Buckley Blog: The Buckley BBQ Disaster
9:23 PM May 22, 2008
If the past few months has taught me anything, it's that the true fans of the KTLA Morning News feel the show is theirs. I've never worked for a TV station, a show or a network at which the viewers felt as strongly as you do about the program you watch every day. And I love it.
Your passion about personnel changes, about format changes, about content, about the news is truly amazing. This week, your response to my on-air appeal for help in cleaning up after my stupid BBQ disaster was equal parts amazing and amusing.
I was amazed at how quickly and how many of you emailed the station immediately. We received about 80 viewer mails with great suggestions on which cleaning products to use, what techniques to use, how to protect my wall in the future (the most common suggestion: move the BBQ away from the wall dummy!), how to salvage the burned steaks (with Dijon mustard and balsamic vinegar--served blackened side down and act like it was supposed to be burnt, according to Jim from Glendale), and about your own bad BBQ experiences.
I laughed as I read a number of your emails, especially the one from Marc from Ventura who wrote: "No matter what you do to the outside wall, it will never be the same. Just sell the house and buy a new one."
If you're wondering what the heck I'm talking about--a quick recap of the Buckley Family BBQ Disaster follows. For the rest of you who asked how it all turned out, keep reading.
First, the recap:
My parents were visiting last weekend along with some lifelong friends from Japan. My wife Elena went out to Costco and bought one of those huge packs of steaks. I threw them on the grill and stepped inside the house as we prepared for dinner.
A few minutes later, I glanced outside to see black smoke pouring out of my grill and up the wall of my home. I quickly extinguished the flames in the grill and removed my now blackened steaks to a plate.
Here's a picture of my son Sebastian modeling said barbecue and blackened wall:
The picture taken from my phone camera really doesn't do it justice. It was black. I thought a paint job was in my future.
But a couple of the guys on the Morning News crew, Bernie and Jimmy, suggested a product some of you mentioned in your emails called "Simple Green." Jimmy happened to have a bottle he sometimes uses around the sound stage and he told me to give it a try.
So I took it home and went to work. Of my two sons, Sebastian's the one who's always ready to help out on a project or with chores. He also likes being on TV. So he jumped at the opportunity to work with me on this one.
I tried various concentrations of Simple Green in water and finally ended up spraying it on directly. We used a brush (as illustrated by my assistant, Sebastian) to scrub the wall.
Then, we sprayed the stuff off with my garden hose spray gun.
I tend to be pessimistic about these things and I don't have a ton of confidence in myself when it comes to home repairs, etc. so I expected I'd be using another one of your suggested products, or worse, paint to clean up my mess.
But incredibly, it worked (as illustrated again by my assistant, Sebastian).
So the saga of the Buckley Family BBQ Disaster has a happy ending. The wall is clean. The steaks were served...sliced on one plate London broil style with the burned bits sliced off. And I now have dozens of suggestions on various cleaning products I'd never heard of (Krud Cutter? Really?).
Most importantly, you reaffirmed my faith in you to come through when we ask. We've asked you to tell us what you think about the important stuff (the news). We've asked you to weigh in on the shows (Anyone care about the new format of the 9 o'clock show? I'm kidding!). We've asked you how to clean my wall and you came through like I was a member of your family. Thanks.
It's Memorial Day weekend. A few of you might decide to do a BBQ on the grill. If you happen to scorch your wall in the process, let me know. I've got a few suggestions on how to get it cleaned.
Posted by Frank Buckley | Permalink | Comments (16) | TrackBack (0)
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Frank what a great blog! It kept my attention and it gave me a few belly laughs too!
I loved too when you asked about how we feel about the new 9 o'clock show and then said "just kidding"!
We are passionate about OUR Morning Show Frank, and you do fit right in extremely well. Of course I am biased, after all, you are my "man crush" you know! Even though I met Kurt the Cyber Guy this past weekend and got to have my picture taken with him....you still ROCK Ol' Man Buckley and so do your blogs!
Posted by: Dan | May 22, 2008 at 09:34 PM
Frank,
Great that the Simple Green worked Old Man. And I hope you have a great BBQ this weekend. Just remember to move it away from the wall.
Keep the blogs coming.
Posted by: Paul - Rat Packer & F.S.S.G. memeber | May 22, 2008 at 11:40 PM
Frank,
Great that the Simple Green worked Old Man. And I hope you have a great BBQ this weekend. Just remember to move it away from the wall.
Keep the blogs coming.
Posted by: Paul - Rat Packer & F.S.S.G. memeber | May 22, 2008 at 11:40 PM
Another entertaining Buckley Boys vignette. :o)
Interestingly, when you started telling the story I assumed it would unfold in a few sentences, a passing thought. Then suddenly you had a bottle of Simple Green, and in a few minutes you were holding a stack of emails, the first of many that eventually rolled in. FUNNY stuff.
The next day you show up with before and after pictures of the mini adventure.
See, it's true, good news is just as important as bad. Good to hear all's well with the wall.
Posted by: jozielee | May 22, 2008 at 11:46 PM
Simple Green really is amazing stuff. Now that you know about, you’ll be finding many uses for it both inside and outside your home.
Hope you have a wonderful weekend Frank! Just remember to keep and “eye” on that BBQ when you use it this weekend!! *wink*
p.s. Thanks for caring about your viewers as much as they care about you.
Posted by: Laura in Palmdale, Rat Packer & FSSG | May 23, 2008 at 07:03 AM
FRANK,I AM GLAD THAT ALL TURNED OUT OK FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.
