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.

Can We all say the Ken Wayne KRON Experiment is a Royal Dud? I will; KTVU's Mark Ibanez Slobbers on Gary Radnich; Roberta Gonzales Fallout All Her Own Doing Not Myself; No Big Deal Too; Greg Papa Arrogance Filters to TV and Radio; Monday Mash

Ken Wayne --no spark at KRON

KRON is undergoing severe change; it's not something that will historically change the present situation which is the case and has been the case for several years now. KRON still looks, acts, and is and will always be awful. Until someone or some decent broadcast company swoops in and saves it. I won't hold my breath.

The other thing is the personnel. It still stinks. There are a few talented people still on board but the
bulk of its personnel looks like third-rate amateur posers and even with the addition of some newcomers the product is still infinitely infected with KRON germs.

Let's be the first one to say the addition of Ken Wayne hasn't accomplished anything. Wayne is boring and vanilla. He has no personality. It could work at KTVU where his understated delivery was the essence of old-school KTVU and consistent with their pre-Fox design.

It doesn't work at KRON. It never would. You can't save a rotting corpse.

KRON needed a JOLT. A shot in the arm and some human credibility. Wayne was thought to provide some of that and he's been lukewarm oatmeal with melba toast on the side. He could walk down the Embarcadero and no one would recognize him. As a KRON staffer jokingly told me recently, "Wayne is Steve Aveson with a slightly better personality."

So, KRON has a lifetime to go and that's just plain impossible with or without Ken Wayne.

Dud.

*A FEW YEARS ago at a sports banquet, Gary Radnich made a joke: "Hey, look out in the audience: 'there's Mark Ibanez with a nice suit; hey Mark!", yelled Raddy. "Is that another trade-out?"

Gary Radnich

Ibanez didn't think the joke was funny. In fact, he was royally pissed off and angry. Ibanez has a sense of humor but was outraged that Radnich would go a little too deep and personal. He was stung to the max.

Circle back in time to present day last Friday when Radnich was on his KNBR show and saying that night would be his last on the KRON and guess who called in? Ibanez himself, who proceeded to slobber for a good ten minutes and laugh and giggle at Radnich who sounded downright giddy. It was poignant, fun, a little too much gushing and a whole lot of sweet nothing from both but more so from Ibanez who frankly sounded nauseating --especially given his feelings for Radnich who on more then one occasion, Ibanez told this blogger he thought Raddy stunk. And not just that memorable banquet night.

Maybe Mark has a bad memory.

I don't.

Mark Ibanez

*Roberta Gonzales posted a sort of interesting picture on Twitter and it was sent to me and so I posted it here.

Several people ripped me for being a juvenile and offering poor taste because I used it.

Wait a minute!

Roberta is the one who posted it online so obviously she had no issues with it so why all the big fuss directed at me?

Because most of you have a sense of humor and don't automatically assume the picture was nefarious and laced with sexual overtones.

In my headline, I said "Roberta was being creative." And she was and that was it.

Those of you that want to rip me maybe you should contact Roberta instead.

Roberta Gonzales

*Dave Feldman was absent over the weekend on his NBC Sports Bay Area Giants' gig; gees, I wonder why and he was not on vacation.

*Greg Papa has built up a GIANT wall at both his radio station and at the cable outlet over his massive ego play and arrogance that has become quite problematic.

Greg Papa

Papa thinks he's God and while his moxie has been able to provide him a 49ers' gig (which he needs to finance the impending divorce from hell to a former Raiderette) its not very comfortable to be around Papa now if you're in his footsteps.

Papa is an accomplished professional and very good at his broadcast duties but his boorishness can be an issue and when he's en fuego he can be a real big jerk.

Arrogance is one thing. Self-absorbed assholeness is another.

Papa's self-importance and personal diatribes have future negative consequences and it'll be interesting to watch all this down the road.

It's Official: Wayne Splits KTVU for KRON; Thursday 415 Media Reports

Ken Wayne moving to KRON

WHAT I REPORTED last week is now official: Ken Wayne, who spent nearly three decades at KTVU before abruptly leaving is headed across the bay to work the weeknight anchor desk at KRON; he begins sometime next week.

No word on which newscasts he'll anchor but underwhelming KRON could use a new face --especially in light of its recent decision to can Steve Aveson whose contract was not renewed and lasted barely a year and a half.

Wayne is not a fiery personality but his KTVU presence gives KRON a known Bay Area TV News journalist --something that can only help the independent albatross that needs a shot in the arm. Boy do they ever.

Wayne was working the last month without a contract; Fox-owned KTVU didn't want to renew Wayne for the money he was seeking (about $300K annually) --Wayne will be working for significantly less dough but he likes the Bay Area and was willing to take a pay cut to get the KRON gig. Yes, it's KRON but it's a job. That always helps to feed the family.

#415MEDIA EXCLU

KTVU Could Use Some Sage Advice: Wayne and Rendon On The Weekend Anchor Desk

 

 Since coming to KTVU last year we've always admired the hard-working, informative, engaging and most-talented reporter, Cristina Rendon

We go one step further.

We offer, free of charge, a power-couple extraordinaire of anchors on the weekend.

Ken Wayne and Rendon: There's only one two.

*Follow me on Twitter

415 Media Exclusive: Veteran Weekend Anchor Ken Wayne Signs Contract Extension to Remain at KTVU

Ken Wayne staying at KTVU

    Veteran news anchor Ken Wayne will remain at KTVU for at least the next four years. The weekend anchor and general-assignment reporter on Friday signed a new multi-year contract to stay with the Oakland Fox affiliate through 2017.

Reached by phone, Wayne confirmed to me he signed the new deal even after receiving inquires from several stations "in and out of the market." The new deal involves a considerable raise.

"I'm very happy to be here in the Bay Area where I've been working and living for a long time. I'm happy, my wife's happy too," said Wayne, who has been with KTVU since 1992. He's been the lead weekend anchor since 2002.

Retaining Wayne provides a needed source of stability for Channel 2 which has seen a steady amount of new faces at the station, particularly reporters. Wayne refused to comment on whether he considered an offer from a cable outlet, (I heard CNN was interested).

*Follow me on Twitter

KTVU's Ken Wayne Facial Alteration Was Not Kenny Rogers Inspired

          Several of you inquiring minds  has asked about the very noticeable change in KTVU's Ken Wayne's look, namely his face. The eyes --underneath it appears he looks like he had some plastic surgery and he did, according to a source close to Wayne although unlike Kenny Rogers, Wayne's facial alteration was not utilizing the superficial, I'm middle-aged card.

Wayne has been suffering from an eye-lid irritation for several months and went to see a doctor who recommended surgery. After consulting with family and friends, he decided to go ahead with the procedure and had both eye lids altered because if only one was done, according to an Insider, "he'd have looked even weirder, and in TV that's not good."
 

We agree.

 

 

  

*Follow me on Twitter   

 

                                                                            

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.

*Follow me on Twitter