Not a Good Friday for baseball
I don't mean to be on a WNEP kick here, but you probably know that the station declined to air the Red Barons home opener because it fell on Good Friday. Station GM Lou Kirchen previously said she didn't feel it was an "appropriate day" to show the game. Instead, WNEP filled the time slots with news, "Inside Edition," "Extreme Makeover," and a Tom Cruise interview on "Primetime."
While I can appreciate that today is a solemn day for Christians, would it really be that bad to show a baseball game? Frankly, I would rather see a baseball game on Good Friday than I would a tabloid news program or another reality TV show. One would think that if WNEP really wanted to treat today with respect, it could have aired a mass from, say, St. Ann's in Scranton, instead of the Red Barons game or the tabloid/reality replacement.
Since this market is pretty Catholic, especially in the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton area, I can't say I'm surprised that WNEP pulled the baseball game. I can even understand the reason behind it. But how does replacing a Red Barons game with a skateboard-riding bulldog make things any more respectful of Good Friday?
While I can appreciate that today is a solemn day for Christians, would it really be that bad to show a baseball game? Frankly, I would rather see a baseball game on Good Friday than I would a tabloid news program or another reality TV show. One would think that if WNEP really wanted to treat today with respect, it could have aired a mass from, say, St. Ann's in Scranton, instead of the Red Barons game or the tabloid/reality replacement.
Since this market is pretty Catholic, especially in the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton area, I can't say I'm surprised that WNEP pulled the baseball game. I can even understand the reason behind it. But how does replacing a Red Barons game with a skateboard-riding bulldog make things any more respectful of Good Friday?
posted by Howard Beale at 8:08 PM
11 Comments:
You probably know that the station declined to air the Red Barons home opener because it fell on Good Friday. Station GM Lou Kirchen previously said she didn't feel it was an "appropriate day" to show the game. (snip) While I can appreciate that today is a solemn day for Christians, would it really be that bad to show a baseball game? (snip) Since this market is pretty Catholic, especially in the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton area...
I consider myself to be a reasonably good Catholic, as well as a reasonably good broadcaster. I also try to be a reasonably good adult and that part of me says, "Why should some tv station tell me I can't watch a ball game if I choose to do so? I'm not a kid anymore and I may have a perfectly good reason to watch this even on the holiest day of the Roman (not Orthodox Catholic) Christian calendar."
Besides, I'm Jewish, Muslim, Atheist, Agnostic, whatever. Good Friday is not my holy day, any more than Ramadan or Yom Kippur is yours.
Ok, there are lots of Catholics in this area. Let *them* choose; don't make the choice for them, like a parent does for her child.
Or was there a dearth of sponsors for this game?
Maybe they didn't carry the game out of respect and in observance of Good Friday...or...maybe they didn't carry the game because of the sponsors who bailed after they realized what day it was. My guess is the advertising dollar or lack thereof at the very least got a mention somewhere along the way.
There are others to consider when making a decision to carry a baseball game - or any sporting event for that matter. Tom mentioned that the market is "pretty Catholic". That means that many of the potential crew members who wouldn't normally be working, would have to on "the holiest day of the Roman (not Orthodox Catholic) Christian calendar." This would include four or five cameramen plus production crew. How many games on the Red Barons schedule this year? Throw a dart and pick another date!
We were treated to a lecture by CLK on Wednesday, yet she didn't tell the truth about the Red Barons game. The real reason there was no telecast was because the station is an overtime pay lockdown. It had nothing to do with Good Friday.
Kirchen's decision made it to "Countdown" with Keith Olberman Friday. He referenced "Mr." Kirchen but pointed out the hypocrisy of taking such a stand and airing Inside Edition and the interview with, as he called him, "noted Holy Man" Tom Cruise.
J. Riley
He referenced "Mr." Kirchen...
Wouldn't anyone do the same upon seeing the name "Lou?" Referring to herself as "C. Lou" is by design, I suspect.
I personally won't go to Barrons games this year because they won't be here next year. I've been a Phillie fan my whole life. That ended when the Phillies decided Allentown was a better place to be.
I wonder if that will play, not only in WNEP decisions to televise but also in attendance at the park.
I also agree that the game was not pulled because of religious concerns. If that were the case, Martino would have been front and center in the pulpit, live on camera.
I'd bet on the overtime issue. Spin is in action here.
Actually, she prefers her middle name of Lou over her first name. It has nothing to do with trying to hide the fact she's a woman.
As for avoiding a live sports broadcast on Good Friday, I also think it had everything to do with money. The same group of managers scheduled a live sports broadcast about Gerry MacNamara on Good Friday a few years ago.
If WNEP is going to make a special exception for Christians, then how about the Jews? Or the Muslims? Or the Buddhists? Very doubtful. I agree, the decision to axe the Barons' home opener smells more of financial reasons than religious beliefs.
But with everything that has happened at WNEP in the past few weeks, I doubt you'll see any honesty coming from management.
Maybe they wanted to go for the Scientologist share. They want to cover all the bases, haha.
What a lame excuse by 16 and their "holier than thou" attitude.
I wish the people of NEPA would wake up. Another question...I really respect Nolan Johannes, but what is the real reason they have him on once a week?
I'm not sure what the 11:20am poster is after regarding Nolan Johannes, but Nolan continues to handle some work at WNEP. When he retired after 20 or so years as an evening anchor, management at the time suggested he do a segment on the weekend morning news and a few other things. A little money for Nolan and maybe some happy viewers that translate to ratings for WNEP.
Nothing sinister.
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