Minute By Minute - Monday PM 415 Media Video Finale

{Michael McDonald}

*Thank you for supporting 415 Media

KPIX Morning Show 'In The Tanker'; Robin Winston Turns Down Traffic Gig

 Morning Show "is in the tanker", according to several of my KPIX peeps.

*People complain of "unsteady" direction --and that's why two female media figures turned down the traffic reporter gig.

*How bad? Elizabeth Wenger had her baby and quit on the station.

*Maybe they need to look to KGO Radio/KRON hottie/traffic chick, Robin Winston.

Wait. They offered her the traffic gig and she told them, "no thanks."

Ouch.

KRON is Relevant Because of These Stunning Female Middle-Aged Anchors; Monday Launch

KRON is mired in mediocrity and 5th-tier status in the market --has been for many years with a workforce in perpetual siege mentality and a boorish News Director who rules by fear and intimidation.

KRON, on the other hand, does have some appealing anchors; they're largely ignored but they stand out because of brains and beauty.

There's the ageless wonder, Vicki Liviakis. I don't know how Liviakis does this but she gets better looking as she ages. It's a remarkable formula.

Pam Moore is also another middle-aged KRON anchor whose looks seem to be getting more hot as she enters her later stages in life. More than just a pretty face, Moore, like Liviakis, is one smart and sexy lady.



As we talk about KRON's hottie anchors, we can't leave out the great, Catherine Heenan --as graceful and charming as ever.

KGO Radio Changes For 2016; McSweeney And Bunker On KNTV Winning Combo; KTVU Cutting Edge Sports Talent; Armstrong And Getty Vanilla Ice; Sunday 415 Media Breakfast

 The "Big" changes that are scheduled to hit KGO Radio in the coming year involves the elimination of news--lots of news. The rumor mill has it that the PM news --from 3-7 PM is all but gone. I'm guessing you'll be hearing more talk show hosts--local and syndicated. It won't be like the old KGO but it will be significant news-talk, and yes, traffic.

The weekend? Almost all syndication and taped programming. It's cheap mind you.


*At the very least, KGO should prime John Rothmann for his political analysis --there's an upcoming election in 2016 and Rothmann knows politics like I know the lamb shanks at Tommy's Joynt.

*It's not that Gil Gross is merely boring; it's his nasal, annoying voice that makes boring topics more boring. And Gil, Rhoda is your wife but her Friday spiel is an audio Gitmo. 86 her immediately.

*One of these days Jim Eason and Bill Wattenburg will tell you what they really think of Ronnnnnnn Owens.

*So too, Ray Taliaferro.

*That radically different morning show coming soon during the week on KGO-TV will be directed by an EP that many newsroom staff can't stand. Should be interesting.

*Phil Matier, Sunday morning coffee on KPIX is pretty good local TV if you like that kind of material. It certainly beats the crap on Monday thru Friday.

*Rothmann is not a one-trick pony contrary to the naysayers who hide behind closed doors. He knows politics and the Middle East, sure, but he knows sports and pop culture too and therefore all the other innuendo is complete bullshit.

*Sorry, Jack Swanson hasn't spoke to Mickey Luckoff in years --my bad.

*Lee Hammer is running both KGO and KNBR--that's a heavy load when you throw in KSFO too.

*Armstrong and Getty: Midwest hacks that have all the charm of a Citrus Heights strip mall.

*KGO-TV is interviewing prospective Hispanic reporters from out of the market for its morning show and other platforms.

*Terry McSweeney and Peggy Bunker on KNTV (NBC Bay Area) have terrific chemistry on the weekend which isn't such a bad thing to have.

*If Rob Roth, Tom Vavar, and John Sasaki are still on KTVU after Dec. 31 I'd be shocked.

*More KTVU: Four sports anchors/reporters will be shaved to 2 soon. After all, "there's only one two."

*Men without ties on KPIX. Very insightful look. Damn genius whoever thought that up. And Dennis O'Donnell? The hair twirler has a crush on you but I won't tell anyone. (I think it's the tie less thingie)

*That ultra-hot female traffic reporter on KGO Radio during the weekday morning and afternoon only dates Christian guys, sorry everyone else.

*That new, female EIC at the Chronicle hasn't penned an editorial or simple piece since she took over because, according to my Chron spy, she can't write worth a shit. But at least she's a "real journalist" and not a blogger.

*"Talk 910 AM Radio" --Melba toast with a cup of vinegar.

*"Star 101. 3 FM: see above post.

*Dave Padilla and his stupid "rise and shine" verbal joust on KCBS is downright silly. STFU, Davie.

*Today on the Michael Krasny 'Forum" KQED Radio Show, Mike interviews Dr. Baldy McFuckface on the history of soy milk.

*Follow me on Twitter

Luckoff's Holiday Party Saturday Night; Tough Old KGO SOB Was Loyal If a Bit of an Asshole; Saturday Quickie

 Tonight (Saturday) is Mickey Luckoff's annual holiday party --he's been hosting this affair for years now and although the broadcasting atmosphere has changed dramatically, the MickeyFest is still a prized gathering, or so they say.

Luckoff, of course, ran the old KGO Radio for years when it was owned by the likes of ABC/Disney, Cap Cities and Citadel.  He split just as Cumulus took over --next Tuesday is the 4th anniversary of the Clouds taking over KGO (how time flies).

