More Hollyfield. Less Anthony. Recipe for Success at KGO-TV; Leslie Griffith Didn't Take Dennis Richmond's BS. A Short Story; Why Does Giants' Broadcaster Duane Kuiper Refuse to wear a Suit? I'm Just Asking; Saturday 415 Media Coffee

Amy Hollyfield

SATURDAY 415 MEDIA COFFEE

Laura Anthony

I'M NOT ONE TO BE PC HERE; I like Amy Hollyfield quite a bit on KGO-TV; I just wish I saw a lot more of her because she's a fine GSA Reporter and usually makes even the most boring stories quite interesting and provocative; speaking of boring, there's fellow Circle7 reporter, Laura Anthony, who is the polar opposite of Hollyfield; dull and dreary. My goodness watching Anthony stain the screen happens every time I see her. Anthony doesn't have any magic and her voice and look is vanilla, I know that sounds harsh but I'm giving you the truth. It's like watching paint dry. Does Anthony ever smile? No, not since the birth of Jimmy Carter, I don't care if she was covering the county fair. She looks eternally gloomy like someone fed her melba toast and tofu for lunch with a cold glass of water. Anthony needs something; a good jolt. Maybe a trip to the ocean.

Hollyfield, on the other hand, seems rather frenzied by comparison.

She oozes confidence and happiness. This may sound strange but if she were covering a murder, as bad as that would be, I could smile because at least there's some passion in the story and Amy looks like she would be having a good time. That's no knock on Hollyfield, my point is she is one happy camper.

Nurse Ratchet as portrayed by Louise Fletcher

Anthony is instant downer. A veritable Nurse Ratchet. What a turnoff. Am I being tough? Maybe but it's the truth.

*OK, so now that I've ruined your breakfast, tell me why I must suffer that schmuck on the Petersen Dean roofing ads? Terminal indigestion would be more favorable then watching this solar panel schmendrick. Pass the Maalox.

Dennis Richmond and Leslie Griffith

*Sure, Leslie Griffith was slightly disturbing and troubled but she was damn good on the air. She was smart as a whip and sort of acted like she was talking directly to you as opposed to merely reading copy off the teleprompter. Yeah, she had a brain and didn't take any shit which probably cost her a job at KTVU but I really like her. A throwback to an era when some anchors actually knew what the hell they were talking about; Griffith projected power and supreme confidence. Too bad the boys at 2 couldn't handle her.

Like, say, Dennis Richmond, who didn't like Leslie because she dare speak her mind. I'm not talking on the air, mind you, I'm talking about off the air persona. Griffith often battled with Dennis because Dennis thought he was king. It could be two battling egos but it was more than that. Leslie often felt (with good reason) that Richmond was a power jerk and liked to intimidate. She wasn't the only one; she was the only one who refused to put up with Richmond's BS. Something you'll never read in the local press except here.

Duane Kuiper

*Another thing that really irritates me is Duane Kuiper's lack of fashion technique. While the other guys regularly wear suits (except Dave Flemming) Kuiper has to put on the windbreaker --why is this a constant? Kuiper should respect the broadcast and wear professional-looking clothes and not dress like he just left the ski slopes at Tahoe. Is that too much to ask for? I think not. Yeah, I'm a little critical, sue me.

When you're broadcasting a major league baseball game you should always wear a suit and tie. Remember, you're not just some shlunk with a microphone you're representing the Giants and professional baseball; you should look like you belong.

I like Kuiper for the most part unless he sounds like he's bored and eating peanuts on the air but he can at least wear a suit and tie and try to win me over. Not an especially difficult chore and I welcome a transformation.

Like today, perhaps? I'm not holding my breath.

Bay Guardian Shuts Down After 48 Years: Does Anyone Care?

 The Bay Guardian --after 48 years, is shutting down. The reason: no money.

Does anyone care? I do. For the love of life.

SFist says some staffers say the left-wing alt will live on in some form. Translation: It's still shutting down.


The Guardian in its early days offered inspired journalism and thought-provoking writing on a variety of subjects, most notably its coverage of San Francisco City Hall. And although it had a tendency to consistently go way over the top on its advocacy style, it was nevertheless worth the price of admission: free. The print edition was a lively read and the restaurant reviews and club listings were one of a kind.


