Two Inspiring Ladies Behind the Anchor Desk at 'PIX; Goodrich and Cook; What's Not to Like? Thursday Open

Juliette Goodrich (left) and Elizabeth Cook

KPIX has a decision looming --who becomes the face of the station? I'm going out on a limb. I like a couple of underrated anchors both highly rated --one on the week night and one weekend lady I've often thought was under-utilized and should be on the 6 and 11 paired with....well, that's another decision for another time.

I'VE always loved Juliette Goodrich, smart as a whip and quite the visible personality I think PIX should immediately move to the anchor desk, it's right there in front of them. Even if I'm dreaming and pretending I'm the wizard behind the curtain, it boggles my mind why Goodrich has not been offered the fulltime Monday thru Friday gig. Maybe because she's comfortable in the field and not reading the teleprompter during the week. Can that be it? I don't have an answer there but I know business and KPIX should know business too. If they did, they'd immediately make Goodrich switch to primetime.

My thoughts on Liz Cook are completely different than her rep in the market. I like her. Yeah, so she's a little wooden and robotic but she's pleasant, she reads well and she has a nice look and delivery. If Liz were to open up more, she'd be a solid A, but why quibble now, we're in uncharted territory these days and I'm only here offering my opinion which I now you love and admire.

PIX has made some amazingly dumb decisions in the past. They will need to revamp and retool --if push came to shove and they paired Goodrich with Cook, that wouldn't be the worst thing in the world and they'd probably get the entire PTA in Danville.

Yeah, two damsels not in distress but on the desk! It's not as radical as you may think. Girl power at 855 Battery, check me in. It's hella better than this!

Enough said. Grab your coffee and bagel and chew on it.

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415 Media Friday; KPIX's Liz Cook Is Prego; Media Notes

 As some sage observer wryly pointed out to me, maybe "there's something in the water there"--in this case, it would be at 855 Battery: home to KPIX.

Another TV anchor is pregnant: Elizabeth Cook. Her first.

My 5 spy is everywhere.

Cook is part of "baby-talk central"--she joins Michelle Griego and Elizabeth Wenger, who are also expecting.

MEDIA NOTES FRIDAY

*Never met Erica Kato but by all accounts a really nice person and cheerful woman, KRON's loss, Erica, go out and breathe some fresh air.

*I have no idea how and why KSFO has been running old and outdated "Melanie Morgan--Brian Sussman promos." Morgan left the show back in July, 2013. I don't think they're coffee buddies, just a hunch.

*Desperate local weather people: "we can report some sprinkles are possible Sunday Night, but only a 10% chance and mostly in the North Bay." Thanks for providing us such informative updates. Fill more time.

*From a local radio broadcast observer about a certain painful, new local nighttime "talk-show": "It's bad when the show is merely awful and gets poor reviews--it's worse that it's so bad people just haven't even talked about it."

*Chip Franklin: started fast out of the gate but limped coming into the stretch.

*I would write more about FM radio in this town if their were something to write about other than Jack Kulp/KOIT and KCSM.

*Noted without comment: They were playing hip hop music under a concert tickets giveaway on the KGO Radio Morning News Friday.

*"I'm Jason Middleton, LIVE in the studio." As opposed to live from the parking lot. Thanks Jason.

*First known impression about the new Cumulus SF Cluster building on Battery: the coffee sucks.

*Voting for a union is one thing--negotiating a contract? Good luck.

*The only show on KPIX that did OK during sweeps was the noon news which has an older demo.

*Listen to a Savage monologue some day and understand why he's the best storyteller on radio. That doesn't mean you have to like him.

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Rich Lieberman

KPIX Bad February Sweeps; Bastida/De La Cruz Team Should Be Front And Center; Martin Is Wooden; Cook Element; Monday Starter

 KPIX had a crummy February book--I told you that on Friday. The specific numbers aren't out yet but PIX had an across-the-board ratings tumble. How bad? Enough for News Director, Dan Rosenheim to reassign the evening EP to the morning and the morning EP to night. He also hinted there would be more changes coming.

One of the problems at CBS-SF is the constant shifting of a "team"--a solid team. PIX has no identity, certainly no anchor identity. Their best on-air anchor is Ken Bastida--he should be the face of the station but the way he's used he's largely confined to 2nd-tier status. It doesn't take a brain surgeon to suggest that a Bastida/Veronica De La Cruz pairing should headline the 5, 6, and 11 PM newscast. Period. I have been underwhelmed with De La Cruz for the most part since her summer arrival but in terms of star power and anchor coordination, she and Bastida should be front and center. They're PIX's most popular personalities. Which would spell bad news for Liz Cook and Allen Martin.

I like Martin and he's a solid newsman but his wooden appearance and stiff-look style doesn't exactly provide viewer warmth. In other words, Martin comes across as sullen. It's especially evident now; sometimes I think Martin gives the impression he's having root canal performed while reading the teleprompter. Every once and awhile Martin smiles and laughs, but not too often. He needs to reinvent himself and maybe a new time slot would help. Harsh? Sure, but needed. Along with certain other issues.

Cook is the subject of major derision at KPIX among Martin, notably, and to a lesser extent, weatherman, Paul Deannu. Cook's thanks-daddy way of getting the gig irritated the hell out of many but I've sort of warmed to her lately. She's much better at ad-libbing and does a decent job of reading the news. (We forget that they read copy on TV--that's what they do) Furthermore, and this might surprise you, Cook has a personality--she should use it. Her demeanor and dainty looks are not her fault; it's time for the jealous set to take a sabbatical and leave her alone. She's not as bad as projected. But she's also not nirvana--disadvantage, PIX.

Style and cohesion is not something that comes naturally. You have to work at it. In the old days, Dave McElhatton and Wendy Tokuda weren't exactly Donny and Marie but they eventually built up  good, convincing chemistry to the point where they both helped each other. It worked. Better yet, Mac helped Wendy at a time when she wasn't exactly lighting up the screen. Her frequent on-air flubs were neutralized by Mac being Mac. Stars. Add in Wayne Walker and you had quite a trifecta.

Not the case today at 855 Battery.

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Allen Martin Really Doesn't Care for Elizabeth Cook; KPIX Anchor No Love Letters for Colleague

  So, here comes a juicy little story live and direct, deep from the darkest chambers of the building at 855 Battery.

KPIX anchor at 5, Allen Martin doesn't hate fellow anchor, Elizabeth Cook.

No sir, he despises Liz Cook. Can.not.stand.her.

And he does the 5 PM news along side her.

I got this from a mole that knows the building inside and out and has great knowledge of the PIX operation.

Martin, according to my eye and ear, is livid about Cook's lack of credentials, lack of pedigree, lack of ability to offer even the slightest bit of care and thought. Allen's words, according to the mole, not mine. This comes to me, unsolicited by the way, just as KPIX has hired a new anchor, Veronica De La Cruz, from MSNBC,  to do the 6 and 10 news. Cook still does the 5 and 11 but used to do the 5, 6 and 11, the virtual face of the station. I smell something here.

Coincidence? You be the judge.

Martin's hostility toward Cook involves the general consensus inside PIX that Cook only got the job because her father is some higher-up Disney exec who supposedly schmoozed the hell out of upper management.