Rick Bentley: Bud Elliott to join 'KSEE Sunrise'

By Rick Bentley

02/02/12 00:39:39

Bud Elliott is returning to KSEE (Channel 24.1) to guest co-host "KSEE Sunrise," starting 5 a.m. Monday.

This is a co-promotion with KJWL (FM 99.3) where Elliott is co-news director and anchor of the morning newscasts.

Elliott was been working at the local radio station since his contract ended at KSEE in December 2007 after 21 years at the local NBC affiliate. He spent 14 years at KSEE as the evening anchor before moving to the morning newscasts he co-anchored with Faith Sidlow for seven years.

In a statement announcing the co-venture, KSEE president and general manager Matthew Rosenfeld says, "It's great to have Bud back in our studio on our newscasts for February. Bud is a fantastic journalist, and he was well-liked among viewers and staff here during his long tenure at KSEE24."

KJWL owner John Ostlund says "Bud is among the most-respected journalists in the Valley. We're excited to have him guest-hosting with his good friend Faith Sidlow during the month of February on 'KSEE Sunrise.' "

Elliott will work with the KSEE team of Sidlow, Matt Otstot and Pamela Prado. KSEE viewers will see and hear from KJWL's morning co-hosts, Bruce & Faleena, each morning of the promotion.

During the month, Elliott will continue to do news briefs from 6 to 11 a.m. weekdays on KJWL and KYNO (AM 940).

'Survivor' ties

The next edition of the CBS reality competition series "Survivor" includes two contestants with local ties.

Nina Acosta is a 51-year-old retired Los Angeles Police Department officer who now lives in Clovis. Matthew Quinlan, an attorney who lives in San Francisco, lived in Fresno from 1992-96.

Acosta works as the secretary to the chancellor of the State Center Community College District. Quinlan lived in Fresno and attended Bullard High School, where he was the captain of the volleyball team.

"Survivor: One World," the 24th edition of the series, begins 8 p.m. Feb. 15 on KGPE (Channel 47.1).

Arrest report

KFSN (Channel 30.1) meteorologist Kevin Musso was cited Saturday by the Fresno Police Department for driving under the influence. The police report says Musso ran his black Toyota truck into a pole on Champlain Avenue, just east of Fox Hill, at approximately 11 p.m.

Musso admitted to the officer that he had been drinking at Sequoia Brewing Company. He elected to take a blood test, which can take as much as week to process. The officer's report states Musso exhibited enough symptoms of "extreme alcohol intoxication" -- such as slurred speech and an inability to stand on one leg -- to warrant the citation.

KFSN released this statement regarding Musso: "This past weekend, ABC30's Kevin Musso was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol. Kevin accepts full responsibility for his actions. He has the support of all of us here at ABC30 as he seeks the appropriate treatment."

Musso joined the KFSN news team in August 2008 after working at KGPE (Channel 47.1).

Commercial woes

KGPE (Channel 47.1) anchor Alicia Coates was suspended for several days for being part of an advertising campaign for the Fort Washington Fitness Center.

Ads featuring the anchor have been used on TV, online and in movie theaters. Coates has returned to work and the commercials continue.

Asked if the station had a policy against members of the news team being paid to be in commercials, Linda Danna, KGPE vice president and general manager, would only say that every employee contract is different.

Reality check

Lindzi Cox continues her winning ways on ABC's "The Bachelor."

The 27-year-old's background as part of the equestrian team at Fresno State came in handy Monday night. While trying to win the heart of Ben Flajnik in Puerto Rico, the 11 contestants were divided into two teams to play a baseball game with the winners getting to attend a beach party. Because of the uneven number, Cox was picked to play for both teams.

At the end of the evening, Cox was among the nine women who moved forward to continue the competition in Panama City.

Other news

Big job: Clovis West graduate Amanda Ratzlaff, who works under the name Amanda Leighton, has landed a guest-starring role on the ABC Family series "Make It or Break It." She will appear on seven episodes of the cable program, with the first airing in March.

Her previous credits include "Grey's Anatomy," "90210," "Pretty Little Liars," "House" and commercials for Plavix, Comcast, Meow Mix and Quicken Loans.

Radio hires: Tony Banks took over Monday as operations manager of Clear Channel Media and Entertainment Fresno. He's previously worked in New York, Providence, R.I., Miami and Sacramento. Clear Channel Fresno stations include KALZ (FM 96.7), KBOS (FM 94.9), KCBL (AM 1340), KRZR (AM 1400), KFBT (FM 103.7), KFSO (FM 92.9), KHGE (FM 102.7), KRDU (AM 1130) and KSOF (FM 98.9).

Also, Mary Lou Gunn was named to the newly created position of general manager for KJWL and KYNO. The former vice president with Univision Radio in San Francisco has worked at The Fresno Bee and Clear Channel.

TV update: A reader requested an update on former KMPH (Channel 26.1) reporters Norma Yuriar and Lemor Abrams.

Yuriar is working in San Francisco and Abrams recently worked at Yahoo! News' Weekend News Magazine.

Yuriar left the local FOX affiliate to move closer to her family in the Bay Area. Abrams was only at the station on a freelance basis.