 |
| Natasha Zouves |
The fires, of course, have dominated local TV News--more so than ever at KGO-TV (ABC7) where new hire and lead weekend anchor, Natasha Zouves, apparently didn't have management's confidence to report solo. In fact, weeknight anchor, Dan Ashley was brought in to buttress KGO's coverage.
A KGO station source tells me matter of fact:
"They brought in Dan because they felt she was overwhelmed. They would never have called in
 |
| Dan Ashley/KGO-TV |
reinforcements for Katie (Marzullo) or anyone else."
She is un-watchable: breathy delivery, emotion laden words, looks overwhelmed and those glances at ashley were like a daughter looking to her father for approval - ugh. What is with KGO pairing these young girls with ashley ? He is old enough to be their father - not to mention the shoe black hair dye he started using. What is happening to the local news ? Please bring back Marzullo - very professional in every way. I've already switched to another station until KGO comes to their senses.
ReplyDeleteHey Natasha, Old Navy called; you still need to pick up your last paycheck.
DeleteAgree, Natasha Zouves is un-watchable. What is she? A Hollywood entertainment reporter or a real news anchor?
DeleteWhat happened to Katie Marzullo? Please bring back Katie.
And the black shoe polish in Dan Ashley's hair is very distracting.
Wow! What a gorgeous -- and talented -- bookend to Ama Daetz. A veritable coup for ABC 7!
ReplyDeleteKGO really dropped the ball with this Zouves/Marzullo thing. You'd swear Pero must be at KGO now!
ReplyDeleteNatasha's a kakahead.
DeleteNo, because then Darya would be there.
DeleteI disagree with the station source. During the Oakland Hills fires and, more recently, the Korean Airliner crash, the station brought in the weekday anchor crew. It's SOP during big events.
ReplyDeleteThe viewers are more comfortable with seeing the standard-bearer anchor, Ashley, whenever they tune-in. It's just maintaining the station image when they expect more viewers with a high-interest local event. It shouldn't be taken as a slight of the weekend crew, they're the weekend crew for a reason.
ReplyDeleteWell, for one she was thrown into the newscast during a major emergency. I think all things considering, she did pretty good. You could tell she was nervous, was it her first weekend?
ReplyDeleteMarzullo has the personality of a cactus. Stiff and very boring.
Funny how personal tastes go. While I think Zouves is fine, Marzullo really impressed me as time went by. Early on I was 'meh', but I found her personality engaging, and she's clearly a smart cookie. I honestly can't fathom why they've pulled her for Zouves, besides the crass eye-candy aspect - Marzullo is no slouch in that department either.
DeleteIs she still with the station? Her bio is still up, but I wonder if she'll just hit the road now. I think it's a loss.
To Natasha's benefit, the immensity of the fire story during the weekend probably necessitated bringing in one of the major anchors to help out. I've seen this done before at various stations. However, let's see what happens this coming weekend and thereafter.
ReplyDeleteI know Natasha was hired primarily for her social media skills (check out her station bio and she makes note of those skills in the last paragraph). But this only goes so far. The first priority is to deliver a smooth and believable television newscast, not what she delivers on Twitter and such. Those are secondary. In fact, most social media provided by newscasters, reporters and other journalists is a one way street with absolutely no interaction at all. I've found the only reason they use social media is to promote and tease their upcoming stories which I find to be nothing more than a commercial. It's so annoying that I've "unfollowed" or blocked just about all of them and many of my colleagues and friends have done the same thing as well.
5:13, I thought the same thing. Bringing Ashley in was a nod to the enormity of the event in this region, much like the networks bring in the top anchor when major breaking stories - regardless of the time of day.
ReplyDeleteAs for Ms. Zouves, I'll reserve judgment, as I've only seen her in action for more than a few minutes. I will make that assessment based on her own performance, although I think that Katie Marzullo is among the top news talents in the market.
I agree: many times the "A" Team (weekday crew) gets called in when the weekend blows up. OTOH I couldn't help thinking "I wonder what the pay scale difference is between them." She did OK, not great and not bad, just OK.
ReplyDeleteBusy day at the news desks this weekend. Don't they usually call in the prime time folks?
ReplyDelete//caught one of her broadcasts. Pretty good.
I think she's quite good. When I first saw her I thought "ugh, eye candy" but she was pretty good right out of the gate.
