DEAR KNBR: I know your parent company is in Chapter 11 but seriously, with the money you make, it might be wise to get Mike Krukow, Giants' PR rep and morning show commentator a halfway decent phone and not the shitty $5 special he now talks through; just this morning, Krukow's phone line was choppy and loopy --I mean, seriously, how bad must it get before you stop your patronage of Radio Shack.*Yes, KTVU has fallen fast with enough in-house drama to fill a Nancy Drew mystery book factory; the latest: a sullen reporter who works the Eastbay beat who complains she doesn't get enough air time and is pissed off at the News Director and makes a lot of noise. Careful, they're liable to stick a camera near your desk. The Firm can be dangerous.
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| Kruk and Kuip |
*Speaking of the Giants, is it just me or can you tune into a Giants' telecast and tell, based on Duane Kuipers's voice, if the Giants are winning or losing? I can.
*The A's have NO Game: the Oakland baseball Athletics are royally pissed off at their alleged "flagship" station because The Game (95.7 FM) talks a lot of Giants, I mean A LOT --in fact, during times of scheduling conflicts with Warriors' playoff broadcasts, Entercom has put the orphan A's on that lovely AM Death Valley dial position, 1550 AM.Ouch.
*Broadcast cannibalism at its best: KCBS the other morning, used audio from its sister TV station, KPIX, complete with PIX's reporter; ok, not really unusual but the entire hour?
*Someone griped at me that I don't cover enough "digital media"; uh, I have the Radio dot com app on my phone and I love NY, Philly, Boston news talk and sports; it's great stuff, most of it, but this is 415 Media not the 212/917.
And podcasts? Wake me up when there's something more enlightening than some guy who swears a lot and thinks that's hip, the main reason for podcasts.
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| Alex Bennett |
*It's not only that KGO-TV's hard-working meteorologist gives accurate forecast, Sandhya Patel is a really nice person, a classy lady, in an era of loud-mouthed ego maniacs who think the world revolves around them....like me a few years back when I had a life.
Anyway, Sandhya is as delightful on the air as she is off...not to mention her massive charity work.
Thumbs up to Madame Patel.
*The Circle7 ever ready battery: David Louie, who seems to have been at KGO since the Lincoln administration. He just keeps going and going and going...
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| David Louie then and now |
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| Sandhya Patel |
Rich, I noticed the same thing about 95.7 and the lack of A's discussion, and yes, it pisses me off and I'm sure it pisses off the A's, as it should. If all I want to hear is Giants PR spin, I'll listen to KNBR, but that's the reason I stopped listening to them in the first place.
ReplyDeleteDavid Louie is an institution - more than 45 years at KGO. I remember seeing and meeting him on the Peninsula in the 70's/80's. I nice and personably guy. He was never flashy or dramatic, but always a solid and reliable reporter. Given all the anchor drama at all the stations, I think I prefer 'solid and reliable' over the ego-based drama.
ReplyDeletehttp://abc7news.com/society/reporter-david-louie-celebrates-45-years-at-abc7/2052205/
Donate to KQED or you. KQED gives away tote bags. KQED it is.
ReplyDeleteI'll give you a used 415 Media coffee mug because I truly love you.
DeleteRich offers an insider's perspective, candor, a unique personality and style, and a place to vent. KQED offers "Check, Please," and lengthy insufferable pledge drives (where they have the gall to ask you to put them in your will).
DeleteRich, I never got the KRON ball caps I asked for. Could you send some my way?
Delete11:58 but KQED acts like they are liberalier than thou. Are you saying that they're not?
DeleteKQED follows the liberal model, 2:02. They are aggressive when it comes to raising money. How prudent they are at managing that money is a matter of debate.
DeleteI just came back from taking my wife to BART and was listening to the guy on KPFA beg for a hundred and fifty bucks. Aggressive isn't the word for it.
DeleteThey say CPB is set to lose its funding. I don't see KQED going away because there are too many people here who watch it but some of the affiliates in smaller markets might. We do not need three PBS stations in NE Ohio. They probably don't need two.
At least KPFA can justify their begging as they don't take money from any ads, underwriting, corporations, or taxpayers. Nothing at all except listeners. I will forgive them begging, because they aren't pretend liberals bathing in Wall Street and corporate money.
DeleteAbout three years ago I had an appointment at Kaiser Santa Teresa and saw David Louie on camera doing a report concerning an employee walkout. I asked if was David Louie and he said yes. He could not have been more pleasant. My first and only time meeting any of the Bay Area news folks.
