Matier Will Continue His KCBS Reports With New KGO-TV Gig; Heenan Shines on KRON; Love New Kumasi Aaron on Circle7 Weekend Newscasts; Saturation Earthquake Anniv Coverage; Somerville and Haener Deliver Spot-On Crockett Fire and Explosion; So Too Ashley, Daetz and Melendez; Not a Peck Fan on PIX; Friday 415 Media Extravaganza

PHIL MATIER will continue to do his radio spots at KCBS --they're independent of KGO-TV. It was an advantage for Matier to be at PIX (and KCBS too) to share his content and he of course didn't have to leave the building at 855 Battery to do his TV News obligations. At KGO, he merely has to cross the street down to 900 Front.

*I hear they're just trying out Darren Peck on the weather at PIX which is good because he's awful on TV. Which is good news for Brian Hackney.

Catherine Heenan

*I watched the great, Catherine Heenan on KRON the other night (filling in for Ken Wayne) and she was just as good as the first day of her KRON stint --which was way back in the 80's. Good and lovely to observe too. It's a shame KRON doesn't use her more, especially when paired with Pam Moore.

Heenan has an old-school style and her news acumen is both admired and appreciated. Old-school as in really broadcasting, anchoring as anchoring should be and not acting like she's in a movie. It sure adds to the newscast.

Kumasi Aaron

Kumasi Aaron on the weekend at KGO makes sense. She's bright, articulate, comes across straightforward and can deliver the news in a swift and crisp manner, something nice in the morning and beyond. I'm hoping she'll be more present on Circle7's news platforms, and yes, shoot me, she's great-looking.

*Classy of KCBS to run same-day 30th anniv, earthquake promos with an earthquake insurance company as sponsor.

*YOU COME HERE for TRUTH and HONEST TAKES and you're going to get it now: The earthquake aniv. coverage was way OVER THE TOP and an A-grade example of SATURATION coverage.

It was nice and interesting to read the stories and watch and hear the whole events of October 17th, 1989 at 5: 04 PM.

I get it, you have to emphasize it. Because why? Oh yeah, it's the 30th anniversary but OK, do your story and show some videos; play some actualities and describe that day but I'm sorry, going on and on and on, doesn't make for good TV nor radio news. It happened, it was a tough day involving loss of life and buildings tumbling down but it not the real, catastrophic disaster we're in for if the scientists are right. And as bad as it was and visually horrid, think of a same earthquake at the same 6.9 register centered in Downtown Oakland on the Hayward fault, that's your mother of all disasters and you think a day without power will be tough?

*The refinery fire in Crockett coverage, especially on KTVU was well done Props to Frank Somerville and Julie Haener who were terrific on the 5 PM cast and delivered solid reporting and asked the right questions; when at a time, ad-libbing is not the best feature of a majority of the news outlets here, Somerville and Haener were spot on and informative in a changing situation --I also have to give props to KGO's Dan Ashley and reporter, Lyanne Melendez, who was at the scene virtually from the first report of the explosion and fire.

Frank Somerville and Julie Haener

Ashley and Ama Daetz provided up-to-the-minute information and asked pertinent questions to the fire people and didn't go nutso on the air as developments changed and the story was still fluid.

*That OBNOXIOUS jewelry store ad that runs and runs and runs --seemingly every two minutes, needs an extended vacation --plus, I don't give a rat's ass that Jennifer Lopez walked the red carpet with their jewelry. So too Lady Ga Ga.