Ron Fineman's ON THE RECORD

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When all the votes were counted, it really wasn't close. The KABC anchor team of Marc Brown and Michelle Tuzee defeated KNBC's Paul Moyer and Colleen Williams 51-26, to be voted OTR's best LA TV anchor team in 2004.

"It's always nice to be appreciated. Thanks to all the OTR readers and Channel 7 viewers, and I'm sure my partner Michelle echoes my desire to always strive to remain worthy of their esteem."

Tuzee wrote back:

"I'm just so grateful to work with Marc. He's not only a terrific anchor, but a really nice person as well. It's pretty neat to sit up there with a friend every night.

And, congratulations to you, Ron, on your wedding. I enjoyed seeing the pictures from your party!"

I will add that the unsung hero is their boss, news director Cheryl Fair. Just a few years ago, their main team was Harold Greene and Laura Diaz, and as I recall the ratings were good. But she was bold enough to get rid of Greene and replace him with Brown. Then, about a year and a half ago, she moved Tuzee (who originally came when Lisa McRee left) into the main spot, after Diaz left to KCBS. My guess is, if Fair really wanted to keep Diaz, she could have. But I think she knew that Tuzee was better and was confident that viewers would stick with Brown and Tuzee.

Let me add something else. I realize that this poll was not scientific nor was it a very large sampling. Though I can tell you from past experience, even when the numbers get much bigger, the percentages don't change much. And further, while this is a small poll, it is a poll of critical TV new viewers. So if the OTR audience thinks you're doing a good job, you know you must be doing something right. Congrats to Michelle Tuzee and Marc Brown.

I have no idea what kind of money they make, but I think it's a safe bet that it is not what is being made by Paul Moyer, Paul Magers or Laura Diaz. So, the next time their contracts come up, I suggest GM Arnie Kleiner get Michael Eisner (if he's still there) to open up Mickey's wallet.

I believe I've noticed an improvement in KNBC' Michele Ruiz. Actually I think it began after she came back from having her baby, which was a while ago. I see some warmth there that I don't think I saw before. When we did our "Most Annoying Anchor" poll a couple of years ago, Ruiz came in third, behind second place Paul Moyer and winner Mia Lee. I have a feeling things would turn out different this time, though I imagine there will always be a certain irritation factor because she pronounces her name as ME-shell. Still, credit must be given where it is due.

First, my thanks to Kevin Roderick of www.laobserved.com, who ran something from Monday's column, including the Best Anchor finals, and what I'd written about KTLA anchor Sharon Tay.

In fact Kevin pointed out that Tay has her own web site, which features lots of pictures of her, as well as beauty and heath advice. He pointed out one page which is headed "Sharons Health Regiment". Of course what she meant to say was Sharon's Health Regimen. A "regiment" is a military unit. While I realize typos are possible (I know it well), and I suppose it is quite possible that someone else was responsible for the page, it does tend to back up what I've suggested about Tay before -- not as sharp as you'd hope an anchor to be.

Now here is where the poll comes in. Tay, who co-anchors KTLA's early morning newscast (5:30 - 7:00) recently posed for some very sexy photos in Razor Magazine. Here is one example....

KABC's Karen Carlson did a story about a 95-year old former teacher and current classroom volunteer. Her name is Ellen Minster, and certainly it was a nice story. Besides the visuals, we found out that Minster feels she's learned compassion from the children, and that kids say she helps them with writing and math, and tells them to sit down. We also learned, as you would've guessed, that this 95-year old women loves the kids, the work and wants to keep busy.

But it seems to me that when you are interviewing a woman who began teaching in 1930, she probably has a lot more interesting things to say. The best sound bite of the story was when Minster said how she once turned down a job because she was required to wear a hat and a suit. She was okay with the suit, but the hat requirement was going too far.

I would like to have heard more about the old days. I'd like to hear just how kids have changed in the last seventy years, and how teaching has changed. How about discipline? Where there things she might do back then that could never be done now?

