KTVU/Fox2 Showing Its TV News Journalistic Girth

 It's hard work but somebody has to do it.

A Good Reason Why San Francisco Morning Radio Is So Fucked Up; Nobody Knows Real Dialogue

 IT'S UTTERLY AMAZING THAT SF MORNING RADIO COULD BE SO THOUROUGHLY SHITTY---Well, not that amazing really.

Listening to this fucked-up crap I nailed the #-1 irritant, the big heap of goo that makes my blood pressure rise.

You ASSHOLES don't know how to TALK! To have a simple CONVERSATION! Everything, every moment, has to be a BIT! There's nothing genuine out there; it's as if every damn piece of dialogue has to be a gimmick. There's not an ounce of authenticity and the listeners (at least those few that still listen to terrestrial radio) don't trust the radio guys. They've become undone by blaring noise; artificial sounds; a cacophony of unnecessary audio pollution that makes you want to puke.

KSFO, the talk-station that runs a 5-9 chat show is now littered with NOISE and repetitious audio tripe; stupid train whistles; fart sounds; blaring NOISE--whoever ordered this crap should be aware that it sounds like shit.

KNBR is a mish-mash of artificial NOISE orchestrated by a near-50 "dude" with a fake New Jersey accent who thinks he's a real musician and that he has a voice --yeah, if mutants were only listening.

Too bad too because if the guy just blew his sound board up and actually tried to have a real conversation he sounds like he could tell a tale or two. The problem is he can't; he's simply incapable of just conversing like normal human beings. Who knows, maybe he's not normal.

Wednesday Wash; 415 Media; NBC Bay Area Rio Factoid; Steve Aveson; Radnich/KRON Misery; KTVU Castaneda Envy; Plus Some Zingers Too

 WEDNESDAY WASH

*The NBC Bay Area (KNTV) News Anchor Princess has quietly told the bosses she wants no part of Rio in August at the Olympics because of Zika. And she's not alone.

*Steve Aveson did have scheduled time off but he's spending his time away from KRON pondering his immediate future--like, "Fuck this guy, Radnich!" He didn't say it like that, specifically, but a KRONvict source told me he said as much off the set.

Radnich, meanwhile, has issues all over the place with KRON personnel: him and Catherine Heenan are de-facto non-communicado; he can't talk to weatherwoman, Brittney Shipp because she wants none of his shit (and this was before the Heenan video); he daily embarrasses anchor, Grant Lodes, who's beginning to get real pissed off; oh, and he's alienated almost every woman at the office except Pam Moore and even Pam thinks he's an asshole (off the air) Quite a guy, that Radnich --maybe he can audition for the late lounge show act at Binions in Vegas.

*You read it here first: I wouldn't be surprised if this was Gary Radnich's last year at KRON; there's only so much they (KRON) can take; Radnich himself has 30+ years at the station when it was in its NBC glory days; now, he routinely mocks its existence and only works there because he needs the extra money to feed the family. His main dough, though, comes from KNBR, which serves him up a vehicle so he can say, "I'm headed after the show for my 'Buster Brown' act." Way to bite the hand that feeds you, Raddy.

*Most overrated show on local TV: KQED's suddenly garish, "Check Please", where every week a bunch of yuppie baby boomers highlight "this beautiful Indian restaurant in Pleasanton!" Check Please, I'm checking out.

*Julie Watts, your career is now really taking off or is doing fill-in weather at PIX the next step before New York.

*Then again, Julie is better to look at than Brian Hackney, who might be the longest-lasting Bay Area TV News retread since Lawrence Karnow.

*KTVU Morning mainstay Sal Castaneda --who makes roughly $400K a year is beloved by most of the staff --except one on the set who isn't too crazy about Sal's extra coin. I don't believe any of the reports that a 15-round encounter outside in the back is in the offing but wounded egos make for possible blood.

*Hey Tracey Watkowski: even your most loyal staffers at 900 Front can't stand Donnie and Marie in the morning. They make jokes about them and some get e-mailed to me --I can only say you're doing swell at KGO, except in the AM. Maybe you should call Kevin Keeshan or would that be beneath you?

*Hey, Raj Mathai? You're too-cool look and persona is beginning to wear on people like me who used to be allies. Maybe it's time to look back at the lean years when you were posing in pictures with Radnich.

HOLD ON, ONE MINUTE: Yes, the  Donation Request has been up more frequently of late because, get this, I RELY on your CONTRIBUTION(S) to keep 415 MEDIA going. Survival is a bitch. So look, if just a few hundred of you that come here (of the 50,000+ each week) were to make a $25 one-year Subscription, that would enable me to keep going and not have to go to Pledge Breaks every other day. It's your call. Go to the PAYPAL/DONATE Icon on the Right Side of the Blog.

*Back to more mundane things like what's with the "uh's" that Jon Miller, uh, says, uh, on Giants post-game wrap? I, uh, have, uh, counted quite, uh, lot of UH's --maybe it's just me.

*Mark Purdy, the fine SJ Merc Sports columnist told me about ten years ago that the Bay Area would one day soon have only 2 major newspapers. Today we have the SF Chronicle and the San Jose Merc with a few fish wraps like the East Bay Times and SR Post Democrat. I think Mark's prediction is pretty damn spot on.

*The last time the Chronicle was relevant Glenn Dickey wasn't wearing hairpieces.

*KTVU: Your Bay Area TV News Scientology outlet. Where the atmosphere in the newsroom is akin to an L. Ron Hubbard speech and BBQ in the conference room.

*Ken Wayne: damn, Kenny, that new look and those threads? Wow! Hell, I thought Mark Ibanez had the market on best-dressed TV anchors. Of course Mark has a new career path going: taking Pete Lupetti to Plank after work to pick up chicks from Fremont.

*Mark has a busy schedule: between sports reports and planning on that new book, "Leslie Griffith: the High-Heel Days", doesn't have much time to waste.

*That once respectable KSFO Morning Show is back to its dumb, unnecessary, overload of sound gimmicks, drops, whatever...more alarming: running previously-aired banter between host and co-hostess as live conversation when in fact, same conversation ran an hour earlier. That's not kosher, even by Cumulus standards.

