Monday, September 26, 2016

The Bay Area TV News Anchors That Could Or (Could Not) Moderate Tonight's Clinton-Trump Presidential Debate; 415 Media Monday Opener






Image result for presidential debate hillary vs trump TONIGHT'S THE NIGHT. The Main Event we've all been waiting for --most of us at least. An estimated 100 million people around the country and globe will watch at least parts of the first Presidential Debate --Trump versus Clinton, with NBC anchor, Lester Holt moderating. That might be the bigger story, perhaps.

Holt's task seems unfair and borders on him be criticized no matter what. We'll have to wait and see.

But it reminds me of a question: What Bay Area anchor could moderate this debate? Who has the gumption to ask the tough questions and be versatile enough, (or not) to pull off a herculean task to say the least?

Not many, if at all--let's go down the line. First, the contenders. Later, the pretenders. (Mixed sample)

Image result for Dan Ashley KGO-TV*Dan Ashley : KGO (ABC7) would have the chops to moderate. Ashley has tremendous knowledge of politics and both foreign and domestic affairs. He's also a cool customer and fair. If confronted with an edgy moment, I'm sure he'd be able to neutralize the situation and proceed.

Image result for raj mathai nbc*Raj Mathai: KNTV (NBC Bay Area) This might surprise you because the youthful Southbay native seems to some extent unworthy to moderate a debate but Mathai has a wealth of political acumen and a strong demeanor. That would certainly be a plus given the tension-rising environment that exists between these two candidates.

Image result for Frank Somerville KTVU*Frank Somerville: KTVU (Fox2) Although I've been critical with Frank's overly-righteous takes on Facebook, I also acknowledge he's an intelligent, well-informed and professional anchor that would be able to execute this endeavor. Somerville asks, for the most part, good questions and is no pushover when it comes to follow-ups. I'd expect him to be fair too which as previously noted, is the toughest part of this gig, just ask Lester Holt.

Image result for allen martin kpix*Allen Martin: KPIX (KPIX5) Look, I've never doubted Martin's news depth and acumen. It's his demeanor and presence that I have issues with, that said, Martin would be great as a moderator in this situation. You read right: great. Why? Because Martin doesn't take a lot of crap. He's supposedly tough as nails which I believe even though he comes off sometimes as holier than thou. If Martin were to take the mask off and present himself more candidly he'd be even better as an anchor. But there's no denying he could officiate tonight's Trump/Clinton showdown.

Image result for carolyn tyler kgo*Carolyn Tyler: KGO (ABC7) I've always admired and respected this underrated newswoman on the weekend with over thirty years of experience and a vast knowledge of both the local and national political scene. Tyler isn't the most glamorous anchor but she has no fear either and she knows her business. And she's one tenacious interviewer too. Which is semi-foreign in this market. Tyler would be spectacular for this position.

The Pretenders.


Image result for pam moore kron*Pam Moore: KRON: Friendly, professional, hard-working, fairly decent anchor. But debate moderator? Nope. That's not to denigrate Moore who is fairly adept and politically knowledgeable it's just not that easy a job to carry this particular gig off.




*A Final Note:

This is a tough assessment but I do believe accurate. Of course it's all subjective; I'm sure you can add some people to the list and subtract too.

You'll notice that I chose only one woman to the Contender list and that's not a knock on women, just a frank evaluation of who I think could execute the role
and those that could not and it just so happens there's only one woman (in my opinion, duh.) who is able to do so.

You may feel otherwise. Of course you do.

35 comments:

  1. I think Lowell Cohn would be good.

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  2. Michael Krasny
    Scott Shafer
    Belva Davis

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  3. Where's VDLC? She absolutely would nail the task as moderator.

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  4. Get Stanly Roberts...
    He works cheap...and can annoy the hell out of Clinton and Trump

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    1. Oh, hell yes...not only will Stan The Man send them both to their rooms without supper, but he'll go national to boot!!

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  5. Where's Roqui Theus? How come she's not in the mix?
    After she gets both of their names wrong at the opening, correcting herself by naming a freeway, finally getting it right - and by then nobody would care about some inane debate and just ogle her beauty for 90 minutes with the sound off.

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  6. Get me Tenenbaum!

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    1. Get Christine as the moderator. She'd stop them constantly to correct their grammar while she lets one loose.

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  7. Actually I don't think Pam Moore would take any stuff from the debaters. She would be in the same mold as Belva Davis. IMO.

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  8. Rich,

    What's would you think of John Rothmann doing this gig?

