Sunday, June 30, 2013

America's Cup Media Meltdown; KPIX/KTVU Musings; KRON's Bennett Reality Check; Carolyn Tyler and KGO; Sinkovitz back at KRON makes Perfect Sense; Punch-Drunk Media Sunday


**The America's Cup trials begin on the 4th of July and about five people are excited. NBC, I'm sure, had grand visions of chamber-of-commerce video images of the Golden Gate Bridge and Coit Tower with a tablespoon full of sailboats from around the world on the bay.

Now they'll get a bunch of millionaires yukking it up at Pier 23 and Larry Ellison sipping Dom with his 16 girlfriends. Polo Shirt alert!

**BART may or may not strike Monday at midnight. Good. At least it'll allow the local TV minions to offer alternatives to the relentless 5000 post-mortems from the Pride parade.

**Add BART labor question: given the fact that many people are talking off days this week with the holiday on Thursday, why would BART workers strike this week? Was a week later off the memo pad? The password is leverage.

**One of these days I'm going to announce to the world that a very, very big radio frequency that has legendary call letters will be scooped up by a Santa Cruz broadcast/business impresario who thinks I'm the next Howard Stern and I do approve of this message. (The plot does indeed thicken--wink, wink).

**It's not that the paranoia at KPIX is that unusual; that's a common deal at most big-market TV stations. It's that the star talent that the big cheeses think are stars are not their part of the team. That type of management doesn't lead to harmony in the building nor in the ratings. Take care of the people who bring in viewers and don't kowtow to your drinking buddies at the Old Ship.

**Speaking of which, KTVU, the station of the year, courtesy of some industry fishwrap, has gigantic morale issues, notably its sports dept. where too much gossip and hard feelings over who makes the most money.

**KRON Weather chick alert: Jacqueline Bennett, you're not Christina Loren nor even close to Evelyn Taft. You scowl a lot and look like a Fresno Walmart cosmetics clerk. Get a dose of humility and drink a pint of Guinness. It couldn't hurt.

**Speaking of KRON, I've come to the conclusion that just as a mini-tranquility had permeated the 1001 Van Ness building, a new round of shoutfests erupted among the news managers and news reporters and newsroom staff. They just can't stand peace and quiet.

**I don't have an obsession of Gary Radnich; it's just when he mentions me either directly, (rare), or indirectly, (more common), I will not sit idly by and let him get away with it. The prima donna that preaches not to mess with family has messed with me. The operative word is: hypocrite.

**Even if she won't admit it, I will: Carolyn Tyler should have a more prominent role at KGO-TV. She's an underrated news anchor and a damn good reporter. The fact that she doesn't look like Soledad O'Brien is why she's constantly being portrayed by a few insiders as "not a weeknight presence" is total bullshit. I said that, quote me.

**The fact that Michael Savage is worth $200 million, give or take a few million, has some Bay Area broadcast people and listeners, up in arms. Hey, it's only money.

**If KRON hired back Tom Sinkovitz, they'd immediately move the needle and have instantaneous buzz. Not only would he'd love to come back, he'd galvanize the place and bring in some much-needed energy to a place that could use it.

**Add KRON: NBC should have just bit its tongue and buy KRON from Young. It made too much sense on a lot of fronts thereby making it impossible to happen.

**Jessica Aquirre: I like you, Jess, just what's up with all the facial contortions? You're starting to scare the shit out of me.

**Brian Hackney used to be a quality news reader, a professional and a damn good weather and science anchor/reporter, and still is. But, yo Brian, you take yourself way too seriously. If you keep it up you're gonna make Allen Martin seem like Milt Kahn.

**The new Jannelle Wang: still hot, much better ad-libber and downright capable anchor holding her own with Raj Mathai.

**I love it: The local station PR people that can't stand me but continue to send me propaganda via my e-mail box. I'm just damn thrilled.

**This little blog is nearing the 6 Million page views after only five years in the cyber bar. Not bad considering the fact that everyone under the sun thought it was destined for the black hole early on. And oh, by the way, damn right I ask for donations. If KQED, a $300M operation that has daily pledge/donation breaks, then I damn well can and will ask for contributions. Sure, I don't have Masterpiece Theatre but then again, considering my body of work, plenty of drama. It takes time and money to bring you this wonderful tapestry so yeah, 5 bucks isn't gonna kill you.

