Monday Buzz: Few Talented Women Anchor/Reporters in Bay Area TV News; Sussman/KSFO Mystery MIA; Dion Lim at KGO Needs Tweaking (Her Own); Connie Chung Gives Me a Wink; Pia Zadora Loves TV News Here, Sort of; Quick Hits

WOMEN ARE SMARTER THAN MEN, so goes the saying ...and I'm sure that is true here in these parts but not the case with the women anchors and reporters. Is there a Rita Williams in the house anymore? Nope. Where's Betty Ann Bruno? Not present. I'm dumbfounded that, outside of a few notables (Juliette Goodrich, Melanie Woodrow, Lyanne Melendez, to name a few), the Bay Area women anchors/reporter membership is devoid of talent. As a progressive feminist that I am, this is very profound and sad.

*Here's something KGO can do and should do: work newsman, Bret Burkhart on a Saturday from, say, 9-6 --specifically, to handle breaking news stories and to take calls if necessary. As more news happens on weekends, KGO has ZERO staff personnel; it would allow KGO to have someone in the building to broadcast live, especially if there's a major incident, natural disaster, terrorist attack, etc. Burkhart could have a Friday off so it wouldn't cost KGO and Cumulus a penny plus it would provide its listener base a human body inside to report. Burkhart, as I noted, did a great job on Sunday last week anchoring during the disastrous Kincade fire; frankly, it was spot-on coverage --a delight and good, old-fashioned KGO in its best form. Sure, Lee Hammer, tinker with this, tweak it, whatever, but it's a Go do it.

Dion Lim

*KSFO mystery: where's Brian Sussman? Not that I've noticed but I occasionally turn the dial down to 560 AM to hear the latest Trump cheerleading and right-wing conspiracy theories and for the past several weeks, Sussman has been off the air. I've tried to find out the reason why: no one and I do mean no one is talking. I don't think it involves illness because Sussman has been tweeting away on Twitter. There's a hunch I have: money. Sussman could have seen his latest Cumulus love check and thought, "maybe I'll take a break". Or an extended vacation. Or both.
UPDATE: Sussman is indeed on a medical leave.

*There are several factors to anchor appreciation. You have to be comfortable with them. Dare I say, trust them. Believe in them. Feel as if they're almost a part of family. I'm generalizing of course, but you know my thinking, even in this world of declining numbers for local TV news, the fact exists, comfortability and trust is a major factor. That said, I don't feel comfortable watching KGO's Dion Lim. I cannot stand her voice and inflections. It is more than robotic and irksome, it is tedious and unbecoming. Lim can adjust her delivery and try to sound more convincing and not the visual Barbie she comes off as; seriously, I can't believe Dion talks that way in public. So why can't she adapt? She certainly has the chops and mental fortitude to become complete and fresh and sincere. That's not the situation now. It's a large smorgasbords of a meal but no one's at the restaurant.

The lovely Connie Chung (right) and hubby, Maury Povich

*A few years back, I met Connie Chung; she was on a media tour for a charity and I was happy to hang out with her at the Van Ness Holiday Inn. I put on my best black and white suit and met her at the bar where she was munching on some cheese fishing while sipping some house cabernet. When I arrived, she quickly hopped up and noticed my appearance and acted as if a dignitary entered the room. We spoke mainly industry chatter and she told me how much she loved the Bay Area. "Maury (former KGOer and talk host, Maury Povich, her husband) always loved his time here and we had our first date here. It's a gorgeous city." I told Connie that I lived across the bay in Oakland and she rightly stated, "oh, isn't that the Brooklyn of the Bay Area?" Smart lady. Her press rep showed up and invited me to a private party at the Fairmont. I politely declined. I have to mention that Ms. Chung gave me a certifiable wink as I got up and retreated for the exit. She looked decidedly golden in a sheer black suit and white pumps. I gotta tell you: Chung and I would be the complete power couple but I don't mess around with the married ladies. Lord knows I've had plenty of chances.

*Pia Zadora was in town recently and said she's a secret lover of Bay Area TV media. Seriously? "When I visit here I don't go out much other than to perform so I stay in the hotel and watch the news." "But not CNN?," I asked her. "No, I love KTVU and KRON." I asked her who stands out. She couldn't name anyone. "I'm bad with that." Uh, sure, OK Madame. Got it.

The lovely Pia Zadora

QUICK HITS...

*Continuing to be a late-night fumble: KNBR sports talk host, Mark Willard.

*Mired in mediocrity: 95.7 FM "The Game" --just a pile of weeds.

*KPIX: nobody's watching. Heads should roll. CBS is finally paying attention. Sort of.

*Heather Holmes continues to dress like a San Ramon cheerleader on her way to a nightclub which means she really wants out of KTVU.

*Jeopardy answer: Free cruises and rooms at the Handlerly: Jeopardy question: What is the purpose of the "Ronn Owens Report?"

*Sales guy at local IHeart media confab: "We're barely making money these days." Sign of the times.

*Does anyone admit to listening to Rush Limbaugh anymore? What a predictable bore.