The arrogance of Stan Bunger at KCBS is beginning to take its toll via coworkers who report Mr. Importance's frequent days off are perceived as mere power ploys. No one takes more days than Blunder and people are noticing.*Speaking of arrogance, KGO-TV staffers are furious at newbie anchor, Natasha Zouves. For one, there is still a deep resentment over the demotion of Katie Mazullo --(who I tend to think is overrated); nevertheless, Marzullo is moping and going about her business while Zouves was reportedly telling everyone at 900 Front to "Get over It, I'm here and I'm not going anywhere."
*Add KGO-TV: When you hear the story of ex-KGO reporter, Nick Smith, you'll understand how the TV News biz works. Coming soon.
*I've had people in other markets ask me how in the hell can Gary Radnich get away with not going to any sports events in the Bay Area? Simple answer. Radnich doesn't want to and what's management at KRON to do? Fire him? No, because he's Raddy and besides, "I've got kids", as Raddy has said countless times. So does Dennis O'Donnell and Mark Ibanez and Larry Beil--but they go. It's called a part of your job! When Radnich skipped the NBA Finals (he went to one game as a fan) that may have been the worst moment in Bay Area sports TV News. How pathetic and thoroughly unprofessional. Maybe Radnich could do a documentary on Bentleys parked in handicapped zones.
*Jana Katsuyama at KTVU: behind the cutesy look and persona: a very demanding, sarcastic, pain in the ass, according to my KTVU Insider. "She's Mary Poppins when the red light's on and 'Misery when it's off--A complete phony."
*You all castigated me because I dare had asked why not one reporter merely inquired about what started the fire up near Clear Lake. So on Tuesday night, low and behold, many reporters began asking about the cause of the fire. Coincidence? Perhaps. You be the judge.
*All the congratulations; all the plaudits; all the self-glory of reporters working on the fire line--hey, IT'S THEIR JOB! If they were worried about safety then they could pass on the assignment. Is it dangerous? Yes, so is doing a live shot these days too. My point is this is what they signed up to do. It's in their employment package so please, stop the BS "Oh, what a great job by so and so." You want "great" reporting? Look for something, someone, who digs for a new angle, something different, perhaps why so many of the displaced didn't get fire insurance. Why? This is just one example. There's several others. Fortunately, KGO's Michael Finney did a really through report on the upcoming insurance questions regarding the fire. It was informative, crisp, thought-provoking and to the point. Much needed levity too.
*Heather Holmes placement in the '10 O'clock News' filling in for Julie Haener while she recovers from a medical issue, was not so much an endorsement for Holmes going Monday-Friday primetime --more an acknowledgement that Keba Arnold is a lightweight. Sorry, but that's the truth. Worse, Holmes is a lightweight herself with only her physical assets (apparently) passing the smell test.
*One reporter that did stand out at the fire: KRON's Justine Waldman.
*Ronn Owens has told Cumulus and KGO that his successor should be Brian Copeland. And no one else. Which should make the 60-something housewife from Walnut Creek happy. I hear they just love Byron Allen concerts.
*If Mike Krukow were to announce his retirement sometime soon from Giants broadcasts I wouldn't be shocked.
*Yeah, of course, the Chron's Ann Killion basically blackballed Damon Bruce from ever appearing on CSNBA's (Comcast) "Yahoo Live." One day soon we will tell the story.
*Follow me on Twitter
After what happened in SD, my money is on Natasha in the KGO street fight.
ReplyDeleteRedwood City Bikers hasn't latched on just yet.
DeleteWhy would cumulus listen to Owens when he couldn't even get them to pay his producer who just quit? As for what started the fire I've heard that question asked by everyone in our newsroom and every place else. What are you talking about?
ReplyDeleteI'll be the judge. You have no editorial influence. Don't be delusional.
ReplyDeleteHeather has stepped up her game big time…props…Keba is doing good…her coverage with mibach was great on monday…
ReplyDeleteRaddy is not a sports reporter…he doesn't care about anything…he mumbles…gets facts wrong…and he would rather sit in his car listen to game than attend it in person. He's an overpaid crab hand…he's out of touch…and should retire. It's actually insulting … I'll learn more in 3 minutes with Joe Fonzi or Larry Biel than 20 minutes of Uncle Gary.
He has a gold digger to feed.
Delete@9:34
DeleteSpot-on. No one relies on the KRON sports reader for intelligent analysis. It's Fonzi, Beil, Ibanez or Shu.
I caught a few minutes of Bruce show the other day and it was unlistenable He touted himself for 3-4 minutes of why he is the best, that no one else can do or will do what he does. That the niners loved him on their post game show because he told it the way it is. So my question, why are you stuck on a station with no listeners and signal????
ReplyDeletehe loves being a big fish in a small pond which could not happen for him on the KNBR 'triple A' brand.
