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!

NBC Bay Area's Jess Aguirre Engaged; 6 and 11 Anchor Has a Ring on It; Monday Open

.

Jessica Aguirre: love is in the air

She's gotta ring on her finger for a reason.

Love Miss Jessica Aguirre of NBC Bay Area

THE NEWS TO START YOUR MONDAY?

Glad you asked.

Jess is engaged --I don't know the man, other than he's a South Bay firefighter --but my spies are working overtime on his vitals.

Now that Jess has found a good man (we hope) her giddy-up has to be in overtime.

With authority!

Jason Brooks Droning at KCBS; 30 Rock Wants Raj Mathai But They'll Have to Wait; Ken Wayne KRON Experiment Not So Smooth; 415 Media Friday

Jason Brooks

HE JUST KEEPS GOING AND GOING AND GOING...Nobody doubts the business expertise of KCBS money reporter, Jason Brooks. He's on top of it from early morning to late afternoon.

But the voice. The vanilla monotony that dulls the senses. Yes, I'm getting personal, of course I am.

Brooks' voice drones on and on almost like a robotic bot that sounds almost computer-like. Brooks doesn't have to sound hysterical; he's positively blase. But it would be wise of him to pick it up a notch and get away from the monotone buzz switch. It's downer-central. And I'm being kind.


*Speaking of KCBS, their morning cacophony of ENDLESS commercial spots has begun to cause ear aches. It's especially evident after the prolific traffic reports where four-minute clusters of continuous ads borders on obnoxious. Sure, you have to pay the bills but this form of commercial spot overkill amounts to greed personified.

*Once again the rumor mill has heated up over the status of lead NBC Bay Area anchor, Raj Mathai, as the 30 Rock News folks are hot on the trail of Mathai who seems pretty much set to remain in the Bay Area and San Jose specifically. But while his partner, Jessica Aguirre, is working without a long-term contract, Mathai not only signed a long-term extension, but one which had several zeros in it and makes Raj near the territory of Frank Somerville at KTVU and Dan Ashley at KGO.. (The latter nearing his own extension which could make him the undisputed salary king of Bay Area TV News) And well deserved.

Raj Mathai with wife and newest family member

Mathai seems to me to not want any part of NY even if it means working in Manhattan amping up his career, which it most certainly would. Mathai has a growing family and is quite settled down in the South Bay. A network gig might be prestigious now but Mathai could wait until his kids get older and then migrate to the east. Then, the money will be even better and his family situation is more ready for the move to Gotham.

Ken Wayne

*Nearing a year with KRON, Ken Wayne's migration to the albatross station hasn't produced any iota of buzz whatsoever, in fact, ratings are pretty much stagnant. Wayne left KTVU when they didn't offer him a contract extension (and took a massive pay cut). Seems his gig at KRON would be more conducive for the soft-spoken Wayne but that's not the case.

Wayne is a steadying anchor, for sure, but excitement is not his greatest virtue. He makes departed Steve Aveson look like a relative Ron Burgundy.

Major Decisions Loom at Bay Area TV News Stations; Bastida Future Murky at KPIX; Ashley Extension KGO Front Burner; Goodrich MVP Invites Intriguing Speculation; Pam Moore is Looking Around (Sort of) at KRON; KTVU Doom and Gloom; Holmes and Haener: Would Anyone Care or Notice If they Left? Overrated Nothing Yenta, Kate Scott; Cover For Bay Area Sports Horny Male Media Pugs; Thursday Rundown

BIG DECISIONS LOOM for some Bay Area TV News stations; among them...

* At KPIX, there are a myriad of issues on the plate; the uncertainty; the chaos; the lack of viewing numbers in the morning; those are just trivial in comparison to the future of longtime, Bay Area native and evening anchor, Ken Bastida.

Bastida's status at PIX remains murky at best. He has been at 855 Battery for almost three decades but time has not been gracious to the veteran news reader. Bastida is just average on most nights and when he's not average he can be painful to watch; ad-libbing was never his biggest strongpoint and now, he's almost embarrassingly inadequate. Moreover, CBS isn't in the mood for paying going rate for mid-to-high market money for a guy late in his prime and whose "it" factor long ago left the news screen. In other words, Bastida doesn't generate the buzz he used to albeit in an industry that doesn't possess the status it once held either. That said, local TV News, here and beyond, still garners significant revenue even with declining viewership.

