I've never met Amy G, (Gutierrez); we once interacted on Twitter and it was fun and positive. From all indications she's a really nice woman.I've written very little of her work and have for the most part resisted the temptation of piling on. I mean, I'm not a big fan of her work. Surprise.
Here's the deal. Amy G is, from the inside offices, Larry Baer's "good-luck charm." She's not supposed to be Christianne Amanpour but she could try to be a little more Erin Andrews or Pam Oliver and still be her cheery self. Her voice is not her fault and therefore, annoying and nasal to the max, she gets a pass there.
But body of work and all she's terrible. I'm being brutally honest. She doesn't add anything to the broadcast and instead is more of a distraction, a screeching halt that destroys the momentum of the game in play. If it's 12-1 in the 7th I don't mind her giggles and chirps but if there's a close game and she interrupts I'm not a happy camper. Neither are most Giants' fans either and get this: most Giants fans can't stand her. Kruk and Kuip are in for the long haul because they have to make a living but I'd bet that they aren't fans. They play along because they have to.
This isn't end-of-the-world material. Amy G will always be Amy G because Larry Baer and the booster club want an Amy G. Then again consider this? Do the NY Yankees have an Amy G? No. Do the Dodgers have an Amy G in the stands bothering Magic Johnson? Nope. Neither do the Cardinals or the Cubs. Maybe it's not major league. Maybe they have a point. You get my drift and don't bring up the two World Series victories--Amy G doesn't play on the team. And most of the players don't particularly care for her but yeah, again, Larry Baer does and he writes the checks.
*Yeah, it's considered out of protocol that an on-air host rip a fellow on-air colleague --that's not just a KGO Radio edict but pretty much universal rule. That said it was most refreshing to hear David Weintraub belittle Ronn Owens the other night. It wasn't really a rip, more a beautifully-rendered, satirical takedown. Even if you like Owens it was funny and telling. Better yet, Weintraub nailed it. To the bone. Any by the way, I don't know the guy. So talk of him trying to score some points for me is false. I'm flattered but seriously...
*I've never been a helicopter guy. Sure, for a scene of a big accident on the bridge or a fluid news event like the OJ "chase" or police activity, the news choppers are vital but in light of the tragedy in Seattle are they really that necessary? I recall a similar terrible accident in Phoenix too and there's been many crashes in NY. They seem to be happening more frequently. How about one pool chopper for each city? I know this is a radical idea but given the current climate not to mention the overbearing noise it's worth considering.
*To say there's paranoia inside the KTVU newsroom would be like saying that some window-washer on the 50th floor of the BofA building gets a little antsy every now and then.
*More KGO tidbits: don't blame the Dallas yahoos doing KGO's traffic reports on the weekend and sounding foolish and mispronouncing street names and highways. They were hired by Cumulus. Outsourcing is done to save money and put forth a product on the cheap. Plain and simple. If professionalism and broadcast respect were in the business plan, Cumulus didn't get the memo.
Never mind the people in Dallas sound foolish. Never mind the hosts who have to literally lie to their diminishing listeners that "we're going to Rose Barnes 'inside the KGO traffic center." (That sweet-sounding southern belle). Of course it sounds ridiculous and disgusting but you want to know something worse: they don't care about you! Never have. Never will. They are NOT radio people, how many times do I have to tell you, and they have utter contempt for their employees and you, the listener.
*Inconvenient truth: Allie Rasmus is markedly better than Heather Holmes. One has a personality and can read the news --the other comes off cold and antiseptic --with or without snot.
*Jessica Aguirre too beats Cheryl Jennings. Aguirre has gotten better with time. Jennings seems mean and uninspired. And I'm not even going there.
*By the way, Janelle Wang is by no means perfect--not even close--but she looks and sounds genuinely happy to be reading the news. Yes, sincerity is a commodity today.
*Ditto Rob Mayeda and Diane Dwyer. Those of you who think I'm sucking up to KNTV, (NBC Bay Area, google me and "NBC Investigative Unit."
*KCBS, thanks for telling us it's traffic on the 8's as if we didn't know and you had to tell us. Great marketing, I thought it was on the 10's and 11's.
*PIX weather guy, Paul Deanno: nice guy. Looks can be deceiving. And yes, I like Roberta Gonzales--you got complaints, sue me.
*The fake KSFO talk host from 9-Noon with the fake Anglicized Name is anti-immigration reform. Normally I wouldn't care but since he's of Hispanic heritage I find his act farcical. But oh, what the hell, they need bodies to talk and he's only gonna be there six months before the next victim is carted in.
*The non-24 spot: Is the Night Stalker available?
*That alleged "all-sports" FM outlet that can't break a 1 rating just added an ex-SF Giant to its new morning show. The station is the flagship of the "Oakland A's." Another brilliant move by the figurehead PD. Maybe his next hire will be a fan off the streets...Wait a minute, he already did that! Fuckin' genius!
*This is not saying much but Tolbert will murder Damon Bruce in PM drive. Quote me. Not that Tolbert is so great more to the point, Bruce has no dial position, no traction, no 50,000 watts and lately, enough baggage to fill the United terminal at SFO.
*"Today's KGO Radio Saturday guest host from 10-1 is Ed Jew!"
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