SOMEONE ASKED ME THE OTHER DAY: "Who would you like to see on the airwaves (TV or radio) as a calming presence?" To reassure all of us here in the Bay Area as we struggle with this virus and the unknown.
Easy answer: the late, great, Van Amburg of KGO Channel 7.
Van would ease all our fears, be it optimistic or catastrophic. He would, first of all, talk to us all and in his own inimitable way, explain to us what's going on and provide us some much-needed comfort. So many anchors today shout, as if they're saying something when in reality they aren't saying anything at all.
Much of why Van was so great was because he had such a presence. He could talk about burnt toast and keep us all glued. Today, there's really no one around that calms us down and makes us feel better. We have today mostly talking heads and shouters and nobodies faking it as if they were experts but they don't make us feel any better and might as be zombies. That's harsh, for sure, but it's truthful too.
Van Amburg would look at us, some of us that are working from home or just plain concerned, and comfort us. That's a tough thing to accomplish today because most of us are pretty shaken and out of groove; well, Van Amburg had that innate ability to make us feel much better even when things seemed depressing and disturbing. Maybe I'm overstating this but you get my drift.
To bad we don't have a Van Amburg today because, at least for me, that would be damn reassuring and boy, do we all need that now.
In June 2017, KGO-TV had a very interesting 10-day stretch. At the start, Circle 7 was celebrating the Warriors' incredible 16-1 NBA postseason with their second NBA title in three seasons, and what would be the only one clinched in the Bay Area. That was on Monday, June 12th. 10 days later on Thursday the 22nd, the newsroom mood turned somber - we lost Van. And Dan on Van? Mr. Ashley's face was a little more grim than usual - he knew what shoes he was filling. And Rich, I remember your post when you interviewed Pete Giddings, and Giddings said that regardless of his off-air personality, Van Amburg was one of a kind. Talk about a high-and-low period for a TV station; that was very much the case at KGO-TV.
ReplyDeleteWhat??? What??? Heather Holmes isn't Van Amburg?
ReplyDeleteCould Van Amburg do it in a sleeveless pink top with ruffles down the front?
I miss Walter Cronkite.
ReplyDeletePete Wilson???
ReplyDeleteOMG, gone are the days of TRUE reporting of Honest reporters and Anchors like Amburg,Richmond, Corral, countless others, today I almost threw up when watching KGO ABC 7 midday when reggie, kristen and others gave negative personal opinions on President Trump message to the nation last night on corona virus, hey I am a Democrat and didn't vote for Trump but why are you people giving vile comments like cnn instead of being genuine reporters? Is it because of Disney your owners? Sad...........No more true journalism..........
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