It's almost as if we take her for granted--and, come to think of it we do: Catherine Heenan, the veteran KRON anchor who has been at 1001 Van Ness since seemingly the beginning of time, is the most underrated anchor in the Bay Area TV News scene. Heenan just shows up to work and does her job, effortlessly, gracefully, no matter the extraordinary circumstances that exist at the unpredictable environment called the KRON studios.
We've acknowledged that element recently.
Heenan is especially effective and no-nonsense on screen as she prepares for a personal milestone: she will turn 60 this October, usually a minefield for women TV news anchors. Not the case for Heenan whose presence on the SF TV airwaves goes back to the days of Evan White, Pete Wilson, and Bob Jimenez.
What I most admire about Heenan is that she's never changed. She's always been the same which in the news business is your greatest compliment. While some other anchors subliminally try to inject phony nuances into their presentation, Heenan has always been Heenan which is just right. And to KRON's benefit too we appreciate seeing her work particularly if there's a legitimate breaking news story--when her ad-libbing helps and when her news acumen is in full force, thank God.
NOTES From the Weekend--
*The Giants executive broadcast brass won't say so publically but many were none-to-happy over Mike Krukow missing Sunday's game in Miami where the team was playing the Marlins. Turns out Krukow missed a flight from Reno. He's scheduled to be back on the air Monday night in Philly where the Giants play the Phillies.
EXTRA Note: Have you too noticed, lately, the amount of absences from the team's broadcasters? It began in early July with Duane Kuiper who missed a week's worth of broadcasts due to an illness--not Kuiper's fault, but the Giant's front office felt Kuiper could have returned much sooner. He missed nearly seven games.
Soon after, both Jon Miller and Dave Flemming also missed games--Flemming, due to illness and Miller, who took some time off as he's done in recent years. No issues there due to the length of the baseball season, everyone needs a break, but combined with all the others absences, Giant's broadcasts have seen notable cracks in the routine and a few team officials are a bit annoyed.
*KPIX unveils its youth-oriented Bay Area Night Beat on its CW sister station tonight--this could either be truly ground-breaking or a monumental joke. PIX wants to try to gain some younger viewers with a newscast that's supposed to look unconventional --they'll be the usual news conduits like weather and sports but heavy emphasis on "social media" entities like Twitter and Facebook. I can only imagine the possibilities: "We'll get back to the scene of the fire at 4th and Market momentarily but we see once again, Justin Bieber trending heavily on Twitter..." Don't laugh and dismiss --that's the early speculation from the 855 Battery boys.
*This whole Drakes Bay Oyster Company story is beginning to reach to the depth of enough already! Granted, the idea of the Feds trying to dislodge the famous eatery and its oyster farm is important enough to warrant the attention of Bay Area media but there comes a point where saturation coverage has entered in to the equation--we've reached that here and then some.
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Why would or should the Drake's Bay Oyster Co story not be covered and discussed, when the final act is at hand?It's true that it has been going on for a couple of years and I remember being the first to do a long segment on it on KGO,way back when at the beginning of the litigation. The issues include a big question for everyone, especially the Obama administration. the President, in his state of the union speeches, proclaims his desire to encourage businesses which have good environmental practices and good jobs. Drake's Bay Oyster Co. exemplifies that. Do the feds have some other purpose for that land? Why is the Department of the Interior dead set on shutting it down? Why would you want to eliminate the purveyor of a magnificent California product, one which is continually replaced and restored? Why can't our two US Senators, who have spoken out in favor of Drake's Bay, have much influence on this one? I was delighted to hear Pat Thurston,this weekend, continue her excellent support for the oyster farm. The final act is upon us, all the rest has been foreplay. Sometimes things are complicated(especially in legal process). Don't depart before the climax.
ReplyDelete"Why would or should the Drake's Bay Oyster Co story not be covered and discussed, when the final act is at hand?"
DeleteBecause Rich Lieberman instinctively objects to whatever the local or main-stream media does. That's his thing. That's how he defines himself.
All good questions.
DeleteChristine I would never depart you before the climax.
DeleteI think the broadcasting boys are sick of Larry Baer and his shenanigans.....Amy G. for instance.
ReplyDeleteKrukow also missed his flight to Philly and Kuiper had to sub for him on KNBR morning show.
