415 Media Exclusive: KPIX Anchor, Veronica De La Cruz Recovering from Coronavirus

Veronica De La Cruz

KPIX lead anchor, Veronica De La Cruz, contracted the Coronavirus COVID-19 virus , I've learned, but she has recovered and told friends and associates that she's planning on being back at PIX within the next two weeks.

I reached out to her (De La Cruz) for a comment--at press time, De La Cruz did not immediately respond.

The KPIX anchor, who came to the Bay Area with much fanfare from NY in 2014, has been conspicuously absent from the CBS5 airwaves the past month.

According to sources I spoke to, who spoke under condition of anonymity, De La Cruz took a medical leave from KPIX when she discovered she had had the Covid-19 virus.

De la Cruz is the first Bay Area TV News anchor to have contracted the virus. We're obviously happy that she's apparently OK and due to be back on the air in a few weeks.

This is but the latest bad vibes to hit the local CBS O and O--things can only get better.

They hope.

#415 MEDIA EXCLUSIVE

Two Inspiring Ladies Behind the Anchor Desk at 'PIX; Goodrich and Cook; What's Not to Like? Thursday Open

Juliette Goodrich (left) and Elizabeth Cook

KPIX has a decision looming --who becomes the face of the station? I'm going out on a limb. I like a couple of underrated anchors both highly rated --one on the week night and one weekend lady I've often thought was under-utilized and should be on the 6 and 11 paired with....well, that's another decision for another time.

I'VE always loved Juliette Goodrich, smart as a whip and quite the visible personality I think PIX should immediately move to the anchor desk, it's right there in front of them. Even if I'm dreaming and pretending I'm the wizard behind the curtain, it boggles my mind why Goodrich has not been offered the fulltime Monday thru Friday gig. Maybe because she's comfortable in the field and not reading the teleprompter during the week. Can that be it? I don't have an answer there but I know business and KPIX should know business too. If they did, they'd immediately make Goodrich switch to primetime.

My thoughts on Liz Cook are completely different than her rep in the market. I like her. Yeah, so she's a little wooden and robotic but she's pleasant, she reads well and she has a nice look and delivery. If Liz were to open up more, she'd be a solid A, but why quibble now, we're in uncharted territory these days and I'm only here offering my opinion which I now you love and admire.

PIX has made some amazingly dumb decisions in the past. They will need to revamp and retool --if push came to shove and they paired Goodrich with Cook, that wouldn't be the worst thing in the world and they'd probably get the entire PTA in Danville.

Yeah, two damsels not in distress but on the desk! It's not as radical as you may think. Girl power at 855 Battery, check me in. It's hella better than this!

Enough said. Grab your coffee and bagel and chew on it.

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415 Media Exclusive Monday: Paul Deanno Leaving KPIX

Paul Deanno leaving KPIX

Veteran KPIX weatherman, Paul Deanno, is leaving the local CBS O and O (owned and operated) outlet on Battery and Broadway --parts unknown, 415 Media has learned exclusively.

Deanno, I'm told by a few of my PIX spies has a gig but hasn't told anyone at the station just yet and is mum about his destination to even his closest friends. But a high-level station source confirmed to me he is headed elsewhere; this post may accelerate that announcement.

I wrote earlier in the year (and even prior to that) that Deanno was mulling a hybrid gig (news and weather anchoring) offered by PIX top brass but Deanno was royally ticked off by the money that was being discussed.

In fact, I'm told it was essentially a "peanuts" offer and that it would involve more work, more responsibilities, and less money. A recipe that didn't please Deanno, obviously, and may have influenced his latest move. He came to PIX via Seattle from KOMO, the ABC affiliate there, and that may be on his itinerary but he may also be headed east too. I'll know more soon.

Deanno is a good guy. A very talented personality to boot; one of the few PIX assets that garners local praise and attention in an Internet world that marginalizes local news talent. (Among other venues) It's therefore, highly surprising and unbelievably incompetent (but not entirely shocking) that PIX would let one of its prized assets leave the building.

This is not a good move but then again nothing makes sense anymore in these fractured times at local TV newsrooms.

I will post you any detailed updates as I gather more info.