ReplyDeleteKruk deserves better respect based on seniority alone, stupid Cloud Clowns; need KTVU's most devout viewers to take the initiative against Kelley and The Firm's tactics; the A's at least deserve respect from their own station, both in prioritizing them when they are not talking Warriors or Raiders, and when the Warriors' playoffs take precedence, as in another FM station willing to take the feed for one night; KCBS may now be owned by Entercom, but only because CBS Chairman Les Moonves is very anti-radio, otherwise staying teamed up with PIX can only help and never hurt; I avoid national radio, but on MLB's website, I do enjoy listening to other national TV or cable stations call baseball games (think Michael Kay on Yankees TV, but not the insufferable John Sterling on Yankees Radio); Son of a Bennett! Great to read about Alex's latest work, and cool photo of him wearing a John Lennon sweatshirt! The Quake and Live 105/KITS stand out Bay-wise as Bennett's best work; Yes a thousand times to Patel's outstanding work; Remember when David Louie joined KGO-TV in 1971, then the following year traveling with the late great Van Amburg to cover Nixon's 1972 visit to China? Louie hasn't looked back, does great work helping do the impossible in the Silicon Valley - fill the still great-in-retirement Rigo Chacon's shoes! Only Louie, Cheryl Jennings, and Carolyn Tyler remain from the Van Amburg Era, and Dan Ashley enjoys all of them and their work!
ReplyDeleteKruk is the most overrated broadcaster in sports...
ReplyDelete100% agreed 11:35!!
DeleteIMHO, Sandhya is the best meteorogist in the Bay Area. She is very knowledgeable, and refreshing compared to the weather anchors.
ReplyDeleteI remember "comedy tonight " on KQED in the 1980's with Bennett. Hope Bobby Slayton is part of Bennett's show.
ReplyDeleteWhatever happened to the comedian known as, Tree??
DeleteBeing in the "live studio audience" was the best way to begin your work day. Complimentary coffee was always first-class, and Alex off-mike was every bit as insightful as he was on-air. His Quake/KITS shows were first class and sorely missed. The upcoming live comedy reunions should be a hoot! Sure would be fine if Alex resettled back in SF and considered gracing the local airwaves one more time...
DeleteHey Joe, it's good to see you here. I really miss you and Alex during the Quake days with Bobcat Goldthwait, Bobby Slayton, Steven Wright, etc.. I also remember the times when I would have stuff sent to you and Alex for the "Letters" segment with no postage and your address as the sender. The time I sent you guys a dollar in pennies in an envelope was hilarious!!
DeleteThen there was the time someone walked into your station lobby at night via the unlocked front door, spoke with the DJ, then stole all the mail for the next day's "Letters" segment. Hmmm...I wonder who did that...
I remember when Alex burned his weenie on an iron. I also remember "Tree", but have no idea where he went.
DeleteCRUCIFIXIAYUM!!
DeleteI so miss the Morning Obituaries on The Quake...nice to hear from you, Joe...
I agree, Sandhya Patel is one of the two best in the bay. The other being Bill Martin. Hey Rich! Have you had a chance to see Anoushah Rasta work along side Terry McSweeney. She’s quietly working her way up with class, professionalism and a great sense of humor to go with it. Reach for the stars Anoushah. We’re blessed to have you!
ReplyDeleteAnoushah does good work as a reporter and anchor. She is a nice addition to the NBC Bay Area News team.
DeleteNoticed her on a McSweeney cast a couple of weeks ago, where did she come from?!? Drop-dead gorgeous with a clear, concise no-nonsense delivery and a good rapport with McSweeney...NBC11 is poised for a ratings jump...
DeleteI just tuned in to Alex Bennet's "podcast". This is the most boring thing. Horrible. "Uh, yeah... you know ,>long pause<..."
ReplyDeleteWho pays him for this garbage?
Give Krukow a new phone? The Giants would rather spend the money on another ill-fated campaign to get him and Kuiper into the Baseball Hall of Fame. It can make them money. a lousy phone call to The Sports Bleeder doesn't do crap.
ReplyDeleteThe same homer crap will still be coming out of Krukow's mouth no matter what phone he uses.
DeleteA's games with ken korach and vince conterno are enjoyable to listen to for the most part, these two guys are underated and have been for years with also ray fosse who is going on almost 30 years now!!!!! the problem is before and after games with either chris townsend and his annoying cackle or rick tittle who has a habit of grunting or clearing his throat constantly, both hard to listen to espeically tittle who tends to be sarcastic and snarky most of the time
ReplyDelete