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.
Sometimes you just have to laugh it off, wing it, and move on. It's when you take yourself too seriously that you end up like a deer in headlights. At that the end of the day, who cares? Just go with it.
OMG...the entire clip looks like the first run through of a newscast at a high school TV production class. Can you imagine something like this happening during the time when Fred Zehnder was at the helm of KTVU's news division...during the time when Dennis Richmond and other seasoned anchors, reporters, producers, directors and production staff really knew what they were doing. Now it has come down to this -- carelessness at best... a total disregard for attention to detail.
OK, so they didn't have the story. Too bad. The director quickly came back to the last good camera position, which was on Henry, a highly regarded print reporter who recently moved to TV news. A well-seasoned anchor would have stated the glaringly obvious in a somber, gravelly voice, "Well, we seem to be having some technical difficulties." Instead, Henry gave a visual, very human, "WTF?" Frank picked up Henry's nod and, knowing he was not on camera, jump started Henry's ad lib version of the story. As soon as Henry began, he apparently was told via IFB to go to the recorded story, then told it was still not available. At that point, he began what sounded like a very competent ad lib telling of his report. Let's not blame Henry and Frank for doing their best to cover for a series of technical and production errors.
Frank writes a part time column for SF Gate. I saw the one about Oakland murders. He's better then when Pete Wilson branched out,or Bruce's stab at the local scene.
Blame the inexperienced help they have at Fox2 for this boner. Don't blame Mr. Wonderful and Henry Lee. Everyone running TV stations has forgotten that San Francisco is the No. 4 or No. 5 media market in the nation, yet the way they run things reeks of a market like Bozeman, Montana or Wichita Falls, Texas. But Fox2 is saving money and most of the viewers don't give a rats ass.
Print is print and broadcast is broadcast and never the twain shall meet. Henry Lee is a great reporter who jumped from the dying print business to the profitable TV business. As most print reporters, he's not used to being in front of a camera. It will likely take him a long time, perhaps forever, before he's really good on air, but at least he's an experienced and talented reporter.
It could have been a LOT worse. I expect this kind of stuff in the Salinas-Monterey market, because it happens more often, and the anchors there can get more flustered. As for print journalists making the transition to TV, I offer Phil Matier as an example that it can be done pretty well.
Sometimes you just have to laugh it off, wing it, and move on. It's when you take yourself too seriously that you end up like a deer in headlights. At that the end of the day, who cares? Just go with it.
ReplyDeleteOMG...the entire clip looks like the first run through of a newscast at a high school TV production class. Can you imagine something like this happening during the time when Fred Zehnder was at the helm of KTVU's news division...during the time when Dennis Richmond and other seasoned anchors, reporters, producers, directors and production staff really knew what they were doing. Now it has come down to this -- carelessness at best... a total disregard for attention to detail.
ReplyDeletePainful to watch. This used to be the great KTVU, the envy even of national broadcasters. Sad sad sad.
ReplyDeleteOK, so they didn't have the story. Too bad. The director quickly came back to the last good camera position, which was on Henry, a highly regarded print reporter who recently moved to TV news. A well-seasoned anchor would have stated the glaringly obvious in a somber, gravelly voice, "Well, we seem to be having some technical difficulties." Instead, Henry gave a visual, very human, "WTF?" Frank picked up Henry's nod and, knowing he was not on camera, jump started Henry's ad lib version of the story. As soon as Henry began, he apparently was told via IFB to go to the recorded story, then told it was still not available. At that point, he began what sounded like a very competent ad lib telling of his report. Let's not blame Henry and Frank for doing their best to cover for a series of technical and production errors.
ReplyDeleteFrank writes a part time column for SF Gate. I saw the one about Oakland murders.
ReplyDeleteHe's better then when Pete Wilson branched out,or Bruce's stab at the local scene.
Glitch aside, Henry Lee is a great hire by the new KTVU. Thanks for bringing it to my attention.
ReplyDeleteA veteran print crime reporter from the Bay Area who hasn't been mugging a camera for the last 20 years.
A true journalist. Nice to see.
It is painful to watch KTVU these days. Too much happy talk and banter.
ReplyDeleteMaybe stick to newspapers!!
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad I gave up on KTVU a long time ago.
ReplyDeleteDidn't Lee get a raise when he jumped the Comical's sinking ship to a big time TV gig on KTVU?
ReplyDeleteI guess it still wasn't enough for him to buy some neck ties?
Mr. Lee--those things in front of you are cameras--people can see and hear what you look like now.
Please make more of an effort to look like you're playing the part!
Blame the inexperienced help they have at Fox2 for this boner. Don't blame Mr. Wonderful and Henry Lee. Everyone running TV stations has forgotten that San Francisco is the No. 4 or No. 5 media market in the nation, yet the way they run things reeks of a market like Bozeman, Montana or Wichita Falls, Texas. But Fox2 is saving money and most of the viewers don't give a rats ass.
ReplyDeletePrint is print and broadcast is broadcast and never the twain shall meet. Henry Lee is a great reporter who jumped from the dying print business to the profitable TV business. As most print reporters, he's not used to being in front of a camera. It will likely take him a long time, perhaps forever, before he's really good on air, but at least he's an experienced and talented reporter.
ReplyDeleteIt could have been a LOT worse. I expect this kind of stuff in the Salinas-Monterey market, because it happens more often, and the anchors there can get more flustered. As for print journalists making the transition to TV, I offer Phil Matier as an example that it can be done pretty well.
ReplyDelete