As CBS Cuts a Hundred Mill from its Budget, KPIX Staffers More Nervous Than Ever; Possible Targets include Bastida; Martin and Hackney Too; 415 Media Thursday Open

   AT ALL CBS PROPERTIES THERE ARE NERVOUS PEOPLE.

WHY?

Try this on for size.

Rumors have been rampant that not only will CBS cut over $100 Million but that the bulk of the cuts will hit its O an O stations, including its Bay Area outlet, KPIX.

Which is got PIX staffers flooding the region with resumes and well-known anchors and reporters in the twilight of their career looking at being forced out or offered buyouts that has become the norm in an industry where the bottom line, like others, is at the forefront.

I talked to a PIX staffer who was blunt:
"We're feeling it here, totally and it's been this way for the past few weeks; it's not a matter of if, it's a matter of who and when."

And who might be on the list?

*It's a longshot but not out of the question: Ken Bastida. Bastida is making close to $500K and although the face of the station, his Q rating has eroded; his performance is teetering and his newscast are no longer watchable. Bastida could be told to go and "retire" with a nice buyout, we'll see, but his leaving isn't such a longshot anymore.

*Allen Martin: another fairly high-paid anchor (but nowhere near Bastida) who doesn't move the meter nor make any waves while on the air. Martin gets about $300K annually and isn't considered anything even remotely valuable. A younger, cheaper, guy (or woman) from Fresno would be far more prudent if CBS had its way.

*Brian Hackney: Hackney has never been a favorite of mine but he still has fans. At nearly $300K a year the Bay Area TV News veteran is nearing middle age and might be too expensive for Black Rock accountants and again, like Bastida, I wouldn't be shocked if he was sent packing.

*We'll be monitoring as always.

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KCBS Has Lost Its Soul

KCBS has lost its soul. It used to be a non-stop, 24-7, all-news, all day and night AM powerhouse with traffic and weather updates and sports alongside. Now, just listen to it and gradually, the brand is suffering mightily.

There are now annoying contests. There are noticeable extra giggles and news anchors talking gibberish for the sake of talking gibberish. And my question now is why? Is it because the new ND has decided to tinker with what has always been something that need not be tinkered with? Good god, cannot one just leave the damn thing alone! Apparently, Madame Seelig, has never heard of "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." Maybe she should look it up in the dictionary and back off. I'm not gonna hold my breath for that.

KCBS has a virtual monopoly on news here. It has perennial good ratings and has loyal listeners who frequently tune in especially during morning and evening commute for its traffic reports and breaking news salvos. Now, that platform is being deluged with gimmick contests and trivial banality up the ying-yang --no wonder the place is supposedly in a siege mentality with Seelig in the cross hairs. I understand changing times and reaching out for new, younger listeners but at what cost? It defies logic.

Entercom has taken over the CBS News station's mantle and is beginning to show how to screw up something so vital and prestige-laden as KCBS was but now is slowing turning into mush. They just can't help themselves.

My Five Favorite KCBS Traffic Anchors

Sheri Brown

AS MUCH as I'm fairly dismissive of most traffic reports --commute time AM and PM I get the importance--by habit, I listen to a lot of traffic reports on radio and am always curious about the voice behind the microphone.

Because I'm a news junkie, I'm usually tuned to KCBS (740 AM/106.9 FM) therefore I hear the various traffic voices, morning, noon and night, late-night too because I have no life as most of you know.

On KCBS at night, I like Sherry Brown, the veteran Bay Area newswoman who is part of the new evening traffic line-up. Brown has a comfort voice and delivers mostly first-rate reports in a hurried environment.

Peter Schofield

I'm also a big Peter Schofield fan; too bad he's only on during early morning Saturday (and fill-in elsewhere) Schofield is informational and has a  relaxed presentation; presents a civil, concise and thorough traffic report. 

Kim Wonderley

*I've always marveled at Kim Wonderley's ability to work the morning drive --a hectic pace times 10--while do so in a most effortlessly manner; truly remarkable and the Bay Area traffic reporter veteran deserves full props for her exceptional work on the morning drive.

*John Atkinson has been anchoring traffic for years; (sports too) I've always loved his underrated delivery and took for granted his straightforward pitch; the more I listen to him the more I appreciate his work.

