Cheryl Hurd Lights Up Sunday Morning on NBC Bay Area; McSweeney Assist; Anne Makovec Mulls PIX Dissing; Jobina Fortson Gets LA Love; Does ABC7 Feel the Same?; Somerville "Project" with Gasia; Julie Haener is (Again) Pissed; Fonzi Set to Replace KTVU's Mark Ibanez; Rothmann's Love Affair with Woeful Jan Wahl Hurts KGO Radio; Monday Mash

MONDAY MASH

Cheryl Hurd was a welcome Sunday AM fill-in anchor, with Terry McSweeney, on NBC Bay Area.

Hurd lit up the screen with her outstanding persona and dynamic news presence--McSweeney provided his usual steady delivery and brought forth a Sunday calm. But it was Hurd who stole the show. I hope this is a more permanent move because Hurd certainly has the chops to work on the anchor desk.

*Anne Makovec continues to be passed over at PIX; she's as good as ever on the morning radar (which no one watches) but would like an evening, primetime gig--on the desk, but so far, CBS-SF has rebuffed her. It's been that way for years now and word on the street is Makovec is looking for a new home.

*Pissing off Makovec further: some schmuck from Vegas, Darrin Reed Cowan (clever) is on his way to PIX --they seem to be throwing shit all over the wall hoping something will stick. This latest gem seems more like a Sin city carnival barker than a legit news guy. Call me crazy, I'm ASTOUNDED, KPIX can't find common ground and actually run a TV News station. It's mind-boggling. Now they've resorted to bringing in morons like this doofus. Yeah, that'll get 'em four more viewers.

*Jobina Fortson has been mulling offers from stations in LA looking for an up and comer like the current morning KGO-TV anchor (ABC7)--Fortson has always got my attention when she's on but Circle7 seems content to just keep her confined to the AM news platform. I see her as network material but she occasionally goes off the grid and that's trouble. But overall, I'm a Jobina believer. I hope she stays at KGO.

*KTVU staffers didn't know (I did) that while they were schmoozing aacross the lot at the condo parking area, a certain night guy, el Franko, and his buddy, Gasia Mikaelian, were giggling and exchanging sweet sensations, and just creating a hoot. It was common knowledge, especially near the assignment editor's desk, that when Somerville show up in the morning, that he really wasn't, uh, "working on some project", yeah, the project was Gasia. Humn.

*KTVU, 2022 going forward: Some-TING-Wong --eternally.

*I called a prominent, current KTVU boss last week and we were so cute. They were shocked I actually called (and got through)--inquiring a comment about a central figure. Yeah, even bloggers try to ask for comment.

*ADD KTVU: she won't admit it, she's not that way and doesn't want to rock the boat but Julie Haener is quietly resigned and royally PISSED off over her bud's (Mark Ibanez) imminent departure from the desk. Haener was the last Somerville holdout (she defended him until the DUI arrest)--having seen how Ibanez was told to "retire" and now feeling (Frank's) firing, Haener has once again been feeling the effect of The Firm's ways and means.She also, in a few weeks, will work the desk with a revolving set of anchors and new, (sort of) sports anchor, Joe Fonzi.

*Speaking of Fonzi (Joe), I've never warmed to Joe and his robotic delivery, but I acknowledge he's lasted pretty long in the Bay Area and I guess there's something to that-- anyway, congrats to Joe. I guess.

*KGO Radio has been, once again, resorting to that age-old bullshit, lifestyle crap--abandoning news-talk and real news for its crapfest shit like Facebook trivia, kids stuff, etc. --it still doesn't register and it continues to KILL KGO but they don't know it. Maybe its time for its latest Cumulus bean counter to study the market and go back to his meat and potatoes, as opposed to hiring San Diego-based morons who don't know any originality.

*John Rothmann doesn't understand that while he may just love Jan Wahl, the Bay Area has no love for her. And you know what? Women, John, especially can't stand her which is why KCBS, KRON, and everyone under the moon, fired her. Rothmann obviously didn't get the memo.

*Mike MibacH: oh, just leave him alone, because, damn, he's still, PISSED!

