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.

Finally

 At least there's finally a reason to say these things, oh, maybe 500 times today, give or take a few hundred:

1. Live Team Coverage

2. Anchor to weather person: "Every bit helps."

3. "This won't help us in the long run but we really need the rain."

4. "Don't forget to bring your chains if you're heading up to the Sierra." (No shit)

5. "Let's go to the storm desk."

Finally, the all-time topper to commuters: "Folks, give yourself extra plenty of time..." Thanks, I was going to leave at the last minute and head down 880 to the Santa Cruz Mountains and have my tea.

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Raining On Your Parade; Retro Radnich Is Good On KNBR; Poor KTVU; Darya Likes KRON Reporter Mad Bum Undies; UPDATE 1: Little Kid Screws With KTVU, (Video)

 I've been going back and forth --TV and radio--everything I expected, too much to absorb, you knew that was coming and you were right.

There's a parade coming.

I finally gave up early before the festivities when some bizarre KRON reporter showed his Mad Bum underwear to always-reliable-giddy, Priestess herself, Darya Folsom.

Darya to reporter: "Hey, you're wearing my underwear!" --

Some things are best unsaid. I'll leave that for you.

It's hard to crash parades particularly when you're dealing with a catch-22 equation. How dare YOU rip our Giants! Well, I like the Giants. It's our noble media mavens who should take a step back, like...

*KTVU: I mean, for god's sake, you've certainly cemented yourself. When normal people goin' nuts in the orange and black booster club complain, you know something's wrong. I'll say it again with an addition: I can't find fault with KTVU slobbering over itself; after all, it aired the World Series and covered the obligatory Giants/fan/SF Bay region orgasm; all within the realm of conducting business and making money, and that's what it's all about, M.O.N.E.Y.

That being said, like a lot of you, I was sickened by anchors wearing orange ties and alleged reporters acting like the lunatic fringe. Do your job. OK, have fun too, but try to report, not succumb to the Darya card.

*Gary Radnich on KNBR: Radnich was by himself on Knibber this morning and was good. He's always good when he's alone. He didn't tow the line; he explained that indeed the Giants, their fans, all of you, Bay Area, have it good. But don't get too nuts and show a little deference --I'm slightly paraphrasing but it all sounded good. Moreover, it was a welcome respite from the sound and fury of his sidecars. When Radnich is by himself and devoid of the platoon, he can be Retro Radnich, which is both entertaining and refreshing.

*Check back for updates --maybe, maybe not. Depends on my mood.


UPDATE 1: Little Kid screws with KTVU, (Caution, profanity and X-Rated).

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Every SF Bay Area Weatherman Has An Orgasm Today

 Get ready for the first reports from the infamous Walnut Creek fountain.


Reporter: "Hey, how 'but this rain?" Yuppie 40-something businesswoman: "Gosh, it is so soooperb! --We really need it, I mean we really need the rain!"

Assignment editors will send reporters to do live shots all around the Bay, but heavy emphasis on Marin County.

Reporter asks Marin Water authority: "Will even a little rain help?" To which Marin Water PR rep will reply: "This doesn't even make a dent into, (drought), but 'every little bit helps." Thanks for clearing it up for us.

Key into all the weather anchors today as they will be excited and give you all the weather geeky as to what all this means. (Which is nothing--just a late September storm, big deal).


We'll be lectured about the fact that there's still a drought which is unusual because I had no idea there's a drought, I thought Noah's been drooling around Mill Valley for months and the heavens have been spitting on us indefinitely.

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