KRON isn't exactly going into oblivion. It will still be on the air just not in its current traditional way...I hear lots of gloom --with a lot of cuts to personnel and programs --we'll have to wait and see.
No, at least for now, she's safe --she's getting less worse and she looks very hot on TV which is why KPIX hired her in the first place. Woman, minority, bingo.
What happened to the days of promoting an on-the-scene reporter to the anchor position? All I see is stations hiring from the outside to take the anchor spot.
It's called doing things the cheaper way...often, people from outside the market will work for less money simply because they want to work in the Bay Area.
Do Eric Thomas and Kristen Sze still hate each other? Although they are not working together most of the time, there is the occasional 5PM newscast where they are both together when Larry Bell and Dan Ashley are not there.
Radnich and Kruger were shilling for the kron New Years Show. I didn't hear a mention of Kathy Heenan. I might not have been paying total attention. What have you heard?
I like sipping martinis and making fondue. No, seriously, love listening to old jazz and big band music. My late dad played the clarinet and used to be a part of jam sessions at places like Earthquake Magoons and the Venetian Room. He wasn't famous but the bands he played with were.
Curious Rich since I also enjoy jazz but really love big band, do you listen to this Atherton station? It is operated by KCSM. http://www.kcea.org/ourmusic.html
Glad to hear it! Enjoy! It has been around for decades. The call letters used to stand for ocean sounds that used to air in the evenings and overnight. The station has interesting history.
I've said repeatedly that Stan has a certain "Rupert Pupkin" (google if you don't know the reference) to him which makes him very funny, (sometimes) and scary too, (sometimes); then again, Radnich brings out the worst in people.
Well, it's my blog. We have differing tastes. Apparently you don't care for Stan, which is OK, I don't care for him every now and then but he makes me laugh too.
Hey Stan, This is Neal. Keep it going I find your comments interesting and out of the box. I am not much of a local news guy, but I do hope Fatnich is coming to a end. I never liked him ,even when he was in his prime. I don't repond on Lowell site any longer, don't like the blog format. Seeya later.
Just curious, Rich--or maybe from other responses:
Which TV station has the best photogs/videographers? Too often we pay too much attention to the anchors and reporters--failing to remember that TV is a visual/image medium.
Roqui Theus is awkward. She is constantly trying to be funny and interrupts everyone with juvenile banter. Its immediately obvious she has a LOW IQ and she's frankly not hot at all.
Morning show is much better with just PM. He just needs a Damon or Larry to be another voice but get rid of Bert. As for the 1000 word questions? That started with Tolbert it's not PM's fault, they all do it now.
Rich, do you know what ever happened to Joe Regelski and Lori Thompson? I do not have sat radio but last I knew Alex Bennett was on sat radio. Is he still there? I remember the good times from the 80's on KMEL and KQAK.
The morning news programs really leave a lot to be desired.. Since John Kessler am Sydnie Kohara left I stopped watching KPIX, Since Eric left KGO I stopped that one, can't identify with KNTV and don't like KTVU as well... I now watch CNN and have broadened my horizons. I like Chris Como but periodically I'll turn to ABC to get weather and traffic. Please bring John Kessler back to the bay ara...
@12:57PM - 12/2 I with you on KPIX, every time they get an Anchor that works (like Frank Mallicoat), they get Rid of Him!!! I also miss Liz Wenger the Traffic Person on the KPIX Morning Show. Roqui speaks like an adolescent young girl?!
What do you think of the KTVU Fox2 riverfront set? Not sure why they find it so magnificent. There is no Bay Bridge, SF skyline, or Golden Gate landmark....only a rotting houseboat in the back. Why not have a random sail boat drift by when they are interviewing someone about an attack? Makes sense to me.
Basically, all Roquel Theus is doing is reading whatever is already on screen. No details whatsoever as to WHY something is happening. I've never heard her use the term SIGALERT to describe a major incident. Their term is "traffic alert."
PIX's traffic time estimates are still shown in an eastbound direction. C'mon guys, these are maps for crying out loud. Show the directions as they should be.