415 Media Exclusive: It's Official: After 43 Years, Mark Ibanez Leaving KTVU; Joe Fonzi Expected to Take Over as Lead Sports Anchor; Ibanez Likely Retires and Takes Deal from Fox

What I already reported became official last (Tuesday) night:

The Bay Area's longest-tenured anchor, sports-director, Mark Ibanez is LEAVING KTVU to pursue other interests.

Ibanez's departure was announced by fellow Fox2 anchor, Joe Fonzi, on the 10: 50 sports report --Ibanez told friends at the Warriors' game he was leaving KTVU. And it looks as if Fonzi will take over the new lead sports anchor position at the Bay Area O and O (owned/operated).

Ibanez will depart KTVU at the end of the month.

Ibanez, who began his stint in 1979, has been working without a contarct for a year. He had hoped to get a one last contract extension, but KTVU management never offered any serious negotiations. In fact, Ibanez was rebuffed by KTVU to the very last moment. He'd been told by Fox2 suits that his status would be addressed "after the football season."

Only not only was his contract extension, status not addressed, KTVU brass never reached out to Ibanez directly or even indirectly. It was an amazing show of indifference by a KTVU already trying to move forward from the loss of veteran news anchor, Frank Somerville, who was dismissed in late January.

Ibanez, a Bay Area native, has told friends, he's inclined to retire but left open the possibility about going to another station in the market.

On the other hand, as I learned too, Ibanez might simply retire and might have made a deal with KTVU to exit and take a financial package benefitting him and his family.

Ibanez's last broadcast on KTVU is March 31st.

*415 MEDIA EXCLUSIVE

415 Media Exclusive: KTVU Rebuffs Mike Mibach; Maintains Rotating Anchor Policy at 10 PM; Rage Continues Inside Newsroom; Ibanez Set To Leave March 31st; Eikel/Hartel ND/GM Reign Under Further Scrutiny; Staff "No Confidence"

In the "You Gotta Be Kidding Me" dept., a New Low at KTVU...

Management, and it goes right to the top at News Director, Amber Eikel, has told staff that they will continue to use a rotating-anchor policy at 10 PM and that no official replacement will be chosen until summer, according to multiple sources.

I REPORTED here that veteran anchor, Mike Mibach, was given the job but that Mibach and Fox2 execs were involved in a salary dispute and that has delayed a formal announcement. Whether that development dictated the decision to continue to rotate anchors at 10 O'Clock isn't known but it may have influenced the decision. Either way, the policy has further enraged a staff at KTVU where the working environment is downright toxic and disgusted.

This won't help matters.

*For starters, it has once again, alienated a KTVU staff that regards Eikel, (notably) and GM/SVP, Mellynda Hartel, as incompetent and inexperienced. Staff repeatedly has complained that its bosses are ill-suited to run the news (TV) operation and are "responsible for the unease at KTVU."

*The about face has Mibach both angry and confused. Mibach, I'm told, is still interested in the job and is willing to work at a reduced salary but he's also exploring other options. What that entails, nobody knows, but a KTVU source said the veteran anchor is not pleased. Who could blame him.

*This comes at a time at KTVU where it just lost its longtime, troubled, lead anchor, Frank Somerville, who was formally BOOTED in January --Mibach was thought to get the permanent replacement job, but now, who knows.

*The future of longtime sports anchor Mark Ibanez, a 43-year veteran, is all but determined; Ibanez, barring a last-minute miracle, will LEAVE the desk come late March as Ibanez has been working without a contract and has been rebuffed in an extension request. Ibanez was told by Fox2 brass his situation would be addressed after the NFL (football) season; instead, he's been ignored and has told friends he's ready to walk away and leave KTVU. That would leave two major faces off the 10 PM News and gone from the storied newscast.

*With the station mired in employee turmoil and facing an increasingly hostile work environment, I'm told, Fox execs are examining the internal relationship between Hartel/Eikel and senior KTVU staff--virtually all the newsroom personnel included. The Fox corporate division sent a team to the Bay Area last year to look into the dysfunction at Channel 2--no decision by the Fox team ever materialized, formally, but the execs told Fox corporate O and O suits, that the situation in Oakland, "was tenuous."

*Eikel's fragile, at best, newsroom control is thought to be safe and her futute at KTVU stabile but the continued cloud inside the building isn't helping matters. Sure, KTVU's ratings continue to remain strong and relatively un-changed, but its not because of Eikel-- says a source, "in spite of her."

