Tuesday, April 26, 2016

Hey, Let Us All Back Off On Screwing with Roberta Gonzales (Including Me)

 ROBERTA GONZALES's problem is that some people forget she's really Roberta Gonzales, yeah, that Roberta.

Let me first state that I love Roberta; just can do with less Robertaisms until I note the fact its the Robertaisms that has men; young and old; women; parents, PTA members, the school principals, the girl-scouts that sell cookies outside Safeway that ADORE Roberta; heck, I think she's regional now.

Roberta Gonzales is KPIX's #-1 most-popular personality. She can be the most annoying human being on the planet; she can reek with what one might seem uncanny phoniness but for the most part, it's all very real.

And for the most part, the "very real" is fine--I mean, seriously, we have some serious shit in the world going on and the mother of all serious shit currently playing out, so a hunk of Roberta isn't the worst thing on the menu. Roberta raised some good kids and is a good mother and cares about her own mother so she's suddenly not turned into Kathy Bates' character, Misery.

She's sort of yucky at times; how do I know? Because I said it, here. But I also acknowledge she's been able to make it here too, for well almost three decades under some of the most difficult circumstances, on and off the screen. One thing, for sure, she's consistent. That's saying something particularly in today's nutsy environment.

I chide Roberta for the breathless delivery; she does it way too much and she needn't because Roberta without the cutesy persona is just as cool as Roberta, wonder bread. But I forgot: that's Roberta! So as much as I can't stand the uber-yenta presentation (especially on radio) I can take it in stride because, BREAKING NEWS!, Roberta is still something visually to behold. And in a market that reeks of plastic boob enhancement and overt phony persona University, I'll take Gonzales over the rest of 'em, most of whom couldn't match RG one iota if their life depended on it.

I'll say this too. Roberta works with a staff half of which don't particularly like her and a News Director that has tried mightily to ace her out of the main KPIX domain. It's one thing to object to an air talent you don't like professionally; it's another to go after her on a personal level. That's not cool. So she's not Mother Teresa, big deal. She's got a huge heart too. That's saying something.

This is not an endorsement for Roberta Gonzales.She doesn't need it. It's a plug for someone who has had to endure and persevere in a tough market and I salute her for that.

So there.

35 comments:

  1. I appreciate you wanting to cut someone some slack, and I'm sure she's a nice person, but saying she shouldn't dial it down because that's her personality trait is kinda like saying a mugger shouldn't rob old ladies because he's amoral and doesn't know any better. If most people like her style and she's popular because of it, that's fine. I don't and post on a Bay Area media blog that I don't. It's your blog and you have the freedom to review and not publish posts - that doesn't bug me either. It's your sandbox and you and I know full well you're letting us play in it.

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    1. Hillary Rodham ClintonApril 26, 2016 at 8:34 AM

      Roberta reminds me of that scene in Ace Ventura when Ace talks out of his ass. Back to you, Stan!!

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    2. Funny reading all the positive posts from Roberta and her family. Been in the City my whole life and have worked the media side. Roberta and Bob Fitzgerald are the only two about whom I've never heard a good thing!

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  2. Roberta is real. Hard to believe with that on-air persona, but her enthusiasm is real. She's a very nice and sincere woman. Those are the kinds of people who get stomped on in any business. It's a shame. She's a 180 from the phonies on Fox2 like Gasia Wheel of Fortune and the Pirate Bitch on the weekends and Ms. Big Boobs on KRON4.

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    1. Gasia Wheel of 'Torture' (for the viewers). Who is the pirate bitch on the weekends?

      Rich, I gotta say that half the reason to read your blog...is to read the comments!

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  3. Not only is she a good person, friend, and mother, but Roberta also does a lot of good for the community. She is constantly helping out with fundraisers, emceeing events, and doing charity work. I've heard she's great to get along with at work, and it's much appreciated especially in the wee hours of the morning. Her energy is great considering the rest of the morning team lacks energy and can put you to sleep.

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    1. Her work ethic and general activity levels are remarkable. I have had some exchanges with her, during which she has always been responsive, courteous and informative.

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    2. Kenny Choi must be thinking .. what did I get myself into?

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  4. I find her appearance distracting, in a bad way.

    Also, you pine relentlessly about "selfies" as an abomination--and call out those you dislike while Gonzales gets a pass, why? She does just as many as the others.

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    1. Agreed. I think it's her choice of hairstyles over the years. In that headshot she looks very sultry and sexy however on tv she doesn't come off that way. I still will always see her as the weathergirl with the 1960s hairstyle she wore in the 80s and 90s. Very weird looking.

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  5. Roberta is a real tuff bird. She stands where many have fallen in a constantly changing industry. Her husband does a real good Sharks game as well. Good for her...

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    1. Her hubby is a phenomenal hockey announcer, and an icon in Sharks history.

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    2. And her husband isn't her husband anymore.. not for awhile.

