Never. Thanks for the chuckle.
Griffith was a talented and respected news anchor for KTVU many years from the late 80's until the middle 2000's but extremely troubled. She had massive personal issues some of which made their way into the Channel 2 studios. While respected by staff and admired by many, Griffith was also downright scary. She had numerous unfriendly encounters with some of KTVU's biggest and most popular on-air anchors, including a notorious one with sports anchor, MARK IBANEZ. It was the beginning of the endfor KTVU's own, "Play Misty for me"
In additioin to Ibanez, DENNIS RICHMOND, wasn't a fan. Of course, that wasn't so much a big deal because Richmond, while also admired, wasn't exactly loved by the KTVU rank and file. He could be difficult and also infinitely arrogant and hostile. I'll never forget what a longtime KTVU staffer told me about Richmiond and Griffith: "They both deserve each other."
Ouch.
Whereas Richmond always carried himself seriously and rarely had a laugh except when anchoring the local broadcast for the famed Jerry Lewis Telethon for MDA while he met the cute kids that Pat McCormick brought in, Griffith wasn't just a turn off for colleagues and viewers.
ReplyDeleteWhen Bill Mann was the media critic for the Tribune, most of his local criticism was for Griffith, because he could see the personality issues a mile away. I believe after working for the Santa Rosa Press Democrat, Mann has been in retirement for almost 2 decades in Wine Country. Most of us viewers thank Mann for warning us about Griffith. Too bad her teleprompter skills so mesmerized the most respected KTVU management staff at the time that she stayed at Channel 2 as long as she did.
Want a summary about Richmond's disregard for Griffith, which was his unhappiest period as KTVU's No. 1 News Voice? Before Ronn Owens became the Cruise Clown 10 years ago, Ronnnnn cracked a joke about Griffith to Richmond, and the latter withheld any comment. Owens actually understood why.
Best Richmond Co-Anchors to Worst - 1) Elaine Corral; 2) Sara Sidner (though it was rare before Sidner bolted to CNN); 3) Julie Haener; 4) Barbara Simpson; 5) Andy Park (was going through a drug problem when he became Richmond's first co-anchor, made enough mistakes that Richmond reached a last straw point; Simpson succeeded Park after that); 6) Griffith (a case where the personality conflict was actually worse than the drug addiction).
Only Rich would remember whether Richmond spent anchoring time with Marcia Brandwynne before she bolted for KGO-TV to anchor the 5PM broadcast when Van Amburg & Jerry Jensen stuck only with 6 & 11. If it happened, it was before Richmond officially became anchor.
Diane Dwyer?
DeleteGriffith crafted a pretty good on-air "false self." I thought that she was nice looking, seemingly pleasant, and she did a respectable (though a bit biased, at times) job of delivering the news. I watched her on 2's weekend newscasts, regularly, for many years.
ReplyDeleteKinda saddened to hear that she had personal problems, that she imposed into her career situation.