Former Reporter George Watson Returns to KTVU - SFGATE Here are their demands, Downtown S.F. Watson has politely turned down several nedia interview requests. Indeed, Watson had a serious back issue; had to have surgery (he's now ok) but working would cause a great deal of hardship. Some people are more sensitive to the effects of alcohol than others. In 2008, he received a highly publicized promotion when he was named the co-anchor of the stations 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. newscasts, replacing Bay Area icon Dennis Richmond. Watson's first report will be on the Marin Shipyards and can be seen Sunday. Always liked George Watson, hope he's doing well Wow, Suzanne Saunders Shaw was his girlfriend! I remember seeing him on a program a few years ago that was about his life. Leslie Griffith resigns at KTVU - East Bay Times Oakland police officers disciplined following deployment - KTVU FOX 2 She was a force of nature.". And I wouldn't rule out Ms. Corral attending, either. Aug 2001 - Mar 20042 years 8 months. Zehnder also hired or nurtured weather reporter Bill Martin and sports anchor Mark Ibanez, whom hed seen on TV while on vacation in Tahoe. TV Streaming | Let's forget Fred, we came here to buy him not to praise him, seems to be the mantra of current (mis)management. A police transparency law, SB 1421, which took effect in January 2019, mandates the release of information to the public if officers cause great bodily injury. "I'm loving retired life, really have left that stage of my life." Several years ago George Watson worked for KTVU-2 in Oakland. He sold subscriptions and took in news items dead cows and broken-down milk trucks on the family phone line. OAKLAND, Calif. - Oakland police officers have been disciplined following the deployment of tear gas and other less-than-lethal projectiles at last summer's George Floyd protests, KTVU has learned. A slightly more up to date update on George. Even Corral's predecessor, one-time KSFO talker Barbara Simpson, admitted to being saddened, possibly attending as well.Fowler, Roth, Kauf, Bruno, can see all of them coming. I used to watch him on KTVU (when it had a great news department)and really appreciated his special features reports. January 6, 2013. The discipline by the chief and the civilian board would be the same and run concurrently if both parties agree. Related Articles The nine-time Emmy Award-winning Griffith worked at KTVU for 20 years from 1986 to 2006 beginning as a reporter and as co-anchor, with George Watson, for the station's 10 p.m. weekend newscast.For several years in the 1990s, she anchored that weekend broadcast by herself, doing the same as well for a weekend early evening edition. I have a feeling they decided to limit the coverage of Fred's good old days, and there's been no follow up about a memorial, or more info on the alledged drunk driver, since. Thanks Rich for running this again. For the last year, civil rights attorneys and some city leaders have called out the police behavior, saying that officers violated city policy and a court order, prohibiting them from using tear gas and fire off specialty munitions as there was no proof of imminent danger, among other things. He just worked.. Life has returned back to normal! I have thought about you often and held positive thoughts for you. Frank was definitely impaired last night. It's nice here in Arizona even when it gets baked," Watson tells me. You know the story. In 2008, he received a highly publicized promotion when he was named the co-anchor of the station's 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. newscasts, replacing Bay Area icon Dennis Richmond. I'm delighted and happy that Watson has turned his life around. TV Streaming | In a now famous NBC "Dateline" story, Watson talks about his bout with the bottle. If you see this, thank you George. TV Streaming | He was a calming and a guiding influence. Reply Delete I never knew what happened until now. ?A: 1 Year sobriety !Quick.Somebody call George Watson. He's still in mourning over the cancellation of "Freaks and Geeks. ", Liggins added: "She was professional, engaging, and adored by her audience. But that's . Dozens of protesters have alleged in at least two federal lawsuits that they suffered bruising and even temporary blindness as a result of getting hit with toxic chemical agents and the equivalent of rubber bullets during at least two protests last summer, on May 29 and June 1, 2020. Emmy Award-winning TV journalist Leslie Griffith joined KTVU in 1986. Sam Whiting is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Welcome back.. She has been with SFGATE for more than 10 years. Can't help but notice that the name 'Elaine' didn't appear in the list of reunion participants. "I'm OK.", UPDATE 10: 44 AM: I asked Somerville if he was going to be back tonight (Monday) on air at KTVU: He texted back: "Yeah, I'm totally fine. He doesn't sound drunk to me, and he doesn't move as if he were drunk. 