KCBS Audio Hell Saturday Morning; Lots and Lots of Dead Air and Glitches; Schaub Strikes Out; Mistakes Heard; Who's in Charge? Saturday 'Oh Shit!'

IF YOU WEREN'T LISTENING YOU MISSED AN AUDIO BONANZA

IF YOU DID?

Oh Shit!

IT WAS Belly -Laugh Central on KCBS this Saturday morning (today) from 6-7 AM and one that will no doubt make News Director, Jennifer Seelig, steaming!, come Monday morning, I'm sure.

Electronic missteps galore on all-news 740 AM with an assist from ill-prepared, fill-in and substitute anchor,  Jeffrey Schaub, who failed miserably to handle mucho audio hell and embarrassing stretches of DEAD air and mistaken off-mike incidents including an un-intentioned CBS audio feed that made KCBS's air.

It could have been the most embarrassing hour in KCBS history.

Jeffrey Schaub

The mayhem began in earnest little after 6 when there was complete dead air for a good twenty seconds; OK, no big deal, things happen, but that was the start of audio hell. A sports report from Bruce MacGowan was interrupted by a commercial which muted out MacGowan's report. It was sort of bizarre, but funny. Turns out, we (audience) were just getting started. After the sports report, more dead air. Only five seconds, OK...then Schaub went to an on-air interview with a guy talking about the economy; during the interview, the guest said improved China-US trade talks was one of many reasons why US economy was still thriving; ten seconds later, Schaub, who appeared to be out of sync, asked the guy, inexplicably, "Do you think China trade talks has helped?" --guest sounds perplexed but answers...we now move to 6: 30 for the soon-aired update from CBS News, only listeners heard a "all stations, there's a 30 secs-after report coming." OUCH! --at this point, Schaub is fuming, I would guess because he can't handle it and could be heard shuffling papers in background. More dead air, this time, at least ten seconds and the electronic hell is getting worse...close to end of hour, there's more, this time, even more embarrassing...as traffic sounder rings out at 6: 58, there's no Schaub on-air to introduce traffic anchor, Peter Schofield, it's a good five seconds of MIA Schaub tossing to Pete, who did the traffic report amidst the obvious chaos...
 

Had to be one of the most historic hours in KCBS audio history, for all the wrong reasons. I wish KCBS were to archive all its hours because this one was memorable --an all-time belly-laugh for the ages and one, I'm sure, will be the talk of the newsroom at 740 AM (and 106.9 FM) and Entercom (which owns KCBS)

All I can say is, someone royally screwed up--maybe a rookie engineer or maybe Schaub himself not being able to handle the gaffes (even if it wasn't his fault) Schaub is someone who doesn't like to hear so I can only imagine what was going on in his head. He was solo and you could tell he was flustered because it all sounded uber-awkward ...but obscenely funny.

 Probably not for KCBS.

Jason Brooks Droning at KCBS; 30 Rock Wants Raj Mathai But They'll Have to Wait; Ken Wayne KRON Experiment Not So Smooth; 415 Media Friday

Jason Brooks

HE JUST KEEPS GOING AND GOING AND GOING...Nobody doubts the business expertise of KCBS money reporter, Jason Brooks. He's on top of it from early morning to late afternoon.

But the voice. The vanilla monotony that dulls the senses. Yes, I'm getting personal, of course I am.

Brooks' voice drones on and on almost like a robotic bot that sounds almost computer-like. Brooks doesn't have to sound hysterical; he's positively blase. But it would be wise of him to pick it up a notch and get away from the monotone buzz switch. It's downer-central. And I'm being kind.


*Speaking of KCBS, their morning cacophony of ENDLESS commercial spots has begun to cause ear aches. It's especially evident after the prolific traffic reports where four-minute clusters of continuous ads borders on obnoxious. Sure, you have to pay the bills but this form of commercial spot overkill amounts to greed personified.

*Once again the rumor mill has heated up over the status of lead NBC Bay Area anchor, Raj Mathai, as the 30 Rock News folks are hot on the trail of Mathai who seems pretty much set to remain in the Bay Area and San Jose specifically. But while his partner, Jessica Aguirre, is working without a long-term contract, Mathai not only signed a long-term extension, but one which had several zeros in it and makes Raj near the territory of Frank Somerville at KTVU and Dan Ashley at KGO.. (The latter nearing his own extension which could make him the undisputed salary king of Bay Area TV News) And well deserved.

Raj Mathai with wife and newest family member

Mathai seems to me to not want any part of NY even if it means working in Manhattan amping up his career, which it most certainly would. Mathai has a growing family and is quite settled down in the South Bay. A network gig might be prestigious now but Mathai could wait until his kids get older and then migrate to the east. Then, the money will be even better and his family situation is more ready for the move to Gotham.

