Dan Ashley Lets His Hair Grow Out; Could Circle7 Vet Be Signaling Move?: Rumors Rampant; Chinatown Dim Sum Thoughts; KNX in LA Still Royalty While KCBS Is In The Abyss; KNBR Internal Lousy March Numbers; KTVU Mikaelian Clarity; Friday Pulse

AN INTERESTING OBSERVATION ...on this Friday from a sage Circle7 contact:

The ABC7 person told me that they were watching KGO News the other night and, "Dan Ashley let his hair grow out."

So I asked, "you think he's leaving?" "Maybe", said the source.

Ashley's future is still murky--he remains officially unsigned and working on an "at-will" basis which is apparently OK with him and thrifty ABC/Disney. The rumors are rampant but NO ONE is talking.

Something's gotta give. I thought a new extension was close and it may yet be a done deal until it's not.

Ashley has lots of gravitas in the East and his native South Carolina, including standing offers from ABC News and stations that love his work.

His hair or not.

I'm trying to reason here. I'm being rational and saying ABC won't let a thirty-year-plus SF TV News vet go but corporate interests are not so rational.

*IN CHINATOWN the other day --a scene from the past: a little old Chinese guy and his wife making dim sum and listening to Cantonese-Chinese talk radio. I don't know the language but the dim sum was good and it beat the current KGO which is dead.

*The radio ratings aren't out but word is both KCBS and KNBR had really BAD March numbers--is anyone shocked? Moi isn't.

*DO WHAT I DO: take a listen to KNX in LA and hear the difference between a REAL news operation and woeful KCBS. There's no comparison.

KNX covers LA and Southern CAL as SOLID and professional as ever even in today's difficult times. They care, they still have really good people like Charles Feldman and Pete Demetriou-far cry from the eternal lousys and nobodys that make up KCBS.

It's a quality listen and more than professional because KNX has legit leadership and a bevy of good people. They make sure the place is humming 24/7.

KCBS used to be that before being sent into the abyss by a woman who has ZERO standing and proves it every day.

Demetriou, (pictured) is a veteran LA News/radio HOFer; his reports are must-listen and even marginal LA radio news folks appreciate his passion and work ethic.

*I COMPLIMENTED the other day, KTVU's AM anchor, Gasia Mikaelian; she surprised me with a good interview of the mayor. Good work deserves mention here from time to time. I wish Gasia could apply her chops to everyday broadcasts.

The same would apply to Mike Mibach. Wait a minutre; don't hold your breath.