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. He took the wrong medicationThe vodka instead of the Scotch. I wish him all the best, in his efforts to overcome Drinking. 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. He just worked.. He lives in San Francisco and walks three miles a day on the steep city streets. No RL, he's a GREAT GUY, and one I admired all my years in Bay Area media. The old, lame sleeping pill excuse. He hired Randy Shilts as a reporter covering gay issues before Shilts went to The Chronicle. Related Articles He knows what his vulnerabilites are, and attempts to deal with this truth. Mike Mibach grew up in the Bay Area and attended St. Ignatius College Preparatory in San Francisco (Class of 94) and College of Marin. He always had faith in his people, and we always had faith in his judgment.. Get Morning Report and other email newsletters. That would be a dynamite idea and count me in as a interested observer. His answer is an unequivocal "no." I was tempted to make a George Watson joke, but(Jessica Savitch too). Let's forget Fred, we came here to buy him not to praise him, seems to be the mantra of current (mis)management. The years rolled on and the alcohol continued to flow. The family emigrated from Switzerland in the 1880s and homesteaded 160 acres. Starting in 1978, he had a 22-year run at the TV station, where he put together the anchor team of Dennis Richmond and Barbara Simpson, whom Zehnder later replaced with Elaine Corral, Leslie Griffith and Julie Haener, all during Richmonds 20 years as an anchor. Were it not for alcoholism, George Watson might have ended up with a Hall-of-Fame broadcasting career. It's tragically intense and real. Don. While there, he was introduced to broadcasting through a part-time job at a Eureka radio station. 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. at KTVU (Mann was one of the station's first hires), O'Brien and Zehnder brought in newcomer Leslie Griffith to join veteran KTVU reporter George Watson on the weekend anchor desk. 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'm sure current management heard that as a slap in the face. In the two-plus months since, Somerville has not publicly addressed the situation and KTVU management has barely acknowledged it. He doesn't sound drunk to me, and he doesn't move as if he were drunk. Your Privacy Choices (Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads). 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. Former longtime KTVU anchor and reporter Leslie Griffith has died. A native of Jamaica, he grew up in Miami. He talks to me here at 415 Media, his first public interview in over two . You're in our thoughts. I am a computer illiterate. God Bless You and George for all that you do. 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. Kevin O'Brien was the station manager, Zehnder's boss. You were a bright shining start in a dark, dark world. Related Articles He had spirit and energy and passion; he wasn't just an emotionless bean-counter. Thanks for the update, Rich. The plan was set, and just as O'Brien expected, KTVU became even more phenomenally successful. "I feel good, awesome actually. Somervile did not appearr on the 6 PM newscast. I miss George Watson on the nightly news. TO THIS DAY, I STILL GET ASKED, "how's George Watson doing?"No news is good news. KTVU began taking on water under his reign and frankly it's amazing it's still [barely] afloat. 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. Always in our thoughts George! "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. "You have to quit because if you don't, it will kill you. At that time I thought professional help and it did help. Franklin (Fox Sports Net), Leslie Griffith (KTVU), Mark Ibanez (KTVU), Deanne Moenster (KTVU), Tom Pellack (Fox Sports Net), Steve Shlisky (KTVU), George Watson (KTVU), and Rita Williams (KTVU). I told my wife I bet KTVU pulls him off the air at the commercial break, which they did. ", Watson's re-entry into the workplace was easier than he had expected, he says. Fred Zehnder, the news director at KTVU for decades, died after being hit by a truck while walking in Alameda. Sadly, it looked like he was drunk. He held a news conference at the time saying that people were throwing rocks at police and "preparing Molotov cocktails.". (That role was reserved for Andrew Finlayson, who was Zehnder's successor. The rest of the nation did too. Emmy Award-winning TV journalist Leslie Griffith, who most . Everyday I couldn't wait to see him on the news. A group of about 1,000 people broke off from that main rally and headed down to police headquarters. 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 . GEORGE WATSON OBITUARY. I love this man and I don't even know him. A possible reunion of old KTVU on-air people, like Watson, Dennis Richmond, Rita Williams, Lloyd Lacuesta and others might be in the works too. 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. He looked off last night. 