george watson ktvu where is he now. I can't remember the last time I saw her on air. 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). While there, he was introduced to broadcasting through a part-time job at a Eureka radio station. 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. KTVU's George Watson's 60th - plaing - SmugMug Always thought the O'Brien guy was the one adulated. Title not meant as any sign of disrespect, just a piece of retro bay area broadcasting history. Just KTVU Channel 2. Theyd been planning a reunion for July 9 in Sacramento. 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. KTVU, virtual channel 2 (digital channel 44), is the Fox-affiliated television station serving the San Francisco Bay Area. It shows a sympathetic person, Watson, in his most darkest days. 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. Im soooo happy to see you back anchoring the news! one reader wrote. Jerry Springer, former Cincinnati mayor and talk show host, dead at 79, A drug company abandoned a treatment for bubble boy disease. After a 5-year fight, this little California girl is about to get it, Former Jackass star Bam Margera turns himself in; denies assaulting younger brother, Henry Winkler advises find a passion and stick with it, no matter the stage of life, Review: Carol Burnett: 90 Years of Laughter + Love is an old-school special for an old-school talent. ", Watson's re-entry into the workplace was easier than he had expected, he says. Is she still working there? Separately, the civilian-led Oakland Police Commission's "Community Police Review Agency," which has its own investigative arm, found numerous sustained findings of policy violations stemming from last summer's protests. I told my wife I bet KTVU pulls him off the air at the commercial break, which they did. Well, have to say I never heard of Zehnder till now. 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. Everybody could depend on him.. And it appears that many viewers are willing to cut him some slack. He doesn't sound drunk to me, and he doesn't move as if he were drunk. He knows what his vulnerabilites are, and attempts to deal with this truth. I'm sure that was a subtle F.U. With Somerville away, who will KTVU turn to? - The Mercury News Dear Abby: I have a great life, so why have I fallen into this shameful behavior? 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 . I told my wife I bet KTVU pulls him off the air at the commercial break, which they did. ", Former Reporter George Watson Returns to KTVU, Why every Californian needs an air quality monitor, SZAs extended tour lineup includes new SF show, Sustainable Hawaii travel tips for your next island getaway, Saks Off 5th in downtown San Francisco slated to permanently close, Fox Sports pundit made cowardly 'bet' on Warriors losing Game 7, Landslide results in closure of near-century-old California institution, Horoscope for Monday, 5/01/23 by Christopher Renstrom, Another Ross Dress for Less could be opening in San Francisco, Geoffrey Hinton, 'Godfather of AI,' quits Google to speak out on AI concerns, Missing 12-year-old Petaluma girl found safe, police say, Your Privacy Choices (Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads). Maybe she's oldsteam? A job that former KTVU boss/GM, Kevin O'Brien got him. Several years ago George Watson worked for KTVU-2 in Oakland. He is 17 years removed from working as a reporter/anchor at the CBS affiliate in Phoenix. 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. TV Streaming | 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 . Fred Zehnder, the news director at KTVU for decades, died after being hit by a truck while walking in Alameda. Even for those wit sky high alcohol tolerance, it can ruin your innards over time, irreversibly in many cases. Part-time? Surprised that he was working so recently - I don't see any online mention he was a reporter / anchor at KPHO .- the CBS affil in Phoenix. ?A: 1 Year sobriety !Quick.Somebody call George Watson. He always had faith in his people, and we always had faith in his judgment.. His answer is an unequivocal "no." RICH LIEBERMAN 415 MEDIA: George Watson --a KTVU News Anchor - Blogger Email: swhiting@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @samwhitingsf. I wish Somerville well in his personal life. I watched the first 10 minutes of the 10 PM news and Somerville seemed pretty impaired. Griffith . 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 watched him for years. Real No-BS professionals. 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. 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 Watson's transgressions are in full display and at times it's a frustrating, sad and equally compelling segment. He just worked.. 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. https://plaing.smugmug.com/Friends/KTVUs-George-Watsons-60th/i-PVT68BG. Thanks for the update, Rich. The rest of the nation did too. 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. With Mary Wilson and Rikki Novetsky. Covered the aftermath of the 9-11 attacks in New York City . I have thought about you often and held positive thoughts for you. From April '93 former anchor and reporter tells viewers he had been in treatment for . Oh, well. 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. The old, lame sleeping pill excuse. In a now famous NBC "Dateline" story, Watson talks about his bout with the bottle. 2023 FOX Television Stations, High Stakes: Sports Betting in California. Ex-news anchor back at KTVU as writer, reporter - SFGATE Watson and his wife, Diane, whom he met randomly at a Bay Area restaurant are avid followers, still, of the business. 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'm just glad at the end of the day there is no smoke over the cubicle and I haven't shut down the station. 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. Dec. 1, 2015 Updated: Dec. 1, 2015 3:33 p.m. 11. His voice and presence was so incredibly comforting to me. Sam Whiting is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. I used to pretend he was my father. Sadly, it looked like he was drunk. It's nice here in Arizona even when it gets baked," Watson tells me. Unfortunately her subsequent marriage to ski racer Bill Shaw ended in divorce. He said that these findings and discipline are private under the police officer bill of rights. Altamont Press Discussion Board :: Discussion :: Re:George Watson One of the biggest stories he ever worked was the trial of George Zimmerman, the man who shot and killed Trayvon Martin. Somervile did not appearr on the 6 PM newscast. Over the years, Savidge has contributed to KTVUs coverage of several major stories, including the Napa earthquake and the Tubbs Fire in Santa Rosa area. 