*The high-up at PIX who had a bender the other evening at Hunan should be aware that pork-fried rice after about 12 Bud Lite does not make for a swell ride home.

*You really want to know about Radnich tact, ask former KRON reader, Emerald Yeah.

*PIX: more blonds than a Walnut Creek Nordstrom.

*Frank Somerville next Facebook posting: "I'm against Diabetes!" --4000 Frank followers: "You rock, Frank!"

*Larry Krueger and Damon Bruce: A fine couple of sports talk radio hosts only, Damon, might be beneficial to keep the GF a distance away from Krugs.

*Ray Ratto: I never met a tuna melt I didn't like.

*Dave Feldman: "How in the hell have I kept this gig?" Feldman: more vanilla than a San Lorenzo Baskin Robin's.

*KNBR: More White guys than a KKK Rally.

*Kate Scott: makes Mindi Bach look like Amelia Earhart.

*Paulie Mac: Darwin was wrong.

*John Lund: Penis jokes at KNBR feeds my family, thanks Justin.

Where's Steve Aveson?

 BARELY a MONTH into his new gig, he takes time off? Weird.

Where's Steve Aveson?

I Want To Hold Your Hand; Tuesday 415 Media Video Finale; The Beatles

{PERFORMED LIVE ON THE ED SULLIVAN SHOW AT THE ED SULLIVAN THEATRE}

THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING 415 MEDIA

Help Keep 415 Media Sustainable

We survive; actually I survive mostly on DONATIONS and SUBSCRIPTIONS and a very limited advertising budget; PLEASE HELP US NOW...


*SUPPORT 415 MEDIA!  Please click on my Donate button and support 415Media. You don't need to sign up for a PayPal account to make a secure and confidential donation. If you do, I'll be grateful and I'll be sure to say so by private email or call. Thank you.

415 Media Exclu: Alan Wang Settles with KGO-TV Over 'Liked Tweet' Firing

Alan Wang has reached a settlement with KGO-TV...415 Media has learned exclusively, through a source close to Wang's legal team, which includes Angela Alioto.

Terms of the settlement are not known ...Wang was unceremoniously booted by KGO last March over "liking a tweet" KGO deemed insubordinate.

I would bet Wang is smiling right now, just a hunch, call me crazy.

New AM Talk Radio Station for SF: Former 860 AM KTRB Debuts July 4th 'AM 860 The Answer'; Salem Broadcasting

 SALEM BROADCASTING takes over San Francisco --former KTRB becomes " AM 860 The Answer"...beginning Monday July 4...

Seems all out-of-town, syndicated talk format--NO locals for now but that may change.

*Developing...

KCBS Needs a Deep Cleaning; Old 24-7 All News Is Stale; Bunger and Leigh Taylor Boring; PM Drivers Too; Michael Finney Talks To You and that's Good; Roberta Gonzales Gets 'Worser'; New Obnoxious Worst Radio Ad; Plus 415 Media Nuggets

Stan Bunger and Susan Leigh Taylor/KCBS  Morning Anchors

 As a stalwart radio presence here in the Bay Area, KCBS is about as consistent as they come; a 24/7 all-news conduit that relies heavily on traffic and weather; breaking news stories; a round-the-clock AM CBS station that has been around seemingly forever.

That said, KCBS is noticeably   slipping and badly so. There are cracks in the wall despite steady ratings.

Especially in the morning. Whew! What the hell has happened here?

Longtime anchors Stan Bunger and Susan Leigh Taylor seem to be in a comfort zone that has them resting on their laurels. The result is that the Morning News Drive Time during the week sounds frankly boring and stagnated. Seems to have flatlined at the worst possible time. Part of this has to do Bunger's complete control-freak play and his awful morning duets with suddenly insufferable weather woman, Roberta Gonzales. At 7: 20 AM, it's become the 740 AM freak show with Roberta's golly-gee act and Stan's aiding and abetting. It sounds terrible and that's the problem.

Leigh Taylor is another major irritant. Her whiny, holier-than-thou missives have become tiresome; her frequent "as I was driving in from Pacifica there was sprinkles on my window' are tedious and trying --if it's once and awhile fine but Taylor says it like she's getting paid each time. If I were her, I'd can it; listeners know a fraud when they hear one.

Moreover, Taylor's interviewing style is irksome at best; do we have to hear her repeatedly open the bottom of the hour interview with, "Good Morning, such and such...thanks for joining us"... and then an awkward pause. It sounds awful. And apparently no one has told Taylor about it. Except me, now.


Another major irritant involves KCBS' incessant story replay; apologists say this rampant repeat of stories is just "part of the business and required. People are tuning in and out and getting out of their car." Really? That can't defend the literally dozens of times a listener hears the SAME story ...again, and again...and again...and again. It's lazy, it's pathetic and ridiculous. And it doesn't have to happen. Grow up, KCBS.

In the afternoon, I've never liked Jeff Bell, who seems to talk down to people day after day. What's with that? Is Bell better than the rest of us? It sounds like he thinks so. Co-anchor Patti Reising doesn't help matters either with her on-air persona and frequent lecturing. Maybe she thinks she's at the opera.

For a station that's as big and worthy as KCBS, you would think they could possess more detailed reporters but surprisingly they are low on the totem pole here. Doug Sovern is a qualified political reporter; Jeffrey Schaub is just above-average; Dave Padilla is a disaster though; a radio Hindenburg. (Rise and Shine?) Really Dave? Come on.

KCBS needs a deep cleansing --it still does what it does best: a place to go on breaking news stories and a cavalcade of sports and weather at 15 after and "on the 8's". But it all sounds stale like leftover Chinese food from a week. It can be tolerated to a bit but you still have to nuke it in the microwave.

And the recent practice of hiring KGO Radio retreads doesn't help matters; Dear Jack Swanson: you're an industry giant. Is it really necessary to fetch old sandwiches from the KGO refrigerator? There has to be better options out there on the open market.

*TUESDAY NUGGETS...

