*SUNDAY QUICK BULLET POINTS*
KTVU is in some sort of a Come to Jesus state with an entire news operation and staff up in arms and, according to one who would know, a realization that something had to be done. Radical. Like re-hiring PR gunner, Steve Poitras, who had a past stint there, (and KPIX too); Poitras isn't God but he has a knack, supposedly for guiding a sinking ship and while KTVU isn't by any means in the toilet, its stains have let some of the natives restless.
Said a knowledgeable insider: "they're, (KTVU), running scared. Either they are peeping for sale or an affiliation loss. Poitras is a way to put lipstick... Very classic, expensive lipstick on a pig. And that's no cut on Steve. He's first rate."
*Depending on who you talk to, Karel is either about to get his walking papers at any moment, courtesy, one of KGO's head sheep dept., Steve Sklenar, (the guy who told him to STFU at the XMAS party after Karel used the same epitaph and was loud); On the other hand, Opps chief, Ron Escarnega thinks he's OK on the air but can't stand him personally. If Sklenar or any of you listened Saturday night, Karel played a Cuisinart on the air for about 15 minutes; mumbled about sweet nothings and talked in spurts. It was about the most atrocious radio--I'm kicking myself for listening but it was a good chuckle nonetheless. Sad too, really. (The numbers are sinking again.)
*A highly-placed source says "two stations", at least, have expressed interested in former KRON/KNTV vet newsman/anchor, Tom Sinkovitz. Don't be surprised if Sinkovitz were to resurface at KRON, especially in light of GM Brian Greif's resignations due to health reasons.
*John Rothmann has a huge following in the Bay Area. The ex-KGO talkie continues to do fill-in on ClearChannel's Talk outlet but clearly, Rothmann is better primed for a fulltime gig. Of course he'd be a great fit at KQED Radio but the white wine and cheese people are too busy to bother with home-grown talent. Yeah, it's Forum and that's about it.
*Follow me on Twitter
I heard Karel's Cuisinart & turned the radio off...it sounded horrible. Karel, it's time for you to fade away.
ReplyDeleteCH2 hides their newscasts seems like. One thing about KRON..I watch because 8 pm is a very convenient time to watch local news. And only KRON does news at 8. Maybe ch2 could show less reruns of the Big Bang Theory and do news.
ReplyDeleteMy advice.
I tried not to comment on some of your posts before but your take on this is asinine and clueless. KRON does news all day becuase they have nothing else. They are not tied to a network and contractually obligated to air network shows. KTVU is. KRON , like all tv stations have no crew to produce local shows, nor does any local station want to. They just expand or add more newscasts because it is cheap and fills time, and beyond the newscasts it's infomercials.
DeleteKRON should be called a channel of infomercials and some people tune in for 8pm only because there is no local competition. Stan has good points once in a while, especially on the sexual tension between Radnich and Catherine Heenan and their groping of each other.
DeleteOn last night's Ten O'Clock News, viewers were once again assaulted with the overly dramatic "Breaking News" intro, this time for a boy missing in Oakland. KTVU didn't know who the boy was, what he looked like, or from where he was missing, but did know that OPD had set up a command post (which could mean a single parked patrol car).
ReplyDeleteInformational value: zero.
Annoyance factor: maximum.
This was near the top of the hour, and was clearly intended to capitalize on the public's alarm over the child abduction the previous day in Antioch. A cheap trick, one meant to play on the viewer's naiveté (missing kid calls are routine and seldom serious) and genuine concern (which would keep them tuned in for further shocking developments). Not even my affinity for Ken Wayne could temper my disgust.
Conduct more befitting a carnival barker.
Not sure what you're saying about Karel. Very confusing. What's not confusing is how bad he is. Didn't hear him last night but I don't need to know nothing changes with him. Can you get us his ratings?
ReplyDeleteRich has been speculating about Karel for years. Yet, the weasel keeps slipping through the fence and is still on air ... worse than ever.