Atkinson deserves a lot of credit for his smooth and crisp reports.

*OK, here's someone who has grown on me and I never thought I would warm up to this guy: Victor Zaragoza.

John Atkinson

The ex-DJ needs to can the overuse of the phrase, "I'll keep an eye out..." that said, his quirky voice and subtle sense of humor stands out during the overnight and I like that.

I'll definitely keep an ear out.

Victor Zaragoza

Joe Montana is Getting Paid for KPIX/CBS Super Bowl TV Work

Jennifer and Joe Montana have been on KPIX (CBS5) providing some Super Bowl content and looking like, well, Joe and Jennifer. Home-grown talent, MVP yesteryear is expensive though and 49ers Joe is no exception.


I've heard through my PIX/CBS eye that 415 Joe is getting a cool MILLION bucks for his work for the week.


That's enough money for lunch at Zuni with Les Moonves.




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Yes, KPIX is Flaunting its Super Bowl 50 Coverage But You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet

 FEW PEOPLE would begrudge KPIX's incessant pre-Super Bowl blitz of ads, news, promos and presentation--after all, it is the Super Bowl, the biggest game in America and whose audience traditionally tops well over 100 Million people.

We get it, the unofficial national holiday on the first Sunday in February and this year, the special 50th Super Game.

OK, fine.

But then KPIX has gone over the top, no surprise here. Mildly, but just enough to cause mass irritation. Look, a Beyoncé addition to the halftime show is legitimate news, no problem there. But countdown clocks, repeated "stories" that are really no more than splashy advertisements gets to be a drag particularly when such news is driven down the throat on a daily basis.

Even Joe and Jennifer Montana, as big as they are, are not worthy of repeated plugs and notices.

Again, we acknowledge that PIX is lucky enough that the 50th Super Bowl happened to fall on CBS' time to air the game and yes, of course the game is in Santa Clara.  I can only imagine what KTVU would be bringing us had it been FOX's turn on the rotation. Thank God for that.

I'm going out on a limb that as the game gets closer you're going to see a helluva lot more stories about Santa Clara, parking lots, VIP booths and hospitality suites. That's about 20 minutes right there.

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CBS Radio Planning Major Cuts; KCBS Local Station; Rumors Swirl That Radio Might Be Sold

 CBS Radio --according to my local eye ear is planning major layoffs and SF is on the list of the latest slash and dash.

Hello, KCBS.

How many people isn't known but the cuts will be across the board and include all stations in the division.

Even senior reporters, editors, anchors and producers will not be immune to pink slips.

Which will only further fuel the rumors that CBS is once again thinking about selling its radio stations to pay for its mounting debt in other departments.

Oh, Les Moonves doesn't really care for radio but he does like steak and lobster.

We'll be watching.



*Developing...



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Trouble In Radio Paradise; KCBS' Top Tater, Corral Mad, Pissed Off At Everyone/Everything; Management Especially; Fears KCBS About To Become Old KGO; 415 Media Exclusive

 YOU WOULD THINK there's universal harmony at the Bay Area's #-1 rated radio station; all-news powerhouse, KCBS but you'd be thinking wrong.

KCBS has been swimming in good news recently, with a new ND, Jack Swanson, and a top-radio constant, but one of its most tenured, veteran news anchor outside of Stan Bunger, is ROYALLY pissed off. At almost everyone and everything --this according to my KCBS Insider.

Longtime newswoman, Rebecca Corral, has been major-gripping. I mean, big time. She's apparently angry at just about everyone at the station, including management, and specifically, Swanson, whom she fears is about to turn KCBS into an old KGO news style, but Corral seems to be a lone wolf. Then again, her influence at the CBS outlet is that of 27 years and many people fear her. If the name, Corral, sounds familiar, it should be. Rebecca Corral is the younger sister of Al Corral, a veteran Bay Area newsman and exec, and ex-husband of former KTVU anchor, Elaine Corral.

Seems Rebecca Corral is mightily worried about the direction and future of KCBS, although, as we said, she's apparently in the minority, but her constant bitching seems to have made for internal discomfort at 855 Battery. Said the Insider:

"Corral is the major troublemaker... Not. Colross, (Melissa)--who is sweet. Corral bitches and moans about management constantly. Evil bitch. She HATES JACK. thinks he is a fraud. Hated Ed (former ND, Ed Cavagnaro who retired in April)--too."