**Follow me on Twitter and listen to me, Monday-Friday, from 1-4 PM PT on the KSCO/KOMY Radio talk show.


49 comments:

  1. "I don't have an obsession of Gary Radnich."

    Sure Rich, just like John Hinkley Jr. wasn't obsessed with Jodie Foster....

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    Replies
    1. My that's a tad extreme of an analogy ...

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    2. Rich - you are a good parody of yourself.

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  2. This is one time where I must disagree with Mr. Lieberman on something. Jackie Bennett is ray of sunshine on a rather bleak and dull TV news community. She does fine, which is more than what I can say about the rest of the talking heads in this market. Most of the talking heads here can't talk their way out of a parking ticket. I'd put her with Lisa Argen, who's been shunned to the early AM churchgoers and late night revelers audience with Carolyn Tyler on Sundays.

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    1. Has anyone noticed that Jacky has those uncontrollable body twitches? Also, her face seems frozen.... Might be time to cut back on the Botox to the forehead. Just saying.

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  3. Is it too much to ask that a talk show hosts on KGO, even the new KGO, speaks decent English? Here is some of what Monte said this am on his show, talking about the bart strike: "This is big, big, really big, this is a big one." we get it, we get it. Another sentenced was redundant it was something like this "We did not report nothing of the kind" I should have written it down. Even though English is my second language it hurt my ears. Yes, I know it is impossible to be a talk show host and not make a mistake, but I think that is they way he talks.

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    Replies
    1. Think that is bad? Give Rod Brooks a listen.

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    2. Or better yet, don't.

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    3. OMG, Rod Brooks is flat out un-listenable. It's as if Sammy Davis Jr. died in the early 1960's, was cryogenically preserved, and thawed out to do a radio show. His dated "hip" banter is painful and tiresome.

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    4. Never heard of the guy, and if he, or his English is worse and Montemayor's I don't need to hear him. In the Bay Area we use to have the best of the best, in terms of intelligence, knowledge and well spoken talk show hosts. Not anymore now we have some of the worst, Montemayor (who is not too bright, frankly he is an idiot) Maureen Langdon, whom I'm listening to right now, she has gotten better, not that is saying much, and her "Hanging with Langdon" is so hokey, it is enough to deter me from listening. Talking about the worst of the worst I have to include Gil Gross, whatever happened to him? He is smart enough, have plenty of broadcasting experience, was pretty good when he was on KGO, although he was never one of my favorite. Now he is just plain awful, his stories don't hold my attention, his jumping from subject don't either, and by the time he brings them up mid afternoon many have already been on the internet, and since he does not take calls, there is not much reason to listen. I have complained several times about Gil, guess I'm a little obsessed, but it is very, very frustrating for those of us who loved the old KGO to constantly get either bad, and mediocre hosts, when there are real talent out there: John Rothman, Stacy Taylor, David Lazarus others.

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    5. You forgot Karel.

      So many of us have, fortunately.

      He didn't get married this weekend. He's sad.

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  4. I regret to inform you that due to your situational ethics, hypocrisy, and addiction to censoring, I have no choice but to indefinitely suspended any and all donations until further notice. Following a sincere apology, a mandatory 6 month probationary period will be enforced before the matter of donations is reconsidered.

    Should you decide to maintain your selfish and apathetic behavior towards the views held by the public at large, you will have no choice but to fund your own crusade.

    As a gesture of goodwill, $5 will be donated on your behalf, to a cause that you likely find offensive.

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    Replies
    1. Thank you for your commitment to justice and democracy.

      Delete
    2. @1:06pm is right on. At times I want to comment on something but thin skinned Dick's censoring prevents me from wanting to spend any time writing a thoughtful piece if the buffoon in chief is just going to sit there and censor. I too withhold my $5 Dick.
      Also, Lay off Jackie Bennett. She is hot as hell but I do understand it seems to be getting to her head. She cleaned up well from earlier years when she'd wear ill fitting suits and bad make up.

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    3. Same thing here 7:16. Even polite disagreements with Lieberman don't get posted. It's disappointing and inconsistent with most other sites of this type.