*More Michael Finney: the KGO-TV veteran Consumer Reporter TALKS TO YOU. He doesn't insult you with stupid and gimmicky double talk. It's REFRESHING and AUTHENTIC to the viewer. Yes, some people find that pleasing to the eye and ear.

*I didn't know Mike Sugerman was Jesus Christ around here. Mike's a decent reporter --wish him well in NY and congrats on his new Grandpa status but he's average at best; The "About-The-Bay" reports became tedious and predictable. I'm supposed to be a believer? No. And please spare me with the "he's a genius" comments. Mike is good. Not great. There's a big difference. He's no Bob Melrose. But he's better than Don Ford and Da Lin.

*Yeah, hard fact: CBS doesn't like to pay its talent big money when they near 60. Remember Walter Cronkite?

*Those KNBR producers, call-screeners, and on-air guys who pleaded on YouTube about getting a livable wage? Well, turns out their pleas were about as genuine as ordering fish at House of Prime Rib. When push came to shove they acted like complete cowards --their cry for help was IGNORED by management and their influential on-air stiffs didn't do a thing. Not that they could but the fact remains: people on KNBR like Radnich and Krueger; "Murph and Mac"; Tom Tolbert are ANTI-UNION. They only care about themselves and to hell with the staff who get paid roughly 12 bucks and hour. Radnich is particularly putrid: he frequently orders one of the young bucks to fetch orange sodas from the vending machine and move his car. What an ass!

*Ron Cervi, KCBS Traffic: I'll listen to his report.

*More Roberta Gonzales: she thinks everyone wants to hear every personal story no matter what; Roberta, it's getting worser by the day! Please, put a pipe on it.

*E-mail: "Rich, did we really have to know about your personal life?" No, but it beats scribbling that KGO Radio is shits --and people really do want to read it. Maybe that's scary but at least it's honest.

*By the way, I like writing about life issues and things that affect us all. You might be in denial if you don't gather the fact that there's a lot of people out there who are depressed. Look up "clinical depression" and read about it. Welcome to the real world.

*I thought "Kars-4-Kids" was the worst radio spot but that asshole guy with the "SAFETY, SAFETY, SAFETY, Granger Granger Granger" is the clubhouse leader.

*Further angst probably affecting the KCBS workers: the likely sale, next year, of CBS Radio, which will pretty much break apart the family.

*SUPPORT 415 MEDIA! Please click on my Donate button and support 415Media. You don't need to sign up for a PayPal account to make a secure and confidential donation. If you do, I'll be grateful and I'll be sure to say so by private email or call. Thank you.

Sugerman Retirement was Hastened by Money; CBS Doesn't Like Paying Top Dollar To Reporters in Twilight of Career; Monday Open

 CBS-SF TV and Radio reporter, Mike Sugerman told his fans that he was retiring from the company after 37 years and headed to NY.

"I'm going away," Sugerman said on Facebook.

I didn't buy it. Sugerman's reason, that is.

Still don't.

The fact of the matter was that Sugerman's move was hastened by CBS, like a lot of media companies, doesn't like paying top dollar to those people in the twilight of their career. It's unfortunate, sometimes, but it's true.

Any doubt? Ask these people.

I knew that but in Sugerman's case, I was tipped off by a source, who told me it was "100 percent' certain" that the CBS honchoes were not about to offer a new contract to the veteran SF reporter. And even if they did, it would contain a significant financial cutback.

So, yes, while Sugerman publically is "retiring" he's really reacting to CBS' missive.

CORRECTION: In that same piece on Friday, I speculated that Sugerman didn't inform his wife, KCBS anchor, Janice Wright, about his decision --I was wrong. In fact, Wright is headed back east with Sugerman.

But that doesn't change the dynamics. The Sugerman move was accelerated by money and time. Those are the issues I laid out Friday.  Might be tough for Mike's amen corner and the trades, but it's the truth.

'Jesus, Send It To The SF Chronicle!"

Even back in 1976 they were making fun of the SF Chronicle.

{ALL THE PRESIDENT'S MEN; JASON ROBARDS AS BEN BRADLEE}

Dinner with a Good Friend and some Insecurities Too; Sunday Short Story

  SYDNIE was late at the bar Saturday night; we were going to have dinner and some drinks --a brief respite from the real world which pretty much sucks right now.

We met --get this--on-line, Craigslist; (OMG!) she responded to an ad I wrote. Lucky for me she seemed quite reasonable and genuine --even though she works in advertising.

When we first met about a month ago, I told her I was suspicious. "Why are you suspicious? "she asked. "Well, for one, you're hanging out with me." She laughed but I was serious. "What's the big deal? ," she repeatedly inquired. No time for games.

I was up front. I'm in a stage of my life --personally and professionally--that I couldn't imagine be possible. Here I was, in clinical depression, drinking, commiserating, feeling quite a bit down and out in fact, why the hell would anyone want to hang out with me, it was all encompassing.

She was in a funk herself; a really rotten divorce, single mother from Maine, chock full of quite a bit of tragedy and mayhem --what a perfect combo. But unlike me, she wore it well. She seemed quite capable of compartmentalizing all her issues while I just toiled away. She's quite a decent friend --and that's just it, we're friends. She really doesn't date now and I'm sort of her wing mate--her term. And I'm fine with that because I have about 7 million things going on in my life right now, so friendship is good. In fact, friendship is quite convenient and safe.

I told what I do. She laughed. Again, keep in mind she's from Maine; her mother is from Boston --she works in advertising and she's sipping drinks with me; added bonus: she insisted on buying so I'm rolling with it.

Sydnie is cool, real authentic and non-pretentious. I still don't trust her, my own insecurity --not that I haven't given up looking for a woman who would have a serious relationship with me, just that I'm having difficulty in this chapter of my life finding someone I can trust. Sydnie, and I told her this, can "have" any man she pleases but she's taken (she says) by my insecurity. Huh? "It's an 'East-Coast thing,'" she tells me. I kind of get it now but I'm having reservations --I understand women have a far more 'bigger picture' thing that most men can't grasp --like me, for instance, but she swears. OK, but me?