Corral is not some cub reporter picked up off the street. She's a major player at one of the Bay Area's most powerful radio stations therefore her bitterness should not be dismissed as some sort of trivial nuisance.

Swanson is respected throughout the industry and at KCBS even though there's a well-known feeling that he's about to inject some old-time KGO nuances into the CBS station. As I indicated in a previous column, the changes are fairly subtle but according to those in the know, will become more pronounced as the days grow.

That said, Corral's act has been met with the usual twerping--good and bad. Most staffers respect her but a good portion thinks she's also a royal pain in the ass.

"I hate to use this word, but she's a complete bitch. A trouble-maker, " offered one prominent news hound, who asked to remain anonymous.

So far, Corral's state of discontent seems to be contained but many station staffers think a showdown between Corral and Management (read: Swanson) is inevitable.



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The Moment Of Reckoning At KPIX; 415 Media Tells It Like It Is; Blunt Force Analysis Of 855 Battery; The Real Thing You Won't Read Anywhere Else

 KPIX is at a pivotal point of time--its own moment of reckoning --and I say this matter of fact: The station has LOST ITS IDENTITY --wait a minute, KPIX HAS NO IDENTITY!

To be relevant to viewers, people have to care about the news anchors they are watching.  Nobody cares about KPIX --haven't cared for years. This is the point at PIX that has eluded its executives and is one of the main reasons why the CBS SF station has lost its mojo --if it ever had it to begin with you have to go back to the days of Dave McElhatton and Wendy Tokuda. That's a long time ago.


Today, PIX (Channel 5) is loaded with a bunch of bitter, no-talent, sub-prime news and sports anchors with a tremendous dose of blasé. There is NO there there. Nobody commands respect. The best talent, Ken Bastida, has been put out to pasture. Lost in the late-night abyss. Bastida should be on in primetime --everywhere. Allen Martin is a TOTAL failure. He doesn't warm the senses. He hardly smiles. Seriously, Martin sometimes gives the appearance he's having a colonoscopy on the air. That won't work to attract viewers, but Martin, unfortunately for PIX, is not alone.


Let's face it: The Veronica De La Cruz experiment is a bust! That's right, I said it. If De La Cruz put as much work into her news reading as she does with her hair and internet browsing, she'd be an extraordinary success. But she HAS NOT--(TRENDING!) De La Cruz looks completely LOST in space and often times sounds like a tortured canary. Please, GM Bruno Cohen and ND, Dan Rosenheim, something needs to be done here--trim the roster, cut your losses.


And what the hell is going on with Brian Hackney? Hey Brian, your pompousness has reached epic proportions! Hell, if you want to go audition for "60 Minutes", do us all a favor and get on the next red eye for JFK! You stink, Brian, that's right, I said it, you stink. Your air of superiority wreaks of cockiness run amuck --and get this? WHY? In order to pull off that bullshit you have to be someone, generate respect. Hackney, you come off as some dimwitted New Jersey public school teacher and I'm being kind. Go take a day off and try to reinvent yourself.


Then there's Ms. Prima Donna herself, Julie Watts--where do we begin? Honey, if your a consumer advocate I'm a stripper. It's not a pretty picture either way. Watts has all the warmth and gumption of an Oxnard Walmart clerk. "But she really works hard", I'm told by station staffers. So do humming birds in heat. Seriously, Watts is a complete tool and nobody takes her seriously --she ought to bunch up with Hackney and do Sunday community shows that no one watches--she's certainly not helping Monday through Friday.


And PLEASE, someone tell Dennis O'Donnell and Vern Glenn that this is NOT KRON in the 80's. Time passes, dudes. Just what the heck is going on in the sports dept? Dennis, we know you're a cute guy, we get it. But please, quit MUGGING the camera night in an night out--you're not Donny Osmond for heaven's sake. And Vern? Oh my god. Have you lost it, buddy? The copy shifting, the wink of the eye, the irritating-as-all-get-go frequent pregnant pauses --this is not good, Vern. You're beginning to act like some latent, Art Linkletter guy only this is 2015, Vern. Wake up and smell the teleprompter.


