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Leslie Griffith

L

LKellerIII

I know this board doesn't get much attention, but it's interesting that nobody has chimed in about the Leslie Griffith situation on KTVU - Fox 2 in Oakland/San Francisco. So I'll start, and see if anybody comments. Apparently she is negotiating to leave her job as co-anchor with Dennis Richmond, after 8 years. Both Leslie and KTVU management are maintaining secrecy about the reasons. For those who don't remember, Griffith took over as co-anchor in 1998 after Elaine Corral left suddenly under very similar mysteriously secret circumstances. The main difference - Corral announced her departure suddenly on the air (to the shock of everybody on the set, the story goes). Griffith did not make an on-air announcement.

In other forums, people are piling onto poor Leslie - knocking her for frequent on-air flubs, and an annoying manner. I've personally never been a big fan either - I found her overly-serious deep-voiced and mannered delivery reminiscent of the infamous Los Angeles 1960s anchorman George Putnam. Putnam was the primary inspiration for the bufoonish Ted Baxter anchorman character on the Mary Tyler Moore show. However, I never noticed that Griffith flubbed on-air any more often than other Bay Area anchors.

Any comments?
 
Chuck Barney's article in Sunday's Contra Costa Times states that she has been gone since August 22nd. I haven't even realized that she was gone that long. Anyone know when KTVU started the 5pm newscast?

I too am not fond of Leslie Griffith, but she had been doing the newscast with Dennis Richmond for so long I'm used to it. I also am not fond of Julie Haener if she were to replace Griffith. Although highly unlikely, it would be interesting if KTVU lured Diane Dwyer back from KNTV to be the replacement. I suppose we will see what happens over the next few weeks.
 
Leslie bugged me as well. The way she would cross her hands on the desk so that her elbows pointed straight out. And her hair! Holy crap! Once she cut it, she could not find a way to make it look presentable.

IMHO, I really do like Julie Haener. I believe she would make a fine replacement.
 
According to the Matier and Ross column in this morning's SF Chronicle, Leslie's departure from the station is now official. They've released the obligatory "we wish her well" letter, after taking her out of the stations's promos a week or two ago.

It's surprising to me that they waited THAT long. Among Leslie's reasons for quitting - meddling by the station's Atlanta owners, the pressure of the new (early evening) broadcasts, shorter stories, and the fact that the station did not stand up for her when the Oakland Tribune criticized her on-air style. ??? While I don't necessarily defend the station's owners -what were they supposed to do about the Tribune criticism? Get angry? Sue them? The Trib's critic didn't say anything that hadn't been said in other forums.
 
Wow, I gotta say I do miss Leslie Griffith on KTVU!! She was outstanding, very professional and easy on the eyes!! Dennis Richmond is getting ready to retire soon Hes been @ KTVU since 1976 i believe!!Those two were the 10 O clock news!! You trusted and believed the story they gave!! I wrote to Tim McVay numerous times, no response, then the news she was no longer with ch 2!!! They lost a Real asset to KTVU!! She was there during the "Rodney King Ordeal" and she was right on top of it giving all the viewers the story live, right near the Agitators!! Give her credit 20 years, something happened, Its a shame she was so full of enthusiasm, and was 49 and a "Legend" in The news!! Look at KRON they are terrible, KTVU is #1 hope they made the right choice! Compare Darya Folsom @ KRON to Leslie. Period end of story!! LESLIE is the Winner!! Kenny in Concord
 
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