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I asked Watson if he has any interest in getting back into the biz, even on a limited basis doing special projects, a few bits here and there. TO THIS DAY, I STILL GET ASKED, "how's George Watson doing?"No news is good news. Don. Get Morning Report and other email newsletters. You were a bright shining start in a dark, dark world. I used to watch him on KTVU (when it had a great news department)and really appreciated his special features reports. Title not meant as any sign of disrespect, just a piece of retro bay area broadcasting history. Mike Mibach grew up in the Bay Area and attended St. Ignatius College Preparatory in San Francisco (Class of 94) and College of Marin. Maybe if McCormick feels good enough, he might come down from Oregon. He mainly anchors in the mornings, but expect to see more of him in the evening hours. He was speaking more slowly than normal, and he was mispronouncing and slurring some words. George was an excellent anchor. Hopefully Mr. Watson is doing well. https://plaing.smugmug.com/Friends/KTVUs-George-Watsons-60th/i-PVT68BG. But the Berkeley native, USC alum and lifelong Warriors fan will likely see a lot more camera time at the desk in the coming days and weeks. ), Best part about the Leslie/Mark (short man) story is that she was upset at losing him (refer back to short comment), LIVE AND DIRECT FROM SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONE, GEORGE WATSON IS ON THE PHONE. Griffith, probably not. Last time in 2007 and 2008, the economic downturn hit me hard, I was working on commission only, and my business disappeared in a matter of weeks, because I was too late to face reality I also lost my condo. I have had severe depression a few of times in my life. Watson said Police Chief LeRonne Armstrong will hold a news conference this week to explain more. I'm not sure how I missed all the drama or where all the years have gone but I remember George very well on KTVU and had no idea this was his story. The old, lame sleeping pill excuse. Frank Somerville finally returns to KTVU: Are viewers owed an explanation? Born in Texas, Griffith started her journalism career as a newspaper reporter for the Associated Press and Denver Post. ", Frank Somerville finally returns to KTVU: Are, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), H-1B: Feds want criminal charges over application fraud for Silicon Valleys favorite visa. I've noticed that KTVU, which has a (bad) habit of repeating stories over and over to fill time and hide the fact that they have about half the staff they did ten years ago, did very little repeat playing of the Fred Zehnder sendoff. From April '93 former anchor and reporter tells viewers he had been in treatment for . She has been at the station since 1997 and was on the desk the night Bay Area news icon (and Somervilles predecessor) Dennis Richmond tearfully signed off in 2008. As editor and publisher of both the San Leandro Times and the Castro Valley Forum . The 10 o'clock News would soon become the No. I will keep you informed of any information I obtain. In 2008, he received a highly publicized promotion when he was named the co-anchor of the station's 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. newscasts, replacing Bay Area . KTVU's George Watson's 60th Read More. No I was not deliriously happy, but I was not depressed. I can't remember the last time I saw her on air. Fred Zehnder, longtime KTVU news director, dies at 87 after being hit Watson, George D. 68 Aug. 09, 1944 Jan. 01, 2013 Public viewing will be on Tuesday Jan. 8 from 4 to 7 p.m., at Terry Family Funeral Home. George is a solid reporter and anchor. To me it seems like Haener, who has been sleepwalking through the news for at least the last year, perked up and seemed to be trying harder last night after Frank departed.Just an observation. He looked off last night. His voice and presence was so incredibly comforting to me. He talks to me here at 415 Media, his first public interview in over two . I was tempted to make a George Watson joke, but(Jessica Savitch too). Fred Zehnder, longtime KTVU news director, dies at 87 after being hit by a car in Alameda. Amy Graff is the news editor for SFGATE. I don't know if that's true or just folklore.I wish the best for this man. Your Privacy Choices (Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads). With Somerville away, who will KTVU turn to? - The Mercury News Ex-news anchor back at KTVU as writer, reporter - SFGATE "Boring is good," chuckled Watson, 75 and mellow over a wide-ranging telephone conversation with me and talking about the biz and his retired life away from the camera and teleprompter. He took the wrong medicationThe vodka instead of the Scotch. He hired Randy Shilts as a reporter covering gay issues before Shilts went to The Chronicle. Heather Holmes, a Texas native, has been at KTVU since 