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  5. Hey Rich,, I'm not a Raddy fan,, but if I we're you,, I would not rip Gary on his looks,, have you taken a good hard look at yourself ??

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    Replies
    1. Or Gary's weight either, same reason.

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  6. Rich, most of us have no idea what the expenses are for a community forum blog like this one. There are probably licensing fees, fees to set up and maintain donation or gift-item accounts, and then what? Do you pay more for a website with greater bandwidth, meaning one capable of absorbing greater amounts of data. There may be a, what,,, a sales department to manage incoming or existing vendor orders. You may not want to say anything about this, and of course you don't have to. I'm only curious. Someday, I'd like to start a political/ social commentary type blog, and would be open to monetizing it, by selling adspace.

    I'm just unlearned with the New Media, and want to learn a little from those who have now created what seems a well-oiled-machine. I live in Marin. Maybe there are short courses I could take on this kind of small corporation. Anything too lengthy about computers would just put me to sleep. I avoided computers for years until I got tired of having my face pressed against the "window" of the internet, watching everbody gorging feasting and discarding information with ease and nonchalance.

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  7. You may not have an obsession with Radnich, but you sure do with poor Tom Sinkovitz. You've been trying to get him a job since KNTV dumped him, and he sure didn't move any needles there. Your constant promo of the guy makes him seem like stale fish. Leave it alone and he might actually find somthing.

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    1. Yet with Hackney he says it speaks volumes that he does not have a full-time TV gig. Neither does Sink and he's been out longer and yet Rich keeps plumping for him.

      Truth is, there are a LOT of great people unemployed in today's media landscape. And in the rest of the landscape too. And merit as a qualification went out long ago.

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  8. I too have wondered about some of Jessica Aquirre's creepy facial expressions! Also wonder if some (maybe most) of Savage's wealth was built from sales of a certain energy drink?!

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  9. My God Rich you really really have a BIG EGO.

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  10. Hey Rich, since you are an impartial media critic how about good old Kay Zwerling's hatred of homosexuals? Are you gonna take a shot at her or are you going to be chicken feed? This is exhibit A of your conflict of interest amigo.

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    1. Oh, come on 10:01. Kay Zwerling is 91, old and feeble. She knows not what she says or means. If it weren't for the pursetrings, she would be irrelevant, like, well, she is. Nice try, keem-o-sabe. You're certainly right, but it will be ignored by Rich the media slayer. You know that. He knows what side is bread is buttered and it's very little butter, mind you, but, it is what it is. Pass me the Tang, please.

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    2. Nobody tells me what to say first of all and I don't think KZ said that, but if so, then I'll ask her about it.

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    3. Dear Rich,

      Here you go, Rich. Save your breath ...

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RmSWA7dg-hQ


      Ex KGOListeners
      ‏@ExKGOListeners 30 Jun "Gay Marriage is Plain Wrong." Kay Zwerling KSCO #Radio owner mom, MZ Promotes a Saturday 7pm Gay show. #Listen... http://fb.me/1Rx3kxCzw

      and this nugget:

      Michael Zwerling
      As right-wing radio merrily broadcasts from coast to coast, the liberal voices are being slowly shut down. One of the only two syndicated AM-band left-wing talk show hosts in the country, Peter Werbe, had his show pulled from Santa Cruz's KOMY after the station's owner, Michael Zwerling, decided that he wasn't being "patriotic" enough. But after people began calling to complain, Zwerling got on the air himself and denounced Werbe's show, apologizing to the people of Santa Cruz for allowing Werbe onto "his" airwaves in the first place. Upon discovering that his denunciation had fallen on deaf ears, Zwerling took it to the top - his mommy. After Michael told her his sob-story about the nasty liberal (no doubt punctuated by much sniffling and nose-wiping), Kay Zwerling read out an editorial on KOMY, slamming Werbe's show for (SHOCK!) left-of-center content, (HORROR!) questioning the war in Afghanistan, and (HOLY BATSHIT!) criticizing the Bush administration. Apparently mommy's tirade did no good because the complaints kept coming in, and the following day little Michael had to make another appearance at the mic, this time calling Werbe an "asshole." It would seem that it does indeed take one to know one.

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    4. 4:07's youtube clip doesn't support 10:01's argument of Kay being a gay hater or even intolerant. She simply doesn't seem buy into the redefined version of the word marriage. Most voters don't.