Ken Wayne

*Nearing a year with KRON, Ken Wayne's migration to the albatross station hasn't produced any iota of buzz whatsoever, in fact, ratings are pretty much stagnant. Wayne left KTVU when they didn't offer him a contract extension (and took a massive pay cut). Seems his gig at KRON would be more conducive for the soft-spoken Wayne but that's not the case.

Wayne is a steadying anchor, for sure, but excitement is not his greatest virtue. He makes departed Steve Aveson look like a relative Ron Burgundy.

The Dysfunction that is KPIX; Watts' Leaving Further Muddies 855 Battery; Sweeps Makes It Worse; KCBS Yappers Mary Lee and Hodousek Torture Chamber; Schulman/Chronicle Steal From Me; KTVU's Gomez Non-Street Savvy; Katsuyama Screams at SF Fire Scene; Gonzales and King Factoid; Thursday 415 Media

"THE ONLY FUNCTION HERE IS DYSFUNCTION." That from one of the growing dissatisfied staffers at KPIX --where incoherence and incompetence rules the day.

To emphasize the current disarray, PIX just lost Julie Watts to their CBS counterpart in Sacramento. There are more moves from Pixies on the way, just in time for February Sweeps. How timely.

Watts wasn't one of KPIX's star players but she was big enough to warrant a lot of chatter last (Wednesday) night amongst some of the local CBS' most influential people, both on and off the air. One management figure tried to spin the Watts' move as simply a colleague "not leaving; instead just 'staying in the CBS family in Sacramento'". Yeah right, what a completely, utter sense of bullshit. And that's exactly how it was received by the rank and file.

As I've stated countless times, KPIX has NO IDENTITY. Very little leadership too. Constant conflict is not a help, particularly in the morning. Growing dissatisfaction and lack of morale is PIX's only consistent virtue.  It's a good thing the station is owned by deep pockets CBS but that's hardly a booster inside the building at 855 Battery.

Watts herself was mostly disliked by a majority of the staff --this incident especially but she was high profile enough to garner industry respect and seven Emmys too. Leaving the Bay Area for Sacramento is not that uncommon these days with the locals eyeing its relative affordability especially real estate. That said, Watts decision to leave SF and go up north primarily because she hated PIX' direction and wanted more investigative reporting makes Channel 5 look bad. Looks can be deceiving only in this case it is absolutely true and for PIX, a bad omen. Trust me.

Mary Lee

*This would be real torture: Put KCBS reporter, Carrie Hodousek and morning weather anchor, Mary Lee, in the same room together. The endless shrieking would be unbearable. Lee sounds exactly like Hodousek or is it the other way around? Either way, the shrieking violets cause eternal ear damage.

*Please, I could care less that some nobody on the night shift on KNBR was given a pink slip. I don't listen to that garbage unless there's some CBS Sports Radio content on the air but that too can be painful.

*Memo to Hank Schulman of the Chronicle: It was 415 Media that reported first, this news.

Schulman stealing from me, imagine that. Damn bloggers!

Alyana Gomez

*It was a pleasant sight viewing Alyana Gomez reporting live from the scene of that big fire in SF on Wednesday --too bad Gomez mispronounced several city street names and kept referring to "Geary Street" --locals know it as "Geary Boulevard." Trivial? No, because it's called knowing your geography and city. How damn irritating but that's just me. I would hope and prefer as gorgeous and infinitely watchable Gomez is, it would help if her street savvy were genuine.

*Then there's  Jana Katsuyama on the scene who appeared to think literally screaming and yelling would heighten the story when it was stated from the beginning that no one was hurt or injured or killed, thank god, only buildings were destroyed.

Jana Katsuyama

Katsuyama's loud outbursts did nothing to inform the viewers on KTVU but only reinforces how bad a reporter she is and why KTVU management thinks she's talented is beyond me. Maybe mediocrity rules the day and this is the best they got which apparently it is and gosh does that nauseate me.

*Between the "flipping houses" moron and "Petersen Dean" jerkoff, my has AM Radio become such a mess.

*If Roberta Gonzales truly wanted to come back to KPIX, she could. Her problem, sorta like Dana King, is that both left wanting to pursue their own independence, in King's case, a desire to become an artist; in Roberta's case to become her own broadcast boss. Problem is, both are not earning anywhere near what they got at PIX; not that the money was great but it was far more then they're making now. Yeah, money isn't everything but it's damn near close.

