The Basic Drill

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2020 and '21 Coming Soon Plus a Few Year Enders

 THE YEAR END BS IS JUST THAT, BS. Frankly, it's lazy journalism -it makes for a sloppy summation and it allows for phony year-end writings and proclamations --this year, 2020, is a caveat. How many times have you heard, lately, "let's get 2020 out of the way" --and ""2021 will be much better?" Really, who the hell knows what '21 has in store for us, God forbid, it's worse than this year, but point being, who knows? 

I'VE NEVER gravitated to New Years. Even in my youthful days, the idea of mass consumption of alcohol and nearby explosives didn't mesh well with me, combined with end-of-year resolutions and so forth, it's the beginning of a new year, ho-hum, another day, really, not much more than that.

The year 2000 was a big deal only because it involved a new century yeah, I know that's 2001 but you get my point) Plus, added end-of-the-year doomsday scenarios and ridiculous calamity forecats based on numeric change brought about the millennium discussion and how the world would end. It didn't, we're still here. But you know the deal. 

There's little observational discussion about what 2021 portends about Bay Area media. It's all a matter of baseless predictions if any. I can tell you the Chronicle is in trouble but they've always been in trouble. Without Hearst money, they'd probably be dead like all other newspapers. But they trudge ahead even as their website, SFgate, gives more info on real estate than true, actual news. Welcome to the Internet, 21st Century.

I don't read the Examiner, maybe you do and can tell me what their goals are. The last time I read the Examiner, Rob Morse was pretending to be the next Herb Caen. That didn't go well. I hear the Examiner is tabloid and frankly, I'm shocked. Just kidding, but seriously, I don't know a single story the new Examiner has published. No knock, just the facts. I remember a time when SF had healthy Chronicles and an Examiner and both the Bay Guardian and SF Weekly. Now, it's pretty much the Chronicle and a handful of struggling weeklies. Sad, but true.

I don't know what KGO Radio has in store for 2021, I guess survival is number one. I applaud their goals but knowing the financial situation we're in plus the economy and Covid reality makes media business tenuous at best. I wish KGO were to broaden its schedule a bit and/or hire more vibrant talk hosts who don't yell and scream but that's just my taste, maybe you fell different. The morning show needs a whole lot of tweaking if not overall reshuffle. You have Dan Ashley from ABC7 doing a yeoman's job, why not just use him regularly, it beats the current guy broadcasting from LA, not really live and local and frankly, an utter bore.

I have more to say a little later on this won't be my last 2020 posting (aren't you excited?)

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Ted Griggs Coming Back to Bay Area Sports on NBC Bay Area

 I USED TO SIT NEXT TO A GUY AT THE OAKLAND COLISEUM PRESS BOX, YEARS AGO.

That guy is arguably the most powerful man in Bay Area Sports TV programming, the one and only Ted Griggs, who is leaving NBC Sports Regional Eastern control in Connecticut and coming back to the Bay Area.

NBC Sports Bay Area is lucky.

Griggs not only walks the walk but TALKS the talk. And yes, he is a powerful figure with a hand in almost all the Bay Area's sports teams and their cable content.

But Griggs doesn't let his ego get in the way. He's a really good guy and some good guys still win.

Rita Williams and Faith Fancher --KTVU Stars

 I LOVED the awe-inspiring works of Rita Williams and the late, Faith Fancher, both KTVU women journalistic luminaries at a time when KTVU ruled the world.

I can't believe it's been nearly ten  13years since Faith passed. Bummer.

And Rita retired.

I MISS Rita never backing down to a politician's BS and Faith being able to tell a compelling story in the field when it involved something not really interesting and forever mundane.

But that was good old Faith. We took her for granted. I didn't. I loved her drive and mental fortitude. I was aghast at her ability to pull all of it off, whether anchoring or doing a live shot from a fire in Marin, say. She was always great, great at making you want to watch no matter what the story.

Faith Fancher was appointment TV News. You would watch because even if you weren't a news junkie, Faith made everything interesting. You just got hooked, as I/we all were, every time she'd appear on the screen. And it was just as competitive back then as it is today. Faith made the most difficult live package as routine as ever. What a pro. What a lady. What a kind-hearted woman. I heard from several crews at Channel 2 that Faith was just as nice off the air as on.

Again, what a pro.

As was Rita.

Rita never had to resort to mugging the camera. She let her work tell the story. Like Faith, she would make the most antiseptic subject matter so darn interesting and informative. She was a real STAR but never acted like one. She never made it a priority to make people uncomfortable, even the most petty, corrupt politicians but if hey tried to mess with her, (US, really) then she full-on Rita Williams in your face. As she should have been but sometimes that's more difficult than you think.

I know this may sound silly. Damn, I miss Rita. She's enjoying retirement in the Peninsula and looks and sounds just as great as ever.

Faith, I miss you dearly. You are no doubt looking down on all of us and saying you're OK in heaven and that you're in no pain. You left us way too soon, faith and by doing so, we're all wishing so hard you were still on Earth making us care. I know you're good mow, but I wanted you to know you have people that will never, ever forget you.