DeleteCould you imagine if Karel was still at KGO & all the diva-whining & crying he would do if Lowenstein picked Copeland over him? Hell, Karel still whines & screams over alleged promises made to him by Mickey Luckoff. Fat Bastard Karel!!
ReplyDeleteCopeland and Owens are best friends, plus Copeland has been at KGO more than 20 years. It makes sense Owens would want him over anyone else.
Delete"Coincidence? Perhaps. You be the judge." Nope Rich. It was just like was pointed out to you two days ago: We don't report facts that do not exist. Now fire investigators are zeroing in on the cause of the fire, so there's something to report. Besides, nobody "castigated" you. We just filled a rather obvious gap in your knowledge...but I mean that in a non-castigating way. Sheesh!
ReplyDeleteYeah, my wife said the same thing, and she's not a reporter or a fire investigator: "It takes a while for them to determine things. They can't rush and they don't talk when they're investigating." Sheesh indeed.
DeleteWord
DeleteCare to say why you think Krukow won't be back in the booth next season? He may be having health issues, but doing Giant broadcasts is a part of what keeps him going. He's as tough now as when he pitched for the Giants.
ReplyDeleteI hope Krukow retires and it has nothing to do with his health. He is a total shill and has not come up with any new material since he began. I am so
Deletetired of "grab some pine meat", "gamer babes", and "Posey in the squaaaat
catching the balls and strikes"
Krukow's routine has become old in a hurry...I hope he does retire.
DeleteKruk does tend to over-use a few of his catch phrases but they've become is stand-bys like the and it's outta here, swing and a miss, and they've got'im calls of the others. His piecing apart a pitcher's stuff more than makes up for this IMHO. He is spot on in critique of pitchers for the Gs or visiting team and brings insight to the game that the other 3 cannot because they did not pitch. If and when Mike does retire -- who should take his place ? I would actually vote for Vogie !
DeleteBunger has been at KCBS for 15 years so why WOULDN'T he take all the vacation time that he's earned?
ReplyDeleteSomebody should tell Stan Bunger if he doesn't start showing up regularly for his morning shift at KCBS and justifying his hefty paycheck, that he'll be sent back to KTHO in South Lake Tahoe where he began, and where such excessive time off is simply not tolerated.
ReplyDeleteI listen to Stan Bunger every morning. I can't find the arrogance whereof you speak. Can you help me out here?
ReplyDeleteI agree with @9.59. I have no idea why Rich has such a dislike for Bunger.
DeleteFirst, I don't know the facts, so take this with a grain of salt. I'm guessing Stan Bunger's days off are part of his personal services contract. Any employee is entitled to negotiate above and beyond the AFTRA agreement minimum. To put it bluntly, it appears KCBS believes Bunger is worth more in perks and/or salary than at least some others on staff. Others can argue about that and be as bitter as they wish, but there's a point where it becomes self-destructive.
ReplyDeleteHe has the same amount of time off as any long tenured employee. The "tipster" is the one with an ax to grind and who knows why. Stan is simply the best at what he does and management knows it. We are grateful he's here, plain and simple. He is not arrogant but confident. Big difference.
DeleteI agree with 10:03 AFTRA negotiated a great deal along time ago that offers lengthy vacations for people with many years of service. If he was able to negotiate a better deal good for him he deserves it. Maybe he's taking time off to deal with an elderly parent or medical condition. I hope not. It's fair to criticize him and the staff on coverage issues but stop whining about how much time he takes off
DeleteI agree with 10:03 AFTRA negotiated a great deal along time ago that offers lengthy vacations for people with many years of service. If he was able to negotiate a better deal good for him he deserves it. Maybe he's taking time off to deal with an elderly parent or medical condition. I hope not. It's fair to criticize him and the staff on coverage issues but stop whining about how much time he takes off
DeleteWe get it. Rich Lieberman detests Gary Radnich. But how many times must we read complaints about Radnich's Bentley
ReplyDeleteRich is just pointing out the hypocrisy of it all. If he didn't, noone would. It's the same reason California is a shell of its former self. Noone pointed out the bullshit of the party in control. Kudos, Rich.
DeletePerhaps Bruce made a crack about little people. Either way, I always found Killion hot as hell even if she is 3 feet tall. I'd hit it.
ReplyDeleteKillion Hot. You really need to get out more!
DeleteBarf.
DeleteBrian Copeland and only Brian Copeland? That will be the end of my listening to the 9 to Noon hour on KGO. I'm sure others as well. You can only take that biased bullshit in doses.
ReplyDeleteIf copland gets the job, that is it for me with 9-12 slot on kgo. He is not even a funny comedian!
Delete"You can only take that biased bullshit in doses."
Deleteas he tunes to KSFO.
Radnich comments are old news. Everyone knows he's a boob. He's never at sporting events. The "kid" angle is a bad excuse. Al Hart would've never acted like Stan Bunghole. Slowly but surely, Bay Area media is going to hell.
