Alan Pergament reported yesterday that Jerry Sullivan, after 20 years, is no longer doing radio appearances on WGR. What is the story behind this? Did the Buffalo News ban him from appearances in order to steer potential viewers to the "Bucky & Sully Show" on WBBZ? If that's the case, seems quite goofy. Newspaper reporters from all over the country make appearances on various radio and television outlets.
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Sully no longer doing spots on WGR?
- Thread starter DJ Hukhers Roll Call
- Start date
Alan Pergament reported yesterday that Jerry Sullivan, after 20 years, is no longer doing radio appearances on WGR. What is the story behind this? Did the Buffalo News ban him from appearances in order to steer potential viewers to the "Bucky & Sully Show" on WBBZ? If that's the case, seems quite goofy. Newspaper reporters from all over the country make appearances on various radio and television outlets.
Entercom has an odd relationship/attitude toward the BN. WBEN has aired many promos crap-talking the News, yet the BN does all the legwork in newsgathering in this town. Without the BN, WBEN news would be a lot less informed. Just look at the two websites. The BN website truly is a destination site for more in-depth coverage of a variety of subjects, while WBEN's site is your typical token newstalk station site that offers little in depth coverage of anything really.
Maybe they just decided that Sullivan is generally a crabby old man with a very negative outlook toward Buffalo sports in general. He also makes himself unpopular with two the management of WGR's biggest products - the Bills and the Sabres. BTW, there was a time when Sully was a legitimate critic. Sully has become a self-agrandizing blowhard over the last few years.
Maybe they just decided that Sullivan is generally a crabby old man with a very negative outlook toward Buffalo sports in general. He also makes himself unpopular with two the management of WGR's biggest products - the Bills and the Sabres. BTW, there was a time when Sully was a legitimate critic. Sully has become a self-agrandizing blowhard over the last few years.
I think he adds great balance. He's painfully truthful and THAT is what makes good radio.
I agree with both your takes. I can flip flop on Sully. Either way, I'd rather have him on the station than some of their other personalities. Why is it that nothing changed with the new Program Director coming in? Sure they dumped Cowherd (can't imagine he had too many fans), but they filled the slot with a show produced by the Sabres that is God awful.
I agree with both your takes. I can flip flop on Sully. Either way, I'd rather have him on the station than some of their other personalities. Why is it that nothing changed with the new Program Director coming in? Sure they dumped Cowherd (can't imagine he had too many fans), but they filled the slot with a show produced by the Sabres that is God awful.
About that....
Sylvester is an insufferable homer. Hard to listen to his arrogance. However, at first I thought the addition of Andrew Peters (retired goon) to the broadcast made it even worse, but I actually now think Peters adds so much more to the show than Sylvester. He has a good sense of humor and is pretty knowledgeable about the sport.
Love to hear Sullivan's side of the story.
My reading of this is that the Buffalo News wants to keep its own talent on its own multi-media platforms. Now, WBBZ is not part of the Buffalo News. But make no mistake. After watching last Monday's show, Bucky and Sully have total control over the show's content as opposed to what Sully had on WGR. The News then posts the show on its own website after airing. With the show airing twice a week, Sully probably does not have the time to do much else, especially with the travel associated with covering a pro football team.
That said, I will say I miss Sully on WGR. After watching Monday's show on WBBZ, I felt like I was watching a cable access show. Sully is much better in a format featuring professional broadcasters like Schopp and the Bulldog (I know some of you will argue with this description). Bucky was ill at ease acting as host, especially when it was time to go to a break. The News has an arrogance about it. They think putting a camera in front of their reporters allows them to compete with the broadcast media. Well, they can't. Other than Brian Meyer, all of their video productions -- including their election night coverage -- looks like Ted Mack's Amateur Hour. Yes, the News is the premier news gathering operation in Buffalo. And they do that exceedingly well. But its staff has not been trained in broadcasting. And the Bucky and Sully show is a prime example of that.
One funny side note here. Now, I do enjoy listening to Schopp and the Bulldog, especially during football season. Yesterday, my wife was in the car with me, and I had WGR on, listening to their football picks for the weekend. My wife is no sports fan. While listening to 20 minutes of those two, she finally turned to me and asked, "Are they part time? Do they do something else?" I guess she couldn't get her arms around the fact that these two guys make a living talking, and in some cases, saying nothing. Again, I do like those two. But her comment really put sports radio in perspective for me.
That said, I will say I miss Sully on WGR. After watching Monday's show on WBBZ, I felt like I was watching a cable access show. Sully is much better in a format featuring professional broadcasters like Schopp and the Bulldog (I know some of you will argue with this description). Bucky was ill at ease acting as host, especially when it was time to go to a break. The News has an arrogance about it. They think putting a camera in front of their reporters allows them to compete with the broadcast media. Well, they can't. Other than Brian Meyer, all of their video productions -- including their election night coverage -- looks like Ted Mack's Amateur Hour. Yes, the News is the premier news gathering operation in Buffalo. And they do that exceedingly well. But its staff has not been trained in broadcasting. And the Bucky and Sully show is a prime example of that.
One funny side note here. Now, I do enjoy listening to Schopp and the Bulldog, especially during football season. Yesterday, my wife was in the car with me, and I had WGR on, listening to their football picks for the weekend. My wife is no sports fan. While listening to 20 minutes of those two, she finally turned to me and asked, "Are they part time? Do they do something else?" I guess she couldn't get her arms around the fact that these two guys make a living talking, and in some cases, saying nothing. Again, I do like those two. But her comment really put sports radio in perspective for me.
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