Ken Bastida: future murky at KPIX

Bastida makes in the mid $500K range, a significant number even today and is under contract until the end of the year. Word is that he might be tempted to take a company buyout and retire. I don't think CBS would extend him such kind of money and even if they did he'd most likely have to take a significant pay cut.

We should know sooner rather then later.

*KGO-TV management hasn't officially begun negotiations with ace veteran news anchor and star reader, Dan Ashley, in spite of his impending contract closure next year. By all indications, a deal will get done simply because KGO needs Ashley more then Ashley needs KGO. That doesn't mean a deal is front and center on the plate of the big suits at ABC7 but it should be. KGO can't afford another Carolyn Johnson embarrassment and lose one of its most valuable anchors. The Johnson loss still haunts KGO today and losing Ashley, who has offers on the table from back east outlets, could make for another departure and leave the ABC O and O in dark waters.

Dan Ashley: new contract looming at KGO

This much is certain: Ashley, according to sources at 900 Front wants to remain in the Bay Area. He has family here and is comfortable. On some days, he works an astounding 5 shows a night (4,5,6, 9, and 11 PM) He is an extremely hard worker and the face of ABC7. He is mostly well-liked and admired by his peers. He is the highest-paid anchor in the Bay Area and deservedly so. And deservedly so, he would like to be paid in accordance with that status. Disney is not known for lavishing big bucks to even its most prized talent even someone in a larger market but Ashley might be the exception. I've heard a three-year extension somewhere north or south of $2M is destined to be offered to Ashley, probably with a few option years. That sounds just about right.

Pam Moore

*Mass confusion at KRON: what else is new? Plus, rumors are very strong about Pam Moore leaving and looking for suitors. Moore, my contacts tell me, is still quite comfortable at the lowly albatross in spite of significant departures by key personnel including EPs and anchors like Gary Radnich and Stanley Roberts. Those are not earthshaking developments and the station is not going to hemorrhage but whatever star appeal KRON possessed, it has lost two of its most popular air talents (although with Radnich, it was KRON MGT that gave Raddy an ultimatum he rejected and was summarily dismissed)

Moore could be a valuable asset for someone like a KNTV (maybe) or more prominently, KTVU, which ironically allowed Ken Wayne to trudge to KRON. Moore has a strong Bay Area identity especially with women and women of color at that. She makes in the neighborhood of $300K a-year. She's not actively working the negotiation trail with others but she's made it know through friends that she would definitely listen to offers. Stay tuned.

Juliette Goodrich: MVP of Bay Area TV News

*MVP on the loose and could be had for the right money: PIX's underrated Juliette Goodrich is quite comfortable reading news on the anchor desk during the weekend and reporting in the field during the week. That said, she is too valuable a commodity in her current role. KPIX seems to take her for granted and I wouldn't be surprised if someone out of the blue swooped in and offered Goodrich a primetime anchor weekday shift. Goodrich is not just a pretty face; she's a damned good news reader and commands the screen. She could easily be a #1 anchor in LA or NY but she has kids here and doesn't want to leave the Bay Area. That said, a Goodrich departure from PIX would not surprise me because she's simply too good to be wasted on the weekend. Watch this closely.

Holmes (l) and Haener

*KTVU staff manning the daytime computers resenting 415 Media could be better spent laying out the various 4-5 thousand grievances on display (and not on display) at Fox-owned Channel 2 which seems to have a new controversy everyday. The station with revolving anchors and out-of-place reporters somehow, to their credit, carry on in an environment that at best could be called troublesome. There is no mojo at KTVU; there is quite a bit of uncertainty and weary staffers afraid of a management that rules by intimidation and force. (Just the other day, an intern was read the riot act and screamed at in the newsroom because the person was a minute late on getting info from an email to the assignment desk) YOU WANT TO SEE GLOOM? Take a look at KTVU anchors especially at night. Frank Somerville is sullen because he has a bevy of issues off the scenes and is trying his best to squelch rumors; Bill Martin can't wait to leave the station at night and become a kid at Disneyland when he's in his car leaving. Watch him forecast, you'll see. Mark Ibanez just recently signed a three-year extension in March but is sick to death when he enters the studio and reads the sports copy. Julie Haener has now been exposed for the lightweight she is as serving as Somerville's gossip-filled caddy who couldn't ad-lib if her life depended on it. Heather Holmes continues to advance the miniskirt doctrine and shout "hey, I know I'm big here and although I'm sort of out of place, find me a home. Somewhere! Anywhere!"