The Firm's Bay Area O and O is about the worst working shop in local TV News history and isn't getting better anytime soon.

*415 MEDIA EXCLUSIVE

The Anatomy of Getting Ripped Off; How the Mercury News and SFGate (Chronicle) Lifted My "Somerville Story"

FOR THE PAST SEVERAL WEEKS, I'VE HAD A ROUTINE.

Every other day, I'd text Frank Somerville, the KTVU anchor who was suspended, and ask him what was going on. I'd inquire if there was any news about the situation at KTVU. He indicated several times that "nothing was new." Most every time, I'd tell him, "Frank, why don't you go on the record." And he'd always tell me no.

Until yesterday, (Tuesday) when I said his story was getting murky; that Fox/KTVU was letting him dangle away and maintain this sort of quagmire. He agreed and said, "yeah, OK, let's 'go on the record." This was on the phone. I told him to text me some quotes and he did so in a few minutes.

HERE'S THE STORY, check the time stamp. I was both stoked and excited because my hard work paid off. I managed to get Somerville to go on the record and I immediately tweeted out my get. (Again, notice the time stamp). I then feverishly wrote a story to make the blog and it immediately gained traction and the buzz was official: Frank had said he'd most likely done his last newscast on KTVU and that he was clearly frustrated over the entire matter.

It was 9: 37 in the morning which was important to me because that would mean the trades could pick up my exclu and most likely, I might get local reaction.

Then THIS APPEARED.

Only a few hours AFTER my original story posted, Martha Ross of the Mercury News wrote almost an identical story. What a coincidence. Yeah right. I re-read the entire story and Ross made NO MENTION of my story, the story I reported FIRST. I was stunned. I had the Exclu. I had contacted Frank and had the entire quote(s). Had Ross LIFTED my story and not credit me? Did she give me attribution and her editor simply remove my name? I didn't care because I was steamed and angry. I worked my ass off and I felt my hard work was being stolen.

Then I really began to become ENRAGED when I saw this. A story by Joshua Bote of SFGate that was a virtual duplicate my original story. Worse, Bote (or his editor) had the chutzpah to credit the Merc story. The earlier piece that STOLE my story that was already published on 415 Media hours before. Incredible. So it then made me fume. I was livid. Talk about needing a stiff drink.

I took to the internet and looked for more evidence. I suddenly realized that all I'd do was get more angry and nauseated so I turned off my computer and took a walk. I shook my head. Maybe I was naive but I thought to myself, what the hell happened to professionalism in this world. Was it too naive to expect common decency? How could two main news sites publish a story so obviously LIFTED from me.

Was it to naive to expect to see this disclaimer, "Reported First, by Rich Lieberman?", something that is usually placed in stories like this. But no. Boy am I a sucker.

I then saw this link from SFist. Jay Barmann, the editor who noted my story (albeit with a 'hound" remark) nevertheless, an ATTRIBUTION. It was the right thing to do. Too bad the Merc and SFGate didn't get the memo.

I contacted both the Chron (SFgate) and Merc editors to ask about all this and got no response. How shocking. (wink)

A Few Things; again, I WORK HARD to bring interestng, informative, unique and yes, sometimes, ORIGINAL content. It's not an ego thing it's more a desire to get more and more people to the blog. Which is why I PUSH and PUSH for my stories. Because it's for survival and doing my best and all so that when I get the scoop, maybe more subscriptions pour in; maybe the donations increase. That's how I roll. Every day. So yeah, when I'm RIPPED OFF, I get angry.

I RESISTED the urge not to write this post. I didn't want to bore you, the readers, over my own frantic situation and a situation involving a story about a local news anchor's future, but it had to get out. I hope you all continue to read 415 Media.

A Weather Personality Firestorm at KTVU; Huge Egos Involved; Martin at Forefront; So Too Orozco, Paulson, and Tamayo in Mix; Decisions, Decisions in Jack London Square; Tuesday Open

Bill Martin and Julie Haener

THE ODD MAN OUT?