Granted, it could be turned into a more serious story than it was intended to be. And I understand that the point was to honor Ellen Minster. But for a story that went 2:04 (including lead-in), it could've been better.

Last week, Paul Moyer reported that on a flight from New York to Washington, NBC anchor Brian "Williams rushed to the aid of a 64 year old passenger who was apparently having problems breathing. Williams monitored the man's pulse, gave him water and aspirin, and stayed with him there in the plane until the plane returned to the airport, LaGuardia airport. Apparently the guy's okay."

I see that the Washington Post also reported that Williams is a former EMT and volunteer firefighter, and when it was asked if there was a doctor on the plane, he came forward.

This was probably fine for the Post, appearing as a blurb in a larger column called "Names and Faces." But it's not as if he saved a life or even gave CPR. He did what was required. And sure, good for Williams. He came to aid of someone in need. I admire that. But, was this really newsworthy for KNBC? And what it have made their news if Williams worked for CBS?

I think everyone covered the pink protest last week. That was the story in which many students wore pink at an Orange County school in order to protest that six boys were not allowed to take a class photo because of the pink and black they were wearing. The administration felt that it was too much like the colors worn by gang connected groups which play music at raves.

Colleen Williams voiced the story for KNBC, and in that story, one student suggests that just because the six guys who wore the pink were Mexican, the school thought they were gang members. Wouldn't you think you should let the school respond to that? Well, KNBC didn't. In fact the story didn't even include a sound bite from the school. It did give their side of the overall issue, but certainly an on camera presence should have been part it.

KCAL actually had a sound bite (it was not a package) which gave information I had not heard elsewhere. It was a school official saying that the six kids wore pink and black armbands, black shoes with pink shoe laces and pink socks. Those are known gang colors which are not allowed on campus, even though the school official said the boys may've been emulating the gang style without knowing what they were doing. I think that gave a better picture of what was going on. It was obviously more than just pink shirts.

Though I have to say that probably the most balanced and comprehensive story on the subject was done by KTLA's Jaime Chambers.

In the sentencing story on Bruce Kochlich, KABC's Sid Garcia had a line that just didn't make sense. He said that no motive for the murder of his wife ever came up in the second trial, and "a probation report the judge read gave some insight," which was followed by this sound bite from the judge "The reason the defendant took his wife's life are known only to the defendant."

If you've noticed a better quality of photo lately, it's not your imagination. I recently bought a new - and much better - digital camera. I'm having a lot of fun with it....and I do hope it improves the quality of OTR.

CARTER EVANS CHECKS IN

Hey Ron...

It would be great if you could let your readers know about my LA-TV
extra-endeavors.

Most people know me as a Freelancer at KCBS/KCAL, but when I'm off
camera, I run a post production company.
I edit short videos and demo reels for fellow reporters on my Final Cut
Pro 4 edit suite.
Recently, I teamed up with my brother to design personal web sites
where reporters can post their reels online.
check out www.carterevans.com click on the post production tab if you
get a chance.

Cheers,
Carter

I recently got an email from Dave Hansen, a reporter I almost hired when I was news director in Bakersfield a number of years ago. Anyway, he's looking for a gig, and as I recall, he was very good...

16-years in television, 22-years in broadcasting overall, seeks creative challenge in the field and/or behind an anchor desk. Currently in Minneapolis/St. Paul. Enterprising, strong on-air presence and credible. Can effectively use props and movement to create memorable stories and moments for viewers. Contact Dave Hansen, (952) 239-1278 or newshoundmn@yahoo.com.

I'm happy to tell you that my latest scans turned out fine. I had combo PET/CT scan at UCLA last week, and got the results yesterday. I remain in remission, and as always I thank you for your support and prayers. It's still a long battle, but I plan to win it.

I put a question mark, because the word is a medical term and the reporter is a doctor. Dr Bruce Hensel pronounced angina with the accent on the first syllable. I checked my dictionary, which puts it on the second syllable, which is the way I've always heard it.