The Stakes Just Got Higher at Circle7/KGO 900 Front --Memo to Trixie and Tommy C --The Mouse Ain't Happy at Palace Coup

Tracey Watkowski-Silva

Memo to Circle7 Tommy and Trixie

Most TV General Managers, especially those inked by te Mouse, can't speak publicly about Trump, the Giants, Global Warming, or anything else, even Rich Lieberman, without Disney O and O approval.

ITS IN THE FUCKING EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT!

Every ABC 7/KGO-TV GM, from Russ Coughlin to Joe Ahern and beyond the grave KNEW THAT! 

Ahern's only big moment was getting shitfaced and pissing on shoes during the St. Patty's Parade.

It appears, ABC 7, GM Tom "Tommy Boy" Cibrokwsi is also now pissing in his adult diaper, poised for Southwest one way to Burbank HQ... for FUCKING with the Mouse.  And me both directly and indirectly, what a fine coincidence.

Sources tell me Cibrokwsi was blindsided by ND Tracey "Trixie" Watkowski. (smart enough not to sign the petition) In a well organized Palace coup. She encouraged Tommy Boy knowing full well the shit-storm would land on Tommy. 

Behind his back, Trixie and her legions paint Tommy Boy as a steak house buffoon and this FUCK--UP will grease her way to the GM corner office. It's ruthless. It's a power grab. It's so Trixie.

It doesn't FUCKING MATTER.

In the meantime, congrats Trix, you outwitted ole Tommy C at my expense.

Tom Cibrowski

Not So Happy Times at KGO-TV; Inner Turmoil at 900 Front Street; Zouves Drama; Ashley Contract Extension; Watkowski-Silva Still Hated; New GM Cibrowski Lack of Communication; 415 Media Wednesday Opener

YOU HAVE A MESS at KGO-TV (ABC7)

You would say things are rosy at 900 Front Street, home to KGO and ABC7. You would be wrong. Like, oh so wrong.

As a matter of fact, there's genuine turmoil; massive unrest; massive bad morale; deep division; heavy-duty favoritism; an ongoing battle with a news director almost everyone can't stand; exceptional distrust amongst the rank and file and a new GM that hasn't rallied the troops when there's hostility and anxiety in the newsroom and beyond. The Circle7 gang has a plethora of hurdles to overcome and no one is manning the conference room to restore order.

We haven't even touched the Natasha Zouves issue and the rancor it's causing; Oh, and still no contract extension for veteran anchor and station de facto ambassador, Dan Ashley. Hello, is anyone home?

It's Sweeps time too and it could hardly have arrived at a worse time for the ABC O and O in the Bay Area. The morning show is a certified mosh pit of overbearing egos and miscreants who think their poop doesn't stink. Reggie Aqui is still the lonely boy Prima Donna --an ego-maniac supreme who is detested by staffers. His love/hate relationship with Zouves seems to have abated with her return but so as long as the two work together, there's a great chance the gruesome twosome will be fighting again. Said a station source: "They have no chemistry together and while Reggie played good on her return, he still has no respect for her." Likewise, she has no love for him. All this poltergeist makes the morning more of a hazardous work environment.

Jessica Castro is stunning to look at, sure, but she's apparently doesn't have the chops to become a central character in the AM platform. Castro supposedly is more concerned about her hair and shoes and doesn't like skewing the news domain. Which doesn't necessarily make her incompetent but growing discontent amongst her peers is proof positive that she's nothing more than a pretty face.

I can't fathom how Tracey Watkowski-Silva, the embattled ND, keeps her job while KGO teeters on personnel disaster zone. We've been down this road before yet Watkowski is given a long rope. Some of the various issues confronting the station aren't her (TWS) her fault but the wide gap between staff and management; the ever deepening division; is all on Watkowski's watch. She is a terrible manager with over-the-top tactics; tactics that include managing like a dictator and displaying outright favoritism as if she didn't care one iota that her players think she's a total witch. ABC continues to employ her too despite numerous legal cases; most have been settled but at a considerable cost in the several millions. It would be trite to say Watkowski has pictures but at this point, it could be true.

Dan Ashley is almost a year away from his contract expiring --a time when most negotiations for a valued anchor would begin. GM Tom Cibrowski, has supposedly decided to put Ashley's extension on the backburner which is a mistake. Ashley has been at KGO nearly 30 years and more than their cornerstone news reader, Ashley does numerous station appearances and acts as its ombudsman --he is the face of the station. He has already received multiple offers from stations and networks back east but would love to stay in the Bay Area. He'll probably be taken care of but the lack of being proactive and getting his deal done makes Cibrowski look like an amateur. This, from a guy who was a big shot at ABC and its major cog in the AM, "Good Morning America." Cibrowski should take a few days off, rent a room at the Fairmont and read some history books. It wouldn't hurt.