KGO Radio's Merrill King of Crazy Radio

 

IN MY POST ABOUT KGO (and specifically, Chris Merrill) I've often stated the gross practice of doing shtick for shtick's sake. Merrill is the prime suspect and doesn't think authentic radio can be had by being normal, you have to shout and act crazy. 

Crazy radio, I call it.

It's a shame too because the few times Merrill is human and doesn't resort to cheap, un funny tactics--like, for example, talking to the audience, he sounds sincere and forthright. If he backed off on the audio hijinks, he could be reasonably sincere and effective. He wouldn't have to be a shock jock talk host and he would be far more compelling and reasonable. Instead, Merrill doesn't have confidence in himself and concentrates on phony bits and makes yelling and screaming into the mic some sort of ritualistic behavior. Maybe it's that element that got him the gig at KGO, I don't know but it's not the kind of radio I like and I get the feeling I'm not alone. The KGO audience, a marginalized but loyal group seems to agree with me.

Merrill isn't the only one that practices crazy radio. He's simply the leading advocate mainly because I hear him filling in all the time --KGO's brain trust seems to believe he's a keeper. I wish KGO had more faith in its audience. They are smarter than KGO thinks they are; they can't buy crazy radio unless they listen to the Ronn Owens Report every day.

Larry King had a great line. He said in order to make it in radio, make it in broadcasting in general, Larry said, "Be yourself." Don't try to be anyone else. Don't manufacture shock and fake emotion. The audience wil know you're faking and insincere. Sounds like life, sort of, doesn't it?

Merrill is doing a lot of fill-in. Maybe if he tried to be himself and cease the crazy radio, he'd be a regular. But he continues to yell, scream, make fake voices and shout real loud and hysterical; it's not funny or amusing, it's downright silly and goofy, which is why I can't take Merrill seriously, let alone listen to him on KGO.

I wish KGO had more faith in the Bay Area's listener core but damn, how naive I am.

KGO Radio 2021 Notes and Observations

 AS 2021 NEARS...the BIG question: what's on tap for KGO Radio? 

It would seem to be a benign question but it isn't. KGO has made strides since its latest iteration as a news-talk outlet that has deep foundation in Bay Area radio. It has tried to go back to vintage KGO --a great goal but way off the radar. What should have been a banner year, 2020, and an Election year at that was just OK and not fantastic as KGO had hoped.

HIGHLIGHTS: 

The emergence of Pat Thurston. Thurston has always been solid but she clearly elevated her game --it's great she was moved to Noon-3 PM but she needs better support. Great guests and magnificent interviews obscured the fact that Thurston's program needs more promotion and exposure. KGO should highlight her but they don't.  That's sort of weird. But leave no doubt: Pat is KGO's best talk host.

*I was just going to compliment PD, Lee Hammer but now I get word that KGO plans to can Saturday programming. A shame, not just because I like John Rothmann, but I despise taped financial shows. I know the taped programs bring loads of cash to KGO but destroys the station's legacy.

*OBSERVATIONS:

KGO could save a ton of money by dumping Mark Thompson and replacing him with ABC7 anchor, Dan Ashley, who's been doing fill-in this week. (And other time slots too) Ashley isn't great but he's solidly above average and can do good interviews. Plus, he sounds comfortable in the gig. He's also based in the Bay Area while Thompson still tonsils from LA, what a waste.

*Why is Consumer reporter Michael Finney wasted on the afternoon weekend? KGO could easily switch Finney to weekdays (say, 3-5 PM and just move Chip Franklin from 5-7PM and John Rothmann from 7-10)

*KGO should just do the obvious in the morning: Nikki Medoro is not a AM Drive personality --her show is terrible. Medoro needs a good partner: Chip Franklin and Medoro would make for a decent drive show but KGO can't admit it made a mistake by allowing Medoro to go solo. Adding Franklin would solve a lot of problems.

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'Snotty' NBC Bay Area on Sunday

 Dear lord, remember the good old days when they checked the graphics before airing? 

Does Chris Merrill Have Pictures? KGO Radio Fill-In Still Yelling and Screaming For No Reason

 I'M ASSUMING the nauseating Chris Merrill had to have had help. Maybe he's the only guy out there that's willing to fill in on KGO while Chip Franklin takes a breather from his heavy lifting.

Whatever the case, Merrill is still ranting and raving on KGO (810 AM) and sounding just as ridiculous and pathetic as ever/ Well, he never really sounds any different just that when he's working, he continually destroys whatever old-retro KGO is trying to re-establish with its listeners.

First off, Merrill couldn't talk just normally and act genuine if his life depended on it. It's a manufactured shtick based on a., yelling and b. screaming. All the time. A virtual non-stop barrage of garbage and audio filth. Even when Merrill tries to talk naturally, it sounds as if he's doing shtick; in his case, a cavalcade of screaming at the top of his lungs and instead of simply, calmly talking in human terms, Merrill instead pivots and sounds like the riveting idiot he is.

Yet for him (and I guess, Lee Hammer, KGO's PD) it is his go-to. Basic, logical and originality? No, scream and yell and sound like a carnival barker in front of a Broadway strip club. It's not real, it's not even effective and worst of all, it shows a complete lack of respect for the listener. If Merrill were on an FM Top 40 station, he'd be barely tolerable. The idea he's on a news-talk staple (even now, is a certified joke.

