Friday, June 24, 2016

Mike Sugerman Leaving KPIX And Headed to NY But If You Believe The Reason You're Uninformed

 Mike Sugerman is leaving KPIX so, and this is his words, "to be closer to my son" (he lives in NY) Yeah, and if you believe that, I've got some oceanfront property in Walnut Creek to sell you.

Sugerman is not suddenly leaving the Bay Area --there's SO, SO much MORE to this story and yet, many of you are taking Sugerman's word as the gospel.

STOP.

Sugerman is married to KCBS anchor, Janice Wright--he makes no mention of her. Think she's going to NY with him? Think again. (But there's overriding personal and professional reasons)

Sugerman has, shall we say, issues. Lots--personal and professional --we'll leave it at that. And CBS, you should know, doesn't like paying people a lot of money when they hit their sunset years. There's a ton of INSIDE material that we will bring you once the dust settles.

15 comments:

  1. Another veteran gone, too bad, although I've sometimes tried to put my finger on why I don't like him more than I do.

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  2. He did have a major health scare a few years ago. Hope that hasn't resurfaced.

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  3. If this is true, leave it alone. He's got a private life that's none of our business. If it's more than he'd like us to know, then respect his decision to keep it private. Who cares WHY he's leaving. It's simply a bummer he IS leaving.

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    1. Working as a public figure guarantees that one's privacy will be compromised to some degree. And with the myriad of information sources and overall lack of couth that we have nowadays, that consequence can be much more severe. Right or wrong, as Walter Cronkite used to say...that's the way it is.

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    2. Agree with 2:39.
      He will be missed. Has a unique delivery style.

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  4. He stinks. Glad he's going...One of the biggest phonies ever...don't know how he got hired in the first place.

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  5. Still has the BEST Mick Jagger story.

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  6. Rich,
    I like your blog and read it on a regular basis.
    I've known Mike and Janice and their family for over 30 years and I worked with him at KFRC. I know that he's an excellent reporter. He's won just about every local and national award there is but if you don't think he's a good reporter that"s OK. I don't understand why you wrote and then crossed out the comment "Think she's going to New York? think again" and then added the comment about personal issues and there's a ton of inside material we'll bring to you once the dust settles. By crossing it out you seem to retract the suggestion that she is not going with him. You should either delete it immediately or offer the "inside material now rather than wait until the dust settles. It's true that he is a public figure and doesn't have complete privacy but that doesn't mean you can libel him by implying that there is some sinister ulterior motive for leaving. I'm sure some of the "bean counters" at the corporate headquarters would be happy to see a veteran highly paid reporter leave and be replaced by part timers who make a lot less but I doubt that he would be forced out by the local management.

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  7. I am Mike's sister-in-law and would love to know where this kind of bs starts. Yesterday his son and wife welcomed a baby boy in NY. Mike AND Janice, my sister, were there. Their other son who lives in Boston was there. They are leaving SF to be close to their children. They have an almost 40 year marriage - one of the best! Mike's health is great! They are very nostalgic about leaving their much loved SF but ready for a new chapter in their life - sounds like Rich should get one!
    Donna Wright Russo

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    1. thank you for being the voice of reason here and clarifying for those of us who have long admired Mike Sugarman's work. I know MANY boomers who are ready for a change and are moving to where their adult children live - especially when the grandchildren start arriving !

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  8. I have always enjoyed the video essays of Mr Sugarman. ... I also met him before. He is a super nice guy.

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  9. Going to miss him. He has a great voice for reporting.

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  10. Donna and Joel---Rich drew the line through when I commented that Mike did in fact mention Janice and the fact that they are moving to New York together in the Facebook video. Rich didn't print my comment, though, and I seriously doubt he has the balls or integrity to print this.

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  11. I'm a former KPIX freelancer...who left the the Bay Area awhile ago due to my wife's promotion (I'm no longer in the biz).

    I don't know if he's changed...but Mike was an absolute joy to work with both out in the field and in the edit booth. He was an excellent writer/wordsmith...and was open and actually asked for photog/editing suggestions. And as far as working with him in the van/on the road...pure joy. We'd talk about his beloved Giants/the NL West/baseball in general.

    GREAT guy to work with. I wish him the best in NYC.

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  12. I am glad that someone close to him and in the know has squashed the speculative negativity!
    What a huge difference between going to NY to be a grandfather as opposed to going without his wife and having health issues!
    As a Bay Area native I enjoyed Mr. Sugarman

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