To wit: (not necessarily in order)
*Frank Somerville, KTVU: There were many naysayers who insisted that Somerville was no Dennis Richmond and that Channel 2's news franchise would suffer. It hasn't. Yeah, Somerville isn't Richmond, but he's managed to keep things intact as KTVU's lead anchor. Like Richmond, Somerville gives a steady diet of no-nonsense delivery devoid of any unnecessary chit-chat. Solid and reliable. (Nice dresser too)
*Dana King: KPIX: Graceful, steady pro with a nice delivery and yes, sue me, she's gorgeous. Hard to believe that King has tenured at the CBS o and o for well over a decade. She brings class to the PIX news desk and is a respected industry leader. One of the best.
*Tom Sinkovitz, NBC Bay Area/KNTV: I'm still a bit befuddled why the upper news people in the SouthBay have lessened Sinkovitz' role. He's as good as ever. The numbers don't back that up and thus, the Raj Mathai shake-up took place, but I'm convinced Sinkovitz has a home here, maybe not necessarily at KNTV.
*Raj Mathai, NBC Bay Area: It isn't Mathai's fault that he looks like a GQ model. Take the exterior pretty-boy appearance away and what you get is a hard-working, spirited, passionate, and very good news anchor that is a great interviewer to boot. How do I know? Because I watch and I know.
Rita Williams, KTVU: Hands down, the BEST TV reporter in the Bay Area. End of story. Williams is relentless, tough-minded, passionate and yes, fair. She's also been her forever which helps and has the utmost respect and admiration from her peers. In today's TV business climate, that's remarkable. So is Rita Williams.
*Lawrence Karnow, KPIX Weather: One of the most underrated talents in the Bay Area. Karnow's weather guessing is sincere, focused, steady and yes, entertaining. And his delivery, with a little smidgen of humor helps too.
*Roberta Gonzales, KPIX Weather: I know there's a ton of people in the biz who are going to skewer me for haveing the nerve to say I like PIX's high priestess of weather, but here's the deal: Gonzales isn't a PBS news commentator, she predicts weather. She isn't curing cancer. And she's hot and looks and sounds as if she's having a ball. Get it? I do.
*Pam Moore, KRON: Moore is one of the only reasons why I catch KRON every now and then. Having to perform under less than admirable conditions, Moore's continued class is a credit to her. Catherine Heenan too.
*Stanley Roberts, KRON: His "People Behaving Badly" bit is still one of the funniest routines on local TV news. Roberts, we should note, was attacked recently by some lunatic, (he's OK) so his camera/vj position can attract some potential goofballs. I like Roberts shtick voice persona as he navigates the Bay Area roads, freeways and exits searching for traffic gadflys all the while with a twinkle in his eye. Funny and quirky? You bet.
*Dan Ashley, KGO-TV: For years, Ashley has been a solid performer with good, concise delivery points--I really like the guy. Just wish he'd stop the hair thing and understand that we don't care he might have a wig. (Yo, Ash, it's OK. Stick with the current doo, it'll do.)
*Mark Ibanez, KTVU Sports: Always get a lot of flack here for my admiration of Ibanez. Truth is, Mark is good because he writes his own copy. Among other things, he also managed to earn his stripes working with the late Gary Park, which wasn't too easy. Mark is not for everybody with his signature "That's the 'Sporting Life" line but for me, he works. And 33 years at one station means he's doing something right.
*Ken Wayne, KTVU: A solid, straight-forward performer on the weekend that is underrated with a capital "U".
*Carolyn Johnson, KGO-TV: She's enormously hard-working, good, tenacious and tough-- a top-notch news reader, and again, I'm sorry, no offense, but is spectacularly beautiful. I asked one of her KGO colleagues if she was as nice off camera as it appears and he said yes, a real cool person in the newsroom.
*Wayne Freedman, KGO-TV: Freedman has about 6000 Emmys and here's why: funny, great reporter, terrific interviewer, and has immense Bay Area roots all the way from his KRON days.
*Diane Dwyer, NBC Bay Area: Classy, well-liked and solid to the core, Dwyer gives an honest, steady read day in and day out.
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