Fortunately, I don't have to go out in the morning. I'm sure that those who do check with 2, 4, or 7, all of which do a good job.
What is the future of KNBR's 1-3 pm 2 hour horrendous "Fitz & Brooks" show? Since they cut it from 3 hours to 2 it is now strictly a occasionally guest filled moronic vomit giggle fest with no phone calls from listeners(I painfully listened all this week & not one listener phone call takenfrom the hosts With 20-25 minutes of commercial time each hour those 2 ingrates are actually spewing their stupidity for a combined total of 80 minutes. Since KNBR reduced their show from 3 to 2 hours did management also reduce both of these bozos salaries? When will KNBR finally put the 'Fitz & Brooks'show permanently out of its turgid misery? Cary S.F.
I don't listen to that horrible show, it's a drain on one's mind...KNBR treats it like the commercial it is and was...the commercials are actually better than the content...then again, that's all KNBR carries --non-stop ads and "updates" disguised as "news", BULL.
Rich, if you got a desperate call one morning that you were needed desperately to come in and "fix" a Bay Area Media Outlet (TV, radio, print, or web) for a $1 million dollar fee and hardly any budget constraints which one would you want to fix and what would you do?
I'd hire interesting hosts and tweak the old format for news-talk format.
I would program hosts and hostesses who asked intelligent questions and had provocative guests --and had respect for their craft and listeners.
I believe good content dictates good ratings. Especially in the Bay Area. I know the business is now dominated by a ratings system (TSL--"time spent listening" and AQH --"average quarterly hour) because most people who listen to radio usually only listen for 15 mins and then check out.
That said, I would hire intelligent people, funny people, LOCAL people who had a Bay Area connection.
CBS Radio just cut several anchors & correspondents. Familiar names like Barry Bagnato, Harley Karnes, Howard Arenstein and Bill Whitney. Apparently they all accepted buyouts. More cuts expected.
Rich: Given there is absolutely NO journalism being practiced by any major or minor outlets (print or broadcast), how soon does Goebbels begin dictating propaganda?
Clearly you never worked for the late dean lesher (lower case is deliberate), who was his own private Goebbels, forbidding photos of black people P1 of the CCT. I celebrated when he finally cacked. Horrible publisher.
If you could assemble a news team of recently let go, fired, or moved on anchors, reporters, studio talent- who would be the dream team? (Recent talent, not from too long ago). Lots who can and should still work in SF news but dont
Well, I still think Tom Sinkovitz has it and would be great back on the air somewhere ...John Kessler is terrific, so too Mark Curtis. Dana King left the business like many others but I think she left too soon.
If you do not watch KPIX morning news, not even out of curiosity, how do you know their traffic anchor is getting better? Should have seen her today (Dec 2) Holy Crap!!! Just horrible!!!
It's always the same. There's a certain silliness that seems to be tolerated here. I think it's due to culture and then the high cost of living. This place is increasingly a bubble far removed from the rest of the country. If the results of the election didn't tell you that, nothing will. Del Beccaro was on KRON for coverage explaining all this and everyone just sort of looked at him funny and then ignored him. Ignore if you want but this isn't going away.
It's interesting that when Bourdain was here, he said the exact same thing. This is a great town but it can be juvenile and silly and unfocused. I've never seen Gavin Newsom on camera when he was not acting as if he was on some sort of drug. Libby is like that, has a wild look in her eye most of the time.
I once owned a 1996 Volvo 850R which is a rare car that I put up for sale when we lived in Santa Clarita. We took the call from Corina (Villaraigosa's ex) about seeing the car and sure enough a few days later here comes a city vehicle with her and the boy. There were plans to take the car back east to where he was attending college (Princeton, I think) so she had her guy in Glendale check the car out which it did just fine because I was always picky about maintenance. She and Tony broke up because he had a girlfriend on the side. They had both worked their way out of the old neighborhood and he wanted to live life on the edge. Corina's not stupid. My wife spent about three hours with her at the garage and said she was nobody's dummy. Bottom line is, she didn't look like that and her kid didn't look like that and the people around her didn't look like that.
