Spencer Graves Fired?

[QzarDE]

Saw on Facebook this morning that Spencer Graves was placed on "administrative leave" for setting off a firework in the studio.

How the hell did this happen?

[DERadio]

Please, does anyone really think that this is anything more than a Spencer-contrived prank to stroke his own ego? 

[MikefromDelaware]

I don't listen to WSTW, but remember hearing Spencer Graves on WDEL's Saturday morning talk show.  He's not bad, he was pretty entertaining on that show. 

Having said that, did he really set off fireworks inside WDEL/WSTW?  I went to Spencer's facebook page and yes that apparently is what he did.  Some of the 78 posters, mostly miss him, but some did say that it is illegal to set off fireworks in Delaware.  Not to mention the potential to set fire to the station that has millions of dollars worth of equipment, also the safety of others in that building who could have been injured or possibly killed. 

WSTW's management can't just ignore that.  If for no other reason than Spencer broke the law on WDEL/WSTW property and broadcasted it to the world on one of Delaware's strongest FM signals so that 1000's of folks heard him do it.  What I don't get is, wouldn't sound effects of fireworks have worked for what he was trying to do on his show?  What was he thinking?? 

I did check the WSTW website and Spence's photo and name, etc, are still there.  So maybe the Delmarva Broadcasting jury is still out as to what his punishment will be, other than he's off the air for a few days. 

However, I believe that most employers (radio or otherwise) would terminate such an person who was foolish enough to set off fireworks on company property and worse yet, INSIDE their building.  If someone had gotten hurt or if a fire had burnt the building down, etc, costing WSTW/WDEL and Delmarva Broadcasting possibly millions of dollars, not just in rebuilding, but law suits if anyone was hurt.  Also both stations would be off the air costing possibly millions of dollars of lost spot revenue, plus the stations' losing their listeners as folks might get used to other AM/FM stations respectively and not come back to 1150 or 93.7 when they finally were returned to the airwaves.

No, If he really did this, it is very serious and calling it a prank won't cut it for most employers.  So Spencer Graves might be finished at WSTW and WDEL.  Sometimes you make a mistake that really costs you.  Spencer is talented, so even if he's done at WSTW, he'll land on his feet in some other city on a similar type FM station, probably in a smaller market that would love to get someone of his talent on their airwaves.  He'll probably have to take a step backward going to a smaller station in a smaller market, but that's only a temporary setback.  It is what it is.  Hopefully he's learned something in all this.

[jhguthlac]

If he really did it, it is a good publicity stunt.  But it also shows his IQ level.  Not the kind of dunce I would ever take a chance on.

I have heard him on WDEL and frankly, I would not have hired him for anything. On the AM side, he proved he had no concept of what his audience was into.

[MikefromDelaware]

jhguthlac: you make a good point.  I found Spencer entertaining, because frankly I don't listen to the WDEL Saturday morning junk-swap show and just happened to scan by and his antics caught my ear.  So his monkey shines there made the junk-swap show more interesting for me; but you're correct, that's probably not what his real audience wanted.  I only listened a few times as I prefer Car Talk on NPR. 

[DaveWilliams]

Actually. when you think about it, that was sort of stupid on his part so he deserves to get the time off, maybe for good.  You just don't do that kind of stuff regardless. 

[jhguthlac]

This has gotten me thinking about my initiation at WSER.  I was doing the afternoon shift.  To "offically" welcome me, the PD threw a firecracker into the studio. It was fake of course, an orange tube with a lit stick match in one end.  And he was smart enough to make sure the mike was off, because he knew what I, a 15-year old, would say!  And he was right.  That was the exact word (the Bible uses the word "dung" - I did not) I said.  But he never figured that before I said the word, I would throw the mike open! I had the record potted up so high, no one heard me!

[OldNumber7]

1) Either he is real dumb, as suggested above.
2) Or he is real smart -- creating a "theater of the mind" explanation for a scheduled absence (vacation).
I sure hope it's the latter.

[amfm.com]

Can you say "promo stunt" (and before a holiday day off at that...)?
(And yes, radio is indeed theater of the mind)

[MikefromDelaware]

It apparently is a stunt of some sort.  Did he actually set off a firework inside the building?  It's radio.  How would anyone really know.  You heard one terrific boom !!!  FM stereo, a pre recordeed sound effect of a fire work going off with reverb, some echo to simulate a hallway in a building, etc, etc, and wa-la you've created the illusion of Spencer setting off a fire cracker in the studios of WSTW. 

My guess is, not.  He's not fired, he didn't actually set off a firework in the building there at 2727 Shipley Rd.  He's probably on vacation or off for personal reasons (medical issues, etc) as his name is still listed on the WSTW website with photo, etc.  Unless WSTW/Delmarva does things differently that WILM/Clear Channel Delaware where when they let someone go, your name, photo are gone immediately from their web site.  Its been almost a week and no change at the WSTW website.

So I'm assuming someone here actually tunes into 93.7 and will let us all know next week that ole Spencer is back on the air at WSTW and was successful in creating a lot of buzz around town and possibly boosted the ratings of his and Nancy's morning show.  Some summer time escapism.