Among some of the guests tonight at Luckoff's Marin party will be Ronnnnnnnnnnn Owens (wonder if Mickey will ask Ronn about his latest manicure?); Jack Swanson, who now is the ND at KCBS and who worked for Luckoff at 900 Front. (Swanson is the husband of former KGO reporter, Melanie Morgan); Luckoff still has plenty of enemies over his notorious negotiating tactics. One time recently, Luckoff lost an arbitration case to Owens. How did he take it? He didn't speak to Owens for years. (Maybe that wasn't such a bad thing.)

Luckoff is indeed a tough SOB and his rule-by-intimidation tactics is a personal rep that many people in broadcasting will never forget here and beyond. To his credit, he took care of many old KGO talent when he could have looked the other way. Ask former news anchor, Rosie Allen.

One For My Baby --415 Media TGIF Video Finale

{The COTB}

*Enjoy the weekend --and Thank You for supporting 415 Media.

*Follow me on Twitter

SF Radio Radio Ratings November '15; The 'Game' All-Sports FM 95.7 Finally Breaks Significant Ground; KCBS Holds Serve

95.7 FM, The Game finally had a top-arrow book, a real good one and in addition to posting a 2.0 plus in the Overalls --is beginning to take a bite ( a little) into some of KNBR's territory--KNBR itself saw a dramatic drop from a 5.1 to a 4.1 but as remind you, these ratings are not the ones that advertisers look at, they're the so-called "beauty contest" numbers.

Here's the full rundown.

Black Friday Is Here Can You Feel The Excitement?

 You're going to see a lot of this today. It's the same old drill year after year. You could run the same live footage too and nobody, really, could see any big difference, only the crowds have become larger and more obnoxious, thanks to the assist from local TV/Radio who don't have a creative bone in their body to bring viewers anything different.

Black Friday. Ho hum. The crowd shots have become tiresome. The live shots are predictable too with the usual mass humanity of idiots lined up behind some 500 TV they can buy for 200--it's cliché-central. The reporters are just as moronic as the civilians. The visuals are so, so, back ass --boring too, really. I mean, how many shots of the local shopping mall is enough. We get it. And many of us are tired of seeing all this consumer mayhem. Enjoy the annual barrage and good luck and god forbid any real news breaks.

Meanwhile, back to the live shots of the usual suspects trampling over one another. This is just damn riveting --can't get enough.

*Follow me on Twitter

Happy Thanksgiving

{NAT KING COLE}

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you. Be safe and happy. Enjoy family and friends.

Thanks to all of you for your support of 415 Media.

John Rothmann Comes Back to KGO Radio; Warriors' PBP Broadcaster Roye Winner Too; KCBS Style Change in Effect; Wednesday First Takes

John Rothmann returned to the KGO Radio airwaves Tuesday night

 A familiar voice, booming and as strong as ever, returned to the Bay Area airwaves Tuesday night--John Rothmann was in the KGO Radio broadcast booth in the 7-10 PM time slot subbing for Pat Thurston, who was under the weather.

It was a vintage KGO night and Rothmann brought back memories of the old KGO in its heyday.

Rothmann interviewed Pulitzer Prize-winning author, Jon Meachem. on his new book on George H.W. Bush. It was riveting radio once again. A host in command of the topic; a subject matter perfect for political junkies; for a change, thoughtful, passionate, educated callers who added significant girth to the discussion.

Rothmann was superb and the three hours flowed by with precision timing and pace. News-talk topics were discussed and old callers flooded the lines. Too bad a mass infusion of commercial spots and traffic/news updates upset the timing but Rothmann managed to keep things moving. It was welcome listening.

I give credit to KGO boss, Lee Hammer, for having the good sense to call in Rothmann and let him guide the ship. It's especially vital for KGO --in this upcoming election year, that Rothmann be involved in the station's up-coming reinvention into a hybrid mix of talk and news. Rothmann's political acumen and interview technique is second to none. There should be a permanent time slot allotted for the Bay Area native who proves that educated, concise and informative radio is still bankable.

*The Warriors are thrilling the sports world on the court--16 straight wins to begin the season will thrill even non-sports, non-NBA fans, but the Dubs are fortunate to have superb play-by-play radio broadcaster, Tim Roye, make it interesting for all parties.

Roye's style of precise wording describing the action brings back memories of the late Bill King, who broadcast Warriors' games on radio for over three decades.

*If you've been listening to KCBS of late you can tell the decision by new boss, Jack Swanson, to inject a whole lot more of conversation between anchors and splashier stories is in full mode. Just Wednesday morning, morning anchors Stan Bunger and Susan Leigh Taylor held a virtual gabfest --about the area's cold weather. It wasn't too uninteresting (for now); as a matter of fact, it was fresh and fluid. Maybe the new style change won't be that shocking. We'll see...and hear too.



Tim Roye, PBP Broadcaster for the GS Warriors

KGO-TV's Sze is Coughing Up a Storm--On Purpose!; Gulen Quit Job Accelerated by Big Beef With Morning EP; Tuesday Late PM Wire

 Late Tuesday PM Wire...

This is a weird one, fasten your seat belts: I hear through the 900 Front grapevine ...that KGO's Kristen Sze has a penchant for coughing up a storm ---while fellow anchors try to read their copy--on PURPOSE!

Now that takes some balls.


*Leyla Gulen's departure from the Channel 7 studios was accelerated by the morning EP, Kerry Loring. Both had it out and a big powwow ensued with station management.

I'm told Loring is not very popular with the KGO rank and file and is supposedly a huge shit-disturber.

It helps that she's buddy-buddy with the GM, Bill Burton, who hired her and saved her from the real estate business.

