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

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.

Suddenly, The Mellowed Me? Not Really

 I got an e-mail from a longtime reader: "you've gone soft--what's happened to your edge?" Yeah, the snarky me has temporarily left the building which is bad for business--less hits, less fuss, more, well yes, happy snarky me, your loving media blogger who has this dilemma.

Part of the appeal of this site is that people react to bluntness--want honesty. Maybe too much honesty. It's like the ultimate driving on the freeway and stopping to view the blood from the accident and bodies. I'm generalizing but you get the gist. We complain that the only news is bad news yet we're not interested in good news --in fact, years ago, some TV channel promoted the first "We only report good news"--no murder stories, no funerals, no armed robbery surveillance video, etc. and guess what? Nobody watched. The channel went dead. So good news is really bad business apparently. The National Enquirer's picture of Elvis's dead body was its most popular cover ever. Millions bought it. A cute and cuddly cat appeared on the cover of Time Magazine. It too sold well but nowhere near the figure of Elvis's corpse.

Which brings me back to my buddy saying that I've pulled back and become too mellow. I really haven't but maybe some of you think I have. It's hard, frankly, to go poke at others when you yourself have been in a personal funk like me for the past month or so. There are those journalists out there who have an amazing ability to compartmentalize and perform their work even under the most dire of circumstances. That's why I'm a blogger, I guess.

Even those of you that have been the recipient of my scorn know (most of you at least) that my rants are based, mostly, on my opinion of your work. I seriously try not to make it personal but any criticism, any rip, verbal snipe, el-snarky supreme, is always personal. Some of you get it and know how to play the game- others simply don't get it. It's just my opinion. Nevertheless my current pretzel state instead of the spicy meatloaf has transformed me which is great for the mind but delivers lousy Google checks. So help me, what should I do?

When you're dealing with life issues everything else becomes uber-secondary. I know a lot of you guys love pictures of black Bentleys parked in handicapped zones and ripping the morning talk host who does mattress ads but I'm not in the mood. Not now at least. They'll be a day when things go back to normal but right now is not the time. Or is it? Never mind.

This may sound trite but one thing I've really discovered is that no matter how much we think something is important; some job, some ex-wife; a girlfriend/boyfriend issue, ego, weight, the 'who pays the bar tab', me taking a shot at Ronn; it's really not that important. Surprise. Sure, I can still think that Ronn sold out but I don't wish Ronn any ill health or bad vibe; never have, but going through what I've been through the past six weeks makes it seem, in retrospect, utterly trivial and in reality it is. All of it. I'm beginning to sound like Dr. Phil and that's annoying but I think you get the point.

In due time, God willing and if I'm in a better mood and not worrying about what other people think about me, I'll get back to throwing out some darts and extra cheese on the burgers. Until then, please excuse my detour from Glenn Beck into Mother Teresa.

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KRON Has To Shed Little Sisters Of The Poor Image; Move Into New 900 Front Building Inspires Hope For Personnel

 As KRON slowly moves into its new digs, (in the 900 Front/ABC building that houses KGO-TV), it has to shed its little sisters of the poor image and take advantage of what it does best: provide a consistent, if modest and lean, all-news product to Bay Area viewers.

A KRON staffer told me that morale, while most of the time still in the dumper, has become a bit more cheerier as personnel gets entrenched in its new Embarcadero studios. Where 1001 Van Ness was a windowless stale edifice, the splashy waterfront office if nothing else, inspires hope and inspiration for a work force that desperately needs both.

KRON is still an albatross but what it does have going for it can be maximized and utilized --outside the constant 24/7 barrage of infomercials and third-tier programs, is a dedicated, if sometimes sloppy news force that can churn out some decent news content for a market that is capable of supporting a variety of news operations.

 KRON's issues, and it has plenty, has to do with its meager corporate budget; fewer camera trucks and equipment; horrific mismanagement galore orchestrated by News Director, Aaron Pero, who is universally despised by most of the rank and file. Pero runs the newsroom like he's some brute dictator on a mission to demoralize everyone in the building. He's done a great job, supposedly. Until someone at Media General, (KRON's corporate owner), gets in Pero's face and reads him the riot act, Pero will continue his reign of fear and loathing. One would hope the new address may inspire Pero to change his tactics. Don't hold your breath.


KRON will never be a NY1 but it can and does have extra time for newscasts. The 8PM show is sharp and consistent if occasionally dull. But so what, bring us news. KRON's staple of reporters are not the most highlighted but are hard-working and pretty good for the most part.


We often take quality anchors for granted here but keep in mind the presence of seasoned veterans like Pam Moore, Catherine Heenan, Vicki Liviakis, and yes, his sports highness himself, Gary Radnich.


Because of its own status as an independent and not beholden to network obligations, KRON can take a negative and turn it into a mild positive. Sure, it hasn't happened for over twelve years and there's nothing to indicate a dramatic departure from the present. It is what it is, as the cliche goes but that doesn't mean the station has to go into a deep retreat. It has much too many good news people.


