Friday, March 23, 2018

Ask Rich Lieberman

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YOUR FAVORITE FEATURE...415 Media answers (or tries to) your questions on Bay Area TV/ Radio/Internet ...oh, and opinion too. Name and city please.


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47 comments:

  1. Why do you think KTVU is a great station? I find them incredibly robotic and stuffy. There is zero personality at the station.

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    1. At one time, they were "great." If you read me regularly I've often criticized KTVU and praised them too. No, they're not the KTVU of old but that's the same issue with other news outlets. CBS used to be the gold standard of network news but no longer. It's a different world and a new one...remember when KRON had Bob Jimenez and Evan White and Pete Wilson and Vic Lee? Remember KTVU in its prime with Rita Williams and Randy Shandobil and Dennis Richmond? Nobody is "great" anymore --KTVU still puts out a better-than-average news product but on the whole, they're not "great." I hope I answered your question.

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  2. Any news on Jessica Aguirre? It'd be a shame to see her go. She is one of the reason I watch NBC.

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    1. No news, at least officially no news which in Aguirre's case, might be good news. I said not so long ago that I'd bet she is re-upped but I wouldn't be shocked if she were not renewed. Tough business.

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    2. Thank you for your answer Rich! :-) hope you are doing well.

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    3. I can't believe KNTV let the very beautiful Peggy Bunker go either. :(

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  3. Rich, Why do you think the whole world should stop spinning when you face personal problems and yet viciously attack local celebrities when they struggle with problems of their own?

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    1. "Jennifer", I knew someone like you would ask such a question and, out of respect to you even though you show me no respect, I will try to give you an honest answer.

      I never said the whole world should stop spinning; every now and then I alluded to "dealing with personal issues" but hardly ever mentioned my mom's medical situation --only at the end, yes, I wrote a tribute piece and that was it.

      Even though every day, since her death, I write with a heavy heart; I have trouble sleeping; I suffer from anxiety disorder; I'm having a tough time. But that's life. I miss my mom, my best friend and her spirit and love.

      I have never attacked, knowingly, a local media figure's struggles, gone after those with life and death issues...

      I backed off of Roberta Gonzales' rips when I found out she lost her mother; same deal with Veronica De La Cruz. I'm not a fan, professional or personal, of Brian Copeland but knowing now he suffered from depression, I have backed off. Because I too suffer from depression; it sucks.

      Ronn Owens, I've attacked his professional behavior after the first KGO massacre, but don't wish him any pain nor suffering as he battles Parkinson's disease. That would be totally insensitive and ludicrous. Ronn said himself that he wanted no sympathy.

      Like I said, I don't go after people personally unless they go after me. It's as simple as that.

      I'm sure someone will dig up something I said about someone --when you write an unfiltered media blog you sort of try to be a little edgy now and then. It's a tough business.

      I try my best to be open and honest. And when I do rip people, I don't hide my comments behind the "ANONYMOUS" tag. My name is on the top of the blog.

      And again, I do not, KNOWINGLY, go after someone if they lose a loved one or are public dealing with a health malady, for example, or something painful like depression.

      I hope I answered your question.



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  4. Do you still think Sara Sydner is an actual journalist, in light of her breathless responses in her CNN conversations with Don Lemon about Stormy Daniels? She seems more TMZ than actual journalism.

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    1. I didn't see the Lemon piece; but I do like Sydner and her reporting, especially her reports from Mumbai for CNN and when she anchored at KTVU.

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  5. What are your thoughts on the new host of the Shower Hour on KNBR? Apparently he's Brian Copeland's son. He sounds exactly like him.

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  6. How is it that the KNBR morning morons keep their jobs? There are probably more sound drops than actual talk. It’s either that or repetition of the 6 am crap hour after hour until 10am.
    Does the program director actually listen to them?

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    1. They keep their jobs not because of talent b/c it's a stupid show and programmed for morons and guys who are horny and drink beer and look at porn on the Internet...I can't listen to it anymore but it makes money for KNBR and they need it because their owner is bankrupt and could use a few extra dimes.

      I don't know if the PD listens, I would assume he does, sounds like torture to me.

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  7. Is Ama Daetz back full-time? I saw her for a few days, and then she wasn't on air yesterday. Thanks for answer.

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    1. Maybe because she just had a baby...perhaps something else. I wouldn't be alarmed.

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  8. Rich: What percentage of the Bay Media's middle management seem more and more like Dilbert bosses? Keeping Trixie, DR, & Greg Kelley smacks of pure insanity, regardless of ratings and money. One would think that treating employees right would actually increase ratings and revenue, but of course, that's never been that way since dirt. Or at least since telecom deregulation began around the time the Bentley arrived.

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    1. I have a feeling the rulers like people who are assholes and enjoy abusing their power. That's why they make bosses and people are miserable. It's called life.

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    2. *More and more* like Dilbert bosses?!?

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    3. The cartoon, "Dilbert", is the reference.

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  9. Have you seen Hackney on-air recently? It seems that he is toning down his haughty act.

