Added to the inglorious radio spot bastards list: the truly hideous and repetitious George Foreman ads. Hey, George, STHU! *The non on-air personnel at KTVU --cameramen, techs, and the like are getting squeezed by Fox and their benefits and wages are being cut to the point where the union and rank and file are beyond anxious. This will no doubt make for simply wonderful morale. Or as a longtime photographer told me, "We're getting foxed."
*A few things about the Christina Loren posting. #1. I'd learned about her situation and had not planned to write about it. I only did so because Loren posted her condition on Facebook. Even then I hesitated to post such a private matter but then again, Christina has a very large following and the response from her fans speaks for itself. She's a public person too. Ignoring it would not have been prudent. That said, I wish her all the best.
*In the next few weeks you're going to be inundated by a local media Warriors bandwagon blitz. Standard operating procedure.
*Warriors: Advantage, KNBR 1050 and 680. 95.7 FM, 'The Game?': Uh, we have the A's. Enough said.
*There's something going on at KTVU with the weather people --maybe a personnel change involving the chief banana and someone else. Stay tuned.
*KGO-TV and KRON in the 900 Front building: Beauty and the Beast.
*Suddenly, the morning news on KCBS is overly chirpy. Just my opinion. Don't screw with the brand, boys and girls.
*Speaking of which: Susan Leigh Taylor? When did you all of a sudden turn into Miss Chatty? And enough already about your drives into the city from Pacifica. Gees, what a wonder, there's mist on your windshield!
*Dr. Bill Wattenberg and Mike Zwerling, the owner of KSCO, (which is a paid advertiser on this site) had an extraordinary, informative, yes, entertaining two hours of conversation and, get this, NEWSTALK with intelligent and terrific, informed callers this past Saturday. It was reminiscent of that past relic with 810 next to the call letters. If you want to listen to it, access the KSCO website.
Rich I did catch MZ and Bill on Saturday and it was a good program. I wish MZ would cut some of the callers sooner though. Often he lets callers go on long after they made their point and with callers on hold it would be better to keep things rolling a little faster and hear more opinions. Many callers would ask a question and then talk over top of Bill when he tried to answer. Dump em!
ReplyDeleteGeorge Foreman is a hack who was in the right place at the right time.
ReplyDeleteHe wouldn't even be relevant today if Hulk Hogan hadn't missed a phone call from his agent to be the face of the "George Foreman Grill". It was initially offered to the Hulkster and he missed the opportunity. George was just in the right place at the right time. Just like judge Harry from "Night Court", he didn't have anything else going on so he picked the phone up.
If Gary Kildall hadn't been out flying his airplane in San Jose, missing his scheduled appointment with IBM execs, Bill Gates wouldn't be where he is today, either. Serendipity is part of the game.
DeleteSounds like a great listen, I'll have to check out the podcast on KSCO. I miss good radio.
ReplyDeleteYou really were earning a college education just by listening in years gone by. I'm in the minority but I'm glad we still have Ronn and enjoy his show immensely. After Ronn all we have are the remnants of a once great entity full of infomercials, vitamin salesmen, financial products salesmen, D-list comedians, irrelevant evening hosts that had been without a radio gig for years, and wives who are just getting out the house on the weekends. Definitely the end of an era.
Oh yeah, I'm sure Rich Lieberman was sooooo reluctant to blurt out everything he knew about Ms. Loren's medical problems.
ReplyDeleteRich, you could have just mentioned a medical problem without plunging its personal nature.
The greatest of things sometimes come from the meekest of men. As Lee Harvey Oswald once said, "Hold still, goddamit."
ReplyDeleteDid you know Nancy Snyderman resigned at NBC? I broke -sort of - that whole story here on 415. I said her trip was just PR and that Nancy struck me as snobbish. Turned out right. She let fame go to her head basically.
ReplyDeleteAnd ch11's new weather woman. Just a total opposite of Filly Christina Loren. The new lady is my 3rd grade teacher. I think...
Yeah, Stan broke the story....DELUSIONAL
Deletere: KCBS. I listened for 10 min this morning, about 7:20-7:30. It was strange how chatty Stan and Susan were-- and they were going on with opinion vs. just reading the news. Susan literally jumped into a story Stan was reading to give her .02c worth. My guess is the new boss from KGO is trying to make his mark. But read this, old guy: Nobody wants to hear what Susan or Stan think. Just let them read the news! Their banter does not make them more likable, in fact, it does the opposite for this listener.
ReplyDeleteIs the overrated jack Swanson there yet? Maybe he wants more chatty.
DeleteWorld domination at the #1 slot for a couple decades doesn't count? Over rated by whom?
DeleteJack Swanson dominated the world? Maybe Luckoff?
DeleteBoth Luckhoff and Swanson were on the clock during the era when KGO scored over 50 consecutive quarters as the #1 station 12+ in Arbitron (in the diary days).
DeleteAnd my oh my how all that changed once actually data became a factor.
DeleteI find nothing more overrated than a radio program director. Truly never met one that actually changed the way a talent worked for the better. They think they did but on truth it's always the talent. The PDS and GMs are lucky if the right people walk thru their doors.
No, it changed when they had their veteran talk show hosts put all there belongings in a box and escort them down to Front St.
DeleteA good program director recognizes good talent and hires accordingly. Further, they motivate that talent to give their best. Good talent will always shine but a great boss gets the absolute best out of people. Ask the poor people at KGO how much harder it is to work without encouragement or even an on-site boss.
This idea that KGOs talent was going to last thru the ages is a joke. Did Swanson or Luckoff hire any new talent in the last 10 years to help change the makeup of their dying audience? Nope. That's why there's not a single former KGO host making an impact anywhere else and Ronn Owens wouldn't have been hired by anyone either. KGO was operating in a bubble, and when competition arrived it fell apart. Of course Cumulus and Clear Channel are a huge part of the problem but let's not pretend KGO was skewing younger and finding a new audience. It's something all entertainment industries need to do to survive. KGO would died more slowly is all. At least they're moving back to talk and trying to get younger, albeit with crap talent.
DeleteI hate to say I agree with Stan but he is right about new Channel 11 weather lady. Her delivery is so awkward and she is a kindergarten teacher disguised as a weather guesser. NBC made a HUGE mistake there. Not saying Christina was even great or genuine (she wasn't) but far more entertaining than this lady
ReplyDelete2:33? Come to think of it .I did more then breaking news. I called it. Regulars readers know that.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of beauty, the Asian girl who replaced Erica Kato? Better at her job, better on the eyes, better all around.
ReplyDeleteCaught KSCO's Saturday special and was happy to hear Dr. Wattenberg put the anti-vaccine lunatics like Humble Brian The Great in their places. Also kudos to a great caller "Rich from Oakland" who came to his senses and fully represented The Town.
ReplyDeleteKTVU has the best weather team and since it is so good I fully expect Fox to completely fuck it up. It would be consistent with the rest of their "improvements."
ReplyDelete