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!
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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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