WHY DO ANCHORS GET PAID A LOT? Because they're worth it. And Local TV News brings in lots of revenue to stations that can't have enough news to report.That's why you see stations have newscasts at 4 PM (although those are least watched)
Frank Somerville, Dan Ashley and Ken Bastida are all six-figure earners but as I mentioned Monday, they still are miles away from what Van Amburg, Dave McElhatton and Dennis Richmond earned.*Speaking of old anchor pairings that I loved: Richmond and Elaine Corral.
*This has been rumored off and on for years and is once again making the rounds: KGO's Larry Beil wants to return to his native Hawaii and be a big fish in a little pond.
If that were to happen KGO would need a #1 sports anchor. Guess who's contract is up in March at KTVU? Mark Ibanez wants to work for another three years, I hear, and why wouldn't he; he's at the top of his game. If KTVU doesn't re-up Ibanez sooner rather than later, then KGO might make a run at the 40-year veteran. Ibanez, began working at KTVU in 1979. Wow.
*Meanwhile, there's nothing new on the Jessica Aguirre front; her contract at KNTV (NBC Bay Area) is up in March and she still hasn't been re-upped. NBC could rethink its strategy and re-sign Aguirre; especially since their pursuit of Carolyn Johnson appears to be in limbo (looks like Johnson wants to stay in LA) We'll know soon enough.
*Mindi Bach's ouster at Comcast, as I stated Monday, won't be their only pink slip. Lots of nervous folks at the local sports cable network.
*Greg Papa has been noticeably absent from his TV and radio gigs; the reason? 415 Media has learned Papa is battling vertigo. We wish him well.*Sports-talk radio stations should stick to sports because many of their hosts think they're lawyers and don't know the law. Callers too, not all mind you but just enough. Which is why the only guy I watch and listen on that 49ers player's legal issues is KTVU's ace attorney, Michael Cardoza.
*Yes, I've been critical (duh!) of KTVU GM, Gregg Kelley, but numbers don't lie. Channel 2's numbers are still dominant so Kelley, I guess, can leave the office as early as he wants too; just deal with the cameras a little bit, Gregg.
*No, you don't have to giggle and cackle and mug the camera; my issue with KRON's Steve Aveson is that he comes off as wooden and pompous. Lightening up with a casual wink and smile is not an Aveson virtue.
*KCBS sent its reporter, Jenna Lane, to do a story; a long one at that; about guys and gals who dress up as lumberjacks and throw axes in a local bar. Gees, I hope this is not the beginning of a trend.
*Speaking of annoying things at KCBS, do I have to hear "contact Edith Rivera" PSA's every five minutes?
*I REPEAT: KQED, worth in the $500M range give or take a million, has PLEDGE breaks on a DAILY basis, radio and TV.
So, I'm not at all embarrassed to ask you, my readers, and others who like 415 Media to shell out a few bucks (or more) so you can read the Bay Area's ONLY 24/7 Independent Media Blog. Besides, I'm more entertaining than most of KQED, including Masterpiece Theatre.
You can make a donation to keep this site up and running and sustainable by clicking on the Pay Pal "donate" icon on the right side of the blog and follow the prompters. It's that easy and yes, I will personally call and/or e-mail you my thanks.
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*This is why I'm a Dan Ashley believer; the guy works his ass off and is consistent. Consistently good, which is a rarity in today's marginalized TV News business.*Dion Lim update: much improved. Your feedback, as well as mine is read, believe me.
*Stock up: Kristen Sze. Ditto Raj Mathai.
*Have you noticed the lack of ads lately on KNBR? Which, what a coincidence, Lee Hammer is now running ads basically asking companies to have a bagel and coffee with him and buy time on the station.
*OK, Stan the commenter, has once again pissed off a lot of you readers and fans of this site; so, here's the deal: Stan, take a breather, chill a little. You overdo your act and although you crack me up from time to time hogging the comments section and trolling endlessly, takes its toll. I'm not banning you just asking you to lighten up; get a couple burgers at Val's and take a vacation.
*Michael Savage lit up the place the other night at Alioto's on the wharf which is still my favorite restaurant in the city. Old-school San Francisco and the best clam chowder I've ever eaten. No, I wasn't comped. My female media stalker, Jerilyn Toe, bought me dinner.
*I'm not a foodie chap yet but my agent, Skip McBastard, says I have great potential.*Hey, I know this is semi-sacrilegious; I've tried to watch the Olympics and can't get into it. I'm not alone.
*Sara Sidner was offered the world (sort of) to come back to KTVU (so the story goes) but decided to stay at CNN because she digs her beat, which varies day to day. Furthermore, she's only an hour plane ride away from SF.
*By the way, I write, edit, produce, this blog. I do the heavy lifting; a one-man show; have to pay my cell and groceries in addition to caring for a loved one. That requires time, and yes, money.