Did I say Larry Beil is still walking around the offices telling everyone that he's Larry Beil and terrifying interns? Yes and yes. Beil once went behind Mark Ibanez' back when both were at KTVU and told the GM (Kevin O'Brien) that "I want Mark Ibanez' job. I'm a number 1 guy." To which O'Brien then said to Beil: "Well, that ain't gonna happen, good luck." So you know what you need to know about Larry Beil.

It's not exactly peaches and cream at the local mouse house. But I do hear the late afternoon tuna-melt and beers at nearby Grumpy's are awesome.


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Sex, Lies and Videotape Create Rancor on KTVU's Prized '10 0'Clock News'; Anchors Distrust Each Other; Somerville at Center of Storm; Haener is 'Nosy'; Martin's Aloofness Growing; Ibanez Stays Away from Fray (For Now) Mysterious Texts Abound; 415 Media Exclusive

Frank Somerville and Julie Haener on set of "10 o'clock News"

KTVU's Vaunted Franchise, Its "10 O'clock News" is beset with anchors who don't trust one another; have contempt for one another; routinely question its partner's personal and in some cases, professional behavior; there's more. But despite all this rancor, the TEN O'CLOCK NEWS is still far and away the ratings winner in the Bay Area news wars and still garners industry admiration here and beyond.

That said, Fox-owned KTVU brass is "extremely worried" that the tension gripping its hallmark newscast could become an issue if those tensions worsen and become more pronounced.

415 Media knows the full, inside story; the story you won't get anywhere else but here and now:

*Frank Somerville, KTVU's veteran two-decade anchor is beset with personal problems galore; he's become aloof to the point where even his closest friends are worried about Frank's suddenly "erratic" behavior. Somerville is getting a divorce and has left his house and wife while dealing with that and an ongoing station matter which has rocked the newsroom and proved embarrassing for Somerville and his closest friends. Why the divorce? Only Somerville's wife knows but it isn't a very pretty picture across the board. It's also a lesson: no matter how much you insist your daily dalliances with a very attractive 30-something intern is strictly platonic, the perception is otherwise.

Somerville has a new flame. His wife has a high-priced divorce attorney. It could get ugly. It already has. Frank is moody and irritable. He's distanced himself from close confidants. He doesn't laugh much anymore and is "not the same Frank", a staffer tells me who knows him well.

Bill Martin (l) and friend, Janice Huff

*Julie Haener was always; still is; considered a quality news anchor and steady influence on the set but her growing influence has colleagues both weary of her personal chit-chat and royally pissed off that she spreads gossip and innuendo. While ON THE SET! Haener asked an anchor recently off-air was that individual talking to 415 Media. "No", said the person although Haener wouldn't stop badgering --only a break back to news from a commercial put an end to the actions of nosy Haener.

*415 Media has learned through a reliable station contact that weatherman, Bill Martin, is openly chastised by co-anchors off screen, why? Martin is now leaving the station habitually, mostly after the early-evening newscasts to head home to Lafayette to have dinner with family, hardly anything unusual but at the expense of his weather research needed for later shows? Yes, a problem.

*Veteran 40-year Sports anchor and Director, Mark Ibanez, gets static from the team because Ibanez tries to stay away from the fray. In fact, he's been teased by friends because he's largely immune from all the other's chaos, and make no mistake, it's chaos.

*A potential whammy: a series of potentially embarrassing and slightly salacious texts that were sent to the intern that were leaked out and viewed by 415 Media. The texts are mostly innocuous but they do contain, shall we say, "interesting forms of communication" that don't appear to be anything about TV News business. And now, mysteriously, they're gone. Maybe a self-inflicted wound? Guilty.

Haener nosy? 

While all this is taking place, newscasts somehow happen and it's business as usual at KTVU, for now. If you believe word on the street, or certainly through the 54-camera newsroom, watched by overruling and take-no-prisoner HR bosses, if there's a crack in the armor, then "all hell will break out." 

And we'll be watching.

#415 MEDIA EXCLUSIVE

KGO-TV Picks Up New Weekend Sports Anchor Via The Fresno Greyhound Line; Chris Alvarez Headed to Circle7 900 Front

Chris Alvarez

KGO has hired a new weekend sports anchor and they apparently went the cheap route: they plucked Chris Alvarez from Fresno ABC affiliate  O and O , TV 30.

He'll be anchoring and doing a lot of MMJ (multi-media journalist) work which translates into "I will work my ass off and work cheap."

Mindi Bach will also stay on and work in a limited capacity.

(Bach will handle anchor duty and do fill-in too.)

This is further proof that the local TV News business is declining and that the lovely Fresno Greyhound Depot continues to thrive!

