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.

KTVU's 'Mother Of All Mysteries'; Why Did Elaine Corral Quit?; Channel 2 'Urban Legend' Stories Grow By The Day

 At the Jack London Square studios it's still regarded as the "mother of all mysteries." So much unknown intrigue that it's an ongoing urban legend.

This much is certain.

Suddenly and emphatically, inexplicably too one night, KTVU anchor, Elaine Corral quit on the air.

Without any rhyme or reason. Without any formal or non-formal notice to management, nor even her closest friends as to why. We heard to pursue an acting career but almost everyone agrees that didn't seem right --now or even today, Corral, or Corral-Kendall hasn't had a really steady movie career. Moreover, Corral was a 20-year-plus news anchor veteran --the timing couldn't have been fraught with more questions than this move and only added to the mystery.

 Even today, Corral has never spoken publically about the specifics of her resignation--after all, she was making a high, six-figure salary and was one of the Bay Area's most popular TV news anchor. Was it her business relationship working with co-anchor, Dennis Richmond. Were there issues that came up that might have led to her quitting so suddenly. Nobody knows. Not a single person--even those close to Corral who swear they have no idea other than what was offered.

A former KTVU staffer told me it caught everyone off-guard. "We have gatherings every once and awhile to shoot the shit and talk about the 'good old days' and this, (Corral's resignation), always comes up--Nobody really knows--It's KTVU's urban legend."

Several Bay Area media has attempted to get more information from Corral to no avail, even off the record which gave much more impetus to various stories circulating that Corral's decision involved something far more murkier. Corral signed a confidentiality agreement and was said to get a hefty amount of money from KTVU as a parting gift. That figure too is a mystery: some said over a half-million, some said significantly more. "A lot more", offered a KTVU veteran.

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KTVU and Post-Dennis Richmond Six Years Later; A Station in Crisis; Revolving Door of New Reporters; Management More Concerned About Tweeting American Idol Than News Product; Thursday Opener

 It'll be six years in May when Dennis Richmond retired from KTVU --May 2008--seems like ancient times. Six years in today's environment is like 20 lifetimes. Six years ago KTVU was still the legacy station with a roster of award-winning reporters, anchors, news writers and directors and some of the finest people working in TV News.

Today, after a series of debacles --the biggest of which involved the Asiana fake pilot's names read on the air, KTVU is a station in crisis. New reporters almost every day; the big ones still left being pushed my management to leave.

How bad is it when your News Director and Managing Editor of a once-storied operation are tweeting about American Idol?

Richmond wasn't perfect by any means but was respected and revered by KTVU staffers. He didn't get along with a lot of people and he often clashed, quietly, with fellow anchors. But he remained the face of the station and was credited with making and establishing KTVU as a news powerhouse. Especially at 10 O'clock.

Here's a story I told not so long ago: Richmond was ready to call it quits back in '08 and enjoy retirement and a steady game of golf. He had lingering health issues but was mostly fit and active.

I asked a prominent Channel 2 air personality if the station had asked Richmond to stay another year or so because he looked and sounded at the top of his game would he do so. The answer was yes. Emphatically yes. Only Richmond wasn't asked and in fact, encouraged to split. Let that marinate in your mindset.

I have both praised, admired and scolded KTVU since Richmond's retirement. Clearly it is not the same company. Sure, change is a constant in life and business but that should not have dramatically rearranged the furniture at 2 Jack London Square. It did.

I have been consistent. I was the FIRST to praise Channel 2 for its smooth transition post-Richmond into Frank Somerville anchoring the ship. I lauded Somerville as a quality lead anchor with solid credentials and news savvy. I was the FIRST to recognize Frank and Channel 2 for its immediate and tremendous coverage of the Asiana crash direct from the scene of the tragedy and eight hours of non-stop reporting.

I wasn't the one who wrote a press release about the coverage the Monday after.

I was not the one who read the fake names of the pilots on board that plane.

And today, I'm not the one who blasts out mind-numbing "BREAKING NEWS" silos every five minutes of NON-BREAKING NEWS. (Yeah, everybody does it here and around the nation, but 2's over-over-over is beyond embarrassing).

It would help that KTVU have a team of management that staff would respect and heed advice only the big boys who run KTVU are a bunch of low-rank amateurs. The GM has the people skills of a diseased cat. The News Director, Wonder Boy, is lampooned and satirized. At least Special Ed knew how to read the room. He knew what he was and what he wasn't. Wonder Boy thinks he Willie Mays but he's really Wally Pipp.

I didn't write the Monday Press Release. He did.

2008 was a long time ago but at least the anchors were not thanking viewers for trusting us. Reporters weren't coming and going. People weren't reading fake pilot's names on a teleprompter and tweeting out American Idol sweet nothings.

BREAKING NEWS: KTVU is the not the same KTVU.

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KTVU's Richmond would have stayed on if asked; Ken Wayne negotiations carry on; Tuesday Mix

KTVU News has lost one of its more prized assets, Rita Williams, who retired last week.

One of its other major air talents, Dennis Richmond, called it quits almost five years ago.

With an asterisk.

Contrary to local industry buzz, Richmond--who retired in May, 2008, after 40 illustrious years would have gladly stayed on a few more but was never asked to do so. How do I know? Because a KTVU veteran talent, (on-air), told me directly. "Had they asked, he would have gladly stuck around--no doubt," said the staffer, who worked with Richmond and knew him well.

Sure, Richmond had some lingering health issues, (he fought and beat cancer), and was ready to hit the golf course but at 65 and in pretty good physical shape, would have gladly stayed on a year or so but management, (which is different now), didn't approach Richmond. Maybe that was on purpose.

Calls to both Richmond and then, KTVU GM, Tim McVay were not returned. And a call into current GM, Tom Raponi, for comment, was not returned.

Not that Richmond's exit, nor Williams, in the long run, will have any real punitive effect on KTVU, nor Cox Broadcasting, its corporate owner, but a station known for its quality news programs and relative stability has lost two of its biggest hitters and might portend for more transactions down the road.

Ken Wayne, veteran weekend anchor/reporter, is in the midst of contract negotiations, (his original deal is nearing completion), and although Wayne wants to stay put, it's not known if management has the same idea. Although an industry observer told me recently that he thinks Wayne will stay on.

We shall see.

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