ReplyDeleteI'd love to see Michael Smerkonish either pried away from Sirius XM or even do a show in SF in addition to his national one. He's as close to Ronn Owens as I've ever heard. I bet Mickey Lukoff could have got him for KGO back in the day.
ReplyDeleteSince when does Ronn Owens dictate who will be his successor?
ReplyDeleteThe management at Cumulus will cough twice at his suggestion and hire who they who they please.
Concur completely! Retire and move on Romm -- err Ronn -- yer just trying to demonstrate you "really really DO" have a gram of loyalty to KGO-AM coworkers, before even that last-chance has also sailed. Too little & way too late, Pal.
Delete(We still guess Ronn was behind the demise of Doctor Deanie Dell. ;-)
Anne Killion blackballed Damon Bruce?
ReplyDeleteDamon should consider that a badge of honor.
Anne do us all a favor and put those orange and black pom poms away they are unbecoming of you.
Is it me, or do the co-anchors wince every time Heather Holmes asks a question to a reporter in the field? They kind of look to her as, there she goes again.....
ReplyDeleteNo, they're trying to understand what she asked. There is usually a delay into the IFB so the reporter can't hear the question immediately as it is asked. They are sometimes in noisy locations and trying to decipher if the producer is telling them they're clear or if it's the anchor asking a question. Usually the toss back to the reporter is scripted and the reporter knows ahead of time, but sometimes it does appear the question is unexpected.
DeleteHere lately, I don't like most of the music heard on The Savage Nation. This is played before and after commercial breaks. He goes from one extreme; 1950's Doo Wop music , but the tunes that are very soooo, slowww and echoey, to loud, frantic, incoherent, atonal power rock from Metallica, ACDC or Grunge Rock.
ReplyDeleteNo thank you. When Mike gets into one of his music moods, I just turn the radio down for about three minutes, let him get it out of his system. Which is the same way I deal with the opening theme collage intro for Armstrong & Getty. That intro is fragmented, annoying and at least four minutes too long.
There's a fire.
ReplyDelete1-Secure the area
-get the word out, communicate with media
2-Extinguish
-update public
3-Contain
-update public
4-determine origins
-update public
Rich, you are a ditz
- Yes, there was a time (after his personal strike), when Ronn Owens had a "FU" contract, and could demand just about anything he wanted. Those days are over, and that contract was not with Cumulus. Moreover, why would any management organization listen to ANYONE who tried to dictate whom his successor should be?
ReplyDeleteThat said, I think Copeland would be an excellent replacement.
- It stretches credulity, and common sense, that Natasha Zouves ... after a few days on the job ... would be arrogantly throwing her weight around among her new colleagues.
Where do you dream this stuff up, Rich??
Gary is about Gary. Another overpaid bullshitter charlatan, taking work from someone who may be more competent and dedicated. And I agree with Rich's comment on Krukow. Wonder how much longer Kuip would stay in that job if Kruk retires?
ReplyDeleteIf Stan has earned accrued vacation days, he has every right to use them and not be harassed by the people he works with(as for you Rich, harassment is what you do, so you're ok to moan about it). At the SF station I worked at for many years, I accrued 5 weeks vacation per year-and used every vacation day every year. The disgruntled source of this tempest-in-a-teapot is in the wrong, and if Stan faces repercussions at KCBS for this, then that would be actionable.
ReplyDeleteIf it is true that Killion blackballed Bruce I will be a fan of hers forever. He is just as hard to listen to as Radnich is. Radnich should either retire or go back to Vegas and Bruce should go back to the mid-west.
ReplyDeleteHeather Holmes isn't really any better than Keba Arnold, she's just been there longer.
ReplyDeleteAnd she is not attractive, I don't get why some folks think she is. Julie Haener on the other hand, VERY easy on the eyes, and a better news presenter.
You are deranged 7:49, U a jealous lady?
DeleteHeather Holmes is as great & beautiful as was Leslie Griffith in her time, and should follow LG's steps to anchor like after the unraveling of the 'great' Elaine Corral.
7:49 There is no better on local news especially at KTVU.
ReplyDeleteIf you want to compare, check out Brooke Baldwin on CNN@ noon.....vs. any of our anchors at noon or 5PM.
If I were you, I would stay away from that Damon Bruce story. Sounds like you are clueless of what's going on behind the scenes. Don't blame that on Ann. Bruce stuck his foot in his mouth...and continue to stick his foot in his foot. That's great for 95.7 The Game...but it looks silly on TV, just ask Greg Papa.
ReplyDeletei'm having a hard time following the musical chairs at channel 7, who is natasha
ReplyDeletezouves replacing, no one has walked yet, or is there more to this than the public
doesn't know about? actually zouves isn't all that bad, just hyped up a little bit,
someone needs to tell her to calm down, and quit trying so hard