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.

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!

Bill Martin Days Numbered at KTVU After Grogan Hire; Low Ball Offer to Sam Mohr Doesn't Help; Sal Castaneda Wants More Money; The 'Gaas' New Haircut; Rothmann Demanding Wife Impedes KGO Progress; KNBR: Too Many Black Crows Not Enuf Bald Eagles; Fong-Torres Kiss Ass to Cumulus SF Boss Harvill; NBC Bay Area Blew It with Christina Loren Canning; HBO Doc on Sandra Bland Worth Watching; Hey, Brighten Up 415 Media With Holiday Donation; Rich Loves Turkey and Happiness; Thursday Nosh

Bill Martin

THURSDAY MEDIA NOSH

KTVU has 4; Four! Weather yellers; the latest hire, Kyla Grogan, (lots of teeth and mileage) so my spies say someone might be needing to update the resume. That individual? Veteran Bill Martin who only a few years back was a mainstay.

Martin now continues to mumble more frequently and he isn't slowing down in that department; making matters worse: he isn't blond, female and possess big boobs so he doesn't fit Fox-like elements: my prediction and others: his days are numbered. Calling on Fresno!

*Had KTVU not low-balled former KPIX weather countess Samantha Mohr, they'd have scored something far more unique and compelling: a very smart, sexy, attractive, engaging, mature weather woman with flair and attitude to boot not to mention more eyes and ears.

Samantha Mohr

Yes, Sam is older but so what! She's incredibly easy on the eyes and has far more weather moxie then the latest yenta KTVU hired, more because she's willing to work for far less dough then Mohr who stated flatly to station brass that in order to pay for living in the Bay Area, you'd better pay. They did not. DUMMIES!

*Meanwhile in the morning grind at KTVU 'MO2' veteran traffic guy, Sal Castaneda, is complaining about his $400,000 yearly salary. A source: Sal seems to think for all he does at the station (not just the traffic) he should get a lot more moolah.

Some background: Sal is part of ball and chain he being more ball and his demanding wife almost all chain. Add a growing family and you get that he wants and needs more toys for the clan.

That said, asking for Somerville-like money you need leverage: NOT!

My feelings are that Sal has to work with chirpy, chatty, Gasia Mikaelian and on that basis alone he should be given more gelt.

Frank Somerville and THE GAAS

THIS IS BIG NEWS: The Gaas has a new haircut and supposedly has asked every KTVU employee including the janitor how it looks. A new haircut? Gaas might be auditioning for a future LA gig as is the chore for many FOX female anchors just be prepared for her eternal chirpiness and out-of-toon giggles and cackles.

*Another great Bay Area radio guy run shamelessly by his wife: KGO now and then political guru, John Rothmann.

His would-be rise at KGO would be significantly improved but Rothmann's power-driven wife gets in the way of those who want his career to once again shine and allow for his astute political analysis to be heard. Unfortunately, due to domestic reality, Rothmann's path has suddenly taken a off-road detour. Add to the fact that when you BLOW OFF a good friend when he's down and out, that portends negative things will happen. It's called karma.

Sal Castaneda: show me the money!

*KNBR is in the toilet the combination of no sports teams and emphasis on has-beens having to talk on the radio. KNBR has a lot of black crows in the studio and not enough bald eagles. They reek and smell like year-old cattle carcass. In fact, KNBR is so low now in the ratings they put the human waste machine on the air in the morning to fill in for one of the prime dudes. Leaving us entertained by Powlie Mac and some wasted LA chick that doesn't say a word but has nice gums and a great rack of lamb.

*THIS JUST IN! Hey, we found someone who likes Ben Fong-Torres. Or better know as Ben Press Release Torres.

Sad, really, Doug Harvill kowtowing to BFT who showed his incompetence by NOT asking DH about why Jack Swanson wasn't given any money to retune KGO.

Ben should write for Readers Digest --he'd be a great addition to the first wives club and bring in the Rossmoor crowd.

*MORE WEATHERING THE STORM; KNTV still hasn't gotten over dumping Christina Loren who was shown the door because she was caught sending resumes to other TV stations and reading my 415 MEDIA.

Loren was quite the package and then some but she emerged as a real, celebrated NBC Bay Area starlet. Problem is she should have been on at night because women don't watch nor like strippers in the morning it's an industry no-no but what do I know.

Christina Loren

*IF you didn't catch that HBO doc on the mysterious death of Black woman, Sandra Bland, you NEED to watch it.

Tense, powerful, chilling at times and infinitely watchable the Bland story is another reminder that America has a very deep disconnect with the African-American community and this doc is proof positive. I watched from beginning to end and had a chill up my spine; still do.

*IF YOU LIKE 415 MEDIA (and who doesn't) then please show me some love for the holiday (even if I can't enjoy this year) by making a donation to 415 MEDIA.

Go to the right side of the blog to the "Donate" button and CLICK ON IT and follow the prompters; it takes but less then a minute and you'll help me during the holidays and help sustain the Bay Area's most-read 24/7 media blog; I will e-mail and call you thanking you for your donation --any amount counts; those donations also help me pay my bills and eat turkey just like you and your family. Thanks to all of you.

Rosemary Orozco Has a Leg Up on All of Us

KTVU meteorologist, Rosemary Orozco, showing her weather prowess.

Uh, sure thing, whatever.

Happy Monday.

Rosemary Orozco; KTVU Weather Woman Extraordinaire; Before The First Glass of Egg Nog

 Rosemary Orozco
KTVU Weather.
Today's Looker.

Lotta high pressure there and love it.

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