KTLA news @ 9am

[mister_bueno 0]

I'd always thought the KTLA 9am hour was a bit awkward, with Michaela Pereira standing at the monitor to moderate the round table discussion, then attempting mid-segment to play musical chairs with Kriski, while Sam Rubin tried to cover the transition with a segue to the special guest. Not to mention the attempts to mold an irrelevant "skratch DJ" into some kind of Paul Schaffer role. There were some big problems for sure, but for the most part the discussions carried the hour and held interest as the anchors dug deeper into the topics of the day.

 

But the new format they've debuted this week is a train wreck that makes even the Fox morning show look good in comparison. From the makeshift "set" (lawn furniture hastily set up in front of the empty news desk) to the lop-sided "small, medium, large" arrangement of the all-female panel, to the disingenuous time-killers disguised as segments (a dating game, a free throw contest between the men and women, Gayle King recounting a horrific tale of being pistol whipped in Houston), the show is at once inappropriate, unprofessional, grating and awkward; more suited to the community access channel than a prestigious local TV station with a 60 year history.

 

It has been continuously acknowledged on-air how this dismal hour of programming has been overwhelmingly rejected by the viewing public. How long can this last before it is decided to axe the extra hour of "news" altogether?

[mbhcity 3]

Then again...KTLA itself is a train wreck no thanks to Vinnie Malcolm and Jeff Wald, this is a disaster that even KCBS (circa 1976-Now) and KCOP (circa 2000-Now) cannot even top....Hell, is there any wonder what Sam "Give em hell" Zell can do despite the numerous budget cuts and financial stress Tribune is facing....

 

But then again, like anyone really watches Channel 5 anymore, what with the CW, and countless reruns of mediocre shows and whatever else is there.

 

I say, KTLA ought be sold, for the sake of the station, sell it and preserve the spirit of Los Angeles Television, rather than tarnish it. If KRON can be sold, KTLA ought do it as well.