Last time I did a post on Tokuda was this one back in August of 2015.
I was never a fan of Tokuda. I acknowledge her popularity and respect her legacy here; she became and always be a signature Bay Area TV News anchor with longtime stints at KPIX and KRON.
Always a surprise to many who didn't know: Tokuda's marriage to the son of game-show host, Monty Hall, Richard Hall.
The elder Hall died in 2017.
Tokuda, who lives in Oakland, built up a vast residue of good will with her lengthy background, not just as a TV News journalist, but in Bay Area charitable affairs. I'll give her mass credit in that department.
Tokuda is retired now but keeps active and involved in both social and charitable organizations.
In the negative column, I always had fault with Wendy's penchant for always sounding as if she was tongue-tied. She'd consistently flub her copy. It wasn't something from time to time, it was always evident. Just watch her. Ask her co-workers who worked alongside her or in the various newsrooms. Was it a blemish on her profile? Yeah, I think so. She certainly made no effort to clean it up but given todays' society, not a big deal. Big deal then? yeah, as were other issues.
Move forward.
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| Tokuda with Dave McElhatton |
Wendy was always a pleasure to work with at KRON
ReplyDeleteHi, Wendy. How ya doin'? Nice try with that "Anonymous" account.
Delete11:22 lol
DeleteWendy: Please highlight!!
ReplyDeleteThat she'd flub her copy I didn't mind. ("Secretary of Defense Ronald Dumsfeld...") That she'd then try to blame 1) the producers, 2) the writers, 3) the teleprompter operator, 4) the Jersey Devil for her mistakes...always someone with little job security and no muscle...that I minded. Ultimately a very small person who was more obsessed with composting trash in the newsroom between shifts rather than *pre-reading her copy.* If I were ND I would have fired her.
ReplyDeleteNever a fan of Wendy. Had a Broadcasting teacher at SFSU
ReplyDeleteback in the day who called Wendy "The Queen of Redundancy"
While reading election results, she would say, "Gavin Newsome is out ahead and Matt Gonzalez is trailing behind."
I doubt she really said that. She couldn't get a sentence that long out without tripping over her tongue.
DeleteWhen I worked at KTVU back in the early 2000s we called her "Tendy Wacuda."
To me, it appears that her delivery was pretty well scripted to appeal to the intellectual level of her audience.
DeleteI never had any strong feelings one way or the other about Wendy until I worked with her at KRON. She had her professional quirks which made for some awkward moments on the air. But, she was one of the most enjoyable anchors I had the pleasure to work with. She is a good, honest and wonderful person. I wish there was more anchors like her on the air.
ReplyDeleteAs a viewer (and Media Newspaper reporter back then), she was GOLDEN. Just look at the pic with Dave? Asian beauty and elegance. Love you long, long, LONG time, Wendy. I keep a big hard-on for you ...
ReplyDeleteI worked with Wendy for many years. She is the sweetest woman I've ever know to sit in the anchor chair (with Vicki Liviakis a very close 2nd place). I never had an issue with her delivery; hell I could never do that on the air, day after day. To me, just the average amount of flubs. But what do I know?
ReplyDeleteI always liked her, especially with Dave on KPIX.
ReplyDeleteI miss seeing her on TV!
ReplyDelete