There's something wrong with this place. I've said for years it's too much inherited real estate money or too much money that was made far too easily by too many people. I've been around. I know the difference.
Why do local news producers/directors constantly put scenery pad shots on the air that the anchors can't identify? Do they want to f--- with anchors? All those shots do, although creative, is make the anchors look foolish as they try to describe something they haven't ever seen...At least tell the anchor before hand what shots they plan to air..unprofessional
Dana King clearly has no interest at all to return to media work. She's now part of a Watchdog Group for the City of Oakland, as well as being an artist. King knew, like Lieberman, that Bay Media was and is only getting worse. Agree on Sinkovitz. Need him back on somewhere; too bad there are too many bean-counting large egos above the stations' GMs & NDs. Curtis returning would be cool, too. Kessler? Needs to be the right fit. Okay when reporting straight on, lame when wisecracking (an Allen Martin in the morning, if you will). And as for all us who read blogs, issue blogs, run blogs, and our journalists anywhere in the country, be very afraid come January 20th. The man coming in can take down anyone he wants who rubs him the wrong way for whatever reason, no matter what their lives are. Never felt more suspicious of any Commander than the Next One; never felt threatened by anyone, including the current one. There is a better and shorter "pr-" word to describe the despot-like successor. He is that dangerous to all of our freedoms, has no values, like a lot of our local media and corporate cloud clowns.
It's time to ask me your Bay Area TV/Radio Media Questions...name and city, please.
When is that final date when KRON will throw the power switch off? I keep hearing Jan 1, but is that what you're hearing?
ReplyDeleteKRON isn't exactly going into oblivion. It will still be on the air just not in its current traditional way...I hear lots of gloom --with a lot of cuts to personnel and programs --we'll have to wait and see.
DeleteWhat is Gary's number? I have a job offer for him, in case he needs it.
DeleteWhat's going to happen to KRON 4.2 and 4.3????
ReplyDeleteI have NO idea and if I did I would seek help which I should anyway.
DeleteFor the love of God, can Roqui Theuis, KPIX' traffic anchor, get the hell out of this market????
ReplyDeleteNo, at least for now, she's safe --she's getting less worse and she looks very hot on TV which is why KPIX hired her in the first place. Woman, minority, bingo.
DeleteI heard that Art Bell and his wife are suing Michael Savage for defamation. Is that true?
ReplyDeleteAnybody can sue anybody so I wouldn't be surprised.
DeleteWhat did Michael Savage allegedly say? I missed that.
DeleteIt was something along the lines that his wife was a teenage hooker, or something like that.
DeleteWhat happened to the days of promoting an on-the-scene reporter to the anchor position? All I see is stations hiring from the outside to take the anchor spot.
ReplyDeleteIt's called doing things the cheaper way...often, people from outside the market will work for less money simply because they want to work in the Bay Area.
DeleteUntil they go looking for a house or apartment.
Do Eric Thomas and Kristen Sze still hate each other? Although they are not working together most of the time, there is the occasional 5PM newscast where they are both together when Larry Bell and Dan Ashley are not there.
ReplyDeleteSince they haven't worked together in months now I would imagine things have thawed...but, yes, he still can't stand her.
DeleteA lot of people in the building can't stand her.
DeleteRadnich and Kruger were shilling for the kron New Years Show. I didn't hear a mention of Kathy Heenan. I might not have been paying total attention.
ReplyDeleteWhat have you heard?
About the same as you, Stan.
DeleteHave any hobbies outside reporting on the media? Woodworking, baseball cards, restoring old cars, anything?
ReplyDeleteI like sipping martinis and making fondue. No, seriously, love listening to old jazz and big band music. My late dad played the clarinet and used to be a part of jam sessions at places like Earthquake Magoons and the Venetian Room. He wasn't famous but the bands he played with were.
DeleteCurious Rich since I also enjoy jazz but really love big band, do you listen to this Atherton station? It is operated by KCSM. http://www.kcea.org/ourmusic.html
DeleteGlad you sent the link. I just began listening to it and love IT!
DeleteGlad to hear it! Enjoy! It has been around for decades. The call letters used to stand for ocean sounds that used to air in the evenings and overnight. The station has interesting history.