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It's Time To Ask Rich Lieberman

 Oh, should be a fun day. Can't wait for the brigade.

OK, fire away. No subject is off the table. I want compelling questions and I shall do my best to provide compelling answers because I'm a compelling sort of guy.

No morons, please. (Fat chance).

Detour on the porterhouse steak dinner--instead opted for Chinese. Yung Kee saves the night. Kung Pao chicken for everyone.

GAME ON!

Follow me on Twitter where you can also ask questions too.

*Rich Lieberman and 415 Media are not responsible for comments made by others on this website

Steve Kerr New Warriors Coach and KNBR and Kawakami MIA (Until The Last Minute)

    Steve Kerr is now the head coach of the Warriors. The move was reported first by TNT.

I have SOME QUESTIONS.

Where was Tolbert? He's only talked about his college friend and mentor 600,000 times. You'd have thunk Kerr would have confided KNBR's PM drive guy with a quick phone call.


Funny too, that locally, it was NBC Bay Area that reported the Kerr-W's development first just before 6 PM PT.


And finally, Mr. Warriors "Insider" for the SJ Merc, Tim Kawakami, the writer that knows everything; has his heart and soul on the Dubs' beat? Where was Kawakami? A little late to the party, it appears. Sorry, re-tweets of the scooper don't count.

Vicki Liviakis Now and Then

 

Vicki Liviakis -KRON News Anchor

KFRC and Rolling Stones Promo/SF Gate photo

Some of you may not remember Ms. Vicki had a stint at KFRC way back in the 70's--she's the lady, second from the right, standing next to Mike Sugarman.

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Seattle Copter Crash Tragedy Brings to Mind Jane Dornacker; KRFC/WNBC 'Trafficologist' Died in Similar Accident; On-Air Account

This morning's tragic Seattle TV traffic helicopter crash killing 2 brought back my own chilling reminder of KFRC and SF musician, Jane Dornacker, who also perished in a similar accident, live on the air no less.


Dornacker moved from SF to NY to do traffic for WNBC. On October 22, 1986 Dornacker was doing a live report when she and pilot, Bill Pate, were in a copter that crashed into the Hudson River. They were both killed. (The pilot survived--Dornacker drowned).


Here's the chilling audio from that afternoon: Caution: the audio contents are extremely disturbing and may not be suitable for everyone. Listener discretion advised.


**Dornacker was a SF media/performing artist fixture in the 80's --she was only 39 when she died. In 1981 she got the job that earner her the broadcast acclaim as the "trafficologist" for KFRC.

In an accident only a few months earlier that saw her copter crash into the Hackensack
River she told Herb Caen,  "I'm a strong swimmer. I swam from Alcatraz to Aquatic Park twice,
but it's different with a 2-ton helicopter strapped to your waist."


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Jane Dornacker

The Blog and the Radio Show; Rich Lieberman 415 Media and KSCO/KOMY; State of the Union

One of the biggest complaints I get is that now that I'm on radio, the blog has suffered. Oh, and another thing: I haven't been ripping more people because I'm afraid they won't do the show.

Let me assure you that neither are true.

As for critical comments, they'll continue, when I see fit. I don't compromise this site so I can have news people on the show. Dan Ashley, for example, the prime anchor at KGO-TV has seen a lot of my riffs here and yet he's been on the show multiple times.

I needled KTVU weatherman, Bill Martin, for having a chip on his shoulder at times, yet Bill and I communicate all the time and I've invited him to be on the show. Raj Mathai of KNTV, I said, didn't look comfortable on the air initially as a newsreader but now he clearly commands the screen and does a good job.

I've teased Janelle Wang on occasion about her ad-libbing--legitimate criticism--yet Janelle has been on the show and, oh, by the way, her ad-libbing is much better. She's not Diane Dwyer, but she's shown vast improvement and has become one of the Bay Area's more notable anchors.

Frank Somerville gets a lot of praise here and it's deserved: he's on my top 5 list of favorite TV anchors which includes, Ashley, KTVU's Ken Wayne, KGO-TV's Carolyn Johnson, and KPIX5's, Ken Bastida.

