Talk Is Cheap At KTVU For The Most Part; Gladys Revisited; Radnich Needs A Producer; Cheryl Hurd Is Hot; Mark Matthews Is Not; 415 Media Sunday Nuggets

SUNDAY POTPOURRI




KTVU's deep foray into chatter, talk, Happy Talk--they call it, would be more natural if most of the anchors and reporters were comfortable on-air performing the remarkably easy task of, get this, actually speaking with one another!


Imagine that.


Yet, because we're so accustomed to the previous Channel 2 brand of no-nonsense delivery; very little idle chit-chat; straight-forward news broadcast; the new KTVU of extreme verbal back and forth seems forced and contrived. Especially irksome is when, say, anchor and co-anchor just chat for the sake of chatting. It's real gimmicky and the viewers don't like it. Particularly, Bay Area viewers who know when they see a phony.


Frank Somerville and Julie Haener can pull it off because they've been at the desk together for many years and Bay Area viewers trust them. Newbie, out-of-towners not so much. Claudine Wong is a capable news reader but comes off artificial when she's talking extemporaneously. Veronica De La Cruz is a Bay Area native but when she chats with the other anchors, it's painful sometimes. Paul Deanno looks very natural when he's speaking off cue; he'd likely make for a decent news anchor. Ken Bastida is very good at talking off the prompter; comfortable and articulate --yes, Bastida too is a Bay Area native and news veteran. See a trend here?


*If you want to believe the rumors then munch on this: The Chronicle is losing a million bucks a week. Do the math. Ouch. Then again, have you read SFGate? The news site that also acts as a real-estate guide complete with pictures of mansions and bright images of dogs and cats, food, and tabloid faire. I'd read the Gate more but it still messes up my computer and takes ten years to load.


*Your news template for the coming week: extreme heat and fires near the Sierra. Reporters, get out the blue jackets and matching caps.


*Chuck Todd, sorry but you're no Tim Russert.


*A KCBS reporter told me that you can expect more non-traditional, un-KCBS-like content --that's right, a more "cheering" round-up of stories, teases, at the top-of-the-hour news, for instance. There's a new sheriff in town.


*"Talk 910"--why bother? You could put a canary behind the microphone and the numbers would be the same. Might even be an improvement.


*The new PD at all-sports 95.7 FM "The Game" is looking for a new morning show which is good since the current one has about as much appeal as a Modesto strip mall.


*Boy, did Gladys cause a storm. (Psst, which was its purpose).


*KGO Radio on the weekend: like going to a smorgasbord and the only thing left is Waldorf salad.


*The SF School district radio station is closing in on KGO.


*Sarah and Vinnie: I hear the rumors. But if you were to have me on the ratings would go through the roof because I'm the only one who says anything in this town. Which means Harville says "no-go."


*Speaking of CBS Radio, Steve Futterman is the best correspondent in the world plus he's on the West Coast. Extra crispy.


*Pam Moore has been noticeably absent from KRON lately; for now, it's an extended vacation. Or what Kronvicts would call an absence from local TV Gitmo.


*Gary Radnich needs a sports producer if you're looking for work. Duties include writing, gathering up copy, setting up interviews, and washing a used Bentley.


*Radnich and KRON's "Web producer", Mario Sevilla: he's Gary's tweeter, lapdog, and dinner gofer. KRON's unofficial snitch too. My KRON boys and girls: watch your back when crossing paths with this body part. Aaron Pero's "Super Mario."


*Pero had a good week: He only made two reporters cry.


*Off media reflection: remember the good old days when going to the movies was an escape from life's issues. Now it might cost you your life.


*Cheryl Hurd: NBC Bay Area reporter: damn, you are still hot, girl!

Cheryl Hurd: Goddess

*Cheryl Jennings: not near Cher-like but fast approaching Joan Rivers before death.


*Oh hell, it's a fucking blog, get a hold of yourself!


*There goes my donations from Fremont.


*Catherine Heenan: extra beauty points: she has to work with the sports guy.


*The reason why Gary has to work; I mean, he really has to work and work is, yes, lots and lots of overhead, especially his ex-wife who nailed him pretty good on the divorce --or, about the price of two black Bentleys.


*Hey, KNBR: five minutes of dead air early Sunday morning otherwise known as the horse hour followed by some financial show out of Toledo with a guy that sounds like Daffy Duck. No, not Dan Dibley.


