Parenteau in Today's Globe

[Varulven]

Actually, Paul Marshall isn't getting money from the state yet either:

NEANDERPAUL SAYETH:
I'm just extremely> bummed that I might have to leave my home (again). I thought
> I'd done what was asked of any air talent

> And this whole thing has made me question for the first time
> whether I still want to do this.
>
> How sad is that? Yes...I'm cracking.
>
"Neander" Paul Marshall
Afternoons/Super Genius
WAAF -Boston
www.waaf.com
Studio Line: 617.931.1AAF
Studio Fax: 617.931.1073


If you question why you want to "do this" you don't have what it takes. Get out.

[EDIT]




[EDIT=inflammatory, vulgar language]

 

[Phillip_J_Fry]

Or better yet, maybe you can do a Roger C. Carmel/Harry Mudd and have a "Banned One" Robot that screams insults at you repeatedly

wow a timely harry mudd reference! what is this 1967?

 

[Neanderpaul]

Actually, Paul Marshall isn't getting money from the state yet either:
If you question why you want to "do this" you don't have what it takes. Get out.

Or better yet, maybe you can do a Roger C. Carmel/Harry Mudd and have a "Banned One" Robot that screams insults at you repeatedly:

You're such a complete and utter cockroach, you have no backbone and
you're just a frightened little panty waste. Get your medication refilled
you old c(*&^ks&^%er!

Wow...so bitter. Don't need to receive state funds. I have a job. In radio. The medium this board's alledgedly about.

I do question whether I want to do this. And then I realize I'm one of the best in the game, and wouldn't want to deprive you of material for your posts. I've been out of the market for seven months, and you can't stop referencing me. Perhaps you'd be better suited by focusing on those who are relevant to today's Boston radio. I'm gone Joe. And as is always the case, I'm looking at the past in the rear view mirror. Unless you're the lead dog Joe...the view never changes. Enjoy.

I try to get out...and they pull me back in.

I rule. You know it. It's ok to admit it. Nobody would possibly think less of you.

As far as Parenteau goes...He's a radio legend, and a pedophile. He's neither the first, nor the last who've ever cracked a mic with that baggage. If this industry continues to employ drug addicts, domestic abusers, and others who've been convicted of crimes, there's no reason to believe that someone won't give him another shot.

That person would have to consider nothing less than Mark's considerable talent as an entertainer.

I'm proud to say that listening to Mark Parenteau is one of the reasons I do what I do today. The guy makes horrible life choices. But...he's one of the best that's ever done this. And that should always be recognized.

 

[Varulven]

Paul, You have failed to take the high road. No one "pulls you back in". It is amazing - if you say to give a guy like Mark a second chance, people extend their claws. This is a pretty nasty business, make no doubt about that. Which is why radio is only my hobby - something I have said repeatedly and stand by. When you are an account executive at a 50,000 watt station AND a producer, as I was, and a senior account exec steals your hard work, what's the point? I stopped advertising for WCGY and just did the production end.
The fact that Trevor Gowdy was also cutting the ad rates to $100.00 per spot in prime time killed it for ALL of the account reps. So you had Senior Account reps stealing from the newer guys and the station's General Manager dropping ad rates and bartering the station to the hilt. Who would want to stay in that kind of a world? Not me. I have my air checks from my work at WCGY and there are tons of them - great interviews with Jonathan Richman, Peter Wolf, RTZ, The Cars, etc. etc. etc. That's what I like to do - what inspires me.
Cool interviews with cool people.

The radio business today is all BIG business. And that's why people are fleeing to the internet, which will eventually become the standard.

Back to Parenteau:

When a Howie Carr admits to double standards and that he wishes he was a young man "hot for teacher", he perpetuates that kind of thinking:

http://www.abcnews.go.com/GMA/Books/story?id=2406142&page=1

What Mark did was wrong, no doubt about it. He shouldn't have been playing with matches to begin with - look at how many acres of his life he burned.

But Howie Carr and his double standards are just as bad. Howie wishes he was the victim of an older woman assaulting him, Mark is convicted of being the older person doing what Mary Kay Letourneau did. He should've known better.

 

[Neanderpaul]

It is amazing - if you say to give a guy like Mark a second chance, people extend their claws. This is a pretty nasty business, make no doubt about that.The radio business today is all BIG business. And that's why people are fleeing to the internet, which will eventually become the standard.

