OMG, There's a Storm Brewing; Really? TV News Can't Wait For 'Storm Center' Coverage; Kim Wonderley Medical Mystery on KCBS AM Traffic; There Really IS a Blue Box; Sarah and Vinnie's Lovely Uzette; More KPIX Dysfunction Update; KTVU Anchor Issues; Wednesday Wash

  RAINY WEDNESDAY IN JANUARY; What a surprise.

With the coming storm approaching this afternoon you would think we haven't been down this road before but we have. Even in drought years we have a few big rain events but the TV folks are acting as if Armageddon is near.

Cut to 5 PM --the obligatory live shots from Marin, probably Mill Valley and the hardware store guy answering the usual stupid questions: "Are you busy?" No, he's sleeping actually. Holy Smokes.

Let's not stop there. Let's go to the East Shore Freeway and show the commuters drive stupid as they do, always, in this area this time of year. Then the gas station in Emeryville live shot with the CHP officer telling us to slow down. He's right, we should. But do we need a parade of reporters capturing his every word? Dumb. You could file this statement and use it every time we have a storm, it's undated.

*Kim Wonderley has been off the KCBS air well over a month now and because of strict HIPAA laws, we don't know exactly what her medical issue is (which is fine with me) ; I'm told it's nothing serious but the more time she's away, the more worry. We wish Kim well.

Kim Wonderley with Stan Bunger

My report recently about fill-in Peter Schofield eventually taking over the AM drive traffic gig is more sooner rather then later.

*Yeah, I felt this morning's tiny earthquake up near the Oakland Hills in Piedmont; a 3.4 magnitude dinger. It did wake me up --so too, Doug Sovern, who called into KCBS' John Evans , but three minutes of play-by-play I'm not sure was necessary.

*A real 'Blue Box' is a secret code that enables one to work in media circles in the Bay Area. Or Not. It's so secret I can't go into details only to tell all you assorted folks who thought it was my creation to basically go take a hike.

The secret coded Blue Box

Yes, there IS a Blue Box and if you don't have one, good luck, maestro!

*Dear Sarah and Vinne, your lovely Uzette on Alice 97.3 FM is a personal savior with a ton of positive virtue and excruciating intrigue. I will eventually hoist a few with you guys and girls at the Blue Light, courtesy of Entercom, they can afford it.

*Speaking of CBS, its alleged TV News station here is once again clueless. They can't seem to figure it out. The morning show is in serious disarray (for years now to be exact) because of the queen diva who continues to dish crap on everyone but herself. (When you have shitty numbers, MG, eventually your clout shrinks) The evening is a relative truck wreck with no direction, no planning, no real ideas and no enthusiasm from the troops who sit on the desk and wail mostly un-profound stories with a bunch of Fresno reporter-rejects who look as if they just graduated from the academy of talent-less TV Radio school in Barstow.

Sarah and Vinnie gang

Lucky for PIX: CBS has the Super Bowl this year. The sales guys need the money.

*KTVU anchor mystery: a slew of issues and personal crap that would make anyone else vulnerable and on high edge.

He'll be OK though because the company needs him.

Stunned, Shocked Anger at KNBR: Hosts Don't Get a Blue Box And They're Steamed!

LOTS ...and I do mean LOTS of STUNNED and SHOCKED KNBR Radio hosts over near the Battery/Broadway gulch and WHY?

The famous BLUE BOX is back. You know what I mean, right? We've been down this road before just a few blocks down at KGO-TV.

Forget about why this Blue Box is so important and powerful? Well, make good of this deal at Knibber.

"Murph and Mac" didn't get one and are ROYALLY PISSED OFF! So too Tom Tolbert and John Lund--both of who didn't get one and were flabbergasted. It's hard to make Tolbert incredulous in light of recent past history. .

Gary Radnich and Larry Krueger didn't get the blue box and Radnich was so ticked off he stayed at the station last week and met with PD, Jerimiah Crowe. The young buck programmer at Cumulus SF had no word for a semi-screaming Radnich who, in addition to being snubbed on the Blue Box deal, has been stalled (intentionally) on contract negotiations. Meanwhile, Krueger, was simply unable to say anything. Not.a.word. How this affects current programming is anyone's guess. My prediction? Business as usual on the air but off the air? Whoa!

Why is this Blue Box so important and why are middle-aged men working at a sports radio station so perturbed at not getting one? Just wait and soon you'll discover how this blue box made all these white guys just beyond themselves.