Dana King

The Latest on KGO Morning Diva Natasha Zouves; Recovering from Hair Mousse Fall and Contemplating Legal Action Against KGO/Disney; Castro MIA Probably $-Related; Deanno Talks at KPIX Still On-Going; He Wants More Dough; Darya Folsom Still Embarrassing KRON; Papa Will Make Adjustment to New Niners Gig; Rothmann/Owens Spiral Down at KGO Radio; Hot Rumor: 'Toonces, The Driving Cat' New PD? Friday Feast

Natasha Zouves

I WAS THE FIRST to tell you what went down with Natasha Zouves at KGO-TV. She's been home recovering from her hair goo slippage and planning a return to her Southern California roots. She's still on the mend and playing footsy about her status.

I e-mailed her and asked what was happening (giving her a chance to formally respond) and she said virtually nothing. I expected that. Remember, she might not be ready for primetime. Furthermore, she's no favorite in the newsroom either.

Here's another whammy: while she's essentially gone from KGO she has pondered a worker's comp suit against Circle7 and ABC; that would complicate her next gig in LA but don't rule out anything.

CASTRO MIA BUT...

Meanwhile, Jessica Castro, who's been filling in for Zouves has not been on the air since January 10 and no one at KGO seems to know why.

Jessica Castro

I have a source who speculates that Castro is pissed off at her paltry salary compensation (low six figures) and placement in the KGO morning presence. Castro can pout all she wants; she doesn't have any leverage and she knew full well that Disney (which owns ABC) doesn't pay their 4th-tier anchors any decent money. So too Zouves which might explain why she's considering suing the company.

DEANNO TALKS CONTINUE

My report about KPIX wanting to try weather guy, Paul Deanno in a hybrid news/weather gig is still in talks stage but if that venture would to emerge, Deanno wants to be paid more money. It figures that CBS would take care of Deanno if he performed both as a news anchor and weather talent. Especially if that were to include his presence in the evening.

Brian Hackney does the same job but on the weekend and doesn't get any added money. Then again, Hackney is way down the totem pole at PIX working on the cheap and has been downgraded for years. He might be viewed as bright and engaging but he's a virtual retread at 855 Battery.

Paul Deanno

Deanno is seen as an emerging presence on news; if that's the case (and I agree) then why not just 86 him from weather and make him a full-time anchor on news alone. Which seems to be what Deanno might be inferring --here's a rumor: Deanno replaces the forever bitter-beer-face-looking, Alan Martin.

*IT HAS BEEN SAID TIME AND TIME AGAIN, but bears repeating every so often: Darya Folsom continues to EMBARRASS KRON. Sure, KRON has a lot to be embarrassed about but Folsom's continuing circus show in the morning is a sad ass spectacle; she has no shame; she doesn't give a damn about what almost everyone else thinks and she KILLS whatever credibility KRON has by her BS presence on its morning news.

Darya Folsom performing journalism on KRON morning

If KRON brass thinks she helps the ratings, they're sadly mistaken. She's in actuality a detriment to the operation and nobody looks at her anymore nor takes her seriously. She's a nothing; a nobody and her boobs have been a non-story for years. The only BOOB that thinks she still got it is her boyfriend/slave master/schophant, Aaron Pero, the News Director that keeps  job because he possesses state secrets and has compromising pictures in a local bank safe. I'm joking on the latter but who knows.

THIS AND THAT

*New 49ers PBP broadcaster, Greg Papa, is great on radio and I like his 95.7FM 'The Game' takes, but it's questionable he'll stay on that show once football season starts; I can't imagine The Game allowing a rival (KNBR) talent on their air but it's just a guess.

Greg Papa

An analysis on Papa doing 49ers: the professional and talented Papa will make the adjustment to broadcasting Niners' football and easy one. Over the years, I've been critical of Papa but I've never questioned his broadcast ability and football acumen. He's damn good. His pivot to the 49ers from twenty years with the Raiders will be unusual and jarring at first but eventually people will get used to his play-by-play. Probably more an adjustment for Niners' fans then Raiders' rooters.

*Speaking of the Raiders while the world awaits their home (before Vegas) next year, where will they be on radio? Hardly a word. They will NOT be on KCBS that's for sure.

*Internal issues galore and a plethora of turmoil inside their respective newsrooms: KTVU and KGO-TV.

*If and when KGO Radio has a new/latest 2019 iteration, both John Rothmann and hanger-on, Ronn Owens will not have any role. Owens has been drifting away on the horrifically awful, "Ronn Owens Report" and Rothmann, whose stock has continued a steady spiral downward has been told he'll have no position there, only as a perpetual fill-in, if at all.

