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WECK winds up in the midst of politics

C

ckg279

First things first: I'll understand if the mods want to delete this, since it DOES touch on politics to a point...but it is more focused on broadcasting.

That said: Today's Buffalo News has an article referring to the fallout of WECK putting a talk show hosted by NYS Assemblymember David DiPietro on hiatus in the wake of the January 6th Capitol riot. DiPietro took to Facebook to loudly cry "CENSORSHIP!" WECK owner Buddy Shula replied, in effect, "Not so fast!" He said it may return in another form(i.e. podcast)with someone designed to counter DiPietro's point of view. (BTW, Shula added he wanted a counterpoint to DiPietro from the beginning but that never came to pass.) It should also be noted that WNYMedia.net published an e-mail(with necessary redacting)from the Cheektowaga Police to rebut claims by DiPietro that "Antifa" threatened to burn down the station; Shula chalked this-and many other matters-to the infamous "failure to communicate."

The story quotes Shula extensively; if he wants to add to that here, he's certainly welcome to do so. FTR, I get why he pulled the show.
 
As a starter, the state representative should know that a private business, which WECK is, can decide what it wants or does not want. In this case, WECK apparently did not want DiPietro's opinions on the air without a counterpoint.
 
ckg279 said:
First things first: I'll understand if the mods want to delete this, since it DOES touch on politics to a point...but it is more focused on broadcasting.

That said: Today's Buffalo News has an article referring to the fallout of WECK putting a talk show hosted by NYS Assemblymember David DiPietro on hiatus in the wake of the January 6th Capitol riot. DiPietro took to Facebook to loudly cry "CENSORSHIP!" WECK owner Buddy Shula replied, in effect, "Not so fast!" He said it may return in another form(i.e. podcast)with someone designed to counter DiPietro's point of view. (BTW, Shula added he wanted a counterpoint to DiPietro from the beginning but that never came to pass.) It should also be noted that WNYMedia.net published an e-mail(with necessary redacting)from the Cheektowaga Police to rebut claims by DiPietro that "Antifa" threatened to burn down the station; Shula chalked this-and many other matters-to the infamous "failure to communicate."

The story quotes Shula extensively; if he wants to add to that here, he's certainly welcome to do so. FTR, I get why he pulled the show.
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Truly remarkable how many republicans are cluelss as to what the 1st ammndment is. Hint: It doesn't give you the right to be on radio, TV, etc. It only gives you the right to stand on a streetcorner, blathering on like an idiot. My favorite is a NY Post front page with Josh Hawley of Missouri claiming he's being muzzled---again, while on the FRONT PAGE of the NY Post! I'm sure the Yale educated Hawley knows this is not a first amendment issue, but he also knows the average trump supproter is clueless about such things.
 
Here's The Buffalo News Story *may be behind a paywall

This thread may border on the political, but the political is intertwined with radio and the business, especially as this issue involves a local radio owner who made a programming decision involving a fairly powerful and solidly backed local politician who (wrongly) felt he was aggrieved. As others have noted, this clearly is not a First Amendment issue. Shula deserves significant credit for taking a stand and addressing the matter when The News called. It may have cost him money; it may cost him points in the political arena, and it may have stirred the ire of Republican State Assemblyman David DiPietro and his supporters. But to this poster, Shula's decision was reasonable and responsibly played.
#
Oh, and on the lighter side, it also brings Buddy the publicity he craves (as he has admitted in previous posts on this board.) So yeah, there's that, too.
 
ckg279 said:
First things first: I'll understand if the mods want to delete this, since it DOES touch on politics to a point...but it is more focused on broadcasting.

That said: Today's Buffalo News has an article referring to the fallout of WECK putting a talk show hosted by NYS Assemblymember David DiPietro on hiatus in the wake of the January 6th Capitol riot. DiPietro took to Facebook to loudly cry "CENSORSHIP!" WECK owner Buddy Shula replied, in effect, "Not so fast!" He said it may return in another form(i.e. podcast)with someone designed to counter DiPietro's point of view. (BTW, Shula added he wanted a counterpoint to DiPietro from the beginning but that never came to pass.) It should also be noted that WNYMedia.net published an e-mail(with necessary redacting)from the Cheektowaga Police to rebut claims by DiPietro that "Antifa" threatened to burn down the station; Shula chalked this-and many other matters-to the infamous "failure to communicate."