*I'm trying to do something unique here: maintain the blog and continue to give you inside information that you look forward to and the main reason you come to this site. And you'll continue to get that info, I promise.

At the same time, I'm doing a radio show and periodically, I'll have guests on--some will be Bay Area media people, some not. I've established myself enough to where people want to do the show. Not all, but many. There's a few folks who are afraid to come on; no need to ID them and that's OK, hey I'm not everybody's favorite flavor, I get it. Fortunately, they're in the minority.

Another thing: if you listen to my show, (here's the link: http://www.ksco.com/lieberman-live) we're doing a lot of news-talk. The show isn't always centered on media so I've become more diversified. And I'm beginning to do a lot of shows guest-free which is great because I'm opinionated and can talk. That's a good thing.

By no means do I take you folks for granted. I'm always willing and able to want your feedback, even those of you who can't stand me, which is fine as long as it's clean and constructive. I'll grant you there's been times where I've responded sarcastically and not answered your gripes; entirely on me and I'm sorry, I'll try to improve there, after all, I dish therefore I should be able to handle legitimate criticism.

To my critics: do me a favor. Give me some time. Obviously, there's going to be perpetual pissed-off peeps that will never accept me. Fine. I'm a big boy, I can take it. But those of you that are neutral, don't care, or just plain suspicious, take some some time and give a listen. And if you feel like venting, give me a call and we'll go at it. I love a good debate.

As for the blog, I will continue to get you the info, provide my opinion; rant a little, rave too. Most importantly, be entertaining, offer my two cents, and write about Bay Area media and its society.

Feedback is vital. Again, you gotta gripe? Go ahead and post your thought(s). Compliments are welcome too. And oh yes, have I screwed up? Sure. So I'm human, forgive me.


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Pew Study: Local TV News lacks Girth; KPIX5 and Gonzales Blunder; More KCBS Repetition; Ronnnn's Cruise; Monday Media

This much is clear: while local TV news here and beyond have increased revenue, (for the most part), audience traction has declined. And stagnation has become a significant element into the dynamics. How so?

Because local TV news looks the same. No one has dare tried to do something different. Notice how they all look like everyone else? God forbid, screw a split-screen close-up interview at the top of the newscast--we must have that multiple story count volume continue.

It's the same formulaic news product day after day, night after night. Nobody has the foresight nor the push to make the product unique. And those few souls that try fail miserably. Consequently, the content is largely vanilla and less people watch the result and continue to migrate to the Internet to get their news. It's just that simple.

*I don't know, absolutely, first hand who and what were responsible for demoting Roberta Gonzales from the weeknight to the weekend, but I do know it's been a colossal blunder. Gonzales has a personality, is a large TV presence, commands real "star power" for KPIX. Her wonder bread replacement, Paul Deanno, might be a nice guy, (by all accounts), but is severely lacking in the charm dept. Not his fault, but PIX, whoever was behind this bonehead move needs to reevaluate it. Yeah, I know money was involved--it always is. Tell that to the viewers.

*Don't tell me about "formats" and such and such....KCBS' repetitious central taking place is plain old lousy programming. Lazy too. Monday morning, between the traffic, weather, commercials, etc saw multiple repeats of bike at Bart stories and Mike Sugerman's 10x-repeated "report" on the parking-meter quagmire near AT&T Park. It was insufferable, it was ridiculous, and it was a bore. C'mon people.

*Expect soon, because it's that time of the year and the weather gods have made it possible: an endless series of stories involving the "drought." We've been down this road many times quite simply for the fact that they, (Bay Area news people), have very little else to talk about and can't think creatively.

*Ronnnnn's cruise promos on KGO fail to disclose that he's cruising, (in June), comped, courtesy of the sponsor. Hopefully the toilets will work and power doesn't fail.

*Speaking of the gadget man, whatever happened, Ronnnnnnn, to the "Up to 30-bit?" Did SweetJack cut back?

