One of the main veteran anchors at KPIX, (CBS5) has seen the removal of his signature solo clip and speculation about his future at 855 Battery. My guess is that both sides will try to work out the murkiness, if indeed, there are 'issues, ' and there are.
* As a reader wrote, Karel and I had a frank discussion via phone. I told him point blank that I thought his painstakingly long rants about his dog's health problems were over the top. I also told him that I didn't think he was performing for the idea of ratings. Keep in mind that my older sister has a dog and cat--I know the subject of animals is a very sensitive subject, but an hour, several hours, actually, seemed extraordinarily out of place. Karel, to his credit, called, (my offer) and we had a healthy, no-holds-barred discussion. On the dog issue, we agreed to disagree. We also talked about content. I told Karel that when he sticks to the issues, I tend to like his show and his passion. I wish he'd concentrate on politics and current affairs. In the end, we argued, (civilly), and brought it all to the forefront. Between Karel, Christine Craft, and Stacy Taylor, there is no other there there at KGO, but you kind of knew that by now, did you not?
*There were several of you who were taken aback at my "Never seduce a blogger" play at humor. It was, at the time, merely an attempt to lighten up the day and try to evoke parody. For those of you who took offense, sorry, I didn't plan on making it a point to ruin your day. As I've said repeatedly, occasionally I stray a bit--don't always hit a homerun. Those of you who liked it, thanks, (I think).
*More Ray Taliaferro: November 18, 1978. Truly one of the darkest days in Bay Area history and the beginning of a truly horrible story: the Jonestown massacre in Guyana where over 900 people were victims of a murder/suicide orgy orchestrated by Rev. Jim Jones.
As word leaked out that terrible Saturday, it was none other than Ray Taliaferro, in his first year at KGO, was on the phone with officials from the government describing the surreal, mass murders and chaotic scene at the Jones jungle compound. Yes, Taliaferro, of all people, who did a masterful job.
*The Matier and Ross expose of the Lockyer story takes a new, bizarre twist. Now we have a reported sex tape. As they say in the biz, there is sure more to this story than meets the eye. Duh!
*Len Tillem would be the prime candidate to syndicate his "loyah" program, (currently, weekdays, 3-4 PM on Newstalk 910, but for now, Tillem is hellbent on concentrating to make his local show a Bay Area radio constant. From this corner, his re-brand from KGO is in full throttle-mode.
*Just because I do a semi-flattering small piece on a Bay Area female TV reporter doesn't mean I'm looking to "score", come on guys, get a life. This isn't high school and I'm not Peter Brady.
*That Ronn Owens promo about the house on fire down the street that KGO plays every five minutes is a telling 30 seconds about the mood of not only Owens, (who sounds like he's a POW reading a prepared script), but mostly all the people who work under the current SF Cumulus umbrella. Sad, really.
*On the other hand, I'm sure Owens can't wait to "trash the Oscars" come Monday. (Way, way, jump-the-shark status).
*Speaking of the Oscars, does anyone, like me, plan on merely watching Billy Crystal perform the monologue and then switching the channel off? Maybe a trip over to see "Safe House", which I'm told I'd like and this night seems dreary enough.
*Chef shows on radio. Great thinking, Cumulus minds. Maybe Ryan Scott can hold the spatula up to the microphone.
*Tom Vacar, currently over at KTVU, has never missed a day of work in over 30 years of TV work in the Bay Area.
*Those splashy new, highly-paid, "Investigative reporters" at NBC Bay Area, haven't made a dent in the ratings thus far, which shouldn't be surprising. NBC and its O and O's can't wait soon enough for the Summer Olympics in London.
*Out of place, personified: the hideous Renee Richardson on the "new 810." Watching paint dry is more interesting. And while I'm a Chuck Nevius fan when he pens his Chronicle columns, his banal commentaries on radio are simply hard to listen to. Not you, Chuck, it's the voice. It doesn't work on the radio. But I guess they need to fill time over there and so...
*Comcast "live" reports from Spring Training. How thought-provoking. How programming, genius. Maybe you can do multiple segments on what "Timmeh" eats for breakfast in Scottsdale. Another case of "we have money and let's spend it even though 99% of our viewers don't give a damn what the hell is going on here in Spring training and who cares?!!"
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*Tips/E-Mail/Inter-office memos: Rich.Lieberman@Gmail.com