Time will tell.

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It's Time To Ask Rich Lieberman

 Oh, should be a fun day. Can't wait for the brigade.

OK, fire away. No subject is off the table. I want compelling questions and I shall do my best to provide compelling answers because I'm a compelling sort of guy.

No morons, please. (Fat chance).

Detour on the porterhouse steak dinner--instead opted for Chinese. Yung Kee saves the night. Kung Pao chicken for everyone.

GAME ON!

Follow me on Twitter where you can also ask questions too.

*Rich Lieberman and 415 Media are not responsible for comments made by others on this website

Ask Rich Lieberman

A Few Questions For NBC Bay Area's Chief Weather Guru Jeff Ranieri

 Jeff Ranieri is the NBC Bay Area chief meteorologist.


**************************


First off, anything we should about you that we don't know? I'm completely obsessed with the SF fog and marine layer. It never gets old.


You have quite a following--what do you attribute it to? I'm just myself...What you see is what you get. Being "real" is the only way to be  on television.


Why is the weather so important?--I've always thought we give it way too much attention. We're all impacted by the weather every minute of the day. Even when it's Summer in the Bay Area with sunny skies seven days a week, there's a dynamic weather story to tell our viewers. You could argue we have some of the most unique microclimates in a confined zone that is unlike anywhere else in the world. It matters.


What's a cool day for you, off the air? Making breakfast with an amazing cup of coffee and checking out what's in the paper, (yes, we still get it delivered at home!) Then, heading outside to enjoy one of the many incredible options across the Bay Area. Wine country or the Coast would probably be 2 of my favorite options. Finally, ending the night back in the kitchen, (love to cook), and making dinner with my family.


OK, a biggie: What are you having for dinner tonight? In n-Out!! Double-- double with grilled onions, fries--animal style.


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NBC Bay Area's Chief Meteorologist Jeff Ranieri; Women Seem to Love His High Pressure Systems

 Jeff Ranieri is KNTV's, (NBC Bay Area), chief meteorologist and beyond possessing better than average weather-predicting reports, has quite a following among Bay Area TV viewers, particularly women who love his high pressure systems if you know what I mean.


Ranieri knows his stuff too; before joining KNTV,  he worked as a correspondent for NBC News & MSNBC and served as the Weekend Today Show meteorologist.


Some people take the weather for granted. Not Jeff. Take a look at his forecasts and see the lighter side of rain, mist and showers, which we've been getting a lot of lately --ain't that just splendid.




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*Jeff Ranieri
*KNTV
*NBC Bay Area

The Only Weather News That's Important; NBC Bay Area's Christina Loren Is a Star Meteorologist

 Christina Loren is a certified meteorologist. Fact.


The NBC Bay Area weather anchor is also a star too, pleasant to watch and smart enough, savvy enough to give you the very best, most accurate forecast.


We've been talking a lot about weather here in the Bay Area; now that we have a legitimate drought it's cool, it's OK and that's why I've been watching Loren more. She sort of keeps it real and I can appreciate that.


And yes, as I indicated, Ms. Loren is easy on the eyes and that's fine. In fact, I would suggest that is why I watch, is that a crime to admit? I don't think so--TV is a visual medium and that's why they hire pretty people.


Loren is a star too but you already knew that. I approve of this message.


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Sporting News Top 200 Sports Cities; San Jose#24, Oakland#33, SF#46? You betcha

Sporting News has a list of what it calls the Top 200, (It's actually 500, but 200 is enough) Sports Cities, and amazingly enough, SF is ranked #46, behind San Jose(#24), (of all places) and Oakland too(#33) See, the splash hits are great and AT&T Park may be deemed gorgeous, but Candlestick still sucks and despite garlic fries and cha-cha bowls, Sporting News could care less about the 415. Maybe Barry Bonds should re-apply to the Giants; that would get the fans off their cell phones, right? Pittsburgh received the coveted #1 status, but what else is there to do in Pittsburgh besides watch sports? It's Pittsburgh for gawds sake.

Here's the actual list: ( take a look at #32? Huh? Oy!)

