I SAW A WINNING COMBO TUESDAY NIGHT...KNTV (NBC Bay Area) anchors Terry McSweeney and Jessica Aguirre. About as polished a newscast as I've seen here sometime and that's saying a lot. McSweeney has been anchoring on the weekend --last night he was subbing for Raj Mathai.
McSweeney, and this is a compliment, not a knock, looks and sounds like an anchor. His commanding voice and presence compliments Aguirre --they form a great team.
I wonder if this is a long-term audition because if it is, it works.
*I tried, again, to watch KRON's amateurish "10 PM News" and this is bad, it gets worse.
The "news" stories are essentially re-writes from the 6 and 8 PM newscasts --which wouldn't be so bad only KRON --with its impish style and out-of-date jingles makes the entire show look like total mush...that, along with the obligatory 4000 weather casts (OK, I know Brittney Shipp is lovely to observe) but seriously, too much weather.
Steve Aveson, the new anchor, is warming up a little and doesn't have the wooden look anymore--it appears he's comfortable now that he doesn't have to pivot to the grumpy old sports guy who looks as if he's nearing the end game. Good riddance.
KRON has several issues and no quick fix: STILL LOUSY AUDIO --still can't fix the absurd too-close cameras on its anchors. You would think just by looking they'd get it, they don't.
OK, I'm intrigued with KGO-TV's new morning update anchor, Jessica Castro--she appears smart and alert--a welcome respite from Donnie and Marie.
*You should hear the back-office commotion about KGO's decision to send Donnie (Reggie Aqui) to the RNC in Cleveland. Somebody at Circle7 has a hard-on for Aqui. Oops, maybe a poor choice for words.
*Oh, and PIX's Melissa Caen is equally as ridiculous a choice to send to Cleveland as is KTVU's decision to send walking embarrassment, Pirate himself, Ross Palombo. God, what a disgrace.
Caen would be quite the presence on the screen from the RNC but she's so thoroughly a lightweight and her political prowess is about as serene as a San Pablo Taco Bell. Once again, pass the barf bag!
Terry is great and underrated - remember him from the Good Morning San Jose days.
ReplyDeleteHe also plays well to the former KNTV viewing base. Just wish he would make his posture a touch more aggressive.
Time to bring Rob Fladeboe over from KTVU as well.
I hear Marla Miller is still writing in the newsroom.
I agree with you Rich Jess and Terry are great overall KNTV looks better than the rest.
ReplyDeleteDid Cane get her last name by marrying Herb's kid or What?
Yes, and it's spelled CAEN!
DeleteBring back Lorna Ho also.
ReplyDeleteMcSweeny really should have been anchoring more back in the ABC days.
Aqui and Palombo at the RNC? I though Palombo was really bad until I saw Aqui report. Both are worth missing.
ReplyDeleteAveson is less wooden..Moore is petrified wood towards him. I never hear her say his name. Never. Its the KRON way when you don't get your way..Like Radnich and Tuazon. Now its Heenan btw.
ReplyDeleteFunny too..tonight's episode according to the commercial of "Backstory" is how happy she is to get Steve Aveson as a co anchor. Hoo-boy. She's an actress too.
I don't see much of Don Haayward anymore on channel 11. Is he on still at 5pm?
ReplyDeleteKron 4 is terrible as they are now running re-runs of the Backstory.....it would be okay if they new and NOT RE-RUNS......
ReplyDeleteBack in the ol' KNTV days, SweenDog was a joy to work with out in the field. Great writer, didn't waste time/knew what he needed to ask...and let the photog do his/her shooting. Great conversationalist to/from your assigned story, too...especially on his beloved Giants/baseball in general.
ReplyDeleteGreat, great dude back then...and from what I've heard, he hasn't changed.
I don't often watch KNTV, only because I got out of the habit when I didn't have cable, and NBC went to San Jose.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad to hear that Terry McSweeney is maturing into a good anchor. When he first appeared on KGO, his grammar was far below par, and several of his reports ... on situations that HAD taken place ... were delivered in the present tense.
I wish him luck.