Holmes and Haener could just as soon be senior saleswomen at the Macys cosmetics counter where they would be more valuable. Shocking? Harsh? You want the truth and you got it. Feel otherwise? Ask yourself this question: if BOTH Holmes and Haener were to vacate KTVU would anyone notice? Would anyone care? I rest my case.

*That angry KCBS sports anchor at night went berserk when he failed to get his copy ready for the 8: 15 sports update. Good news: less of him means peace in the neighborhood hell he SCREAMS every time he reports.

Karma is a bitch: if the guy stopped talking behind people's back (including yours truly) these things may not take place.

*KGO Radio: talk about uncertainty. There is no formal plan evident yet. Same old tired format --basically, they've punted any concrete new idea and haven't a clue as to what they wanna do which is par for the course.

Still trying to find out the ID of the lame brain ditz that turned down a Bob Woodward phone interview.

*Someone at night at KNBR supposedly got the heave-ho which is good news for Uber --more drivers. Maybe had he cut the "what-up" shit he'd be getting his $15 an hour.

*Kristen Sze: so much potential; so much looming large; a mini, bigger-than-market woman; KGO royalty. Sad now because so much is lost. Practice what you preach. Don't offer the world and produce Melba toast. Without any butter no less.

*"I'm Julie Chen-Moonves." Yeah, I'm sure money has not an iota to do with that.

The GAAS! (l) and Alyana Gomez

*Alyana Gomez and GAASian Mikaelian: birds of a feather...

*There's a rumor at KTVU that Gasia would host the new morning quiz show, "Chirping for dollars." I'm kidding of course but these days, why the hell not?

*Tough night on the street for Amber Lee who actually did her report without looking at notes. Praise the Lord!

*Melanie Woodrow Update: she hasn't stalked any man as of this writing.

*Dennis O'Donnell: Akron is waiting.

*A famous PR woman (she requested anonymity via email) went to KTVU to drop off a packet to one of the station's more higher profile female reporters: PR woman tells me she was flabbergasted when said woman blurted out, "you don't know my name?" Take a wild guess who. Think ex-KGO temptress. Bingo.

*Roberta Gonzales: hey, I'm not the one who posted a picture of myself on social media! And besides, there was nothing wrong with that photo, just all your ass' warped sense of humor so don't give me shit, take a cold shower too.

*Randy Hahn: priceless.

*Duane Kuiper: massively overrated.

*Ray Fosse: too much homer stuff beginning to sound like Monte Moore's ghost. More Dallas Braden, less 'Foss.

Randy Hahn

*Chris Townsend: lucky to have family money as a back-up.

*Brent Musburger: horndog with a microphone; perfect for Vegas. Just keep him away from the cheerleaders.

*Ted Robinson: I like and appreciate steady over fake theatrics.

*Larry Krueger: the guy is such a poser plus talks out of both sides of his mouth.

Kate Scott: just why?

*Kate Scott: a nothing-burger with mayo and butter on the seedless bun. What a complete waste of time; she gets points though for exploiting the horny sports guys who she gives cover to: "Gees, she's hot!, she's blond!, she's even gay!" Let's kiss her ass because, well, we have to.

Scott would be better served being the day waitress at a Ruth's Chris, I'll say it again: she adds NOTHING to a broadcast. She is vanilla pudding. She is Wonder Bread with a capital W and she exudes about as much interest as week-old toe fungus.

She's lucky to have enablers like Bruce Jenkins wax poetically about her "greatness", whatever the hell that is and is proof positive of a PC world run amok.