KPIX, you are a mess. I said what nobody will say. Management doesn't give a rat's ass, obviously, they're too busy drinking beers at Kokkari and staring at women's tits. Hey guys, the only reason you're in game is because New York only cares about the bottom line and, big deal, if I ran PIX, I too could maintain its profitability --better yet, I alone could make this chicken shit into chicken salad. You want proof? Ask the main man at Black Rock. Yeah, that guy!

The anchor who could not smile, Allen Martin

Seriously, now, PIX, your Moment of Reckoning has arrived only I'm not so sure many of you know it.






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KPIX Bad February Sweeps; Bastida/De La Cruz Team Should Be Front And Center; Martin Is Wooden; Cook Element; Monday Starter

 KPIX had a crummy February book--I told you that on Friday. The specific numbers aren't out yet but PIX had an across-the-board ratings tumble. How bad? Enough for News Director, Dan Rosenheim to reassign the evening EP to the morning and the morning EP to night. He also hinted there would be more changes coming.

One of the problems at CBS-SF is the constant shifting of a "team"--a solid team. PIX has no identity, certainly no anchor identity. Their best on-air anchor is Ken Bastida--he should be the face of the station but the way he's used he's largely confined to 2nd-tier status. It doesn't take a brain surgeon to suggest that a Bastida/Veronica De La Cruz pairing should headline the 5, 6, and 11 PM newscast. Period. I have been underwhelmed with De La Cruz for the most part since her summer arrival but in terms of star power and anchor coordination, she and Bastida should be front and center. They're PIX's most popular personalities. Which would spell bad news for Liz Cook and Allen Martin.

I like Martin and he's a solid newsman but his wooden appearance and stiff-look style doesn't exactly provide viewer warmth. In other words, Martin comes across as sullen. It's especially evident now; sometimes I think Martin gives the impression he's having root canal performed while reading the teleprompter. Every once and awhile Martin smiles and laughs, but not too often. He needs to reinvent himself and maybe a new time slot would help. Harsh? Sure, but needed. Along with certain other issues.

Cook is the subject of major derision at KPIX among Martin, notably, and to a lesser extent, weatherman, Paul Deannu. Cook's thanks-daddy way of getting the gig irritated the hell out of many but I've sort of warmed to her lately. She's much better at ad-libbing and does a decent job of reading the news. (We forget that they read copy on TV--that's what they do) Furthermore, and this might surprise you, Cook has a personality--she should use it. Her demeanor and dainty looks are not her fault; it's time for the jealous set to take a sabbatical and leave her alone. She's not as bad as projected. But she's also not nirvana--disadvantage, PIX.

Style and cohesion is not something that comes naturally. You have to work at it. In the old days, Dave McElhatton and Wendy Tokuda weren't exactly Donny and Marie but they eventually built up  good, convincing chemistry to the point where they both helped each other. It worked. Better yet, Mac helped Wendy at a time when she wasn't exactly lighting up the screen. Her frequent on-air flubs were neutralized by Mac being Mac. Stars. Add in Wayne Walker and you had quite a trifecta.

Not the case today at 855 Battery.

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KPIX Hires Joe and Jennifer Montana as Super Bowl 50/ NFL 2015 Season Contributors

 KPIX, which has begun pubbing Super Bowl 50 about a split second after the last one, has hired Joe and Jennifer Montana as "contributors" for the station's 2015 "Super Bowl" coverage" --not coincidentally, CBS, which owns KPIX, carries the game next year which will be played at Levi's Stadium.

In both his playing and non-playing days, Montana wasn't exactly a sound bite waiting to happen; let's just say even when he talked he didn't say much of anything which was (and still is) pretty much OK with Bay Area sports fans who still place Joe Montana in the permanent HOF charm department. Which presumably is the reason why KPIX went out and according to my station source, paid through the roof for Montana's gridiron growls.

Oh, and it probably helped too that Jennifer Montana worked as a contributor for KPIX News in the late 1980's.

