Garrett makes the case:
WBZ
Dick Summer, who once did the overnight shift on WBZ, is busy putting together an Internet station. And he's trying to get in contact with Steve Leveille, who used to do the overnight shift on WBZ and others recently let go by CBS stations. He explains in a post to the Boston Radio Interest mailing list:
Non - Political talk, done by entertaining, highly professional, honest to God real people. No money...at least not now. But a lot of personal satisfaction, and a platform to be heard all around the world.
Channel 4 sent its news chopper out to Waltham today so we could all watch dramatic "raw footage" of a deer foundering on an ice-covered reservoir.
Oh, speaking of ice: Will you people stop going on it? You're starting to annoy the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
WBZ is no longer broadcasting in HD.
That's what happens when you no longer broadcast with 50,000 WATTS OF POWER. Scott Fybush, who knows a thing or two about Boston radio, explains that there's something wrong with 'BZ's connection to its main transmitter in Hull and it's temporarily using its non-HD and lower-power (only 10,000 watts) backup transmitter on Soldiers Field Road.
You may recall that YouTube clip showing some Masshole cursing out a Channel 4 reporter sliding toward him in a van during our first major snowstorm of the season - and Jack Williams's droll response. Hanover and Prince reports today that YouTube has yanked the video because some lawyer at CBS has apparently decided "fair use" only applies to people who can afford expensive television studios:
Hanover and Prince posts video of a Channel 4 reporter in a van and some anonymous Masshole pedestrian exchanging pleasantries during a live report. Jack Williams's reaction to some on-air f-bombing is priceless.
Unemployed Amy got annoyed watching a Channel 4 reporter interview unemployment-center workers in their cubicles about how tough it is trying to keep up with all the calls from the newly unemployed:
"Behind every call is someone who is unemployed. And this is their lifeline to the desperately-needed check," the reporter voices-over.
Hey, lady - if it's so damn important, let the workers you interview answer the phone. I called yesterday to get some help on how to claim my severance payment, and I was told to call back because the operators were too busy. So stop asking these people if they cry or pray for the teeming refuse of which I am part, and let them take a call. ...
Because you do. Well, some of you, at any rate.
Over at Channel 4, David Wade reports on a "news tip" Channel 4 got from a regular viewer this morning:
... FYI to David W. Don't mean to be mean, but your hair needs a little help this AM. It's not very flattering when you look straight on at the camera :( ...
Oh, as long as we're on the vanity issue, mad props to Ed Harding for being cool enough to let Chronicle last night show the box he uses to stand on for those standing shots in front of the anchordesk.
Sadly, I think Keller was dead serious this morning on WBZ when he accused people who plan to cut back their Christmas shopping this year of being "selfish" because they are helping to ruin the economy. Good to know he still has a secure job.
Like, I dunno, state senators taking bribes or state troopers abusing gas cards. Instead, the once mighty I-Team is reduced to investigating what members of the MBTA board of directors have for lunch once a month:
We saw multiple chafing dishes being set out, all with different hot entrees. There were salads and fruit plates, all being enjoyed by a large group of people.
Hey, I'm all for rooting out waste and corruption in state government. But instead of examining why the T is really billions of dollars in debt, Channel 4 tells us about sauteed chicken.
Channel 4 rips the scab right off our sordid secret: We jaywalk.
Everywhere David went in the city he saw people ignoring the "do not walk" signals and crossing whenever they want. Call it a crime of convenience.
What's that you say? You just flew in from Wyoming and don't understand what jaywalking is? Don't worry: Channel 4 breaks it down for you:
Jaywalking is crossing the street and not using the crosswalk when it's within 300 feet.
UPDATE: The story's been changed to read "the Dorchester police station."
WBZ's Web site currently has a story about some missing Carver woman who is no longer missing because she turned herself into Boston police. Or more specifically, according to Channel 4:
Quiana Key walked into the Boston Police Station Sunday morning after she saw herself on media television report.
THE Boston Police Station? We only have one now?
Jack Williams, Tony Pepper and Bruce Schwoegler, back in 1978, when even the men had big hair - and weathermen still used dry-erase boards and magic markers to tell us about the weather:
WBZ's Carl Stevens refuses to leave the Harvard Business School turkey alone, so she claws him. Hey, if he kept getting in my face, especially if he were reciting some of his poetry, I might be tempted to do that, too. The well deserved attack occurs around 1:55:
This is not the first time that Stevens has hounded a poor animal that just wanted to be left alone.
How can WBZ 1030 just fire God like that? Instead, we now have Gary LaPierre doing the station IDs every 30 minutes.
Via Todd Glickman, who's posted an MP3 collection of WBZ jingles and IDs from the 1970s.
Jacqueline Church reports that when Channel 4 reported on some California bar with $3,000 martinis, the anchorperson (who?) said one of the drink's ingredients is "care-uh-coh" - rather than cure-a-sow (you know: curaçao, like the island).
Did I write that? No, of course, I meant "What other media outlets can take away from the tough, refreshingly courageous way Channel 4 resisted corporate demands to whore for the new booze palace CBS co-owns down by Gillette Stadium." In any case, Ben Alper offers up some other possible media conglomerations:
Booters - The Boston Herald and Hooters join forces to create the perfect atmosphere for discussing government hacks, UFOs, while being served by gun-toting Sarah Palin look-alike waitresses. ...
Jessica Heslam has a few thoughts:
... This week's excessive, breathless coverage caps off tonight with a live half-hour show in Foxboro with main anchors Jack Williams and Hughes, and an army of WBZ sports and news people. ...
Chemi Che-Mponda, a part-time news writer at WBZ, says good bye to the WBZ weekend newsreader (and New Hampshire bookstore owner), who died this past Tuesday:
... I will miss Jim. I'm in the Newsroom now, it just doesn't feel the same.
Michael Page has the scoop on the departure of Joe Bergantino; no word if he left on his own or was pushed.
Headline on WBZ's Website:
Boys Left In Car Suffer Apparent CO2 Poisoning
Full Article
http://wbztv.com/local/kids.left.in.2.709020.html
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