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Stan Bunger Clarification; Fitz on TV better than Fitz on Radio; Randy Hahn; Carolyn Johnson; Mick LaSalle; Sunday Coffee Media Notes

SUNDAY COFFFE NOTES

Note to KCBS morning anchor, Stan Bunger: using the term, "slipping" wasn't meant as a knock; in fact, to address a reader who was rightfully ticked that I insulted Bunger, but really did not: I was actually complimenting him. Specifically, his banter work with Phil Matier and Willie Brown and John Madden.

Even the best occasionally slip. The greatest hitters in baseball who fail seven out of ten times make the Hall of Fame. Bunger hasn't really slipped but stumbles every now and then. It's OK. But a knock that seemed like an insult was not a knock. I hope we can all sleep now.

*On NBC's "Meet the Press", Sunday, panelists used the phrase, "At the end of the day" about 23 times. That's not good.

*As terrible a talk-show host on KNBR as he is, and he is, Bob Fitzgerald is actually a very good, candid, qualified, and yes, frankly entertaining and informative TV PBP broadcaster on Comcast SportsNet Bay Area.

After a healthy dose of NFL playoffs viewing Saturday night, I watched the Warriors annihilation by the LA Clippers. The whole game, in fact. Fitzgerald made cogent points, (with good help by underrated analyst, Jim Barnett). Fitzgerald knows his stuff and is often quite accurate on the nexus of various games. And better yet, his personality, unlike the smarmy, petulant and arrogant toad he is on radio, isn't anything indicative of his Knibber habits. Bottom line: "Fitz" is a better fit for TV--radio host not so good and we've noted that many times here. And so have you other Flunkster dudedetts.

*Timing is everything: The NHL, for those of you that care, reached a deal with its locked-out players early Sunday, and will play a condensed season Jan. 19. Locally, that means the San Jose Sharks will begin pucking the ice...More importantly, one of my favorite broadcasters, Randy Hahn, (he and color analyst, Drew Remenda), will begin broadcasting on Comcast...and Hahn will guest on my radio show on Monday from 1: 30 - 2 PM PT. Please listen and participate.

*A million times worth repeating: If you're going to take shots at me, fine, do so, but step to the plate, as I do and ID yourself. The basis of this site, from time to time, is that I rip people. Occasionally I do and that's why many of you come here. But when I do rip, I'm not HIDING under some fake name or obvious pseudonym--it's ME and me only. Don't use your staff workers, your interns, to take shots. You wanna take shots, go ahead and make my day, but have the pair to come forward. Like I do.

*Monday on radio:

Carolyn Johnson from ABC7/KGO-TV
Mick LaSalle from the SF Chronicle
Randy Hahn from SJ Sharks/Comcast Sports

The Rich Lieberman Show airs Monday-Friday from 1-4 PM PT and is Live. Podcasts available. You can access the show on the Internet via the web page here. Just scroll down and click on the streaming live mark or by clicking on the KOMY link at the very top of the blog here on the right.

*DONATIONS to 415 Media are appreciated: Click on the paypal site on the right and help support the Bay Area's only 24/7 media blog. Any amount is welcome and you do not have to have a paypal account to make a donation. Thank you.

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415 Media As You Like It

Raw, unedited, real and honest, just like you like it.

A Few Bay Area Media Hemorrhoids, (And How's Your Friday Going?)

Because I'm not beholden to anybody, although I do try to be fair and accurate, occasionally I like to comment on some of the best and worst human mutants in this town. There's plenty to dish out on the table. Here's a few, not necessarily in order, and not necessarily people either.

*KNBR: They just can't help themselves. And because they live in a bubble and don't know how truly bad they are, and therefore, in denial. Simply unlistenable and now their ratings, post-Giants are tumbling. Time for more interns and coffee boys.

Darya Folsom, KRON: Gleeful, insufferable, and an embarrassment. There's only two reasons why they keep her on...and that uber-giddy "performance" co-anchoring the BART riots in Oakland was tantamount to watching a high school kid go goo-goo ga-ga over the airwaves.

Jennifer Jones-Lee, KGO: The incessant giggles, the endless chirping, the frenetic references to Facebook, TMZ and American Idol is enough to manufacture a human vomit machine.

Steven Moskowitz: He bought all the time on the various Bay Area media markets which means we have to listen to this schmuck, oh wait, you do, I don't. Moskowitz or an audit? I'd rather be audited.

