PHS Story Delivers Strong Reaction; KCBS Unease; Tom Sinkovitz Omit Atonement; Stan Bunger Weather Chatter Too Much; Ibanez Has Suitors If KTVU Whiffs; Larry Beil Arrogance at Circle7; Greg Papa Not So Warm and Fuzzy; Heather Holmes, Just Tone It Down; Wendy Tokuda Most Overrated Bay Area TV Anchor; Thursday Nosh Extraordinaire

THURSDAY NOSH EXTRAORDINAIRE

YEAH, IMAGINE THE AUDACITY of a hard-working media blogger having the gall to ask for contributions so that the Bay Area people who enjoy reading about TV/Radio and the like can have an outlet. I mean, the gall!

*Wednesday's story about PHS received quite a bit of attention; yeah, and you didn't read it in the Chronicle or see it on local TV.


*KCBS should be a sea of tranquility; ratings are good; relative stability; solid Bay Area foundation; right -stuff mentality; new news director who doesn't rattle the base, but trouble is everywhere. Massive morale issues permeate the newsroom. Why? Because there's bitching and moaning over the fact that certain reporters get a lot more stories than others. A relative newbie, young women reporter is on every five minutes while the veterans have to beg for a story. Oh, there's more too: the massive takeover of ex-KGO radio staffers to the point that they might as well call KCBS,  KCBS-KGO.

There's nothing wrong about hiring almost the entire staff of the old 810 AM comrades but it's not like they could have tried to hire fresh, new voices? It's retread central and believe me, it's a MAJOR issue inside the newsroom.

*Yes, I neglected to mention Tom Sinkovitz in my favorite list of Bay Area TV anchors. "Sink" would be a tremendous asset to any newsroom (he's still doing occasional stuff at NBC here) First, he would generate instant buzz; he has uncanny newsman pedigree; viewers love him. But Sinkovitz is happy and content to live his life and enjoy family in San Francisco. In other words, "I'm doing what I want to do." He doesn't need the money, either.

*Speaking of KCBS, is it just me that is uber-irritated over Stan Bunger's constant weather-chirping after almost each and every weather report? Bunger is fine and steady delivering the news but his weather mumbling makes for annoying radio; Stan, you don't have to say a million times "we could have a slight shower in the inland valleys" --we just heard the weather report! Give us news Stan not your personal high pressure system vignettes. It's annoying as hell.

*Mark Ibanez, according to my KTVU spies, would love to remain at the Fox O and O, and why not? He's still at the top of his game after nearly 40 years as primary sports anchor. He's comfortable. And he'd like to work another three years or so only KTVU seems to be taking its time to re-up Ibanez --his contract is up in March.

Source: "Mark loves his situation and wants to end his career at Channel 2 but if he can't there's at least two suitors that would pounce on him."

Indeed, KGO-TV has shown interest especially if Larry Beil decides to head back to Hawaii. But even if he stays, KGO needs a jolt and adding Ibanez to the roster would do just that. 

There's a wildcard station in the mix here too that likes Ibanez but so far hasn't reached out formally but has both the money and will to make a move. 

My best guess is that Ibanez stays at KTVU but they better "get her done" soon.

*What might be accelerating Beil's thinking of heading back to his native land is the growing resentment he fosters at Circle7. He comes off (off the air) as a petulant jerk who thinks he's Babe Ruth but really is more Richie Allen. I like Larry on the air doing news; he's a solid anchor but he has this aura about him that "I'm better than all of you." Yeah, Larry if you worked at KRON.

*That KRON weather woman in the morning dresses like Elvira --I could take credit for that line but my new friend, Larry gave it to me.

*Like Mark Ibanez, NBC Bay Area's Jessica Aguirre's contract is up in March --we've talked about this, and at 55, Jess is still freaked out over her thoughts that they won't re-sign her. My two cents: they (NBC) want a fresh, younger face but they underestimated her popularity. Maybe they give her a one-year deal although maybe Jess doesn't bite. I mean, she's still got it. Stay tuned. 

*Heather Holmes keeps asking people at KTVU "why does he (me) hate me?" Heather, I don't hate you I just don't like your style of anchoring. It's nothing personal. And you dress like a woman who goes clubbing every night in SOMA. At the very least you could sharpen up the look and wear something more conservative (which is still sexy) and slow down reading your copy. Then you'd be at least trying. Just some friendly advice.

*We mentioned Greg Papa is suffering from vertigo; a nasty condition --wish him well. We'd be more warm and fuzzy if Papa were to abandon his moody, overly boorish, arrogance which he seems to feel is just fine and dandy but really isn't. Greg, look up the word, "humility" otherwise you'll end up being a blogger.

*Honestly, the MYPillow ads combined with Kars-for-Kids makes me want to go the bathroom and debrief. Use your imagination on that one.

*Most overrated TV anchor in Bay Area history: Wendy Tokuda. Ms. Royalty was good for at least a thousand times stuttering her lines and having absolutely no screen presence whatsoever. There, I said it.

*Nervous nellies at all the Cumulus stations in town; Comcast too. It's the end of the month reckoning and that's when the Grim Reaper makes occasional visits and hand out pink slips. Expect the bar at Grumpy's will be packed soon.

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