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. She currently anchors the 4 and 7 p.m. news at KTVU, but has filled in for Somerville several times already this week. Fred would not have wanted that.. Betty and family Margaret are sorry for your lost.but remember he is in a better place god is holding him now ,our prayers are whith you all. "But more like feeling for the first time that I really could make it. It includes footage of legendary transit historians Harre Demoro and Ted Wurm.. ", UPDATE 10: 28 AM PT: I just received a text from Somerville: "I took the wrong meds last night. Somerville, one of the Bay Areas highest-paid and most visible TV journalists, has been at KTVU since 1991. Watson also didn't realize how much the segment would have on his life later, even the more than twenty years later. But he also had a remarkable middle career as news director and on-air talent scout for KTVU in Oakland. I remember seeing him on a program a few years ago that was about his life. George looks great, and he seems to be in good spirits. Significant piece of retro San Francisco bay area broadcasting history. Protesters yelled at police and someone was seen throwing a water bottle over the barricade, but dozens of witnesses told KTVU that the crowd was not violent. Hope all is well, George. Then, he disappeared. Zehnder also helped mold the on-air persona of popular feature reporters Bob MacKenzie and George Watson. For the last year, Armstrong has promised transparency and has told the community on several occasions that if the police made mistakes, he would let the public know. Posted to Fort Bliss, Texas, he worked at an Army public information office run by Sam Donaldson, later a famously brusque TV news reporter. But that's . TV Streaming | Abrupt closure of S.F. I miss a lot of these past greats. to FOX2. They're not like another Bay Area station, that has a mediocrity [*cough-cough* Ken Bastida! Henry Winkler advises find a passion and stick with it, no matter the stage of life Despite the acknowledgment, the contents of those reports and what discipline was meted out, and to whom, were not revealed. Would be great to see some of his more recent reporting. Frank was definitely impaired last night. He started as a feature writer in the People section, which was anchored by Herb Caen's column, and has written about people ever since. 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. 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, KTVUs Frank Somerville to take a break after bizarre newscast behavior. Also, how come KGO-TV Channel 7 doesn't have Melanie Woodrow on their website under Newsteam? > Also, how come KGO-TV Channel 7 doesn't have > Melanie Woodrow on their website under> Newsteam? Edited by Anita Badejo and Marc Georges. Fred was one of the few people in broadcasting who had the courage to hire the cosmetically challenged, including me, said Randy Shandobil, another Zehnder hire and longtime political editor, who retired 10 years ago. KTVU's George Watson's 60th Read More. Glad your health is ok and whatever you were going through., Another chimed in with, WAS SO HAPPY to see you back on the news tonight. Once promoted, he showed a brilliance not only in personnel decisions but also in conceiving and launching the popular standing features Segment Two and My 20th Century.. 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. 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." Thanks for linking that gallery! "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. Somewhere along the line, George either got help or knew he just had to pull himself out of the situation. . He is getting old and maybe time for early retirement. "She had such a wild & wonderful personality. This S.F. He was an excellent writer and speaker. He was intoxicated. But behind the scenes, negotiations were under way on a departure settlement. For decades he lived in an in-law unit behind the home of close friends Howard and Claudette Morrison, who ended up working with him at his papers. But he had a profound impact on me as a child. All Access Digital offer for just 99 cents! Just KTVU Channel 2. Have you never heard of diarrhea? He was still drinking then and wanted to get sober. And that's fine with him now. Always thought the O'Brien guy was the one adulated. But the call led to a job offer as a maintenance man at the center, which led to his sobriety. I watched Sommerville on Sunday's 10 p.m. newscast and noticed right away that he was having difficulty reading the teleprompter and speaking clearly. Watson said Police Chief LeRonne Armstrong will hold a news conference this week to explain more. Asked if Somerville was sick, Haener replied: No hes doing well taking a little time for himself and should be back soon!. KTVU 10 p.m. news anchors from left: Bill Martin, Dennis Richmond (seated), Mark Ibanez, Leslie Griffith (seated). He refused to let it end in Game 7, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. TV Streaming | Watson has politely turned down several nedia interview requests. However, I urge anyone who is depressed to get some help, life will get better. As editor and publisher of both the San Leandro Times and the Castro Valley Forum . One day at a time. TV Streaming | Not sure what you mean by "Fox 2 branding" but "Fox 2" as a concept didn't exist during the Zehnder era, so why would it be an element? He didnt care how people looked, he cared what they brought to journalism. clinical psychologist jobs ireland; Tags . It remains to be seen whether Oakland police consider the injuries suffered during last summer's protests as rising to that level. 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. But I ended up being one of the lucky ones. Male talent seems to bog that station. He arrived at KTVU in 2005 as a general assignment reporter. A slightly more up to date update on George. Always liked George Watson, hope he's doing well Wow, Suzanne Saunders Shaw was his girlfriend! 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. Published by at 07/06/2022. Producing that show was a dream job. Fred just liked to do the real work of putting out a newspaper, the nuts and bolts of it, said Jim Knowles, managing editor of the San Leandro Times. We all need help at some point.I personally am too embarrassed to ask for help currently.Severe depression going on 4 years now. To date, police have not yet provided evidence of those Molotov cocktails and dozens of witnesses have told KTVU that no one was causing imminent danger to police at 7:45 p.m. that night, 15 minutes before curfew, when police threw tear gas into the crowd. Some never do admit they need help.