D Day at KNBR; Kolsky and Hughes Get Heave-Ho at KNBR; Wittmayer/Cumulus Cut Cut; Inside Story from 415 Media

Matt Kolsky speaking at Sag-Aftra rally last year

 

ALTHOUGH he made it clear he didn't think his pro-union speech at a Sag-Aftra -KNBR rally last year, was keynote in his firing, it certainly didn't help matters. In addition, Matt Kolsky's  colleague, Joe Hughes, also involved in a pro-union video was also fired by KNBR late Friday.

Ryan Covay, an evening talk host and producer at KNBR with less tenure and vocal union talk, was not terminated.

Coincidence? Perhaps, you be the judge.

Friday was a telling day at KNBR. Cumulus' cash cow sports station --one of the few successful stations it runs in SF, was its usual self, only management was about to slash and dash two daytime hosts and put an end altogether to sports updates, which were nothing more than more commercials.

The first host to get the heave-ho was Joe Hughes which caught many staffers off guard, including Gary Radnich and Larry Krueger; Hughes was their own update guy and took part in their morning show. Beyond that, Hughes's dad was friends with station Opps Mgr, Lee Hammer and his job seemed safe. Only, Hammer wasn't directly involved with Hughes's ouster. Cumulus' SF VP and Market manager, Justin Wittmayer, 86ed both Hughes and Kolsky.

The firings weren't that shocking and their unlucky recipients didn't involve anybody even remotely "special" at KNBR but they did surprise staff inside the building and almost immediately, rumors hit that more layoffs perhaps involving even "star" personnel were on the horizon.

KNBR is still rocking and rolling for the most part in its key demographic constituency: adult males between 18 and 49 who love sports, beer, and boobs. In addition, its own cash cow, the SF Giants baseball games were just around the corner and that's where KNBR makes the bulk of its money.

Yet, the dual canning exposed the non-harmonious atmosphere inside the studios where the hungry, ambitious "little people"; those producers, occasional hosts and go-to guys who do all the heavy lifting and coordinate a lot of the station's weaponry; a station that took in over $20 million in revenue the past few years, weren't immune from being axed by the notorious cloud company from Atlanta.

Welcome to the real world.

It's not a pretty picture at the Cloud Company SF Cluster.





 

KPIX Bad February Sweeps; Bastida/De La Cruz Team Should Be Front And Center; Martin Is Wooden; Cook Element; Monday Starter

 KPIX had a crummy February book--I told you that on Friday. The specific numbers aren't out yet but PIX had an across-the-board ratings tumble. How bad? Enough for News Director, Dan Rosenheim to reassign the evening EP to the morning and the morning EP to night. He also hinted there would be more changes coming.

One of the problems at CBS-SF is the constant shifting of a "team"--a solid team. PIX has no identity, certainly no anchor identity. Their best on-air anchor is Ken Bastida--he should be the face of the station but the way he's used he's largely confined to 2nd-tier status. It doesn't take a brain surgeon to suggest that a Bastida/Veronica De La Cruz pairing should headline the 5, 6, and 11 PM newscast. Period. I have been underwhelmed with De La Cruz for the most part since her summer arrival but in terms of star power and anchor coordination, she and Bastida should be front and center. They're PIX's most popular personalities. Which would spell bad news for Liz Cook and Allen Martin.

I like Martin and he's a solid newsman but his wooden appearance and stiff-look style doesn't exactly provide viewer warmth. In other words, Martin comes across as sullen. It's especially evident now; sometimes I think Martin gives the impression he's having root canal performed while reading the teleprompter. Every once and awhile Martin smiles and laughs, but not too often. He needs to reinvent himself and maybe a new time slot would help. Harsh? Sure, but needed. Along with certain other issues.

Cook is the subject of major derision at KPIX among Martin, notably, and to a lesser extent, weatherman, Paul Deannu. Cook's thanks-daddy way of getting the gig irritated the hell out of many but I've sort of warmed to her lately. She's much better at ad-libbing and does a decent job of reading the news. (We forget that they read copy on TV--that's what they do) Furthermore, and this might surprise you, Cook has a personality--she should use it. Her demeanor and dainty looks are not her fault; it's time for the jealous set to take a sabbatical and leave her alone. She's not as bad as projected. But she's also not nirvana--disadvantage, PIX.

Style and cohesion is not something that comes naturally. You have to work at it. In the old days, Dave McElhatton and Wendy Tokuda weren't exactly Donny and Marie but they eventually built up  good, convincing chemistry to the point where they both helped each other. It worked. Better yet, Mac helped Wendy at a time when she wasn't exactly lighting up the screen. Her frequent on-air flubs were neutralized by Mac being Mac. Stars. Add in Wayne Walker and you had quite a trifecta.

Not the case today at 855 Battery.

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The Most Definitive Article You've Ever Read About The Old San Francisco; Memories Oh Memories (With Apologies to Herb Caen)

 SUNDAY NIGHT was big in my house growing up; as a kid in Oakland I used to hang around Chinatown and eat at the old Silver Dragon on Webster with my high-school buddies from Skyline. The big deal in the 70's was how to get inside the Silver Dragon--usually it required at least a 10-dollar tip and even that didn't guarantee admission past the long line.