*Follow me on Twitter

Hey, KGO-TV Ace Reporter, Dan Noyes, It's About Time To Quiz Gavin Newsom; The New SF Magazine Owned By The Ex-Cumulus Dickey Dicks; I Miss Sara Sidner; Sal Castaneda 400,000 Reasons To Be Thankful; No Farting In The 'Ronn Owens Broadcast Studio'; Tuesday 415 Media Mosh Pit

 I WOULD LOVE to see another Dan Noyes--Gavin Newsom interview on KGO-TV (ABC7) So much to ask, right Dan-o?

*I just received the new SF Magazine print edition (with Nancy Pelosi on the cover) Lots of gloss and pretty pictures of pretty people at pretty SF locales. More of a bathroom publication --I knew I would really hate something about this outfit when a friend informed me the good old Dickey brothers owned the conglomerate that owns the magazine. Here's the lowdown-- shit, there goes the magazine now.

*Ronnnnnnnnnn, Gavin and Chef Ryan Scott at the Balboa: barf bags on the house.

*Jason Middleton --busy guy, tech/business editor for KGO Radio and Ronn Owens designated bitch.

*You current KRONvicts are in for a surprise come the beginning of the month and it ain't a free tuna melt from Grumpy's.

*Memo to the KGO Morning News crew: No farting in the "Ronn Owens Studio" otherwise you get bitch-slapped by Chris Hernandez.

*It's about time for another baby launch by one of the few remaining KPIX anchors.

*So, check this out: KTVU secretary runs over to the newsroom to tell assignment editor about a tip from a viewer who called in to inform station of some crime story in Walnut Creek. The AE essentially tells the woman to get lost, way to hire those "team players", Fox.



*God, do I miss the incredible Sara Sidner, late of KTVU and now reporting for CNN.

*You know, it wouldn't be the worst idea ever for a weatherman or woman to just go the hell outside and see the weather as you're issuing a forecast --imagine that, actual weather, it's raining outside!

*Drew Tuma: uh, whatever.

*I agree with a reader: KGO has 5! weather anchors? Five?! I wonder if Disney is aware of this.

*The -uber-bond at KGO that consists of Tracey Watkowski, ND and veteran reporter, Wayne Freedman has cooled considerably, I'm told by one of my insiders who knows where all the bodies are buried.

Maria Medina? OK, not bad.



*Sorry, but Cristina Rendon, no comparison.



*Star 101.3 FM: all the serenity of a Fremont Burger King.

*Speaking of a gruesome twosome: the KTVU goosey-twosey:

*Kind of makes you want to fart in the Ronn Owens broadcast studio.


*Yeah, I've gone to the gutter today and you're still reading this shit so there's some symmetry here, go figure.

*Sal Castaneda is about to become one happy SOB: there's about 400,000 reasons why.

Five Years Later And Still People Are Pissed About The KPIX Ouster of Kohara and Kessler

Of all the feedback I get here, the KPIX dismissal of John Kessler (and later on, partner, Sydnie Kohara) generates the most disgust --hands down. A friend tells me constantly, "I'll never watch Channel 5 again."

Apparently, he's not alone.

Leyla Gulen Pretty Much Tells KGO-TV 'Screw You'; Upset Over New 'Morning Show' Snub; SF Magazine Love Piece on Chronicle EIC, Audrey Cooper, Leaves Out Pissed-Off Reporters; Monday Launch

Leyla Gulen

 Leyla Gulen was royally pissed off that she would not be a foundation in KGO-TV's (ABC7), up-coming new morning program --furthermore, the fact that the new show features So Cal newbies, Natasha Zouves and Reggie Aqui infuriated Gulen to the point where she informed everyone, including shocked KGO management, on her Twitter account, of her departure.

Gulen wasn't considered "big-time" enough by the suits --true, she did a lot of station promo appearances and was enough of a presence to be considered for something more "prominent" down the line, according to my Circle7 spy, but apparently it wasn't good enough for the springy Gulen.

My best guess is that she's headed back down to LA or perhaps somewhere far from 900 Front.

*Making matters worse is the still anger/resentment about both Zouves/Aqui's lack of credentials --something, as we've noted before, has a lot of KGO staffers royally ticked off.

My advice to both: go get a healthy dose of top-tier deli and buy lunch for the staff. Can't hurt.

*That glossy, love struck feature on the Chronicle's EIC, Audrey Cooper, in SF Magazine has veteran staffers at 5th and Mission screaming and yelling bloody murder-- "A total farce!", says one. "What a joke", says another. The long piece, headlined (hold the barf bag) "One Helluva Hard Job", was long in admiration for the newspaper diva and short on criticism. Curiously, the lengthy love piece didn't talk about many by-line people who can't stand the woman and are outraged over her arrogant and mercurial managing style. By the way, the Chronicle is still losing many millions of dollars --not to mention many columnists and star reporters who are not that much in love with the catty missy who thinks she's a god.



Audrey Cooper, EIC of the SF Chronicle

The Joint is Jumpin' --TGIF 415 Media Video Finale

{OSCAR PETERSON & COUNT BASIE}

Thanks to all of your continued support of 415 MEDIA.

Have a great weekend.

Hey, Mike McVay on Talent

More unique wisdom from the Cumulus EVP.

Hey KGO-TV, Pay Ama Daetz Before She Turns Into Another Cecilia Vega; Sussman And Green on KSFO Morning Show Deliver Compelling Radio; Michael Savage is Acquired Taste; TGIF 415 Media Notes



Cecilia Vega

  CONSIDERING the events of this past week, don't take things so personally...myself included, go outside and get a good dose of oxygen and enjoy life --it's a good thing, I hear.