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    1. Good. I'm hot and cold with the guy. He can read the teleprompter --sometimes he's cool but when that smarmy demeanor hits you, I get the remote.

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  10. So, what in the world ever happened to KRONS Tiffany McElroy? She seems to have completely disappeared from the face of the earth.

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    1. Maybe she realized that she was actually going to work at KRON...seriously though, I think a money issue arose and that was that.

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  11. Hi Rich,

    Hope you are doing better. Do you know if Dr. Bill is doing any radio at all? Thanks

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  12. Any hope at all that a news talk radio station could re-appear? There is no interest from any fat cat?

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    1. Jim Gabbert has the cash and juice to make a new KGO but unfortunately, Gabbert is cheap and apparently wants to die rich.

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  13. Any chance Dion Lim going to get any weekday Prime Time anchor spot after Ama came back from 4 to 11 news spot?

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    1. They like her a lot, KGO does. I'm not sold on her; I've stated several times here because she comes across poorly, sort of antiseptic at best...but she's already subbed 4-5, 6 and 11 so they have a lot invested in her.

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  14. Any chance country music comes back on the Bay Area airwaves in the near future?

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    1. Although I don't care for country music, there IS a market here. I believe the Cloud company tried a NASH format but it didn't fare well here.

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    2. I can get KRTY-FM San Jose 95.3 ...it's a real radio station complete with commercials, traffic reports, and live DJs..plays country 24/7...along with Warriors games. I can get it on my TV and on my car radio.

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    3. That's fine for around the Bay, but once you cross over the hills you'll get bleedthrough with KUIC in Vacaville, which is also at 95.3...KFOX has the same issue with KRXQ (98 Rock) in Sacramento, though at least that's the same format. Maybe KFOX and KRXQ could merge and we could listen to a single rock station from San Jose to Placerville without having to spring for satellite...

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  15. Rich, do you know what Ramph Barbieri is doing these days? Any chance he would consider coming back on the airwaves part time, maybe 95.7 after his son gets older?

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    1. Living life in Marin and taking care of his son...I don't think Ralph wants any more radio, just a hunch.

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  16. Hi Rich: I just saw Mindi Bach(formerly of NBCBA Sports) at 6:50 pm tonight doing the KGO Channel 7 sports report in lieu of Larry Beil. It's great to see Mindi back on the air! Has KGO permanently hired her for their sports dept. or is this just a one-time thing? Also have you seen the New African-American KTVU Channel 2 News Anchor/Reporter Andre Senior who started last month. Not only does he read the teleprompter very well his deliver is not robotic & actually flashes a nice smile when appropriate.
    Cary SF

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    1. Merely fill-in work. Haven't seen much of Senior to form an opinion yet.

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  17. I still believe that Dion Lim is a top notch, very professional Anchor. She is smooth and on point!

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  18. What happened to Anny Hong? No longer on Mornings at KRON4?

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    1. I believe she chose being a mother is better then working for KRON, for now.

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  19. If Dion loosened up with her delivery, dropped the phony facial expressions and toned down the make-up, I could warm up to her.

    I can't imagine she would leave a full time gig to do fill-in work, but maybe she was interested in a lighter workload. I tend to think she didn't come cheap and that KGO has plans for her. My hunch is that we'll be seeing more of her, like it or not.

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    1. She was hired to do weekends possibly replacing Eric Thomas one day who has been demoted to do outside reporters on weekdays and fill in on weekends and Dion, a big promotion filling in for Ama when KGO can trust Kristen Sze filling her in but choose not to. She can be a morning anchor but there are too many reporters hogging up the spot after Jessica Castro was hired. We don't want to see another KTVU with too many anchors.

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  20. Rich, how many years will it take before they replace TV anchors with robots? Some of them already seem like robots, especially how they turn their heads. The body language of most of the local anchors is unnatural.

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  21. KTVU with too many Anchors. Crap, Sal Castenada is a terrible "Anchor", have him stick to reading the Traffic Prompter. Jeez!

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  22. What is up with KTVU and their "missing" reporters.... Monte Francis does about 2 GA reports a month, and I haven't seen Rob Malcolm on a report in over two weeks! The new anchor Andre Senior is good, not great, but having watched some clips from his previous gig in Florida, he is a morning guy! Hopefully Mrs Gomez returns soon, as KTVU needs two anchors on Saturday evenings desperately. AND THAT LEADS ME TO MY QUESTION, For "The Bay Area's New's Leader", KTVU has TERRIBLE Weekend coverage. No 5pm News, no 11pm news on Saturday. They produce 4.5 hours on Saturday, and 5 on Sunday.... Should be closer to 7 in my opinion. Three weekends ago for the Yountville shooting they had Alex Salvidge in studio for a live 6pm report, and during the recent North Beach fire, they used Debra Villalon for their live shot. Seems weird to not have dedicated weekend night reporters.... I know for a fact KPIX had team coverage with two reporters on the scene right away. For the "Bay Area's New's Leader", I'm looking for way more "team coverage" and double the amount of live shots!

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