Even banal KCBS needs a strong personality on AMD and Culross's bland demeanor is a no-go from 5-9 --she'd be perfect midday or even PM Drive.
Culross, a multi-year veteran, has other issues and this one is not that surprising: a nasty relationship with news boss, Jennifer Seelig, which has apparently become toxic. Several newsroom sources tell me Seelig has been meddling in Culross's business to the extent that she, (Melissa) is quietly looking at other stations --there's not a lot of those, in SF, but KQED Radio is on the list and Culross would be great there from news to public affairs and a name host for "Forum."
Nothing is imminent now but word is the situation is a potential nightmare for KCBS' traffic-centric brand.
*A STAR is born at KRON and it was out of the blue.
Weather anchor, Kyla Grogan, was doing some news anchoring the other evening, (fill-in) and she lit up the screen. Grogan was crisp, fluid and as steady as all get-go. It was if she'd been doing news for years and it was not only solid, but network quality.
*Ominous time at KCBS's sister station --FM, all-sports, 95.7 "The Game": an Audacy programming czar was in town last week and meeting with The Game's management execs and it was tense. The FM outlet has been struggling with cash flow issues and programming mayhem. The rumors of an audio purgatory hitting 95.7 are rife and relentless.
Radio is a tough business now, bet on it.
In particular, the horrid "Tolbert and Copes" PM drive mildew is LOSING listeners by the day. Adam Copeland isn't LAUGHING anymore. And Tom Tolbert has no beers on his couch.
Melissa would be better doing reporting than an anchor in my opinion. Some days she anchors by herself and other days with Eric. The morning show needs a complete makeover.
ReplyDeleteTom Tolbert was guest sideline reporter at the Warriors throwback game last week. You know the game where former NBA player Tim Hardaway put his foot in his mouth once again by comparing action on the court to a rape. Can't make this stuff up!! Say what you want about Fitz but there's a reason why announcing is best left to the professionals. And Tolbert's was certainly no Rosalyn Golde Anwude on the sidelines. At least she was something to look at. (Too bad the Warriors lost her to the networks.)
ReplyDeleteAnyhow...Tolbert seems to be expanding his horizons as Cumulous might be making that pink slip zoom call to KNBR in the near future like they did with KGO. Sports talk radio has gotten so stale in general. Unless there's some crazy play or amazing victory or loss by the local sports teams to talk about it really is just kind of a borefest. That's what we have Twitter for now...Oh wait....lol
Grogan makes me groan. I don't find her very good at all. Much like Burch on KPIX....both horrid. Then again, all of KRON is terrible. I really don't see why or how you see an improvement. It looks all the same to me....which is pretty much pathetic. The stories are all so frivolous and one-sided. There is rarely an opposing side presented and it seems like most is just a re-worded press release.
ReplyDeleteYou seem like a very happy person LOL
DeleteMost ARE just a re-worded press release. Bad grammar is how shall I say pathetic, horrid and makes me groan. Also when did weather start coming with press releases? Do they even have scripts? Gotta say, I don't think so.
DeleteWow! I am a big Kyla Grogan fan. She’s articulate, smart and very attractive. She has the broadcast resume, too. KTVU really botched their decision to let her go, too.
DeleteAlso a fan of Kyla here. Love that she does more than one thing. Very cool.
DeleteMark Willard better watch out...his split with his wife is getting nasty and she's starting to air their dirty laundry on Instagram. I originally liked him on KNBR but now he makes me sick.
ReplyDeleteI remember her. She was that metaphysical chick that was all about the "think it and imagine it and light candles and do a few "hummmm's" and everything you want to happen happens.
DeleteI'm interested and can't find anything of which you speak on her instagram. Care to share a few nuggets?
DeleteI see it now.
DeleteYeah, she's a little out there with some of her IG posts but that's how she makes a living. I tend to believe her but I realize there are two sides to every story. He did post pics on IG with his new GF. Wonder if he'll be starting a second family like his partner in the morning? Hope not!
DeleteI love watching Kyla Grogan. She manages to be professional but also can have fun and I still enjoy it. She's just damn good. I didn't catch her anchoring but it doesn't surprise me that it was good.
ReplyDeleteMore Grogan is cool by me. I'm a fan.
ReplyDeleteDitto.
DeleteHow dare they want the reporters to broadcast from the Studio!!!
ReplyDeleteWho needs a beautiful and smart talent like Kyla when you have Elvira and Posemary?
ReplyDeleteLOL
DeleteElvira!!!! lol
DeleteWith the failure of the election sports gambling initiatives in California what are the odds on the survival of 810-m THE SPREAD (formerly known as KGO)? Did the backers of the gambling initiatives pay them to go with that format?
ReplyDeleteRosemary must be jealous, her rival is taking her weather fame except KTVU got more viewers KRON low ratings
ReplyDeletei know this is an unpopular opinion, but there's something off-putting about Grogan. She doesn't strike me as fake and phony like LT Jessica Butch, but it's more the role she plays on the lousy show she co-anchors on KRON. The stupid prancing around the stage in 8" heels looking like a clown is beneath her, yet she still does it.
