James B. Nicholson, Trustee vs. Harmon

THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

OFFICE OF THE U.S. TRUSTEE

David C. Farmer, Successor Trustee
vs.
Bobby N. Harmon

(Formerly Mary Lou Woo vs. Harmon and James Nicholson vs. Harmon)

CV05-00030 DAE/KSC

United States District Court, District of Hawaii

Judges: David A. Ezra; Kevin S. Chang

~ ~ ~

DEFENDANT’S WITNESS

JOE MOORE

Joe Moore is a United States television personality. He is known mainly as the principal news anchor at KHON-TV in Honolulu, Hawaii; the state's Fox affiliate and highest-rated station. Moore is however also an amateur actor and playwright. He also has appeared on various television shows and live theatrical productions.

MILITARY

Growing up in Honolulu, Moore attended Aiea High School for three years... He briefly left Hawaii to attend the University of Maryland, College Park where he majored in communication and history, but after two years of college, he enlisted. Moore served two tours of duty during the Vietnam War with the United States Army 25th Infantry Division in the Vietnam War with close friend and fellow entertainer Pat Sajak. He also served with the American Forces Vietnam Network from Ho Chi Minh City. Moore returned to Hawaii in 1969 and joined KGMB-TV as sports anchor under mentor and news director Bob Sevey. After nine years as part of the market-dominating news team at KGMB, Moore moved to KHON-TV which was then Hawaii's NBC affiliate (it joined Fox in 1995). Within a few years, KHON had passed KGMB as the top-rated station in Hawaii--a lead it continues to hold to this day.

CONTROVERSY

While Moore enjoys immense popularity and is considered one of the most influential voices in Hawaii media, he has had a few critics. He has at times shared his opinions during broadcasts. One of his most discussed comments came at the end of the 10:00 p.m. news broadcast on May 7, 1998. He harshly criticized commercial television--especially his own network, Fox.

"This has been a long time coming, ever since two years ago when we became a Fox affiliate. Regular viewers know I was not happy about that change for a variety of reasons. As you probably also know, a short time later, after getting feelers from two other TV stations in town, I signed a long-term contract to remain here at Channel 2. It was with mixed emotions that I did that. Obviously on the plus side, long-term job security. On the negative side, I had a hard time, a very hard time, getting comfortable with some of the Fox programs. Then, two months ago, my son was born. Amazing how an event like that can help crystallize your thinking. What was my problem with Fox? The fact that many of its shows are clearly aimed at a younger audience? The fact that some, like tonight's Wildest Police Videos and Scariest Police Chases 12 (or whatever the number was), the fact that I find those shows repugnant and offensive? Yes. So why didn't I go to work for another station? Several reasons. One, I like the people here. Two, when I thought about the programs on the other stations, there's a lot of what I think is trash there, too. In fact, I counted the number of shows I really (and I mean really) like to watch on the different networks. On NBC there's four, soon to be three; on ABC, two; CBS, one; on Fox, three. Sitting down and making that list helped put things in perspective. There is a lot of crap on TV. Does Fox have more than its fair share? In my personal opinion, yes. But that's the opinion of a fifty-year-old newsman who's interested in well-made dramas, historical pieces and thought-provoking comedies. So would I be happier at another station? No. Why? Because it's not the Fox programs, that will come and go based on the strength or weakness of their ratings that make this station what it is. It's the people who work here. The people I work with day in and day out. The people in our newsroom, in the studio, the control room, the tape room, the front office. It's these people who have made Channel 2 what it is today, and who will make it what it will be tomorrow. And they're the best. I don't know why looking into my little son's eyes helped clear my head about all this, what's important, what's not important, but it did. And as viewers of this newscast, I felt you had a right to know. That's our late news for this Thursday. Thank you for joining us. Have a good night. And if our owners and management are so inclined, I'll see you tomorrow. If not, well, I guess that's television. Thanks for letting me into your homes over the years. Good night."

In another example, during a 2004 debate between candidates for Mayor of Honolulu, Moore mentioned his personal opposition to a name change of the University of Hawaii at Manoa football team from the long time traditional name "Rainbow Warriors" to "Warriors". The change was made by coach June Jones without any input from the public. Moore then asked the candidates, Duke Bainum and Mufi Hannemann what name they preferred. They both said "Rainbow Warriors."

Moore's comments have been deemed by his critics as personal grandstanding. However, his tremendous popularity in the state usually prevents any attempts to rein him in.

Moore was very critical of several personnel decisions made by Montecito Broadcast Group after it bought KHON in 2006. He'd given some thought to moving to another station or retiring, but decided to stay on. In an e-mail to staff on February 6, Moore wrote,

"How could I possibly work for owners I do not respect? After much deliberation, I reached this conclusion ... the owners are not KHON-2. We, the people who work here are KHON-2. I would not be working FOR THE OWNERS. I would be working FOR OUR VIEWERS, and WITH fellow employees I deeply respect. I have decided not to let our owners drive me out of KHON-2."

On June 28, 2006, Moore appeared to take another dig at Montecito Broadcast Group, after it had installed automated equipment at the station. An echo effect at the start of the 10pm newscast that had occurred repeatedly during the first three weeks the equipment was operational prompted Moore to stop and ask the technical crew if the problem could be fixed. He then said, "We're going to commercial. We're going to get this straightened out because I'm fed up with this crap." The problem was fixed when the newscast returned, and Moore resumed as normal.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Moore

~ ~ ~

July 14, 2009

KHON TV's owner files
for bankruptcy

BY RICK DAYSOG, Advertiser Staff Writer

The owner of KHON television station has filed for bankruptcy protection.

Atlanta-based NV Broadcasting LLC yesterday filed for Chapter 11 reorganization in Delaware in a move to slash $400 million in debt.