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. Frank Somerville says he believes he won't be coming back to KTVU He's still in mourning over the cancellation of "Freaks and Geeks.". Maybe he can come back to KTVU some day even if doing special reports part time. I remember watching him in the 90s on KTVU, the years with Elaine Coral and Leslie Griffith when they still work for KTVU. At the start of the 11 PM news, Julie Haener said "Frank is off tonight". "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. "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.". Frank Somerville finally returns to KTVU: Are viewers owed an explanation? Significant piece of retro San Francisco bay area broadcasting history. It's heartening to hear that he is well and sober. I thought it was a big deal when I started working with her and Dennis. It wasnt until four days after the bizarre incident that a New York-based spokesperson for Fox the network that owns and operates KTVU announced that the veteran anchor would be taking an indefinite leave of absence to focus on his health., KTVU also offered no prior notice that Somerville would be returning this week, although Julie Haener, his longtime co-anchor, did briefly broach the subject in a July 28 Facebook post. He returned to KTVU News a short time after. Fred would not have wanted that.. ), 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. I remember seeing him on a program a few years ago that was about his life. On July 1, the San Leandro Times came out, with the usual uncredited grunt work that Zehnder always contributed. 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. Unfortunately, he let booze control his life and he lost everything ! He wasn't missed. I think she did well for herself afterwards though. Click this link to see pics of George on his 60th birthday. "The hardest thing to deal with -- this is going to sound silly -- the computer system is the most difficult thing I'm dealing with right now. Fred Zehnder, the news director at KTVU for decades, died after being hit by a truck while walking in Alameda. He started at KTVU as a reporter in 2011 and shifted to anchoring in 2018. Bay Area Transit (1984) is a locally-made documentary about the history of transit in Oakland and the Bay Area. No I was not deliriously happy, but I was not depressed. She has been with SFGATE for more than 10 years. It includes footage of legendary transit historians Harre Demoro and Ted Wurm.. Somewhere along the line, George either got help or knew he just had to pull himself out of the situation. Haener seems like a landing strip kinda girl. 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. Why is Rich Lieberman so absolutely giddy when other people face personal problems? I have since rebuild my life. PDF st Annual NORTHERN CALIFORNIA AREA EMMY AWARD NOMINATIONS ANNOUNCED Viewers news may remember her as she spent more than two decades anchoring the 10 p.m. news alongside veteran anchor Dennis Richmond. A native of Jamaica, he grew up in Miami. They've let better people go. > Haener seems like a landing strip kinda girl.Or at least a strip kinda girl ;-). Watson also didn't realize how much the segment would have on his life later, even the more than twenty years later. I'm delighted and happy that Watson has turned his life around. By the time he hit Clearlake Union High School, he was working as a copy boy for the Lake County Bee. Thanks Rich for running this again. HmmmmmFrank SomervillePam MooreVeronica De La CruzThis crap is spreading like a wild fire!!! Review: Carol Burnett: 90 Years of Laughter + Love is an old-school special for an old-school talent This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. He has filled in this week alongside Holmes. She stood up for me on occasion too. Ken Bastida!} He had his last drink on Oct. 6, 1996, after a phone call to his former rehab center. "Long-time KTVU anchor Leslie Griffith has died. At that time I did not seek professional help due to finances. When there's a bit of hope, all of a sudden, darkness emerges. Despite the acknowledgment, the contents of those reports and what discipline was meted out, and to whom, were not revealed. 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. I know you all are too. KTVUs Frank Somerville to take a break after bizarre newscast behavior KTVU anchor calls out racist who disapproves of his family - SFGATE Miss him on the air. Somerville, one of the Bay Areas highest-paid and most visible TV journalists, has been at KTVU since 1991. "As a reporter, she led with passion for the craft, for getting the story, for pursuing what is right," Sasaki, who is now the public information officer for the Oakland Unified School District, wrote in an email to SFGATE. 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. But he had a profound impact on me as a child. 1994 KTVU flashback of George Watson drunk on the air He was still drinking then and wanted to get sober. He was a great reporter ! 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. You can email her at agraff@sfgate.com. KTVU 10 p.m. news anchors from left: Bill Martin, Dennis Richmond (seated), Mark Ibanez, Leslie Griffith (seated). This is the department's first acknowledgment that there were missteps taken during last summer's protests over the death of George Floyd. 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. There was also a front-page news item about his death. If you see this, thank you George. Produced by Mooj Zadie , Luke Vander Ploeg and Clare Toeniskoetter. All the best, George! KTVU reporter Watson spent two weeks on the South Pacific island of Guadalcanal to film a comprehensive 45th anniversary report on the storied landing by U.S. Marines in World War II. 1 In March, Somerville missed over two weeks from KTVU and told me that he was battling an alcohol-abuse issue and that he spent some time at a North Bay recovery center. Sam Whiting has been a staff writer at The San Francisco Chronicle since 1988. KTVU fired him too !! I was at their wedding and his other ones. Emmy Award-winning TV journalist Leslie Griffith joined KTVU in 1986. I get the impression that Les has remained supportive, through thick and thin, and (if true) that would be quite a reflection of her character.