We had alternatives --my family liked the Grotto in Jack London Square. Again, Sunday night. Packed, a sea of humanity; Italians, Jews, Irish, Mexican, Black, White, it really didn't matter because the Grotto had the best salmon and fillet of sole--you want spaghetti and meatballs? Step right up. Where's the bread? It's coming, no need to ask.

My deal as I got older was heading over to North Beach in the late 70's. That was the last time it was fully Italian and Molinari's ruled the landscape. Vintage old Gino &Carlo was a scene, nightly, out of a Hollywood movie. My first trip there was around 1982. I was 20. The first time I ever met Herb Caen was inside the joint. Classic look, classic place. Herb was holding court with Willie Brown and Wilkes Bashford--I think they were having nightcaps --whatever they were having seemed unique and important. How so? Because later on, Joe Alioto walked in and they all went to the back and closed the door. Another classic scene. I have no idea what they talked about but all I do know is that a very attractive woman server went to the room with lots of good red wine and explicit orders from Alfred the bartender. I was curious as all get-go, especially when the cops came in; later on I learned Gino & Carlo was the SFPD hidden oasis. Still is today too although like most of the city its lost a lot of its soul. I miss the vibe. I miss Alfred too with his wise-ass look and gestalt--one time I walked into the bar with a cigar. It was late at night and I was trying to act like a big shot and impress a girl. You could smoke in SF then but I was reluctant to light up my big stogie so I asked Alfred if I could have permission: "Can I smoke a cigar?" He responded, "I don't care if you smoke crack!" Ah, classic Sunday night response from the classic bartender.

North Beach, circa 1984. The Condor. Carol Doda. Café Sport where a bowl of pasta and sand dabs was about 20 bucks. The streets were clean and you could even park! MUNI was on time and there seemed to be lots of spirit--NO cranes too--bonus time. Stop the presses! Van Ness was still Auto Row and the big pick-up place was Lord Jim's. The Punch Line on Battery was the comedy destination --it was there regularly where the likes of Bobby Slayton, Bob Sarlatte, Steve Pearl and Alex Bennett used to hang out. Every now and then Robin Williams would sneak in late and go up onstage and do a rousing 30-minute set. Complete bedlam. If Robin didn't show up there was Dana Carvey. Dana wasn't as huge a star back then; neither too, Roseanne Barr; as a judge of the SF Stand-Up Comedy Competition, I met Barr there. I had no idea she would eventually end up on the Tonight Show a year later. Dammit, I could have been her Tom Arnold but we didn't mix; she wasn't my type. Thanks for caring.

Back to North Beach and beyond. I liked to walk around and scope the scene and what a scene it was. Fat Tony. Charming numbers runner, Davey Rosenberg, marching outside Washington Square doing favors for Sam Conti. 415 Good Fellas in action. Nobody got hurt for the most part. The food was good. The cops were cool. The girls looked spectacular. A little rancor every now and then. Especially good old Con Murphy. Reminded me of a cross between Charlie Gain and Al Nelder. Characters. All of them. They used to drink at Geno & Carlo and later on have dinner at House of Prime Rib. That's the usual run even today. Sunday night at the House. They used to line up at 3--the place didn't even open up until 4PM. Cocktails! First one who wins liars dice gets a dirty martini on me! Hide the salad and get the King cut going. "Where's my Yorkshire pudding, Alice?" "And can I have extra creamed spinach!" Mission accomplished.

SUNDAY night in the city. Young and handsome, even I had my moments. I used to know this blond named Esther --she worked at Macys part time, was a student at USF and was one hot broad! She was into the theatre and loved all music and play. Met her one night at the lobby bar inside the Fairmont Hotel. I was working at K-101 back then (doing sports and news/entertainment) and got to interview the likes of Joel Grey and BB King. Esther was impressed. We had center seats and coveted dinner service for the Grey cabaret in the divine Venetian Room. What a room. Herb Caen's favorite spot. Thanks Carol Vernier for taking care of yours truly with a big assist to Rick Swig, whose family owned the hotel back then. Still can't fathom the Fairmont as second banana in today's hotel wars. Just go inside the lobby and tell me you don't see magic.

I'm not a native San Franciscan but I have an appreciation of the city, maybe not so much the people because the people have changed; times have changed (naturally) and not all change is bad it's just that the city, in my opinion, has lost its soul. The city of  neighborhoods; its people, its characters, its artists have all but disappeared and that's just plain sad. I feel for the generation before me who were able to walk the streets and engage in real conversation. Today, the advent of cell-phones and social media has vaporized the radical concept of good old-fashioned conversation. You can't call anyone, it's against the law. To hell with discourse and the spoken word; you now must tweet and facebook it. Could you imagine Sinatra up on stage singing My Way and some tech schmuck playing with his smart phone? Get the goons, Frank is pissed! And truth be told, I'd pitch in five bucks for the execution.