*How downright evil of the 415 Media correspondent to state, unequivocally, of the "hotness" of Ms. Ama Daetz.  Call the authorities. What a crime.

*Maybe it'll appease the cranky crowd that indeed, Daetz, is absolutely network-worthy --note to KGO-TV: pay her.

*Case in point: Cecilia Vega.

*If you would have told me that I would listen to the KSFO Morning Show with any degree of enjoyment, I would have laughed at you. On Friday, I heard a show with real, genuine conversation from immigrant callers talking about real-life experiences. It was pretty good radio, devoid of animal noises and fart sounders. Compliments to Brian Sussman and co-pilot, Katie Green.



FRIDAY THOUGHTS AND NOTES: Hey you, Bristow? The KGO guy. Just because you're pompous and like to brag about your great pipes doesn't negate the fact you're a decent broadcaster. In other words, be happy you get even acknowledged here. The alternative is worse and probably would land you in Tulsa. Ask Jason Middleton ...If terrestrial radio took a U-turn and actually just slowed down and offered just plain conversation; reinventing itself, there'd probably be a healthy market. You could actually sell it. Imagine that!...Julie Haener: scotch and WATER!...Sussman still says stupid political things --so before we start partying, hold on. But we're civilized agitators --there's a market for that too...Michael Savage is an acquired taste. Take your blinders off and give a listen. Entertaining radio and it's free for God's sake...Allie Rasmus of KTVU is worth a look too...Before, she would never smile. Now, she can't stop smiling: Claudine Wong...The asshole at KRON that hacks Twitter accounts: you're on notice, digital boy...That loudmouth jerk at KQED -TV who mixes it up with the dumb blond at Boulevard should understand that the bartenders are not amused. At least if you were to tip above 10% they'd put up with you...A bad day for cats: Jon Carroll retired from the Chronicle, where they report about dead people still alive...Ronnnnnn sounds very awful and monotone --you won't read that in Ben Fong-Torres column...The hell with Gitmo: you want real torture? Mike McVay and you locked up in the bathroom at Arby's...Overrated to the tenth degree: Gasia Mikaelian. I still don't get it...I didn't know Jim Gabbert was the 49ers QB...If PIX's Christin Ayers wants the CNN gig, she can have it...

*Follow me on Twitter



Christin Ayers/CBS photo

Ama Daetz is Clearly the Hottest Anchor in SF Bay Area TV News

{AMA DAETZ--KGO-TV}

Hands down. Not even close.

Hey KGO and KNBR Hosts: Mike McVay on Prep

Listen to Mike now, OK?

Very good, boys and girls.

7 Big Assholes in SF Media

 1. Jason Middleton --KGO Radio: a real A-grade moron. Pompous, egotistical and annoying fart who thinks his shit doesn't stink. Ronnnn's lapdog and newsroom snitch. Oh, and this: guy tries real hard with the ladies. One problem, Jaso, they think you're a big-time bore. Destined soon for Toledo. Has all the authenticity of a Brisbane strip mall.

2. Jon Bristow-KGO Radio: Mr. "Pipes", the guy with the fake baritone voice and newsroom annoyance --also a ladies-man wannabee. The pipes earned him a trip to the morning show. That's the good news. Bad news? He has to work with the giggler.

3. Dennis O'Donnell: KPIX: a real phony. Smells to high heaven of mucho insincerity --a complete bore and residential sports hack. Even the Battery seagulls have less shit than this middle-aged Frankie Avalon wannabe. Grow a pair, pal! And while I'm at it, quit kissing up to the boss, jerk boy.

4. John Lund : The Game: A dark, overblown, mass human feces wasteland. No wonder all he can talk about on air is his penis. (Short story, by all accounts) --and, hey, bozo brain? Even Jason Barrett thiks you're a complete asshole. You're smelling Fresno any day now. Maybe it's time you hid the old Penthouse magazines too, schmuck.

5. All the white Irish boys at KNBR: too easy. Once Hammer is gone, you all will be washing cars in San Leandro.

6. Brian Copeland: KGO Radio: Another complete phony. Not a genuine funny man. Ronn thinks you're an asset for him because, well, you know why...on the other hand, you saved Byron Allen's career. The next time you fill in, maybe you can talk about ...race! Again...and again. And again!

7. Lee Housekeeper: The last time this SF PR guy was relevant, Jimmy Carter was president. Another small prick loser that kissed Herb Caen's ass only Herb wasn't impressed. Hey Lee, maybe you should try the Grocery Outlet seniors program in South City.

Breaking: Gulen Bye-Bye From KGO-TV Weather Morning

 Leyla Gulen, the AM traffic reporter on KGO-TV (ABC7) is done trafficking at the station. She bid farewell on Twitter Thursday morning.

My early bird word is telling me this was sort of expected as Gulen wanted a more significant presence on KGO's coming, new morning program and, for some reason, station management wasn't really that much in love with Gulen as she had hoped.

We'll know more later.

This is Cumulus EVP, Mike McVay --The Guy Ronn Owens Called 'Classy'

Or, what .48 cents of stock buys you.

Remember, this is the guy who runs KGO, KNBR, KFOG, KSFO.

Cumulus: the gift that keeps on giving.

