A PRODUCER at KGO --Circle7--proposed a circular-file-type story about all those black crows that have invaded --in droves--Bay Area neighborhoods--the EP at ABC7 nixed the idea saying the boss said it was "counter to 'Building a Better Bay Area mojo", the boss's words.
Yeah, Disney has employed cult-like tactics at KGO, "mojo?" --For god's sake, what a travesty you run, Trixie.
*The Giants spoke to Bob Costas and couldn't make a deal --logistics and money reasons--but again, hiring Ted Robinson to do 50 -60 games is a win-win for a variety of reasons. Jon Miller is reducing his workload in '23 and that's a big deal especially on the road when "Kruk and Kuip" don't travel. And with Dave Flemming missing more games due to ESPN duties, the Giants will need a few more bodies --Robinson is a name, a local name, a Giants/MLB resume and newfound respect in the organization, especially one Larry Baer.
Larry, call Ted.
*The Giants got a big new toy with their $350M SS, but he's NOT Aaron Judge. Or to put it more aptly, nobody pays to watch the opening act for Bruce Springsteen. The Giants got a half Billy Joel.*Today (Wednesday) on KNBR the toy dept. will marvel at the new furniture that is Carlos Correa --all good from a baseball standpoint, but nopt a STAR as in Mr. Judge and not a guy who puts butts in seats.
*People at KPIX seem to feel Sara Donchey has improved. No, she's actually become more comfortable and, thus, she's more comfortable on the camera.
Donchey had a rough start and was so flustered she was temporarily moved off the 11 and sent to the field to do reporting. Her high anxiety was due to in large part, family issues and a business matter in LA that needed caretaking.
I was Donchey's biggest critic; yeah, her LA-centric look and MO was too bizarro for my taste but give her credit now, she's a lot more focused and makes for a good watch on PIX and boy do they need a healthy look.*Then there's Ryan Yamamoto. OMG, what a waste.
*Just the facts: In less that three years, PIX has lost 3! major anchors: Ken Bastida (forced retirement), Veronica De La Cruz, (who knows), and Paul Deanno, (fled to NBC Chicago) --it's not yours truly who's screwing with the water at 855 Battery.
*Allen Martin could have stayed on at PIX but he too smelled the roses --a combo effect: he retired but had he not, CBS would have ordered him to.*Sports anchor Vern Glenn is the defacto new fulltime guy --Vern's happy but his wallet is sort of depressed.
KPIX's down fall started a long time ago when they fired Kessler and Kohara quit shortly after. The station has never been the same.
ReplyDeleteI remember when Mac roamed the halls at KPIX, the informal rule was if he was in the breakroom, you couldn’t use the microwave because of his pacemaker.
DeleteA couple of times, he would come in and sit down to eat his lunch. I would nonchalantly heat up a sandwich or something and watch Mac grab his chest. I would say “I forgot, sorry”. That was the best.
I looked up "blurred boundaries" in the dictionary and it said, "see Disney and KGO7"
ReplyDeleteThen I looked up "nauseating" and it said "see Disney and KGO7"
That's a good nickname for VDLC. Veronica De La Who Knows.
ReplyDeleteI hope Brian Hackney won’t be next. He’s 65 now and sometimes doing double dutying (though more emphasis on science & anchoring and leaving the weather to his pet, Darren Peck). True I know he’s the smartest guy in the world and all around Bay Area television, but so was Bastida, right?
ReplyDeleteAs far as I know him & Allen Martin have worked for at least 15+ years in KPIX.
Sara Donchey is good. I just catch her at the end of the 11pm news before Colbert but she’s comfortable with Vern and Hagen. Maybe the people on this blog will stop using the pejorative grade school nickname they use for her.
ReplyDeleteThis is the longest you've ever gone without bashing KTVU. What gives?
ReplyDelete@3:34pm: Money talks.
DeletePlease, no Ted Robinson. He was the odd man out in the booth with the Giants and Mets. Let him excel at the Olympics and tennis.
ReplyDeleteI still don’t get why they haven’t hired somerville and Ibanez. I know somerville has baggage. But he’s also incredibly talented and people are always willing to give a second chance. But just think. Pix could have half of the ten on news. How could they now want to take that. And somerville and Goodrich would be perfect together. Because they’re both real on the air. They both have empathy. And they’re not afraid to show it. It just seems like such a no brainer to me
ReplyDeleteSorry Frank.
DeleteFrank had his second chance. And his third. And he's a liability now, insurance-wise and legally. He bonks an intern, gets DUIs, goes on the air with slurred speech, and he shouldn't be able to drive now anyway, so what would they have to do, pick him up at his house in a limo?
DeleteGet him at KPIX with Goodrich only if we feel he is stable and ready to anchor with her. Otherwise pair him with Brian Hackney & put Andrea back to weeknights at 11PM & Sara back to field reporting.