Those were the days my friends ...Sunday Night. What theatre. What magic. What drama. Bill Graham. What tragedy. George Moscone. Joe Alioto. Leo Ryan. Harvey Milk. 1978. Richard Hongisto. Quentin Kopp. Diane Feinstein. Willie McCovey. John Rothmann. Dave's delicatessen. 1977. Star Wars. The Coronet at Geary and Arguello. Long lines. KGO Radio. Jim Dunbar. Owen Spann. Monte Stickles. Van Amburg. KGO-TV 277 Golden Gate Ave studios with Peter Giddings, John O'Reilly, Jerry Jensen. Jim Lange. Mayor Art Finley. Ronn Owens and Jan Black. Jerry Doyle. Peter Cleaveland "On the streets". The Studio Café across the street on GG Ave. KRON and PIX on Van Ness. Wayne Walker. "Mac". Hunan. Alfred's. Paoli's (If you didn't leave with a woman you didn't like women) Jim Eason. Ray Taliaferro. Ira Blue. Sonny Buxton. John L. Wasserman. Huey Lewis. John Fogerty. Saul Zaentz. Gerald Nachman. Stanton Delaplane. Charles McCabe. Art Hoppe. Art Rosenbaum. Wells Twombly. Ira Miller. Art Spander. Milt Kahn. Evan White. Jim Paymar. Cheryl Jennings. Art Cribbs. Carolyn Tyler. Valerie Coleman. Angela Alioto. The original Original Joes in the Tenderloin. Ben Williams. Joe Starkey. Bill King. Franklin Mieuli. Dick Vertlieb. Human tragedy. The Zebra Murders. Patty Hearst. Tania. SLA. Cinque. Donald Defreeze. Nancy Ling Perry. Mel's Drive In. Bill and Emily Harris. Dan White. Twinkie defense. Harry Denton. James J. Murphy. Tales of the City. Jim Jones. People's Temple. Willie Brown. Harvey Rose. Michael Zwerling. "NewsScene". Mike Hegadus. I'm Johnnnnn MACCCCFlanaghan, KYA! Dr. Don Rose. KFRC. Bill Lee. Dave, your duke, Sholin. Marvelous Mark McKay. Claude Mann. Marcia Brandwynne. George Reading. Belva Davis. Ed Baxter. Bob Melrose. Al Hart. Stan Bunger. Bob Jimenez. Rita Channon. Pete Wilson KRON/KGO. Joe Kapp. Tadich Grill. Spengers. Alioto's. Tommy's Joynt. Kwik Way/Oakland. Biff's. The International Hotel. The Hookers Ball. The Days on the Green. Tower of Power. Eddie Money. The Pointer Sisters. Carlos Santana. Blue jackets. The Paramount Theatre in Oakland. Fenton's. Doggie Diner. Quinn's Lighthouse. Jenner by the Sea. Santa Cruz. Beach boardwalk. Corn dogs. Saltwater taffy. It's it's. Al Attles. Rick Barry. Charles Johnson. Phil Smith. Charlie Williams. KSFO. Lon Simmons. Al Michaels. Don Klein. Monte Moore. Charley and Humphrey. Walt Harris. Bob Wilkens. Joe Angel. John The Count Montefusco. Chuck Muncie. Joe Roth. Memorial Stadium. Jim Plunkett. Gene Washington. Kezar Stadium. The Oakland Civic Auditorium. Keystone Corner. Todd Barkin. Top Dog on Durant in Berkeley. Keystone Berkeley. Neldam's Bakery. Candlestick Park. The Oakland Coliseum. The Oakland Arena. The Cow Palace. Gensler Lee Diamonds: the store with the heart! Top of the Hill, Daly City! Eddie Alexander: Good luck everybody! Gregg Jordan. Russ Coughlin. Bill Fiset. Gary Fiset. Golden Gate Productions. FM Productions. The Fillmore. Winterland. Joel Selvin. Dick Bright. Alex Bennett. Gil Haar. Mike Pechner. Harry Geiss. The US Festivals. Steve Wozniak. Roy Steele. Kenny Stabler. Art Thoms. Billy Kilmer. Nate Thurmond. Glenn Dickey. KDIA. KFOG. KSAN. KPFA. Dario's Pizza. Mel Belli. 700 Montgomery Street. K101. Playland at the beach. Snow cones. Kasper's hotdogs. Boz Scaggs. The Balboa Café. Perry's on Union Street. Tower Records. The Marina Safeway. Victoria Station (and tell 'em Johnny Cash sent you!)

I'm tired.

Inevitably, I left someone or something out. Apologies.

