|
|
Editor's Note:
I'm in the process of redesigning this page to be more of a tribute to a morning show that has kept me
company on many a morning commute, and personalities that were almost family to me. I have collected some pictures
of the old crew. Many thanks to the gang at The Daily Column
for pointing me in the right direction. The older articles and discussion of what brought about the end of the
show will be moved to a separate page. Please stop back often, as I have many changes planned for this page.
If you have any comments, or would like to drop me a note, email the webmaster.
Now, let's get down to business!
On the official WPLR website, there was no direct communication from Brian Smith, but Bruce Barber included some comments in the Smith and Barber's Private Notebook
section of the page. While it does explain some of Bruce's reasons as to why he didn't want to renew his contract in May, I find that it is a bit self-serving to his own intesests.
Read the whole text of what he wrote here.
Brian Gets the Shaft
What confuses me, and most of the people I have talked to, and posts on the chat rooms, is the WPLR's management seems to have undergone this in a very underhanded way.
John Ryan, General Manager of WPLR insists that he gave the shows that Brian was doing solo a listen and decided that he didn't want Brian to continue the show solo. John, did you
really give Brian (a 20-year veteran of WPLR), a chance? Or had you intended to give Chaz (another former WPLR jock) and AJ the show from the start. Was the fact that WRCN (the former station of
Chaz and AJ) was switching formats the day they started at WPLR a coincidence?
Brian and Bruce Speak
Thanks to Peter Sachs, I have mirrored Brian's and Bruce's Comments that were posted on his website,
The Daily Column.
Read Brian Smith Speaks Out (February 4, 2003)
And Bruce Barber Speaks Out (February 10, 2003)
Six months later, WPLR announces ratings. (July 24, 2003)
The take on the story from Channel 8. (January 30, 2003)
Text of the article from The New Haven Register. (January 31, 2003)
Article on Brian Smith (with picture of Brian) from The Milford Mirror. (February 9, 2003)