The story quotes Shula extensively; if he wants to add to that here, he's certainly welcome to do so. FTR, I get why he pulled the show.
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The "failure to communicate" was not my quote. It was Alan's. I had no idea what it meant, or the movie it came from. I had zero idea what it even meant. FYI
 
Buddy Shula said:
The "failure to communicate" was not my quote. It was Alan's. I had no idea what it meant, or the movie it came from. I had zero idea what it even meant. FYI
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Here you go:

The phrase "What we've got here is failure to communicate" is a quotation from the 1967 film Cool Hand Luke, spoken in the movie first by Strother Martin (as the Captain, a prison warden) and later, abridged, by Paul Newman (as Luke, a stubborn prisoner).
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Seems appropriate for an oldies station. People often confuse Buddy for Paul Newman.
 
"Cool Hand Luke" is an epic movie not only for Martin's line and his character, but also because it's one of Newman's finest performances. Pergament probably quoted it because it's generational for 60+ (70+?) listeners who dig WECK. He actually spruced up the quote to correct the English. The line, as Martin delivers it with southern scourge, in dialect, is; "Whut we've got here is ... failyah to commun'cate."

Now, the question as it relates to radio... as much as people on this board might recognize the line, do you think the average Stan and Stella who listen "get it?" Which recalls another epic line, "Stelllaahhhhh! Stelllaahhhhh!"
 
I have criticized Buddy Shula on this site. But today, I offer praise! I support his decision to remove DiPietro’s show from his airwaves. WECK’s format is all about the music. Why put on something that would alienate part of his audience? I would recommend that WEBR do the same thing by dropping its affiliation with the deplorable USA Radio News network. I enjoy WEBR’s music. But when listening to the station, I mute it or change to another frequency at the top of the hour because of the horribly one-sided presentation of what should be a factual newscast. USA Radio News even has the “pillow guy” as a sponsor! Enough said! I don’t want this thread to be removed because it’s about politics, not radio. I also enjoy WECK’s oldies. These two stations are primarily music driven. So, stick with what you’re primarily all about. If you want to be a voice of the extreme right, that’s your choice. I won’t be listening. But if your goal is to be Buffalo’s “happy place” or the station featuring the Great American Songbook, then do that, and leave the politics to WBEN or WBFO.
 
Rusty Bridges said:
"Cool Hand Luke" is an epic movie not only for Martin's line and his character, but also because it's one of Newman's finest performances. Pergament probably quoted it because it's generational for 60+ (70+?) listeners who dig WECK. He actually spruced up the quote to correct the English. The line, as Martin delivers it with southern scourge, in dialect, is; "Whut we've got here is ... failyah to commun'cate."

Now, the question as it relates to radio... as much as people on this board might recognize the line, do you think the average Stan and Stella who listen "get it?" Which recalls another epic line, "Stelllaahhhhh! Stelllaahhhhh!"
Click to expand...
Weck #6 35 plus dec 2020
 
The point wasn't about ratings as much as it was about the generational appeal of the film when it was first released in 1967. Those folks are now probably between 65 and 75. Thank you.
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Film Summary
 
Rusty Bridges said:
The point wasn't about ratings as much as it was about the generational appeal of the film when it was first released in 1967. Those folks are now probably between 65 and 75. Thank you.
---
Film Summary
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Well, I guess I need to find that film and view it. I'm in the demo, but never saw it.

(Side benefit of reading the posts, I guess!)
 
SirRoxalot said:
Make sure you've got a couple dozen hard-boiled eggs on hand when you watch it.
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I had to look that one up... makes me want to spit up just hearing the description!
 
Rusty Bridges said:
The point wasn't about ratings as much as it was about the generational appeal of the film when it was first released in 1967. Those folks are now probably between 65 and 75. Thank you.
---
Film Summary
Click to expand...
That was an era of GREAT films. Strother Martin was an iconic character actor. "We are going to help that boy get his mind right". Buddy must not be a film buff if the "Failure to Communicate" quote went over his head...
 
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