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The 415 Media Correspondent Ventures Out Into Familiar Territory; 2015 Valentine's Day Solo Performance; You're Still A Young Man, Baby

 IT ALL BEGAN QUITE INNOCENTLY ENOUGH...I was planning a quiet weekend alone, (naturally) perfectly resolute in another Valentine's Day solo performance meaning home alone. Don't pity me, I hate Valentine's Day, as do most miserable people and sane ones. The restaurants are a ripoff with over-inflated prices for mediocre food and 40-dollar wine that could be had at Costco for 10 bucks. SOP for the SF restaurant experience which treats VDay as their preeminent mark-up orgasm; anyway, I avoided--or at least tried to-- the holiday altogether which this year fell on a Saturday night--which means, more hipsters from Marin and the Eastbay, less parking and more aggravation --BUT WAIT--fate caught the best of me and after a frantic text from good friend, Sal Genolenardo,  I ventured out into the streets to see all the blood and gore. Hello BART.

Destination: Downtown San Francisco. North Beach.

As usual, Tosca was packed. Who needs stinkin' Valentine's Day? The joint was jumpin' with enough booze and boobs to satisfy vintage Carol Doda. The bar was packed; Fat Tony Giovanni was sipping his sixth scotch-over which I do believe is a world record but I don't keep tab anymore. He offered me a drink but I politely declined and instead opted to retreat to a lesser-human existence--I'm not a fan of crowds anymore so I took off for the next oasis.

It was unusually warm for a February night with just a smidgen of a breeze. Good walking weather. I know this is sacrilegious to say but I love this climate. We need the rain, sure, but this is heaven --this is Florida without the smell, this is great--think of the misery they're experiencing back east so I like this, it beats the cold. I hate cold.

Billy Emory and his gal pal, Victoria Delebrenze, were having dinner at the counter at Tadich as I walked in; another packed place on this warm SF night. I was planning on leaving early to catch the train back to Oakland but Billy insisted I join them for dinner. Billy is a big shot at Bof A, the big-ass ex-SF bank with the building that used to house the classy Carnelian Room--remember that place? High atop 55 floors up with average food and $300 tabs, (no booze) --I was a victim many times of taking women to the place to impress and dream a little. It didn't work, as usual, but at least the view was good and Ms. Anastasia, who worked the front of the house, would always plant me with a great XO stogie on my way out. She had friends in high places and if you didn't know, she would tell you. BACK to Tadich: Billy, his friend and I ate dinner at the counter. God, this place is so good. Especially when the big shot is buying! I was mulling the scallops but instead opted for the old-standby swordfish with the usual side dishes. We all noshed and noshed supreme until the last loaf of sourdough bread was gone. At Tadich, the secret word is "bread." If you've been there you know what I mean--there is NO bread like the bread at Tadich which I need like Brian Williams needs helicopters in Iraq...Billy and Vick were ready to go as was I but it was still early enough to venture on so as they departed I headed over to the Embarcadero --a full stomach and a little bounce in my step. Hello Boulevard.

BOULEVARD --the little-big engine that is still the marquee place near the water; Jimmy Beal making cocktails like Burt Nolan at PJ Clarke's in NY--every seat in the joint was filled with guys impressing their sweethearts --I counted about 88 blonds and 3 brunettes --in the front room alone! Boulevard doesn't need a Valentine's Day to get the biz --they make bank on a routine basis but the techies and geeks were free-spending so what the hell. I was done with my second soda water --suddenly, hell occurred: the intense odor of vapid Old Spice cologne permeated the bar. Sure enough, some mutt from Fremont walked in with his date --trying to impress her, he smelled like he just left a French whore house. I moved on.

Proceeded over to Battery and a last call at the old hangout. I had the misfortune of running into Teresa Tulips and her band of miscreants --they had just finished dinner at Kokkari. Stop the presses: me, the only guy in the place with about 10 really, really, really, good-looking broads --a single man's personal buffet. Teresa was her usual jovial self and even bought a drink for me; we always liked each other but she was too young for me and was planning on going back to Montreal to work for the Canadian embassy. Which was just as well given my state of anxiety and neurosis --it suddenly dawned on me: What the hell?, why are you out--for god's sake, it's Valentine's Day night! You imbecile you! Very reasonable thought but you know what? It's weird. Other than the schmuck at Boulevard with the Old Spice fetish things were OK, everything sorta jelled and was smooth. Herb Caen would have been proud. All in all a mellow evening. I even saw Willie Brown and his latest blond squeeze looking adroit coming out of the hotel Vitale across the street. I was tempted to yell something at Da Mayor but I held back --Willie still has considerable clout in this town and even a mock insult might have jolted him and me, a placement in Matier and Ross...I walked past the St. Regis on my way over to the BART station where I waited for the next train BACK TO OAKLAND. Tower of Power would be proud. Cue the horn section. Lenny Williams, take it away. You're Still a Young Man, baby.

The night was over.

