THE DAY AFTER A LONG WEEKEND EVERYTHING SEEMS POINTED TO A NEW BEGINNING BUT SOME THINGS REMAIN THE SAME...
*KRON and its silly attempt at relativity is still meandering on, somehow, someway, and now back on our screen with eternal rapid dysfunction. There's this frenzy at times to try to make it better but that's impossible, remember, as I say countless times, it's still KRON and hopeless beyond hopeless.
*The Embarcadero was a scene of mass humanity on Sunday and that chaotic scene outside KGO -TV studios reminded me of the old days and the only thing missing was Karl Malden and Michael Douglass and a lot full of old Ford LTDs. Tonight's Episode: "Crooked Street."
*I DON'T KNOW what the hell is in store at KPIX these days other than total incompetence and mismanagement in the morning, noon and night. It should be pointed out PIX has some solid people; solid anchors and reporters and a devoted staff that tries its best under the most difficult circumstances but blunderville USA is the common theme at 855 Battery and yes, once again, CBS in NY ain't happy. They have tried the send-NY-consultants-to-SF and it hasn't worked. I don't think it ever will. At PIX, it's chaos in the morning and relative doo-doo after but as long as they make money I guess Black Rock will put up with it, for now.
*I MENTIONED chaos and I forgot KTVU which one day soon will see a "big-timer" call it quits and race out of Jack London Square as fast as a Dodge Bearcat with a full tank of gas. The situation couldn't be more toxic and destructive if it were to be able to recreate the Love Canal in the parking lot with a whole bunch of people ready to cleanse the soul and split Fox's "The Firm" Oakland division.
*I DISCOVERED a radio diamond in the rough: KCEA, 89.1 FM and you have to work hard to hear it but once you do, it's pay dirt. A non-stop broadcast homage to big-band music and nonstop oldies and goodies. It's run by the Atherton school district and they do a great job, if you can't get it on your car stereo go to their website KCEA.org and get out the wine and Chinese food.
*I'm sort of sick of KCBS lately with their jokes and cackling and Stan Bunger's attempt to become a weatherman but I'm getting a load of restauranteur, Narsai David and that's good news. Narsai used to broadcast recipes from garlic chicken to olive-oil encrusted pizza and suddenly disappeared but has resurfaced. The gravel voice is great and the content as genuine and sincere as they come which is why I love to hear the Kensington edible don.
*How do I love Jim Taylor from the start of his new KCBS reign and now sort of sick of him with his extra-cutesy delivery? Jim, spare us the MOS style on every report in the field.
*HARD NUMBERS: KCBS: 2 Black on-air reporters and anchor: 2! White women galore everywhere else. There's a problem there. Not my doing, by the way.
*Here's the underlying story about 95.7 FM The Game which will retain broadcast rights for the Warriors, for now. Years ago, while driving down the peninsula en route to his home near Hillsborough owner, frontman, Joe LaCob put his stereo on and couldn't hear his own basketball team's broadcast and how embarrassing is that? LaCob can build a billion-plus new arena in Mission bay but finding a radio station whose signal can be heard is another story.
*Eric Thomas of KGO. I used to think stories about his uber-crankiness were overblown until one day recently when I called him and he sounded like a complete asswipe so maybe it's all true. Thomas, I know has battled a myriad of health issues but seems eternally stuck in doomsday, Eric, smile!
*KNBR got a warning from a Giants' BIGTIME PR guy not named Larry Baer about dipshit PM guy, Mark Willard, making fun of Mauricio Dubon's last name (pronouncing it Du BONE) --and there you have the essence of why Willard works the moribund post-night shift at The Bleeder.
Happened by KRON at 8 and saw a reporter Noelle Bellow... my goodness she is fine... and seemingly a more than capable reporter. I might have to tune in more. Coincidentally, it was a young(er) Pam Moore and Janice Huff that made me a KRON fan back around 1990 or so when I was in high school. Yes... THIS guy likes the sistas as you all sometimes chide Rich for :)
ReplyDeleteIronically, long time reporter/over night fill in anchor Bob Butler, one of the two black folks to be heard on 740/106.9 was once the Director of Diversity for CBS.
