Tuesday, January 17, 2017

KPIX Morning Show Mantra: If It's Great For Viewers Break It Up; First Kessler and Kohara, Then Mallicoat; 'Too Smart' And 'Make Too Much Money'; 415 Media Tuesday Perspective

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Frank Mallicoat
 One of my frequent mass irritations about KPIX...and there's many...is their complete butchering of the morning show. Not just one but two morning shows-- shows that featured interesting, popular, and smart people that got the heave-ho with apparently no consideration of the viewing public. Of course when is that ever considered.

The nerve.

Smart is a dirty word at PIX, so too are those who make big money. The combination of those forces lead to termination and betrayal --not to just the people themselves but the consumer too.


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Sydnie Kohara and John Kessler
PIX has done the seemingly impossible. They destroyed a couple of known commodities. They had mucho mojo in the morning with, first, John Kessler and Sydnie Kohara...and then later on, Frank Mallicoat (who, ironically, was brought in from Boston to replace Kessler and was then fired).

In the time writing this blog, I continue to get e-mail from folks who miss Kessler. And love Kohara. "Why did they let them go?" was a frequent question. "I'll never watch Channel 5 again" was also frequently stated. To this day, I still get mail bemoaning what transpired. A friend of mine (I have a few still) in the city who never watches local TV News swore by Kessler. "He was funny and smart." That's a no-no in the biz now and working cheap is the new edict.

The morning offerings on PIX weren't huge ratings bonanzas but they were popular and began to earn viewer bond and loyalty particularly in the A25-54 demo that advertisers covet. Moreover, Kessler and Kohara became so popular the station began running major promos highlighting both and ran them all times of the day. Women especially, loved Kessler and Kohara too. What a winning combination, and then POOF! Screw the viewers seemed to echo out of the CBS offices. First Kessler and then Kohara. Gone. Bye Bye. There was never any official explanation but money was high on the list. For both.

It seemed to set a trend at 855 Battery.


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The current KPIX Morning Show
Mallicoat was the next PIX victim (he's now at KTVU) he too was let go because money was a factor, the only factor. And yes, Mallicoat had smart traits and a wicked sense of humor which automatically placed him on the hit list. His co-anchor, Michelle Griego, constantly bad-mouthed him too, which was never good. Maybe Griego was nervous about something or another.

Now KPIX has a bland, uninteresting, innocuous, ratings loser; a show nobody watches and is highlighted by a traffic reporter who consistently flubs her lines and mispronounces street and highway names. Oh, but she is a sight to behold and works cheap, BINGO!

It appears this is the new edict for viewers at KPIX5: Don't become enamored with this morning show because if it were to ever become popular and a hit, the suits will kick 'em all out the door.

What a wonderful strategy.

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23 comments:

  1. Not a fan of Frank Mallicoat. He's not bad. He just bores the heck out of me on the weekends on KTVU. Claudine Wong and Christian Kafton and I guess Rosemary Orozco carry KTVU weekend mornings. He also seems to HAVE to chime in and add a "Water cooler comment" often to crickets. He's not bad. Just not my cup of tea.

    OAN... Pam Cook was kinda hot today in a soccer mom kind of way in the red dress this morning. She's always been a very capable business reporter (knows her stuff), but I kind of look forward to that business update in the mornings now.

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    1. Fred R Christ, Jesus' slow-witted brotherJanuary 17, 2017 at 1:08 PM

      My money's on Leigh Martinez.

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  2. I didn't care for Mallicoat when he started at PIX but realized soon that he is a real pro and did his job well.

    It looks like Kessler is anchoring again in New York.
    http://www.mytwintiers.com/contact/newsroom-bios/john-kessler/614395807

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  3. > Smart is a dirty word at PIX, so too are those who make big money.
    > The combination of those forces lead to termination and betrayal --
    > not to just the people themselves but the consumer too.

    That's why Hackney's in the shithouse and your home boy Bastida is the top dog. You could lobotomize Brian and he's be five time smarter than Kennyboy.

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  4. Totally AGREE with Rich, the former KPIX reporters, the BEST of the BEST. Michelle should be the one let go, but she definitely cannot afford to be let go. After reading on this site how she bash Frank, I knew why she immediately came back FAST after maturity leave. Seeing those happy twitter pictures with Frank and Maria Medina and Roberta, anyone can see how a replacement and good reporter like Maria can anytime replace the original anchor. Very similar to how Heather is almost taking over Julie on KTVU when she was off for a few months two years ago. Like I said, replacing Michelle with Maria Media on KPIX 5 morning news will be the BEST and I will definitely stay tuned agreeing with Rich, Gasia is getting too wild like Darya on KRON. No choice, I still depend on KTVU for the reliable best news.

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  5. Not just KGO is beating KPIX in polish- so is KNTV. I don't know who manages KPIX,but they are NOT reflecting well or making good use of CBS's mighty news division at the network level.
    If KRON camera work wasn't so awful..at least they have reporters that you have learned to know. Just mute what JR Stone sends in..

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    1. That "mighty" CBS news team now tapes the CBS weekend news.
      Not Live....but pre-recorded in NYC.

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  6. In Adults 25-54 Ratings KRON has been consistently beating KPIX in the Morning News as well!!!!

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  7. Why does KPIX continue to keep Roqui around? Hasn't the timeframe run out on giving her a chance to improve?

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    1. I tune in to KPIX morning news every once in awhile, specifically to see if she's gotten better. She has not. The difference between her and KGO's Alexis Smith, who was from Seattle and not this region, is a grand canyon apart.

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    2. I love Roqui....who else would let us know 237 is backed up into Pinole

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    3. Roqui is a terrible traffic reporter. She also hasn't included HWY 4 in her reports for weeks. Lots of commuters out this way which could use the help in the morning.

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    4. Get your traffic reports from a new source. kpix clearly doesn't care about disseminating current traffic information.

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  8. JUST IN: KRON says NexStar "Committed to serving the bay area local news" says Pamela Moore KRON anchor.
    Now,will they do it with expensive anchors or budget quality anchors?
    She,did not smile one bit making the happy announcement btw.

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  9. I'm guessing, the suits in New York do not care that they have a weak lead in for CBS This Morning. If they would shore up the morning lead in, maybe CBS This Morning would have better ratings nationally.

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  10. Hey Rich,
    On the 6:00 pm news tonight and after a commercial, Pam Moore mentioned that the station had been purchased by Media Data.....then, they went to 3 more commercials.....not much news....just commercials.

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  11. To those who are in this business, do Nielsen ratings mean much anymore? The old February-May-November load-it-up idea? Or is station management simply judged on profit margins for the parent companies -- in other words, is it just as good to have a Kenny Choi rather than a popular John Kessler simply because he costs less money?

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  12. KPIX morning news is mind numbingly stupid. All of their on air "talent" are human puppets!

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  13. Interesting: At 8:45,Steve Aveson read the same memo on air- with a big smile.
    Make of that what you will.

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  14. Can we please dump Michelle and replace her with Ann Makovec.

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  15. Replace the current group. Get four new anchors stat!

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  16. Anyone who watches local TV "news," needs to have their heads lopped off for being dumber than a bucket of shit.

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    1. Lots of dumb shits out there unfortunately

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