KTVU goes schlock; KGO-TV ND turns down NBCBA GM gig; Good Barbieri, Bad Barbieri; Monday notes

*Have you noticed the schlock at KTVU News? How about numerous story counts, (much to the disdain of editors), buzzed, high-amped reporters doing high-strung teases, and "Blair-Witch"-type camera angles darting away from said reporters. It looks weak. And it's beginning to destroy the old Channel 2/KTVU brand.

Said a SF TV news wag to me, "Welcome to 21st Century local news." Oh shit, can't they leave some stuff alone.

Most evident of the ugly new style took place Saturday night when uber-hyper Eric Rasmussen cafineated all over the screen during a stand-up. Shit TV. And Rasmussen, (an out-of-towner who makes Mike Mibach look positively droll), would be better served doing infomercials.

I feel for Ken Wayne trying to conduct that orchestra.

*KGO-TV News Director, Kevin Keeshen, recently turned down the GM job at NBC Bay Area.

*Good Ralph--Bad Ralph: As my sources continue to tell me that Barbieri's days at KNBR are numbered, let me say that I've got a lot of respect for the grizzled 24-year veteran; that said, there's talk of the "good Ralph, bad Ralph."

The good: Barbieri still elicits loads of pub for Knibber and is a dominant personality regardless of whether you like him or detest him. He can still do the occasional "only Ralph" interview where he'll ask, (albeit, long-winded) questions that no one else can or will...The bad: the frequent off days, (that Cumulus suits don't like), the tacky Amici's plugs/spots that have become overwrought, (even as a paid commercial), the gruesome Larry Baer love-affair, in which Barbieri has been accused of being overly-cozy with Mr. Giants, (who do you think paid for Ralph's trips to playoff and World Series games?)

There are those who say Barbieri, (whose deal expires at year's end), will stay on at Knibber one way or another. They can't imagine him NOT being at KNBR....We'll, two things can be mutually exclusive: Ralphie may stay at 55 Hawthorne and Ralphie could be working  far cheaper than his expiring deal.

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