G Watson was that hard-working and effective at KTVU. A native of Jamaica, he grew up in Miami. Get Morning Report and other email newsletters. Pray constantly for pain to go away. 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. He wasnt like the idea that people have of a publisher sitting behind a big desk smoking cigars. "She had such a wild & wonderful personality. 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. I don't remember my 20's. Thanks Rich and George - so glad to hear he is enjoying life. I remember watching him in the 90s on KTVU, the years with Elaine Coral and Leslie Griffith when they still work for KTVU. 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. 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. Hope all is well, George. Courtesy KTVU. by | Jun 10, 2022 | 1050 main street paterson, nj | 159th aviation regiment patch | Jun 10, 2022 | 1050 main street paterson, nj | 159th aviation regiment patch KTVU began taking on water under his reign and frankly it's amazing it's still [barely] afloat. KTVU's George Watson's 60th - plaing - SmugMug Fred Zehnder, longtime KTVU news director, dies at 87 after being hit He is getting old and maybe time for early retirement. Fun to follow. I told my wife I bet KTVU pulls him off the air at the commercial break, which they did. Watson's first report will be on the Marin Shipyards and can be seen Sunday. 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. I know you all are too. Chuck Barney is the TV critic and columnist for the Bay Area News Group. Fred would not have wanted that.. After the series of reports aired, in 1987, Watson got a simple note from Zehnder ending with, Were lucky to have you. Watson put it on his fridge, and it was still there 30 years later. Always in our thoughts George! I've reached out to Somerville. Kevin O'Brien was the station manager, Zehnder's boss. She stood up for me on occasion too. Was at KNTV last I remember. Watson and his wife, Diane, whom he met randomly at a Bay Area restaurant are avid followers, still, of the business. George Watson, former KTVU (Channel 2) weekend news anchor whose struggle with alcoholism cost him his job six years ago, was rehired as a reporter and writer last month.. Watson will write and . Might want to ask your spies if I'm right. He mainly anchors in the mornings, but expect to see more of him in the evening hours. I miss a lot of these past greats. KTVU anchor calls out racist who disapproves of his family - SFGATE He looked off last night. Drinking can help relief stress, but it can ruin someone lives and his career if you have no control over the abuse. 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. She currently anchors the 4 and 7 p.m. news at KTVU, but has filled in for Somerville several times already this week. Let's forget Fred, we came here to buy him not to praise him, seems to be the mantra of current (mis)management. I was stunned. 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. ), 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. TV Streaming | "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. 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. Dear Abby: Am I overreacting to my European daughter-in-law's behavior? I had to move in with a friend and get a retail job that paid minimal, however, getting out and working and helping people was the cure. Fred was vibrant and in excellent health and still working more than full time. Police, by law and court order, must use de-escalation techniques first, before deploying such harmful, although less-lethal, agents and tools. Jerry Springer, former Cincinnati mayor and talk show host, dead at 79 Your Privacy Choices (Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads). Oh, well. Mike Mibach grew up in the Bay Area and attended St. Ignatius College Preparatory in San Francisco (Class of 94) and College of Marin. On July 1, the San Leandro Times came out, with the usual uncredited grunt work that Zehnder always contributed. I'm sure current management heard that as a slap in the face. I'm sure that was a subtle F.U. As a news reader, he's average and somewhat stiff, but his health is more important. george watson ktvu where is he now. He arrived at KTVU in 2005 as a general assignment reporter. You're in our thoughts. In a now famous NBC "Dateline" story, Watson talks about his bout with the bottle. 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. While there, he was introduced to broadcasting through a part-time job at a Eureka radio station. He sold subscriptions and took in news items dead cows and broken-down milk trucks on the family phone line. Former Jackass star Bam Margera turns himself in; denies assaulting younger brother Zehnder walked there from home and refused a ride back to his place, preferring to walk, as always. UPDATE, 8: 31 AM PT: A source tells me Somerville was asked to leave after the first segment. He's still in mourning over the cancellation of "Freaks and Geeks. 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. Emmy Award-winning TV journalist Leslie Griffith, who most . "He (Somerville) looked drunk. Lisa Fernandez is a reporter forKTVU. The family emigrated from Switzerland in the 1880s and homesteaded 160 acres. I miss George Watson on the nightly news. His life is changed now, relatively stable and on an ordinary course. Barbaa Rogers cried on the air announcing it, As a recovering Alcoholic (30 years sober) I know how difficult it is to reach sobriety. 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. The film blends the status of the (then) current-day BART system with looks at the amazing transit systems that existed . Im soooo happy to see you back anchoring the news! one reader wrote. Watson said Police Chief LeRonne Armstrong will hold a news conference this week to explain more. 