He's just plain awful. Yeah, schmucko supreme.

Merrill is buddy-buddy with Chip Franklin. They both used to hail from conservative talk radio. I'm going to assume Franklin gave his blessing to KGO to use Merrill as regular fill-in. I don't know, maybe Chip gets brownie points and some extra holiday gelt; whatever, Merrill is a total disgrace. He is not a good listen unless you like going to the circus and listening to the hyenas scream.

Only I have more respect for the hyenas.

KCBS' Shafer Provides the Goods on News Without Gimmicks

 I'VE ALWAYS BEEN A HUGE Margie Shafer fan. Love her anchor ability --love her reporting in the field.  It's a shame KCBS doesn't use her more often.

I heard Shafer this (Monday) morning --she was filling in for Stan Bunger (vacation)--not only can she anchor and not only is her delivery very newsy and cogent, Shafer can do a pretty good interview too, something lacking in today's marginalized radio news environment.

Shafer is a no-nonsense news-radio journalist. There is no idle, useless chit-chat. There is no attempt at useless humor. Shafer sticks to the basics and that's a welcome respite from the usual, banal, suspects who believe, (wrongly) that we tune in to hear them (and not the news).

With Shafer at the mic, I do both.

Shafer, as indicated, is under-utilized. I'd like to hear more of her, be it anchoring or in the field, reporting. Her work is always a pleasure to listen to, a professional at work giving Bay Area listeners a solid, crisp, news presentation without gimmicks and shtick.

I just wish Shafer were more of a regular KCBS presentation.

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Andre Senior Adds to KTVU Abyss

 WHAT IS IT ABOUT Andre Senior I can't stomach? Where do I start.

Senior is a total abomination. He thinks he's a genius. A specialty of news anchors but at KTVU, he's mediocrity-central. A total abomination.

Senior began his reign of terror at Channel 2 with mildly entertaining form and delivery. Straight-forward and crisp. He's now the ultimate disaster with a penchant for the totally absurd and pretentious. What an utter embarrassment and abysmal disgrace.

Senior is about as compelling as a Berkeley Quik Stop.

KTVU Fakers in the Morning; Mallicoat, Wong, and Orozco about as Inspiring as Week-Old Melba Toast

 THIS MORNING ON KTVU,  I SAW REAL CLEAR FAKERS...

The sun was trying to emerge from the clouds this morning and sort of teased their ways from the sky. The result was, again, a tease. Or what amounted to such an event.

KTVU's wooden "Mornings on Two" (Weekend) with soggy Frank Mallicoat, Claudine Wong and Rosemary Orozco, also amounts to a basic tease.

Malicoat couldn't buy an ounce of sincerity if he tried. His phony banter with Melba Toast Wong is about as warm and fuzzy as a San Mateo 7-11. 

Orozco, with her awful, miserable weather takes (complete with the crappy KTVU technical camera and sound remote) presents all the originality and warmth of a Hayward Walmart. Talk about insipid and uninspiring, I've seen more sanguine at a Modesto Target.

Here's the deal: they are so FAKE. Tey don't even pretend to be interested and guess what? We're not interested.

Malllicoat tried to interact with Wong: "Is the Wong family gonna taka a hike this morning ng?"

Oh Frank, please just shut up.

And Claudine? Try to be inspiring. I know it's difficult but give it the old college try.

"

Secret 2020 Christmas Bay Area Media Revelations

 Some Christmas Day 2020

Revelations...

*Dan Ashley is working this Christmas at 900 Front; KGO staff is pleased that Ashley has pledged to Circle7 mgt.,  he will not sing.

*Kevin Radich, working at KCBS on Christmas day, is outraged he has to do the sports reports off his home recliner and in his home kitchen.

*Mickey Luckoff acted really, really bad at his annual holiday parry telling one of the guests he couldn't listen to the Ronn Owens Report on his pocket radio. The guest was Ronn Owens himself.

*Greg Papa had to be physically restrained at SF General for repeatedly yelling, "Kris Kringle was a 4ers tight end!"

*Jerimiah Crowe. the KNBR PD, was seen at a friend's house introducing Adam Copeland as the new Byron Allen of Cumulus.

*Copeland was so thrilled at the distinction he left the party to play golf with Brian Murphy.

*Mark Willard is having a cool, thrilling Christmas Day party --all guests must wear a mask with pictures of Jessica Kleinschmidt attached on the mask.

*Members of the KCBS traffic dept. are having a post-holiday party hosted by Peter Schofield who reportedly told friends attending the affair, "if I catch you saying, 'tapping the breaks'', I'll kick your ass.'"

*Mark Thompson banned from Luckoff party; Thompson wanted to bring his own microphone and talk about himself.

*Jan Wahl heckled at Luckoff party by anonymous guest who shouted at Wahl: Nice pants, if they were white, we could show movies on 'em!"

*Stan Bunger given standing ovation at KCBS holiday soiree by KCBS rank and file for asking to work on Christmas because, as you know, Bunger hardly ever takes holidays off.

*Megan Goldsby at same holiday party, had to be tackled by staff for insisting she leave the party and go down to the studio and drop-kick Curtis Ki so she could anchor from 7-11.

