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Another Long Time ‘BZer Gone
By Michael Page | May 31, 2008
Thanks to a tipster we have learned that Joe Bergantino is no longer with WBZ-TV. Joe had been with the station as an investigative reporter for more than 20 years, but ended that stint yesterday. That leaves Kathy Curran as the main I-Team reporter for the time being. When asked about Joe’s departure on Saturday, the station says that it “declines to discuss the specifics of personnel issues.”
This comes on the heals of Bob Lobel, Scott Wahle and Joyce Kulhawik being cut by the station earlier this month.
Topics: WBZ (Channel 4) | 21 Comments »
May 31st, 2008 at 12:32 pm
Another one?! I’ve always considered Joe one of the most competent reporters in Boston. Big mistake for WBZ. Just when you thought they were done taking on water for a little bit.
June 1st, 2008 at 11:51 am
I had some interactions with Burgantino during a crisis assignment for a former client of mine (I’m in PR). He was the most pompus a-hole I have had to deal with in the media. Being a former reporter myself, I couldn’t fathom how much of an arse he was. I would cut him a little slack if he actually did any reporting. He’s a hack. His stories always suck. He got beat by 7, 5 and Fox all the time.
No tears shed over here.
June 1st, 2008 at 1:48 pm
“Discrimination attorneys, cleanup on aisle 9.”
In a state rife with shady/corrupt politics (see: Dimasi, Patrick, et al), Massachusetts needs more–not fewer–investigative reporters. Now, if Joe was casting a blind eye toward these shenanigans and focusing on silly, inane stuff, then he’s where he ought to be: ‘Pursuing other career opportunities.’
June 1st, 2008 at 2:24 pm
All he ever did was hear something that sounded like dirt take the S—, throw it against the wall and see if it sticks. That’s not reporting.
June 1st, 2008 at 3:08 pm
Joe Cheesebergantino Gone! Good! Another one of the entitled bunch. I know the State Troopers will shed no tears. I thought he was a cooked goose once he got rid of that Hitler-esque mustache. Good riddance to him and all of the pompous tv people who think they poop Hagen-Daas! I could count on one hand how many TV people I thought were even close to being nice (or smart)humans….and I know hundreds. All mindless jerks. I loved tricking their empty heads into covering things. Dopes! I say we put robots in there. They work for much less.
June 1st, 2008 at 3:18 pm
Let’s not generalize too much. There are a lot of good reporters and anchors out there, so just because you don’t like one particular journalist does not mean you can’t like or respect any of them.
June 1st, 2008 at 3:30 pm
Read what I said. I have known hundreds. I stand by my statement. You want me to start listing them all by name, I am happy to do that…but I am sure that I would be edited by host. From local to national TV news, almost every time after a reporter does his/her piece I sit and say…”Why didn’t they ask this or cover that in the report”…because they are too stupid to ask the right questions..someone is leading them by the nose on what to cover. Some had credibility and many had “looks”. TV is a visual medium and those that hire use to look for that. Now they look for looks and those who will work cheap. I never saw anyone hired because they were a good journalist. Most intelligent journo’s and they are in the single digits, were smart enough to get out of this dying platform.
PS- I am not smart or good looking or a decent journalist…just someone close by watching and interacting with these buffoons that knows how to call what I see.
June 1st, 2008 at 5:38 pm
I know that Joyce said good bye on BZ on the 29th did anyone see or hear any goodbyes from Scott wahle??
June 1st, 2008 at 5:39 pm
I did not see anything, and found nothing online either. If anyone did see it, I would be interested to hear about it.
June 1st, 2008 at 7:37 pm
Wahle said the following at the end of Friday’s 9pm newscast:
“Well we have come to the end of our newscast, which happens to be my final newscast here at TV38 and WBZ. After nineteen years in both news and sports; now those ten years in the mornings on ‘BZ I will never forget. But I’ve had a few chances to anchor sports again over the last few weeks over on ‘BZ and it’s been kind of nice going back to my television roots. I am now looking forward to the next great thing, whatever that might be. I have faith that it’s going to be good. The nature of our business is such that there are a lot of co-workers here at WBZ and TV38 whom I did not get a chance to say goodbye to and I’m sad about that. So I say goodbye to them now and I salute them one and all; a talented group of professionals. But mainly, I want to thank you, “you the home viewer,” as David Letterman would say, our viewers; especially the faithful viewers of this newscast for your friendship and support over the years. It has made my job a joy. I hope I have been a voice you felt you could trust. I have certainly tried my best. Boston is my home and I don’t plan on going anywhere. So, if you see me on the street, stop and say, “hi,” because I miss you already. God bless you all and good night.”
June 1st, 2008 at 8:15 pm
Great, thank you!
June 1st, 2008 at 8:21 pm
That’s a very nice, heartfelt sign-off by Wahle. But I sincerely hope he doesn’t do what so many other dispatched TV news people do: Grovel for a radio gig. First, the business doesn’t need any more ‘talent.’ The talk side of the business in Boston is saturated as it is. Second, the track record of TV people jumping from one iceberg to another (radio) isn’t good (see: Ted Wayman et al). The sad reality is that jettisoned TV news folks still retain that sense of entitlement when it comes to landing a radio gig, and feel that they can just walk up to WRKO’s door and yell, ‘Let me in!!!’
June 1st, 2008 at 8:35 pm
My wife and I watched Scott on WBZ many years, we love the guy. He has such a great personality, a REAL person. We think WBZ made a BIG mistake in not keeping Scott….we hope he stays local, and we will follow him if he does go to another local channel. It’s amassing what management will do when they feel they are losing viewers… but my word to them is…..judge not, “your” day is coming also…we all have our “Waterloo”.
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:44 am
Local TV news continues to be less personable and more fake plastic bodies that can’t read or pronounce “Gloucester”.
June 2nd, 2008 at 11:57 am
My sentiments exactly Dick. I thought his signoff on Friday night was genuine and heartfelt. I am so going to miss him; he really is a class act. Does anyone out there have any idea on where he might be going?
June 2nd, 2008 at 11:02 pm
http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/extras/extra_bases/2008/06/hazel_mae_leavi.html
June 3rd, 2008 at 1:24 am
What’s next we will be hiring puppets?
June 4th, 2008 at 6:28 pm
Is it me or is NESN becoming the next WBZ. First Tina Cervasio and Now Hazel Mae?? They both did such great jobs it is a shame. I think these networks are
joining the ranks of the Patriots in terms of “Anyone is replaceable.”
Dick… I agree with you about Scott. Another guy well liked that did a great job for WBZ-TV4. WBZ the next current affair/WHDH tv. Let’s see if they start with the sound effect screen change swoosh sound. Too sad.
June 5th, 2008 at 4:37 pm
Thanks for the info about Scott Wahle — I LOVE-LOVE-LOVE the guy. A true, genuine decent person as far as I could tell. I only caught wind of him leaving when he was wishing Joyce Kulhawick (sp?) well — and then I managed to miss his final newscast. It was certainly shocking to lose him from WBZ in the morning, but it was comforting to know he was on TV 38 in the evening. Now I’m totally bummed, but I hope that Scott finds something that he loves. He will be wonderful at whatever that is, but we’ll all miss him in the meantime!
July 16th, 2008 at 9:23 pm
I wonder if the departure had anything to do with the decision by CBS to carry infomercials created by ITV and Kevin Trudeau, on channel 38, a sister station of WBZ. Both have been subjects of the I Team investigations.
July 16th, 2008 at 9:27 pm
I have not heard anything to suggest that.