2006, when she started as a weekend anchor. But I ended up being one of the lucky ones. The film blends the status of the (then) current-day BART system with looks at the amazing transit systems that existed . It is up to you to calm them down. We knew what our job was and we did it, primarily because of Fred.. He also put out the garbage, pulled weeds around the offices, typed wedding announcements and calendar items, took pictures and did every job that goes into getting free publications into circulation. Review: Carol Burnett: 90 Years of Laughter + Love is an old-school special for an old-school talent Somerville, 63, has a reputation for making frequent and heartfelt Facebook entries (He has more than 560,000 followers). SAN FRANCISCO It's bizarre when someone calls me out with a sickening comment. Can I say that I was just absolutely shocked by that video? He arrived at KTVU in 2005 as a general assignment reporter. As editor and publisher of both the San Leandro Times and the Castro Valley Forum, Fred Zehnder had an outsize role in putting out weekly print editions of the East Bay papers. I watched the first 10 minutes of the 10 PM news and Somerville seemed pretty impaired. I hear George is doing fine --as best that can be expected --but the former Bay Area/KTVU anchor/reporter has a long road to hoe. For eight years, he held two full-time jobs, one in TV and one in print. "During my first stint at @KTVU in the 90s, my first chance to sit on the anchor desk was to fill-in for Leslie, who then solo-anchored weekends. Watched the KTVU newscasts when George worked there, and I miss his work and on-air presence. He knows what his vulnerabilites are, and attempts to deal with this truth. Despite the acknowledgment, the contents of those reports and what discipline was meted out, and to whom, were not revealed. He started the Scotts Valley News at the kitchen table and ran off 50 copies of his one-page weekly, which he reported, wrote, edited, printed and delivered on his bike, an 8-mile round trip. In that sendoff staffers talk about how great things were back then, with Randy Shandobil saying "If you like us at all now, it's because of Fred." Email Evan atevan.sernoffsky@foxtv.comand follow him on Twitter @EvanSernoffsky. He lives in San Francisco and walks three miles a day on the steep city streets. The Bay Area knows the story. Brian Hackney!}. Original music by Dan Powell and Marion Lozano . I'm shaken. Though station management has said it will welcome Somervilles return when he is ready, in the interim KTVU must scramble to fill the void left by one of the Bay Areas most visible journalists a man who co-anchored the 5, 6 and 10 p.m. newscasts. I don't think anyone knows where those two are these days. On July 1, the San Leandro Times came out, with the usual uncredited grunt work that Zehnder always contributed. It was O'Brien that was the same boss that had to let Watson go after repeated bouts with alcohol abuse. 2023 FOX Television Stations, High Stakes: Sports Betting in California, Man frustrated by Oakland sideshow gets attacked by crowd, 'War on the Poor': Rally to remember Banko Brown victim of SF Walgreens shooting, Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao unveils her first budget amid historic deficit, Oakland teachers announce strike Thursday if no agreement reached by then, Oakland's teachers are still negotiating with OUSD, Chinese immigrants remembered as backbone of building transcontinental railroad, Rally held to remember Banko Brown D.A. This began a string of jobs in TV broadcasting as a news director in Eureka, a cameraman at KPIX, and an assistant director on Van Amburgs news show on KGO-TV. George Watson is safe and sane. With Mary Wilson and Rikki Novetsky. He was still drinking then and wanted to get sober. I'm sure current management heard that as a slap in the face. "George is a great writer with a strong knowledge and interest in local history," said KTVU News Director Andrew . You did what he told you because you loved him and didnt want to let him down, Shandobil said. I am hoping he stays sober and maybe if a local news station takes a chance on him they can use his considerable talents. wine startup leaves customers with thousands of Steph Curry adds to his Warriors legend by lighting up Kings for 50. One year after Oakland police used tear gas to break up a large crowd ahead of a citywide curfew, the top brass remained mum on why the department resorted to that level of force. Watson has politely turned down several nedia interview requests. Police, by law and court order, must use de-escalation techniques first, before deploying such harmful, although less-lethal, agents and tools. He returned to KTVU News a short time after. Watson's transgressions are in full display and at times it's a frustrating, sad and equally compelling segment. A native of Jamaica, he grew up in Miami. "It was not a lightbulb, burning-bush experience," he