The Los Angeles Times from Los Angeles, California • 104

ORANGE COUNTY Saturday, February II, 1989Part 13 Cos Angeles Stales UTTERS KDOC-TV Plans Newscast Despite Loss of Co-Anchor By JAN HERMAN. Times Staff Writer Sarah Vaughan Performance Is Panned as 'Poorest' at Best espite the loss of a prospec Di tive anchorman, Anaheim-based TV station spite of the review in the Los I Angeles Times Conquers Auditori the station's news director. Michelle Merker. and a male co-anchor yet to be hired. Station officials had namsd Dennis Turner, a free-lance producer at Cable News Network, as Mer-ker's on-camera partner.

Turner, however, "became unavailable," station spokeswoman Sue Hooper said Friday. "No replacement has been named yet. But we are moving ahead full steam and we hope to name someone next week." Hooper said she does not know the details of the llth-hour per ange County. Besides national and foreign coverage, the show will devote time on each broadcast to local stories. "We used to have 'rip -and -read' inserts," Hooper said, alluding to Merker's headline updates between shows.

"This is our first effort at a full-blown competitive newscast." Asked to define "full-blown," Hooper said the station will hire one field reporter along with the male co-anchor. "We'll add staff as we go," she said. "We want to establish a newsroom." sonnel change. She characterized the problem as "a temporary hitch" that would not delay the "Newswatch" air date. Merker could not be reached for comment "because she is interviewing candidates" to replace Turner, Hooper said.

Merker has anchored KDOC's news updates since 1983. She has also been the host of "Sound Off," a public affairs program, and other news reports at KDOC. The prime-time, nightly "Newswatch" will be the only commercial TV newscast originating from Or call, Mr. Christon keep checking out the rip-offs. SHEILA KRAMER Studio City Please keep letters brief and include full name, address and phone number.

Mail to: Orange County Calendar Letters, Los Angeles Times, P.O. Box 2008, Costa Mesa, CA.92626. KDOC (Channel 56) will proceed with plans to launch "Newswatch," its first locally produced, 30-min-ute nightly newscast, by the end of the month. Scheduled to air at 8:30 week-nights beginning Feb. 27, the broadcast will be co-anchored by 11(0 ML um.

Audience," Feb. 6). the Friday night Sarah Vaughan performance was the poorest (that's generous) that long-suffering theater ticket buyers of our acquaintance can recall. The audience was leaving in the middle of the performance and left en masse at the first convenient opportunity. Audible comments in the lobby ranged from "the worst I've ever heard" to "terrible." I won't waste my money renewing our four season tickets.

CARL F. CLAWSON Newport Beach Nixon's Analysis Howard Rosenberg's hysterical harangue regarding President Nixon's succinct, straightforward illumination of the media coverage of the presidency Media Memo to New President," Jan. 18) is convincing testimony that President Nixon's analysis is absolutely correct. Indicating his bias, Rosenberg attempts to discount the right of President Nixon to counsel President Bush on the "pitfalls" inherent in their adversary relationship. Another example of journalistic irresponsibility is Rosenberg's repeating the discredited media contention that Bush "whines, lacks presence and has a tendency to misspeak in front of a TV camera." In my opinion, President Reagan successfully completed his tenure because an awakened and more astute public made a deliberate decision not to allow the media to again orchestrate the destruction of another presidency.

This awareness also bodes well for President Bush and his Administration. SUSAN SPREEN Mission Viejo Much Ado About Penn So Sean Penn missed a performance of "Hurlyburly" Penn Again" by Don Shirley, Jan. 14). We should be grateful an actor of his caliber is willing to devote 3 months to a play as powerful as "Hurlyburly." I'm sure Mr. Penn could make a lot more money acting in some Hollywood exploitation film.

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