A talent and a head-turner: Marcia Brandwynne. One of the most unique and complicated --(in a good way) anchors in Bay Area TV News history.
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| Marcia Brandwynne |
SHE WAS MORE THAN HOT. She was great anchor who became very powerful too, from KTVU to KGO to KPIX. A modern-day Evita who knew who to work a room let alone a newsroom.
Late 70's she was the singular most powerful woman in SF TV News; even the late Van Amburg was conscious of her clout and moxie. Dennis Richmond respected her edge and had to play second banana --much to his chagrin.
Brandwynne used her sex appeal to gain maximum edge but she didn't have to; her talent was so immense she turned down multitude offers to go the big apple and conquer NY only she stayed in California and furthered her career in LA where she got even bigger.
Is she alive still?
ReplyDeleteJust double checked the past tense, Rich. Here it is what Ms. Brandwynne is doing now.
ReplyDeleteMarcia has her own webpage. But it is not devoted to journalism. It is devoted to psychotherapy. As in helping Angelinos and Angelinas (though not Jolie literally, of course) battle anxiety and depression, especially couples.
Marcia Brandwynne now has a very different career in LA. But kudos to RL for remembering Brandwynne's News Anchor glory years as the only reporter to work with all 3 of the biggest News Anchor giants - Dennis Richmond (when he was lead field reporter before 1976-77), Van Amburg, and Dave McElhatton (a lot of people forget that Brandwynne curtailed her persona and yielded to Mac as the late Dave wound down his Hall-of-Fame news career). Only Richmond remains, residing in Grass Valley, though unaware of his physical condition.
And yes, Marcia could teach a few at KTVU some lessons. Bet she respects Daetz and Sze at KGO-TV whenever she has business back in the Bay Area and flips the channels during relaxation time. And the end of Brandwynne's KPIX tenure coincided with the beginning of Juliette Goodrich's current time at 855 Battery.
Quite dynamic indeed. To the point where even a KGO viewer literally made news about his own crush. I do not remember how well that sat with Van Amburg.
Weatherman Bob Wilkins!!! I forgot all about my favorite Creature Feature guy doing weather.
ReplyDeleteI love her. Solid journalist. I wish a station would hire her. I might start watching local news again. And unlike most of the female anchors today, she dressed appropriately.
ReplyDeletePlease clarify your remark about Dennis Richmond. Are you saying that you are not aware of his condition?
ReplyDeleteWow, you people just cannot get over yourselves.
ReplyDeleteBrandwynne is happy with her medical practice, and has no plans to return to news.
ReplyDeleteRichmond had back surgery and numerous other maladies. Would have to search online for complete details.
My favorite Brandwynne moment was when she was anchoring the noon news on KPIX with a very young and green Bill Martin doing weather. He was super nervous and loud and flubbing words. Brandwynne told him on air to calm down and things will be OK. It's sad he didn't listen to her....
ReplyDeleteI bet she was rocking the full bush in the late 70's there. Luxurious.
ReplyDeleteWere you, Christine? Mmm.
DeleteShe wasn't THAT hot. An attractive woman, yes, but let's not get carried away here. She was no Erin Andrews.
ReplyDeleteShe was always too serious for me.
Deleteshe is memorable -- some of us who did school together. glad to see she is among the living, because at 79 this anonymous was younger. (habitual trouble with prepositions and preemtives and backformations) will she remember?.
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