says. When there's a bit of hope, all of a sudden, darkness emerges. Viewers news may remember her as she spent more than two decades anchoring the 10 p.m. news alongside veteran anchor Dennis Richmond. I remember him, he was always really good at what he did. The EMMY statues will be handed out at the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco on Saturday, May 18th. Unfortunately her subsequent marriage to ski racer Bill Shaw ended in divorce. Thanks for posting this video, Rich, and for the update. All Access Digital offer for just 99 cents! Frank Somerville says he believes he won't be coming back to KTVU "But more like feeling for the first time that I really could make it. Or follow her on Twitter @ljfernandez, Evan Sernoffsky is an investigative reporter for KTVU. A news anchor was visibly intoxicated on the air. He also did not want a memorial service. The source told me the producer said "Frank looked haggard." At the start of the 11 PM news, Julie Haener said "Frank is off tonight". The years rolled on and the alcohol continued to flow. He said that these findings and discipline are private under the police officer bill of rights. Unfortunately, he is not the only Bay Area news anchor with a substance abuse/alcohol problem Doug Murphy, KPIX 5 died in a house fire at his home in Lafayette in 2005, Dec. 4th. She joined KTVU in 1986 as a weekend reporter and anchor, and with her alto voice and steadfast reporting, she worked her way up to become an influential force in Bay Area journalism, the East Bay Times reported. Watson and his wife, Diane, whom he met randomly at a Bay Area restaurant are avid followers, still, of the business. I can see all of the KTVU alumni that RL mentioned getting together to remember Fred Zehnder. Watson's email on Monday came an hour after KTVU published a story online saying that it's been a year since the June 1, 2020, George Floyd protests outside Oakland Technical High School, which was organized by teens. He knows it still has an impact. Great to report he's living in Scottsdale and enjoying retired life, sober and tranquil many years and sounding very much the same as he did when he was an anchor at KTVU. Why is Rich Lieberman so absolutely giddy when other people face personal problems? The 54-year-old newsman says he had been in and out of 12-step programs for many years. "I would quit drinking only in order to keep my job, but I always started again because that was never the right reason to quit," Watson says. Always in our thoughts George! Produced in-depth "think pieces" from throughout San Bernardino County. Holmes has a strong social media presence, with 34,000 followers on Facebook and 14,000 followers on Twitter, where she claims to forever be in pursuit of a good story and fabulous shoes.. ", "This hurts my heart," CNN correspondent Sara Sinder wrote. UPDATE, 8: 31 AM PT: A source tells me Somerville was asked to leave after the first segment. I look at my success as being nurtured and guided by Fred Zehnder, said Richmond, who cried when he got the news of Zehnders death at his home in Grass Valley. PDF st Annual NORTHERN CALIFORNIA AREA EMMY AWARD NOMINATIONS ANNOUNCED And that's fine with him now. Longtime KTVU anchor Leslie Griffith dies - SFGATE I remember when Doug passed away. All the best, George! Somewhere along the line, George either got help or knew he just had to pull himself out of the situation. Zehnder also helped mold the on-air persona of popular feature reporters Bob MacKenzie and George Watson. Sad. Zehnder walked there from home and refused a ride back to his place, preferring to walk, as always. ", UPDATE 10: 28 AM PT: I just received a text from Somerville: "I took the wrong meds last night. > It's time KTVU makes a permanent change on> their main anchor desk.They don't have much male talent they could bring in. Would be great to see some of his more recent reporting. He refused to let it end in Game 7, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. The brotherly reunion was still scheduled for July 9 but it was not about him. After graduating in 1952, he attended Humboldt State College, where he majored in journalism. And it appears that many viewers are willing to cut him some slack. The state panel is preparing a final report that will suggest how to compensate Black residents to address the harms caused by the states history of slavery. Get well soon, Frank. George Watson - Writer - Self-employed | LinkedIn You can email her at agraff@sfgate.com. That liquid person can cause permanent damage to the brain; hence the addiction is harder than ever to overcome, though we do read about successes.Saunders-Shaw ended up being a pretty good news executive. TV Streaming | They're not like another Bay Area station, that has a mediocrity [*cough-cough* Ken Bastida! George looks great, and he seems to be in good spirits. Western Bride 26/05/2022. You're a GREAT MAN, George, we all love you. God Bless You and George for all that you do. Longtime KTVU anchor and reporter Leslie Griffith dies Jerry Springer, former Cincinnati mayor and talk show host, dead at 79, A drug company abandoned a treatment for bubble boy disease. 