SOMERVILLE-- The God of KTVUI'm not that spiritual of a person but I do have instinctual beliefs.
I do believe Frank Somerville to be KTVU's God. I believe it because, knowing Frank, he believes it and that's the only thing that counts.
Frank has unbelievable power and is bigger than life and every teleprompter on the planet.
Frank is not only a mere news reader, he's Superman and Batman times a million. Anchorman? God has so many more titles, he's insulted at your anchorman reference. God is going to change the world. I have it on good authority that God is going to change everything you ever heard about journalists, uh, wait, (remember, Frank is God) God is perfect, purdy too. How do I, a mere civilian know this? Because I know a God when I see one and Somerville is that. God wants to change the world. He didn't get into the business to "get on TV." That's just not him. "I'm here to save the world." God doesn't care about hair plugs. That would make him a mere mortal. Only mere mortals care about string beans and hair plugs. That's not God's MO. So sacred.
Bow all you little people.
And may the teleprompter of hair be with you.
Frank Somerville reminds me of the Ted Baxter character on the Mary Tyler Moore show...full of himself and not very smart.
ReplyDeleteFrank reminds me of Butthead, from Beavis & Butthead, with his poofy hair up top. Heh heh...he said Tard...heh heh. Hey Baby, she said Plop!!
DeleteNo offense to Rich, but the best thing any media personality can do with criticism is ignore it. Responding to it usually backfires or shows your insecurity. It happens all the time on Twitter. The best thing to do is just do your job well.
ReplyDelete"God doesn't care about hair plugs."
ReplyDeleteHe doesn't need to if they look good. And Frank's hair looks great. Not sure why you flipped the switch on him when he was one of the few media personalities granting you interviews and for this blog, no less.
Probably because he stopped.
DeleteRich is the one who thinks he's God.
I remember that interview on KOMY. It was the day after the Asiana Airlines crash in SF. Dick Lieberman praised KTVU for its great coverage and commended Sommerville for driving his Porsche Turbo 911 10 minutes from his house in the Oakland Hills to KTVU to broadcast live as news broke. Of course the self congratulations didn't last long as we all know Sum Ting Went Terribly Wong soon thereafter.
DeleteAnd Frank has/had anything to do with any of that?
DeleteAnd it looks like Somerville's response to a post on this blog indeed brought him more annoyance -- unwarranted, I believe. This post is simply ridiculous, and just isn't a good look.
ReplyDeleteHey Rich! You made the national Trades! Check this article from TV Spy:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.adweek.com/tvspy/ktvu-anchor-opens-up-about-hair-plugs-and-being-deep/161740
JCOAFC Rich - did FS shit on your parade at one point in your life? Piss in your milk in the school lunchroom when you weren't looking? What's up with all the vitriol? Personally, I don't give a damn. Keep up the fine brand you espouse as journalism. It's entertaining as all get-out. True, not true. Who cares? In the accompanying pic, is Frank on the left or the right?
ReplyDeleteRich, I read your blog just about every day and I've written a lot of comments over the past few years, including a scathing one just yesterday regarding KTVU's 9am show. However, I think it's time to give Frank Somerville a break and let this sit on the back burner for a long, long time. By all indications I see Frank Somerville as a decent man who's an exceptional and capable journalist and anchor, one of the best the Bay Area has on the air right now. And with television being a visual medium, I have absolutely no problem with him getting hair plugs -- that's his business. To try and look your best and improve your appearance for a television audience is just fine by me. Furthermore, the hair plugs have adapted well and he looks great. It's such a petty and insignificant issue. I think more substantive articles which you have written of late would be much more noteworthy and digestible -- such as the demise of local production quality not only at KTVU but pretty much most of the stations in the market. Your coverage of the union issues, salary issues, management issues, new talent arriving on the scene, tributes to current and former media celebrities, etc., etc. are some of the things you do best.
ReplyDeleteCouldn't have said/written it better myself.