You want content and entertainment. Then step to the plate and contribute. If I could just break even I'd be content.
Oh, how much do you pay for cable? $300 a month. A $25 one-year contribution (donation) --2 bucks a month; 50 cents a week; and you get Bay Area media news and blues; scoops too. Now that's a bargain. I might even sing some Sinatra for you if you're lucky.
*I know I'm in the minority of this but I can't stand KQED's insufferable, "Check Please"; talk about elite, pompous, erudite yentas and schmucks acting like a bunch of Marin yuppies with attitudes and who like lousy food and overpriced restaurants.
*Supposedly, Matt Lauer, was spotted coming out of Tadich the other night with a very young brunette --good thing they don't have female waiters there.
Ashley has a guilty conscience about something. Would be very interesting to investigate his background. My guess, for one thing is that "Ashley " is not his real name. Wouldn't be the first time.
ReplyDeleteThe entry for Ashley in Wikipedia is very light-weight. I suspect he's on his second carrier. The absence of a significant history on Wikipedia suggests he might be getting a fresh start via a successful witness protection program. Good luck Dan!
DeleteI'm a lumberjack and I'm okay, I sleep all night and I work all day . . .
ReplyDeleteI miss Monty Python. Even Rich has to admit that KQED was cool when PBS aired Python from 1969-74.
DeleteWe keep hearing that Trump has threatened to defund the CPB but San Francisco has so much old money that I find it very hard to believe KQED would be affected in any meaningful way. Outlets in smaller markets? That's a different story. Do we need a PBS station in Waco (KNCT)? Maybe not. Do we need three PBS stations in NE Ohio (WVIZ/WNEO/WEAO)? Definitely not. Does Erie, PA need WQLN? WTF?
DeleteHammer can thank his bosses as he grovels for advertisers. Serves them all right.
ReplyDeleteGawd, the "guest reviewers" on Check Please are prone to what has been wrought upon us in this "Yelp" culture where everyone is supposedly is an informed "critic" : Idiotic, blow-hard, self-important, know-nothing insufferable's trying to say something and looking/sounding foolish.
And REALLY annoying at KCBS: the Kim foster "sing song"voice. She has decent pipes in conversation. But, good god reading copy is real bad.
ReplyDeleteHow "very young" was that brunette? Lauer has a daughter, 13 or 14 years old. Maybe it's just a family trip. Not everything has to be sinister.
ReplyDeleteWith Lauer, yes it does.
DeleteMatt has a long history of being a horn dog.
DeletePapa is back, I didn't buy the vertigo thing, maybe rehab?
ReplyDeletePapa had Vertigo when his wife caught him sniffing around one of his co-workers.
ReplyDeleteNo, Rich, you are not semi-sacrilegious. As much as I love knowing and sometimes seeing our country's Olympic athletes win medals, it feels harder to watch the Olympics knowing how much international respect we have lost due to our rhetorical and at the top abusive actions of the last two years. Plus, as much as I respect Mike Tirico's excellent TV work, I keep forgetting that he had the same issue in his early ESPN years as what claimed a lot of today's entertainment and media figures and will hopefully claim the current commander of the free world. The Olympics won't feel the same until we and the IOC & USOC regain their moral compasses. (The latter two are more repressive about their bottom line and image toward their athletes than we are led to believe. Sounds like FOX and Sinclair in a way.) You are right, RL. I haven't watched, either.
ReplyDelete"*Stock up: Kristen Sze. Ditto Raj Mathai."
ReplyDeleteKristen = Yes
Raj = no way. That guy is incredibly smarmy. He is exactly the kind of guy who expects to be acknowledged/adored in public. (Saw it with my own 2 eyes).
He can feel free to go back to new delhi, old delhi or any deli...
DeleteI LOVE 'Check, Please' and have been waiting for YOU to do a segment on there. All the other Bay Area hams have been on EXCEPT you. C'mon... have a sip with Sbrocco and tell us about Tommie's Joynt!
ReplyDeleteIt isn't a bad idea. Surely Rich has the connections at KQED or at NBC (Leslie's done a lot of work there) to make that happen.
DeleteI think they did Tommy's awhile back but haven't seen Original Joe's featured as I remember.
Tried to watch "Check Please," once. It was hokey and too Bezerkeley-like for my taste, amateurish, and I'd never eat at those places anyway. Why would I like something to eat just because somebody else does or recommends it? I've discovered my own favorite places and I don't care what anybody else is doing. Seemed really pointless and pretty much for people who weren't very adventurous and definitely not risk takers.
DeleteThis year marks ten years we have lived in the SF Bay Area. Saul's in Berkeley is still my favorite deli. Wise and Sons in the Mission is good but awfully hard to get to. I guess Suppenkuche is still there but again, damn near inaccessible to us.
