KRIV Wearther Anchors

[adguy]

What's up with this. Mike Iscovitz is back on the crack-of-dawn shift. I haven't seen the 9P news. Is Cecilia Sinclair back in prime time? Odd to see any anchor changes during a sweep although the sweeps are becoming essentially obsolete with the onset of daily PPM's. It looked like KRIV was getting back on track by sending Sinclair to the AM newscasts where her over-the-top perkiness best suits the AM. It's amazing, they have the talent to challenge for the number 2 late news rankings, but have that talent bundled up in the mornings (Jan Jeffcoat).

 

[stevenNOLA]

What's up with this. Mike Iscovitz is back on the crack-of-dawn shift. I haven't seen the 9P news. Is Cecilia Sinclair back in prime time? Odd to see any anchor changes during a sweep although the sweeps are becoming essentially obsolete with the onset of daily PPM's. It looked like KRIV was getting back on track by sending Sinclair to the AM newscasts where her over-the-top perkiness best suits the AM. It's amazing, they have the talent to challenge for the number 2 late news rankings, but have that talent bundled up in the mornings (Jan Jeffcoat).

I wish they would punt Matt Levine. I like both Iscovitz and Sinclair.

 

[adguy]

Word on the street is Lavine is just about to be booted. I hear he doesn't fully comprehend the station's new weather technology and that is pissing off the ND and GM. I agree, he's definitely subpar to Sinclair and Iscovitz. I can't stand anchors and reporters that come off on-air as better than

 

[stevenNOLA]

My problem with him is he tries to get out from in front of the weatherboard as fast as possible. He places no more emphasis on radar, etc when severe weather is occuring. Lately, I've been watching 11 in the morning because of David Paul's in-depth coverage of severe weather/flooding. Additionally, I mostly watch 11 (thanks to HD) except for the 9:00 news on 26.

I remember the first time Mike Iscovitz stepped in front of the green wall at KLFY in Lafayette. Within months, it was evident he was big-city material. Wes Hoenstein also started there. It took him longer to get going but after seeing him on KPRC when I first moved here last year, it appeared he was doing well. I believe he was associated with a losing team from the beginning.

 

[snoman]

Word on the street is Lavine is just about to be booted. I hear he doesn't fully comprehend the station's new weather technology and that is pissing off the ND and GM. I agree, he's definitely subpar to Sinclair and Iscovitz. I can't stand anchors and reporters that come off on-air as better than

Lavine should be doing entertainment reporting. He's very funny and he and Lanny Griffith have had some hilarious banter in the morning, but he's definitely weak on the weather side of things. Word is Cecilia is on medical leave. They want Iscovitz on the Nightside again eventually, but word is that management does not want Lavine doing all four hours of the AM News, so that's why Iscovitz is doing mornings and Lavine is doing nightside for now.

Also, Christina Garza is leaving, too. Have not heard why.

 

[stevenNOLA]

Word on the street is Lavine is just about to be booted. I hear he doesn't fully comprehend the station's new weather technology and that is pissing off the ND and GM. I agree, he's definitely subpar to Sinclair and Iscovitz. I can't stand anchors and reporters that come off on-air as better than

Looks like it happened. He is no longer on the myfoxhouston website. Dr. Jim Siebert is.

http://www.myfoxhouston.com/myfox/p...n=1&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=5.3.1


Steven

 

[snoman]

According to my friends on the inside, Dr. Jim is filling in while Cecilia is on medical leave. It is unsure when Cecilia returns, whether she will be on in the morning or at night. Matt Lavine's last day was March 2nd. His contract was not renewed. They have posted a job opening for a full-time meteorologist.

Word is also that Jose Grinan is on the way out, too.