I'VE SAID KTVU weeknight weatherman, Bill Martin is more than likely headed off the 10 PM News roster, either gone completely or maybe offered a buyout (his contract is up in March) --Mark Tamayo seems to be Martin's eventual replacement but KTVU has an issue (or two) and a BIG one at that.

What to do with Rosemary Orozco? The star-studded diva who wants a primetime gig gig but I'm told the FOX people don't think Rosie is ready for primetime. While I have my moments of disgust with Orozco, I'm not ready to say she can't cut it at 10 O'clock but that's what the suits at Channel 2 think, maybe, stay tuned.

Rosemary Orozco

ANOTHER Weather dilemma: Steve Paulson seems content and happy in the morning on KTVU's wildly popular (still) "Mornings on Two"--he's apparently being considered for a night gig but again, how do you consider him for another time slot and risk pissing him off and messing up a significant part of "MO2"' mojo? Decisions, decisions.

A person with knowledge told me with confidence that Fox heavyweights are still confident Orozco is a future market superstar because she's "totally hot" and fits the Fox M.O: glamour women who show gusto on TV News.

Which is why Rosie continues her KTVU campaign. I would bet her profile is better suited for 10 but that's where the back-office meetings take place and see how the weather personality conundrum is made clear. There's a lot of money and egos at stake.

The weather quagmire comes at an inopportune time at KTVU's Jack London Square complex in Oakland as FOX cuts major personnel and even with good ratings, there's a lot of tension in the newsroom.

Tension at KTVU? You betcha. Weather or not.

Don't Say Anything about 'Bombshell' at KTVU

Cast of Bombshell: from left to right, Theron, Nicole Kidman and Margot Robbie

At KTVU, they can't talk about "Bombshell" --the movie out now about the inner machinations of Fox News chief, the late Roger Ailes and specifically, Megyn Kelly.

I hope this is just a romp and someone at KTVU is trying to mess with me (again)

Star Wars

Holmes (left) and Haener

SHE (countess Heather) CANNOT STAND HER-- (Diva Haener) --LIKEWISE, SHE HATES THE HELL OUT OF HER TOO

It's come down to this: professionally,  Julie Haener and her chief rival at KTVU, Heather Holmes are on board (why wouldn't they be, you ask, hold on) --and that's the proper etiquette.

Privately, they DESPISE one another.

Haener, who has a multitude of ego-oriented issues, (don't fall for the cutesy look and appearance) seethes at the sight and notices about Holmes, who very quietly but vociferously campaigns for her (JH) job at 10 PM on the main KTVU News (not sloppy TV36(6)

A HUGE issue (among many) at FOX/Oakland: the Holmes/Haener conflict is more than your garden-variety battle royale: Haener knows that HH has all but put her career on hold to jettison the 10 PM gig. It was not so long ago that Holmes gave the suits a virtual ultimatum --play me or trade me--KTVU balked but held her down (giving her a modest pay raise) and is now playing a sort of rope-a-dope. As they  buy time, real things happen.

 Fox execs have huddled privately about how to placate both but so far, they're failing miserably. The EGO has landed. And we haven't even touched the ring yet.

2 bada-bings.

Exclusive: KTVU To Allow Schlum/Cub Reporter Broadcast Weather So Bill Martin Can Have His Days Off

DOES Bill Martin have one foot out the door at KTVU? Or does he just not give a damn?

A station source tells me, starting next week, the Fox Bay Area outlet-- for the first time in its history, will have a non-meteorologist, cub reporter fill in for weather so Martin can have his days off.

The source joked, "can't wait to see the promo."

'Watch the KTVU Weather Team...or anyone else we can throw on the Green Screen or hell, just look at your phone!"

Inside the offices at KTVU, veteran staffers are SHOCKED that the suits have resorted to this practice. Martin himself has supposedly lost his status as chief power as head of the Weather "Authority", which presumably was to have one of the other forecasters broadcast when he was off.

"Bill used to care," said the source. "Guess that party's over."


^#EXCLUSIVE

Fear and Loathing Hits KTVU In The Morning; Mallicoat, Wong and Orozco At War; Insider Tells 415 Media: 'They All Hate Each Other'; Wong Tries Sex Appeal; Orozco is Orozco; Mallicoat Enraged; Thursday 415 Media Special

Left to Right: Rosemary Orozco, Frank Mallicoat and Claudine Wong

THEY MAY BE SMILING HERE BUT TRUTHFULLY THEY HATE EACH OTHER'S GUTS!! 

