I just played the clip again. WHAT AN IDIOT! The clown can't even read off the prompter. Mike Barer is absolutely correct. "Never swear into a possible live mike." And never never let a wannabe anchor with an eyebrow that runs unbroken across his forehead on the air.
I would be more inclined to say "give him a pass" if he didn't come off as a dumb fratboy... heard he's got some pretty off color tweets in his past, too. Didn't they check that stuff before they gave him the job?
Oh God, that was grim/funny - and then he went on to mash up that opening. Once upon a time it would have been an anecdote that followed the guy around, now it'll live forever on youTube. I'd say give him a chance, we all make howlers, it's just that in many jobs you can cover them up - I know I have.
Evidence makes the difference...the late Jessica Savitch was dogged during her career by a on-air meltdown that was recorded by the local TV station where she worked. It was not a public notoriety, though, for two reasons:
There was no audio feed, as well as being obscured by on-air graphics and dimmed studio lights.
At the time (late 1970's) only people in the industry could easily make their own copies of the recording to be sent around to others in the business.
Oh, poor guy! I couldn't watch the whole video--he just seemed sooooo nervous--it was hard to watch. I'm sure he was upset after what he said on top of it being his first day. Too bad for him.
You don't even need to be near a mike. Some sleazeball "journalist" covering a film festival I was co-running eavesdropped on a private conversation I was having and actually printed it! Needless to say, he made me look pretty bad.
Forget the cursing, it was painfully clear that guy wasn't ready for that job regardless. Whoever hired him should be fired, too. Not that Bismarck is loaded with Vietnamese women, but how many East Coast AJ's and Vinnie types inhabit that burg? Shouldn't the news anchors at least sort of reflect the demographic of their viewers? Yo, it's the news muthafuckas.
No way in hell that guy should get a second chance, at least not there. Maybe some small station in Florida that at least has East Coast type transplants. Like someone else said, just how horrible did the other people who auditioned do?
It's funny as heck, but I feel sorry for the kid. He's green as grass and sadly his 5 week broadcast course never told him the first rule of broadcasting "ALL MICROPHONES ARE LIVE." However from updates to the story I've read his mistake has got him more national exposure than 10 years in the American outback would have. I saw where he was offered a "Red Carpet" host spot on a special. So if he can make it through that without launching an F bomb who knows..me might end up in LA...
NOTE: Even though leaving a comment anonymously is an option here, we really discourage that. Please use a name using the Name/URL option. Invent one if you must. Be creative. Anonymous comments are subject to deletion. Thanks.
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.
Did he become a "former anchor" at the end of the broadcast?
ReplyDeleteThey suspended him "until the situation is resolved", which means the GM doesn't want to come in until tomorrow to fire him.
ReplyDeleteI read a month worth of this kid's tweets...saying goodbye to his sweetheart, driving cross-country to Bismarck. This is heartbreak.
Dumb? Yeah. Have I been dumb in a 42-year broadcast career? Yeah. And luckier in 42 years than he was in 42 seconds,
There but for the grace of God goes everyone who ever worked with a microphone...
First rule of broadcasting, never swear into a possible live mike.
ReplyDeleteI just played the clip again. WHAT AN IDIOT! The clown can't even read off the prompter. Mike Barer is absolutely correct. "Never swear into a possible live mike." And never never let a wannabe anchor with an eyebrow that runs unbroken across his forehead on the air.
ReplyDeleteI would be more inclined to say "give him a pass" if he didn't come off as a dumb fratboy... heard he's got some pretty off color tweets in his past, too. Didn't they check that stuff before they gave him the job?
ReplyDeleteOh God, that was grim/funny - and then he went on to mash up that opening. Once upon a time it would have been an anecdote that followed the guy around, now it'll live forever on youTube. I'd say give him a chance, we all make howlers, it's just that in many jobs you can cover them up - I know I have.
ReplyDeleteOh to be a fly on that control room wall. Everyone must have been screaming into the anchors' earpieces. Could be why they were both so flustered.
ReplyDeleteHe could always claim he was channeling Joe Schultz....