She'd be barely passable in Bakersfield. Wait a minute!

You want the truth, you got the truth.

Now put on a happy face.

Jessica Aguirre Still as Graceful As Ever on NBC Bay Area Despite Her Lame Duck Status; Veteran Bay Area Anchor Lights Up Newscast; Classy and Elegant; 415 Media Friday Notice

Jessica Aguirre

IT CONFOUNDS ME STILL...I regard Jessica Aguirre as a classy, smart, news anchor with star status; that's saying a lot, I gather that, but when I watch her anchor the news on NBC Bay Area (KNTV) she adds a lot of allure to the newscast and her style, even from her KGO days, is something very refined and elegant. Unique too; in today's biz, that's saying a lot.

Which only further makes it maddening that the suits in San Jose have not extended Aguirre who is working without a contract (since March) A lame duck.

Aguirre is still mighty, mighty on the air and the contract (or lack of one) certainly hasn't affected her news reading. She's still dynamic and she can still light up the screen.

I mean that respectfully in every sense of the word because inevitably I'll be accused by some as being a male chauvinist pig because I have the audacity of saying how beautiful it is to watch an anchor like Aguirre.

OK, so sue me.

Aguirre has a huge following, particularly women of the PTA crowd and her feedback is mostly all positive. She is supposedly fretting the lack of commitment from NBC in San Jose; why is that guys? Is it because of her age? Jess is 55. That's considered "old" in the TV News business but only for women; men seem immune to that situation; gees I wonder why.

55 was old about twenty years ago; today, it might as well be 35. Different era.

I would hope that KNTV would do the right thing and extend Jessica Aguirre another few years at least (with a mutual option) because I believe she's still got it. A lot of it too. And not just her news acumen but a whole lot more.

And I believe I'm not alone in that assessment.

Sparks Fly at KNTV (NBC Bay Area); Major Anchor Fray; Domestic Dispute Creates Chaos in San Jose; Developing Friday 415/408 Media

 SPARKS FLY AROUND NBC BAY AREA-- Chaos galore!

*Star anchor goes all-out to reach supreme power position ...and gets it! (To all ends) No one is safe. NO ONE.

*Spat involves domestic abuse charges and infidelity! Management at crossing point.

*A full-out front court press--with at least two people canned too.

*415 MEDIA EXCLUSIVE

*DEVELOPING...

Jessica Aguirre Most Powerful Anchor at NBC Bay Area; Veteran Commands High Respect; Both Admired And Feared; But Well-Liked Too

 Still on TOP of her game--a seasoned veteran anchor of the Bay Area TV News society, Jessica Aguirre, from KNTV (NBC Bay Area) is not only well versed and well respected, she's become one of the most powerful anchors in the market.


Aguirre commands top status in San Jose and has built a wall of top-tier gravitas and elite status at the NBC O and O--how so?

Aguirre meets with the GM and ND almost daily --not your run-of-the-mill idle chit-chit mind you, but heavy-duty in-house dialogue with a secret goal in mind: DOMINATE the market. Mind you, Aguirre is well-liked and admired in the NBC BA newsroom, but more importantly, FEARED too. Why? You don't want to know. Classified material and even the big suits in NY don't know the scope of Jessica Aguirre's influence in San Jose.


Except 415 Media.
Stay tuned.


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Loren 'Angry Diva' Gets The Axe; NBC Bay Area Source: 'She Was 'Very Difficult' To Work For'; Inside Story; KGO-TV Memo Draws Chuckles From Staff; TGIF Starter

 Make no mistake, Christina Loren was one of NBC Bay Area 's most popular on-air personalities--and she surely knew it. But at the end of the May sweeps on Thursday, Loren was reminded that even a big-time air talent is not immune to getting the axe --and that's what Loren got most unexpectedly: her walking papers.


Loren, from a variety of insiders wasn't given a pink slip due to normal budgetary trimming--in fact, NBC paid her to leave! From multiple sources close to the matter, seems Loren was "difficult to work with."


A KNTV production staffer who spoke on condition of anonymity: "She was nice but she could be very difficult at times --it got to a point where she became an 'angry diva.'"