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  9. Ashley would be most moderate moderator. I've seen him do it for the Commonwealth club. Mostly an audience of those who have a hell of a lot more then a commoner's wealth.

    Moore? Too much baggage..plus she would drop in nobody cares and her friends Bently,blah,blah,blah. She's last in line.

    I like Will Tran..personable smart,not shy.

    A vote too for 7's Laura Anthony. One get out of line from the audience and she goes angry nun on their ass. She's smart too.

    Rosemary Orozco. She would look stunning in some Academy Award plunging neckline type dress. She's smart too.

    Kathy Heenan. Talk about rising above the stupidity around her. It would be true justice. Plus..she's..well you know.

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    1. Stan, are you related to Catherine Heenan or just in love with your elders?

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  10. I'm curious since I have not seen it mentioned here but is everyone aware of Lester Holt's early news roots in Bay Area radio at KRAK-AM and KCBS-AM as well as KCRA TV? I thought it an interesting point.

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  11. Could do it too list:

    Ama Daetz
    Eric Thomas
    Frank Mallicoat

    No way list:

    Ross Palombo
    Reggie Aqui
    Jesse Gary (I think Jesse is getting better)

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  12. I only read the headline and the first name that immediately popped in was Dan Ashley. But ideally, Hank Plante would be the one.

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  13. What about Rich Lieberman?

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  14. I'm a fan of Lester Holt, but he's too nice. Trump is going to tear is ass apart... THEN the next day, he will be skewered in the media no matter what he does. I would have passed. I would have tossed that bone to Brian Williams... oh wait never mind... Chick Todd perhaps

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  15. Pam Cook. Intelligent and does her homework and wouldn't play favorites.

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  16. I'd like to see Gasia twirl her hair, giggle and snort.

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  17. Carolyn Tyler and Laura Anthony are both more than capable.

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  18. Let Al Michaels do it; he knows a thing or two about spectator sports...

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  19. in the adulating white guys department, Arnold palmer knocked vin scully off the front page!...thank god!!

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    1. The only reason why Arnie knocked off Vin was because he passed away. You're probably some techie boy who's made a lot of money, so you hit a little white ball around and think you're hot shit and you boss people around with your petulant attitude. You have zero clue about life. Vin did something that's very hard to do in this tech-crazed, selfish society of ours. He did his job for 67 years. Your attention span is probably all of 6.7 seconds.

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  20. I think that Claudine Wong would be my moderator of choice. She seems to be knowledgeable on list of subjects. Politics could perhaps be a very easy subject for her. I watched her program Saturday "Bay Area People" she had a command presence of the issues and conducted super interviews with the guest.

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  21. Radnich and Moore skipping the 6 pm news. HE was at KNBR this morning.
    What does your insiders say? Something brewing?
    btw- Kathy Heenan is filling in..oh,wait. Lets see if Raddy is there at 8:45...

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    1. Pam Moore was probably working on a story. As for Gary, more than likely, he did not want to go up against the debate. Sorry no conspiracy here.

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  22. That weeny- hid from Kathy Heenan!..he wouldn't return until Heenan left the building!
    It became so obvious. The guilt must be eating him alive. He made an enemy out of the Princess Grace of KRON.

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    1. "Princess Grace of KRON"? Stan did you know (or conveniently forget) that Grace Kelly had affairs with Oleg Cassini, Gary Cooper, Bing Crosby, Ray Milland, William Holden, David Niven, an older instructor at her acting academy when she was young and for God's sake, a Maitre D at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel? She did all these guys before getting married at 26.

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  23. Speaking of KRON..their "Backstory" says a lot. Teresa Estacio is 80% of Backstory..and Scott Rates is another 10% and he doesn't event work for KRON anymore. I think whats left is mostly JR Stone and Averi Harper in scenes of trying to get people to stop on the street and talk.

    Teresa must be the one the head Honcho's really want as the face of KRON.

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  24. yeah, scully did a lot, but why revere a guy who was ''stuck in a booth'' for a 100 years,like saying ''what a good prisoner of employment, so all you americans should not mind being in a booth for 50 years, like being in prison''. at least palmer was ''out and about'' .not locked in a jail ''broadcast booth'' .

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  25. 67 years at the same job...get a life!!

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    1. True. Its the whole problem with the human condition. ALL our young life is growth,development.then about 30? You just do what you've always done..Mick Jagger doing the same damn thing since 1964.

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  26. One of the first local people I thought of-Noelle Walker of KTVU2?..well she doesn't work here anymore. She's an anchor in Texas now where she's talking about go hogs and all that Texas jive. Too bad.

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