STATIC FROM READERS ON KABC TV, RADIO COLUMNS

We get letters. . . .

Most of today’s concern KABC-TV’s “Eyewitness News” and KABC Radio. In one column, I noted the tumult surrounding the return of commentator Bruce Herschensohn. Another mentioned the rough treatment given Jeff Cohen, head of Fairness & Accuracy in Reporting, on Tom Snyder’s TV talk show. A third column observed Tawny Little’s return as an “Eyewitness News” anchor.

Other mail concerns the dropping of Maria Shriver and Forrest Sawyer as co-anchors of “The CBS Morning News” and also my review of the ABC “Closeup” special “After the Sexual Revolution.”

The notion that KABC, radio or TV, leans to the political right is cuckoo. Bulletin: The electorate defines the center, not you.

As for TV, it’s remarkable that only silence attended the long months when nothing but Reagan-hating commentators ornamented every network pump in the area. Reagan and his storm troopers were condemned, jeered at and excoriated nightly by Bill Stout, Jack Perkins, Bill Press and John Tunney. This did not occasion any demands for fairness. Tell me, Howie, why is that?

SAUL DAVID, Van Nuys

When KABC general manager George Green says that not one but three ultraconservatives (Bruce Herschensohn, Dennis Prager, Ray Briem) are necessary to balance one mild liberal (Michael Jackson), he is resorting to artistic hyperbole of the kind that Ronald Reagan might use in one of his campaign speeches.

HARRY CIMRING, Los Angeles

You’re worried about balance on KABC Radio and TV? Worry about Los Angeles Times bias. Tell me, why does all the media love to use right wing when they want to destroy what is being said? Why is it that when they’re talking about a left-wing liberal, he is never labeled left wing ?

M. MYERS, Los Angeles

Personally, I believe we should allow opposing views, but in the printed press label the person being quoted as Republican or right wing or Democrat or left wing. On TV, a speaker should have his label shown every 30 seconds or so. If it’s Herschensohn, label him conservative; Bill Press, liberal.

If a picture is showing on TV, say it’s “9 to 5,” left wing should be shown when Jane Fonda appears. On the reruns of John Wayne commercials, show right wing. Of course, your own label would be humorous, but ultra left.

CHARLES ISAACS,

Los Angeles

When you’re weighing the political tilt on KABC Radio, let’s not forget Paul Harvey, probably their most persuasive spokesman for the Reagan right.

MINNIE SELVIN CRUTCHER,

Los Angeles

I would like to provide Mr. Rosenberg the opportunity to correct the offensive and incorrect use of the term wimp as it was applied to former U.S. Sen. John V. Tunney.

A real wimp is someone whose limited intellectual capabilities prohibit an understanding of what the “real” issues of our time are and, consequently, is related to the feeble form of gossipy observation known as entertainment.

A real wimp is someone whose respect for others is so wanting and self-confidence so precarious as to prevent the admission of what is at the very least an extremely poor choice of words, and at the very worst a cheap shot.

I look forward to Mr. Rosenberg’s reply, which ought to determine who is really a wimp!

STEVE SALTZMAN,

Los Angeles

Where is the conservative L.A. Times commentator to balance you-know-who? We don’t want your job, Mr. Rosenberg, just balance.

JOAN DANIELSEN,

Long Beach

Regarding Tom Snyder’s interview with Jeff Cohen, Snyder revealed himself to be hot-headed, rude and egotistical by grandstanding, not taking any of Cohen’s comments seriously, joking that he poisoned Cohen’s tea and interrupting him constantly and abruptly.

Does Tom know which side his bread is buttered on? You bet! Defend KABC at all costs.

JENNY GRAHAM, Los Angeles

Tom Snyder usually behaves like a turkey, so I don’t find his sudden rudeness to Jeff Cohen peculiar. I do find it puzzling, however, that there is an organization like FAIR which thinks that programs have to air counter views to balance their own. Where will it end? Will your column have to run a satellite column to balance your views?

JOHN DEGATINA, Studio City

How easy it is for any target of our criticism (Channel 7 in this case) to twist our call for the addition of a new perspective on the airwaves to a call for censorship. I’m still waiting for an answer to the question: Does the non-ideological Michael Jackson balance the several conservative ideologues on KABC Radio? We pointed out repeatedly--to all those who would let us finish our sentences--that KABC is more stacked to the right than KABC-TV.

JEFF COHEN, Venice

How very ironic. Recently ABC hired the superb Linda Ellerbee to be part of its news team. At the same time KABC went out and rehired the very silly Tawny Little to become a news anchor. Perhaps now KABC will want to hire someone who is an equal to Tawny Little. I wonder if Madonna is available.

LAWRENCE WEILACKER,

Diamond Bar

Ah, yes, Tawny giggles. She is refreshing, and enthusiastic, and quite young, and worst of all, a joy to look at. Bad girl, Tawny! Rosenberg seemes determined that her pleasant attributes should obscure a talent that has grown with her years.

STEVE ANDREWS, Anaheim

I would like to know what KABC-TV ever did to Howard Rosenberg. He can’t write a nice thing about KABC or anyone there. He sounds so petty and childish in his article about Tawny Little. To me, Rosenberg is the one who is little.

DOROTHY M. JONES, Arcadia

Did Rosenberg graduate from the John McEnroe School of Journalism?

JANE HOWLETT,

Newport Beach

In my opinion, Maria Shriver was a loser right from the start--especially in the looks department--compared to Jane Pauley and Joan Lunden. She seemed uncomfortable most of the time, giving me the impression she would like to be somewhere else. Faith Daniels and Forrest Sawyer might have been a much better combination.

BERNARD SIEGEL,

Los Angeles

Forrest Sawyer is first-rate. He and Pauley could rule the airwaves forever. Maria Shriver can be good, but she needs seasoning. But not in Los Angeles, where she’d be allowed to indulge in her twittiness unchallenged. Is there a CBS affiliate in Tulsa?

ROBERT PANICO, San Diego

I think it’s sad that you feel the documentary “After the Sexual Revolution” was very forgettable. I will not forget it. It was depressing because it hit home. I didn’t have a preconceived notion that it was fake or staged.

M. EDWARDS, Thousand Oaks

Read your review. Didn’t exactly love it. But for the record: Yes, our crew did just happen to be at the home of the downtrodden divorced mother when she got that call from the phone company. Nuf said.

RICHARD RICHTER,

senior producer,

ABC documentaries