Commentary Spot Will Remain Open

Neither KABC-TV Channel 7 nor KABC-AM (790) will immediately replace Bruce Herschensohn when the commentator leaves next week to run for the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate.

“We’ll probably leave it open for a while and interview a number of potential replacements and see which one we like and is able to perform the commentary in the studio so people can understand it,” Channel 7 General Manager Terry Crofoot said.

Crofoot said that Herschensohn’s successor will be a Republican. The station’s two other commentators, attorney Gloria Allred and former U.S. Sen. John V. Tunney, are both Democrats.

KABC-AM General Manager George Green said that the morning “Ken and Barkley Company” will be without a commentator for at least a month.

“It’s a programming decision, without anything more you can read into it,” Green said. “We’re not thinking any more than just finding out how we can run without it, how it sounds and frankly how our ratings are without it. If we can save some money in a down marketplace, that’s an expense we may be able to do without.”

Herschensohn is scheduled to make his final TV commentary Monday on the 5 p.m. broadcast of “Eyewitness News” and his final radio commentary Tuesday morning before embarking on his second bid for the U.S. Senate. In 1986, he finished second to then-Rep. Ed Zschau in the Republican primary.

That year, Herschensohn declared his candidacy during two Channel 7 commentaries and, while responding to questions from anchorman Jerry Dunphy, got an opportunity to appeal indirectly for campaign funds and to mention his ties to a former official in the Reagan-Bush presidential campaigns.

Herschensohn’s campaign director said Friday that the candidate will take a different approach with his final commentaries this time.

“He’s going to use his commentary opportunities to thank his audience, his supporters, the staff and management of KABC, and will not make a direct reference to his candidacy for the U.S. Senate,” Nicholas Thimmesch II said.