*Hey Pero: Most of your staff read this site because it's a relief from your personal global warming. Maybe it's time for a memo.


Cheryl Jennings: Not Cher yet



*Darya Folsom to Radnich: "You know Gary, my favorite performer is Dianna Ross!" Gary back to Dar: "Yeah, great, if you were only 20 years younger, I'd consider it."


*Someone is stealing the toilet paper at KSFO and considering that only four people work there, that is an amazing story.


*Uh, so I understand Ronn and Byron Allen had the R and B joke hour on Friday.


*Dan Rosenheim is so desperate for ratings at PIX I hear he may call Terilyn Joe. Now that? I'd watch! Or as Joe might say, fucking watch, asshole!


*Vern Glenn is a nice guy and decent anchor but Vern, seriously, be yourself. Can the Raddyisms; the shifting of the copy; the pregnant pauses--real simple, then it's, GAAAAAME ONNNNNNNNN!


*Annie Hong: classy understated lady who should be on weekdays.


*Mark Matthews: A slightly less pompous Tom Vacar.


*Wayne Freedman: God's living at 900 Front.




Darya Folsom

*Julie Watts, KPIX: You might want to buy lunch for the some of the photographers --they still think you're a bitch.


*BREAKING NEWS! Da Lin just beat the crap out of David Louie. Actually, he didn't, but that's what I dreamed about last night, I have a wonderful life.


*TRENDING!!! Veronica De La Cruz is looking at her fifth hair stylist --maybe the Sharon Stone short cut is in order? GAME ON!!!!


*Jan Wahl: KCBS Beast-Mode.


*"Hi, I'm Henry Schulman, Giants Beat Writer for the San Francisco Chronicle, and my farts never stink!"


*Roberta Gonzales: "I never met a margarita I didn't like." Me too, Roby!


*THIS JUST IN: Gil Gross and his wife, Rhoda, will be doing a duet with members of Beach Blanket Babylon --after, of course, Gil interviews Dr. Drew Johnson on the hazards of cutting cactus in the nude.


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Exclusive: Ex-KPIX Anchor Notarangelo Skips TV For CC County PR Gig; Anti-Union KNBR Enablers In The Morning; KRON's Pero: Sympathy For The Devil; Wednesday Notes

 WEDNESDAY NOTES...

I will tell you first that Ann Notarangelo, who had her last broadcast on KPIX Sunday will not be reading a teleprompter --she will become "Media Relations Manager" for the Contra Costa County 'Employment and Human Services in Concord. She starts May 11.

*Yeah, Imagine this: A blogger has the audacity to write negatively, relentlessly, about a News Director who continuously badgers a good majority of his workforce --then asks said director for comment. Someone call the cops.

*Sooner rather than later, a KRON notable will GO ON THE RECORD and we all can finally sort all of this out.

*Notarangelo leaving the business isn't so unusual: Priya David Clemens split KTVU to become the GG Bridge PR person. $114,000 a-year and not having to worry about ratings and egos.

*Sunday Morning anchors in the city and news people love, I do mean LOVE their gigs. The general consensus: "We like the fact that no one from management is here and we have relative calm and get to do our job."

*Union negotiations are tough enough but when KNBR's main "star" in the mid-morning 9-12 PM has been demonstrably anti-union (quietly) and one of the major players trying to louse up the efforts of the rank and file, he pisses off his few friends. His co-host hasn't been that much better.

*Speaking of union issues, lots of pissed off cameramen and photographers at KTVU as FOX has cut their wages and reduced their benefits. Across-the-board major headaches in Jack London Square.

*That's a hearty endorsement: Pero only has the ND gig because KRON and MG doesn't have anyone else who wants the job. Try Craigslist, guys.

*Dan Rosenheim: Maybe you should have taken the KTVU gig after all.

*I mentioned the other day that KPIX has no identity --no face of the station. When you have revolving anchors who are outside the market, don't have a freaking clue about the Bay Area, then you have major disconnect from your viewers. Hey Bruno, get a clue. Can't wait for that May book.

*John Rothmann, David Weintraub or Spencer Hughes: Talk 910 10-1 PM gig. We should know soon. There's an outside chance someone else is in the mix.