DeleteCuissinart for 15 minutes? True. And awful. Not as bad, though, as his giddy, high-pitched laughing wailing about human feces being dumped in front of his garage over New Years ... again. Yep, he talked it about in intimate detail ... again.
Tasty. Classy. I'm surprised Steve nor Ron didn't call on the hour and stepped Weintruab in earlier than next weekend. Tonight, the witch queen of NY returns. But I digress.
Karel, no one gives a "crap" (pun intended) about you swiping sushi off another person's plate to "give to the homeless." (I doubt it, seriously.) No one cares about you "stealing"" a $26 leg-of-lamb and going back to the store after New Years to pay ... but the store didn't take your money. (Again, doubtful ... and not funny.) The dog walking stories are pitifully old as they are painful.
Hearing you talk about "Pippa" yapping because "there might be a human outside, a burgler or, maybe, a murderer on my property...:" is sickening. Yet, you had to talk about it last night.
Your begging KGO to keep you after your contract is up in March is pitififul. "Oh, I want to stay at KGO forever, I really do, if they'll have me and I just hope they do."
Karel just lost his gig of one hour at WWRL in New York (small station at the highest part o the regular AM dial,) and he's lost his show in every other market, too. He now does this boyfriend inspired "Karelcast" daily for an hour which no one listens to.
Oh, and how we tire of the "Free movies", "Free dinners" and the fact that you are, somehow, undeservably, a voting member of NARAS. It, literally, sucks, because you are so bad. How you got a freebie car lease of a Leaf is beyond comprehension.
Tonight, join Karel as part of the minscule audience gets to influence Karel's voting for the Grammies / NARAS since "I don't know some of the selections, so, I want you to help me out and vote!:" Yeah, that's industry honesty for you. Turning the Grammy's into an audience voted "American Idol."
The name-dropping references to KFI ("I don't honestly remember why I got fired from KFI," to ad-nauseum mentions of your dead husband, how you change laws and your diabribe about the poor family in Oakland with the brain-dead 13 year old are sad, incredulous and unneccesary. Yet, you hold down the most meaningless dayparts in all of radio.
You should just quit and "retire." Waiting for you to get terminated is, like you, a waste of time and valuable bandwidth. Your ticket is about to get punched, Karel.. Begging for your meaningless job isn't going to help forever or for long. You are sick. Play the Cuissanart again tonight. You make beautiful music together.
Finally, "I haven't had sex since last year!: hahahahahaha. Idiot.
What a tool.
Karel -- honestly -- in case you didn't get Steve's message at the KGO Christmas party where you were a painful bore, loud and obnoxious and from what I heard from insiders, "a creep" -- this message to you, again:
"SHUT THE F+CK UP!" (STFU).
Radio is in bad shape as it is and even worse with you in it. No wonder stations and groups like Clear Channel have made sure to keep you off the air...
Now that Cumulus has spent uber-millions to grab two stations as additions in Chicago this week, the Dickey's will be budget slashing again. You, for your lowly AFTRA salary, are at the top of the list.
Whoa.
DeleteHarsh, but you seem to listen.
Actually this Karel detractor did a very long entry describing every second of his perception of Karel's show last night. I was listening and it seems he/she was too. YOu are both wrong about the "cuisinart" however. It wasn't a cuisinart. It was a battle between the $700 dollar Vitamix and the $200 dollar Niinja JUICERS. You see, vegetable and fruit and pulp beverages are currently a big deal . I was glad to know that the Ninja will work as well, but not as long. It was welcome info for the juicers in the audience..and there are many.
DeleteJust stating fact. Listen because you need to hear really bad radio on a really bad 50,000 watt flamethrower that was once respected. Karel does so many wrong things them so absurdly, it call comes as a fountain -- on thing right after the other.
DeleteThe guy is an inspiration on how not to do radio. I hate it when he cries on the air. Gives radio a bad name -- and makes one wonder why he is tolerated on air. He boat sailed from the Embarcadero a long time ago and the audience just isn't there.