We haven't been intimate and it's not a prerequisite in case you're wondering. She's going through a lot now, one being a single mother and dealing with a real nasty divorce. Maybe she needs someone like me in her life so I'm beginning to take it all in. Plus, I also think the idea of her not having to worry about me and my personal libations is pleasing--to both of us.

Why do I bring all this up? What in the hell does my personal life have to do with writing about media? I bring it up because some of you, I've developed quite a bond; you've come into my life --some of you, former enemies, foes, friends and non-friends alike, and have helped me overcome--both directly and indirectly, the serious and not-so-serious issues that currently make just waking up and getting out of bed a real good day.

I thank you for that because every day is a new day and a challenge. Again, thank you, and thank you, Sydnie, for being a good friend.

Have a nice day and take care.

Summer In The City

Be cool.

*Thanks for your continued support of 415 Media

Bay Area Media Brexit: 'Should I Stay or Should I Go'?

 CHEF RYAN SCOTT: Oh, please, Go, Go, go, go, go....Go!

*Jan Wahl: Go immediately! Quick, please.

*KNBR Morning Show: GO! Be gone, oh, please the Lord, gone, like, "yeah, yeah, yeah--we're GONNO!"

*Darya Folsom: oh, yes, GO, go, go --both of you.

*Donnie and Marie: Gone.

*Gasia Mikaelian: Please, like yesterday!

*Kate Scott: Get your ass outta here! GONE!

*The Foodie Chap: Bye, Bye, He's gone.

*P-Conn: oh, you are GONE! War Eagle! He's Gone.

*Sarah and Vinnie: GONE  BOY!

*Bret Burkhart: Gone.

*Jana Katsuyama: Oh, please, just gonno!

*Mike Matthews: Like yesterday, GONE! (What a schmuck!)

*Allen Martin: You're still here? Gone!

*Chip Franklin: Take your ass and rich uncles outta here, you GONE!

*Bob Fitzgerald: Oh, please, save the world, GONE!

*Dave Feldman: Harbaugh hates you now, GONE!

Henry Lee and Frank Somerville on KTVU News at 5 PM; Fox 2 Theatrics in Jack London Square

 This exchange on Friday Night's 5 PM News is of KTVU Crime Reporter, Henry Lee, after a throw from Frank Somerville. Uh, someone forgot to bail out Henry and, well, just watch ...again, Fox2, the gift that keeps on giving.

 

{h/t: J.C. Clinton}

 

 

Crazy

{SEAL}

*Thank You for your continued support of 415 Media.

Mike Sugerman Leaving KPIX And Headed to NY But If You Believe The Reason You're Uninformed

 Mike Sugerman is leaving KPIX so, and this is his words, "to be closer to my son" (he lives in NY) Yeah, and if you believe that, I've got some oceanfront property in Walnut Creek to sell you.

Sugerman is not suddenly leaving the Bay Area --there's SO, SO much MORE to this story and yet, many of you are taking Sugerman's word as the gospel.

STOP.

Sugerman is married to KCBS anchor, Janice Wright--he makes no mention of her. Think she's going to NY with him? Think again. (But there's overriding personal and professional reasons)

Sugerman has, shall we say, issues. Lots--personal and professional --we'll leave it at that. And CBS, you should know, doesn't like paying people a lot of money when they hit their sunset years. There's a ton of INSIDE material that we will bring you once the dust settles.

Somebody is Clearly Infatuated With Me at a Local TV News Station

 

Just be sure the boss doesn't catch you.

415 Media Exclu; Doom and Gloom in the Morning at PIX; 'There's No Direction Here'; 855 Battery Malaise; Friday Opener

 KPIX BLUES In the Morning

*Morning Show in "disarray" --rank and file staffer: "No faith in new guy" --that would be non-factor, Mr. Hawaii, Kenny Choi, who is liked but whose presence hasn't made a dent in ratings.

*Morning Show ratings freefall. 

*Michelle Griego: "We (staffer) don't 'trust her."

*"There's NO direction here," laments a senior producer who has the ear of the newsroom.

*A feeling that "management doesn't care about the situation."

*Familiar thought: "Where's BRUNO!? That would be GM, Bruno Cohen, who continues to be lost in translation.

*Troops try to carry on in spite of overall doom and gloom.

*415 Media Exclu

A Good Guy; Great Consumer TV News Anchor Too; KGO-TV's MVP, Michael Finney; Veteran Circle7 Helps Those Ripped Off; A KGO Favorite

 I like Michael Finney quite a bit; in an era of simpleton local TV News and gimmicks galore, along comes the dignity and professionalism of a seasoned pro like Finney.

KGO-TV's veteran Consumer Affairs anchor/reporter brings peace and tranquility to people who've been scammed and ripped off by swindlers.

For his valuable (and very popular) daily series, KGO provides Finney with three full-time producers and a staff that numbers over 25. It may be excessive but it's also necessary; Finney is KGO-TV's MVP, at least in the viewer-friendly consumer news department. He's also a very likeable and non-pretentious news presenter in an environment that is clearly running in the opposite direction.

Finney maintains a growing legion of fans both in and outside the 900 Front Studios --and his talents don't go unrewarded --he's reportedly one of KGO's (ABC7) highest-paid specialty anchors at a reported $350K a year. Finney just re-upped too which is a good thing for Bay Area viewers and most especially, Circle7.

*Follow me on Twitter

Why I Flip-Flopped on Roberta Gonzales

 I HAVE A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF RESPECT FOR ROBERTA GONZALES...which makes it only further frustrating that I now have to call her out.

It hasn't always worked that way; time passes.

Gonzales has had some personal problems involving family; me too; this has nothing to do with family; everyone sooner or later has personal issues, welcome to the world of life.

I've flip-flopped on Roberta because I've become disgusted with her giddy, golly-gee-wiz persona --both on KPIX and most notably on her KCBS broadcasts.

They {the broadcasts}are obnoxious, self-absorbed and frankly, disgusting; they are not befitting of someone like Gonzales who should really know better. Her constant pandering and suck-ups smell of disingenuous central. The phony voice, the self-congratulatory gore--really Roberta? It's not something that sounds genuine --more like someone yelling out, "look at me, listen to me, me, me!"