*The irritating "Tru-Car" ads: I've heard and seen worse. Here' a novelty approach: TURN the dial!

*KGO Radio's ace in the field: The versatile Kim McCallister --a true hard-working radio journalist reporter who tells it like it is and better yet, doesn't giggle or cackle on the air.

*Pero finally got an assist from one of the trades today, BREAKING NEWS!

*Geraldo in Baltimore for Fox News Channel: now that's a riot.

*Geraldo makes Don Lemon look like Ed Bradley.

*John Madden/KCBS: time for another bocce ball anecdote. I mean, there's only been about 42,553 stories as of Wednesday. Even Bunger is bored.

*Class and eloquence: KGO-TV weekend weather anchor, Lisa Argen. Does her reports and leaves the stage--no gimmicks needed when you possess grace like Argen.

*Ditto Carolyn Tyler.

*Finally...Aaron, take a hint from an East Coast media sage. He's been in the business for over 25 years. His wife works as a publicist for a NY stock company. They do a lot of schmoozing over lunch. They e-mail and text. They do lunch at 21-- he works the room. Even with his enemies. In other words, Pero, they know how to play the game. It's a game. Some get it, others don't.  Wait a minute, you started out in Sacramento, I should know better.

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 I bet you thought I forgot to answer all your Bay Area TV/Radio media questions--ha!

Ask away.

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Damon Bruce at 95.7 The Game: Smart Sports-Talk Radio; Perfect Posty Tomsula; Pete Liebengood On Radnich; Radnich on Vicky Nyugen; KTVU; KQED Nuggets; Friday Rundown

 FRIDAY FIRST TAKES

When he's on, like he was after the silly 49ers press conference introducing new coach, Jim Tomsula, The Game's (95.7, FM), PM talker, Damon Bruce, can be rather spectacular. Can be.

Those of you that watched that rather unintentionally funny bizarro had the same thoughts I do: God, am I hearing what I'm hearing?

I listened to the presser, (or maybe depresser) on the all-sports station and immediately after, Bruce was pitch-perfect in his assessment. (Here's an audio link--give a listen) He ridiculed Tomsula like most of us. He also mocked the proceedings with near eloquence like a champion race-car driver. Better yet, Bruce, with an assist from an astute caller, did a hilarious impression of the NFL's domestic violence commercials with deep and heavy breaths --just like the actors on the screen. It was both entertaining and incredibly funny, and even more to the point, brilliant because it was completely spontaneous --no silly sound effects nor song parodies needed. (By the way, in case you're wondering, NO, Bruce didn't parody domestic violence).

Bruce is by no means everyone's cup of coffee, including me; he's an acquired taste --matter of fact, there's times where he becomes obsessed with telling all of you just how great he is, which is fine only that Bruce comes off as narcissistic and annoying. Sure, you have to have an ego because that's the center of gravity in the sports-talk business, all media members for that matter but there's also a fine art of keeping it on the inside. If that's Bruce's only negative issues, I can deal with that.

He's a breath of fresh air in a market that could use some. He sometimes wanders off into foreign territory and gets into trouble but that's a small price. He certainly learned a lesson. He's also helped immeasurably by a very nifty update woman, Gianna Suter-Franco, who's smart and compliments both Bruce and the show in general. Smart radio is good radio. It doesn't dumb down its audience nor does it coddle the stupid business that has become an unfortunate staple of sports-talk radio.

Bruce is a welcome respite from the usual suspects --he doesn't mince his words. I was delighted to listen to his show on Thursday and make it a habit of listening when I'm in the car. You should too.


ITEMS...ITEMS...ITEMS


*He said that: Pete Liebengood, who used to work with Gary Radnich at KRON checks into 415 Media with a potent quotable: On Radnich: "I'd never want to share a foxhole with him."


*It bears repeating: The rank and file at KQED is major irritated that almost every manager makes about $200,000.


*A constant: dead air on KSFO --especially in the late night and early morning. Maybe it's a sign from God.


*Allen Martin on KPIX: still not taking Liz Cook too seriously. Funny, I feel the same about Veronica De La Cruz.


*I get asked --a lot: "Why do you write about KGO Radio so much?" Respect for the once-mighty call letters. Which is a far different view from some of the miscreants who work at that place now--some of whom should know better.