A Picture Is Worth a Thousand Words and the photo on the left is worth at least double that.

The KTVU AM juggernaut --"Mornings on Two" dominates, still, the Bay Area TV News morning shows-MO2 handily beats lame KPIX and brain -dead CBS This Morning; KGO is dead in the water and NBC Bay Area is bogged down by plunging "Today Show" flat lining. KRON tries mightily with its infusion of local news but continues to fake TV orgasms with shameless Darya Folsom and her cast of misfits. It's a sorry scene every morning because of Darya's stupid antics. Which leaves us with KTVU and inner symmetry --right? Great ratings do not make for stellar chemistry and love among the troops.

A KTVU Insider tells me the bulk of the morning crew can't stand each other. The three main players involve anchors Frank Mallicoat and Claudine Wong. On the outside but very much looking in, perennial "I'm bigger and better than just damn plain weather", Rosemary Orozco. Not again? Oh yes, there's history. And a lot of leg too.

The gist of what's going on inside the studios in Jack London Square where KTVU broadcasts:

* Mallicoat is enraged at Wong's behind-the-scenes showboating and flirtatious behavior with every guy in the newsroom and beyond. "She's using her sex appeal and sarcasm as a device to get a more prominent role in the news domain," said the Insider who watches the mayhem every day.

"Claudine wants the spotlight and is willing to do anything to get her way; she's set her sights on something bigger than the morning job and Frank (Mallicoat) is royally pissed off because of it."

Quietly, Mallicoat wants out of KTVU because he despises the "foxification" of the station. "But he loves the Bay Area too so it's a major dilemma."

The Insider tells me Mallicoat and Wong don't talk at all off the air and have built up quite a rivalry --so much so, one day Wong showed up at work with boxing gloves.! It was considered a joke; Mallicoat wasn't amused. Station brass were also not very happy.

For now, the gruesome twosome have let personal issues and hijinks aside and show no sign of conflict on the screen but that's all smoke and mirrors. "Complete bullshit!" offered another station spy, "They hate each other bigtime!; It's all a mirage."

Orozco is viewed as a peacemaker but can't be bothered by such petty behavior. As I've noted before, the tall weather diva is looking for a Hollywood position; literally! Orozco curries favor with KTVU/FOX upper brass in hopes to get a network gig down south, something both Wong and Mallicoat despise and Rosemary knows it. Which is the focus point as to why she loves working every shift but the morning one.

The fisticuffs in the morning have created tension and turmoil in the newsroom. A fear and loathing of the terrible trifecta is pervasive among staffers and HR especially. The Insider:

"Our coffee machine sucks; we might as well have bottles of vodka and gin. Sooner or later, you need a break!"

Ouch!

Sex, Lies and Videotape Create Rancor on KTVU's Prized '10 0'Clock News'; Anchors Distrust Each Other; Somerville at Center of Storm; Haener is 'Nosy'; Martin's Aloofness Growing; Ibanez Stays Away from Fray (For Now) Mysterious Texts Abound; 415 Media Exclusive

Frank Somerville and Julie Haener on set of "10 o'clock News"

KTVU's Vaunted Franchise, Its "10 O'clock News" is beset with anchors who don't trust one another; have contempt for one another; routinely question its partner's personal and in some cases, professional behavior; there's more. But despite all this rancor, the TEN O'CLOCK NEWS is still far and away the ratings winner in the Bay Area news wars and still garners industry admiration here and beyond.

That said, Fox-owned KTVU brass is "extremely worried" that the tension gripping its hallmark newscast could become an issue if those tensions worsen and become more pronounced.

415 Media knows the full, inside story; the story you won't get anywhere else but here and now:

*Frank Somerville, KTVU's veteran two-decade anchor is beset with personal problems galore; he's become aloof to the point where even his closest friends are worried about Frank's suddenly "erratic" behavior. Somerville is getting a divorce and has left his house and wife while dealing with that and an ongoing station matter which has rocked the newsroom and proved embarrassing for Somerville and his closest friends. Why the divorce? Only Somerville's wife knows but it isn't a very pretty picture across the board. It's also a lesson: no matter how much you insist your daily dalliances with a very attractive 30-something intern is strictly platonic, the perception is otherwise.