No Matter How Much You Spin It, The Chronicle And KTVU Got It Wrong On Pat McCormick

NO MATTER how many excuses; how many seemingly "genuine" calls from his immediate family, they (the Chronicle and KTVU) reported the premature death of someone, Pat McCormick, who was still actually very much alive.

The Chronicle is in defense mode and KTVU is applying the CYA card-- "well, we got it from the Chron!") Its especially putrid for 2 which apparently has never heard of the word, factchecker --maybe past recent demons are still polluting the newsroom.

Everyone makes mistakes --it happens. But when it comes to someone's demise, make sure you get it right and make a few extra phone calls. Because if you don't it's not going to be a very good day.

*A quick personal story; when I was blogging, briefly, for the local paper, I got a call from a respected journalist telling me that former KTVU sports anchor, Gary Park, had died. The journalist worked with Park many years. There was no reason for me to question the source but I still remember asking, "hey, this is no bull, you're sure about this?" The journalist was incredulous: "I wouldn't make anything up like that." Of course not but I just wanted to make sure so I called around just in case. We're talking about the death of a very famous local TV sports anchor.  Like I said, I wanted to make sure.

Again, I'm not dumping on the Chronicle (after all, their editor only uses "real journalists" --pity the local media blogger) and KTVU, but you would think something like this wouldn't have took place.

Just imagine the fallout had a blogger did this.

More 'Breaking News' From KTVU and the Chronicle: Dewey Beats Truman

"Reports of my demise have been greatly exaggerated." --Pat McCormick, unlike Generalissimo Francisco Franco, is still alive and not dead.

Sumtime Wong again at KTVU --the Chronicle too.

Meanwhile, in other news from Jack London Square and 5th and Mission:

Dewey Beats Truman!

Bang di Ow!

Trivializing our own Horrible Events; KTVU Weather Fetish; Zouves and Arnold Annoying Voices; Mark Thompson Wants To Come Back to Bay Area; Ronnnnn's Ratings Suck; Game Still Off for 'NightBeat'; Time for another John Lund Dick Joke; Tuesday Scrambled Eggs

TUESDAY SCRAMBLED EGGS

When 9/11 happened there was no Twitter or Facebook. Good. Your first reaction might be, well, why so?

Because in the age of social media (a couple of the most cliché-ridden words in the history of the universe) we have done the impossible: we've trivialized our own misery and miserable events, incidents, terrorist attacks, et al.

We don't commiserate anymore. We hashtag. We don't reflect nor take time to let everything sink in, we go the computer and begin posting mostlybullshit on Facebook. You may find that resourceful and a way to vent and show our collective grief. I find it sort of peculiar and nauseating. #Morons.

Don't get me wrong, Facebook and Twitter and some of the other social media sites are valuable ...sometimes. They can hook up friends and be a device to use for locating loves ones in moments of crisis. But as social documents, they suck.  They marginalize events in history that deserve more than just a hashtag. C'mon people.

*Part of the problem at KTVU (on the air at least) is the totally absurd amount of weather teases --there's more teases on Channel 2 than at a Broadway strip club. That's an old line but it's true. KTVU, excuse me, Fox2 has a certifiable weather fetish. Five!, count 'em, 5! weather teases on any given night of the "10 O'clock News". And for what? So Bill Martin can give another inaccurate forecast and tell us it's going to rain in ten days? Please.

*Natasha Zouves can read a teleprompter and looks like a TV anchor, that much is clear. But her voice sounds terrible and forced and phony. She and Keba Arnold must have both gone to the University of Annoying Voices.

*Hey, Reggie Aqui, of KGO: if you could just shake your head one more time per minute you'd be a human puppet.

*Mark Thompson, remember him? The old KRON weatherman whose been tonsiling down in Ell-Lay for some time, has been sending his resume to any TV station (minus KRON) that might want to hire him. Mark and Frank Somerville could start up a Bay Area hair plug society.

*Come January 1, 2016 a new morning show on 95. 7 FM (The Game) will debut for those 20 of you that care about a sports show on FM radio in the morning. That should boost their rating to at least a 1.1

*OK, so you've heard this before about a thousand times but I swear it's true: A good ear and eye inside 750 Battery tells me "maaaaajor changes are coming to KGO in January." Bye-bye news (except, probably morning) and hello talk but not the kind of talk most of you are going to like.

*Typical of PIX that they hide their BEST talent on the weekend: like Anne Makovec and Juliette Goodrich, for example.

*How do I know 'NightBeat' is a goner? Well, for one, diva VDLC has told her closest friends the show is el dunno and second, higher-ups way above the 855 Battery pay grade have already begun looking at alternatives.  So no matter how much bullshit the PR dept has been telling mainstream trades the show is still on, I'm going with my original post. By the way, the ratings are shitty. Still. GAME OFF!!!

*Hey, Ronnnnnnnnnn Owens apologists? Hate to tell you this AGAIN: he's getting killed by Rush Limbaugh and the KNBR guys from 9-Noon. Not even close but Ronnnnnnnnnn still has the Fresno housewifes named Megan and Courtney.

*Yeah, so I like Savage --clearly the BEST radio entertainer on the air. Pardon my bluntness and, no, Savage hasn't given me a dime. I'd be a multi-millionaire for those who think I take money from the good doctor.

*"The Ronn Owens Studio" --yeah, so Ronnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn. Better question: wonder if he would have allowed the brunette gal in his own studio? Just askin'

*A weekend winner: Sonny Buxton on KCSM.

*KNTV tried to keep Tony Kovaleski --they really did, but the Denver ABC affiliate offer was too good to turn down and Kovaleski used to work in the Rockies so no, he wasn't shown the door.