John Rothmann is one of the best guys on radio today and it's shocking he doesn't have a full time job. My only pointer for him would be to not mention Richard Nixon in every show. We know, already. I appreciate when he sits in for Gil as he takes callers and it seems Gil is lost without the ability to converse.
ReplyDeleteHe's a suitable fill in on the radio. Nothing more.
DeleteDepends on your point of view and your interest if you are a politic and history junkie, John is one of the best, he gets you interested in the way he covers the subject, not by yelling, screaming, ranting and raving, he does not follow any talking points, although he is liberal, he is often critical of the Obama administration. What do you mean by a suitable fill in? It does take much to be better than Gil these days, John is so much better than Gil, partly because he takes calls and know how to engage the callers, it is nice to have a host that cares about the people listening, I don't think Gil cares anymore, frankly from the way Gil conducts his show I don't think he cares about the show and the people listening.
ReplyDeleteRothman sounds more like an educator than an entertainer. While there might be a place for that somewhere on the dial it probably isn't on a for profit station. Gil Gross isn't interesting at all so suggesting he's better than him doesn't mean much. It's a question of whether he's better than a different entertainer, like say Colmes or Hartmann. I'd say not at all. I'm guessing others agree if Kksf hired this frosty fellow, and KGO never has him on. I don't care for savage but he used to care about entertaining. That's what matters. Not civil discourse.
ReplyDeleteI posted the blog at 12:34, I did say Rothmann is MUCH better than Gil. It is a matter of personal preference, I find Rothmann extremely interesting for the much part, frankly when I listen to talk radio although it is entertainment I for one would also like to be educated. I like both Colmes and Hartmann, Hartmann is pretty cut and dry a lot numbers, comes off as a policy wonk, Colmes is entertaining, he gets a kick out of taking calls from really outrageous callers, and interview people on the fringe, it can be entertaining, but I prefer for the most part something more relevant. John Rothmann had his own show for years on KGO first on week-ends and eventually got a 5 nights a week program, until they fired most of there really excellent hosts in Dec. 2011, Gil was amongst them and he has gone down hill ever since.
DeleteWe need to stop comparing people to Gil Gross. Does the guy get ratings? Does he even matter? How is it that we have a M-F drive time radio host on a Clear Channel station and no one even cares that he's on? And lets not talk about the wife too much, but it is the worst radio can offer. It's very strange. KKSF makes no noise at all. They're not even registering. Maybe the new lineup will help, but I doubt it. I know the signal isn't great, but it's not weak either. Frosty, Gil, Rhodes, those morning guys, it's not moving needles. Sorry to say, Rothmann probably isn't either if he hasn't yet at this point of his life. Lets just be realistic about that. On a certain level he's a PhD-less self-appointed political "expert." I have always found it strange that he never put in the work to get his doctorate. It shows either a lack of ability, or will, for someone so committed to a particular subject. Even Savage has a PhD in some obscure science. All that said, he's not bad, but don't expect much more than you're hearing and seeing. Further discussion on the topic isn't much relevant.
DeleteWhat does a PhD has to do with anything, I doubt there are few guys successful in radio who has one (doesn't matter if you like them or not) Gene Burns did not have one, Peter Jennings did not graduate from college, neither did Bill Gates, Limbaugh and Hannity don't have either a Masters or PhD as far as I know, it has nothing to do with ability or will, and if you listen to John over the years he always discussed many different subject, it is just that I'M a political and history junkie, so that is what I pay attention to. The only reason I compared John to Gil, is because Gil is on 5 days a week 4 hours a day, when his fill is better than him it is natural to point it out. What I get from John is what I expect and I'm not disappointed, if you are don't listen, but honestly the pickings of good radio host in this area is slim, who are YOU listening to?
DeleteI think Randy is suggesting that Rothman is viewed as some sort scholar, or at least presented as such. His wikipedia page suggests something close to it.