ReplyDeleteRosemary? Is that you?
Delete8 inch heels. That would be humanly impossible to stand in. In fact, 8 inch heels do not actually exist. 9 Inch Nails is a good band though. I think Grogan is the best thing about the talk show if that's what you're talking about. Which I'm pretty sure is supposed to be a fun less newsy more entertainment based show. I am entertained by it personally. I'm a bit fascinated by people who come here to opine very odd and specific opinions about a show that they say they hate but clearly watch regularly.
DeleteI agree. Something off-putting about her. Ridiculous wig.
DeleteLOL Wig? No one in SF News is wearing a wig. Dude you need to get a new tv. And maybe some glasses.
DeleteRich I am not surprised national sports syndicated radio (kgo 810) would beat out local talk sports radio (knbr). Some people do like other options. Now if we can get the "dumb" KGMZ program director to get rid of the "soft vanilla" hosts and replace it with syndicated sports now KNBR will be a little worried in terms of competition...
ReplyDelete@4:37- Steiny and Guru- Another solid show to 95.7's weekday lineup. Steiny at times can be a contrarian and Guru has that sports passion, but they both make for an interesting mix and their show works.
DeleteDamon and Ratto- Damon has been covering sports in the Bay Area for over 15 yrs now. Brings a wealth of knowledge to his show and still tells it like it is regarding the Bay Area teams. I'm not really a fan of Ratto, but when he's not a curmudgeon and when he's into it, he gives good tidbits of all of the Bay Area teams and he will give you an unbiased opinion if you're looking for that. He also is someone who can give you historical facts as well, as we all know he's covered sports for years.
@4:37- Night time show- Looks like the main pairing for the night show has been Dan DeVone and Allen Stiles. Dan DeVone kind of gets on my nerves at times, but he's covered sports for a number of years and provides knowledge. Allen Stiles is quickly coming up the ranks at 95.7. He signed on to the station late last year and is already working weeknights and is doing the Niners postgame show on 95.7.
DeleteWeekend/fill-in/backup hosts- 95.7 also has a pretty good roster of weekend guys and guys who are the fill-in/backups. Larry Krueger who most know from his KNBR days, does a great job filling in on 95.7 when any of the main weekday hosts are out. Kind of wish he was utilized more, but it's cool to hear him on the airwaves whenever he's on.
Shomari Block who is on mainly on weekends is an entertaining guy and provides pretty good insights when he's on. JD (John Dickinson) who is the jack of all trades on the station, has great knowledge and is pretty solid. Whitey Gleason is usually pretty good as well when he's on, even though at times he can be kind of goofy. Chuck Walter, who is on at night I think once a week, is alright. He works at KPIX as their sports reporter as his main gig.
But yes, overall I think most of the hosts on 95.7 are pretty good. Who would you replace them with? Don't put syndicated sports on 95.7. A lot of these national shows don't talk Bay Area sports so that wouldn't be good for 95.7 either. They all talk LeBron, Kyrie, the Cowboys, the Dodgers, the Yankees, pretty much players and teams that us Bay Area sports fans don't care for that much.
I learned a new trick and it works really really well - I turn off KNBR during Smurf N Smack, Old Tired Pro Tom and Chatty Copeland, and Frankie Paulie. I do not miss their lame dreck one bit. When Papa and Lump get too deep in the weeds, off they go too.
ReplyDeleteAre these Chumps the best the Bay Area can do? I sure as hell hope not - they are pathetic. A region as educated as the bay area deserves better than these nimrods.
So agree 7:47. I used to yell at the radio especially those two tools in the AM during my commute and I feel in a better mood and probably better to deal with without that aggravation in my life. We deserve better than nonsense!
DeleteLet’s face it, the best sports talk show host of all time in the Bay Area was the late, great Ralph Barbieri who died a couple of years ago at age 74 after being rudely shoved out the door by Cumulus. Ralph was extremely entertaining when he’d go off on some rant. I remember back in the late 1990s he used to rip college women’s’ basketball. “ Some people compare it to the men’s game by saying the 2 are like ‘apples and oranges.’ No it’s not! It’s apples and crap! A JV High School boys basketball team could beat the best college women’s’ team. The reason you’ll never hear anyone criticize it on National TV or radio is that because it’s not politically correct! And I have a right to say ‘ I don’t like women’s basketball! It’s boring!’ And that doesn’t make me a bad person or mean that I’m a misogynist! “. Classic!
ReplyDeleteRalph didn’t show up on time for his show for an extended period. How long would you put up with that? $$$ He also didn’t disclose his health issues until after the fact, which was convenient for his bogus lawsuit.
ReplyDeleteI am glad that Melissa Culross is gone from the morning anchor. She had robotic responses to those who were being interviewed. Also, her delivery was too crisp and staccato. I am much happier listening to the morning show now.
ReplyDelete