ReplyDeleteBob Butler is a local SFSU graduate and started radio work in Oakland years ago. We can't throw shade at him for being a "suit" (Director of Diversity) for a short time. He came to his senses and is back as a real radio person, we need more of them.
DeleteThis mornings tearful goodbye from Natasha made me gag. They all hate each other and we know it. They are glad to see her go, she is glad to be gone. Her parents raised a real little princess in that one.
ReplyDeleteGreat start for KGO 7, now can Reggie just leave it would be great to see 2 ADULTS in the morning. Dion Lim and Kate Larson also should be gone, Oh wait I forgot who runs KGO 7 newsroom NO CHANCE of getting good talent.
DeleteI don't know how Eric Thomas is in person or off-air, but for me, a 63 year old white guy from the south, I have to say that Eric Thomas to me, is a good ole newsguy. He delivers the news in a no nonsense style, is articulate, and doesn't seem to show bias in his reporting or anchoring. To me, he is old-school in a good way. He does not fit the current mold of today in anchors; I mean, if one was to look on paper at him, you would see older black man with graying hair, over weight, with one eye. Sure, he is prime hiring material! But yet, when he does the news, he does a wonderful job. In the good ole days, an anchor was defined as someone who had a "trustworthyness", and someone who, when they read the news, one could believe what they were saying, ah la, Walter Cronkite. Eric Thomas has that trustworthyness. I know he is nearing retirement, but to me, KGO still needs him.
ReplyDeleteIndeed KGO needs Eric Thomas as long as there are pretenders like Natasha and Reggie crawling around the industry (and there always well be because it's like HOLLYWOOD!)
DeleteRich--not to absolve Eric Thomas' crankiness but Eric just lost his long-time closest friend & workplace mentor at KGO Lorne Morrison who just passed away after a stellar 38 year career as a KGO Cameraman for both Eric Thomas & David Louie. In addition now having to share KGO Weekend News Anchoring responsibilities with the Grating Voice & Annoying Mannerisms of Dion Lim can certainly make 25 year veteran Eric Thomas feel less than Cheerful while pontificating on air
DeleteFYI and no need to post this comment - Nice to see the mention of KCEA. One suggestion correction; It is owned by the Sequoia Union High School District. Run out of Menlo-Atherton High School.
ReplyDeleteStan Bunger is hilarious as the wannabe weatherman. He just doesn't read the forecasts, but earnestly adds his personal opinions and predictions.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the tip on KCEA - TuneIn carries them.
I agree on the KCEA tip. I first heard them a few months back in a little cafe that had many old time radios displayed all over and was playing that station.
DeleteThe cafe patched the webstream via a low power MW transmitter so they can use some of their classic radios to play it.
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DeletePray tell, where is this cafe? It sounds like heaven to me....
KPIG is still simulcasting its Freedom & Cayucos over-the-air signals on 1510 AM in the Bay Area and streaming from KPIG.COM..Station has real live talented jocks and a good variety of music.
ReplyDeleteMark Willard one of the morons with the non stop "dick"jokes another john Miller who loves to hear the sound of his own voice
ReplyDeleteCan we get a cryptic hint on who will be looking for new opportunities at the firm?
ReplyDeleteNo wonder KGO got rid of Grumpy Eric, but we all support Eric than Smuck Reggie!
ReplyDeleteOh neat - making skin color an issue when it comes to anchors and reporters. Or how much a "white guy" likes Eric Thomas. Let's all take it a step further and discuss how many bisexual Lithuanians are news writers at KTVU. Or perhaps how many wheelchair-bound Spaniards edit video for KPIX. By all means, let's keep making skin color and race an issue where it isn't one.
ReplyDeleteYou included, Rich. What the hell does skin color have to do with anything? It's a constant issue because you make it one. What a bore. How about caring about the content of character instead? What a brilliant, albeit decades-old, idea.
You can thank the Obama administration.
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