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.. Drunk on TV?A viewer could have been killed with this carelessness.Have you all gone mad? This S.F. "But more like feeling for the first time that I really could make it. After being off the air for more than nine weeks, Frank Somerville returned to KTVUs The Ten OClock News Wednesday night without addressing his unusual and lengthy absence. Even for those wit sky high alcohol tolerance, it can ruin your innards over time, irreversibly in many cases. Hope he can get some help . 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. "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. Oakland police officers disciplined following deployment - KTVU FOX 2 RICH LIEBERMAN 415 MEDIA: George Watson --a KTVU News Anchor - Blogger At the start of the 11 PM news, Julie Haener said "Frank is off tonight". Hopeless. He's The Peter Principle in action. I've often heard than most American Indians have a very low tolerance for it. Maybe if McCormick feels good enough, he might come down from Oregon. George Watson - Writer - Self-employed | LinkedIn 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. 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I remember him, he was always really good at what he did. And that's fine with him now. At the start of the 11 PM news, Julie Haener said "Frank is off tonight". The discipline by the chief and the civilian board would be the same and run concurrently if both parties agree. Related Articles 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. Longtime KTVU anchor Leslie Griffith dies - SFGATE Welcome back.. He is a general assignment reporter with a focus on writing feature-length obituaries. 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 told my wife I bet KTVU pulls him off the air at the commercial break, which they did. 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. 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. His story on the Pan Am Clippers, planes that flew from San Francisco to China from 1935 to 1946, airs this Sunday. He is 17 years removed from working as a reporter/anchor at the CBS affiliate in Phoenix. The last time I wrote about Watson, things seemed positive.I hope this is the current status and I'm working on talking to George because I know he reads 415 Media and I know and share . Published by at 07/06/2022. She later took over the 10 p.m. news spot co-anchoring with Dennis Richmond. Frank Somerville finally returns to KTVU: Are viewers owed an explanation? George Watson was "Excellence Personified" during his tenure at KTVU. RICH LIEBERMAN 415 MEDIA: Mystery at KTVU: Frank Somerville - Blogger RIP, Leslie.". 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. Frank Somerville, a veteran TV newscaster suspended from KTVU following a dispute over coverage of the Gabby Petito homicide case, said Tuesday that he believes he is not returning to the station . Have you never heard of diarrhea? One final lapse crossed the line and that one signaled George's exit from Channel 2. I definitely noticed when he did not return after the commercial break. 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. Dear Abby: Am I overreacting to my European daughter-in-law's behavior? This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. When there's a bit of hope, all of a sudden, darkness emerges. One month ago, Sandobil took Zehnder out to lunch just to thank him for hiring him and bringing him along, 40 years later. He said that these findings and discipline are private under the police officer bill of rights. It's time KTVU makes a permanent change on their main anchor desk. Viewers news may remember her as she spent more than two decades anchoring the 10 p.m. news alongside veteran anchor Dennis Richmond. At that time I thought professional help and it did help. Armstrong, who was deputy chief at the time, also said that the June 1, 2020, protest got out of hand. It was O'Brien that was the same boss that had to let Watson go after repeated bouts with alcohol abuse. We were normal-looking people who you wouldnt expect to see on TV news., Starting as an assignment editor, Zehnder was promoted to news director because of his news judgment and popularity with the staff. The Press-Enterprise. Watson has politely turned down several nedia interview requests. 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. ", UPDATE 10: 28 AM PT: I just received a text from Somerville: "I took the wrong meds last night. 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. She has been with SFGATE for more than 10 years. Toshua Sears was injured after getting tear gassed at an Oakland youth rally in honor of George Floyd on June 1, 2020. Somervile did not appearr on the 6 PM newscast. 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). He wasn't missed. Asked if Somerville was sick, Haener replied: No hes doing well taking a little time for himself and should be back soon!. I can't remember the last time I saw her on air. 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. Is she still working there? Henry Winkler advises find a passion and stick with it, no matter the stage of life There was also a front-page news item about his death. Sadly, it looked like he was drunk. 1 He talks to me here at 415 Media, his first public interview in over two decades. Brian Hackney!