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    3. "And her husband isn't her husband anymore.. not for awhile."

      Does she need a sub?

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  6. Roberta is a performance artist. You either get her shtick or you don't. I wish there were more of her kind still around.

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  7. She's like the Cher, Dolly Parton or Liza Minelli of local TV.
    Well preserved, over the top, probably a gay icon, and like cockroaches will always be around.

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  8. The problem I have with Roberta is she would make a cup of coffee nervous. She reminds me of my ex tax attorney wife...

    Roberta's on air personality is for me much like a cup of coffee with vinegar in it. I want to like her but she is too damn hyper for me...

    I might add I'm all for boob enhancements. I must admit Darya (no enhancements needed) won my heart with her provocative dressing along with sipping a Diet Mountain Dew at 6:30AM - now that is a woman! Anyone who can handle a Diet Mountain Dew at 6:30AM is worth meeting...

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  9. A few years back I sent Roberta an email saying how much I like and enjoyed her, asking if she would mind working seven days a week. I had never sent anyone in the Media an email because of security and personal reasons, I knew I would probably never receive a reply.

    The next day I received an email from Roberta, it said, "Thanks for the email, lets keep in touch." I would send her an email once in a while, and as busy as she is, she would always respond!

    On Veterans Day I received an email from Roberta, it said, "Happy Veterans day, have a great day, you deserve it." I can never recall anyone, family or friends, thanking me for anything on Veterans Day.

    This Vietnam Veteran salutes very few people. I salute Roberta Gonzales!! P3 Orion.

    To those of you who don't like Roberta, what ever the reason, I think you have a personal problem!!

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  10. Well, my wife's experience with her was different. She's a non-profit executive and Roberta hosted a holiday event for the non-profit the station promotes. I'm sure this is true with a lot of on-air folks, but my wife said she couldn't believe how different Roberta was on-air and off. As soon as the cameras came off, she was ordering people about in a not very nice way.

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  11. I'd bang her, and do it again and again

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  12. I shouldn't like Roberta -- she reminds of those ghastly girls in grade school who worked overtime trying to be always perfect -- but I do. Not sure why.

    Anyone remember Karna Small? Boy am I getting old.

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  13. I will go on record as liking Roberta..... attractive for her age and not overweight. But at KPIX I can use more Maria Medina!

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  14. That was the most accurate and on task review I've heard out of you since you started writing this blog. Roberta sells her style through a short segment, so you don't get too much. That "show style delivery" that you call "uncanny phoniness" is almost welcome to add a different flair to the "routine news" style. "Network Paul" coming in to "save" CBS SFO came in the front door and left out the back... bummer for him. Roberta is the full act. Community, sizzle, weather, delivery, looks, and connections with what counts. One hard working girl with Public Relations distributions daily.
    I might even give my name on this post, I am so impressed with your remarkable grasp of the obvious about Roberta.

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    1. I don't need a weather person to act like my new buddy and I don't need an improvisational dance show or cheerleader when I watch the news. A little entertainment value doesn't hurt, but I tune in for information. There's a reason Evelyn Taft is in LA - she gave information, but didn't treat Bay Area weather like it was the most important thing in the world and delivered it lightheartedly for the most part. You'd think the world was going to stop rotating when Roberta gives her reports.

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  15. @1:27pm But wouldn't you want a discount after the second or third time?

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  16. I guess you like her or don't, and I don't. I just need someone to give a damn weather report, not act like someone waaaay past their prime trying to be sexy. She's phoned in the weather report for years, so I'm glad she's not on in the evenings any more.

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  17. Roberta is a bit over the top but hell she's lasted a long time. Longevity is a quality to be respected

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  18. When I was a kid in the 50s the news guy would just say at the end of the broadcast "And rain tomorrow." No fancy computer charts, no Doppler radar. Frankly I don't think these overpaid characters we have today are anymore accurate than they were then. What a racket. They're very highly paid. They're wrong about half the time and they have no accountability. Sign me up.

    And where's the biggest, most threatening El Nino they all warned us was coming our way? Batten down the hatches -- not.

    Such a lot of b.b.

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  19. "Hey, Let Us All Back Off On Screwing with Roberta Gonzales."
    Man...I'd LOVE to screw her...she's HOTT!

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    1. HOT!!??!! Maybe lukewarm. Do you see that hill? She's
      waaaaaay over it!

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    2. Yeah, in 1990.

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  20. And she wields a mean grease pencil and can write backwards ...no, wait, sorry, wrong century... okay, so which news personality IS perfect?

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  21. Roberta is... Roberta...Take it or Leave it... Just like Rich is Rich. She is paid to do her job and does it very well. She still has her job unlike some former anchors that work there do not...

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  22. I'm going to go on record as being a fan of Roberta's also...You can tell she loves what she does, the Weather, and she has a terrific personality also. I remember Roberta way back from when she used to do the Weather Reports in San Jose, she is solid, and good at her job.

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