There's no denying Roberta has a soft heart and big and heavy one too. Ripping her because of her grating style on the air does not take away how much time she spends on charity work; how many hours she gives to attend PTA meetings; her work with people with special needs is quite admirable; she doesn't make a big deal about it which only makes it that more impressive.

That all said, her daily radio bits with Stan Bunger stink to high heaven --they are highly irritating and cause quite a bit of angst to people that are listening. Bunger seems in on the ride which makes it all doubly irritating.

Roberta, do us all a favor: STOP the BS. It is beneath you. You're a gorgeous, stunning, smart woman who knows her weather. It's one thing to be enthusiastic it's another to sound quite annoying and you've climbed the mountain. You don't have to sound like a grating, irritating woman. Maybe that's your personality --maybe that's just what it is but I don't think so. I think you're trying too hard. I think you're pulling the Sally Field card, "YOU LIKE ME, YOU REALLY, REALLY LIKE ME." Well, not so much anymore.

Roberta, you still have a huge fan club and I've spoken to many people {mostly older men} who would give a week's paycheck to have lunch with you; that's probably not going to change over this current state, but there are those that are loyal to you that are beginning to lose patience. Enough of the fake voice. Quit the gory audio crap with Bunger. It doesn't sound good.

Trust me.

15 Annoying Media People in the Bay Area

 15 MOST ANNOYING BAY AREA MEDIA PEOPLE (Not necessarily in numerical order)

1. Frank Somerville: a narcissistic, sanctimonious, hollier-than-thou yutz with enough fake emotion to fill Levi Stadium.

Somerville's daily postings on Facebook are not from the heart but straight from the KTVU/Fox marketing department who urge Frank to play footsie with his thousand of sycophantic followers...Somerville's act is only superseded by his brash arrogance in the office.

2. Stan Bunger: a righteous, jerky, supreme asshole with more self-serving residue than a Peoria preacher. Bunger's "gee, I'm so clever" 'tude on the air isn't so beloved by the KCBS rank and file who know a phony when they see one. And another thing, Bungey? How many more  extra BBQ tickets did you have to extort from management so you give to friends? Wholly Christ! And you're ass-kissing to Roberta Gonzales is now legendary gossip in the back offices.

3. Aaron Pero: so, you're still at the KRON helm in spite of so, so, many stains on the wall; your constant screaming and yelling at reporters and underlings; your pathetic guidance of little digital guys who confront people with cell phones at the NBA Finals; your encouragement of staff to snitch on people except her highness in the morning; Pero, it's only a matter of time before Media General has had enough of your crap. Then it's off to Amarillo with Countess D for fish and chips.

4. Jeffrey Schaub: a brash, arrogant, jerky KCBS reporter with more schmutz than a Daly City dry cleaner. A real pretentious one; the yokels call Jeff "asshole supreme" and there's no shock and awe here.

5. Mike Sugerman: Dear Mike, I used to like you, now I'm feeling sort of sad for you. Your "about the bay" drivel is about as captivating as a day-long triple colonoscopy in Concord. And what's with the fake stubble? Either grow the beard or get a better barber. Holly cow, how irritating you've become.

6. Don Ford: Who was responsible for the hiring of this clown? What, is this CBS' way of spending less on talent so they could have this yutz? Great, KPIX: send this buffoon to Walnut Creek for the opening of a Dunkin Donut--way to control the resources --perfect storm: fluff reporter covers fluff.

7. J.R Stone: maybe the biggest KRON ass-kisser since the days of Bob Bonaventura --your Sunday night brown-nosing of Radnich after the Warriors game was more obnoxious than a root canal with a blind dentist. God, you and Pero must be intertwined.

8. Gary Radnich: the act has finally gone to the woodshed --the Bay Area has caught on to your banal shtick and ridiculousness --you're now reduced to the circus clown performing his last show at the Clovis Toastmasters club. See ya later, Gare, the final days are counting down.

9. Heather Holmes: hey, Heather, put some weight on; at this rate you'll be a Karen Carpenter any moment; seriously, I know FOX has really screwed up KTVU when they place you as their primary back-up anchor. How sad. What? Marcia Brandwynne's sister was too expensive? You are supposed to be a terrific news reader; I guess skinny looks supersede news acumen. Great, you're in the club.

10. Larry Krueger: Oh, the blocker supreme on Twitter and Felipe Alou's human breakfast. Krug, congratulations on being Gary's personal lapdog--I hope you got a late-night dinner in the Tenderloin as a gift--wait a minute...

11. Ronnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn Owens: Uh, Ronnnnnnnn, the party's over. You sound like shit; seriously, take the offer now and go out with dignity ...Take Copie to the IHOP and play bridge with him.

12. Brian Copeland: You, know, I used to love you, Byron Allen. I rooted for you, Byron Allen. In fact, Byron Allen, there was a time when you made me laugh out loud: it was the dinner show at a comedy club in Bakersfield right near the Dennys off Highway 5. I do believe you, Byron Allen, deserve a Nor Cal Emmy because of the talent you bought to San Francisco. Mr. Allen? You're not only a Genuine Man, you're a legend.

13. Ross Palombo: Arrrrrnnng ya happy to talk like a pirate because you are about as crappy and phony a news anchor as ever? You make Milt Kahn look like Pete Wilson. AAAARRRRRR!

14. Mike Mibach: Are you still secretly going to the make-up window and looking at yourself, Mikey? Seriously, you and Keba are about as genuine as an email from the guy in Nigeria whose car plunged into the river and he needs some cash from you.

15. Roberta Gonzales --oh please lady just tone it all down for heaven's sake ....

Michael Savage Nominated for National Radio HOF; Category: 'Spoken Word'; Which Is About Time

 Of all the interesting and provocative things that makes me a constant listener to the Michael Savage Show (heard here on KSFO --Noon--3 PM, M-F) is his use of the English language.

Think intense, spoken word, an often lost art on mainstream American commercial radio.