Meanwhile, a HOT RUMOR!! New KGO Radio PD? Hard to believe but word on the street is the PD will be Toonces, The Driving Cat! Wow, now that's some extraordinary depth by the fearless kitty!

Toonces the Driving Cat

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.

Lame Duck Raiders Bad Business for Entercom; 'The Game' (95.7 FM Sports); Gruden Doesn't Do Weekly Show with Damon Bruce Who Is Pretty Pissed Off; With A's Leaving, The Game Has Little Game; Wednesday Sports 415 Media Schmooze

 SPORTS RADIO is quite lucrative to the station because sports in general is huge; big business jock radio dominates the media landscape even if you're not inclined to follow sports; that said, the revenue streams that are generated make gargantuan globs of money for local and national outlets.

The Giants are healthy money makers for KNBR and Cumulus even if the team stinks; they drive the car and butter the bread; so to, the 49ers. Relationships are vital to the cog that brings in the big dough; the GM; the star players and non-star players do frequent interviews on their respective flagship station. KNBR relies on its weekly chat with Kyle Shanahan, 49ers coach; John Lynch; its GM also does the talk circuit. Teams around the league and their home stations have similar relationships. It's called business and it benefits both.

Except for the Raiders and Entercom and its stations; KCBS (all news and carrier of Raiders' football games on Sunday) and 95.7 FM (The Game)

Jon Gruden, that coach racking up the big money (at $10M a year for 10 years) doesn't do a Monday call-in show with PM drive host, Damon Bruce even though he's contractually obligated; by extension, so too the Raiders. It's to the point now that Bruce routinely rips Gruden and the Raiders about this situation --I don't know if that's good business to air your dirty laundry but I applaud Bruce for being honest because the Raiders, even in good times, are absolutely the WORST sports franchise in the world to conduct business with; Entercom and its minions are experiencing this for the first time and are both embarrassed and royally ticked off.

Beyond the obvious discomfort is the fact that the Raiders horrific act on and off the field is bad business for their broadcast partner; try to sell Raiders' football now when the team is one foot out the door in Oakland and headed to Las Vegas probably next year (playing in a college stadium when the new one will be ready, maybe, in 2020).

Damon Bruce

Gruden doesn't do any shows. The worst part is the Raiders organization doesn't care and almost flaunts its giddiness --some things will never change.

BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE...

"The Game:" has a lame duck Raiders and a soon-departed Oakland A's who will leave its flagship come 2019. As Susan Slusser of the Chronicle reported the A's will be on a more franchise-friendly station --maybe KFRC if they can buy the current religious station; or snatch up some AM or FM outlet that will actually talk about the team. 95.7 FM hosts rarely talk A's baseball even when the team shined like it did this year.

Yes, frankly in good times, the A's don't generate the same traction as do the Giants but given the fact that KNBR is so embedded with the Giants that's never been surprising.

To its credit, KNBR builds its entire talk structure around the team. The A's haven't been able to garner that treatment with The Game. It's unpleasant if you're an Athletics fan but it's fact.

Then again, with the Raiders about to become extinct on their Entercom client and the A's on a different station for 2019, that leaves the Warriors as the only sports team (and a golden one) left.

Good sports-talk radio is mostly host-oriented but having teams on the domain not only brings in more money and revenue streams, but prestige too. That counts both ways. Just ask KNBR and Cumulus during the Giants' run of championships in 2010, '12, and '14.

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.

Does Anyone Care that Raiders Are Moving to KCBS for '19 Season?

 

DO YOU CARE...that Raiders games are moving to KCBS? I don't but, hey it's news.

102 year-old Brent Musburger is just thrilled.

I Miss Rita Williams and Bob Melrose; KTVU and KCBS Never The Same; Reflections

Rita Williams

I MISS Rita Williams and Bob Melrose; she, the legendary KTVU reporter who retired a few years back, and he, one of the best radio street reporters in the business who also retired from KCBS.

Of course KTVU is not the same without Williams and KCBS has nobody even close to Melrose.

Rita is not only missed on the air but off too; her sense of humor and levity even in the most trying times was priceless.

Bob Melrose and I used to sit in the Oakland Coliseum press box and schmooze about the state of life and Bay Area media.

Bob Melrose

On occasional Saturdays, he would take me up to the 32nd floor of Embarcadero One when KCBS was headquartered there and allow me the pleasure of watching him broadcast and edit tape. Cool man, that Melrose guy.

It bears repeating: We have lost some of the greatest electronic journalists (TV and Radio) by way of simple retirement or other circumstances. It's life. It's reality.

But we have to acknowledge them and not forget how fantastic they were at their respective jobs.

We cannot forget.

I won't.