DeleteWhy is Stan so infatuated with Radnich and skin color? Taking a peek at his twitter feed was frightening.
ReplyDeleteJuan, San Juan Capistrano
I've said repeatedly that Stan has a certain "Rupert Pupkin" (google if you don't know the reference) to him which makes him very funny, (sometimes) and scary too, (sometimes); then again, Radnich brings out the worst in people.
DeleteYou think Stan is "very funny?" What makes you think anyone else does?
Delete"Juan" yeah,right Sydney.
DeleteTrump people wondering about skin color mentions?..that's a hoot and half.
Well, it's my blog. We have differing tastes. Apparently you don't care for Stan, which is OK, I don't care for him every now and then but he makes me laugh too.
Delete'Nuff said.
Hey Stan,
DeleteThis is Neal. Keep it going I find your comments interesting and out of the box. I am not much of a local news guy, but I do hope Fatnich is coming to a end. I never liked him ,even when he was in his prime. I don't repond on Lowell site any longer, don't like the blog format. Seeya later.
That's "Mr. President" to you, Stanley.
DeleteJust curious, Rich--or maybe from other responses:
ReplyDeleteWhich TV station has the best photogs/videographers? Too often we pay too much attention to the anchors and reporters--failing to remember that TV is a visual/image medium.
I'm not an expert here, but I'd go with KGO, first, then KTVU and KNTV...PIX rounding out the last tier.
DeleteMurph and Mac is pretty bad as it is. But how bad is it when Murph is gone?
ReplyDeleteActually, when Murph is gone, that's an addition. "Yeah, yeah, Yeah!"
DeleteCorrect, when Mac is by himself it is terrible.
DeleteGet rid of Murph and bring back Mutley.
DeleteMac is horrible when going solo. He acts like that he is so wired up and talks too fast. Murph can be okay doing solo.
DeleteHato shut off Mac yesterday going solo. Can't ask a question under a 1000 words and he talks very fast.
DeleteHow bad is the KPIX Morning News?
ReplyDeleteWell, since I no longer watch, even out of curiosity, I will assume nothing has changed and it's still bad.
DeleteRoqui Theus is awkward. She is constantly trying to be funny and interrupts everyone with juvenile banter. Its immediately obvious she has a LOW IQ and she's frankly not hot at all.
DeleteMorning show is much better with just PM. He just needs a Damon or Larry to be another voice but get rid of Bert. As for the 1000 word questions? That started with Tolbert it's not PM's fault, they all do it now.
DeleteRich, do you know what ever happened to Joe Regelski and Lori Thompson? I do not have sat radio but last I knew Alex Bennett was on sat radio. Is he still there? I remember the good times from the 80's on KMEL and KQAK.
ReplyDeleteI believe at last check Regelski was up north in Ukiah area doing radio news for a station...Lori Thompson, last I heard, was in the Midwest.
DeleteMakes sense. Lori was always a midwest girl, Glad to hear Joe is still in radio if that is his wish. Thank you for the info! Your site rules!
DeleteI appreciate your response Rich. I love your site.
DeleteThe morning news programs really leave a lot to be desired.. Since John Kessler am Sydnie Kohara left I stopped watching KPIX, Since Eric left KGO I stopped that one, can't identify with KNTV and don't like KTVU as well... I now watch CNN and have broadened my horizons. I like Chris Como but periodically I'll turn to ABC to get weather and traffic. Please bring John Kessler back to the bay ara...
ReplyDeleteYou're not alone about Kessler.
DeleteTry the "Michaela" news program on Channel 57 (San Francisco) at 9am to 10am... comes out of LA and has a polished West Coast feel to it..
Delete@12:57PM - 12/2
DeleteI with you on KPIX, every time they get an Anchor that works (like Frank Mallicoat), they get Rid of Him!!! I also miss Liz Wenger the Traffic Person on the KPIX Morning Show. Roqui speaks like an adolescent young girl?!