Somerville has a new flame. His wife has a high-priced divorce attorney. It could get ugly. It already has. Frank is moody and irritable. He's distanced himself from close confidants. He doesn't laugh much anymore and is "not the same Frank", a staffer tells me who knows him well.

Bill Martin (l) and friend, Janice Huff

*Julie Haener was always; still is; considered a quality news anchor and steady influence on the set but her growing influence has colleagues both weary of her personal chit-chat and royally pissed off that she spreads gossip and innuendo. While ON THE SET! Haener asked an anchor recently off-air was that individual talking to 415 Media. "No", said the person although Haener wouldn't stop badgering --only a break back to news from a commercial put an end to the actions of nosy Haener.

*415 Media has learned through a reliable station contact that weatherman, Bill Martin, is openly chastised by co-anchors off screen, why? Martin is now leaving the station habitually, mostly after the early-evening newscasts to head home to Lafayette to have dinner with family, hardly anything unusual but at the expense of his weather research needed for later shows? Yes, a problem.

*Veteran 40-year Sports anchor and Director, Mark Ibanez, gets static from the team because Ibanez tries to stay away from the fray. In fact, he's been teased by friends because he's largely immune from all the other's chaos, and make no mistake, it's chaos.

*A potential whammy: a series of potentially embarrassing and slightly salacious texts that were sent to the intern that were leaked out and viewed by 415 Media. The texts are mostly innocuous but they do contain, shall we say, "interesting forms of communication" that don't appear to be anything about TV News business. And now, mysteriously, they're gone. Maybe a self-inflicted wound? Guilty.

Haener nosy? 

While all this is taking place, newscasts somehow happen and it's business as usual at KTVU, for now. If you believe word on the street, or certainly through the 54-camera newsroom, watched by overruling and take-no-prisoner HR bosses, if there's a crack in the armor, then "all hell will break out." 

And we'll be watching.

#415 MEDIA EXCLUSIVE

The Dysfunction that is KPIX; Watts' Leaving Further Muddies 855 Battery; Sweeps Makes It Worse; KCBS Yappers Mary Lee and Hodousek Torture Chamber; Schulman/Chronicle Steal From Me; KTVU's Gomez Non-Street Savvy; Katsuyama Screams at SF Fire Scene; Gonzales and King Factoid; Thursday 415 Media

"THE ONLY FUNCTION HERE IS DYSFUNCTION." That from one of the growing dissatisfied staffers at KPIX --where incoherence and incompetence rules the day.

To emphasize the current disarray, PIX just lost Julie Watts to their CBS counterpart in Sacramento. There are more moves from Pixies on the way, just in time for February Sweeps. How timely.

Watts wasn't one of KPIX's star players but she was big enough to warrant a lot of chatter last (Wednesday) night amongst some of the local CBS' most influential people, both on and off the air. One management figure tried to spin the Watts' move as simply a colleague "not leaving; instead just 'staying in the CBS family in Sacramento'". Yeah right, what a completely, utter sense of bullshit. And that's exactly how it was received by the rank and file.

As I've stated countless times, KPIX has NO IDENTITY. Very little leadership too. Constant conflict is not a help, particularly in the morning. Growing dissatisfaction and lack of morale is PIX's only consistent virtue.  It's a good thing the station is owned by deep pockets CBS but that's hardly a booster inside the building at 855 Battery.

Watts herself was mostly disliked by a majority of the staff --this incident especially but she was high profile enough to garner industry respect and seven Emmys too. Leaving the Bay Area for Sacramento is not that uncommon these days with the locals eyeing its relative affordability especially real estate. That said, Watts decision to leave SF and go up north primarily because she hated PIX' direction and wanted more investigative reporting makes Channel 5 look bad. Looks can be deceiving only in this case it is absolutely true and for PIX, a bad omen. Trust me.

Mary Lee

*This would be real torture: Put KCBS reporter, Carrie Hodousek and morning weather anchor, Mary Lee, in the same room together. The endless shrieking would be unbearable. Lee sounds exactly like Hodousek or is it the other way around? Either way, the shrieking violets cause eternal ear damage.