HAVE A GREAT HOLIDAY WEEKEND.
BOB PALMER
Posted by: BOB PALMER | May 23, 2008 at 07:05 AM
HEY FRANK! We all responded so quickly because we felt "HONORED" that you actually "ASKED" for us to help which shows you care about "US" as much as we care about you & the show enough to watch every morning. My only regret about your sincerely personal & engaging blog ...YOU FORGOT TO PUT A PHOTO OF YOU NEXT TO THE BURNT WALL...IN A PATIO CHAIR & WEARING A SPEEDO!!! You are such a great addition to the KTLA morning news, you really have a great sense of humor & fit right in with the rest of the award winning staff.
Posted by: Randy McDonald | May 23, 2008 at 11:08 AM
Jessica Holmes is a bombshell and I want to date her. I still don't read these blogs.
Posted by: BrettNOC | May 23, 2008 at 11:14 AM
Frank,
I think one of the reasons the KTLA Morning News is so close to many of us is because you guys are the neighborhood know-it-alls, the ones everyone else turns to to find out what's new, who's in trouble, etc.
You are us and we are you.
Love the blogs and getting to know you this way.
Love time KTLA Morning News viewer,
Pat
Posted by: Pat | May 23, 2008 at 01:36 PM
LOL! Frank, what a wonderful blog. I'm so glad it all turned out well. I love you all on the Morning News. There is seriousness because of important news, but there is also fun, which we all need to relieve the stress of everyday life. Love Friday Dance Party. Just makes my morning. That Ginger sure is a good dancer. She really should get on Dancing With The Stars. She is a star. The star helicopter reporter on KTLA. You all look great having fun dancing. Love that the intro to the Morning News has you anchors telling us what's ahead. I truly enjoy the 9 AM show with Michaela, Cher and Jessica. I'm glad they finally got a desk and comfy chairs. The guest lineup and segments are extremely enjoyable. Keep up the good work Frank. Glad the steaks weren't a total waste!
Posted by: Laura in Los Angeles | May 23, 2008 at 02:49 PM
I watched today's 9 am show and I recorded it to DVD so that I could view later and offer my own thoughts. I actually watched it, at work, in a darked room and recorded to a Professional Level recording device. (Time code stamped, etc)
First observation. Ladies! Give Sam a chance! Try following Aunt Gails example. Be LOUD by being soft spoken. Cher actually acknowledged Gails attempt to enter the conversation. And Gail was not shouting down anyone.
Ms. Holmes. You have a lot of potential. You are in the right position, at the wrong time. As a viewer, I do not respect you. This is nothing personal. You just need experience. You won a popularity contest, hosted by TPTB that are not around anymore (Ref; www.laobserved.com) Your own experience is lacking and not deserving of a position in a MAJOR MARKET position. Your resume is available here: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1511680/ Two credits? Please, go to Charlotte, then Dallas then move to a major market. The point is, you always TALK over anyone on set. Quit staring into the camera. The viewer see's it. I see it and you need to record, self evaluate, to understand.
Please, ladies. Do not choose a topic of discussion that you are ill advised to discuss. Not one of you women is married. That, by default, excludes your opinions as being worthy of discussion or debate. Now Sam's opinion or the Camera Operator with 31 years marriage?
Sam has been married and divorced. Let us hear from him!
Camera Operator Ritchie (Name mistake?) That's an opinion that has a voice.
Being engaged does not count. That's like being on the September call up list for Major League Baseball. So close you can taste it, not quite there. Again, Aunt Gail had the voice of reason, regarding this issue.
TPTB. Love the fact that you are trying to right a sinking ship. Read Sam's Bio. Back in the day, KTLA was the "... the highest rated locally produced morning program in the country..." ( http://ktla.trb.com/news/local/newsstaff/ktla-news-bio-rubin,0,2401090.story?coll=ktla-newsstaff-1) Current numbers would indicate that you are not even #1 in your region, much less L.A. Even Ritchie G. (Former ND of KTLA) has to be frothing at the mouth, in his move to KSWB San Diego. As an ND, he has to see a certain weakness that he can exploit. It's a Sam Zell World! I will still be around after the "Blood letting" is done. Will you?
Posted by: Bill from San Diego | May 23, 2008 at 04:45 PM
Now that's a great post Bill my friend! Very good! Excellent in fact! Have a great weekend in San Diego Bill!
Posted by: Dan | May 23, 2008 at 07:15 PM
That's what I like about people - ready to help other people. Don't call yourself stupid Frank, call yourself human. We all make our mistakes and luckily most of us have someone, like a father or neighbor, to advise us. Like with prayer, sometimes all you've got to do is ask. Enjoy your weekend!
For those who don't read Eric Spillman's blog - ERIC HAS BECOME PART OF THE JERRY SPRINGER SHOW. SEEING IS BELIEVING, GO TO HIS BLOG!
Posted by: George the Rat | May 23, 2008 at 11:02 PM
Old man Buckley! we're are all one big happy family, didn't you know that?
Glad your BBQ situation came out okay. AND THANK YOU FOR BRINGING BACK THE MEN TO THE 9:00 am show, WHEW!
Posted by: Oralia | May 28, 2008 at 04:11 PM
Just wanted to say, that I really loved your blog. It really was interested and it kept my attention. Thank You so much for sharing your memories growing up embracing your heritage. My children are hispanic/white. And like you they were brought up to embrace their mexican heritage. So please keep those great blogs coming. Also I watch all of you guys every one from 7 to 9 am. And I love all of you.
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Posted by: Marti | October 02, 2008 at 08:50 PM