*TRENDING!! VLDC just flipped her hair curls for the 9,876th time.

*Ama Daetz may do a lot of unnecessary texting and Facebooking, in addition to coming across as a diva to many of her KGO-TV associates, but she's good at reading a teleprompter and has a beautiful face. Plain and simple.

*Once again, some of the on-air folks at KRON have told the GM, Ms. Medina, that they want no business from the sports guy--mainly the weeknight weather lady and the weekend weather guy. He really can't stand him and is willing to put it in writing.

*Speaking of KRON: a great place to work and be involved in TV News journalism --and if you're good at making up fake Twitter accounts and stalking bloggers, you're HIRED!

*Charlie Sheen: I'm just shocked.

*What would KCBS do without Kit Yarrow?

*Weather people masturbation: El Nino mentions.

*John Lund: Time for another penis story because you just so really, really suck.

*Follow me on Twitter because I'm depressed, superficial, and full of myself.

For Pat's Sake--Not Dead Yet

{Pat McCormick --still alive.}
{Charley and Humphrey}
{KTVU}

Paris Terror Attacks Overwhelm Bay Area; Savage Go-To For Reaction; Ronnnnnn Will Be Predictable; Monday First Take

 Glued to CNN the entire weekend because of the Paris attacks and I wasn't alone. Millions of others around the world were more than likely observing the harsh reality and scope of events in France.

--I wish CNN would kick its mega-annoying "Breaking News" salvo when there was really no breaking news; in fact, many a times, it became confusing especially when one was looking for legitimate breaking news. Old habits are hard to break.

--Should be interesting to listen to Michael Savage on Monday. As usual, Savage told it like it is in the very early stages of the attacks Friday afternoon.

Meanwhile, the uber-boring, so-called, "voice of reason" will conduct his usual cliché-ridden Monday chat-fest with all the housewife women in Pleasanton named Christina. They still love Mr. Softie.

*Here's a big thumbs-up to the local media TV/Radio minions for allowing network coverage to suffice and swear off the dreaded "local angle." International news is not a local forte, in any market, save for maybe NY or Washington and even then, the CNN's, BBC's are better-primed.

*415 Media Insta-Poll: What was your outlet; TV/Radio/Internet of choice over the weekend? I'd like to know.

Bay Area Media Coverage of Paris Attacks; Sound News Judgement from KGO; TV/Radio Go with Network Feed

 Friday the 13th, 2015 will be remembered in history as Paris's 9-11--the terrorist attacks that took the lives of over 100 people, a number that is certain to rise in the coming days.

The news broke mid-afternoon in the Bay Area. Local TV stations broke out of regularly scheduled programming and began taking their respective network feeds.

Soon, CNN, Fox News, and BBC in particular, were reporting on the massacres and sent their reporters to the location of the terrorist attacks. The soccer stadium scene where a large explosion could be heard was powerful enough and provided early evidence of the ensuing mass chaos.

On radio here, I give full credit to KGO for taking in its CNN Radio feed and dishing local coverage. It was a smart move because any local angle material was and is much too trivial --let those who have vast experience in international stories carry the coverage and details. We all know SF was on high alert, as was NY, LA, Chicago and other western cities. Paris was of main concern and CNN was the right choice.

KCBS also pretty much stuck to national CBS Radio coverage and KQED stuck with its NPR and BBC reporters.

Late Friday, KGO Radio's Pat Thurston hosted a great, albeit brief, one-hour talk show which provided a much-needed dose of reaction to the events of the day. The show would have been even better had Thurston had much more time. No dice. A Cal basketball game hijacked the timeline at 8 PM.

Ouch, well it was good while it lasted.

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Back at the Friday 415 Media Bar; Kovaleski Heads to ABC Denver for IR Super Gig; Fox is Really Ruining KTVU; Irrelevant Chronicle

 Gees, one day I have some housekeeping issues to deal with, take a day off, and the whole town starts whispering --"what's going on? --"Where's Rich?" Rich is looking for money to keep his life going and this site relevant --it takes a village to keep it all posted.

We're back, not that we ever left but we are here and that's all that counts.

Tony Kovaleski is indeed off to the Denver ABC station at the end of the month. Nothing bad about KNTV, ("they made me a great offer to stay but this was too good to turn down),": says Tony. I told Tony the cost of living in Rocky Mountain High will be cheaper than the Bay Area. Kovaleski seems genuinely giddy working both as an Investigative reporter and mentor for future IG reps.

*It's not that just FOX is ruining a few stalwarts at KTVU, it's more like they're messing with the entire operation. The "10 o'clock News" is still king but the newscast looks, sounds, and paces different. As in crappy different. The incessant weather teases borders on the absurd. The new talk-back with anchor and reporter is all forced now and even when there's legitimate reason to talk, most of the reporters don't know how to ad-lib. They look out of place. It's that simple.

*Tom Vacar, the next-to-last senior reporter at 2 seems destined for a showdown with FOX management when it's time for him to go at the end of the year most likely. In FOX's mindset, he makes too much money and is too old to continue working. But Fox has a problem. As I've noted here many times, Vacar is a lawyer too and could easily go after the big boys with an age-discrimination suit. That would not bode well for either side. Expect Fox to offer the veteran Vacar a sizable buyout. But what if Tom still wants to work? We get a battle royale then.

*I've been covering less and less of radio because radio is dead in the Bay Area.

