THREE LOCAL TV HEAVYWEIGHTS--(whatever that means today) were having a big power lunch powwow Friday afternoon at the North Beach Restaurant; downstairs and nowhere near sight where deals are made and decisions pondered. They were not there to kibbutz about the prosciutto and melon, trust me.*Yeah, Lawrence Karnow has returned to the local TV Weather department: Karnow, a former PIX predictor, is now the weekend PM guesser on KRON.
*The BANG people are laying off more than 10 Copy Editors, and a few veteran reporters for those 12 of you that still read a newspaper.
*It's not so much that KGO-TV news people are disgusted with the direction of the operation; that they are flabbergasted over the daily morning "Donnie and Marie" histrionics; they have ZERO faith in the news director, Tracey Watkowski-Silva and her boss, GM, Billy Burton. Other than that, everything's peachy at 900 Front. Or, as one veteran staffer told me, "If we didn't carry the Warriors right now during the playoffs, this place would really be in the dumper."
*KTVU: See above item minus the Warriors. The present working conditions in a nutshell: "Working at Fox-owned stations is akin to being in Scientology." I didn't say that but a senior editor did. The person wanted to go on the record but was afraid of the consequences. Maybe KTVU should talk about how Fox plays with people's minds.
*I will repeat this again and again: some people at KTVU are extremely worried and are having anxiety over talking to people (me) even off the premises. Some of them are those who have over years and years of time employed. So, congratulations, Fox, for creating a gulag in Jack London Square.
*So far, the Hawaii guy, Mr. Choi, on PIX in the morning? Dear lord. Another beautiful move by the dopey guy who makes beer runs after 6 with the sports guy. How PBRish.
In a year, they'll send Choi packing for Fresno and hire yet another morning mercenary. Somewhere, Kessler, Kohara and Mallicoat are laughing up a storm.
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| Michelle Griego |
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| Lawrence Karnow |
I'm glad to see Lawrence Karnow back on TV. He's been busy building a weather app called "weatherscope" and it's pretty cool. KPIX made a terrible mistake, oh well when will they learn?
ReplyDeleteHe tested the App on a range in Utah and was able to replicate an F2 tornado and destroy a few out buildings. It's one crazy App, but I don't think he will be allowed to release it.
DeleteHmph...speaking of shit disturbers, try washing your ass for once, Jan Wahl.
DeleteI wonder if Roberta Gonzales is jealous. Lawrence makes a huge move up!!!
DeleteTo Author of Bernie Sanders at 10:56,
DeleteVery bad taste to use Bernie's name for your equally disgusting post.
"Bernie's name for your equally disgusting post. "
DeleteI agree that Bernie Sanders is just as disgusting as that post.
To Anonymous at 5:38pm: Fuck You. I'll say what I want. You're the one with bad taste. Wash your ass.
DeleteTo Bernie Sanders at 8:40pm
DeleteYes you can say what you want. It's just that what you said smells like the same thing that comes out of your ass. My rectum is always washed so that people like you are free to kiss it anytime.
Technically, the BANG copy desk departures last week are buyouts, not layoffs .... a few actual layoffs are expected to follow shortly.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't be surprised if FOX was not already in your computer Rich. It's in the FOX playbook and one of those creepy things that happen in the "brain room".
ReplyDeleteCopper lined tin foil at all times.
Re the BANG newspaper group. The ARGUS and the DAILY REVIEW are now the East Bay Times.
ReplyDeleteThe Mrs. was pissed when I cancelled my daily, except Monday subscription a few months ago.
The ladies love the Sunday ads.
The other day I got an email offer – not bad. 52 weeks of Sunday only, East Bay Times for $12 a year. Such a deal and no longer available.
I’m with you, newspapers suck – going the way of the Dodo.
East Bay Times, Sunday paper, April 24. Front page section had 22 pages and 12 of those pages were full page ads, 3 pages had half page ads. So 15 of the 22 pages were nothing but ads when you include the smaller ads which are scattered around on the pages that had a story.
DeleteWhy am I still taking this paper? Old habits are hard to break!
11:56: I bet you surf the internet, and pay for the privilege, where there are even more ads...and they are more annoying. Why hate on the paper?
DeleteBrian
When there are more ads than articles as I pointed out, does the time come when "legally" you can no longer call it a newspaper!!
DeleteWhere is that "manefesto" and "National and LA" news?