ReplyDeleteImagine if you are sick and coughing all over the mic and headsets. And then the next guy has to use the equipment after you. I can see whatever sickness the first one gets getting passed around.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I think they generally always have some time off scheduled in the mid-season for family and a recharge. Flemming has been doing games for ESPN too so that adds another layer of travel.
I don't listen to the homers on The Sports Bleeder. But actually, announcers should be there for all of the games...barring unforseen circumstances. Fans identify the team through their voices. The only reason Vin Scully misses games these days is because he doesn't do any Dodgers games played east of Colorado. The travel, even on the team charter, is just a bit much for him. Understandable. He's only in his 80s.
ReplyDeleteThe more games Krukow and Kuiper miss, the better the broadcasts. They're overrated, except by those zombies who follow the team.
I'm in two minds. Krukow does tend towards the Ron Santo/Hawk Harrelson schol of homerism, but I don't think the Giants announcers are overrated at all. Heck, Miller's in the hall of fame and deservedly so. They aren't overrated if you listen to other broadcasting teams.
DeleteAs far as getting sick and other commitments, it's easy to say that they should be taken care of in offseason but shit happens and the Giants have four announcers who should be able to cover.
Kruk was probably in Reno getting medical treatment for the beating he took
Deletelast time his name was mentioned on this site
There's been a virus spreading through the team. Kuiper and Flemming got it. They mentioned it on the broadcast the other day.
ReplyDeleteThe Giants announcers looked at the Giants the last month and turned violently ill.
DeleteKrukow, well he was just too drunk to make it to the plane in Reno.
Catherine Heenan does not look near 60. She has only gotten better over time. Kudos Catherine
ReplyDeleteI have had the pleasure of working with Catherine Heenan, and I can attest that not only is she an excellent reporter and anchor, she is also a warm and gracious human being. But more than that, she is an example of how much value a seasoned, experienced broadcaster can add to a newscast, especially in breaking news situations where the ability to intelligently ad-lib and to know what you're talking about separates the pros from the pretty faces. It's a shame that Catherine and others like her are taken for granted and overlooked in favor of the newer, shinier models.
DeleteCatherine Heenan used to get my 1980s teenage hormones raging. I always wanted her to 'teach' me. Love that woman.
ReplyDeleteMe too, much in the same way that Lilith on Cheers did. Same delivery, that 'still waters run deep' thing.
DeleteFor me it was momma from throw momma from the train
Delete@11:35 and 1:00...for me it was Leslie Griffith and Margo Myers from Salinas 8 we'd pick up over the air in San Jose.
DeleteLilith Crane. Totally!
DeleteThat Giants item is pure speculation and I loathe that franchise.
ReplyDeleteThanks Rich
DeleteThat is one reason why they have 4 announcers.
DeleteIn the olden days when nary a game be televised they had 3 (and 2 between '74 and '76) and threw in a Gary Park or Steve Physioc for the rare TV game.
People get sick, BFD.
The 'Blame Game' is being played again when it comes to the Drake's Bay Oyster By Oyster Company and as a Marin resident, I can tell you that this is what is happening: The guy who bought the business, knew, when he signed the papers, that the company would not be allowed to run in operations anymore after a certain period of time (2012 or 2014, whenever that time is).
ReplyDeleteHe KNEW this but he didn't either pay attention to it, or he probably figured he could do what he is currently doing (fighting it), and delay the action of it being closed down.
This fellow alsoowns another business and is not hurting for money. He also employs people that are not exactly making a lot of money or contributing a large amount to the surrounding community in the form of taxes and the purchasing of goods and services. So it's not as if a lot of jobs are going to be lost either.
Still, the harvesting of Oysters is anything but an environmentally damaging enterprise for Drake's Bay. It fills a need locally for Oysters, and it takes up a very small area of the bay.
However when the Interior Department looked at the area years ago and thought about the future, they recommended and then decided that NO business such as this one, or any other one involving a certain amount of space within the Pt Reyes National Seashore should be used for private business. This was done well before Obama took office. Interior Secretary Salazar is merely following up on what was recommended.
We also have to remember the battles that were fought over the establishment of the Pt Reyes National Seashore back in the 1960s. Developers wanted to put up homes and turn much of the area around Tomales Bay into a thriving suburban town, much like other coastal communities up and down California.