DeleteSara Donchey was raised in Diamond Bar, about 35mi outside of LA. If she ever chooses to return to SoCal, we will accept her with open arms. Her chemistry with Chris Holmstrom at KCBS/KCAL was amazing.
ReplyDeleteI think they were together and broke up. That is why she is in SF.
Delete@4:16, Chris Holmstrom is married to his partner in Los Angeles, according to Donchey’s IG account.
DeleteI like Sara D's presentation and her physique (a good figure works well with KPIX's current method of framing the entire person's figure; not merely the upper half, with the lower half hidden by a desk.
ReplyDeletePerhaps here wardrobe could use some work, or maybe she's not paid enough to spend more money on clothes while living in the Bay Area. She seems to only get the 11 pm 1/2 hour shift or is she on at other times or in the field too? Is she a part-time employee or what other assignments does a tv station give to get in ~40 hours/week?
I miss Ysabel Duron, she was smart, concise, and a nice person. Had the urgency of a story at hand - if it was fluff, she was relaxed; if it was violent, she gave it the proper seriousness.
ReplyDeleteWhy isn’t there reporters who are at ease on camera??
Man Rich, SO many comments on Sara Donkey! First of all though, I do agree with the first commenter, regarding the loss of John Kessler and Sydnie Kohara. I have said it here before, that their leaving was the end of KPIX especially the morning news. But regarding Sara Donkey, I have to disagree with L-2 at 4:56pm, who said she has a good figure. To me, she has a big flat butt, and a bulge in her middle. And as others pointed out, her wardrobe, while it has improved, still needs help. For one thing, she wears these pants without a belt. It clearly looks like something is missing, and the addition of a simple belt would help to dissuade away from the bulge in her middle. The bottom line though, is that while I agree as almost 99% of the time with Rich, I agree that Donkey has improved quite vastly in her delivery, etc, but for me, I still look at her and I would swear she still looks like a former porn star embarking on a new career.
ReplyDelete@3:18 Your put downs of Sara Donchey’s name are as witty as a bunch of 5th graders hanging out at a 7-11 in Dixon.
DeleteTime for Kruk and Kuip to retire!
ReplyDeleteLet’s just hope the Giants don’t bring in that minor league announcer Joe what’s-his-name in to do full in work. He was truly awful when he came in last season. Sounded as if he was still in college working for the campus station. He’d be fine in someplace such as Fresno, but mit here. Ted Robinson would be a good fill in but I believe he didn’t get along with Larry Baer who expects anyone who works for the Giants to suck up to him. .
ReplyDeleteGive Doug Greenwald a shot. His dad was instrumental in showing Kruk and Kuip the ropes, I think Giants fans would welcome his presence. No Ted Robinson, he was a bore and I couldn't stand how he always addressed Kruk as Mikey.
DeleteA friend of mine was a news director at a tv station in Bakersfield. His main male anchor was an older guy with gray hair. The others were much younger like first or second jobs put of college. I asked what's with the older guy. Turns out he drank himself out of two great jobs and this was his last chance. If Frank ever gets another anchor job it will.be like Bakersfield.
ReplyDeleteTed Robinson is a nice guy but he was such a phony especially when hyping up Barry Bonds. Giants need to go in a different direction but I agree Joe Ritzo is terrible. He is Sears and Roebuck material
ReplyDeleteDonchey is good. Solid, based on the cards they have. So many other weak ones. Shoulda made a k-mart deal with Alan Martin for a few years.. he probably would have went for it. He was also solid
ReplyDeleteAllen Martin retired after Ryan Yamamoto was hired and he was relegated to the 6:00 pm broadcast and teamed with Sara Donchey at 3:00 pm. Martin saw the handwriting on the wall when he passed over. After Ken Bastida, retired Martin was the only legitimate male capable of co-anchoring at the station. Now Brian Hackney is stuck on the weekend. Management is stupid
DeleteThese people bashing Sara Donchey definitely have a problem on she looks and dresses on the air. Sara’s fine!
ReplyDeleteOk. Sure.
DeleteI was hoping that Roxy Bernstein would be an option for part-time work not knowing he is committed to ESPN. I think Ted Robinson would be a natural fit, but he always broadcasts Wimbledon, US Open and French Open, plus the Olympics. However, Doug Greenwald has paid his dues in the minor leagues so deserves an opportunity, too.
ReplyDeleteThe Giants need an established baseball announcer from another team. The current guys are fading or flirting with the national scene, as is the case with Dave.
ReplyDeleteGod, I sure hope that the Giants don’t hire Roxy Bernstein. He sounds very bland doing baseball and like Bob Fitzgerald, is one of those entitled rich kids who’s dads always bought them whatever they wanted. Both were born on third base and they both act like it!
ReplyDelete