There seems to be another shakeup underway at WSAR.
First, longtime reporter Barry Richard left the station last week on the same day as afternoon drive host Wayne Rego.
Barry Richard was a tremendous asset to WSAR. During the recall of Mayor Flanagan Barry's tenacity combined with the ability to ask the tough questions was appreciated by the community. He really held politicians' feet to the fire and never let them get away with questions that were answered with non-answers.
Wayne Rego had some interesting insight as to the inner workings of the city, but I think his family ties to a local politician combined with some of the public scandal he was involved with may have been too much for himself, management or a combination of both to handle. For a while, he hosted the show with Brian Bigelow, another politician who was plagued with a couple scandals. Mr. Bigelow also left the station following some public noise about his past.
The past week or two have been very odd. With Barry and Wayne gone the programming has been very strange. There don't seem to be any professional broadcasters left at the station. The only thing close to a professional would be Happy Hec. Hec seems like a nice man and his 1970's style radio works for him, but I doubt his style would work on afternoon drive. In fairness I doubt Hec would want to do that, either.
As it stands now, they have the woman who took over Woman's Intuition following Donna and Sandra's unfortunate leaving reading the news. That means former mayor Bob Correia has been working a four hour shift (9-12) and the 3-6 program has been split between GM Ric Oliveria and Tony Evans. Evans has said he won't take the slot as a host and Wayne's on air partner Dr. Mike has been MIA since last week.
This morning promos started running that former host Faust Fiore will be taking over Oliveria's 9 o'clock Friday show when he hosts a 'News from the Sixth Floor' show. Fiore left WSAR to become the new mayor's press secretary.
Oliveria's program Under Reported seems to have morphed into some minute or two length promos where he reads a few out there internet stories followed by an ad.
My questions for anyone in the know are as follows:
1- Will Barry Richard be back on another show? WBSM would seem like a logical fit, as he's a New Bedford guy.
2- Is the station looking for another news person? If not, who will take over the 9-10 slot as Correia has made comments eluding to the fact that he's not thrilled with the long time slot.
3- Has Ric Oliveria's Friday show been canceled? It was cut from five days a week to four, but now it seems that Fiore's new show will hold that time slot. Perhaps Under Reported's new format will be short promos followed by an ad?
4- Is Dr. Mike gone?
It seems like every few years there are shakeups over at WSAR. Anyone have any guesses as to how this one will shake out?
First, longtime reporter Barry Richard left the station last week on the same day as afternoon drive host Wayne Rego.
Barry Richard was a tremendous asset to WSAR. During the recall of Mayor Flanagan Barry's tenacity combined with the ability to ask the tough questions was appreciated by the community. He really held politicians' feet to the fire and never let them get away with questions that were answered with non-answers.
Wayne Rego had some interesting insight as to the inner workings of the city, but I think his family ties to a local politician combined with some of the public scandal he was involved with may have been too much for himself, management or a combination of both to handle. For a while, he hosted the show with Brian Bigelow, another politician who was plagued with a couple scandals. Mr. Bigelow also left the station following some public noise about his past.
The past week or two have been very odd. With Barry and Wayne gone the programming has been very strange. There don't seem to be any professional broadcasters left at the station. The only thing close to a professional would be Happy Hec. Hec seems like a nice man and his 1970's style radio works for him, but I doubt his style would work on afternoon drive. In fairness I doubt Hec would want to do that, either.
As it stands now, they have the woman who took over Woman's Intuition following Donna and Sandra's unfortunate leaving reading the news. That means former mayor Bob Correia has been working a four hour shift (9-12) and the 3-6 program has been split between GM Ric Oliveria and Tony Evans. Evans has said he won't take the slot as a host and Wayne's on air partner Dr. Mike has been MIA since last week.
This morning promos started running that former host Faust Fiore will be taking over Oliveria's 9 o'clock Friday show when he hosts a 'News from the Sixth Floor' show. Fiore left WSAR to become the new mayor's press secretary.
Oliveria's program Under Reported seems to have morphed into some minute or two length promos where he reads a few out there internet stories followed by an ad.
My questions for anyone in the know are as follows:
1- Will Barry Richard be back on another show? WBSM would seem like a logical fit, as he's a New Bedford guy.
2- Is the station looking for another news person? If not, who will take over the 9-10 slot as Correia has made comments eluding to the fact that he's not thrilled with the long time slot.
3- Has Ric Oliveria's Friday show been canceled? It was cut from five days a week to four, but now it seems that Fiore's new show will hold that time slot. Perhaps Under Reported's new format will be short promos followed by an ad?
4- Is Dr. Mike gone?
It seems like every few years there are shakeups over at WSAR. Anyone have any guesses as to how this one will shake out?