age discrimination lawsuit? KPIX said it decided not to layoff anchors because they are "the face" of the station. However Rick Quan had been an anchor for more than 20 years and he was let go. Another lie by management which was not recognized by the 89 year old judge presiding on the case.
ReplyDeleteThere must be more to this story than meets the eye. Getting canned is one thing (and not at all unusual in the biz these days), but being escorted out the door by the ND suggests that this was more that just your garden variety firing.
ReplyDeleteLyles was never afraid to work the night beats and has always been willing to speak his mind and look for respect. Must have done the latter too much.
ReplyDeleteRosenheim's obvious jealousy toward Gonzales is becoming troublesome. Hackney has worked all 3 major SF commercial TV stations, so he really has no place else to go, never mind that he is expensive but smart, therefore needing to be used more now that 'Eye On The Bay' has been cancelled. I don't believe either weather anchor wants to hurt the other, and actually respect each other some in more ways than one (Gonzales & Hackney once did an 'Eye' broadcast parodying 'The Amazing Race' - Gonzales & Goodrich beat Hackney & Maychem in a race from SF to Castro Valley for charity purposes). If the ND has a clue, he'll bring both into his office simultaneously. But I wonder if he does have a clue.
As for replacing Lyles, might they put Thuy Vu back at that spot should Vu not be asked to anchor?
I actually liked eye onthe bay, sigh.....
ReplyDeletePut thuy and brian back on the news and bounce the aussie out of town
i think i am going to miss his blinking eyes the most:P
ReplyDeleteotherwise the only thing i can is whoever has been in charge for over there for the last fews years, has really really jacked up what was both good morning and evening newscasts
Well you can always find him at Nordstrom Rack in SF shopping.
ReplyDeleteThat's sad. He was one of the few reporters I knew by name. Seems like a solid guy and not afraid to speak his mind.
ReplyDeleteIs Rosenheim the PD that let Kessler and Kohara go? THAT was a horrific programming "decision."
ReplyDeleteDidn't anyone tell Brian Hackney to change his name before he took a job in media?
ReplyDeleteI suddenly woke up to the realization that Robert Lyles had disappeared. It took a Google search to turn up your blog. There for awhile I looked forward every night to his hard-hitting coverage of Occupy Oakland and the disastrous handling of that whole chapter by Mayor Jean Quan.
ReplyDelete