DeleteWhen we first moved here good pizza was almost unknown. Today there's Tony's Napoletana in North Beach, some of the best pizza I've ever had.
For the money, Tommy's is the way to go. I have yet to make it to Original Joe's.
I would like to see Kristen Sze getting the attention back to the morning news like Laura Garcia and one of the morning reporters leaving the crew. Looks like Dion will get more attention when Kristen could have been the best replacement for Ama while on maturity leave. As of Eric, maybe, it is time for a different path and very sad to see him doing outside reporting.
ReplyDeleteI do like Check Please! when I agree with the reviews. I don’t like Check Please when the amateurs try to review Indian restaurants.
ReplyDeleteI have to be honest. I like Leslie. All that blonde hair, those eyes and that body...she's getting older but still attractive, can't imagine what her liver looks like after so much drinking.
DeleteWe don't eat out much anymore. Too expensive.
I too find Stan's comments to be lewd, lascivious, salacious, outrageous!
ReplyDeleteHis political and views are outrageous, egregious, preposterous.
DeleteBoth of you guys sound like Kramer's lawyer.
DeleteRichmond/Corral was not as great a pairing as the public imagined. Although they shared screen time and responsibilities, she was paid way less. When she went to management to ask for parity they told her to take a hike. I remember when she quit on the air. Mark Ibanez's jaw hit the floor! Behind the scenes both anchors had their issues.
ReplyDeleteHey Rich, here's your next story - listen to this from Patrick Connor - I don't listen to him but he sounds like a total d-bag idiot, does KNBR fire him?
ReplyDeletehttps://deadspin.com/barstool-radio-host-cant-resist-calling-17-year-old-oly-1822974775
Thank you for dumping LaVar Ball from the comments section for now.
ReplyDeleteI miss Dennis Richmond. He was simply the best. As a kid I would hear him start off the news cast and know everything was alright. I know his partners were not always the best but he was always there doing his thing. Still hope to meet him one day.
ReplyDeleteI, too, wish Papa a speedy recovery. Vertigo is a miserable condition, and it truly impairs functional capacity.
ReplyDeletePete Wilson. (Mic drop)
ReplyDeletethe "Game" looks like it swaped out michael urban for someone named Elvis, havent heard of him before, but anyone is better then "urbs" who was brown nosing everyone at the station
ReplyDeleteThe best thing about Check Please is the closeups of the described food. Definitely makes me hungry. As for the hostess and her wine reviews, forget it.
ReplyDeleteThere has been a dramatic increase in over weight people, they are everywhere. I blame it on these new high definition TV's which make the food look soo good you want to lick the TV screen!
DeleteJust wait until they invent a TV that generates the smell of the food you are looking at and the aroma fills the room you are in, we won't have a chance!
Have no clue what the big deal is about Dennis Richmond. He seemed a bit distant to me.
ReplyDeleteI wish Greg Papa well, but I haven't missed him a bit. His creepy, old-guy-at-the-club vibe had worn thin a long time ago. Stick to the Raiders and NBCSN pre/post game gig where he remains professional and stop with sports talk radio. Ad-lib is not Greg's strong suit.
ReplyDeleteAs for your pledge break, Rich... In what world do you live where you believe that a monthly cable bill is $300?!? The average cable bill is $100. A google search would've taken you 5 seconds to know that. And this is not the first time you've done this. I don't mind the pledge breaks, but don't make up stuff to fit your narrative.
Haven’t listened to KNBR in some time as I had great if 10 minutes of content, 8 minuted of ads, a 30-second sports update (anyone with a cell phone already had that info) followed by another 8 minutes of ads. I don’t a cup of coffee with Mr. Hammer as much of a needle mover.
ReplyDeleteSide note - Rich, solid analogy with KQED. I always rolled my eyes when they would inform us that this commercial free program was possible because of (insert a half dozen companies, who just indeed got advertising via a mention with their logo and how great they are.)
Your blog is always a good read and I don’t know where else people would find this info. Kicking in a few bucks is not much to ask and you should be asking.
Patrick Connor has been suspended from KNBR and not one peep from Gary and Larry?
ReplyDeleteP-Con has been suspended?
DeleteBased on your "much improved" comment I tried watching Dion Lim last night. Unfortunately she still has the same voice so I immediately changed the channel.
DeleteVertigo is no laughing matter. Best to Greg Papa and his recovery.
ReplyDeleteFully concur Rich, KCBS needs to reign in the chit-chat and laughing between announcers a bit. Friendly is fine, but keep the programming sounding professional and on point at all times.
ReplyDeleteKQED could save thousands of dollars if they quit sending so many membership letters. My wife and I receive letters every pledge period and toss them in the trash.
ReplyDelete