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KPIX's 'Night Beat' Is In Dire Straits; Nobody's Watching; Don't Expect Bernie Ward On KGO Radio Anytime Soon; Michael Krasny and Angie Coiro; Fire and Ice; KRON Tech Glitches at 900 Front; Tuesday Rundown

 "Night Beat" is in trouble --how bad is anyone's guess but bad enough that rumors have circulated the building that KPIX's attempt, (via its KBCW sister station), to attract an audience for it's 10 PM youth-oriented news show has been an abject failure and is soon to be doomed.

Best case scenario? 90 days. Worst-case? The show could be a goner by the end of the year. That's nine days, I know.

The reason: nobody's watching. Moreover, few, if any of KPIX's coveted demo that was its prime target is watching Night Beat. Furthermore, when those few people watch, they tend to take a look and click their remote.

When Night Beat debuted back in July, KPIX had a plan; albeit sketchy and terribly hard to attain, but a plan nonetheless. More of an experiment actually--but it was simple enough: develop a tech-oriented, soft-news, airy alternative to the traditional newscast and gear it toward a younger audience. Internally, KPIX knew it would have NO chance to compete with KTVU's dominant "10 o'clock News" that is currently the ratings king in that time period.

But KPIX went forward with a blueprint: attract a loyal, if small, audience to build on and acquire a core millennial-oriented demo; the 20-30-something tech types on their laptops and smartphones --precisely the demo that is ON THEIR phone!, checking texts, facebooking, twittering, Instagramming  --do you sense a problem here? The type of people that are doing anything BUT watching their TV at the moment--great research boys and girls!

Worse yet, PIX brought out talented, but clearly not seasoned, Veronica De La Cruz to work the new show, (in addition to co-anchoring the 6 PM News). De La Cruz, at first glance, looks more splash than dash; that said, her captaining of the Night Beat has been fraught with technical issues, out-of-place gimmicks, yelling "GAME ON" to open the sports segment is plain silly and sophomoric. The weather "quiz" is cheesy --and the frequent "TRENDING" and reliance on Facebook and Twitter has been a disaster. No.One.Is.Watching.

Night Beat has had six months to generate an audience but nothing has transpired. Ultimately, KPIX could have brought forth Masterpiece Theatre and if not enough people watched, that would have been blown up too. Unfortunately, Night Beat is no Masterpiece Theatre but it might as well be blown up because nobody's watching. And with that, the show is in dire straits.

*Don't invite KQED Forum host, Michael Krasny and KGO Weekend 10 AM -1PM talkie, Angie Coiro to dinner.

*Bernie Ward, just released from Lompoc will NEVER appear on KGO Radio, either as a host or as a guest. That's my guess.

*The amount of technical glitches that has plagued KRON since its move to 900 Front has ignited rumors about sabotage and the like--from where? Imagine.

*If KOIT gets a huge lift in the ratings from playing 24/7 Christmas music there's something wussy about that, sorry, sincerely, 415 Media Scrooge.

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Layoffs Coming To KPIX; Karnow Only The Beginning; 'Night Beat' In Trouble

 Behind the scenes at KPIX: Layoffs coming.

*CBS Corporate in NY talking about across-the-board layoffs at 855 Battery, including middle and lower-level staff.

*Reporters, a few anchors and producers on the list.

*Karnow , the first of many.

*Cutbacks in management--two senior EP's and a manager.

*"Night Beat" in trouble; could lose at least three key staffers and is designated for a complete overhaul.

*Developing...

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The Sunday Talking Head Shows; My Favorite And Yours

 SUNDAY ROUTINE:

Glance at the Talk Shows which have dragged lately.

Meet The Press hasn't been the same since Tim Russert's death. Not a big Chuck Todd fan. Too Beltway for my taste and looks more like a Midwest dentist.

This Week  is an acquired taste; am I the only person who actually likes George Stephanopoulos? Sure, he can appear to be occasionally pompous--it's human nature, I've been known to be pompous too.

I've tried to watch Fox News Sunday but I can't stand Chris Wallace. His dad was better.

I've saved the best for last: CBS' iconic Face The Nation is the best Sunday talking-head program. Bob Schieffer is superb--seems to be getting better with age. Great interviewer. Common sense guy with a knack for asking the right question and tough as nails to boot. No surprise that FTN is the most popular show on Sunday.

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