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Somerville, one of the Bay Areas highest-paid and most visible TV journalists, has been at KTVU since 1991. Great to report he's living in Scottsdale and enjoying retired life, sober and tranquil many years and sounding very much the same as he did when he was an anchor at KTVU. Did he use a different name on air? GEORGE WATSON OBITUARY. But behind the scenes, negotiations were under way on a departure settlement. Fred still had his great laugh and was as engaged as ever in journalism and in life, said Sandobil, now a communications consultant in Alameda. When Zehnder wasnt working he was walking, and it was while out making his nightly round of his central Alameda neighborhood on the night of June 27 that Zehnder was hit by a raised pickup truck in an intersection. It was Somervilles first appearance on the KTVU anchor desk since making an alarming exit from a May 30 newscast during which he repeatedly slurred and stumbled over his words and appeared to have trouble reading off the teleprompter. At that time I thought professional help and it did help. KTVU announced this week that anchor Frank Somerville will take an indefinite leave of absence to focus on his health after the veteran newsman was seen slurring and stumbling over his words during a May 30 newscast on Channel 2. Walter Cronkite famously had a bug and had to ask for a blanket to wrap around himself after delivering a newscast while so afflicted. This S.F. I miss seeing that good-looking gentleman with the wonderfully pleasant presence and noteworthy qualifications, and I will pray that he continues to address each day in wellness and with fortitude. I was at their wedding and his other ones. You look and sound great, it seems like taking the time off was beneficial to you., One person even wrote that Somervilles absence led to a temporary alteration of viewing habits: I changed news channels when he left. I thought it was a big deal when I started working with her and Dennis. From there he was hired at KTVU, which at that time was an underdog independent station in Oakland, going up against the bigger stations in San Francisco KPIX, KRON and KGO. Fred Zehnder, the news director at KTVU for decades, died after being hit by a truck while walking in Alameda. Loved watching when KTVU news still held the bar that other stations tried to match. Produced by Mooj Zadie , Luke Vander Ploeg and Clare Toeniskoetter. I am a computer illiterate. Don't know what her latest role is now. ;-). KTVU 10 p.m. news anchors from left: Bill Martin, Dennis Richmond (seated), Mark Ibanez, Leslie Griffith (seated). Fred was vibrant and in excellent health and still working more than full time. The Cliff House was once a colossal Victorian mansion that met a Californias historic snowpack remains massive. As a news reader, he's average and somewhat stiff, but his health is more important. Hope he can get some help. Hopeless. She later took over the 10 p.m. news spot co-anchoring with Dennis Richmond. They've let better people go. Tickets for the event are $85, with a $10 . Long investigative pieces that only air occasionally? She was born and raised in the Bay Area and got her start in news at the Daily Californian newspaper at UC Berkeley where she majored in English literature. It's tragically intense and real. Always thought the O'Brien guy was the one adulated. A family member told KTVU that Griffith died "from the effects of Lyme Disease since she was bitten by a tick while living in Oregon in 2015.". He was a great reporter ! He also picked up items by listening in on the 18 neighbors who shared a party line. Kevin O'Brien was the station manager, Zehnder's boss. I saw it. KTVU will take an all-hands-on-deck approach while Somerville is away, relying on several newsroom regulars to fill in. Covered the aftermath of the 9-11 attacks in New York City . "Her focus on animal welfare is the most prominent example, as she worked for years to highlight the mistreatment of elephants in circuses and elsewhere.". Police were on edge that night, because a few days earlier, during a May 29, 2020, protest, protesters set fires, threw Molotov cocktails and separately, a federal agent was killed by a member of the Boogaloo movement in an undisputably chaotic night. "She had such a wild & wonderful personality. "What an idiot I am!.". But his post Wednesday was his first since late May and rather than addressing his situation at KTVU, he presented high school senior photos of his daughter. Co-anchor Julie Haener broadcast the rest of the newscast solo and didn't explain Somerville's absence nor even acknowledge it. 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