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SF Radio Ratings; KCBS Surges To Numero Uno; KNBR Free Fall; KSFO Beats KGO, (Ouch); KOIT Winner

KNBR--what would they be without the 49ers and Giants? A precipitous downward turn. You got the beer, booze and sports male demo, but that's a big drop.

KCBS-- Big push, solidly #1 and without question, the top news station in Northern California.


KQED- troubled waters.


KOIT-Kaboom!


The Game: flat line supreme --changes coming soon.


KSFO beats KGO: Ouch.


Here's the entire numbers.




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Friday Before Christmas In The City By The Bay; The Calm Before the Storm; Bars Are Packed; The Pulse; Happy Holidays

 The freeways are barren--it's Friday and anyone worth anything already split and has headed for home or Tahoe or better yet, Tommy's Joynt, for a couple of shots and some brisket before the storm begins, the figurative one.

I don't know about you, but I'm sick of the rain already, sorry Paul and Roberta, Bill Martin, and Mike Pechner.

You can tell it's a holiday and Friday--Downtown on a Friday before Christmas and every office is pretty much deserted --poor KRON building on Van Ness. Vacant, gray, and perfectly sullen on the Van Ness strip. So sad, so compelling ...ventured over nearby North Beach early on to catch a quickie at Geno & Carlo--two SFPD cops on bikes sped by and I quickly glanced to see if any of the Northern Station vets were ready to hit the after-work scene--Geno & Carlo: old school SF, pretty good spaghetti and meatballs and later Friday, a great place to get smashed before heading to that last holiday party.

Used to run into Fat Tony a lot at Geno's--he always bought the bar a round until Jimmy Dennon got pissed and jealous and marched out in fury over to the Iron Horse. Jimmy didn't like attention and if he perceived he was getting the business, he took it personally. Poor guy. He was usually hammered which sort of pissed off Fat Tony--the upside? Free drinks for everybody. Miss the crowd. Where's Stevie McPartlin? remember him, late of KTVU "Mornings on Two" and celebrated NY Yankees fan and loyal buddy of Kevin O'Brien --speaking of KOB, now you want to know how to party? Wow. I can only imagine Kevin holding court at Perry's on the Friday PM before Christmas --hell, the broads alone would be worth the price of admission. KOB is a fine saloon man--maybe he goes a tad crazy but who cares? I'm waxing poetic and nostalgic which is worth nothing today other than describing the good old days, how dare I!...

FRIDAY PM--Union Square, in spite of the weather, is packed galore--cars honking, taxis barking--more than the usual--Screw you Uber, I never did trust you but that's another story...The Salvation Army bell ringers are everywhere --what a nice scene --and always my favorite part of the holiday scene. I try to pick the Friday before Christmas to venture out in the city all about and see what's going on--BART is packed too, which is good because if you dare get in your car today and navigate the streets, you're more nuttier than I am and that's saying a lot ....Walking along the Embarcadero--bars are packed and people are on the go, even in this stinking weather...A few of the KGO-TV trucks are double parked on Front--whoa?!, I thought you guys weren't as bad as the PIX guys but I guessed wrong....Battery Street looks empty except the Old Ship --not surprised --they make the best martini in town and a little whiskey in the eggnog isn't so bad either--especially on the Friday before Christmas --hunker down, stay dry and warm and enjoy the weekend.

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Yes, You Heard Incorrectly That San Francisco Was Dateline Of Deputy Suffering From Ebola Symptoms

Several of you in the Bay Area thought the Ebola virus hit San Francisco--this guy was one of many media maven incorrectly stating the city by the bay was home to a deputy stating he was suffering from symptoms familiar with the virus. (He immediately corrected himself.)

Turns out the dateline, Frisco, is a city near Dallas, not of course, San Francisco.
"Don't call it Frisco" --Herb Caen would have had a field day with this one and considering the subject matter, a laugh or two might not be such a bad thing.

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San Francisco Market: Lightweights And Wussies

 San Francisco Market: home of lightweights and wussies.

We're not breaking any new ground here. It's been that way for quite some time and indicative of an industry-wide malaise punctuated with a bunch of no-talent hacks who play kissy-kissy with their no-talent mangers.

Stooges.

The consumers out here are all wise to you. They see through all the BS and have managed to see the light.

Welcome to the show, wussies. At least we're honest here.

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The Land of 'Tolerance' is Mostly Intolerant And a Few More Things About Michael Savage

 SAVAGE and The Bastion of Tolerance is the capitol of Intolerance

How is that San Francisco and the Bay Area--the liberal/progressive palace of tolerance is so intolerant?

Kind of ironic.

Worse yet, the posers in this town are third-rank amateurs. Hiding behind their masks and shields. Cowards and phonies.