*Larry Beil seen at ABC holiday get-together rushing up to NBC Bay Area anchor, Jessica Aguirre, and yelling, "I Made You!"

*KCBS "Phone Force" exposed as secret members of the Mike Pechner People Magazine's 2020 'Sexiest Celebrity Men.

*Diane Dwyer revelation to Bay Area media friends that she's producing new "Housewives of Walnut Creek" and that Mark Ibanez will be host.

*To induce weight gain, Luckoff denied reports he tried to humanly eat Jack Swanson.

Live from Yankee Stadium, Billy Joel; Go To Extremes --415 Media Holiday Video Finale

THANKS to all who support 415 Media.

Happy Holidays.

KGO/Rothmann Out of Touch, Tone Deaf on Wednesday Night Shift from Serious to Ridiculous

 

LAST NIGHT (Wednesday) on KGO: the political guru, John Rothmann, was immersed in news of the day nd it was plentiful. President Trump continued his flurry of controversial pardons; he (Trump) also stymied a military spending bill that had bi-partisan support; the POTUS also threw hot water on a second stimulus bill.

Plenty to talk about and the lines were jammed. As they should have been. And Rothmann, as he says each night, was there to take calls because..."there's no place I'd rather be."

After two hours, something putrid happened. 

In a bizarre, thorough tone deaf moment, Rothmann inexplicable shifted from news-talk to discussing holiday meals. Serious discussion of the day's topics switched from the moment to the absurd.

Rothmann, and I'm still not sure who was responsible for this, decided to talk roast beef and jelly rolls. I'm not kidding. It was like someone decided to have a toga party in the middle of a pandemic. I'm all for breaking up depressing chit-chat but timing is everything. Including KGO on a Wednesday night with a table full of important news.

Rothmann instead was talking holiday dining. You gotta be seriously kidding, right?

The Bay Area is chock full of people standing in line at food banks. There's over 2 million out of work. People are literally hungry. Bread lines replace sidewalk holiday scenes. 2020 Christmas is no traditional Christmas because the Coronavirus has killed over 318 thousand Americans and the death toll is mounting.

Yet Rothmann decided to talk holiday meals?

unbelievable.

Ashley Moonlights on KGO Radio; Schmoozes with Sammy Hagar; SF Downtown Ghost Town; Wednesday Mid Day Nosh

 DOWNTOWN San Francisco looks like the day after the world ended. How anyone can get into the "Christmas spirit" is beyond me but I'm a different breed (insert joke)

Dan Ashley had a rather remarkable morning. The KGO/ABC7 anchor was filling in for Mark Thompson --Ashley interviewed (by phone) Sammy Hagar. The Bay Area, former Van Halen legend was a cheery self, mostly plugging his Cabo-Wabo booze and Christmas-Santa tune. I never knew Hagar had a warm side.

*Ashley, by the way, had an interesting earlier take (non-Hagar)--speaking about Covid-19 travel, he said to news guy, Bret Burkhart, "fortunately, we don't have to take a bus." Way to appeal to the Greyhound demo, Dano.

*As I mentioned, much of the Bay Area looks like a ghost town. Everyone seems to have split the scene and go home. For what? To spend time with family, that seems to be the clubhouse leader. But what type of enjoyment? Between the masks, lack of toilet paper and nothing to do expect to watch old movies and gaze in to fake Christmas trees, what's the wow factor? This is a miserable year. I'd be the first one to wanna go into the news studio and broadcast the news. Good old secular Rich.

*Could you imagine what the hookers are going through? 2021 can't come fast enough.

*A veteran TV guy told me, between Covid and the holiday, "it looks like 'Armageddon here." Yeah, as I said, what's to celebrate? Our luck, we all get a once-a-century pandemic. Our luck. A lost year. Many moons from now we'll have something to tell our grandkids and friends.

FINALLY...

Seriously, I will BE HERE for those of you that are alone, depressed or just need company, 415 Media never shuts down --including Christmas Eve and Christmas...I'll be live blogging and doing my usual internet media minutiae, after all, not everyone is holiday centric, even in happier times.

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"Blues in Hoss' Flat" -Count Basie Orchestra; 415 Media Tuesday Holiday Video Finale

*Thank you all who support 415 Media.

No Morning Magic on The Game (95.7 FM) Still; Warriors' Opener Doesn't Help; FM Stagnant; KGO Close to Killing Saturday; KTVU Sound is Awful (Still) Tuesday Tosses

 A FEW MONTHS and virtually no buzz and notice.

If you listen or gave some time to invest in the "new" morning show on 95.7 FM (The Game) tell me what you think. You're the exception. I haven't heard a thing, which pretty much sums up the new show. They can try every concoction and label it new and exciting and the end result is the same. The same as its always been. The Game isn't any different and its lack of signal will always make it difficult, if not impossible, for it to register anything of significance on the Bay Area's sports radio radar.

Moreover, The Game is the flagship station for the Warriors but the Warriors aren't very good anymore and basketball on radio doesn't really work here, never has. I do like Warriors' PBP broadcaster, Tim Roye, I always have. But that doesn't translate into high ratings.

*The problem (among many) with FM radio here is they (stations) all sound alike. There is no standout FM outlet, maybe a few: KCSM, a small station dandy, 89.1 (big band) and KQED every now and then for a news event. The rest? Just background noise and not distinctive at that. FM needs a bold ID check but that isn't happening anytime soon.