Savage, the bombastic, entertaining, radio raconteur is the king of the spoken word and he's been rewarded for his craft--the San Francisco-based national talk-show host has been nominated for a National Radio Hall-of Fame in the category of Spoken Word On-Air Personality, and public voting runs through June 30.

You can vote for Mike by texting "Savage" to 36500.

I've often marveled at Savage's ability to broadcast an otherwise good to very-good program with his own singular pronunciations and make the show infinitely better.

It's both funny, hilarious and in the case of Savage, wildly unpredictable.

Say the word, "constitution"--this guy says it every day. BORING!

Savage takes the word and uses it his own way..."Connn-STA-TOOOO---Shun" ....A general word like "spokesman" is "Spppppppppooookesman" in the Savage audio dictionary --these descriptions don't do the actual performances their due justice--seriously, you have to actually listen to a show.

Here's a Beauty: KTVU, an Oakland TV News Station Using LA Fox Station Report About Oakland News; 415 Media Exclu

How bad is this?
KTVU, an Oakland station used a, get this, LA-based, Fox News correspondent, Lauren Blanchard, for a story on the Oakland Police on-going situation.

KTVU IS IN OAKLAND! And they're using LA reporters to cover stories IN OAKLAND?! Am I missing something here or is there something rotten going on, I don't get it.

Neither does, apparently, KTVU, eh, Fox2.

This is rather extraordinarily embarrassing and I believe I'm being kind.

If I were overseeing the news department at KTVU in Oakland I would probably think about some severe adult beverage consumption later tonight and try to figure out just what the hell I'm doing.

Just for starters.

'It's War' at KRON; Steve Aveson Can't Stand Gary Radnich; Battle Royale; Haven't We Been Here Before? Aveson is Livid

Gary Radnich

 HATE EACH OTHER? TRY DESPISE ONE ANOTHER!

He, Gary Radnich is detested by the news guy, newbie, Steve Aveson.

Aveson, who's barely been at albatross KRON for a couple months, can't stand Radnich and his frequent on-air putdowns and he doesn't care if its part of Radnich shtick.

Remember this?

A KRON source: "He (Aveson) is putting on the 'happy face because he's got a family and all. He just took this position but he's clearly not happy with the situation and has told Radnich to knock it off."

Only, Raddy hasn't. And Aveson is livid.

Steve Aveson

How much so? Aveson doesn't talk to Gare-- only performing the requisite on-air responsibility of reading news off the teleprompter and fulfilling his obligations that KRON requires. After all, their new 10 PM News (which is getting killed by KTVU) was one major reason the native Bay Area Aveson was hired in the first place.

"It's a war right now," says a station staffer. "They're both in a tug-of-war and going about their way but this is a 'major feud."

Who wins out? You might be surprised.

Keep it here, always at 415 Media --the NEWS and INSIDE stories you won't read anywhere else!

*Follow me on Twitter

The Pathetic Bay Area TV News People Who Shamelessly Went on Warriors Bandwagon; KRON/KTVU Worst Perpetrators

 THE MORONIC Imbeciles who ran heavy onto the Warriors bandwagon should be ASHAMED of themselves. You pathetic people are supposed to be PROFESSIONALS! Most of you didn't know a Steph Curry from a Curry Indian food recipe.

Worst Perpetrators: KRON and KTVU.

These miscreants have no shame. They parade onto the screen and act like a bunch of Laredo hillbillies --they probably don't realize that the viewers take offense to their lame self-promotion.

How do they feel now?

Put away the placards and t-shirts --the season is over and your bandwagon act has gone into the closet.

*Another complete bandwagon phony: Mike Mibach and his crew at Channel 2. I've never seen more garish behavior from a so-called "news" guy than I have with Mibach. A total, 100% shameless self-promoter.

This is what KTVU has turned into...just a pathetic mess.

That Warriors' Loss in Game 7 of the NBA Finals Was Not Sugarcoated by Lowell Cohn, Thank God

In the aftermath of a most depressing defeat, an epic, god-awful Warriors mother of all meltdowns, (sorry, losing is losing--no matter how much you want to spin it), thank God for Lowell Cohn.

There's a lot of people who don't like Cohn, but Sunday Night's Dubs stinker brings out the best in Lowell who fortunately doesn't sugarcoat things and writes beautiful things like this.

It's a welcome respite from the usual local apologists ...like Rudy, for example, on Knibber.

Rudy, smarmy Rudy, was his usual decrepit self with giggles galore and 96000 excuses and sweet nothings.

All the more reason to read Cohn who nailed it.

Warriors Game 7 Loss is Victory for SF Arena Foes; Mission Bay Alliance; Neighbors; Win With Momentum Off Court; Legal Challenges Galore

 Ludicrous it may sound but ironically, the Warriors Game 7 loss to the Cavs at Oracle Sunday Night may have delayed its attempt to begin playing in San Francisco.


The Mission Bay Alliance and many neighbors on the waterfront area certainly hope so and their wishes may come true.

The Warriors lost an epic battle on the court and have been steadily losing on the legal court too.

From the outset MBA --and its several UCSF advocates argue that building an 18,000-seat arena across the street from a hospital makes no sense. Indeed the presence of a building housing basketball, entertainment and other sports events will cause massive traffic jams and gridlock, chaos actually in a neighborhood already congested without such a facility. Combine that with AT&T Park Giants games and concerts and you have the source of such growing opposition.

The Warriors --through a mega-million PR blitz--have argued that the arena still has a green-light status and although there's been many delays, will open the facility on time, right before the 2019 season.

That target date is now doubtful. Even the most diehard arena advocates agree that the new building will open in 2020 at the earliest.

David Miller-Thomas, a resident and venue for, hopes it's never. "Look, I love sports; I love the Warriors. Grew up watching Rick Barry and Phil Smith, but building something massive like that across from a (UCSF) hospital is crazy, just crazy."

The transit planners agree.

And although the Bay Area media coverage of MBA's legal and direct challenges have been tepid at best, the momentum has clearly changed and it appears the neighbors; MBA and Transit officials; plus community activists, have stormed ahead with their challenges.

