The Most Overrated and Underrated Media Players in the Bay Area

 OVERRATED

 

 

**Stan Bunger/KCBS

 

Look, Bunger is perfectly fine and capable holding down the fort at the Bay Area's news radio leader in morning drive but Stan has noticeably lagged of late. Way too much verbal giddy-up with co-anchor, Susan Leigh Taylor, herself, overrated with the disingenuous voice and fake false concern with interviews and over-emphasis on certain words.

Bunger sounds like he's in the homestretch of his career which he is. Thank God he has John Madden and Phil Matier to yack with every now and then.

 

 

**Jon Bristow/KGO Radio

 

Bristow: good pipes and nothing else. A shameless self-promoter and terrible interviewer. Who knew that Snoopy co-anchored the AM news on the albatross station. Wait, SweetJack effect, woof, woof. Listen to the next Bristow interview and you'll discover a man in an empty suit.

 

**Jan Wahl/KCBS

 

Easily, the most irritating and obnoxious media diva in the Bay Area. Hat woman is borsht gone bad with an annoying voice and overly-ditzy on movies and oh, the good old days! Most of Wahl's reverence for her love of certain movies would be taken seriously if she didn't sound like the local yenta touting a sale on prune juice at the local deli. Jan, just review the film and tell us what you think--we don't give a crap about your hats and by the way, my fedora is nicer.

 

**Henry Wofford/CSNBA Sports

 

Why is Hank so beloved? Because he laughs at everything and has a jovial smile. Wonderful. Maybe Wofford should be congratulated over the fact that no one seems to know why, other than the smiley face, the copious laugh, the pretentious voice, how the hell Wofford got the gig at Comcast. Wait a minute, we think we know.

 

**Dave Feldman/CSNBA

 

It's nice to know a certain pro football coach helped to land a gig in the Bay Area but after that, what's there to appreciate about Feldman? He doesn't excite, nor offer anything new on the sports cable anchor offerings and his over-modulated voice and self-importance is irksome. Another thing: if it was Harbaugh that was instrumental in getting you the job, you'd think you'd get some truly inside information from the coach, but that's been missing. Nice suits though, Davey.

 

**Michael Krasny/KQED

 

Krasny is a crown jewel in Bay Area talk radio and I've lauded him quite extensively here but the bloom of the flower is fading. There's no there there. Would it kill Krasny every now and then to have a basic discussion on radio without some arcane blowhard and stuffy NPR-ish author? I mean, Philip Roth is great but every now and then the subject matter could be more home: what about an hour on where to get good hot dogs?

 

**Mike Sugarman/KCBS-KPIX

 

Sugarman's "About the Bay" series has the same irritating theme segment day after day. Even when the subject matter is useless which has been the case lately. In addition, Mike is in love with his voice which he seems to think the Bay Area revers ...uh, Mike, take a couple months off and have an egg cream at Miller's on me.

 

**Larry Beil/KGO-TV

 

Still can't figure out what's the thing about this self-important, arrogant, disgusting yutz that makes him compelling on local TV sports? I know he looks like an anchor, sort of a sports Ron Burgundy but that's about all. The problem with Larry is that he gives off the persona that he's more important than you are and that his crap doesn't stink. Sorry, Larry, the fish head is still on your plate and it's herring too. Get a grip --with authority too!

 

UNDERRATED

 

 

**Rob Mayada/KNTV-NBC Bay Area

 

Easily one of the best and most honed Bay Area TV broadcast voices. A delight because Mayada doesn't take himself seriously--just does his work and moves on. Good thing too that Rob knows he's not curing cancer and does a nice job down in the Southbay.

 

**Randy Hahn/San Jose Sharks CSN PBP

 

The most lucid, informative and all-around BEST announcer on Bay Area Sports TV. Hahn is a shade of Bill King and Doc Emrick--excited, knowledgeable, funny and engaging. Real pro too, a pro's pro with a knack for being real good without being schmaltzy. He and partner, Drew Remenda, are a delight to watch and listen.

 

 

**Ken Korach/Oakland A's radio PBP announcer: If Korach were anywhere else, he'd be showered with a ton of stories. Can't say it enough: the BEST radio PBP announcer in the Bay Area. Sharp, consistent, concise and not afraid to rip when necessary--especially nice in an era when all you hear is mostly homerish chubs. Better yet, Korach gives it to you without any drama--just the facts please, yes sir.

 

**Dan Ashley/KGO-TV

 

I've managed to really appreciate Ashley because he's consistent and through--a nice delivery and appropriate humor, albeit slight and that's what counts. Ashley, too, looks like an anchor and some are put off by his haughty nature but that's all perception--he's a quality anchor, nice person and would-be network talent.

 

**Dan Noyes/KGO-TV Investigative Reporter

 

Noyes isn't flashy, doesn't have a large staff and possesses limited resources--still, he gives you the very BEST, informative, NEWS!-breaking investigative reporting that is appreciated by a lot of Bay Area viewers and industry leaders. Noyes also knows how to interview --a lost art here. He's also a one-man band that doesn't get a lot of splashy promos which is just as well.

 

**Anne Makovec/KPIX

 

Channel 5 has an ace weekend anchor who works hard and can walk the walk. She's not miss pretty lady with a teleprompter --she reads well, has great chemistry with fellow tonsil, Phil Matier and gives you top-flight news reading with a great residue of consistent girth. No blowhard here, just the basics and it works. It's a wonder why Makovec isn't on primetime. One gets the feeling she's quite happy with the schedule. So are we in the Bay Area.

 

 

**Stanley Roberts/KRON

 

The "People Behaving Badly" gadfly has developed a following--good and bad. I like Roberts, bizarre, charming voice and all. The theatrics of catching people drive insane on TV is funny--most of the time. Sometimes Roberts goes overboard but that's OK because that's the point of the gig. It's a self-loving mutual admiration society of people who enjoy watching other people behave badly on the streets of SF. Roberts, again, overdoes it from time to time but give him this: he knows how to excite the senses. And the voice, to me, is rather hilarious intentional or not. Keep the camera handy, Stan and continue to guard our streets and neighborhood. We have your back if some bike Nazi stalks you--wait, you're 6-8--you don't need our help.

 

ABC7/KGO-TV

KPIX/CBS5

KRON

KNTV/NBC BAY AREA

 

 

COMING SOON: **Cumulus looks to make more cost-cutting

 

*Clear Channel tries to defer up-coming debt

 

*Why does KCBS devote 4 reports an hour to weather stories (in addition to its regularly-scheduled weather)

 

*The hot Bay Area female reporter who had a marvelous time at the company Christmas party--maybe too much of a good time.

 

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