*Please, I could care less that some nobody on the night shift on KNBR was given a pink slip. I don't listen to that garbage unless there's some CBS Sports Radio content on the air but that too can be painful.

*Memo to Hank Schulman of the Chronicle: It was 415 Media that reported first, this news.

Schulman stealing from me, imagine that. Damn bloggers!

Alyana Gomez

*It was a pleasant sight viewing Alyana Gomez reporting live from the scene of that big fire in SF on Wednesday --too bad Gomez mispronounced several city street names and kept referring to "Geary Street" --locals know it as "Geary Boulevard." Trivial? No, because it's called knowing your geography and city. How damn irritating but that's just me. I would hope and prefer as gorgeous and infinitely watchable Gomez is, it would help if her street savvy were genuine.

*Then there's  Jana Katsuyama on the scene who appeared to think literally screaming and yelling would heighten the story when it was stated from the beginning that no one was hurt or injured or killed, thank god, only buildings were destroyed.

Jana Katsuyama

Katsuyama's loud outbursts did nothing to inform the viewers on KTVU but only reinforces how bad a reporter she is and why KTVU management thinks she's talented is beyond me. Maybe mediocrity rules the day and this is the best they got which apparently it is and gosh does that nauseate me.

*Between the "flipping houses" moron and "Petersen Dean" jerkoff, my has AM Radio become such a mess.

*If Roberta Gonzales truly wanted to come back to KPIX, she could. Her problem, sorta like Dana King, is that both left wanting to pursue their own independence, in King's case, a desire to become an artist; in Roberta's case to become her own broadcast boss. Problem is, both are not earning anywhere near what they got at PIX; not that the money was great but it was far more then they're making now. Yeah, money isn't everything but it's damn near close.

Dana King

Bay Area TV Stations Pack Wall-to-Wall Coverage on Big Storm Wednesday Night; 415 Media Highlights and Notes

RAIN/WIND STORM BRINGS OUT FULL-THROTTLE COVERAGE FROM BAY AREA TV STATIONS

KGO; KPIX; KTVU; KNTV; KRON 'Storm Center' coverage wall-towall

OK, so I didn't buy into it, (as always) because it's winter and we occasionally get bigtime storms like tonight's rain/wind onslaught that is currently playing havoc with the Bay Area, especially commuters and their transit and residents suffering mass power outages.

*Highlights and Notes...

The local TV stations have provided almost wall-to-wall "team coverage" and then some. Along with chief weather guy, Bill Martin, KTVU brought in morning traffic anchor, Sal Castaneda and had reporter/anchor, Alyana Gomez at the Bay Bridge Toll plaza for live reports throughout the night...KTVU anchors, Frank Somerville and Julie Haener, manned the coverage...KGO used three (3!) weather anchor: Spencer Christian, Drew Tuma and Sandhya Patel all worked the 5 PM newscast; KGO went with Dan Ashley and Kristen Sze for storm reports on the desk and Lyanne Melendez live from the Ferry terminal on commuter options should the boat ride across the bay be closed. As of 6: 20 the ferry was still operating...KPIX conducted business with Ken Bastida and Veronica De La Cruz at the anchor chairs with Paul Deanno providing weather updates. Deanno informed viewers that "the worst part of the storm {was still coming later in the night}and that "we won't be out of the woods until midnight."...Martin too on KTVU provided more lengthy forecasts with urgent warnings about more ominous rain later in the evening and possible thunderstorms ..An aside: I've been critical of Martin of late but on Wednesday night, he was spot to the point and his anchoring was quite precise and crisp. Informational too, kudos to Bill for a change...Jeff Ranieri on NBC Bay Area also provided vivid descriptions of the rain event and suggested this storm might be the most powerful in quite some time. So far, he might be right...KRON wasn't out of the ordinary with Ken Wayne doing most of the talking and reporters doing their VJing from various Bay Area locales. It was the usual unspectacular work from the independent albatross but better then expected...KTVU simulcast its "KTVU Plus" on TV36 with anchors Alex Savidge and Heather Holmes.

