A month ago I wrote that Dana King would "strongly" consider coming back to KPIX--"if the situation was right."So, what's the latest?
Pretty simple: King was ripe to return to PIX and would have gladly been open to talking about it --seriously.
Only the people who run PIX: notably, News Director, Dan Rosenheim and GM, Bruno Cohen, would have nothing to do with it.
In other words, the sinking ship known as KPIX's news operation would be "too proud" to bring back someone as noteworthy as King--a dynamic news personality and beloved Bay Area figure who still has major gravitas here. But that's PIX.
A source extremely close to King told me "Dana was (and still is) ready to talk to 'Dan and 'Bruno' but that neither of them made any overtures to her."
Nobody has said King would be a savior --but considering the current lack of identity at Channel 5 involving anchors--one would think the idea of reuniting King would be a shot in the arm to a news outlet that sorely needs it.
New York, are you listening?
*Follow me on Twitter
Backfire!
ReplyDeletePlaese coem bak dana we mis yuo.
ReplyDeletePIX could dig up the late Dave McElhatton, prop him up in the anchor chair, and they would have a better newscast than they do today.
ReplyDeleteHmph, Cohen & Rosenheim...two shysters that can't agree on anything.
ReplyDeleteSince when does Rich Lieberman speak for Dana King?
ReplyDeleteSince Rich has a right to say what he wants & you can shut your hole, that's when.
DeleteI don't know why you think she's anything special. She's just another newsreader, albeit one that costs about four times what they're paying their current gang of idiots.
ReplyDeleteThe surest way for a local newscast to begin to win long-term is to be caught doing something right while everybody else is doing it wrong. Some examples: KGO-TV on the '89 earthquake, with KRON literally in the dark and KPIX incapable of deviating from a playbook; KPIX on the Oakland Hills fire, where superior newsroom management at the time paid off; and KTVU on the Cary Stayner murders near Yosemite, where a deep well of reporters provided the ability to do more than the basic hits-runs-and-errors and newspaper-led follows. Sometimes anchors are important and sometimes they're not. When Van Amburg left KGO, the ratings actually went up a little bit. When Anna Chavez came to KPIX, the ratings barely changed. At KTVU, Fred Zehnder understood the importance of consistency. All of this is ancient history. Today, station managers think the key is the right gimmick. Sadly, they're right. Corporations requiring a demonstration of success every three months want to chase shiny objects, and managers are desperate to find any scheme they can make sound plausible. Except, of course, "Let's take our responsibility to the public seriously and apply the best journalism practices to put on a newscast that is a benefit to our community."
ReplyDeleteSo whenever anyone retires they should be welcome back at their old job whenever they choose?
ReplyDeleteMaybe Willie Mays wants to come back and play center field for the Giants.
Word
DeleteNot only do the people change but so does the industry.
DeleteDon't understand why Rich thinks Dana King is anything special. She wasn't really then and unknown to most now. I respected her more for moving on to do something she wanted when she left KPIX.
ReplyDeleteBut now she is old news.
All decisions about talent and staff are made by the suits at CBS in New York. Bruno and Dan get their marching orders from them. This is why Elizabeth Cook is still an anchor.
ReplyDeleteACK!
ReplyDeleteElizabeth Cook?
Do NOT get me started!
She chose to leave a cake gig and now she wants back but they don't want her? Where's my violin?
ReplyDeleteSo if Dana King really wants to come back, has she asked for a meeting with the dynamic duo? the folks in New York? Is she waiting for them to come to her? And most important, is she willing to work for less than half she was making before?
ReplyDeleteCan't believe the local news today. I had to stop watching ALL channels. Talk about sinking ships! Dana King could have shot to no.1.Where's Wendy Tokuda, Van Amburg when we need them???
ReplyDeleteWendy's learning how to read.
Deletewherever Dana lands is where i will be watching. whoever lands her will inherit an already proven fan base for her work.
ReplyDeleteWhat am I missing? Has there been any statement from Dana herself that indicates she is interested in returning to KPIX?
ReplyDeleteNever liked Dana King and would not go out of my way to watch if she returned. Way over rated. Maybe her return was in her own mind and not KPIX. As far as I am concerned their news is good.
ReplyDeleteThe return of Dana King? No, thanks. Just wake me when they decide to bring back the legendary Milt Kahn.
ReplyDeleteCan we assume the 'art' career didn't work out?
ReplyDelete(I always thought she sounded a little nasal.)
You can never go home again.
ReplyDeleteLook, Dana is a multi-talented, very nice person. That's not false praise. However, she, nor any one, not fully unclothed individual, is capable of bringing dramatic success to a local TV newscast, particularly the amateur (half) hours that KPIX offers. I'm guessing Rich got it into his head from putting the question to Dana that she would not say no if Bruno called and asked to talk. For the money that gig pays, even in today's deflated valuations, who would? It made for an entertaining but pointless story for a couple of days, and that's as far as it goes. (Unless whoever is running KRON finds revelation in my opinion and debuts The Nude News, in which case may the gods have mercy upon whatever is left of my soul.)
ReplyDeleteKing is too sage, wants too high a wage, and she is the wrong age.
ReplyDeleteRich, I saw Nick Smith ex KGO TV 9 year GA Reporter in front of the SF PG&E Headquarters Building at 245 Market St. Nick now works for PG&E for their Public Relations Dept. Great for Nick a Really Good Guy! Keep up the great work Rich!
ReplyDeleteHow many female anchors do you see as Lead Anchors, who are in their 50's? Exactly - it's a young womans game now. Danas' time has passed, and the New World Order (young, perky...) has taken control.
ReplyDeleteSorry Rich - you're dead wrong.
It is a blow back situation.
ReplyDeleteDana has always been an arrogant bitch. In the last 90's and early 2000's, she was pissed at the KPIX management for some unique reason and decided to cut her hair real short to anger them. They did not bite and sort of left her alone.
Last year, Dana got cocky and thought that she was going to win the election. She bragged about it in her blog and lost the election.
I am glad that Dana lost her District election especially when most of her campaign were funded by outsiders. Check the paperwork. It is all there.
Dana does not have the patience nor the emotional fortitude to run against Kaplan for the "At Large" Job because she might get "licked" again.
Dana! You are so over-rated. I talked to one of your former co-workers awhile back. That person did not think very highly of you and told me that you would spend most of your work time on your personal projects instead of your job.
Now ask yourself why does the management wanted you back?
- The Niner
Thank you. Well said.
DeleteWhat I'd like to see at KPIX is a Norah O'Donnell or a Margaret Brennan as anchor.
ReplyDelete