Now Somerville Has Lost Julie Haener as ND Amber Eikel Has Lost KTVU; Staff Again Bitter Over Eikel 'Lack of Leadership and Experience'; KPIX/KRON Options Emerge; Fox2 'Can't Win' Situation; Senior and Savidge Not Ready for Prime Time;Monday Talking Points

I SAID A DIVORCE WAS INEVITABLE ...nad that was before I discovered this latest bit of info.

She's been always at his side--literallly and figuratively, but now she is clearly ANNOYED and is tired over the latest off-desk bruhaha involving her anchor-desk partner. Julie Haener, the KTVU co-anchor, IS FED UP. She has always had Frank Somerville's back, one of the few people at the station who is supportive of Somerville's travails. But now, with another distraction (as noble as it might be) Haener is ROYALLY TICKED OFF. So much so, she's stopped asking fellow anchors on set if they've spoken to outside media forces.

MEANWHILE...

SOME Taliking Points

*A few local brodcast sources TELL ME, as much as Somerville has been in the news of late,he'd be "hired in a second" at other Bay Area TV News stations, with KPIX and KRON, the leading contenders as a future home. PIX is going down fast in the ratings and CBS-SF could use a jolt. Somerville would be rejuvenated and so would PIX. KRON too, but they don't have the cash to match CBS.

*The ND at KTVU, Amber Eikel is DETESTED by virtually everyone at the station. She may be in her final days at FOX2 simply because, she's LOST THE NEWSROOM. Staff has NO CONFIDENCE in Eikel and her management style, or lack of. Eikel is perceived as a PUPPET of FOX, "The Firm" and she is. But even worse, newsroom rank and file tell me her lack of leadership and experience is the MAIN REASON KTVU staffers have ZERO CONFIDENCE in her. Eikel was viewed in disgrace BEFORE the latest Somerville and now is basically TOAST at Fox2's Oakland studios.

*KTVU is now is in a CAN'T WIN situation. If they FIRE Frank, they will be the WRATH of social media and will be under eternal strife for their stance (or perceived) on a worker (Somerville) who wanted to point out a fact about non-white women subjected to domestic violence abuse. Somerville's become almost a martyr for the cause. BUT they (FOX) can't really keep Frank because the working conditions would be impossible. As I said, a divorce is inevitable.

*Andre Senior and Alex Savidge, who've been filling in for Somerville, prove once again, they are NOT ready for PRIME TIME. Which is part of the reason why KTVU is in such a pickle. Because they have NO ONE that can replace Frank. They never have. They have a bunch of capable fill-ins but who lack STAR POWER and "face-of-station" status. Somerville may have issues and lack certain chops but his public persona and Q rating is far BIGGER than you might thinl. Still.

*I could see Frank, Eikel, and the never-seen GM all GONE. Unlikely sure, but not so shocking if it occured.