sowny.net | The Southern Ontario/WNY Radio-TV Forum


You are not logged in. Would you like to login or register?

November 15, 2020 10:13 pm  #1


Kevin Frankish Admits He Was Fired From City TV's BT In 2018

There was a lot of speculation here in 2018 when Kevin Frankish announced his sudden departure from Breakfast Television. I’m not sure this is exactly new, but I found it kind of interesting. Although I don’t normally listen to Humble & Fred, I stumbled on their replay this weekend on CHAM, and they had Frankish on. What he had to say was certainly revealing.
 
He admitted he was outright fired and didn’t leave the station of his own accord. He said that since Rogers took over City TV, there had been many different management teams that he’d had to deal with but that he felt the one that was in charge when he was fired (he did not name any names) had it in for him. He also noted that the show’s longtime producer had left, leaving no one to fight that battle alongside him, as they tried to "corporate-ize" the place. 
 
He explained it was partially his fault – they had ideas for BT, one of the only shows making money for the station, and because he was the face of that show, he felt certain they were on the wrong track. So he pushed back and let them know he was not happy with the direction they were taking the morning program. Not long after, they asked him to stay after a morning meeting.
 
“The HR person came in with the envelope,” he recalled, “and I knew what was coming right then.” But he added that even though he had been a bit of a grouch and often hard to get along with for several weeks because of all the Rogers-created tumult at City, he still wasn’t expecting it. Which appears to mean all that bilge in his final tearful goodbye about coming back to do documentaries was likely a lot of face-saving hot air.
 
So what’s he doing now? Like many former on air types, he’s been doing podcasts. And he’s just launched a relatively new one called “The Happy Molecule,” devoted to mental health and beating depression, something he’s suffered from in the past.
 
I’ve met Kevin many times over the years and a nicer guy you could not find. I hope he finds not only success but peace with his latest project. Just don’t expect to see him turn up again on City TV.

 

November 16, 2020 1:03 am  #2


Re: Kevin Frankish Admits He Was Fired From City TV's BT In 2018

So how are BT's ratings currently vs when Kevin was there? 
Whatever happened to Roger Peterson?


 


RadioWiz & RadioQuiz are NOT the same person. 
RadioWiz & THE Wiz are NOT the same person.

 
 

November 16, 2020 10:06 am  #3


Re: Kevin Frankish Admits He Was Fired From City TV's BT In 2018

It's amazing how both Rogers and Bell have destroyed all that was interesting and unique about City and its cable channels. 

 

November 16, 2020 11:19 am  #4


Re: Kevin Frankish Admits He Was Fired From City TV's BT In 2018

Peterson and Frankish are older white dudes...that pretty much kills you in today's Canadian TV landscape...the mentality is that those types have had their turn for decades...now it's time to diversify....visible minorities and ladies now.

 

November 16, 2020 12:51 pm  #5


Re: Kevin Frankish Admits He Was Fired From City TV's BT In 2018

rumor has it, the new management were huge fans (and members) of "the belt lobby". that said (and in my opinion) suspenders could possibly be considered as a massive f. u..  
lesson: pants, and how you hold them up, should never be used as a message to management. that's why t-shirts were invented.

 

November 16, 2020 2:34 pm  #6


Re: Kevin Frankish Admits He Was Fired From City TV's BT In 2018

Hansa wrote:

It's amazing how both Rogers and Bell have destroyed all that was interesting and unique about City and its cable channels. 

 
Can't speak to the cable channels but City TV was once so unique in the way it did things, it was copied by other stations around the world. IIRC, Moses Znaimer deliberately wanted it to look cheap and thus far less slick than his competition so it would stand out more. He hired a bizarre cast of characters and reporters to populate the place. That and the fact he wanted to do everything on the cheap and it was a very weird atmosphere to work in. But somehow they made it happen.

Rogers has strengthened the place with technology (a plane in the air, better equipment etc.) But they've definitely lost what made it special.

     Thread Starter
 

November 16, 2020 3:52 pm  #7


Re: Kevin Frankish Admits He Was Fired From City TV's BT In 2018

At the time Kevin came to City TV, I guess around 1990-91, CityPulse News, like all of CityTV,  was properly referred to by many as leading edge.  We were unique and proud of it.   The belief was that not eveyone could do what we did.  You may have been able to do television news, but that doesn't mean you could do "City Pulse"  Was that arrogant?  Maybe. But it was true. Thats why I always felt so lucky that the powers to be felt I could be part of that team.

From the moment he did his first traffic report, it was clear that Kevin was going to have no problem. He fit in right away. He was City TV (as it used to be) through and through. Great talent. His success was no surprise.  

 

November 26, 2020 4:47 pm  #8


Re: Kevin Frankish Admits He Was Fired From City TV's BT In 2018

Hi RA and LorneH,
I know I'm a little late for comment, but here goes.
Kevin tried very hard to get to CityPulse while working at CKVR, in fact he auditioned while we were in the old building, before BT ever took off.  He sat in the late Glen Coles' newer assignment desk and did the audition, like a "streetbeat take".  As BT flourished, I can vividly remember Kevin and one of the production crew (I think Dave was his name)both lived in Barrie and they commuted daily through the worst snowstorms southbound on the 400. This provided a golden opportunity to record some of the most spectacular pile ups known the OPP and give Sgt Cam Woolly his launch to stardom after he retired. It was always the lead in the news packs because NO other outlet had the viz.   Kevin's personal ambition is what made him successful.  Sometimes he could drive you crazy, but he always thanked you and made you feel part of the team.  I have to agree with Lorne, a great talent and now Rogers is facing cuts "Everywhere".

 

November 26, 2020 4:59 pm  #9


Re: Kevin Frankish Admits He Was Fired From City TV's BT In 2018

Wasn't your nickname there "The Rammer?" Care to explain how that came about? 

     Thread Starter
 

November 26, 2020 10:13 pm  #10


Re: Kevin Frankish Admits He Was Fired From City TV's BT In 2018

Hi RA,
Here goes the story....
I was called "the Rammer" by Gord Haines, the ND at the time.  This name appeared on a memo posted to the whole newsroom at 99 Queen St East. This designation was given to me because Gord felt that the editing dept need a person who could "ram" though stories to air no matter what.  I had only been at the station for a little over a year and I must have made a great impression on the powers that be.  It pissed off the older more experienced editors in the shop. Needless to say, the name stuck for a short while, but things started to change.  I really detested that name, but as for "the Foxer" here's how this nickname was born.
Greg Manzuik was called "Gregger' on the air, Dave Rutherford (sports producer) was called "Ruther' so naturally I was next, and  suddenly "the Foxer" was born. Even to this very day I bump into old CityPulsers that still greet me that way.  Many others in the newsroom had nicknames as well that weren't part of their real names like  "too tall","pearl",and  "stats" .   It was really the use of these nicknames at work that made CityPulse feel like a family, the names weren't used in a mean or malicious manner ,it was meant as a sign of love and support for one another as you would a family member.   I understand that this feeling has all but disappeared in a very corporate world, all in the name of profit.    As the TV saying goes, "stay tuned".  

 

November 26, 2020 10:28 pm  #11


Re: Kevin Frankish Admits He Was Fired From City TV's BT In 2018

What great stories! I'd always heard a lot of the nicknames derived from a different Gord, last name Martineau. So that's where the Rammer came from! I always thought it was some sort of porno reference! 

     Thread Starter
 

December 18, 2020 2:38 pm  #12


Re: Kevin Frankish Admits He Was Fired From City TV's BT In 2018

Gee and I thought he was going to be doing documentaries for City like Gord Martineau!  Still waiting to see the first one from either of them.