Mark Danon Worthy of 'Survivor Award'; Capable KRON Morning Anchor Works With Countess Darya Folsom; 415 Media Sunday

 I haven't written much about Mark Danon, the weekday morning, co-anchor on KRON's adequate newscast --I say "adequate" because the show is always marred by the gushy "look at me" embarrassment that is Darya Folsom --who gets worse by the day.

I've never met Danon but I know people close to the situation who tell me he just shows up to work and nudges along in spite of Folsom's daily histrionics and buffoonery.

You might say, "well, what's his alternative? The man has to earn a living."

Well, you'd be right but truth be told, I disagree. Danon is enough of a professional with limited clout that could ask the higher-ups for a different time slot but he does his job well in spite of Countess Folsom.

Countess Folsom is the "me, me, me" KRON High Priestess. In her early days at 1001 Van Ness (the old KRON fortress) Darya was somewhat respectable, slightly credible and overall, a decent anchor who read the news and didn't resort to cheap tactics.

Nowadays Darya is an on-going freak show better suited for a daily matinee at the Curran Theatre. The drama would be perfectly apt. I've often wondered what she'll do next, a mass singular "gee wiz" or hosted, giggle fest.

That Danon goes along and is able to maintain his professionalism is deserving enough for a local Emmy. Call it the "Survival Award."

And indeed Danon survives --initially I thought he was simply a stooge to Folsom's circus act but I was wrong. Danon seems to have a "hey, I'm just working, pardon me" look on his face while Countess Folsom looks as if she's appearing on a variety show.

I'm sure she still has a legion of fans but Folsom always goes to the extreme and flaunts her excess and I'm not even referring to any physical assets. Even those seem to be inflated this day and age.

Dear Darya: This is probably impossible for you to ascertain but do your viewers a favor: Grow up. Stop pimping for the camera. You're not Kelly Ripa. Hell, you're not even Ricki Lake. You allegedly co-anchor a morning news show in the Bay Area even though it's on an albatross station that long ago lost its luster. But it's still on the air last I checked.

Amazing.

So, be straight, Darya. I know you can do it.

Darya Folsom Wants Diva Status At KRON; Thinks She's 'The Most Popular' Personality At Station; Folsom/Radnich Buddy System Creates Wall With Danon; Staffers Fret Over Increasing Power

 Darya Folsom thinks she's the "most popular" personality on KRON. How much so? To a point, according to my KRONvict Insider, that the morning diva wants "major perks"--including the HIGHEST salary, her very own parking space at the station's 900 Front Street garage, and, get this!, her entire professional wardrobe funded by KRON's corporate owners! (Media General).


The latest demands by the ego-driven Folsom has touched off quite the firestorm at KRON with a major turf war emerging between Folsom and her allies (including sports guy, Gary Radnich) and Darya's own morning co-anchor, Mark Danon, who, according to the Insider, can't stand her and just goes to work every day to pick up a paycheck.


Says the Insider: "Mark puts up with all the drama (with Darya) because in reality he has no choice--'he's thinking, like, 'what, I'm going to fight Radnich  and her!"


Not coincidently, Radnich and Danon are not talking to one another and you can put the whole fire and ice situation between the two squarely on Folsom.


Another KRON Insider: "She thinks she's the greatest thing since sliced bread. And because Radnich is her enabler she can get away with pretty much everything."


Radnich, for his part, isn't talking. But his on-air (and off too) relationship with Folsom is considered a "major issue" at the station --in fact, it's common knowledge among the staffers: "DON'T MESS WITH HER (Folsom)--because messing with her is tantamount to messing with Radnich!"


Whoa Nellie!

That's some power.