News at Ten... Or So

After being briefly deposed by "Nintendo News" KHNL-8 (NBC) in February, Joe Moore and KHON-2 (FOX) returned this week to number one in the perennial local broadcast news wars.

Joe Moore, the 8,000-pound gorilla of Hawaii broadcast media, will probably remain at the top until he retires. A fact that some folks simply can't understand. (If I want relentless wry commentary with my news, I'll watch "The Daily Show.") He's not everyone's cup of tea, obviously.

If you had to watch the local news — I know folks who've sworn it off completely —which network or anchors would you watch? Why?

This is one of my favorite topics to bring up in a crowd of strangers. I love to skewer our island desk jockeys, and I'm not alone. That's not to say anyone is entirely without merit... at least they're newspeople, and not guests on "Jerry Springer," right? But for a city the size of Honolulu, I daresay our local news has the quirks and weaknesses of a late-night UHF channel in Waukesha, Wisconsin.

I like KITV-4 (ABC) best. More investigative reporting than most, and they play it straight most often (though all local stations have gratuitous wackiness, especially during sweeps when homeless pets are the top story). I like the general balance of their team (even though they did hire back Robert Kekaula, and I'll never be able to take more than a minute of Jill Kuramoto). Besides, it's fun to say, "Tasha Kobashigawa!"

After that, it's downhill fast. KHON-2 (FOX) next, because at least they know to go with world news if all the local news is stupid.

Then, lately, KHNL-8 (NBC), which used to always be dead last in my book because of their aforementioned "Nintendo News" tendencies. Does anyone remember their first weeks on air, when one story featured the reporter flushing money down a toilet to make a point? But, they have NBC's national reporting to benefit from.

Finally, KGMB-9 (CBS), which I have called "Alternative Universe News" for years. They seem to try the hardest to "Think Different," but they just can't get a grip on news. If all other networks lead with a story on a bombing in Paris, without a doubt KGMB-9 will start with a story on the Governor's favorite brand of soap.

Comments

As much as I try not to watch local news, I'll be the first to admit that I'd rather watch a round of local news than all twenty four hours of Fox News Channel. (There is no experience more unpleasant for my sensitive self than to be stuck in the room with the television set to an entire hour of screaming, snickering, unneccessary put downs, and superficial hypocrisy... and that's just before they put that deity-forsaken Bill O'Reilly show on.)

I used to watch KGMB only because Meg interned there (and Meg-hubby was hired recently as a producer) and she has assured me that the folks working here are Good People. Ever since she left (and returned), though, all three of us have noticed the considerable decline in quality, especially with their slow pace in picking up breaking news.

I've seen KHNL improve with leaps and bounds, but the frivolity is still there. Again, the Meg connection (she also interned at KITV during the Dashefsky years) plays a role - I can't look at the news staffs at both KHNL and KITV without, you know, objectivity - even though I will agree that at least KITV remains somewhat watchable for the investigative news.

As for KHON - I like their morning news better than their evening news, even though I wouldn't be above sitting through a half hour of Joe Moore and, um, Mistress Trini.

I'm one of those who's liked by the national guys; I turn on KITV at 5:00pm and stay there till 6:30pm, when I move to The News Hour. That's mostly because I'd rather watch ABC national news than either of the other options. I would cheerfully ban Pam & Gary from any anchor desk in town, for reasons too lengthy to go into (Pets on set? Oh please!)but that's who's on, so...

Hee, I don't watch the local news as much as I should. I get all my news from the Advertiser (hard copy, no less!) and MetaFilter... :)

Yes, I know, the local newspapers are another can of worms altogether...

True to my very short attention span, I watch bits and pieces of all the news stations in very rapid succession (channel surfing style). If there is a story about a crime in our jurisdiction or trial that our office is doing, I like to see if I can catch it on as many different channels as possible. The sad part? I usually can get it on all the local channels but most of the time, it's all the same!

Random thought: Anybody remember Linda Coble?

Ah, Mrs. Kirk Matthews (thanks to Linkmeister for reminding me of this)... isn't she working in public relations, too?

Well, Vivi, of course Metafilter. Who needs anything else? I see the local news at most twice a month myself. Thus my question, "If you had to watch..."

(And yeah, our local newspapers. That's a thread and a half on its own right there.)

As for Linda Coble... wasn't she selling Lexuses or sofas something at one point?

