42 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY NOVEMBER 27-DECEMBER 3, 2025 www.montereycountynow.com FACE TO FACE A plaque on the wall of a hallway in KSBW’s studio building is signed by people who once worked for the ABC affiliate. News anchor Dan Green pauses to reminisce about a few former colleagues. “All these people,” he says, gesturing toward the signatures, “I remember almost all of them.” In October, Green celebrated 30 years at the television station. He anchors the 5pm and 6pm news then returns for the 11pm broadcast alongside another KSBW veteran, Erin Clark. His work has earned honors along the way, including an Edward R. Murrow award. If three decades seems like quite a career, Monterey County is just Green’s most recent stop. He grew up in St. Louis and graduated from the University of Missouri, starting as a radio disc jockey. He has been heard by listeners from Alabama to San Francisco and Southern California. It was while in the Bay Area that he transitioned to television. Green says that he wanted to join the KSBW team for many years before the station offered him a job in 1992. “I would send tapes and never hear back,” he says with a chuckle. Weekly: I think I was at Mizzou almost the same time as you. Your major? Green: Pre-med—for about an hourand-a-half. Actually, after three weeks of biochemistry, that was over. I found the radio station, KCOU. I had been fascinated by radio all of my life. Growing up in St. Louis, you had KMOX, KSHE, on clear nights you could get WLS from Chicago or KOA in Denver. You could hear different deliveries. All I wanted to do was to be on radio. Remember the first time you heard your voice on tape? I heard it and said “You’re never going to be on radio.” I read the Sears Wish Book into the tape recorder–every section, over and over. My voice was still awful, but not as bad as the first time. But you wound up on television. I ended up in San Francisco at KLOK FM. They were sold and the station changed format. I started getting interested in news. I got a job doing traffic at KCBS—I was sky 3. I went back home and got a job as anchor at KMIZ, the UHF station. I was anchor, reporter and janitor. How have things changed? When I came here we were shooting three-quarter [videotape]. Digital has changed everything. While the tools we use have changed, the stories are familiar. We’re still fighting about water, we’re still fighting about zoning. What’s your day like? I get in 3:15, 3:30. I’m out after the 11 o’clock. I’ve always worked nights, more than 20,000 broadcasts—I did the math the other day. For several years my wife [Kate Callaghan] was the morning anchor and I was the night anchor. That lasted until our second son was born, then it was just too much. You don’t see your kids at night. That sucks. We were celebrating an anniversary—I can’t remember which one. All of a sudden it was shock and awe in Baghdad. I said, “I have to go.” Thirty years? What keeps you here? It’s the Monterey Peninsula, Salinas, King City, the Salinas Valley, Santa Cruz, Hollister…each place is really special. It seemed like a good idea to walk with the dog on the beach [after the broadcast] for a couple of years. That turned into 30. My first day working for KSBW was before my official hiring date. The OJ [Simpson] verdict was going on and I was down there. I called and said that I could get video. Then I loaded up and came here. There’s a lot going on here. For such a small place to have a global impact—we’re all lucky to live here. You know, my doctor said John Cleese was in his office. I wonder what he was doing here? When I was in high school I interviewed Graham Chapman. You met Graham Chapman? That’s cool. I memorized Holy Grail. What’s the appeal of Monty Python? There are seminal moments for us: Holy Grail, Spinal Tap, Caddyshack. Now people look at you and say “What are you talking about?” I could listen to John Cleese read the phone book. It was also at a time of one of the biggest political changes—Reagan. So much was happening. I think anybody our age, we have this common experience. Today, with social media, I don’t think that’s the case. Your plans for retirement? No idea. I started gardening a couple of years ago. I really don’t know. This is all I know. Dan The Man KSBW evening news anchor Dan Green has been keeping the Central Coast informed for 30 years. By Dave Faries “You have to be yourself,” KSBW’s Dan Green says of being on camera. “I try not to take myself seriously. I take the content seriously.” DANIEL DREIFUSS
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