The Warriors, it seemed, had been winning the PR battle across the bay --with assists from their 2016 Championship Run, a run that has now ended, quite disappointingly, and with it, the momentum of a SF locale by 2019.

That date appears to be a goner now --we'll be watching.

Warriors/Cavs NBA Finals Brings History To Bay Area; The Day After; Roye and Tolbert Shine on Radio; Radnich No-Show; Monday Launch

 THE DAY AFTER

Even if you're not a sports fan you couldn't help but notice the MAIN EVENT on Sunday was the NBA Finals Game 7 --the outcome wasn't swell for Bay Area basketball fans--but the drama and sheer magnitude of the goings-on at Oracle in Oakland dictated the domain on Father's Day no less.

*Among the high and lowlights of the Sporting King...

*The KNBR Radio play-by-play duo of Tim Roye and Tom Tolbert was about as perfect a broadcast as anyone can listen...although if, like me, you turned down the sound from the ABC broadcast and wanted to listen to Roye/Tolbert, there was an almost 8 second delay--the description on radio was ahead of the TV broadcast which was annoying...I went back and forth. Roye, who is terrific and not a homer, was just as exciting even though it was a Cleveland victory. Roye was especially great at the end noting it was the first Cleveland title in over 50 years --he didn't waver because the Warriors were on the short end of the stick...and Tolbert, who really has become an excellent color analyst broke down the game in a very concise manner even though you knew he was dismayed by the Warriors loss. Pros do that and Tolbert, comedy act and all, was at his best throughout and at the very end.


NOTES...A Game 7; maybe the biggest championship game in Bay Area Sports history and the Bentley guy at KRON didn't even show up in Oakland. He's got an excuse; he hosted the KRON sports show after the game. Predictably, Bentley guy was his usual insipid self with fake and phony "aw-shucks" "it's only a game" wise-guy comments. Radnich is so lazy it's amazing KRON needed to have his bod in the studio...fortunately, no one was watching...The KGO (ABC7) post-game show with Larry Beil and Adonal Foyle was just OK, nothing extraordinary, with the usual analysis and player/coach comments from the locker room...The ABC telecast was pretty decent --although Mark Jackson and Jeff Van Gundy talk way too much for my taste...if they both got paid by the word, they'd have Lebron's money...speaking of which, was that "injured" Leron at the end a BIG FAKE or was I missing something? And big mouths Jackson and Van Gundy fell for it.

What In The Fuck?!

 WHAT IN THE FUCK?...

Is KRON doing? Do they have a master plan or are they just a shitty day-to-day operation waiting any day now for corporate (whoever that is, there's a lot of rumors) to come in and hang them? Seriously, the station looks like shit; a news operation that can't be taken seriously; isn't taken seriously; lacks any direction from both management and most of its lame personnel. KRON could be legitimate in a small, but significant manner; a Bay Area version of "NY 1" --but it lacks talent, direction, credibility and leadership. Other than that, they're just fine and dandy.

*KGO Radio has sunk to lows below the abyss; I thought they couldn't get any lower, but they continue to pass into that darkest of chamber beyond the extreme black hole. It's not just the ratings anymore; hell, this albatross has become worse than merely irrelevant; a SF version of KABC but at least KABC has some molecules of legitimacy --KGO is a Walmart in South Dakota; a strip mall in Iowa; a deserted wasteland in the middle of the desert with no life and existing on radio cactus. If Cumulus was smart (and they aren't) they would sell KGO for its 50,000-watt signal --I don't know what they could fetch but the alternative is a massively wasted station with no viable future in sight other than the terrestrial radio mortuary.

*What in the fuck has the Chronicle become? Look, for years this shitty kitty-litter lining paper has been pathetic; how many times have you all said, "I only read the Pink Section, sports section and Herb Caen." Well, Herb's been dead now for almost twenty years and the sports section has lost most of its elite writers --most of us don't even read the paper now relying solely on SFGate.com --only that is nothing more than a real-estate guide with click-bait stories that stop Hearst from eternal bleeding.

*Does KPIX have a pulse, a clue? Hey, Bruno Cohen, you were brought forward to change the culture; begin administering leadership; make some bold moves; hell, make any moves, period! Instead, Bruno, you're done NOTHING, nada! And guess what? PIX is going nowhere fast. It's damn fortunate you're making a lot of money but that's because you're owned by CBS. Think, Bruno, what you'd be without Black Rock. Just another local TV station with crappy newscasts, lost-in-translation anchors, not a ONE news reader that has any personality nor face of the station status. Hell, even Wendy Tokuda couldn't save your Titanic-ass nosedive.

*KTVU: I had hope despite your now official Foxification wouldn't mess up the furniture but the stench at 2 Jack London Square is now too much to take. God, you ruined such a classic TV station. And you've become a news equivalent of Scientology; seriously, all your personnel are zombies unable to talk freely and bound by a station-wide gag order. That's pretty sad really --you're now reduced to an all-selfie propaganda machine orchestrated by amateurs like obnoxious Mike Mibach, Gas-bag Gasia Mikaelian, and sanctimonious Frank Somerville.

Pass the barf bag.

A Classic Friday Night Deserves a Classic; 415 Media Video Finale

THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING 415 MEDIA; HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

It's Friday PM And You Wanted To See Where Some Of The SF Media People Get Laid

 Underrated bar, is Grumpy's. But the bar makes for a good, out-of-the-loop spot for people searching for a booty call; a hook-up.

I've witnessed several media types; some were obviously plastered, some were not, looking to get laid.

Mind you I wasn't conducting a scientific survey just know enough people and have first-hand experience in the process. (No, not a Fantasia location)

Grump's is convenient and they pour a pretty damn good drink. It's like a no-nonsense place, just dark and ordinary enough and in a cool location near the Battery gulch. Their tuna-melt is good enough to take one home later after midnight when your business has concluded and you're ready to have a wee-hour nosh.

The Lowest of the Low at KTVU

 

 At KTVU, I'm told, before you do anything...that's anything; have a cup of coffee; eat some yogurt; lay on the floor and relax and do yoga; you must FIRST, tweet; take a selfie --at first I thought it was a joke but no kidding, they really make you do this.