The company said the bankruptcy is a prepackaged reorganization that will have no impact on KHON, its employees and its programming.

"It won't have a negative impact on Hawai'i," said Joe McNamara, KHON's president and general manager.

New Vision operates at least 18 television stations across the country. It acquired KHON two years ago from Montecito Broadcast Group of California.

KHON employs about 75 people.

In its bankruptcy filing, NV listed assets of $10 million to $50 million and debts of $100 million to $500 million.

In a news release, NV said the bankruptcy is a pre-arranged reorganization that has the consent of its secured creditors.

The company said it will receive about $30 million in new financing to cover continued operations and growth.

KHON, a Fox affiliate, has dominated Hawai'i television news ratings for years, led by popular anchor Joe Moore.

The company has lost its lead in the 10 p.m. late news slot recently but retains the popular 6 p.m. news rating.

The decline in viewership came as previous owner Montecito made significant budget cuts at KHON.

Honolulu Advertiser

~ ~ ~

NEW DISCOVERY - 06/14/08: DAVID FARMER’S UNDISCLOSED RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE DIAMOND HEAD THEATRE, JAMES MacARTHUR, THE MacARTHUR FOUNDATION, GOLDMAN SACHS, ROBERT RUBIN, BILL CLINTON, HENRY PAULSON, THE NATURE CONSERVANCY, FAYE KURREN, HAUNANI APOLIONA, KAMEHAMEHA SCHOOLS, WALLY CHIN, HENRY PETERS, BISHOP MUSEUM, ADELE SMITH SIMMONS, BRAD HEPPNER, MARSH & McLENNAN, JAMES WRISTON, JUNE JONES, JOE MOORE, JAMES NICHOLSON, RON REWALD, ETC....:

www.jamesmacarthur.com/TwentiethCentury/TwentiethCentury.shtml

http://starbulletin.com/1999/04/14/news/story1.html

www.kycbs.net/Non-Profits.htm

www.kycbs.net/Bishop-Museum.htm

www.kycbs.net/ConnecticutConnection.htm

www.kycbs.net/MarshBirds.htm

www.kycbs.net/WCI.htm

~ ~ ~

August 10, 2007

Reviving 'Honor' with stars

By Wayne Harada, Advertiser Entertainment Writer

"Prophecy and Honor," KHON news anchor Joe Moore's stage recounting of the court-martial trial of Gen. Billy Mitchell, is being revived this month. Moore had a gut inclination that it could be a suitable fundraiser to mark the 60th anniversary of the Air Force. With fine-tuning and polish.

So he added a bit of Hollywood stardust for box office appeal.

The courtroom drama, opening Thursday at the Hawai'i Theatre, features two film luminaries — Richard Dreyfuss and George Segal.

How did Moore swing it?

"I thought getting some Hollywood guys, to play the prosecutor and the main defense attorney, would be a kick for the audience," said Moore. "The celestial stars lined up — we were able to get whom we wanted."...

WHO'S WHO

Joe Moore is Gen. Billy Mitchell.

Richard Dreyfuss is Congressman Frank Reid, the civilian defense attorney.

George Segal is Col. Sherman Moreland, the prosecutor in the trial.

Don Stroud is Mitchell's military lawyer.

Terence Knapp is the prosecutor called in to save the government's case.

Frank DeLima is Congressman Fiorello LaGuardia.

David Farmer is the presiding judge....

* * * * *

GOOGLING FOR JOE MOORE + DAVID FARMER

* * * * *

September 29, 2005

Emmis Sells 4 Stations
to Blackstone, SJL

Katy Bachman, MediaWeek

Emmis Communications announced Thursday it has reached an agreement to sell another four of its TV stations to affiliates of the Blackstone Group, a private investment firm and the SJL Broadcast Group for $259 million. The sale follows the Indianapolis-based company’s strategy, announced in May, to sell its TV station group to improve its financial position and concentrate on its radio business.

The sale of KOIN-TV, the CBS affiliate in Portland, Ore.; KHON-TV, the Fox affiliate in Honolulu; KSNW-TV, the NBC affiliate in Wichita, Kan.; and KSNT-TV, the NBC affiliate in Topeka, Kan., leaves Emmis with three more TV stations to divest....

~ ~ ~

January 28, 2006

On-air criticism lands KHON’s
Moore in hot water

The station’s new ownership disputes
charges of lost quality

By Erika Engle. Honolulu Star-Bulletin

The new owners of KHON are not happy with their top-rated news anchor.

At issue are remarks by Joe Moore at the end of the 6 o'clock news Thursday evening, reprinted in yesterday's Star-Bulletin and repeated by Moore yesterday during the also top-rated "Perry and Price Show" on KSSK-FM 92.3/AM 590.

"What was said last night was not the truth," said Sandy Benton, chief operating officer for Montecito Broadcast Group LLC, which has changed its name from SJL Acquisition LLC. "I need to address it with Joe."

Moore had said Montecito "is a virtual company with no office building."...

Regarding the 35 job cuts the company has announced for KHON, Moore said, "A small percentage of people will be replaced by automation. The rest will severely reduce our ability to serve the community in the manner in which you, and we, have become accustomed."...

http://starbulletin.com/2006/01/28/news/story02.html

~ ~ ~

Joe Moore is expected to testify regarding First Amendment rights of news media. Joe Moore is also expected to testify regarding his business, professional, personal and political relationships with David Farmer, The Blackstone Group, June Jones, James B. Nicholson, Larry Price, Rockne Freitas, Ron Rewald, Larry Mehau, Michael Chun, Steve Case, AOL Time-Warner, Oprah Winfrey, Randy Roth, Jim Dooley, Rick Daysog, Sally Apgar, Paul Alston, Dee Jay Mailer, Rupert Murdoch, and others to be named upon discovery.