*I'm also expecting anytime soon the announcement from KGO Radio that they've cancelled their Saturday live programming (John Rothmann 5-8 PM) as they most likely will do any day now. Not that I'm shocked because the Saturday show was designed to inform the Bay Area listeners on Covid-19 status. Even as the virus spreads and is out of control, don't expect KGO to reconsider (as it should) and keep the Rothmann show on Saturday. It's a shame too but oh well...

*Speaking of The Game, they're getting killed by KNBR in the morning and especially afternoon. No big news there only the wide distance gets wider and The Game can't win and they know it. Entercom knows it too but continues to live and operate in denial. If they blew it all up and decided to clean house and hire fresh voices then I'd respect them more but they continue to go with retreads and hash out the same hash.

*The "Ronn Owens Report" is on vacation until Jan. 4th. The Bay Area is mourning.

*KTVU continues to broadcast its news with lousy and amateur remote broadcasts from home venues --Julie Haener at her house in Danville looks and sounds incredibly awful and distorted. You would think Fox would fix an obvious problem but Fox obviously doesn't give a darn.

*The whole Bay Area TV/Radio line-up is embarrassing. Everyone pretty much has gone home leaving us with second and third-tier fill-ins. December is dark and dreary. 2020-style. 

Letter to Mom

MOM, today was especially hard--I went to the little place you liked. Remember, the place I took you for our weekly coffee. Your favorite. Down in Jack London Square, mom. The place that has the good scrambled eggs you like. The coffee, mom, you can't sit inside now because of the virus, you have to get it to go.

Anyway mom, there was this elderly woman-she looked just like you. She was sipping the coffee outside the restaurant, mom and I thought of you. Laughter soon turned into a little sorrow, mom, because not only did she have your look, but your mannerisms too. It was so surreal --I almost went over to her and tell her a story about you but I decided to stay put. It would have been a little crazy and worse, maybe a bit embarrassing. You'd have laughed mom.

Mom, 'm writing this on the blog. It's so hard now. Between the virus and the holidays, it's tough out there. I miss you. I miss our lunch and breakfast when I took you to the doctors. I miss the way you sip your coffee, mom. You had a way about yourself, mom. You made things that were so ordinary seem so spectacular, so happy, more for me than yourself. When I took you to the doctors and they marveled at your strength, I thought you'd live to well past a hundred. You wanted no part of that, I remember that. You told me but mom, I was rooting for it. You don't know how much I miss you. 

I miss your love, mom. I miss our breakfasts and lunch at the Butter Cup. I miss your laugh and sarcasm. I miss your love and kinship through thick and thin. Which made the experience of seeing the woman at the coffee place so exulting and at the same time, so depressing.

Mom, did you plan this?

I think about you every day. It's been two years but it still feels like yesterday. I'm still in shock, mom. You were always there and I know, even today, mom, you'd still be there. Because you're a mom. Even though you're not here, mom, I can seer you and I feel your spirit every day. And every day and every moment, I think about you. It's so hard but I'm still gonna do it mom, you'd be the first one to tell me (again) to get on with my life. But mom, it's so hard. And so easier said than done.

Mom, I hope you're OK and I will let you know, (always) when I think of you which I do all the time. Especially today when I thought about you when I saw the lady sipping coffee.

Mom, you are always on my mind.

Monday Coffee Starter: Could Giants be Done in '21 at KNBR?

 COFFEE MONDAY...

The Giants' KNBR broadcast deal expires at the end

of next (2021) season. There's NO guarantee, like in past years that an extension will be done because of a multitude of obstacles, issues that weren't considered problems in years past.

For starters, KNBR's talk-heavy Monday-Friday platforms, featuring Greg Papa, Tom Tolbert, Larry Krueger, has become a money-making machine. Much of the programming, while not overall ratings nirvana, nonetheless has placed KNBR #1 at the A25-54 sports-talk universe, men being the biggest draw.

Much of the talk has centered on the 49ers and NFL. Football is KING and all you have to do to see that is realize how much NFL talk is broadcast and specifically, the 49ers, from April to now and the playoffs and Super Bowl. The 49ers' down year hasn't translated to down interest.

So why screw it up with baseball? And the Giants? Not on the KNBR radar. Larry Baer is shivering.

The Giants have been associated with KNBR since 1979.Both them and KNBR seem almost joined at the hip. But it's a different dynamic today. The Giants, namely Larry Baer, have virtually zero leverage. They can't play hardball. They don't rule the local sports universe. A deal on an extension is still probably in the works but not a hundred percent certainty, not even close.

If you look around the radio landscape, KNBR and its 680 AM (and 104.5 FM partner) is light years ahead of 95.7 FM's "The Game." The Giants don't want an FM flagship. They clearly love being on KNBR's 50K-watt flamethrower. So there's no leverage there; KNBR and Cumulus know what.

A potential player: KGO Radio. Don't laugh. KGO as a news-talk station is a market under-performer. It makes money but not the powerhouse dollar grabber in years past. Could KNBR/Cumulus move the Giants to 810 AM? Would the Giants balk? Would there be a fight?

Stay tuned.