DeleteI enjoy his programs but don't think I'd love to hear him every day for 4 hours.
I posted the blog at 8:36 p.m. above, I think it is Randy's interpretation of Rothmann. Along with Gene Burns John has always been one of my favorites. However, I don't always like every program or subject he talked about. 4 hours of any host is too much, but who of us have 4 hours during the week where we can listen uninterrupted? Especially a show that starts at 3 p.m. Ray Talifaro use to do 4 hours in the middle of night, and when John Rothmann was on overnight on week-ends at KGO he did 4 hours, but that is different than 4 hours 5 days a week.
DeleteWhen I just left KTVU for the advertising agency that then did its ads, Poitras left or got canned, whatever. The then-new powers at KTVU thought that he and Fred Zehnder had been "just lucky" and they were going to shake things up, fire the old guard, and really make money for the place. The new guard then proceeded to do all the things other stations were already doing that were sinking them, and it wasn't long before KTVU was just an also-ran.
ReplyDeleteIt's interesting that all those geniuses who thought Zehnder was "just lucky" are gone and some of the old guard have been hired back. Maybe they need some of that "luck" again.
Anon@3:24......ahem...to reiterate..
DeleteThis seems like a puzzle to me. If KTVU still had staffing levels pre-2001, I could see it. Hiring Steve back now (he was head of creative services in the 90's) is a lot like slamming the barn doors shut after all the horses have already gotten out.
KTVU today has a graphics department (which creative services works with hand in hand when producers want certain graphics for topicals, special reports, and station and image branding spots. Today, the graphics department is an almost empty room, and the people left in that room must surely know that all graphics will be produced in Atlanta, and then each Cox station can go to an ftp site to retrieve them, rendering local KTVU design people obsolete.)
I am not sure Tom Raponi even knows this. He was a sales guy when Poitras was there last, and any knowledge of what it takes to create and produce graphic elements, and imaginative branding that requires a tv production crew is lost on him. The people under Tom are yes men, and will never tell Tom that the business model as it is now constituted is not geared up to do any in house production much like Poitras and staff came up with in the 90's.
The current Creative Services department lost four good writer producers over the last couple of years. One went to work in the Northwest, and now is head of Creative Services for a station in the Midwest. He would never have a shot at KTVU as head because he didn't fit the Atlanta headquarters profile of a department head at a Cox station. Ditto for the really talented female who went to Fox Network in LA, and now working for a trailblazing new media company out of Denver. Another producer with chops went to KNTV, and yet another whose contract was not renewed is now producing for Oracle. That leaves Steve with a crew of a person who was acting department head. This person is really talented as well, but again, he does not fit the 'profile" of the Atlanta corporate Hillbillies. The head writer producer is a young talent, and bright, which means she may never get a shot. The last writer/producer on staff perhaps did her best work writing articles on oral sex tips for her college newspaper.
And this is what Steve Poitras inherits. Doubt the resources will be allocated for him to be able to make a dent. Having Poitras at KTVU now is like putting pearls, lipstick, and a silk hat on a pig.
I agree with everyone here. Karel has no business being on KGO or any radio station for that matter.
ReplyDeleteWhy does KGO radio continue to hire these dysfunctional nit-wits like Karel, Maureen Langden, and that bloviating fool Tim Montemeyer, who is thankfully gone? Copie isn't too bad when he's not trying to be some comedian, but the 'Mattress Man' is probably still KGO's biggest asset. That doesn't say a lot for a station that used set the 'Gold Standard' in the market.
ReplyDeleteMaureen was at her worst tonight. I kept going back to it like a car wreck. My wife finally yelled at me to turn it off. 11-12 was one of the worst hours of KGO maybe ever.
DeleteJohn Rothmann mentioned he son was an avid Libertarian! Now, that would make for a very interesting Talk Radio Show when you think about it.
ReplyDeleteTwo Generations discussing two different stark political philosophies.