 

Someone told me the most prolific tweeters/selfies were Rosemary Orozco, Keba Arnold and the leader in the clubhouse, Gasia Mikaelian (all pictured, left to right)

 

I can't stand selfies. I think they are the epitome of asininity. I think they are unwholesome and unsavory particularly from people in the news business who should know better. 

 

KTVU: how low can you go? Lower.

415 Media Breakfast Friday Scrambled Eggs

 CRAZY WORLD. Bad vibes all around. A nutty political election that seems to have started decades ago with a wildcard loudmouth who says anything and a woman who says we should vote for her because she's a woman. Pass the seltzer.

When it gets too intense, I say eat. Eating cleanses the soul if not your waistline. Grab a good hearty breakfast. I love scrambled eggs with extra-burnt rye toast and cottage potatoes. Fire up another cup of black coffee.

*Friday seems to be the day that brings out the best in local media. The butt heads at KQED celebrate with one of the 5000 managers who make over $250K even though management (as usual) cries poor. "We have to cut the budget, we have to cut the budget!" Why doesn't Michael Krasny ever talk about that on his show. Or is just another obscure Berkeley author opining on climate change. Pass the smelling salts.

*It's not that Stan Bunger at KCBS isn't good, he's just more irritating of late. The on-air scribbling with weather countess, Roberta Gonzales, has become sort of barf-inducing, Stanley --I'd say, a quiet conversation with Robby would be in order.

*So, most of you got Fantasia, some of you didn't, which is why they call it a blog.

*Another reason why Michael Savage gets it: the only media figure in these parts who says there's not one good deli in the Bay Area. When Safeway has the best pastrami there's a problem. And Tommy's Joynt is great Hoffbrau food but it's not a deli.

*The Warriors' beat writer for the Chronicle, if you read the paper, has been noticeably missing from the NBA Finals. His by-line has been reduced to writing sidebars ...a co-worker insists there's noting fishy, I say otherwise.

*A Game 7 for the ages on Sunday in Oakland...the only thing that would be more important is Giants replay.

*Oh, Happy Father's Day for those of you lucky enough to have fathers.

*No, the booze poured for that KGO-TV jerk reporter at Grumpy's wasn't a bad pour --prompting the jerk to place down a dollar tip for a 50-buck tab, no, the guy is just a cheap jerk too.

*Has Michael Bauer ever reviewed a restaurant outside San Francisco and Healdsburg? Napa doesn't count.

*Then again Bauer, at least, isn't a foodie chap.

*For all his on-air greatness and industry respect, Dennis Richmond was quite a dick off the air. I'm reminded of a certain KQED radio host who almost had it out with Richmond at a party when greeting Dennis, Richmond looked over the radio host's head, barely acknowledging him.That story is one of the more kind ones.

*Underrated: Rob Roth.

*Overrated: Amber Lee.

*Underrated: Carolyn Tyler.

*Overrated: Jana Katsuyama.

*I'll repeat this again and again: you would think that the people that run KPIX would reassemble the furniture but they're complete imbeciles.

An Eager, Sophisticated, Beauty Asks Company of the 415 Media Blogger; She Wanted Redemption and Acknowledgement; I Wanted Truth and Nothing Else; Short Story

 IT WAS AN HONEST E-MAIL; I had no hesitation whatsoever to meet her but the destination troubled me and I was troubled over the contents at the end: "Be sure to dress conservatively, maybe black tie, white shirt, but nothing that sticks out." 

She was new to the city; a Bostonian via Hartford; very young, very eager and very adamant and up front. She didn't want to mince words either. It was good as a no-drama indicator but I was nevertheless a bit concerned and anxious by her immediate straight-forwardness. Temptation dictated my action but common sense added urgency to the situation. I asked myself repeatedly was this a set-up. I carried on.

Her name was Fantasia. It was not the name she used as a TV reporter in San Francisco. She was some really hot young woman if I say so and her journalistic bent was more than satisfying to my eyes and ears. OK, she was hot and I was nervous and wanted severely to gaze into her eyes and inquire as to just what the heck she wanted; if it was guidance and advice, I was a player. Not that kind of player, but if she was looking to seduce me for some cheap promotion she had the wrong man. After all, I may have influence in this town but I'm a modest blogger looking for capital for heaven's sake, how can I help her? She laid it out in spectacular detail.

We met at the Van Ness Holiday Inn. The street level bar was the chosen location; two huge bowls of the cheese fish was first in sight but her highness, Fantasia, dressed in a rather sensational black pencil skirt with a beige blouse and lavender earrings struck me like a bat out of hell. To top it off she had on some beautiful ankle-strap black pumps--wow!, I was melting like a fondue at the Ed Ball Cheese House. I tried to remain calm and reminded myself I was there, at her beck and call, but it was all business. No shenanigans on this itinerary --it was difficult given the surroundings and such but I couldn't have it any other way.

She ordered a simple sherry and a couple of olives. She told me that she read me quite a bit and after a couple of rounds inquired as to "how to make it happen here." "Like what are you talking about?" I asked her directly. She whispered in my ear about "work, but working right." I found it odd that she conveyed such an extraordinary request in such an extraordinarily personal, seductive way, but I wanted to give her the benefit of the doubt. Fortunately, she was eager, she was pervasive and she was persistent. But she didn't disappoint. We could have split the bar and headed over to the park to nuzzle sweet nothings but that wasn't on the agenda. I felt better and more secured. Fantasia seemed real now and we could move forward. Our collective conscience non-besmirched, we gathered our emotions and carried forth.

Turns out all she wanted was acknowledgment and redemption --after all, a move west out to scary San Francisco, her beautiful mind needed an honest tug and I was there for her.  And I never had to compromise my integrity nor did she have to seduce me in any way other than completely honest and truthful to the max. We both respected one another and moved forward; she gave me her card and thanked me for my words of advice. We're friends. A new bond. And I feel better about myself.

After a simple liverwurst sandwich we both shared at the Tenderloin Inn, it was time to move on.