I hate to start the day off so negatively but you make it impossible. I didn't hear the Savage show on Wednesday but heard my name and 415 Media was mentioned and prominently so. Let me start out by saying I'm a fan of the Savage Nation. He's interesting. He entertains me. He's not the gospel by any sort of means but he's quite spot on in many illustrations but not for everyone's taste. And he's the greatest story-teller on radio hands down. So there. Put away your blinders for a moment and listen to the man. Screw the politics and just LISTEN. You might even laugh a little yourself. It may help later on with the boss, your wife, girlfriend, your husband, mistress, whomever...

See, I've said this a million times: Savage is brilliant. I don't think I 'd want to work for him because there could be tension. All I want is entertainment. I don't need lectures from morons who think he's evil and dire straits. He's on the damn radio, for god's sake, get a life. And he's a master at the almost impossible: he can work the room. Name me someone who can hold an audience for ten minutes in today's insane environment? You can't. Posers. Cowards.

And let's address another thing while we're at it. I haven't received a penny from Savage. I should be so lucky. Besides I'd rather have a corned-beef sandwich at Tommy's Joynt. Savage is a fan of my site. Maybe he likes me because I listen ardently to the show. On the other hand when I'm critical of his occasionally loony-tune rants he doesn't berate me. I have a pretty good track record. There's days when he overloads on the Obama hysteria and I turn the dial. Political radio is lazy radio. That's why Levin and Rush and Hannity are beginning to sound tired because their shows are repeats of yesterday. Only yesterday is today. Same-old tired material. Sounds like the test pattern on TV, the national anthem at midnight on the tele that signified the end.

Bay Area, get a grip. Don't be a bunch of pussies. Wake up and smell the roses. Get out of the house and run, exercise a little, (I've been doing it a lot lately--great for the endorphins) and get your head out of your ass. Savage is the most honest man on radio. He's not curing cancer or reinventing the wheel but a lot of what he says makes sense, a foreign concept for some of you still migrating in People's Park and saving the whale. I got news for you, Berkeley has been lost for years now and Telegraph avenue has a Bank of America perched on it. Mario Savio is gone. Wavy Gravy is a ghost and Café Med is tattered. Even Spengers has been destroyed and Brennans was cleaned up and the food sucks now.

Back to point Savage is a decent bargain in a world that a little too busy these days. We're on the brink of World War 3 in Ukraine with a ticking time bomb that could go off any moment. We become infatuated with a missing plane that seems to have more of a story yet will probably have little impact on our increasingly marginalized life. We worry a lot about the small stuff. We should pay attention more to the little things like people living on the brink who live paycheck to paycheck and quit kvetching about a guy on the radio offering meatball recipes.

Bay Area, land of tolerance...really now? Baloney.

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The Secret Meeting Seductress Media Gal and the 415 Media Blogger

 We're supposed to meet at 9 sharp at a quiet place in the Marina. Just drinks. An hour, tops, maybe a little longer. It's a bit of a different template here because she happens to work in local TV news--a newbie. She sent me an e-mail saying that while she enjoys 415 Media you can make it better without having to resort to cheap, sensational pictures. Huh? I told her I didn't get it. She then, out of the blue, tells me she'd elaborate one day over drinks. I said Thursday night. She immediately said OK. And she's hot too and appears to be snot-free. I told her this was all unique and that to meet in a quiet place might be deemed risky. She ignored me and said let's just gather and sip some cosmos. And of course, yes, we had to act and look incognito. I told her I'd oblige so as long as she was reciprocal. She's hip to that. I don't know her, obviously, but I trust her. For now. And she's hot and gorgeous too which is a plus. This smells like a set-up but I'm too smart for that. I'll meet her. It's proper protocol. For now.

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Valentine's Day Special Poll; Who's Your Favorite Bay Area TV/Radio Media Personality?; KTVU's Tara Moriarty Special Morning Mantra; TGIF

 Talk about love!Like, for example, KTVU's lovely, but tough-nailed reporter, Tara Moriarty. I've always admired the feisty, tenacious field-correspondent who looks as if she just vacated a Manhattan hair salon. Not in any way shape or form to denigrate Ms. Moriarty, but she reminds me more of an East Coast newswoman as opposed to most of the Bay Area ditzies here. I'm told she's one of Channel 2's highest-paid reporters and has quite the following among young men who daydream about such fine female journalists of local TV News. I appreciate her presence and look forward to her work.


**On Valentine's Day, what Bay Area TV/Radio media personality is your favorite? Maybe to cozy up to and possess thoughts of true romance and admiration. Male or female.


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Loren Nancarrow Dies; Former KPIX Anchor

 Sad news ...a former KPIX anchor, Loren Nancarrow has died.

Nancarrow was diagnosed with stage three terminal brain cancer in February, and later retired from his anchor position at Fox 5, San Diego. He called himself a "Brain Cancer Warrior," and authored a blog.

His career spanned more than 30 years and he won numerous industry awards in addition to being involved with a multitude of charities.

He joined PIX in the late 1980's. In addition to news, Nancarrow anchored weather.

He is survived by his wife, Susie, and children, Graham, Hannah and Britta.

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