Brian Copeland, KGO-TV/Radio: I tried feverishly to get on "7Live" to promote myself and 415 Media. The fact that no one watches the show speaks volumes about "Copey", who talks a lot and nobody cares.

Jan Wahl, KCBS: Hatwoman's movie reviews are instant tune-outs. Wahl has all the audio gleam of a Fresno Walmart.

Amy G, Comcast SportsNet Bay Area: Again, why?

Jaymee Sire, Comcast SportsNet Bay Area: See above.

Kim Coyle, KPIX: Enough nothingness to make you want to scream for about an hour. Real loud too. Coyle's add-libs are enough to warrant a "Bring Back Milt Kahn" rally in front of 855 Battery.

Ken Dito: The human test pattern at a radio station on life support. "Working" gratis.

Carl Steward, BANG Papers: You know, there is at least one good thing about newspapers dying. Steward is an insufferable lout with zero personality and dumb as a door knob. You'll never see this putz on Jeopardy.

Bruce Jenkins, SF Chronicle: Jenkins thinks his shit doesn't stink. And that Juan Uribe signing with the Dodgers was "disturbing." Bruce, you're almost as disturbing as I am.

Susan Slusser, SF Chronicle: Slusser is the beat writer for the A's on the Chronicle. Funny, from her scribblings, I thought she was a member of the booster club. About time too, for another heart-warming Eric Chavez story.

Steve Bitker, KCBS: God's gift to the world. "Good Morning Stan, Good morning Susan, Good Morning Jason, Good Morning John, ...." Good night, Steve.

KNBR "Morning Show": Maybe suicide is painless.

Ray Taliaferro, KGO: He must have pictures.

Bill Wattenburg, KGO: Interrupts people more than I do; is incredibly arrogant for no apparent reason and uses the term "eco-frauds" about 100x per show. On a good night, he's only slightly annoying. On a bad night, you want to slit your wrists listening to this moron.

FP Santangelo, KNBR: Good riddance. Lee Hammer says "Yes!!"

Barbara Simpson, KSFO: Was Simpson really that news anchor that used to report for KTVU? Yes, at the time, Simpson was normal and not the right-wing nutcase she's turned into.

Bob Fitzgerald, KNBR: Warriors house shill, KNBR's "Rudy" chock full of giggles, stupid, disingenuous chatter who thinks he knows more about everything than anyone on the planet and will tell you that every day. Fitz? Shut up and stick a solar panel in your big mouth.

Karel, Green 960: Gay, straight, whatever, you're boring as all hell.

Me: Yes, I'm a sincere pain in the ass who has issues and is more insecure than Woody Allen was in Annie Hall but for some reason, you read this shit so you're just as disturbed as I am. Have a really nice day.

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The 'big shots' that have their interns and producers do the dirty work

I KNOW WHO YOU ARE. I DO.

I know you're patterns and the way you write and how you plan your attacks--they'll all predictable and usually penned in the same manner and style countless times. If not anything else, your consistent.

You trollers do the "dirty" work, if you can call it work, for your upper operatives and missives. I hope they give you extra holiday cash. Too bad they can't muster enough balls to directly write to me, I'm right here, its not as if they don't know how to contact me.

A few things: One. If your going to call me out, have the balls to call me out and not hide behind your desk.

I know some of your bosses can't call me out because a few of them don't even know how to use a computer; hell, one guy doesn't even have a cell phone.

But get this....I'm on to you. Hey, I dish it out now and then and am willing to take it back in return. Trolls, you ain't seen nothing yet.

Happy Holidays and as always, thanks for reading.

KGO/KCBS: You want 'winners'? We want 24/7 traffic, dammit!

KGO and KCBS, in an earnest attempt to deliver all traffic, all the time, 24/7, have decided to shelve news, sports, weather and in fact, all human beings.

"Our focus is to provide traffic reports every second, every hour, every day, ever week and year, "stated KGO GM, "Big Rig Bumperman.--after all, nobody listens to the radio anymore except for truckers and my aunt Irma Fender-Bender.