 

[adguy]

Most folks have known for months that Lavine's contract would not be renewed. Word on the inside was he couldn't get up to speed with their new weather radar and software. I too have heard rumblings that Grinan is on shaky ground. He has always been a real pain in the ars from the moment he arrived in 96 or 97. I'm surprised he's still there, but the AM news ratings have been very strong since Jan Jeffcoat arrived a couple of years ago. That's probably the reason he's now expendible. It's so obvious that Jeffcoat is the real reason for the ratings spike. I can't understand why they don't move her the the 9P anchor slot and move that awful Melissa Wilson to the dawn patrol. Wilson, a very nice person, is way to sugary for a prime or late newscast, but sometimes that works well in the morning. Ever since Wilson was inserted into the prime anchor post in 2000, KRIV's prime news ratings have dropped and remained consistently low. And I'm talking about 50% lower than they were prior to her arrival. Then again, you have to look at who is running that station....not a rocket scientist by the widest margin.

 

[snoman]

Most folks have known for months that Lavine's contract would not be renewed. Word on the inside was he couldn't get up to speed with their new weather radar and software. I too have heard rumblings that Grinan is on shaky ground. He has always been a real pain in the ars from the moment he arrived in 96 or 97. I'm surprised he's still there, but the AM news ratings have been very strong since Jan Jeffcoat arrived a couple of years ago. That's probably the reason he's now expendible. It's so obvious that Jeffcoat is the real reason for the ratings spike. I can't understand why they don't move her the the 9P anchor slot and move that awful Melissa Wilson to the dawn patrol. Wilson, a very nice person, is way to sugary for a prime or late newscast, but sometimes that works well in the morning. Ever since Wilson was inserted into the prime anchor post in 2000, KRIV's prime news ratings have dropped and remained consistently low. And I'm talking about 50% lower than they were prior to her arrival. Then again, you have to look at who is running that station....not a rocket scientist by the widest margin.

Jeffcoat anchored the 9pm last night, and will probably do so every chance they get, including when Wilson goes on maternity leave. Yes, she is pregnant again. The only problem is that the GM is big on energy in the morning, that's why they wanted to move Cecilia there. Melissa Wilson just would not fit that bill. She is a VERY nice lady, but she is a HORRIBLE anchor. I actually think they should put Pattie Shieh back anchoring in the morning. Word is the only reason she got pulled, is that her and Zizka were TOO loony together, but their chemistry was great together. Just tell them to stay a little more focused. Then, move Jeffcoat to the 9pm slot and just make Melissa Wilson your fulltime Medical Reporter, like John Hammerley does in the DFW market. She's good at doing that stuff, and you could have her fill-in for Jeffcoat, to satisfy her "anchor sweet-tooth", so to speak.

Grinan's had about nine-lives there. Everyone says he's a tremendous a$$ kisser with the brass, so that's how he's been able to stay around. However, no one who works with him, likes him. He complains about everything and everyone. Maybe his ego has gotten the best of him. I've always found it to be ironic. The worst people in the TV biz, have the biggest egos, and the good ones don't. I worked with quite possibly the BEST local news anchor I've ever seen in San Antonio... Chris Marrou at KENS. He was one of the most down-to-earth, funny people that I worked with there. Legendary Sports Anchor/Reporter Dan Cook, there was the same way. Mark Scirto, the very popular Meteorologist at KLTV in Tyler, is great, too. And, I will say this, Mike Barajas is not the best anchor, but at least he is nice and courteous, and will even learn your name and ask about your family and stuff. Grinan's niceness is forced and is only kind when he needs help with something.

 

[yragha]

I'm out of the loop, whatever happened to Fran Fawcett?

 

[snoman]

I'm out of the loop, whatever happened to Fran Fawcett?

Her contract was not renewed. She was only anchoring the noon show, and did a little daytime spot reporting, but she was making a lot of money (from her 9pm anchoring days and City Under Siege), and they wanted to expand her duties and she did not want to, so they did not renew her contract.