}. When someone you really admire, like Fred, says something like that, you tell yourself, Well, I guess Im doing OK, Watson said. Updated by the minute, our Dallas Cowboys NFL Tracker: News and views and moves inside The Star and around the league . I am hoping he stays sober and maybe if a local news station takes a chance on him they can use his considerable talents. She will forever remain part of a lengthy list of talent that made KTVU a destination station for news. She replaced Elaine Corral on the Ten O'clock News in 1998, becoming a staple on the program as Dennis Richmond's co-anchor. A group of about 1,000 people broke off from that main rally and headed down to police headquarters. 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. Big shift in weather is headed to California. Produced by Mooj Zadie , Luke Vander Ploeg and Clare Toeniskoetter. Don, to take its toll at the news studio at Jack London Square. 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. Unfortunately, he let booze control his life and he lost everything ! Life has returned back to normal! He was a great reporter ! 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 . KTVU fired him too !! He also picked up items by listening in on the 18 neighbors who shared a party line. Hopefully Mr. Watson is doing well. In addition, the use of force reports into what occurred one year ago have also been completed and "discipline has been administered," according to police spokeswoman Johnna Watson, who sent KTVU an email on Monday. He didnt care how people looked, he cared what they brought to journalism. Abrupt closure of S.F. "It was not a lightbulb, burning-bush experience," he says. No one said a word. I wish him all the best, in his efforts to overcome Drinking. Some people are more sensitive to the effects of alcohol than others. 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. "A terrible loss, what a man." Hope Frank gets the help he deserves. All the best, George! george watson ktvu where is he now. I don't know if that's true or just folklore.I wish the best for this man. 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? By clicking Sign Up, I confirmthat I have read and agreeto the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. His answer is an unequivocal "no." I'm just glad at the end of the day there is no smoke over the cubicle and I haven't shut down the station. And besides Haener, the Zehnder will likely include Ibanez & Vacar.Rich, absolutely keep us posted as to how many long-time KTVU alumni attend and reconnect. Walter Cronkite famously had a bug and had to ask for a blanket to wrap around himself after delivering a newscast while so afflicted. He held a news conference at the time saying that people were throwing rocks at police and "preparing Molotov cocktails.". 2023 FOX Television Stations, High Stakes: Sports Betting in California. One of the finest anchor persons around. 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. A segment that continues to be one of Dateline's most-watched programs--the segment aired in 1996, right when Watson left KTVU. Several years ago George Watson worked for KTVU-2 in Oakland. Now I can watch again. I have thought about you often and held positive thoughts for you. 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. We had wanted to do it sooner, but Fred delayed the whole thing because of his work with the paper, said Isabelle Zehnder, a sister-in-law, who confirmed his death. No I was not deliriously happy, but I was not depressed. Email Evan atevan.sernoffsky@foxtv.comand follow him on Twitter @EvanSernoffsky. I watched the show, he was having a hard time delivering the words, slurring a few words. Email Lisa atlisa.fernandez@foxtv.comor call her at510-874-0139. Reply Delete > It's time KTVU makes a permanent change on> their main anchor desk.They don't have much male talent they could bring in. I saw it. 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. George was an excellent anchor. But that's . Viewers news may remember her as she spent more than two decades anchoring the 10 p.m. news alongside veteran anchor Dennis Richmond. He knows what his vulnerabilites are, and attempts to deal with this truth. I thought I was going to get fired when I had him back to do My 20th Century at KTVU. I totally had a crush on her. What did Leslie do to get on FZ's bad side? Watson and his wife plan to attend the memorial service for Zehnder when it takes place. Oh stop!He was drunk.Stop enabling him and make him get help. Once after my divorce, which I asked for by the way. He was speaking more slowly than normal, and he was mispronouncing and slurring some words. Tickets for the event are $85, with a $10 . 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. Maybe he can come back to KTVU some day even if doing special reports part time. "Sad news," KTVU reporter Sal Castaneda wrote on Twitter. Despite the acknowledgment, the contents of those reports and what discipline was meted out, and to whom, were not revealed. His voice and presence was so incredibly comforting to me. TV Streaming | After 15 minutes on the 10 PM News last (Sunday) night, Frank Somerville abruptly LEFT the news desk and didn't re-appear. Frank Somerville , KTVU 5, 6, and 10 p.m. anchor. Fred Zehnder, longtime KTVU news director, dies at 87 after being hit by a car in Alameda. 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. Miss him on the air. When Somerville posted to his Facebook page on Wednesday, he drew responses from a multitude of well-wishers. The brotherly reunion was still scheduled for July 9 but it was not about him. They've let better people go. "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. It shows a sympathetic person, Watson, in his most darkest days. Male talent seems to bog that station. George Watson, former KTVU (Channel 2) weekend news anchor whose struggle with alcoholism cost him his job six years ago, was rehired as a reporter and writer last month.