What do you think of the KTVU Fox2 riverfront set? Not sure why they find it so magnificent. There is no Bay Bridge, SF skyline, or Golden Gate landmark....only a rotting houseboat in the back. Why not have a random sail boat drift by when they are interviewing someone about an attack? Makes sense to me.
ReplyDelete...and that houseboat is in Alameda...
DeleteIt's actually the Oakland estuary...I don't mind the set. Too bad the silliness and giggling manufactured by FOX dominates the shows.
DeleteBring back The Rusty Scupper!
DeleteDoes KGO radio realize yet they have too many commercials?? Especially when Chip Franklin does half of them?
ReplyDeleteNo, they are part of the Cumulus whore machine. More commercials, non-stop, is it any wonder why AM radio is going deadsville?
DeleteBasically, all Roquel Theus is doing is reading whatever is already on screen. No details whatsoever as to WHY something is happening. I've never heard her use the term SIGALERT to describe a major incident. Their term is "traffic alert."
ReplyDeletePIX's traffic time estimates are still shown in an eastbound direction. C'mon guys, these are maps for crying out loud. Show the directions as they should be.
Fortunately, I don't have to go out in the morning. I'm sure that those who do check with 2, 4, or 7, all of which do a good job.
What is the future of KNBR's 1-3 pm 2 hour horrendous "Fitz & Brooks" show? Since they cut it from 3 hours to 2 it is now strictly a occasionally guest filled moronic vomit giggle fest with no phone calls from listeners(I painfully listened all this week & not one listener phone call takenfrom the hosts With 20-25 minutes of commercial time each hour those 2 ingrates are actually spewing their stupidity for a combined total of 80 minutes. Since KNBR reduced their show from 3 to 2 hours did management also reduce both of these bozos salaries? When will KNBR finally put the 'Fitz & Brooks'show permanently out of its turgid misery? Cary S.F.
ReplyDeleteI don't listen to that horrible show, it's a drain on one's mind...KNBR treats it like the commercial it is and was...the commercials are actually better than the content...then again, that's all KNBR carries --non-stop ads and "updates" disguised as "news", BULL.
DeleteRich, if you got a desperate call one morning that you were needed desperately to come in and "fix" a Bay Area Media Outlet (TV, radio, print, or web) for a $1 million dollar fee and hardly any budget constraints which one would you want to fix and what would you do?
ReplyDeleteKGO Radio.
DeleteI'd hire interesting hosts and tweak the old format for news-talk format.
I would program hosts and hostesses who asked intelligent questions and had provocative guests --and had respect for their craft and listeners.
I believe good content dictates good ratings. Especially in the Bay Area. I know the business is now dominated by a ratings system (TSL--"time spent listening" and AQH --"average quarterly hour) because most people who listen to radio usually only listen for 15 mins and then check out.
That said, I would hire intelligent people, funny people, LOCAL people who had a Bay Area connection.
When I win the lotto, I'll hire Rich to program the station as well as host shows that could be simulcasted on KSCO. :)
DeleteAmen Rich!
DeleteWhat's up with Mike Sugerman back on KCBS Radio
ReplyDeleteHe's actually on CBS Radio in NY where he recently moved, Judith.
DeleteCBS Radio just cut several anchors & correspondents. Familiar names like Barry Bagnato, Harley Karnes, Howard Arenstein and Bill Whitney. Apparently they all accepted buyouts. More cuts expected.
DeleteIf I were to ever run into you at a bar, what are you having? I'm buying.
ReplyDeleteKetel One Rocks, splash of soda with a twist, thanks.
DeleteWhat happened to Gil Gross and Tom Benner from KKSF / AM 910?
ReplyDeleteGil Gross has largely retired; Tom Benner, aka: "Officer Vic", is doing traffic and voice-over spots.
DeleteRich: Given there is absolutely NO journalism being practiced by any major or minor outlets (print or broadcast), how soon does Goebbels begin dictating propaganda?
ReplyDeleteUh, even this day and age, I think we're far, far away from that dictum.
DeleteClearly you never worked for the late dean lesher (lower case is deliberate), who was his own private Goebbels, forbidding photos of black people P1 of the CCT. I celebrated when he finally cacked. Horrible publisher.
