Friday, May 12, 2017

The George Watson You May Have Never Known; KTVU Anchor Battled The Bottle



I have long admired former KTVU news anchor George Watson, both as friend and TV journalist. I can only hope that George will overcome this and battle it with the help of friends and family who still care deeply about him.

By all accounts, he's doing well. It's one-day at a time. That's the only way.

{NBC}

15 comments:

  1. Amen, Rich. God Bless You and George for all that you do. One day at a time. Oe Amazing Grace...

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  2. I remember watching him in the 90s on KTVU, the years with Elaine Coral and Leslie Griffith when they still work for KTVU. Drinking can help relief stress, but it can ruin someone lives and his career if you have no control over the abuse.

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  3. Thanks for posting this video, Rich, and for the update.

    Was a regular KTVU News viewer back in the days when George worked at the station, and I always really liked his work. I miss seeing that good-looking gentleman with the wonderfully pleasant presence and noteworthy qualifications, and I will pray that he continues to address each day in wellness and with fortitude.

    All the best, George! You're in our thoughts.

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  4. One of the finest anchor persons around. Loved watching when KTVU news still held the bar that other stations tried to match. Always in our thoughts George!

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  5. I remember him, he was always really good at what he did. Maybe he can come back to KTVU some day even if doing special reports part time.

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  6. George Watson was "Excellence Personified" during his tenure at KTVU. I wish him all the best, in his efforts to overcome Drinking.

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  7. Some people are more sensitive to the effects of alcohol than others. I've often heard than most American Indians have a very low tolerance for it. I don't know if that's true or just folklore.
    I wish the best for this man. He knows what his vulnerabilites are, and attempts to deal with this truth. Some never do admit they need help. Even for those wit sky high alcohol tolerance, it can ruin your innards over time, irreversibly in many cases.

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  8. A slightly more up to date update on George. Click this link to see pics of George on his 60th birthday.
    https://plaing.smugmug.com/Friends/KTVUs-George-Watsons-60th/i-PVT68BG

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    1. Thanks for linking that gallery! George looks great, and he seems to be in good spirits. He and Leslie Griffith worked well together, and it is great to see her lovely self in those pictures. I get the impression that Les has remained supportive, through thick and thin, and (if true) that would be quite a reflection of her character.

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  9. George Watson was one of the best anchors in Bay Area TV history and always seemed like a good person, I wish him the best...

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  10. I watched him for years. He was great. Then, he disappeared. I never knew what happened until now.

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  11. Can I say that I was just absolutely shocked by that video? I'm not sure how I missed all the drama... or where all the years have gone... but I remember George very well on KTVU and had no idea this was his story. I'm shaken.

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  12. Thanks Rich for running this again. I'm the cameraman that worked with George. Don

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  13. George Watson does not know this. But he had a profound impact on me as a child. I survived unspeakable abuse from my parents. Everyday I couldn't wait to see him on the news. I love this man and I don't even know him. His voice and presence was so incredibly comforting to me. I used to pretend he was my father. I am going to honor him when I share my story. If you see this, thank you George. You were a bright shining start in a dark, dark world.

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  14. I miss George Watson on the nightly news. I used to watch him on KTVU (when it had a great news department)and really appreciated his special features reports. He was an excellent writer and speaker. I am hoping he stays sober and maybe if a local news station takes a chance on him they can use his considerable talents.

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