I definitely noticed when he did not return after the commercial break. 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. Might want to ask your spies if I'm right. Produced by Mooj Zadie , Luke Vander Ploeg and Clare Toeniskoetter. 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. Zehnder lived alone in Alameda. I don't think anyone knows where those two are these days. ), 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. 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. He also had the pleasure of being on hand for a couple Warriors championship parades. I'm delighted and happy that Watson has turned his life around. Sad. "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. while a far more talented anchor toils away in the background {*cough-cough* Brian Hackney! ?A: 1 Year sobriety !Quick.Somebody call George Watson. One final lapse crossed the line and that one signaled George's exit from Channel 2. I am hoping he stays sober and maybe if a local news station takes a chance on him they can use his considerable talents. Emmy Award-winning TV journalist Leslie Griffith, who most notably anchored the Ten O'clock News on KTVU Channel 2, died at the age of 66 on Aug. 10 in Lake Chapala, Mexico, where she had home, KTVU reported. 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. Real No-BS professionals. Emmy Award-winning TV journalist Leslie Griffith, who most . Frank was definitely impaired last night. I am hoping he stays sober and maybe if a local news station takes a chance on him they can use his considerable talents. Published by at 07/06/2022. 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. The Bay Area knows the story. 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. Male talent seems to bog that station. Posted to Fort Bliss, Texas, he worked at an Army public information office run by Sam Donaldson, later a famously brusque TV news reporter. (She finished the May 30 newscast alone after Somerville disappeared from the desk, without explanation, 15 minutes into the program). Viewers news may remember her as she spent more than two decades anchoring the 10 p.m. news alongside veteran anchor Dennis Richmond. Some never do admit they need help. When someone you really admire, like Fred, says something like that, you tell yourself, Well, I guess Im doing OK, Watson said. Watson and his wife, Diane, whom he met randomly at a Bay Area restaurant are avid followers, still, of the business. 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.. "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. The rest of the nation did too. You're in our thoughts. I'm the cameraman that worked with George. All Access Digital offer for just 99 cents! He refused to let it end in Game 7, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. 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.". I totally had a crush on her. Reply Delete 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. What did Leslie do to get on FZ's bad side? Did he use a different name on air? 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's The Peter Principle in action. Somerville, one of the Bay Areas highest-paid and most visible TV journalists, has been at KTVU since 1991. He refused to let it end in Game 7, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. 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. ", Liggins added: "She was professional, engaging, and adored by her audience. 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. As editor and publisher of both the San Leandro Times and the Castro Valley Forum . Email Evan atevan.sernoffsky@foxtv.comand follow him on Twitter @EvanSernoffsky. "George is a great writer with a strong knowledge and interest in local history," said KTVU News Director Andrew . Toshua Sears was injured after getting tear gassed at an Oakland youth rally in honor of George Floyd on June 1, 2020. 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Ken Bastida!} The motorist, identified as Michael Williams, 30, of Hayward, was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence. You can email her at agraff@sfgate.com. Would be great to see some of his more recent reporting. Miss him on the air. TV Streaming | Several years ago George Watson worked for KTVU-2 in Oakland. Oh stop!He was drunk.Stop enabling him and make him get help. I remember him, he was always really good at what he did. Sam Whiting has been a staff writer at The San Francisco Chronicle since 1988. Frank Somerville finally returns to KTVU: Are viewers owed an explanation? 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. Produced in-depth "think pieces" from throughout San Bernardino County. "I feel good, awesome actually. I thought it was a big deal when I started working with her and Dennis. ", At his lowest point, Watson was homeless, destitute and near death, he says. Thanks for linking that gallery! 1 Part-time? Lisa Fernandez is a reporter forKTVU. He's still in mourning over the cancellation of "Freaks and Geeks. I can see all of the KTVU alumni that RL mentioned getting together to remember Fred Zehnder. He also picked up items by listening in on the 18 neighbors who shared a party line. 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." Fred Zehnder, longtime KTVU news director, dies at 87 after being hit by a car in Alameda. He arrived at KTVU in 2005 as a general assignment reporter. 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. Maybe she's oldsteam? "A terrible loss, what a man." You're a GREAT MAN, George, we all love you. He was great. "It was not a call for help; I made the phone call initially to ask for money," he says. > Haener seems like a landing strip kinda girl.Or at least a strip kinda girl ;-). The film blends the status of the (then) current-day BART system with looks at the amazing transit systems that existed . All the best, George! Western Bride 26/05/2022. Related Articles GEORGE WATSON OBITUARY. Since then, he has helped launch the weekend editions of "Mornings on 2," co-anchoring with Claudine Wong. George looks great, and he seems to be in good spirits. He was speaking more slowly than normal, and he was mispronouncing and slurring some words. 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Also, how come KGO-TV Channel 7 doesn't have Melanie Woodrow on their website under Newsteam? Watson and his wife plan to attend the memorial service for Zehnder when it takes place. Another source who watched the program was more blunt. He is a general assignment reporter with a focus on writing feature-length obituaries. Was a regular KTVU News viewer back in the days when George worked at the station, and I always really liked his work. She replaced Elaine Corral on the Ten O'clock News in 1998, becoming a staple on the program as Dennis Richmond's co-anchor. Why is Rich Lieberman so absolutely giddy when other people face personal problems? "What an idiot I am!.". He looked off last night. Kevin O'Brien was the station manager, Zehnder's boss. I used to pretend he was my father. He took the wrong medicationThe vodka instead of the Scotch. I will keep you informed of any information I obtain. Hopefully Mr. Watson is doing well. 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. Zehnder started his own paper, the Scotts Valley News, in his hometown of Lakeport (Lake County), using a childs printing press set when he was age 10. It is up to you to calm them down. We knew what our job was and we did it, primarily because of Fred.. clinical psychologist jobs ireland; Tags . Fred Zehnder, the news director at KTVU for decades, died after being hit by a truck while walking in Alameda. Everyday I couldn't wait to see him on the news. I thought I was going to get fired when I had him back to do My 20th Century at KTVU. Loved watching when KTVU news still held the bar that other stations tried to match. 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. Related Articles Somervile did not appearr on the 6 PM newscast.