Hank Schulman of the Chronicle Giants' Beat Guy Dept. Took a Buyout, Didn't Retire

Hank Schulman

Can we set the record straight and not promote the BS as others in this market have?

Hank Schulman, the Giants' beat writer for over thirty years for the Chronicle, did not "retire. He was offered a buyout and decided to take it. Good for Schulman and glad he was able to escape the impending demise of newspaper journalism.

But again, the Chronicle offered him a generous deal and he accepted. Retirement? No. Just the facts, madam.

Mayor Brown and Matier -Bunger Political Coffee on Friday Deserves More Time on KCBS

 

DEAR KCBS:

Your BEST feature is your biggest under-usage: the Friday Matier (Phil) and Mayor Willie Brown schmooze with anchor, Stan Bunger.

I love hearing Willie, he's worth the price of admission (free) and Matier is a good foil.

Unfortunately, due to traffic reports and weather updates, Brown and Matier coffee cups are rushed for time and we all get a condensed and often times, rushed three minutes. We're barely into the ride and just when we get an interesting take from the mayor, we have to stop and listen to a unnecessary traffic report.

Brown, for all his bravado, is damn entertaining and funny (for the most part) and worthy of listening. Not only does Da Mayor have a pulse on all things politics, he's almost always right and pretty much spot on, no matter you're blue or red. 

Matier plays a good foil in the middle. And even Bunger knows how to moderate and allow Matier to mix in the middle and allow Willie to get in his quips. Again, there's a crisp and vital conversation here. It's like a combo coffee/political rush in the AM only just when you're beginning to want more, the segment is ruined and taken away by traffic and weather together.

KCBS could easily add this on Friday absent the "Ask the Expert" and give Matier and Brown twenty minutes of gabfest and political breakfast. The coffee tastes better and the listeners are treated to complimentary refills. 

I'm all in.

Aunt Bee was a Bitch

Aunt Bea was a total bitch.

Good morning.

I'm not here to sugar -coat. The vast majority of you all that come here are not looking for sweetness. Every now and then, yes, I'll abandon my principles and post a benign nothing but that's rare.

I don't cater to the PC crowd. I don't give a crap about what Christine Craft thinks; Christine is a total pain in the ass. A certifiable witch with strong tentacles; a really good radio talk-show host but I can't stand CC; she'd screw me over like she does all the time if I came up with a cure for any medical malady, that's CC's MO. She just can't help herself.

So anyway, your beloved Spencer Christian of KGO, yeah, I wrote him down. Sue me. I'm not exactly Captain Kangaroo but people still rip me so I  an rip Spence. That's why you come here and for no other reason. If you want sweet sunshine, turn on Nikki Medoro.  

*The entire KGO (TV) today is sorta KRON-lite. They even share the same building.  Building a Better Bay Area, they can't even build a PTA meeting in Pleasanton. PC run amok. Merry Christmas, ABC/KGO workers, this is Disney, the Mouse has just cut another 50 jobs, happy holidays!

*Christine raves on and on about Cheryl Jennings. There's only one Diane Sawyer, Chris, and CJ ain't no Sawyer. Cheryl has all the authenticity of a Brisbane strip mall. I'm not here to make friends.

*If I were to write sweet nothings about all the friendly people here in this market, I'd be broker than I am.

*Aunt Bee was a bitch. If you watched her inside like I did, she was a total control freak. Just like Christine Craft and her ilk. 

*Medoro on KGO Radio set the world record for family/kid references the other day, at this count, she's at 242. Medoro doesn't realize that the vast majority of people who listen to her don't give a shit about her husband's bar habits.

*Chip Franklin, another financial commercial and you'll be Bernie Madoff. 

*If and when, Dan Ashley gets his extension? I don't give a crap anymore. Disney is not the Mouse that roared but the mouse that whored. Fuck them, and fuck Mickey too. 

*Happy Holidays my ass.

*Murph and Mac are taking a vacation and won't be back on KNBR until Jan. 4. Could they take their asshole PD, Jerry Crowe with them? And then Mike Hohler too? Please.

*Liz Kruetz on KGO: why almost all men consider killing themselves.

*I call her name, "Ming Sze" be because, A., that's her name! and B. she wants people at Circle7 to call her, "Ming", her chosen Asian name. Gotta problem with that? Sue me.

*Larry Beil has about as much originality as a week-old cumquat.

*Tom Cibrowski, the GM/VP at KGO-TV, you're STEALING money from Disney and that's hard to do. Maybe it's time to buy another desk from Sears.

*Trixie Watkowski, you make Aunt Bea look like one of the Manson chicks.

*By the way, Trix, hw about another PC hire? Your rank and file have a holiday bet going.

*Lisa Argen, the yenta on weekend weather I don't give a shit if your boobs are real or fake, nobody cares except Jethro in Hayward.

*Christine will chime in soon and tell us she had a date with Letterman back in 1976.

*I DON'T get paid on number of clicks. NOTHING. I write this because it's the truth and so help me God.

*"Youre such a woman hater!" --no, I voted for Hillary and Henry Tannebaum.

*Hey, Sal Castaneda? Boy are you a loyal soul. 

*Amber Eikel? Sounds like a girl scout leader from Union City.