KCBS head honcho, Nanno Nimitz, concurred. "We deliver over 47,000 traffic reports every day. We just reasonably felt the best option was to can the news and go strictly to traffic. We care about our listeners--more now serious he was about the impending lifetime traffic format, Nimitz confirmed KCBS is planning on moving their studios to the 880 freeway overpass in Newark.

KGO has petitioned the FCC to see if they can use the tag line: "Traffic on the 1's, 2's, 3's, 4's, 5's, 6's, 7's and 8's and 9's--When you die, we'll be the FIRST to let you know about that last big rig spinout on Doyle drive!" Is that cool or what?

Asked how his station might report on traffic news even when its midnight near the Bay Bridge toll plaza on a rainy Tuesday, KGO's assistant traffic czar, Ima Bumpersnicker, said bluntly: "Look, we're all in this together. Traffic is our lives. It's our business. Its the way of the world, really, so we figure even if there's little car action, we still want to be there. After all, we owe it to the listeners."


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A Market Devoid of a Star; How SF has eroded into Nothingness

There are no stars here anymore. Not exactly breaking news, but nevertheless quite telling and so sad about a city that used to have some of the best.

Evan White, please come back and rescue us from the posers. Please.

Van Amburg, as much as a pain you were apparently off the air, get out of your garage in El Cerritto and come on down.

Mark Thompson, I know you're enjoying life in LA and making good coin, but there's a great pad you can steal in the marina. We miss your sense of humor, not to mention your gratuitous jokes.

Dennis Richmond, you left much too early. Yeah, I know you love golf and all, but really, couldn't you have waited just a few more years?

Dr. Don Rose, here's hoping you're doing great up there in heaven--I miss "San RaQUEL!" and "Sacratomato."

Jim Dunbar. You know, Dunbar, I didn't realize how good you and Wygant were together. You both told corny jokes, but it sounded genuine and you knew the time and place. You didn't have to rely on cheap, stupid and insulting gossipy crap--you just did it on your own and the listeners appreciated it.

Dave McElhatton, I miss your levity and sanity. I miss your complete professionalism. In a world of pompous posers and charlatans, you were 100% sanguine and trustworthy, the Bay Area's Cronkite. Miss you "Mac."

Pete Wilson. You know Pete, fate sucks. You left our planet much too early. Again, like some others, you had just the right amount of levity and delivered some quality goods, both on the tube and in radio behind the mike.

Stephen Kapen. Kapen, you WERE and ARE, the greatest, funniest, and most entertaining personality the Bay Area had on FM radio. I can hear you know up in heaven doing your "KUH-kuh-Kuh-Kuh--Kapen" and damn, I'm still laughing. By the way, you blew Alex Bennett off the dial...and he knew it.

Bill King. The undisputed classiest, best, most compelling and greatest sports broadcaster in SF Bay Area history. End of story.

Mickey Luckoff. Sure, I took a few shots at you and frankly, you deserved it. But you ran a tight ship and survived almost four decades and took care of some of your soldiers. Loyalty is a strong virtue and by all accounts, you were pretty solid in that department.

Herb Caen. Dang, has it been over thirteen years already since you left us? Caen, in this Internet-phucked-up world, your take on some on the issues would have been beautiful. Hope the "vitamin-v-vodka" is flowing.

**Follow me on Twitter

Sussman backs down on "child abuse" comment; purge rumors heat up; KQED furloughs; Wednesday round-up

KSFO's Brian Sussman, showing unusual reason, (amazing when you assume the guy is a schmuck and he isn't) showed a bit of contrition over his statements saying those people who bring their kids to the Gay Pride parade are committing "child abuse."

I chided Sussman. He shot back an e-mail saying that if I had kids, I might think differently. Fair enough, but "child abuse" is crazy. How about, say, "inappropriate", Brian?

"Inappropriate" is not strong enough. "Child abuse" might be pushing it. How 'bout "emotional trauma?", said the Sussman. Trauma?

Suss and I disagree, we'll leave it at that, but give the guy credit for nixing the child abuse angle.

**No, the purge rumors have nothing to do with KRON; in fact, KRON's parent, Young has made it out of BK, restructured, and shed about $800 million or so of debt and looks like prime picking for a would-be media suitor. Said one observer: This paves the way for Young to sell off KRON at a lower price than before. Look for KRON to become part of a duopoly with ABC7 or KOFY20.