DeleteMaybe it's a publicity stunt like Letterman and Oprah?
There is nothing wrong with Frank Somerville. He is no worse than any of the local anchors from the past who Rich Lieberman places on an imaginary pedestal because they are part of the past.
ReplyDeleteLieberman's criticism makes no sense except as part of his incessant ridicule of everything and everyone in local media.
Donald Trump's hair looks like a work of art compared to Frank's hair plugs.
ReplyDeleteI guess if the "art" you are referring to is that abstract crap on Justin Herman Plaza in SF.
DeleteI like your blog, but I think Frank is one of the most real, down to earth folks out there.
ReplyDeleteThe point is being missed here. Somerville said he got into the business not just to be on TV, but " To make a difference" Come on, really? Exactly how does sitting behind a desk with pancake makeup, hair plugs and reading a teleprompter make a difference in any of our daily lives? The level of self importance and egos of these news readers is simply astonishing. And precisely why we need Rich to call them out when their heads swell!
ReplyDeleteFrank didn't start as the top anchor in a big market. He paid his dues in a few markets like Rhode Island and Minnesota before finally settling as a morning anchor. Frank is a great guy. I have worked with him since 1994, nd unlike alot of beloved on air talent that have no use for the "common folk", Frank has always been comfortable mixing it up.
Deletehe got into the business not just to be on TV, but " To make a difference"
Delete=====
Beware of such motivations. They're supposed to be unbiased and just give the news, not "make a difference". I'll make up my own mind. I'm a strong independent thinker who doesn't have to rely on someone that wants to "make a difference".
He didn't start as a top anchor, but still, how does sitting behind a desk reading words other people wrote and researched over video other people went out and shot and edited make a difference, whether it's in SF or Burlington, NJ? Anchors don't even have any editorial input; the guys in the suits who answer to the owners and to marketing call the shots. The anchors, if they want to keep their cushy $800,000-a-year jobs, just say "Yes sir!" (or, increasingly, ma'am).
DeleteI think we were all sucker-punched when Frank combed his daughter's hair, on air.
ReplyDeleteHe gained points; we were struck mute.
Good move, Frank. (Love that widow's peak, btw, don't ever give it up.)
No...it was just you that was sucker punched by all the bullshit.
DeleteThe fact that he even wrote an SF Chronicle editorial to explain himself just proves he's an asshat.
ReplyDeleteThe article certainly wasn't news or even relevant, with the diminished standards of journalism that the Chronicle now employs did he pay for that infomercial?
Delete6:41 I agree with you, but he got his name out there in another medium yet one more time.
ReplyDeleteRich, take out Somerville and hair plugs, insert Ross Palombo and you'll be good.
ReplyDeleteTrue. I have nothing against Sommerville. Sure, he can be a bit smarmy, but he's nothing like anywhere near offensive.
DeleteThat Palombo creep looks and acts like he should be registered as some sort of offender, and not allowed near schools.
I can't add to much, since I don't watch local TV news for a long time. Just from the internet and a little radio
ReplyDeletePersonally, I've had it to right about here with these sanctimonious anchors moralizing to the masses, using their influence to pedal their own brand of dudie. Who do they think they are? What gives them the right? Why are they all from somewhere else? Kiss my ass.
ReplyDeleteSeriously, this just sounds more and more like a petty personal grudge/ax to grind. If your gonna whine about Frank's plugs also call out the female anchors with hair extensions aka almost all of them. I miss the days this blog didn't go into personal vendettas against reporters.
ReplyDeleteHi Rick - I read your blog every week and I am surprised in your sudden attack on Frank. You used to compliment him all the time. I like Frank a lot and I do think he is real. He is very open on his Facebook page and seems to care.
ReplyDeleteIf the sudden attack is because he stopped talking to you due to Fox management's objections, I do not think that's fair.
He is a good guy.
On the other hand, feel free to talk about Mike M and Ross P. They deserve your colorful comments.