How I wish to begin this post as "Hello, I am Karel Bouley's boss at KGO Radio. I wish to apologize for what you heard on KGO's 50,000 watt air tonight ..."
DeleteHowever, I am not.
In a very large and significant media market like San Franciso, there are, certainly, many "shades of gray" regarding processes, standards, management and more. News coverage and reporting are vital to a public with a "need to know" in a nation of press freedoms and guarantees.
What, however, gives creedance to, let alone a non editorial right, for a non-journalist, weakly controversial, unbalanced character such as Karel to both editorialize and, further, try his best to be an editorial part and opinion of "Breaking News" while the story is still developing?
I was sickened by what I heard with Karel's interrupting and above the noise level comment and criticism over the moving of the 13 year old Oakland girl tonight -- while her move from Children's Hospital, Oakland, was going on and being covered by at least two accredited reporters from KGO.
If during this tragic development, her parents, hearing Karel's rage and know-it-all comment and opinion would have been heartbreaking, casting a lack of credibility to this child and her family, as well as its presence in the media air this night.
The story is not about Karel, though he certainly made every effort to make it so.
Embarrassing, outrageous, insensitive and obtrusive by a noted non-professional who had no right to be part of this tragic story and its developments.
We have heard these opinions for a month, now, from Karel, but not with the vitriol, insensitivity and conjecture on his part as tonight.
I am contacting Steve, Ron, the KGO News Director and other not to complain -- but to beg Karel's ouster and termination from KGO and the sooner the better.
What a disservice to the public and the broadcast journalistic community. The story is being covered and done well on KCBS and in other media --- but ruined by Karel's outbursts and interference with news on KGO.
This is an umbrage, and did not need to be discussed among Karel's insecurity about why there is no more progressive talk on radio, why is is the market's only openly gay talk show host and other "me, me, me" moments that are shameful credits.
Please, Cumulus and KGO -- fire this individual now to save what little credibility remains in news reporting.
Thank you.
Like a lot of young males, he is probably more of a cheap, greedy liberal than an actual libertarian. In fact, very few people are true libertarians. Most people who identify as libertarians are either secular conservatives who think they are cool, or they are liberals who are cheap and greedy.
DeleteI await his lawyer's response...
DeleteI thought karel was embarrassing but what this woman Maureen is doing on KGO right now takes the cake. Is anyone listening to this drivel? She's replaying an interview with some British comedian who she met and it's awful and irrelevant. How is this what passes for good radio on KGO? This is worse than Monty.
ReplyDeleteOh that's what that was... I had to turn it over to 910,, I just didn't get it and worse off with my CC radio I could hardly understand it the audio was so bad. Grrrrrrrr... I told my wife I never thought we would loose good AM radio (kgo of old) in my life time.. listing to KGO since the late 50s a a kid. herd a lot of great stuff. Now we have a earth quake in the night and nothing is said from the fake great news radio POS KGO Not one call nothing... BOooooooooo
Delete"But sir! Sir!" (Using best Taliafero voice,) "Don't you get it, sir? You're just freaking WAY TOO OLD! Nobody gives a CRAP about you, your likes, your age, you living in the late 50s when AM was King. Take that CCrane radio and shove itup your prostate, sir! AM radio is dead! KGO is DEAD. Karel is queer and to management of a once great radio station -- we don't care about your old sorry ass."
DeleteSincerely,
Cumulus Media
Monty, Karel, the 'witch' from NYC (Maureen Langden). Rich, I have a question for you. Who is responsible for putting this triple, this dreck on the air? How do people this unprofessional get jobs, and then real pros such as Gene Burns or John Rothman get fired? That makes no sense! What's you take on the situation at KGO and who is responsible for this mess? They even put idiots like that egotistical, dysfunctional chef Ryan Scott on the air. What's with that anyway?
ReplyDeletePlease do what you can to get John Rothmann a show of his own. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteAgreed. Having John Rothmann back on the air in a regular slot (be it weekdays or weekends) would be a nice 2014 present for us all.
Delete