Journalists are notorious for 'inbreeding,' though. Not many who are married aren't married to another newsperson.

I'm with Ali, I surf between the channels seeing what I can catch from all (sans KHON).

And is it just me or does Jodi Leong and Shari Shima look like bookends for Howard Dashefsky?

Give me a Hawaii news broadcast anyday. If you had to put up the jokers in the Austin broadcast news scene, you'd shoot your television too.

Or do what I do -- flip between reruns of Law and Order and JAG.

Speaking of news gossip, I was just talking to a friend of mine at lunch (not Meg) and talk drifted over to Guy Hagi and Kim Gennaula. Since Kim is hapai and - supposedly - in her last trimester, we started making guesses on how soon the baby (or Spawn of Guy Hagi, if you want to put it that way) will come out - the closest estimate being Monday.

For some reason, just saying "Spawn of Guy Hagi" just cracks me up.

And the hits just keep on coming...

Dan Cooke leaves KITV for executive position with unnamed national news service.

honukai noted:
>
>And is it just me or does Jodi Leong and Shari Shima look like bookends for Howard Dashefsky?

It's not you, I notice that Jodi and Shari could pass as sisters.

I couldn't help but post this - I heard that Kim Gennaula and Guy Hagi named their new baby boy "Luke."

As soon as I heard about this, I was unable to get that image of Guy Hagi attempting his Darth Vader impersonation ("LOOOOUUHHHHKKK! I ahm yo' FAH-THAH!") out of my head.

I tend to watch KHNL 10pm news mainly because it's after the prime time shows that I watch on most of the days, except of course of Tuesday since that is tuned to CBS so yeah I watch KGMB news on Tuesday.

I don't have complaints against KGMB news but I really don't like KHNL in terms of them using the wooshing sound effects when they flash a screen with the name of an island that the next news piece is about.

Another thing I can't understand about KHNL is why they need to send an anchor to report news from their "satellite center" when they have on-going news that is from the mainland.

And still yet another gripe about KHNL is whenever they want viewers to access their web site, they say "logon to our web site at khnl.com". I find it strange that one needs to "logon" to a web site.

I also channel surf lookin for relevant news but I do stick more to KITV 4 because of one 'Tasha Kobashigawa'. She is one of the most sweeeet lookin females ever to grace local news. I said one of the sweetest.(ala Trini Kaoupuiki)sp?

Speaking of which, whatever happen to Trini at KHON?

Would you like to cover an interesting story? Hawaiian classes were cancelled at a high school this year. The students are concerned about requirements to enter college. The students want their elective class back. Is this fair to the students? If you do not think this is fair, please call me at 358-0125, and ask for Ali’i. We have documents and other information for you.

To Helen,Im able to Answer your Question and I know Trini is Married to a Lawyer and They just had a Baby daugther and That she is Back on the Morning News as one of the Best Weather Morning Anchor's and I do know an Update on Kathy Muneno,she is Moving on only I Cant Divulge my Updated Information until She is Ready to Tell and I do know Rob young moved on from Kgmb and That Britt his Wife Moved on from Kgmb after they had Their Daugther and I do Know From Reading the Paper of some updates that I Cant Divulge about the News Persons so I Wished to Share this with everyone.

Well thanks for your Time:O)

Hi,Im Sansei and I Know Tomorrow March 3rd,will be Kathy's last day being the best Weather Anchor that Kitv's ever had Since Sharie Shima and I do know that Kitv is Searching for Kathy's Replacement and That I do Know Kathy will stay in Hawaii looking for another Job and I wish her all the Best and I do know a Lot of Other Thing's on Which Im not able to Divulge yet only when they update their Viewer's on what's happening,Then I will Divulge something's Slowly so I Thought to Share my Thought's with everyone.

Well thanks for your Time:O)

Interesting. Do I know you???????

im Sansei and to Mr Tim Tindall,we may have Spoken on the Phone Once when you were at kgmb a long time ago and to answer everyone's question's for the updates,Angela is at Khnl doing the Morning show with Marvin B and Sharie Shima is Now an Anchor with Dash and Danielle Tucker is the Morning Traffic Reporter with the C&C Honolulu Management Center and Joann Shin is a Reporter and Lyle is Leaving Khnl soon so I hope this may help with all of your Question's?

Well Thanks for your Time:O)

Where is Lyle going?

Where is Lyle going?

Post a Comment