 

[adguy]

Most folks have known for months that Lavine's contract would not be renewed. Word on the inside was he couldn't get up to speed with their new weather radar and software. I too have heard rumblings that Grinan is on shaky ground. He has always been a real pain in the ars from the moment he arrived in 96 or 97. I'm surprised he's still there, but the AM news ratings have been very strong since Jan Jeffcoat arrived a couple of years ago. That's probably the reason he's now expendible. It's so obvious that Jeffcoat is the real reason for the ratings spike. I can't understand why they don't move her the the 9P anchor slot and move that awful Melissa Wilson to the dawn patrol. Wilson, a very nice person, is way to sugary for a prime or late newscast, but sometimes that works well in the morning. Ever since Wilson was inserted into the prime anchor post in 2000, KRIV's prime news ratings have dropped and remained consistently low. And I'm talking about 50% lower than they were prior to her arrival. Then again, you have to look at who is running that station....not a rocket scientist by the widest margin.

Jeffcoat anchored the 9pm last night, and will probably do so every chance they get, including when Wilson goes on maternity leave. Yes, she is pregnant again. The only problem is that the GM is big on energy in the morning, that's why they wanted to move Cecilia there. Melissa Wilson just would not fit that bill. She is a VERY nice lady, but she is a HORRIBLE anchor. I actually think they should put Pattie Shieh back anchoring in the morning. Word is the only reason she got pulled, is that her and Zizka were TOO loony together, but their chemistry was great together. Just tell them to stay a little more focused. Then, move Jeffcoat to the 9pm slot and just make Melissa Wilson your fulltime Medical Reporter, like John Hammerley does in the DFW market. She's good at doing that stuff, and you could have her fill-in for Jeffcoat, to satisfy her "anchor sweet-tooth", so to speak.

Grinan's had about nine-lives there. Everyone says he's a tremendous a$$ kisser with the brass, so that's how he's been able to stay around. However, no one who works with him, likes him. He complains about everything and everyone. Maybe his ego has gotten the best of him. I've always found it to be ironic. The worst people in the TV biz, have the biggest egos, and the good ones don't. I worked with quite possibly the BEST local news anchor I've ever seen in San Antonio... Chris Marrou at KENS. He was one of the most down-to-earth, funny people that I worked with there. Legendary Sports Anchor/Reporter Dan Cook, there was the same way. Mark Scirto, the very popular Meteorologist at KLTV in Tyler, is great, too. And, I will say this, Mike Barajas is not the best anchor, but at least he is nice and courteous, and will even learn your name and ask about your family and stuff. Grinan's niceness is forced and is only kind when he needs help with something.

I know Barajas fairly well and I consider him a friend. He is a very good anchor when paired with someone that picks him up (i.e. chemistry). He was paired with a female anchor for a short time in the 90's who left for Chicago. He was truly at his best when teamed with her. In fact, Barajas I considered to be better than Bill Baleza at KPRC at that time. Baleza is a consumate pro that most anchors in Houston try to emulate. Barajas is talented and best of all experienced and when paired with the right female anchor can be among the best. And yes, you are correct, he is humble and one of the nicest guys you've ever met. He's a real asset to the community and great family man. Melissa Wilson does nothing for Mike other than leave him out in the cold. Her personality, as I stated in another post, is disgustingly sugary. Every chance she gets, she tries to make the news about her. For example, the other night when she announced her pregnancy and right as I was changing the channel to avoid her self centered perkiness, I thought I caught a piece of her announcing "Is it a boy or girl" contest. That would fit in with KRIV's total lack of journalistic professionalism. I can see where Melissa Wilson's baby is as newsworthy as the new Iran British Hostage crisis---NOT! Fox Corp needs to sweep in and save that station from this kind of crap, get Barajas a credibel co-anchor and get a GM that cares about the station, its employees and the community.

 

[snoman]

Tomorrow morning (Thur 5-17), there will be a Cecilia Sinclair update on FOX 26 Morning News 5-9am. Word is she's not coming back, in order to spend more time with her family. That's the word anyway.

 

[yragha]

Anyone know whatever happened to the person she replaced, Robert Smith? I thought he was a very good meteorologist. He was at News 24 on Time Warner a long time back but haven't heard anything about him since.