I DOUBT KTVU (FOX) will fire FRANK SOMERVILLE. There's no reason to (for now) and there is an abundance of complex legal issues (on both sides) to consider. At this point, probably some lingering issues to ponder and consider.
*I'm not a lawyer but Somerville's explanation of his conduct (that he mistakenly took sleeping pills) on Sunday night's KTVU 10 PM newcast has to be legit. And KTVU, for the moment, must treat it as such or risk a potential legal quagmire down the road. Beyond that, there's a lot of unknowns.
WHO ALLOWED Somerville to go on air in the first place on Sunday night? WHO was minding the store? I've been unable to get the name of the producer who ultimately made the call for Somerville to leave the news desk. Was it just the producer's call or was it instructions from a management figure? NO ONE knows because FOX2 is SILENT. I get it that KTVU has to be careful here, from a legal standpoint, but frankly, they BLEW IT! YES, again!
*Somerville is the face of the station. He is KTVU's #1 most-visible news personality. His future at the station--even before Sunday night's debacle--is both a peril not just for him but KTVU and Fox itself.
*What's going to happen: My best guess is that FOX will tell Somerville to take a few weeks off (maybe a month or more); they also might requst him to go to get some professional help. They could buy time and plan out a long-term solution. Of course, that in and of itself could be problematic.
*Julie Haener has been entirely MUM since Monday. Not that she would (or could) be otherwise, but newsroom insiders at KTVU tell me, co-anchor Haener is privately SHOCKED at all this unintended commotion and might be looking to escape from the scene.
*KTVU has been here before with the embarrassing FAKE KOREAN/ASIANA PILOTS debacle in 2013. Somerville, ironically, was asked to read the APOLOGY for the station. It was a BLUNDER that still HAUNTS KTVU today. Now this? Dear lord.
*IF FOX2/KTVU were to BAIL on Somerville --either now (unlikelY) or down the road (assuming he gets treatment and is well) surely, ANOTHER STATION would pick him up. Which I'm sure KTVU is pondering. They should be.
If you’re a professional newscaster, or a professional anything, why would you take sleeping pills right before the start of your workday?
ReplyDeleteAccidentally mistook them for allergy pills? It does happen.
ReplyDeleteYou believe him?? C'mon ,man. The guy needs AA or some kind of intervention. He was drunk. We won't see him for a long time. KTVU cannot accept the liability. They HAVE to be tight lipped. This is a personnel matter.
ReplyDeleteIf Frank Somerville cannot show up for his highly compensated job alert and sober, he doesn't meet the minimum qualifications for the position. Irrelevant whether it's sleeping pills or booze.
ReplyDeletedamaged goods... most contracts have language about behavior...
ReplyDeletePoor Julie probably has whiplash from the quick head swivel at the beginning. Obviously someone should have seen a problem before air time. KTVU seems to employ some very weird producers.
ReplyDeleteI understand his story of taking the wrong meds. I don't buy it as I can see him fidgeting nervously as the news started. Dude could have said I'm not feeling well, I need help. Instead, the newscast said it by slurred speech, speech pacing issues and an off gaze. I do hope he gets help and I see him being referred to Fox's Employee Assistance Program.
ReplyDeleteIt is OK. Now we can see more of his replacement woman with her sultry, unique voice-- and she is dressing more professional these days. Frank should break those Ambien in half from now on so he does not have the "sleep walking" side affects.
ReplyDeleteThe wild card in all this is Heather Holmes. KTVU picked her and not a male anchor to pair with Haener and you just can't ignore the signal that sends.
ReplyDeleteBut also Holmes last week or so posted on Facebook that her schedule was "temporarily changing" and she would be doing the 5, 6, 10, and 11 including Friday nights. This was before Somerville's situation blew up on air.
I bet that intern as reported on this site earlier causing his divorce must be LOL right now expressing herself to an older man and ruining his life and career with $$$ losses. Frank was indeed drunk and it is nothing wrong he stayed home that day not showing up for work. And, whoever let him on air that day should be the one fired. Frank won't be fired, his position and fame is very stable with tons of back-up from the company. He needs some time off to settle himself, rehab and maybe, start a new family to keep him company. Working as a reporter is stressful even Dennis Richmond had a lot of stress expressing it out after work.
ReplyDeleteThe main concern right now is Heather Holmes trying to take over his spot, I can say KTVU version of Ming Sze and Michelle Greigo playing dirty behind other anchor back. Better watch out
As of who should get fired, KPIX VDLC!! Very unfair for Liz Cook doing extra work.
So it’s all the women surrounding poor Frank that did him in? Give me a break! Instead of displacing blame on Heather Holmes, who has the ability to show up to work sober, Frank needs to own it. Also cut the crap with the racist Asian tropes.
DeleteIt's up to Frank to face the facts, stop lying to cover up, etc. He's basically still stuck in the first phase of an addiction...the denial stage.
ReplyDeleteI don't take a lot of pills, but never in my life have I taken the wrong ones. "Took the wrong meds" does seem to be an oft-use excuse when someone's under the influence, though. Kind of like, "Someone hacked my Twitter account" when something dumb gets posted.
ReplyDeleteFrank Somerville’s life is crashing and burning.
ReplyDeleteFor Frank, I would think that management would insist he would take a leave of absence using his sick leave and enter a intensive outpatient program or a residential treatment program. I would assume that Fox has an Employee Assistance Program which would pay for a the treatment costs.
This is the only logical way for Frank to receive help for his addiction. Physical and mental health is what matters and when he is healthy, he can resume his career.
TBH, Fox should look at luring Terry McSweeny away from NBC Bay Area as a long-term replacement for Frank. At his juncture in his career, he is looking at the sunset in due time. He is not in the same league as Van Amburg, Dave McElhatton or Evan White.
In the short-term, I think that Julie and Heather are competent and would increase viewership amongst the population.
Does Somerville's lawyer know Vacar's lawyer? Has Somerville himself spoken with Vacar? If yes to one or both, then each side will be fiercely protective of their liability factors.
ReplyDeleteKRON would pick him up!!
ReplyDeleteI think that ktvu should give frank a break after all they are fake news. They have not had one story on the crisis on the border. My latino friends don't even know whats going on down there.
ReplyDelete