ReplyDeleteAre we doomed?? Or are they doomed?? Thank god things in the mirror look larger,aint that right Gassia??
ReplyDeleteI really enjoy the weatherman they have on KRON on the weekends during the AM/Midday. Great personality, so much better than most of the women all of these stations trot out during the week specifically for eye candy.
ReplyDeleteRe: BANG remember these are not just newsPAPERS we're talking about, but the existence (or not) of jobs for actual reporters who actually go out and report, dig for dirt, etc. Anyone can become a web news aggregator, but if nobody's originating any content, it's all garbage.
ReplyDeleteMallicoat wasn't that great a newscaster. Kessler and Kohara were likely axed due to the audience age factor. National news seem to go with the older anchors. So Griego is like Sze?
ReplyDeleteYes with less talent
Delete"...for those 12 of you that still read a newspaper."
ReplyDeleteOr those 12 that still read a BANG newspaper.
Like 10:52 says, almost all newspapers are converting into more digital news operations, the faster the better. It drives me nuts when people say "I don't need a newspaper, I go to the Internet." But it's still the newspaper's reporters who produce most of the news you see aggregated on your e-mail face page, etc. Reporters --- print, TV, radio -- produce a vast majority of the actual content.
ReplyDeleteNIce to see that Karnow is back on TV.
ReplyDeleteWhat kpix needs is a fresh face, energy, some color on the morning and preferably no more heavy women. Kenny and michelle can go, along with that horrible traffic lady
ReplyDeleteEnergy is something Griego lacks. She is one of the dullest anchors I have ever seen.
DeleteShe's the face of a last place broadcast. She can shit disturb all she wants but they can finish last with out her also. No one is tuning in for her.
DeleteSaw George Rask on PIX again this morning. He runs circles around all the other TV traffic reporters. Wonder if a station would ever be so bold as to hire a middle aged, overweight guy in that role? Clearly best informed, most intelligent. Too radical an idea for local TV?
Delete@4:43 What days/times are you seeing Rask? I never see him.
DeleteThis morning, Roberta did both traffic and weather. :-/
I got the sense that Mallicoat kept Griego's more diva-esque tendencies in check because he would occasionally humorously intimate that she was kinda high maintenance. That, and I think his seniority and more easygoing professional attitude would keep her in check.
ReplyDeleteI'm kinda getting used to the new guy at KPIX. He delivers the news very directly and professionally without any of the buddy-buddy shenanigans at KGO. KRON and KTVU. The only irritant on that staff is Gonzalez whose deep knee bends, arm gestures and breathy delivery ruin it. I turn to other stations for weather, etc., when she comes on.
I don't usually watch KTVU, but Gasia has sure changed. Even when she's not delivering the news, she's nodding in agreement or shaking her head in disapproval according to what her partner is reading. Gasia - believe me, I don't need you to know how I should feel about a story.
I also turned to KRON this morning. Talking is like breathing with Darya - she just can't shut up even if someone else is reading a story. It's irritating - I want to hear the news, not her comments about what she thinks. Again, just reading the friggin' news without the interruptions. I counted four times that she interrupted and commented on Mark Danon's stories and I wasn't even watching that long. You could play a drinking game with all her interruptions.
Roberta has outlasted everybody. She has watched them all come and go. She is probably number one or two on the seniority list here in the Bay area.
DeleteShe has figured out how to keep a well paying job for a very long time, while others have not! She is a survivor, others are not.
Mr. Choi is very pleasant and appealing to watch. And smoothly professional. Is there ANYBODY in Bay Area news that you give good marks to????
ReplyDeleteYes, a few, but your bitterness makes you SO predictable.
KPIX needs to get to the gym.
ReplyDeleteCould some station bring Elizabeth Wenger back to do traffic, please?
ReplyDeleteElizabeth Wenger has decided since having a child to work on a fill-in basis only.
Deletere: BANG... Alas, all the news fit to cut.
ReplyDeleteHow did Karnow get a weather job at KRON? He doesn't have a rack!!
ReplyDeleteGuess they figured that some tune in to look at one who has a sack.
DeleteWaiting for the stations to start using robots. That would be an improvement.
ReplyDeleteWhy KPIX...why?! Why did you fire Frank for Kenny??? Watching Kenny Choi is like watching wet paint dry on a humid day. :(
ReplyDelete