OMG, There's a Storm Brewing; Really? TV News Can't Wait For 'Storm Center' Coverage; Kim Wonderley Medical Mystery on KCBS AM Traffic; There Really IS a Blue Box; Sarah and Vinnie's Lovely Uzette; More KPIX Dysfunction Update; KTVU Anchor Issues; Wednesday Wash

  RAINY WEDNESDAY IN JANUARY; What a surprise.

With the coming storm approaching this afternoon you would think we haven't been down this road before but we have. Even in drought years we have a few big rain events but the TV folks are acting as if Armageddon is near.

Cut to 5 PM --the obligatory live shots from Marin, probably Mill Valley and the hardware store guy answering the usual stupid questions: "Are you busy?" No, he's sleeping actually. Holy Smokes.

Let's not stop there. Let's go to the East Shore Freeway and show the commuters drive stupid as they do, always, in this area this time of year. Then the gas station in Emeryville live shot with the CHP officer telling us to slow down. He's right, we should. But do we need a parade of reporters capturing his every word? Dumb. You could file this statement and use it every time we have a storm, it's undated.

*Kim Wonderley has been off the KCBS air well over a month now and because of strict HIPAA laws, we don't know exactly what her medical issue is (which is fine with me) ; I'm told it's nothing serious but the more time she's away, the more worry. We wish Kim well.

Kim Wonderley with Stan Bunger

My report recently about fill-in Peter Schofield eventually taking over the AM drive traffic gig is more sooner rather then later.

*Yeah, I felt this morning's tiny earthquake up near the Oakland Hills in Piedmont; a 3.4 magnitude dinger. It did wake me up --so too, Doug Sovern, who called into KCBS' John Evans , but three minutes of play-by-play I'm not sure was necessary.

*A real 'Blue Box' is a secret code that enables one to work in media circles in the Bay Area. Or Not. It's so secret I can't go into details only to tell all you assorted folks who thought it was my creation to basically go take a hike.

The secret coded Blue Box

Yes, there IS a Blue Box and if you don't have one, good luck, maestro!

*Dear Sarah and Vinne, your lovely Uzette on Alice 97.3 FM is a personal savior with a ton of positive virtue and excruciating intrigue. I will eventually hoist a few with you guys and girls at the Blue Light, courtesy of Entercom, they can afford it.

*Speaking of CBS, its alleged TV News station here is once again clueless. They can't seem to figure it out. The morning show is in serious disarray (for years now to be exact) because of the queen diva who continues to dish crap on everyone but herself. (When you have shitty numbers, MG, eventually your clout shrinks) The evening is a relative truck wreck with no direction, no planning, no real ideas and no enthusiasm from the troops who sit on the desk and wail mostly un-profound stories with a bunch of Fresno reporter-rejects who look as if they just graduated from the academy of talent-less TV Radio school in Barstow.

Sarah and Vinnie gang

Lucky for PIX: CBS has the Super Bowl this year. The sales guys need the money.

*KTVU anchor mystery: a slew of issues and personal crap that would make anyone else vulnerable and on high edge.

He'll be OK though because the company needs him.

Showdown at KTVU: Somerville Contract Up; Will He Sign New Deal Amid KPIX Rumors; Monday Open

FRANK SOMERVILLE is the topic of conversation around the Bay Area TV News scene: why? Somerville's contract is up. No big deal he will automatically be renewed would be the logical thinking so what's all the commotion?

The word on the street is that, yes, Fox/KTVU will re-up the veteran Monday-Friday anchor --but at virtually no raise and perhaps even a cut. Somerville's annual salary is among the highest in the Bay Area at roughly $630K a year. It's a lot of money for an anchor even one as popular as Somerville but KTVU is awash in cash and still has record ratings particularly at nighttime where Frank leads the way at 6 and 10 PM. He's been at Channel 2 for over two decades.

Making matters more interesting is possible interest from other stations should Somerville want to jump ship if he doesn't get a contract that's suitable for his standing. A source close to the situation tells me one outlet that might pounce on Somerville: KPIX, CBS-owned and operated has lots of money and KPIX needs a face of the station. At the very least, a PIX offer would provide much leverage to Somerville who, I believe, would prefer to stay at KTVU and finish out his career in Oakland.

I would bet he get's a deal done --a new contract somewhere in the $700K a year frame is likely. Then again, these days nothing shocks me.

I will be on this and report back to you when there's news, or not.