A forward thinking Congressman named Clem Miller got behind the idea and promoted the establishment of the park way back in the early 1960s. Miller was killed in a plane crash while campaigning in 1962, but by 1969, Congress passed legislation establishing the park and President Richard Nixon signed it into law.
Pt Reyes remains one of the bay area's greatest jewels as far as our open space and park systems are concerned.
For more on former members of congress and Drake's Bay Oyster Co...see Pete McCloskey..a big supporter, involved in drafting amicus brief to 9th circuit for re-hearing.
DeleteThe lease is over.
DeleteBut since there is outcry by the locals and the 11 $12/hr employees (two make $14) lets keep an oyster farm there.
BUT, put the new lease out to bid.
Allow others, Lunny can bid also, to bid on a new lease. His free ride is over. We gonna have a lease then the taxpayers should get fair market value on it.
And them are the facts! Excellent post. The owner knew the rules when he signed the contract.
DeleteKrukow, Kuiper and Miller are all over the age of 60 and the wear and tear of the long baseball season and it's attendant travel takes its toll. Yes, the Giants fly first class on their own plane and stay at the best hotels and eat the best food, but moving around from city to city in different time zones with changing weather, and going from air conditioned clubhouses to air conditioned hotels and hermetically sealed airplanes day after day is not exactly a formula for good health. There's a reason a lot of players havet o fight through flu-like symptoms during the season, and for older guys like the three aforementioned announcers, and even the younger guy like Dave Flemming, all of this travel exacts a toll on the human body. I'm glad for Jon Miller's sake that he no longer does the Sunday Night ESPN games, because all of that travel was not good for his physical health and he would have probably paid a price for it had he continued to take off on his weekend trips every Fridsy night.
ReplyDeletePilots and Flight Attendants fly more than they do. I never hear them complain.
DeleteYes, but Pilots and Flight Attendants then do not go and broadcast for 4 hours after the flight. Traveling is tiring, and so is being on top of your game for 4 hours and talking all the while. That can be grueling.
DeleteIn regard to Kruk and Kuip...
DeleteThere is also research, PR/celebrity tasks, side projects like voice over work, and those regular early AM wake-up calls for radio spots. Add family life (Kruk has a large brood, and Kuip has kids too).
I have gotten the impression that Kruk and Kuip lived pretty hard during their playing days, and I doubt that they have the "cleanest" lifestyle habits nowadays. They suffered serious injuries when they played, and there are most likely some lingering effects from those. Some definite attrition factors, compounded with age.
Catherine Heenan is the Diane Sawyer of the Bay Area, ageless, elegant and always appealing. I do wonder if she has a sense of humor in her private life. Catherine may act overly stern in order to be taken more seriously as a woman news anchor. That still matters to some, even today. Her unspoken byline should be; "Don't Hate Me, Because I'm Beautiful!".
ReplyDeleteImagine the most perfect, unflappable, unegotistical, hardworking anchors in the Bay Area, someone always on top of her game.
ReplyDeleteThat's Catherine Heenan.
Read today's Chron. Poor Kruk.
ReplyDeleteExactly...Giants/KNBR just lost the game/set/match/battle...don't pull a Barbieri II, folks!
DeleteThe Giants brass should go to XM radio and listen to MLB games from the other teams broadcasters or watch games on the MLB network to see how awful the play by play broadcasters are. Believe me when they listen to these second and third rate play by play guys, they won't be annoyed when any of the broadcasting team takes a few games off.
ReplyDeleteAnd for all you Giants haters........pure jealousy of the park, the team and the loyal fans who pack the park for every game.
Correct, 9:13 .... people moan about the Giants' broadcasters and their homerism, personal annoying tics, etc. The worth of the Giants' guys (and the A's team, for that matter) is put in stark relief when you listen to the guys calling games in Chicago, St. Louis, Kansas City, Seattle and other places. And both the SF and Oakland crews are pretty low on the homerism chart ....
DeleteCatherine Heenan is very classy and great to work with. Love her!
ReplyDeleteCatherine is amazing to work with-- can jump-in on any task... always willing to go above and beyond.
ReplyDeleteInvaluable asset to KRON's newscasts.
And people complaining about KRON--- haven't watched in years.
News is that short/simple/clear---
Reporters that can swarm any scene to bring all angles of the BIG story.
Also-- it's not rare for KRON to be #1 at 5pm in demos.
It's not going anywhere.