Its best years, by far, were when Joe Sciacca and Mark Jurkowitz, from the Herald and Globe respectively, were regular panelists who provided reasoned opinions from the right and from the left. It didn't hurt that the Herald was still alive and breathing at the time. More recently, Adam Reilly, Joanna Weiss, and (the too seldom-seen) Farah Stockman could always be counted on for thoughtful insight.
Also true that too few of BTP's discussion topics generated much disagreement or even diversity of opinion late for the past few years. Not sure if that's because of the selected topics or the choice of panelists.
Anyway, BTP was a piece of Boston culture, and it will be missed.
I really enjoyed the show and it's one of the few that focused on media coverage. I was hoping that Adam Reilly would take over this show after Emily Rooney. He does such a good job. Was it cancelled to get Emily out the door? I really think it's worth keeping.
I enjoyed Beat the Press. Times change, opinions change, what people are interested in tuning into changes, and so it goes. Like Boston (and Cambridge) neighborhoods: whether for good or bad, nothing ever stays the same. Enjoy the good while it lasts, because that it won’t last forever is the only certainty.
I knew something was up when they took that summer "hiatus", which had never happened before. "Beat the Press" remained the only "appointment" television I still watched. I tuned in faithfully each Friday at 7 PM. It's one of the few, if not the only, show that monitored the media and held it accountable. Perhaps WGBH considered Emily Rooney's persona to be outdated? This is a sad loss.
The show had become very stale, with the opinions of the panelists being very predictable. But I'd say Emily Rooney's opinion was the least predictable.
It wasn't very thought provoking in my opinion.
Worry not, perhaps you can tune in to Boston's local NECN announcing that it's National Vanilla Cupcake with Buttercream Frosting Day! Talk about hard-hitting news and analysis!
I appreciated Beat the Press too; PBS blew it on this one.
Dated panelists with predictable opinions on mediocre topics. Still between BTP, People are Talking, The Phantom Gourmet, and Chronical, it has to be said that, historically, Boston has the best local programming.
Beat the Press was the only show I watched regularly on GBH. Now if I still contribute it’ll only be for Jim and Margery on the radio. Maybe I will cut my pledge in half.
Comments
Beat the Press was often a very good show
Its best years, by far, were when Joe Sciacca and Mark Jurkowitz, from the Herald and Globe respectively, were regular panelists who provided reasoned opinions from the right and from the left. It didn't hurt that the Herald was still alive and breathing at the time. More recently, Adam Reilly, Joanna Weiss, and (the too seldom-seen) Farah Stockman could always be counted on for thoughtful insight.
Also true that too few of BTP's discussion topics generated much disagreement or even diversity of opinion late for the past few years. Not sure if that's because of the selected topics or the choice of panelists.
Anyway, BTP was a piece of Boston culture, and it will be missed.
That's a shame.
I really enjoyed the show and it's one of the few that focused on media coverage. I was hoping that Adam Reilly would take over this show after Emily Rooney. He does such a good job. Was it cancelled to get Emily out the door? I really think it's worth keeping.
I enjoyed Beat the Press.
I enjoyed Beat the Press. Times change, opinions change, what people are interested in tuning into changes, and so it goes. Like Boston (and Cambridge) neighborhoods: whether for good or bad, nothing ever stays the same. Enjoy the good while it lasts, because that it won’t last forever is the only certainty.
You should take it over, Adam (Gaffin)
I used to watch that show 10
I used to watch that show 10 years ago on a daily basis. Maybe the internet took its place for me. It was a great show then.
Every day?
It was only on once a week. Did you record it and watch it over and over?
BNN
I keep waiting for him to make it back to BNN news.
Uhub and Friends on Youtube!!
Uhub and Friends on Youtube!!!
Adam meets with a different panel of Uhub commenters for a weekly round up of Uhub stories and hot takes.
My favorite show
I knew something was up when they took that summer "hiatus", which had never happened before. "Beat the Press" remained the only "appointment" television I still watched. I tuned in faithfully each Friday at 7 PM. It's one of the few, if not the only, show that monitored the media and held it accountable. Perhaps WGBH considered Emily Rooney's persona to be outdated? This is a sad loss.
Oh no
Where will Boston get all that eye rolling and tut tutting now?
I think your post...
will suffice for now.
NOOOOOOOOoooooo
I really loved nerding it up good with that show. We cheered for Callie and her truth and even sometimes imagined the "Dan Lothian Playlist".
Good Luck to Emily Rooney.
The show had become very stale, with the opinions of the panelists being very predictable. But I'd say Emily Rooney's opinion was the least predictable.
It wasn't very thought provoking in my opinion.
andy rooney's widow
andy rooney
No, not his widow
His daughter.
Bummer
I continued to watch it every week through the PBS app, now that I’m not in the Boston area. My dream of them addressing my media pet peeves is gone.
Worry not, perhaps you can
Worry not, perhaps you can tune in to Boston's local NECN announcing that it's National Vanilla Cupcake with Buttercream Frosting Day! Talk about hard-hitting news and analysis!
I appreciated Beat the Press too; PBS blew it on this one.
Dated panelists with
Dated panelists with predictable opinions on mediocre topics. Still between BTP, People are Talking, The Phantom Gourmet, and Chronical, it has to be said that, historically, Boston has the best local programming.
Channel 2 cancelled
Beat the Press was the only show I watched regularly on GBH. Now if I still contribute it’ll only be for Jim and Margery on the radio. Maybe I will cut my pledge in half.
I won't miss Jon Keller glaring at Callie Crossley...
...I won't miss Jon Keller glaring at Callie Crossley!
Let's face it, if you
Let's face it, if you appeared regularly on this show, you were probably washed up.
Yet another poster child
For NOT having "dynasties" where privileged children get an easy pass to follow their parents into public life.
Her shelf life expired long ago.