Dion Lim ABC News Fill-In Gig Ominous for Circle7; Dan Ashley Firmly #1; Daetz Too; Bad Spin at KPIX; Yamamoto/Donchey Failure; CBS Had No Choice with Norah O'Donnell Extension; "Tolbert-Copes" Stench at KNBR; KTVU/Gonzales Weather Dept. Can't Spell; Saturday Schmooze

WHILE IT'S just a fill-in gig, Dion Lim's ABC News anchor duties in NY next week, might be a tempting destination for Lim and her network aspirations.

Lim has clearly emerged as a bona-fied presence at KGO (ABC7); at first, I regarded her as a total lightweight, but she altered her quirky voice and began delivering solid news reports. Enough to rile co-workers, one in particular, who viewed her as a person to reckon with and fear her ascent.

Circle7 has a big problem: Dan Ashley, and Ama Daetz in particular, aren't going anywhere soon and therefore, Lim's want to become a primetime anchor at 900 Front remains a difficult chore with the suits. How to placate Lim and at the same time, defer to Ashley and Daetz.

KGO's ratings are firmly at the top in most major time slots including the evening newscasts. And while Dion loves the Bay Area, she has NY aspirations.

Think of her World News Now fill-in (and World News This Morning) as a virtual audition.

*MAKE NO BONES ABOUT IT: Ashley has become the TOP DOG anchor, not only at ABC7 but the entire Bay Area TV market.

Thirty years plus and the Ash man has made his presence known with a firm grasp at KGO; his anchor duties are extraordinary with work at 4 PM (on occasion), 5, 6 and 11. That's a huge undertaking--four shows each day and Ashley makes it look easy. Not to mention his off-station duties like speaking engagements and making personal appearences, Ashley is KGO's #1 face-of-station.

*They can continue to SPIN it any way they want to but it's all BS: the anchor duo of Ryan Yamamoto and Sara Donchey at PIX is a TOTAL ZERO. Ratings are stagnant. The combination of Yamamoto and Donchey has produced NO buzz and traction whatsoever. That's not just my take, but almost the entire staff at 855 Battery. Proof positive was the FEB SWEEPS; PIX's numbers were abysmal. And 5 PM (where Yamamoto and Donchey reside) were a DISASTER! Just the facts, maam.

*CBS just gave Norah O'Donnell a contract extension, not because they love her but because they had no other choice to. Most other possible replacements don't exist or have migrated to the cable world and thus, CBS extended ratings-challenged O'Donnell. On the other hand, O Donnell's star presence makes up for her less-than-loving personality off the NY anchor desk.

*After over a month on the KNBR all-sports air, the new "Tolbert and Copes" (Tom Tolbert/Adam Copeland) show (2-6 PM) is LOUSY radio.

Tolbert seems BORED and disinterested and you can hear it. He's also getting lazy too. Just this last week, he arrived a good ten minutes LATE to the mic and co-host, Copeland had to stall and ad-lib while Tommy finally showed up.

Copeland is terrible-- he adds NOTHING to the show other than a tiresome cackle that is heard every minute. Copeland can't deliver and his major ass-kissing of Tolbert is as obvious as all get-go. The show has no buzz and is a ratings total disaster. Nothing new at Thee Sports Bleeder.

*OH KTVU and Roberta Gonzales can't spell Ben Lomond, Livermore and Kentfield --this morning was proof positive.