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| Barbara Simpson |
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| Gary Park |
Barbara Simpson of the KTVU 80's and early 90's "Ten O'clock News"--one of the most mysterious media personalities in Bay Area history. While Dennis Richmond was front and center, Simpson hovered in the background --she performed the obligatory smiles and reactions but offered very little. Which is nothing. Which is good because it fit the KTVU model at the time. Stick to news. Stick to reporting. Stick to delivering the information. Barbara Simpson read the handbook. She was pretty much spot-on. She offered very little much in way of her own personality. Much like Richmond, it was all a blur as to what she was really like and at the time, it really didn't matter. Later on, as we now recall, her conservative beliefs were outlined when she did a far-right talk show on KSFO and developed a ultra right-wing persona that shocked a lot of people and made her seem so unlike what we all thought while watching her on KTVU.
*Gary Park was one of the most beloved, respected and admired sports journalists and anchor in our market. I reported his
death back in May, 2009, for the Chronicle.
Park wrote like no other. He was simple, straight-forward and elegant. Simple. He didn't like to elaborate, he didn't have to. Talk about misunderstood, Gary Park was in a league of his own. He rarely spoke to anyone. It wasn't being a jerk, he wasn't. He just was very private and elusive. People forget, he started out in news and eventually moved to sports. At KTVU, he and Richmond were the dynamic duo in the 70's and 80, there was nobody like Gary Park, not yesterday nor today. Mysterious as ever and always will be.
*Dennis Richmond --very soon I will write about the Dennis Richmond you never knew behind the KTVU shield.
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| Dennis Richmond |
- Lost respect for Simpson when she outed herself as pro-Hairpiece
ReplyDelete- One late KTVU alum that Park got along with good was Bob McKenzie. McKenzie juggled Channel 2 with a TV Guide column at the time. Remember when Park was George Reading's fellow anchor while Richmond was a field reporter?
- This RL blog has reported numerous times about how Richmond's work ethic tended to be overbearing and how successful his teamwork with his co-anchors were, with Elaine Corral & Julie Haener (when the latter was young and still learning) his best partners, Andy Park & Leslie Griffith his worst partners (A. Park was in over his head and very mistake - might have been caused by drug issues, while Griffith's personality rubbed a significant part of the newsroom the wrong way.) KTVU's slow transition into the Firm's hands really began years before Channel 2 became an O&O after FOX bought the station from Cox. Richmond's back troubles - which were true, since he was a weight training fanatic - included a slow nudging out the door into retirement by new management. Well known to fall short of Van Amburg because he couldn't ab lib, Richmond still managed to take the news bull by the horns when major headlines made it necessary; his composure during the nightmare year of 1978, the Clorox explosion in 1980, the Loma Prieta earthquake in 1989, and 9/11 in 2001 was just what viewers needed at those times. And in that final year of 2008, a lot of people forget that Richmond showed a lighter side by bringing his very young granddaughter to the anchor desk for a photo shared on KTVU's social media pages as he neared his retirement. Has had multiple surgeries during his last 12 years residing in Grass Valley, but still manages to have a good laugh every now and then. Still one of a kind.
I lost respect for facelift 3 facelifts ago when she was first elected Speaker of the House.
DeleteFunny the reference to hairpiece, many many many radio hosts refer to Biden as "Plugs".
DeleteFavorite all-time anchor at KTVU -- George Watson
DeleteThere's a phrase for all three - consummate professionals
ReplyDeleteFunny, in Europe they call them "news readers."
DeleteOh I bet I already know about the "other" Dennis Richmond. I've spoken over the years to people who know where all the bodies are buried. At least one of them later became a body herself.
ReplyDeleteI really liked, and miss, Gary Park's work and presence. And it's sad that he just missed the Giants' improbable run of World Series Championships.
ReplyDeleteHi Rich: Despite the very large crowd at the 2007 Oakland Art & Soul Festival my Friend & I instantly recognized the Great Gary Park. Wearing a Tan Wide-Brim Hat Gary was with a very Attractive Middle-Age African-American Woman. Very Gracious Man but as you said Rich somewhat Mysteriously Elusive. Gary & the late Wayne Walker were my 2 Favorite Bay Area TV sportscasters of the 1980's & 1990's. Rich: I absolutely love your blog! Keep up your Great Work! Cary SF
ReplyDeleteHe pulled a reverse Christine!
DeleteThe 'Babe in the Bunker,' I can still hear her voice. The picture looks like Lily Tomlin.
ReplyDeleteHey NBC, more Janelle Wang...perfect dress selection tonight! Hey KRON, more Justine Waldman...perfect dress selection tonight! Hey KTVU, more Cristina Rendon...perfect dress selection tonight! They all deserve a pay raise and a new car.
Hey KPIX...When Liz Cook wears that 49er red sweater she is almost famous for wearing...back the camera up!! She is a pleasure to watch, actually more than a pleasure!!
YouTube...JenLisa Moments, 'Beautiful Trauma.'
The Women Are The News.
Beloved?? that's a strong word...maybe by you. For G'd sakes, he read a script for 3 minutes a night!!
ReplyDeletePoor Gary Park, he got canned due to Will Clark swearing on live TV when the SF giants won the 1987 NL West.
ReplyDeleteGary Park was already being phased out during the 1987 season. Steve Physioc was brought in during that year to do the Giants telecasts on KTVU.
DeleteI was thinking "Poor Gary Park" for having to suffer through so many bad Giants teams in the 70s and 80s.
DeleteI interned at KTVU during college. Leslie was always a hot mess, smeared make-up and her hair was a rat's nest. But she was very nice.
DeleteDennis was always swearing (in the newsroom) and swinging a pretend golf club. He was very rude to the interns, maybe to everyone. IDK
Leslie Griffith is bat shit crazy! So sad, she went Jessica Walter. Shit happens.
ReplyDeleteYou STILL wouldn't have kicked that out of bed in its prime.
Delete9:52,
DeleteThat is what I was thinking!
Smart men don't get married and they also know how to read the room. Crazy is easy to detect if one is observant.
ReplyDeleteThinking with your dick is why most men are broke. No sympathy.