Don't rule out NBC, just yet.

**On the purge? Think local TV outlet in the media gulch near Broadway and Battery.

**Furlough news at KQED, the eternal "we're always broke" leader. Time to consider more pledge breaks and how about re-igniting the auction?

**Mike Krukow getting down on "The Panda". Scary, there's hope.

**The Giants media coalition: KNBR, Comcast, et al has to secretly love their current abyss. Although the beloved Bochy bunch has hit a wall, the ratings haven't tanked, (even if the team has) and while winning is great, if you're going to lose like totally, dude, the Giants forklempta makes for good copy and anguish.


**Word from Chicago through my vast media network is that Oprah's people are checking out SF for a possible week's worth of shows; I'm only interested if I can get a Caddy out of it.

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NBC cools talks with KRON merger; Go Laker$ say ABC7; Bay Area media rundown

**The proposed "shared services agreement" that both NBC and KRON have explored has apparently "cooled". Newsblues outlines the situation.

This is a case where Vince Young and his "contentious" nature affect what on paper, is probably a win-win for both entities.

By the way, no other blond weather ladies left 1001 Van Ness, at least as of Wednesday.

**By the way, I know about all the stories out there about you-know-what, but its not anything that much different that goes on at any other station in the country; I just wish I could get someone to go "on the record" to confirm the story around the story.

**The Lakers-Celtics seventh game tonight on ABC7/KGO is a windfall for the local ABC o and o. In fact, try several hundreds of thousands of more dough, which at cash-strapped ABC stations, is a welcome addition. One sales guy quipped, "could there be a game 8?"

**Many local outlets have sent crews and talent to cover the US Open taking place at Pebble Beach. Many have not. Why? The exorbitant cost of hotels down on the Monterrey Peninsula. Try about a low of about $300 a night at a bed-and-breakfast inn, (if you can find one) all the way up to $500 and above. In a bottom-line atmosphere, that's a firm "NO."

**Having worked both sides of the ropes in this crazy business, you don't know what its like to hear the utter bull---- of some publicists trying hard to spin stories that simply are NOT the case. I mean, god bless 'em--they have jobs to do, but really.

**At the risk of  inferring that a lot of the srories you read here are NOT covered by the OTHER guys, just google "Elaine McKay, Evelyn Taft, KRON". I rest my case.

**KRON probably thinks I've got a stick up my tuchas when reporting about its various goings-on. No, guys and girls, its YOU that keeps doing this--not me. I mean, some of this 'stuff, you can't make up.

**As many times as I have ripped the 9-Nooner knibber, I do have to give the great 'Radu a high-five for his Tony Bruno segment on Wednesday. For the better part of twenty minutes, it was young adolescents calling up and rating the "greatest ass", with side commentary between Radu, newsman, Ray Woodson, and Bruno.

Dumb, gutter-like radio but infinitely funny, in a sort of audio Animal House kinda way.

**Speaking of "on-the-record," yes, I wish many of the sources who communicate with me would come out on the open and id themselves, but the fact of the matter is without any promise from me of anonymity, 99% of the material I get would be unobtainable without me assuring them that I don't use their names.

They simply couldn't go public without the risk of receiving retaliation by their bosses and/or management under which a slap-back would be the least of their punishment. More likely, in some cases, outright hostility and eventual termination.

We like to point out that unnamed sources used in a story for either background, direct information, are people I KNOW who are credible and are giving me 100% accurate information. And even with that, I call and try to get a second story to corroborate the the first.

If you check the record, so far I've been right.

Let me say, again, that I'm fully aware and sensitive writing about an industry where people's livelihoods are at stake and in jeopardy. Like mine.

I do not take pleasure in posting items that involve someone getting fired, layed off, "terminated" or the subject of ridicule. God only knows there's times that I have to grasp the fact that what I write and ocasionally spout off may in fact affect MY livelihood.

Come to think of it, it may have.

LETS ALL HAVE A TURKEY SANDWICH AT TOMMY'S JOYNT--GO CELTICS!

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