ReplyDeleteI think that Katie got a raw deal, and is getting a raw deal. Give me a professional over eye candy (even with a magna cum laude degree). The looks don't hurt, and Katie surely has the looks, but when I want news, I want the news delivered without the reader stumbling all over themselves, gushing side comments (how awful!) and without having to bring in a babysitter. If you want to see newscasting at its finest, go back to Carolyn Johnson and Dan Ashley's coverage of the San Bruno explosion and fire.
ReplyDeleteI saw her for a few minutes in Sat night, I thought she was good for what I saw
ReplyDeleteBring back Katie!
ReplyDeleteI fully concur...I thought Katie was doing a great job.
Delete...big event is probably pushing back the 9a-10a KTVU news team as well; today's premiere of the 9am hour they continued with Dave instead of the heavily advertised Mike/Gasia/Sal team. Looks like the show continued on with the heavy news; was the additional hour supposed to be more light-hearted stories and/or deeper insight into other stories?
ReplyDeleteSorry Lieberman, I think you're source has sour grapes. KGO would have to be stupid to single anchor a story like that, even if that single anchor was Dan Ashley himself. And they went on for extra coverage. Natasha did a fine job. The fact KGO kept her ON the desk with Dan speaks to that.
ReplyDeleteI watched a lot of the KGO fire coverage, and Natasha stepped up right out of the gate. Hell of a week to start...and she held her own. Positive first impression for me.
ReplyDeleteRich - did you watch her? She seems really comfortable and quite good.
ReplyDeleteIf she was hired for her social media skills, she should've just been assigned a social media manager position with kgo's digital comms.
ReplyDeleteI saw her for a few minutes on Sunday and then switched to KTVU for a more expanded coverage.
ReplyDeleteNatasha looks like she should be looking for moose and squirrel. Maybe the Munsters. Wgaf if her social media skills are good. That's the modern equivalent of saying she's potty trained... Katie will only benefit from this nonsense. Upward and onward.
ReplyDeleteI know -- just about everyone is on social media these days... so what? If Natasha is constantly touting her social media skills as her claim to fame, then good luck. This is a TV station we're talking about, where on-air delivery and performance are much, much more important. If she fails to impress then it's good-bye time.
DeleteTo hell with Natasha. Did anyone catch Dick Lieberman's call into KSCO's Saturday special? BRILLIANT! When will MZ wake up?
ReplyDeleteTotally normal to bring in more staff for a major event. That is news gospel. Not a reflection on her at all. She had a solid start.
ReplyDeleteKTVU provided excellent fire coverage. Best of all there was not any "Happy Talk" during the coverage. This proves that good news is possible without happy talk. KTVU; your station is known for good news delivery. NO MORE happy talk.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't bet on no more happy talk on KTVU. The only problem is their anchors, reporters and general talent don't know how to do happy talk the right way.
DeleteBTW, I cannot help but notice how Heather Holmes has moved into the weekday anchor due to Julie Haener's hospitalization. Any thoughts?
DeleteMy thoughts 6:51? I can't stand Holmes, she's a terrible newscaster and is NOT attractive. I miss Julie Haener, and hope she heals up fully. In the meantime I am not watching any KTVU with Holmes at the anchor desk.
DeleteMaybe it is a bit of both explanations. It's true that the lead weekday anchors are often called in on really big stuff happening weekends, and also quite possible that coverage like this, which takes a lot of savvy to present, might have been a little too much to ask of a newcomer.
ReplyDeleteShe deserves it, she looks stunning and I hope her reporting is as good.
ReplyDeleteI'm a little stumped as to why Natasha is taking the brunt of the hate from Katie supporters. If you're going to hate on anyone, hate on management for making the change. But don't tear down the new gal just because of who she's replacing in the time slot. She held down the seat next to Dan. On week one. During extended fire coverage. Argue all you want that it was at best a base hit. But she also made no errors. The same can't be said for KTVU in the past week, a la "San Burno."
ReplyDeleteIf Management wanted to do like an LA look and kind of style in News reporting, do they realize who their market is in the Bay Area? Do most of the young ones really watch the news?My young adult nephews are more glued to their phones, tablets and laptops than TV. Dan Ashley is great, but not with Natasha. My observation is that she s more conscious of her looks/ smile / angle than project a more credible way to report the news. And please, if you are a news "Anchor" please wear a more appropriate attire, ex. not a satin dress, flowing hair that is dyed half way like a shampoo commercial? Look at Good Morning America News team... they are VERY well dressed for the job...credible, great and really professional!
ReplyDelete