*Give Larry Beil the title of "primary anchor" (along with Ashley and Daetz) during the week at KGO; he's too valuable to anchor sports. Give the sports anchoring to Mike Shumann and be a better place.

*Krasny on the air at KQED: a thoughtful, educated, refined, informed host and interviewer --off the air, a mean, nasty, hot-headed jerk.

*Sure the Chronicle is irrelevant --has been for years. If not for the sports section and Herb Caen, I'd have never read the fish wrap --like so many others of you did. Nowadays, it's just useless info with a new EIC hack that half the newsroom hates and a bunch of new reporters with pimples on their face. The senior columnists are splitting and the Editorial board is loose lips sinks ships. If Hearst weren't the owner this paper would be long gone.

*Who's Gil Gross?

415 Media Back on Friday

BACK FRIDAY.

I KNOW YOU MISS ME.

HAD SOME ISSUES TO DEAL WITH.

They all want a piece of me. Stand in line.

Out.

The Future of 415 Media

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Savage Kills on Larry King 'Russian TV' Interview; Rusty Simmons Goes Back on Warriors' Beat for Chronicle; Mystery Abounds; Tuesday Opener

Larry King interviews Michael Savage

 The vast majority of you will love this interview of Michael Savage by Larry King. It's entertaining, informative, at times very funny and insightful and just good enough and watchable enough as to be certifiably cool.

Another thing: I didn't know Larry King still had it; the man can do a pretty damn good interview.

And no matter what you feel about Savage, he's interesting --both here and on radio.

*Rusty Simmons, the suspended Chronicle beat reporter who covers the Warriors, is back on the job; I'm still floored by the lack of coverage here, thank god for CJR and Deadspin.

*It would have been nice to know about the Chronicle internal investigation of the Simmons matter, but the Chronicle's pompous, insipid, alleged, EIC, Audrey Cooper is too full of herself to inform readers about what's going on. She's perfect for the Chronicle.

*The layoffs at CBS Radio which will affect the entire division (including KCBS) start in earnest next month.

*Even if Michael Krasny tries to bury past "issues" with former fill-in host of KQED 'Forum', it's not going away.

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Fuck the Millennials

 They have suffocated our media. They have contributed to the general malaise that has infected and affected our way of life and how we deal with one another. They have ruined our culture and promoted, willingly, I may add, the destruction of basic morals and manners.

Fuck the millennials.

They don't read anymore. They engross in mostly inane chit-chat on their shitty little smart phones engaged in universal verbal nothingness. And we're supposedly supposed to cater to these assholes? Fuck 'em. All of them.

They've become advertiser's dreams. Really now? Why. Because they spend money on computers and go to the movies. I'm 53 and went to pay my 15 bucks and see the new James Bond movie. I even bought popcorn and a diet coke. Thirty bucks. What a dinosaur I am, go figure.

Millennials have invaded our TV/Radio business. Some of them are actually pretty good at their craft but the majority are piss-poor amateurs who couldn't ad-lib their way out of a paper bag. I especially like the shitheads who can't pronounce the correct street names locally. I count the number of times the morons--male and female alike--who uttered out, Doyle Avenue and not Doyle Drive. Or the turd heads who referred to the huge Sutro Mountain Tower and not Sutro Tower. Idiots.

They have ruined our most basic passion of having a good dinner out by schlepping out their crappy little smart-ass phones at classy restaurants. God forbid they couldn't put away these horrible machines for five minutes.

"Oh, Rich, you're just angry --get in with the times! Move on to the future, dude!" What future? We're supposed to be cozying up to this shit? Excuse me, I'm going back in time and to the past. A lot healthier era where people had manners; people wouldn't pull out phones in a classy restaurant; people wouldn't fuck up successful radio and TV stations and hire folks who had talent; people wouldn't tweet out some bullshit and offer it up as "my take" and consider it literature.

You millennials, thanks for fucking up our culture. Thanks for contributing to the death of newspapers. Thanks for destroying actual conversation--remember that? Before, conversation was natural. A cup of coffee in the morning and conversing at the local Starbucks. Now, conversation has become sort of a felony --we can no longer talk, we text, tweet, Facebook, gees what a great country we are, and you, fucked-up millennials, all made it possible.

I'm not going to cater to the miscreants. And dare I catch any of you assholes wrecking my occasional dinner out by your rude-ass cell phone. There's a place in NY--PJ Clarke's --where they confiscate shitty little mobile phone and put them in a jar when you arrive. When you're done with dinner and drinks, you can get your phone back. Too bad every decent restaurant in this city couldn't apply the same rules; maybe they're afraid some of the tattooed morons (hipsters) won't patronize their place. Then again, do hipsters/millennials actually eat? Or do they all just sip soy milk and eat tofu. I've never seen a millennial eat a steak or fried chicken. And for a group of people who preach health and happiness they say will bring you harmony, I've never seen so many of these creeps with a cold! Go figure.

So, again, while you all try to cater to these mutants I'm sticking to yesterday. I bought the print edition of the NY Times (which I do almost daily); I'm going to have a couple of dry martinis (stirred, not shaken); and forgo some shitty concoction like Red Bull and vodka; I'm going to the bar and jukebox and listen to some Sinatra and Dave Brubeck, maybe a few Lou Rawls tunes and some old Janet Jackson. You fucking hipsters can have all the Maroon Five your heart desires. And take that asshole, Kanye West with you.