Back to Parenteau:

When a Howie Carr admits to double standards and that he wishes he was a young man "hot for teacher", he perpetuates that kind of thinking:

http://www.abcnews.go.com/GMA/Books/story?id=2406142&page=1

What Mark did was wrong, no doubt about it. He shouldn't have been playing with matches to begin with - look at how many acres of his life he burned.

But Howie Carr and his double standards are just as bad. Howie wishes he was the victim of an older woman assaulting him, Mark is convicted of being the older person doing what Mary Kay Letourneau did. He should've known better.

I completely agree. Someone take note. This may never happen again.

Pedophilia seems to be considered acceptable if it's heterosexual, and the female is the elder. I am one of the many who've said I'd have been psyched if Debra LaFave were hitting on me when I was a kid.

Either way it's wrong. And in theory, Mark's debt has been paid. But, the court of public opinion doesn't sync with the court of law. Mark will always be considered a monster by the majority. Nothing can change that. He did the un-do-able. He preyed on an underaged boy. And no matter how good he is at his job. He will always be looked at as a bad human being.

Does he deserve a second chance? Sure. Would I hire him? I doubt it. Why? Because I cannot put aside the fact that as a human being, he's not such a good guy. And this is in ADDITION to his being a pedophile. Mark has an arrogance about him that would preclude me from making that decision. He's infinitely talented. But not the nicest guy to be around.
That matters to me.

 

[Varulven]

Paul, I don't think I've ever knocked your intelligence, we both agree that even these "foxy ladies" who take advantage of their students - despite songs by David Lee Roth or Boston's Thundertrain endorsing the practice - are in the wrong. Some of them do it merely because they can.

Hey, I'm not happy that a person with a DUI is president of the United States. That sets a horrible example.
Do as we say, not as we do. Yes, Mark is enormously talented when it comes to both comedy and radio.
Do you not allow him to earn a living? We pride ourselves on being a civilized society. When some countries stone a woman for having an affair, we as Americans want to wear Jesus like a badge. It is time to follow his philosophy - and teachings - whether or not anyone subscribes to the Religion. Forgiveness is a good thing.

We, as Americans, really do have to step up to the plate and be the bigger people.

By the way - I am happy that you are M.D. I love to see people bounce back - believe it or not - you do have my congratulations for sticking it out in the radio biz. It takes a lot of guts to put up with "Corporate". It's a sincere gold star. Help a regional band get a hit out of Kansas and take some of the boredom out of corporate radio and corporate record companies. I'll be the first to sing your praises if they break out nationally. The next "Teen Spirit" or "Sweet Child O' Mine" is what is missing on radio today.

 

[Eli Polonsky]

I am one of the many who've said I'd have been psyched if Debra LaFave were hitting on me when I was a kid.

At that time, it sounded like saying that on the air was practically a format requirement for DJ's on male-oriented rock stations.

 

[Varulven]

we could do an entire thread on political correctness changing the cavalier "Dennis & Callahan" mentality and its effect on the listeners.

On one hand there's the Metco slur, then the repeated homophobia - anyone see a pattern?

A complimentary observation re: Paul Marshall - now that he's in a management position, does he see more clearly how it is not wise to encourage young men to hit on their teachers (in a roundabout way, by supporting the lust of a "Hot For Teacher" scenario). Dennis & Callahan don't get it - even after their suspension(s) for buffoonery. Of course we never know if WEEI just wants the publicity - a little slap on the wrist - and make more jokes about the hot teacher because she is a fox. Would Gerry Callahan even care if he morphs into a Program Director someday? Probably not.

Now if the teacher looked like Roseanne Barr or Rosie O'Donnell we'd get the wolf howl sound effects and it would be a crime deserving the death penalty ...if women who looked like them did the "encouraging."

Of course, no sane student would want to sleep with Roseanne or Rosie so you don't really see those situations occurring.

Beauty is only skin deep.


p.s. I didn't write the quip that got the "vulgar language" thing above, it was a cut and paste making fun of Kay Elliot from the MUDD'S WOMEN episode of Star Trek. BUT, I'm happy to see the Roger C. Carmel stuff moved to the OFF THE AIR board and urge Trekkies and Trekkers to boldly go to OTA http://www.radio-info.com/smf/index.php/topic,47871.0.html