ReplyDeleteVan: Tell us a little about yourself AJ.
ReplyDeleteAJ: Thanks, Van. I'm very excited... and I'm, you know, used to being from the east coast.
Hm. If they had asked AJ that question in the job interview, he'd never have gotten the job in the first place.
Maybe Christopher Lloyd is trying to reboot "Back to You"...
ReplyDeletehttp://youtu.be/MX1U2g2Rl9o
(apologies, I can't embed the link)
I'd have said they should forgive him if he actually appeared to be good at the job, but this guy doesn't even read well. Poor sap.
ReplyDeleteVan: Tell us a little bit about yourself, A.J.
ReplyDeleteA.J.: As you know, this is my first newscast...and now will be my last newscast. So long, everybody!
Always respect a microphone!!!! Nothing more basic than that!
ReplyDeleteI'd love to see the audition reels from the fourteen folks the station passed on before deciding THIS was their guy...
ReplyDeleteNever, ever, ever say/write/do anything near a mic/online/at the company party that you wouldn't want to share with TMZ/CIA/your in-laws.
ReplyDeleteBeen lucky, so far...
Pretty bad when you can't even make it in North Dakota.
ReplyDeleteIt's not just inexperienced idiots guys.
ReplyDeleteSimilar situation (coming out of tease beginning newscast), #1 anchorwoman, #1 tv station, #1 market (New York):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nYAMDhVT50I
And five years later, Sue's still getting 7 figures to anchor there.
My guess is young A.J. would have learned much more if he'd been told to write and deliver his own apology but allowed to stay on than Sue did.
Nicely put, Michael. I think there's actually a campaign to try and get him a second chance. I hope it succeeds!
ReplyDeleteSay Hi to Charles Rocket.
ReplyDeleteGeez, James..Charles is dead. This kid's just fired.
ReplyDeleteI hope he had a plan B for a career.
ReplyDeleteEvidence makes the difference...the late Jessica Savitch was dogged during her career by a on-air meltdown that was recorded by the local TV station where she worked. It was not a public notoriety, though, for two reasons:
ReplyDeleteThere was no audio feed, as well as being obscured by on-air graphics and dimmed studio lights.
At the time (late 1970's) only people in the industry could easily make their own copies of the recording to be sent around to others in the business.
I once said the "F" word on the radio, but it was 4:30 A.M. in Ventura, CA.
ReplyDeleteI told the PD and he asked if anybody called? I said no and that was it.
I say, considering it is BISMARK, given him a 2nd chance but NOT as an Anchor!
WOW.
"Turning now to the goddam weather that's been making me freeze my balls off..."
ReplyDeleteOh, poor guy! I couldn't watch the whole video--he just seemed sooooo nervous--it was hard to watch. I'm sure he was upset after what he said on top of it being his first day. Too bad for him.
ReplyDeleteYou don't even need to be near a mike. Some sleazeball "journalist" covering a film festival I was co-running eavesdropped on a private conversation I was having and actually printed it! Needless to say, he made me look pretty bad.
ReplyDeleteThere are better anchors at Cal State Fullerton.
ReplyDeleteForget the cursing, it was painfully clear that guy wasn't ready for that job regardless. Whoever hired him should be fired, too. Not that Bismarck is loaded with Vietnamese women, but how many East Coast AJ's and Vinnie types inhabit that burg? Shouldn't the news anchors at least sort of reflect the demographic of their viewers? Yo, it's the news muthafuckas.
ReplyDeleteNo way in hell that guy should get a second chance, at least not there. Maybe some small station in Florida that at least has East Coast type transplants. Like someone else said, just how horrible did the other people who auditioned do?
It's funny as heck, but I feel sorry for the kid. He's green as grass and sadly his 5 week broadcast course never told him the first rule of broadcasting "ALL MICROPHONES ARE LIVE." However from updates to the story I've read his mistake has got him more national exposure than 10 years in the American outback would have. I saw where he was offered a "Red Carpet" host spot on a special.
ReplyDeleteSo if he can make it through that without launching an F bomb who knows..me might end up in LA...