1. Pittsburgh
2. Philadelphia
3. Boston
4. Chicago + Evanston
5. Los Angeles
6. New York
7. Phoenix + Tempe
8. Miami
9. Dallas-Fort Worth
10. Detroit + Ann Arbor + Ypsilanti
11. Houston
12. Nashville
13. Atlanta
14. Washington
15. Tampa-St. Petersburg
16. Minneapolis-St. Paul
17. Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill, N.C.
18. Denver + Boulder
19. Salt Lake City + Provo
20. Indianapolis
21. Anaheim
22. Cleveland
23. Charlotte
24. San Jose + Palo Alto + Santa Clara
25. New Orleans
26. Milwaukee
27. Orlando
28. Baltimore
29. Cincinnati
30. St. Louis
31. San Diego
32. Portland
33. Oakland + Berkeley
34. Columbus
35. San Antonio
36. Toronto
37. Oklahoma City + Norman
38. Austin, Texas
39. Vancouver
40. Buffalo
41. Gainesville, Fla.
42. Calgary
43. Storrs, Conn.
44. East Lansing, Mich.
45. Montreal
46. San Francisco
47. Memphis
48. State College, Pa.
49. Kansas City
50. Jacksonville
51. Green Bay
52. Seattle
53. Edmonton
54. Ottawa
55. Sacramento
56. Columbia, Mo.
57. Tuscaloosa, Ala.
58. Blacksburg, Va.
59. Tucson, Ariz.
60. Stillwater, Okla.
61. Lawrence, Kan.
62. Morgantown, W.Va.
63. Lubbock, Texas
64. College Park, Md.
65. Oxford, Miss.
66. Clemson, S.C.
67. Louisville, Ky.
68. Eugene, Ore.
69. Boise, Idaho
70. Iowa City, Iowa
71. Corvallis, Ore.
72. Lincoln, Neb.
73. West Lafayette, Ind.
74. Tallahassee, Fla.
75. Madison, Wis.
76. South Bend, Ind.
77. Athens, Ga.
78. Lexington, Ky.
79. Baton Rouge, La.
80. Knoxville, Tenn.
81. Columbia, S.C.
82. Tulsa, Okla.
83. Winston-Salem, N.C.
84. Champaign-Urbana, Ill.
85. Waco, Texas
86. College Station, Texas
87. Piscataway, N.J.
88. Auburn, Ala.
89. Charlottesville, Va.
90. Syracuse, N.Y.
91. Manhattan, Kan.
92. Albuquerque, N.M.
93. Reno, Nev.
94. Fayetteville, Ark.
95. Starkville, Miss.
96. Las Vegas
97. Hattiesburg, Miss.
98. El Paso, Texas
99. Annapolis, Md.
100. Greenville, N.C.
101. Logan, Utah
102. Spokane, Wash.
103. Akron, Ohio
104. Troy, Ala.
105. Fort Collins, Colo.
106. Colorado Springs, Colo.
107. Moraga, Calif.
108. Ruston, La.
109. Bowling Green, Ohio
110. Fresno, Calif.
111. Omaha, Neb.
112. Muncie, Ind.
113. Pullman, Wash.
114. Ames, Iowa
115. Murfreesboro, Tenn.
116. Honolulu
117. Kingston, R.I.
118. Huntington, W.Va.
119. Bowling Green, Ky.
120. Laramie, Wyo.
121. Dayton, Ohio
122. Birmingham, Ala.
123. Oxford, Ohio
124. Kent, Ohio
125. Las Cruces, N.M.
126. Kalamazoo, Mich.
127. Athens, Ohio
128. Moscow, Idaho
129. Bloomington, Ind.
130. Mount Pleasant, Mich.
131. Jonesboro, Ark.
132. Denton, Texas
133. Lafayette, La.
134. DeKalb, Ill.
135. West Point, N.Y.
136. Toledo, Ohio
137. Monroe, La.
138. Richmond, Va.
139. Normal, Ill.
140. Albany, N.Y.
141. Niagara, N.Y.
142. Ithaca, N.Y.
143. Fargo, N.D.
144. Cedar Falls, Iowa
145. Burlington, Vt.
146. Peoria, Ill.
147. Nacogdoches, Texas
148. Des Moines, Iowa
149. Stockton, Calif.
150. Little Rock, Ark.
151. Ogden, Utah
152. Mobile, Ala.
153. Johnson City, Tenn.
154. Wichita, Kan.
155. Evansville, Ind.
156. Harrisonburg, Va.
157. Emmitsburg, Md.
158. Martin, Tenn.
159. Hempstead, N.Y.
160. Murray, Ky.
161. Binghamton, N.Y.
162. Huntsville, Texas
163. Amherst, Mass.
164. Norfolk, Va.
165. Clarksville, Tenn.
166. Lexington, Va.
167. Carbondale, Ill.
168. Corpus Christi, Texas
169. Lawrenceville, N.J.
170. Santa Barbara, Calif.
171. Missoula, Mont.
172. Radford, Va.
173. Morehead, Ky.
174. Lynchburg, Va.
175. Thibodaux, La.
176. Olean, N.Y.
177. Richmond, Ky.
178. Fairfield, Conn.
179. Worcester, Mass.
180. Springfield, Mo.
181. Pocatello, Idaho
182. Providence, R.I.
183. Orem, Utah
184. Riverside, Calif.
185. Chattanooga, Tenn.
186. Terre Haute, Ind.
187. Charleston, S.C.
188. Vermillion, S.D.
189. Stony Brook, N.Y.
190. Bozeman, Mont.
191. Macon, Ga.
192. Newark, Del.
193. Beaumont, Texas
194. Greeley, Colo.
195. Youngstown, Ohio
196. Fort Wayne, Ind.
197. Davis, Calif.
198. Montgomery, Ala.
199. Cullowhee, N.C.
200. Valparaiso, Ind.

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