Fuck the millennials. They have no decorum and style. They are the human strip malls of society. They have zero taste. We humans appreciate culture and good food and wine and good movies and the like; they think spending the night freezing their ass off so they can be the first in line to buy an IPhone is hip and cool. I say they are fucking idiots. These are the people who think American Idol is a documentary. This is what Madison Avenue wants to attract? And I'm supposed to be jealous of this? What a sham, what a disaster. And we wonder why our country is going downhill.

Like I said, and I'll say it again and again: Fuck the millennials.

Ross Palombo of KTVU Just a Tad Too Excited

 Just way too happy for me. An overly caffeinated guy. Maybe too much Red Bull.

KPIX/KBCW 'Nightbeat' is History; The Worst TV News Experiment Ever; Bay Area Viewers are Whole Again; 'Game Offf' ; Update

 You can breathe again: The worst TV News experiment in the history of the universe has come to an end.

Mercifully.

UPDATE: At lease, that's what she's alluding to, here.

KPIX 's sister KBCW has done away with "Nightbeat", the 10 PM newscast that 6 or 7 people have been watching. When it's officially done, no one knows. Some variation will continue to flaunt the airwaves but it be devoid of NB's awfulness. Thank God.

NB's host, Veronica De La Cruz, according to my 5 spy, has told people that the show "sorry to say" is no more.

Yo, Veronica: The show was a disaster. I said it numerous times. Your own staff said the show sucked from the very beginning.

Everyone loves innovation and technique, but this crap? Are you kidding me?

From its very inception the show had no chance --the bozo brains at PIX thought the social media crowd would look at a news program that catered to its liking, only problem is the content was putrid and the newscast was chock full of gimmicks that never measured with viewers.

You can't shove a plate full of chipped beef in front of people and expect it to be a porterhouse steak.

The Bay Area TV News community is now a better place. The healing process has begun. Nightbeat is done, and better yet, so is this.

GAME OFFF!

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Shake and Dance with Me; 415 Media Thursday Video Finale

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The Last Time KTVU Had a Pulse

{KTVU}

Someone is Stealing the Toilet Paper at KRON; Why Rasmussen and Pritchett left KTVU; Another Chron Casualty; Brunette Alert: Ronnnnnnn's in Chicago; Sweeps Time; KPIX Goodies; Thursday Goodies

 HERE'S HOW CHEAP KRON IS: someone at 900 Front at the studios of current KRONvicts, is stealing the toilet paper. I would love to get my hands on the memo but Pero's mercenaries can't be that stupid.

*I love my "followers" locally who hide themselves on my Twitter timeline --I guess it's the coward thing to do, but they know I'm right most of the time.

*The new 9-10 AM last hour on the weekday KTVU, "MO2" is so baaaad, so pathetic, it's kind of funny and sad to watch, god FOX did you royally fuck up KTVU, but you did with style.

*Hey, KTVU rank and file: Fox affiliate division made over $200M in new advertising revenue just in the last half quarter alone. Maybe the union and staffers have a reason to be really kvetching.

*Some KNBR air talent (if you can call them that) were ordered to meet the new company SF Cluster minion the other day up north. Off company time. And weren't paid any gas money to travel and meet the latest schlum. Radnich was so pissed off he threatened to rent a Jaguar and head to the Tenderloin.

*A certain big time, married, anchor who is stupping  the hell out of a pretty brunette staffer is no big news unless that twosome are making a ruckus as they usually are at the bar at Kokkari --keep it down, guys.

*Sweeps week is here in local TV News land--KPIX has new, innovative, wacky programs scheduled for their newscasts: "Allen Martin--he's really human!" "Veronica De La Cruz gets her hair cut by Stevie Wonder!" GAME ON!!! "Dennis O' Donnell has a conscience!" GAME ON!" "Vern Glenn isn't really the black Gary Radnich!" GAME ON!! "Bruno Cohen really does have a central nervous system and can actually do his job!" GAME ON!

*More KTVU: Eric Rasmussen and Ken Pritchett were making roughly $150G as reporters --they wanted to be paid in the neighborhood of $200K--FOX offered both about $125G--which is when both told FOX in essence: "Fuck You." You won't see that in the press release or if Ben Fong Torres were writing about TV News.

*More Ben Fong: about time for another story on the Bay Area Radio Hall of Fame which amounts to paying for a lunch at Spengers and listening to old radio people talk about their career and not farting out loud.

*Yeah, that EIC at the Chronicle, Audrey Cooper thinks I'm not a real "journalist" because at the Chron to be a real journalist you must be able to place pictures of food and mansions on SFGate.

*Hey Cooper, another star staffer--columnist Jon Carroll, is "retiring" --leaving like flies on your watch --coincidence? Perhaps, you be the judge.

*And we haven't even mentioned the cover-up of the Rusty Simmons mess--apparently Simmons is the fall guy and his sports editor gets his gig back even though editor....(never mind)

*Ronnnnnnnnnnnnnn Owens took his chickie producer to Chicago so he could pick up his HOF award and broadcast a show---Ronnnnnnnnnnnn and brunettes that are not his wife: careful, girl.

*Of course, I'm beyond all of this schmutz, I've been busy dating my current shiksa, Gia LaBouf:



*Any day now the people at Disney who write settlement checks for ABC O and O's will write a pretty fat one for Ms. Heather Ishimaru, formerly of KGO-TV who continues to rehab after a work-related stroke a couple of years back. The ND is not going to like this.

*Kate Scott: "Nothing from nothing means nothing." Unless your fawning Brian Murphy.

*John Lund and Greg Papa talking about penises again on Wednesday. C'mon Greg, the other guy has no other options, but you? Of all people.

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