Where did you get that photo of McSweeney. They certainly photoshopped it a lot. He's got all these lines and age spots that make him look like he should be in an old-folks home.
ReplyDeleteDon't agree with you on Caen. I watch CNN and MSNBC a lot and Caen breaks down national politics as well as can be expected for her audience. She's no Marc Sandalow, granted, but she's better than a lot of yahoos out there. She's got the analytical and educational background chops as far as I can tell, too.
ReplyDeleteI agree that Castro is good. I switch between 4, 5, and 7. I'd say Zouves better watch out, but I think Castro might be too valuable in the field - KGO has the best morning field reporters though, with Holyfield, Tiffany Wilson, and their fairly new person whose name I can't recall. Maybe Zouves should be worried.
ReplyDeleteCh 7 has all the lookers
DeleteWhen will 5 realize that having "talent" so big they block the whole screen for the weather and traffic segments is unappealing?
Natasha is a league of her own, she has zero competition and no need to worry. She makes the rest of them look rather bland. She is standing on top of the pyramid where she belongs. What a beautiful woman!
DeleteYes,I caught the McSweeney-Aguirre better chemistry. Raj is in no danger,but yep She seemed...more.
ReplyDeleteJessica needs to use a shade darker tan makeup..the gap between the face and the neck and the body is too wide.
I happen to buy accident catch a couple of minutes of Ross Palombo yesterday, dude needs an eye patch! His left eye is cocked.
ReplyDeleteCouldn't agree more, Rich, for what it's worth, not much. Palombo to me has always seemed to be too loud for the nearness of the microphone and too excited for the importance of the subject.
ReplyDeleteTonight, McSweeny is with Peggy Bunker (IMO the most beautiful female anchor in the Bay).... and I think they might be the best team.
ReplyDelete"About as polished a newscast as I've seen here sometime and that's saying a lot."
ReplyDeleteHow exactly is that saying a lot? You pretty much rip on all Bay Area newscasts every single damn day, arguing the bar is set so low by the likes of Donny and Marie... anything decent these days is more polished than that what any of us have seen in sometime.
Who in SF gives a damn what the San Jose station is doing anyway? They did a great job reading the latest from Silicon Valley? If they gave a shit they'd actually invest in a stronger signal in the city.
Caen is definitely a lightweight; it's hard to follow in the shoes of Joe Tuman. She comes across as a novice in the political field.
ReplyDeleteMelissa Caen has politically correct breasts and looks so sexy in her dresses.
ReplyDeleteI think any female paired with this Aqui guy is going to come across as a poor anchor. I mean, who could be paired with him without appearing diminished. Talk about letting your personal issues bleed over into your work!
ReplyDeleteBerryessa Chllin'
KRON's classic music is the one of the few things that keeps them from being a complete and utter joke, tbh.
ReplyDelete8:20
ReplyDeleteNobody gives a shit about what happens in Frisco...ERRR..."the CITY." The SF-based stations rarely do SF stories--unless it involves the Mayor's office.
The only people who clamor for "city" coverage...are gays, who always whine about the lack of gay-based stories.
Today might have been the worst ever..but Radnich now pisses on his own KNBR show..he and Krueger laughing at how long they stretch out the infomercials,then laugh for another ten minutes at how funny that is.
ReplyDeleteTerrible show.
Sorry, just can't handle looking at the Joker face of Jessica Aguirre. Lay off the plastic surgery!
ReplyDeleteRandy Shandobil was on KRON last night doing political analysis. I miss him a lot. Hard to believe KTVU dumped him. They've dumped unbelievably good talent.
ReplyDeleteWould rather see Janell Wang and Peggy Bunker on KNTV prime time.
ReplyDeleteMelissa Caen is terrible. Lightweight is an understatement.
ReplyDeleteMaybe,but she seems classy like. I see her as the Vassar and Ivy League approach to life. She reads Architecture Today...maybe Martha Stewart in the Dr.'s office.Never the pretender O magazine.
DeleteWith her porcelain skin and crystal blue eyes and proper dress,she's clean scrubbed and easy on the eyes.
What was the topic? And still you watched.