Another station source: "I like Christine a lot but you have to treat the people you work for with respect. She could be tough."


Loren indeed was very popular in the morning doing weather reports; she also did a ton of PR appearances for the station. This isn't going to break KNTV obviously but I'm pretty certain the decision to bounce the ultra-popular Loren probably was a combo-San Jose/NY move.


We'll be digging more. Stay tuned.


*Over at 900 Front, KGO-TV the talk amongst staffers was a memo distributed to staff from management: "Move around the camera more!" Among other things. Let's just say the initial chuckling has been off the chart.


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415 Media Exclu: Jenna Susko Leaving NBC Bay Area For LA's KNBC

 NBC Bay Area has lost another reporter--my South Bay spy informs me that Jenna Susko is headed to LA to work for O and O, KNBC.

Susko was a part of the "Investigate Unit" team at the station and won numerous industry awards to boot. The move down to LA was nothing negative about KNTV; I'm told Susko liked the idea of going to the #2 market and ratings-challenged KNBC is supposedly building a bigger "I-Team."

For NBC Bay Area, it marks the sixth recent staffer to go to KNBC which is now being called "KNTV South."

*415 Media Exclu

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TIPS/E-Mail: Rich.Lieberman@Gmail.com

Raj Mathai Commands The Screen At NBC Bay Area; Wednesday First Take

 Raj Mathai, it seems from here, is floating on cloud 9. It's been a rapid ascent for the former sports TV tonsil to chief news anchor at NBC Bay Area.

Hard to believe almost five years has passed since Mathai's move to news.

The transition has been remarkably smooth and steady for the South Bay resident who now commands the screen as if he's been doing news all along. Believe me, it's not an easy change. Viewers are notoriously picky and overly critical when it comes to their evening anchor routine.

Mathai's work on KNTV is a crisp and no-nonsense delivery. He's straightforward and simple--which sounds sort of duh, shouldn't that be the premise of all anchors? Sure, you just don't see it occurring on a regular basis. Maybe the pressure to perform is too intense --in any event, Mathai has jelled to the position and is now one of the leading Bay Area news anchors.

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Stephen Stock And Eric Rasmussen Deliver First-Rate Real News Stories; NBC Bay Area/KTVU Break Down Quality Content; The Vacuous Ronn Owens Defends Brian Williams On KGO Because 'I Really Like Him'; Thank God Callers Take Him Down; KRON New Weather Woman; KTVU New Look Gets Stamp Of Approval; TGIF 415 Media Notes

FRIDAY RUNDOWN

A case of good LOCAL TV News on display: Stephen Stock of NBC Bay Area and Eric Rasmussen of KTVU reminded us that there's still quality workmanship out there if you can apply it and hunt for a story.

Rasmussen went to a Downtown Oakland residence hotel and exposed a filthy, obscenely dark, dank and gutter place --and was able to come face to face with its owner (who didn't talk) but also a young mother with kids who had no alternative but to live at the dump. I've been critical of Rasmussen before but he was great here and his relentless pursuit of the slumlord and getting to the bottom of the affair was quality work.

*Stock, part of "NBC Investigates", (KNTV) provided a lengthy and informative essay of the state's fragile levee system --I knew it was bad but I didn't contemplate the future hellhole that awaits us if a big earthquake were to hit at the wrong place. Good work, Mr. Stock.

*The vacuous Ronn Owens at his best: Mr. Voice of Reason's hideous defense of Brian Williams based on "I really like him." Owens, "Mr. Softie"--what a complete schmuck.

*The few talk-show hosts left at KGO (on the weekend) are shaking their head over being left out of consideration for the 7-10 PM weeknight slot. The guy that got the gig got it based on his mushroom recipes.

*KRON has a new weatherwoman --thanks for keeping me abreast of the situation.

*It's easy for me to rip KTVU's new look and format but I like it. It's more crisp and fresh and it moves along at a decent pace. There's more stories and information. It's considerably more of an appealing look. It's not perfect --but nothing is perfect anymore. And yes, I've seen WEATHER AUTHORITY--is it campy and ridiculous? Absolutely ..but welcome to the world of modern-day TV News.