*Sure, the Giants are the toast of the town but it's the 49ers that rule the airwaves. Just listen to the commotion post-Harbaugh. Yeah, I know the Giants still play in SF and the Niners play in Santa Clara, but that's all anyone is talking about.


*From a sage social 415 Media observer: If Willie Brown were mayor of SF, the 49ers would have never moved to the South Bay.


*The reason why KNBR's ratings tanked last month is the increasing migration of their listeners to turn the dial while they run a THOUSAND hours worth of commercials.


*Azenith Smith, a reporter at KTVU, has improved dramatically to the point where I not only like her work, I look forward to it. I would not have said that a few months ago.


*Dennis Richmond was universally detested at Jack London Square to a point where most of the staff avoided him.


*Gary Radnich said this the other day on Knibber: "Vicky Nyugen looks like a person that was terrorized in a prison for eight years without food."


*Those of you that will say I'm kissing Damon Bruce's tuchas should ask Damon himself about some of the things I've said about him---to his face.


*Kate Kelly is supposedly splitting from PIX although her on-air presence has been noticeably eradicated of late anyway. Kelly: at one time a spitting image of Princess Grace.


*The Mrs. Doubtfire house on Broadway and Steiner: did we really need 5000 live shots on that matchbox of a "fire." Slow news day ...again.


*If "The Game" had smart radio on in the morning, it would be near perfect. And yes, it's a helluva lot better than KNBR. But that's like saying a corned-beef sandwich at Tommy's Joynt beats Denny's.
As I said last month, KRON's Jacqueline Bennett is leaving --last day is Jan. 28.


*Underrated weatherguy: Paul Deanno at PIX.


*Overrated: Bill Martin at KTVU. Although it's not Martin's fault that they have more teases at Channel 2 than a Broadway strip club.


*The Tom Vacar, John Fowler, and Rob Roth watch at 2: still working but the suits wants all of them to depart the premises sooner rather than later.

*I'm glad the Chronicle hired a woman, Audrey Cooper, editor-in-chief. Now if only she can fix that crappy website, SFGate. What a complete disaster.


*Speaking of fixing: If Kevin O'Brien were to go to KRON --and that's a pipe dream --he could make KRON worthwhile again.


*Way overrated: Heather Holmes. Please, I don't get it. And that part too.


*If less than 1 percent of you were paid subscribers of this 415 Media I could sleep at night. (Psst, 9 bucks for a YEAR!--Or two Starbucks for God's sake.)


*Stan, I tried, I really tried. (And just like that, he's gone!)


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TGIF

The Ray McDonald 49ers' Story Has Nothing To Do With Sports; That's Why They Still Call it the Toy Department; Thursday First Take

 Sports-Talk Radio Hosts should stay away from the Ray McDonald story.

This is NOT a sports story--it's a legal issue that involves an athlete who plays professional football for the 49ers.

Well, until now.

Too many times, sports pundits; the entire sports medium; has no business discussing legal issues because they have no idea what the hell they're talking about--worse yet, they interject sports into the legal arena and it sounds both out of place and foolish.

That's why they still say, in journalism, sports is the toy department.

Just yesterday on KNBR I heard a guy--can't remember who--say that McDonald seemed to be "playing better since his prior legal case wasn't brought forward since the DA had no evidence"--it sounded ridiculous because the host, clearly out of place and out of mind, tried to make a non-sports point. It was both inappropriate and stupid; furthermore, it trivialized what was, and is, very serious potential criminal charges against the player, but it has nothing to do with sports. Nothing.

Too many times, we see this play out on a daily basis --the only real element of the Ray McDonald story that makes sense from a sporting standpoint is how the 49ers dealt with it before and after--Lowell Cohn of the Press-Democrat breaks that down in a very good piece about the idea of "due process." Cohn spells out some legitimate questions--it's pretty much devoid of sports as it should be and is well written.

This issue is an across-the-board indictment--it's not just the sports-talk radio hosts; it involves the TV and radio guys too. I like what ESPN does; (and me complimenting ESPN is rare)--they hired Roger Cossack, a legal analyst who does a great job breaking down cases for the laymen public. It's not only informative and interesting--more importantly it provides the proper illustration without the use of sports dialogue. ESPN, to their credit, seems to get it. Others, unfortunately, are out of the loop.

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