*Wait, LUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUSE PENYA!

*Yes, I love Black women TV anchors because they exude positive energy and are fine while the majority of white women anchors here have all the sanguine of a Richmond refinery. 

*KRON: TV News  version of a triple colonoscopy.

*Black women get what I'm saying. Ask Jobina.

*Caroline Tyler: outside of a free lunch,  there was really nothing there. 

*Cheryl Hurd: I'd give up 20,000 Cheryl Jennings for 1 Cheryl Hurd.

*When Cibrowski hauls ass, it takes him two trips.

*Roxie Roker, late actress, was on The Jefferson's? What a doll.

*Jobina, if your BF doesn't work out, Im available and will take you to dinner at In and Out.

*Sandhya Patel? See Sal Castaneda.

*As you can see, I'm a Christian.

*Murph and Crap: even Jews for Jesus HATE you.

*Jan Wahl: why people in Iowa still hate Jews.

*Gil Gross: more dreck, all the time. You're about as pleasing as Ronnnnnn Owens doing a #2 after lunch with Randall Bloomquist.

*Gross and Wahl: yentas supreme.

*Frank Somerville wants to get married again so he can start dating again. 

*KTVU news alert: more Persian interns coming.

*Mike Mibach: looks like a Burlingame coffee barista.

*Heather Holmes: San Leandro Panda Express manager. 

*Larry Baer: "I thought (Farhan) was Jewish!"

*Which is why Charles Johnson kept Larry on the payroll.

*Mayor London Breed: a fine-ass sista even if she thinks I suck.

*Renel Brooks-Moon: more chirpy than a Brian Copeland one-man show in El Sobrante.

*Look, you're still reading. You love this. Just pay up and make sure I can eat. 

*Otherwise, you have to read about Hank Schulman retiring.

*Hank Schulman: hemorrhoids are us.

*Raj Mathai new gig president of the San Jose Indian MILF society.

*BREAKING NEWS: Papa farts; Lund says he wants to smell. 

*Tolbert has a beer show. Sports? what the hell is that! 

*"Hohler's big pole" --"Hey pop, can I clean your driveway!?" 

Have a nice day.

Season's Greetings

(Frank Sinatra and Seal) 

h/t: Mr. Amaurey Pi-Gonzales 

*Thanks to all who SUPPORT 415 Media.

Have a great holiday.

Heeeyo

When things were great.

Johnny Carson delivers Top 10 list to David Letterman.

The ABC7 Quagmire at 900 Front

I THOUGHT I WAS THE ONLY ONE WHO HAD A BEEF WITH CIRCLE7--I'M NOT ALONE

There's a multitude of reasons why Eric Thomas decided to un-retire and get back into local media (he's going to KCBS to anchor/report in January--as reported here) --as I've said in this column repeatedly, Thomas all but begged for a buyout from KGO/ABC; his last few years at 900 Front were painful. He detested most of the staff and I can't blame him. It wasn't all a matter of grossly incompetent staff, but a complete distaste of the Disney premises. Thomas is no Mister Sunshine but he was a respected figure at ABC7. He got a sweet buyout from Disney but he also wants to leave the house. He'll do well at KCBS where a droll personality fits well.

*Thomas, like everyone else, respected, but HATED the News Director. She barely tolerated him but she wasn't about to mess with him. Even she knows a little if she's still no people person. She couldn't lead an Eskimo to an Alaskan Ice cream stand.

*Remember, Ama Daetz ca't stand Kristen Sze. So can't a lot of people. Kristen has built up a wall of folks at KGO who think she's a complete power chick and that she'll do anything to gain firm control. Trixie, the ND, curries favor with Ming only at the expense of staff who know all too well that Trixie will bust your proverbial balls to keep her reign at ABC7. Yeah, she is the ultimate ball buster. Ming knows that and thus, why she continues to kiss Trixie's ass. It's a good way to keep a 3PM show even if no one watches.

*Spencer Christian --a good guy on air but a real jerk off and I'm not talking about wine, numbers and other things.

*Spencer hangs out with Larry Beil; birds of a feather...

*If Ama stopped playing with her hair, she'd probably move up the totem pole.

*KGO-TV might possess the worst, most amateur-hour reporters this town has ever had. KGO's reporters make KRON a relative journalistic sunbath. "Luuuuuuse Payna? Are you serious?" 

*The weekend sports guy with the doofus smile? He gets heckled by the janitors. For good reason.

*Spencer also had a thing with the late, great Cheryl Jennings, who still has some fake title as "anchor emeritus." Yeah, right. It now makes sense: Jennings' ex-husband wanted someone to publish dirt about her. Now I know why. Jennings was not so warm and fuzzy. Supposedly, she's teaching now. God, I'm sure that's a treat.

*KGO hasn't been relevant since Van left. The closest thing to Van, Dan Ashley. And although he should sign an extension, I'm not so shocked if he doesn't. I can see Beil sneaking his way into fatso's office (Cibrowski) and saying he'd gladly take Ash's place.  What a guy.

*Don't invite Beil to a Ashley/Mark Ibanez party.

*Beil makes Kevin O'Brien look like the Pope.

*See, Trixie, wants Cibrowski's (Tom, the GM) job. If he doesn't know that by now, the guy is dumber than I thought. 