DeleteIf you could assemble a news team of recently let go, fired, or moved on anchors, reporters, studio talent- who would be the dream team? (Recent talent, not from too long ago). Lots who can and should still work in SF news but dont
ReplyDeleteWell, I still think Tom Sinkovitz has it and would be great back on the air somewhere ...John Kessler is terrific, so too Mark Curtis. Dana King left the business like many others but I think she left too soon.
DeleteIf you do not watch KPIX morning news, not even out of curiosity, how do you know their traffic anchor is getting better? Should have seen her today (Dec 2) Holy Crap!!! Just horrible!!!
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteI was trying to be charitable--I've seen her act enough times to figure out she's probably not going to be stellar ...KPIX seems not to care.
Delete(sigh)
DeleteIt's always the same. There's a certain silliness that seems to be tolerated here. I think it's due to culture and then the high cost of living. This place is increasingly a bubble far removed from the rest of the country. If the results of the election didn't tell you that, nothing will. Del Beccaro was on KRON for coverage explaining all this and everyone just sort of looked at him funny and then ignored him. Ignore if you want but this isn't going away.
What silliness? I missed it.
DeleteAlso, this is a true blue are. Always has been, always will be. You are the one in the bible out in the 925. Transplants just don't get it.
It's interesting that when Bourdain was here, he said the exact same thing. This is a great town but it can be juvenile and silly and unfocused. I've never seen Gavin Newsom on camera when he was not acting as if he was on some sort of drug. Libby is like that, has a wild look in her eye most of the time.
DeleteI once owned a 1996 Volvo 850R which is a rare car that I put up for sale when we lived in Santa Clarita. We took the call from Corina (Villaraigosa's ex) about seeing the car and sure enough a few days later here comes a city vehicle with her and the boy. There were plans to take the car back east to where he was attending college (Princeton, I think) so she had her guy in Glendale check the car out which it did just fine because I was always picky about maintenance. She and Tony broke up because he had a girlfriend on the side. They had both worked their way out of the old neighborhood and he wanted to live life on the edge. Corina's not stupid. My wife spent about three hours with her at the garage and said she was nobody's dummy. Bottom line is, she didn't look like that and her kid didn't look like that and the people around her didn't look like that.
There's something wrong with this place. I've said for years it's too much inherited real estate money or too much money that was made far too easily by too many people. I've been around. I know the difference.
What's the old Barry Switzer line? Some people are born on third base and think they hit a triple.
DeleteWhy do local news producers/directors constantly put scenery pad shots on the air that the anchors can't identify? Do they want to f--- with anchors? All those shots do, although creative, is make the anchors look foolish as they try to describe something they haven't ever seen...At least tell the anchor before hand what shots they plan to air..unprofessional
ReplyDeleteMost everyone working in media aren't from the Bay Area. It's the blind leading the blind
DeleteDana King clearly has no interest at all to return to media work. She's now part of a Watchdog Group for the City of Oakland, as well as being an artist. King knew, like Lieberman, that Bay Media was and is only getting worse.
ReplyDeleteAgree on Sinkovitz. Need him back on somewhere; too bad there are too many bean-counting large egos above the stations' GMs & NDs. Curtis returning would be cool, too. Kessler? Needs to be the right fit. Okay when reporting straight on, lame when wisecracking (an Allen Martin in the morning, if you will).
And as for all us who read blogs, issue blogs, run blogs, and our journalists anywhere in the country, be very afraid come January 20th. The man coming in can take down anyone he wants who rubs him the wrong way for whatever reason, no matter what their lives are. Never felt more suspicious of any Commander than the Next One; never felt threatened by anyone, including the current one. There is a better and shorter "pr-" word to describe the despot-like successor. He is that dangerous to all of our freedoms, has no values, like a lot of our local media and corporate cloud clowns.
I had dinner with Dana last month. She's enjoying life and looking great. We didn't talk about PIX days though.
DeleteWhen Dana King constantly whined about the rain forecast in the middle of our drought I began to question her judgement. Glad to see her go.
ReplyDelete