Mibach-Mikaelian Hardly a Detente But KTVU Newscast Decidedly Better in Morning; Senior Early Favorite to Replace Frank Somerville; Eikel Tension Remains; Tipping Point Maintains at Fox2

HERE'S IRONY: The REAL feud and DISGUST from KTVU's Mike Mibach toward fellow anchor, Gasia Mikaelian--and it's genuine--has unintentionally delivered a much more professional newscast on Fox2.

Mibach and Mikaelian don't really talk much, either on the set (not even idle chit-chat) or off the air. He has abated from screaming in his car about Gasia's showboating. And she has toned down her circus act, from the obnoxious hair-dangling and absurd gooey talk. The end result to viewers is a much more straight-forward and therefore, polished newscast. It isn't nirvana but it's a far more cohesive news presentation without the Foxian crap.

The Gaas is known to and has shown in the past.

Don't let this momentary detente fool you. Mibach wants no part of the morning at KTVU. He only went back because KTVU has personnel shortages, especially at the onset of the holidays. As one of my Fox2 spies tells me, he "desperately wants the evening job"--the spot at 6 and 10/11 replacing Frank Somerville--and Miback thinks he's a front-runner. He isn't. I would bet on Andre Senior as the leader in the clubhouse to take over for Somerville.

Senior has advantages, like being a minority and looks far more prime time than Mibach. He also has a good repport with Julie Haener, which doesn't hurt. Unless KTVU suits look outside the market to fill in Somerville's spot, Senior has the edge. But things could change. They always do.

Mibach has emerged as the dominant anchor in the "MO2" platform. He could fake it and try to work out his own issues with Gasia but I'm not sure Mibach's ego could accomplish the feat. Especially when you factor in Gasia's DISGUST that her partner actually screams in his car in the KTVU parking lot after their shift ends. But he does and he did. It not only was witnessed by several station staffers but Mibach himself ACKNOWLEDGED it recently when he confirmed it to a co-worker at KTVU.

These developments MASK the REAL, fractured, sea of tension at KTVU between the rank and file (most staff, including lower-level peeps) and embattled ND (News director), Amber Eikel. A tipping point at KTVU is still evident. Clearly, Aikel and her allies at KTVU (not many) are HATED. Eikel runs the newsroom like Nurse Ratched runs the insane asylum. There is DEEP RESENTMENT. Any day now, an EXPLOSION of emotions could threaten the operation.

A guy at KTVU who buys donuts and coffee for the staff stopped buying the donuts. The person stops by a cheap deli near the station and threw a bag of stale cheetos on the table in the coffee room. It's getting real bad.