*Doin Lim: getting better by the day. Watch out, Ama.

San Jose Sharks Should bring back Drew Remenda

News Item: Jamie Baker has decided to leave the San Jose Sharks as its color analyst on NBC Sports cable.

Flash: Randy Hahn, the superb Sharks TV PBP broadcaster (pictured on left with Drew Remenda) is now paired with Bret Hedican. But the Sharks need a color guy with Baker's departure.

Why not bring back Drew Remenda? Remenda is as popular as ever and would provide the NorCal hockey region a much-needed jolt. Remenda is as popular ever. 

So, Hasso Plattner, Sharks owner, be the genius you are and hire back Drew.

KRON Staff Told to Dress Up --Nextstar Bosses

EARLY LAST MONTH, at KRON, the bosses told the working stiffs to dress up; women especially and men too; wear dresses and men wear ties and suits; even the off-air staff; why?

Nextstar suits were to pay a visit to the KRON 900 Front studios and offices. No, they were not there to exchange spaghetti and meatball recipes. Put two and two together.

*I thought $500M was too high a selling price for independent albatross KRON; so did you. Until I remember back two decades ago that KTLA fetched $500M and people shook their heads. TV stations are valuable properties. Ask Jim Gabbert.

*Speaking of Gabbert, mister thrifty could have bought KGO Radio for cheap but el cheapo wasn't interested. He apparently wants to die rich.

*Papa and Lund "sports?" More like Papa and Lund, porno.

*With the 49ers' drop-off and baseball/Giants uncertainty, expect KNBR/Cumulus to have another round of 2020/21' layoffs and furloughs. 

****************************************************************

HOLIDAY GREETINGS --415 Media

Any contributions/donations to my "donate" button are welcome. It's a time of year that all donations go to holiday things like food, expenses, groceries, etc. Go the "Pay Pal" donate button on the right and follow the prompters. I will personally call/e-mail you thanking you for your donation.

415 Media Exclusive: Former Circle7 News Vet Anchor, Eric Thomas, To Join KCBS

Eric Thomas, the former, KGO-TV veteran anchor/reporter, is about to venture into the radio world, I've learned through a local broadcast source.

So much for retirement.

Thomas, who spent three decades at Circle7, will be joining KCBS as an anchor and reporter in the field.

Thomas is set to begin his duties at KCBS in mid-January.

Thomas was a KGO mainstay through much of the 90's and 2000's, anchoring on weekends and reporting during the week. His easy-going manner with both co-workers and viewers was a hit. 

Later in his career at Circle7, he was hellbent on getting a buyout offer from Disney/ABC and he eventually did.

Thomas' relaxed style and news acumen should be a win-win for both him and KCBS.

KRON 'For Sale' Picks Up Steam and Monday Bullets

YOU GOT $500M sitting around? Buy KRON, it's for sale. Well, everything is for sale (today and yesterday) the word on the street? KRON's owner, Nextstar, wanrs to unload its biggest station so it can pour some needed revenue into its piggy bank to pay off debt.

$500M sounds a bit high to me but think Top 10 market and think frequency. NO, I don't think NBC is a taker. 

*This morning on KCBS, the all-commercials leader was interrupted by news. 

*The KRON 2020 playbook: hire 100,00 weather people and everything else, phone it in.

*From now until the end of the year, you'll be seeing (and hearing) holiday fill-in help as your favorite news, sports and weather people take time off to celebrate the holidays, spend time with family and give thanks for a wonderful year it was, 2020, pass your mask and please wear it. No? OK.

*KPIX, your scarlet letter TV station.

*KTVU, the station in town that continues to rock with steady ratings and an atmosphere where everyone is trying to split. Fox treats its people the same way Disney treats its folks only Fox doesn't have Disneyland. Wait a minute, Disneyland is closed. Oh well.

*Bill Martin saying "Happy Hanukah" in a promo about as heartwarming as watching Steve Harvey host Miss Universe.

*Julie Haener about as warm as those vials of Covid-19 vaccine kits.

*Julie used to smile more often and seem friendly over the years but is now applying the Claudine Wong iteration.

*Alex Savidge, if/when Somerville departs, is the Channel 2 leader to take over at 10 PM.

*Someone that does smile but it's rather phony: Rosemary Orozco. Who still isn't on prime time because it's obvious Rosy is still Wheel of Fortune material and not Jeopardy.

*Liz Kruetz: now at 900 Front, everyone hates her because she's perceived as the station snitch. Good, now Ming Sze has a partner in crime.

*And yes, Ama Daetz HATES Kristen Sze. And Trixie doesn't know what to do.

*Trixie has cool holiday plans for the rank and file: she's gonna go to Subway and cut up a 12-inch meatball sandwich and feed them to staff. The Disney way because well, you know, it's building a better Bay Area. Merry Christmas, staff.

*Trixie is to warmth is what Loooooooooooooooooooooose PENYA! is to news acumen.

*BREAKING NEWS! Circle7 GM Tom Cibrowski got a new chair and made a memo about it. The guy is a genius.

*Cibrowski thinks Terrilyn Joe is the Asian Jackie O.

*"The Ronn Owens Report" --about as interesting as a Yuba City Arby's.