*Stock up: Azenith Smith: I'm loving her more every day. Talk about transformation from the news outhouse to the penthouse.

*Brian Williams easy call: if he's still got the gig at the end of Friday he'll get spared and not fired; the weekend is always the best friend of those public people whose jobs are in peril.

Azenith Smith--KTVU

*Somebody at KPIX should be informed that your quasi-new graphics look horrible. Just what's with the block-centric lettering? It looks something out of El Paso.


*The morning news gigglers on KGO and their daily tease with the mattress man: About as enticing and cool as a Fresno Arby's.




Stephen Stock--NBC Bay Area 'Investigative Unit'

*Mike Nicco giggles and Jennifer Jones-Lee giggles-back: I think all we need is Chuck Woolery


*Remember, The 'Voice of Reason's sole existence is to get out of the house and sweet-talk sweet-nothings with middle-aged women in Pleasanton who regard Target as the same as Nordstrom.


*Dear Chef Ryan Scott: I thought you were bad but after listening to 7-10 PM you might as well be the reincarnation of Jim Dunbar.


*KRON: OK, so you got the lighting right now if only you could get a bigger desk! Go down to Office Depot and do it right away. There's a sale today.


*Brian Copeland: "What if Urkel wanted to be a talk-show host? I smell a one-man show.

*Hey, did you hear? It's supposed to rain like hell for a few days! Oh Nellie!

*Ronn: Mattresses, manicures , heaping praise on dorky new talk-show hosts from 7-10 PM, you're just a fine man, Mr. Lowenstein.

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Thursday 415 Media Looker; Christie Smith; NBC Bay Area

 Christie Smith --about as cool as they come. Reporter extraordinaire --was Eastbay correspondent for several years --now Morning News contributor at NBC Bay Area.

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After Super Bowl NBC Bay Area Rolls Out Primetime Weeknight Newscast; Mathai: 'We're On The Clock'

 This is a big day in San Jose as after the big game, NBC Bay Area, (KNTV) will roll out its primetime Monday-Friday newscast with anchors, Raj Mathai, Jessica Aguirre, and weatherman, Jeff Ranieri. Terry McSweeney will do a live shot from Arizona and Peggy Bunker will do the same from Levi's Stadium, the site for Super Bowl 50 a year from now.

With almost all eyes glued to the game and an audience surpassing 100 million people, and millions here, one need not underestimate the significance of this event from a local standpoint.

"It's a great opportunity for every NBC affiliate, but especially for us at KNTV," said Mathai to 415 Media. (KNTV is an owned and operated station by NBC). "This is a very local story considering the game is in Santa Clara in 12 months. We're on the clock."

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Lee Hammer Temporarily Running KGO Radio; Damon Bruce and Gianna Suter-Franco Super 1-2 Punch At The Game; KQED Radio Power Trip; Thursday Breakfast Liners

 THURSDAY BREAKFAST LINERS

*KGO Radio is being temporarily run by KNBR top suit, Lee Hammer.

*The Game's, (All-Sports-95.7 FM ) PM talker, Damon Bruce and his news update woman and occasional sidekick, Gianna Suter-Franco, were a phenomenal 1-2 punch on the sports-talk radio scene on Wednesday. Topic one, of course, was the Raiders/49ers announcement of new coaches and if you listened, it was the very best and smartest act from the duo, including some of the funniest and more pointed phone calls from the lunatic fringe, the callers. Hail to the "Butcher Boy". (More on all of this in a later column).

*NBC Bay Area, (KNTV) Will Adams--a good guy in a tough business that doesn't get enough credit and should be acknowledged here--thus, he has.

*Mounting siege mentality at KQED Radio --between one of the hosts and a few people behind the glass. Sounds to me like a power trip run amok.

*If that local station that might be pursuing the local TV sports anchor really wants him, add a few zeros to the contract and you'll get him. Make that more than the usual.

*Speaking of KNTV, a big congrats to Laura Garcia-Cannon, morning news, for her 15th anniversary. Another classy dame is getting even better at NBC San Jose.

*Jason Barrett, PD at 'The Game': When the content and show is good, like Bruce's, then I'll say it so. You did good in PM Drive. So there.

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