      Had she not minced words, hate still doesn't seem to be an accurate portrayal.

      On deck, brothers marrying sisters, fathers marrying daughters.

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    5. Maybe you just didn't listen to the entire two hours. It's plainly obvious what she said and meant. The quests in the studio were certainly offended by her and MZ's comments.

      Also, look up "kay zwerling, homosexuals" in Google and run down the list of commentaries on the subject by her. It's also in her book.

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    6. The youtube clip last 2 1/2 minutes, your imagination is getting the best of you madam.

      Delete
  11. "the next Howard Stern"

    HAHAHAAAAAHHHAHAAHAHAHAA. that's rich, Rich.

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    1. Good God. Please, Cumulus, put Rich on to replace Karel or Hangin' w/ Langan. Pitiful radio. Very pitiful. Ron, Kevin, somebody. Please. Take Jared with you. I beg for mercy.

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  12. Rich - you a victim of your own mind and ego. You're the typical kid with a ball that wont share, and takes it home early to spite the other kids.
    Problem is - its all in your feeble mind.
    You suck the dicks of certain people who you may have a decent "relationship" with - and trash anyone who doesnt share your views. Petty is the word i'm thinking of here...
    You're not Walter Winchell, Rich.

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    Replies
    1. I will gladly allow you the hard-on of ripping me without basing any facts--the same thing I'm accused of from time to time; that's OK because it exposes your inner hatred. That's quite OK, you're entitled to your opinion and I'm glad and delighted you read me.

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    2. "Inner hatred"...please.

      All my favorable comments that defend you get published, while the comments(with examples/facts) that question your motives or judgement are at about a 50% publish rate. You're stacking the deck, everybody knows it and comments on it. Time to come clean.

      It's one thing to be biased and self serving but quite another to be that way and deny it.

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    3. I'm about done with you--have a wonderful day.

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    4. I'm about done with you, too, Rich. You bore me.

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  13. So Rich..I'm told by my 'reliable sources' that you're planning to do a column on Comcast's husband/wife team of Paul and Amy G. Any truth to this rumor? By the way, what do you think of this pair?

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  14. Hey 'Ghost of Van Amberg' (who by the way, isn't dead and is doing quite well thank you!) why don't you check your message for misspellings before you post? And try to use a little imagination instead of stooping to juvenile expressions such as: "You suck d..." You read like a semi-literate twit! (which you probably are!)

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  15. Rich,

    If you're going to be a fashionplate of media, please lose the fedora. They went out, like, 60 years ago. It's so unbecoming of you. We know you're bald, and that's ok. Baldness is the new 30.

    Get some new ties and, better, dump them. It makes you look like the uptight out-of-touch person you truly are.

    G.

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    1. Actually, I choose to keep my hair cut short...as for the fedora, I like hats and really don't give a flying phuck what you think.

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    2. Ad hominem attack. I thought you were above that you phucking hipocrit.

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    3. How was that an ad hominem attack? You clearly don't understand what it means.

      (

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    4. Because his only comeback is "I don't give a flying phuck about what you think."

      Guess what? I don't much giving a flying phuck what he says or you, for that matter.

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  16. Noticed KTVU's Heather Holmes minus a ring on her left hand, what's up?

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  17. Hey Rich- I hear Amy G. and her hubby read your blog and don't like all the mean spirited things people are saying about her.

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  18. Rich, we in the Monterey Peninsula wish we had a hot piece of ass weather guesser like Jackie Bennett. Instead we have two guys in their 80s! I give you: Jim Vanderzwaan and Norm Hoffman. Oy vey!!!

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  19. Rich, have you heard Jessica Aguiree's voice lately? She has had voice issues for almost two weeks. If I were her, I'd be seriously seeing a specialist about it. She doesn't appear sick otherwise but many people know that a scratchy sounding voice could mean a serious health issue.

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  20. the thing about the KTVU Sports Dept is hilarious. who is disgruntled Ibanez gets paid too much?? The other sports guys they have are boring dinosaurs that couldn't get hired in Salinas, let alone the Bay Area. they're lucky KTVU is stuck in the 80s, theire asses would be long gone if anyone was minding the store over there. Ibanez on the other hand is a real talent, love him or hate him

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