Bringing Back the Buzz

Thinking about the column I did for years for The Buffalo News

My cat Jeoffry, in a file photo, staying on top of the news. Photo by the Author.

I have this idea. I want to bring back the Buzz column.

This was the “around about town” column I wrote for years for The Buffalo News. I inherited the column from my friend Lauri Githens, who wrote it for several years before I did. First Lauri and I alternated week by week, and a wild time it was. Then she went on to write other things and I became “Buzz.”

The Buzz column would begin with a quote, except for a time when the editors decided it should end with the quote, and not begin with one. We would shuffle things around occasionally. After (or before) the quote, there would ideally be four short paragraphs about Buffalo’s quirks… funny things going on, celebrity sightings, bar hopping, observations on our radio and TV airwaves, just general goofiness.

It was a lot of fun. To be honest, it got more difficult over the years. When you are writing for a newspaper that is a big commercial venture, you have to take care. And over recent years, the general public has become more and more sensitive. It got harder to make jokes and not have someone take offense.

Sometimes I would be curled up with my phone in an isolated seat in the cafeteria, doing damage control. Someone would be mad, and I would have to make a phone call. On a few occasions I even wound up on the radio, explaining myself, trying to smooth things out, as the guest of some talk show host. On such occasions, though, I felt kinship with the radio hosts, and I think they did with me as well. We were all in the same business of entertainment. And when you have time and space to fill, this is what happens.

However mostly it was fun. And memorable! I have to say I remember pretty much every “Buzz item” I ever wrote. And there were thousands. I mean, take 15 years, multiply it by 52 (weeks a year), multiply that by 4 (items per column), and it is a lot. I have often thought about asking The News if I could put together a book of Buzz. It would be a tremendous diary of those years.

For now, though, I am just thinking of starting up the column again right here. Starting here, starting now, to quote the great Buffalo songwriter David Shire. Who, by the way, made an appearance or two in Buzz. I could quote you chapter and verse.

I get out more now. That would be good for the Buzz column. I like the idea of writing it just for the heck of it. It would be a challenge and an adventure that we could share.

What does everyone think of this idea?

The plan is to re-launch it next Thursday. If you are a subscriber (I am honored if you are), you need do nothing. It will just land in your inbox.

Thoughts are welcome!

While we are all thinking ….

I breezed by the Buffalo Zoo yesterday on my walk and the Giant Anteater was awake again! She was out and about!

She even went for a dip!

How relaxing is that, watching the Giant Anteater in her pool? I am just saying. I have never seen the anteater, whose name is Maria, swimming before.

The capybara was chill on this chilly day.

Lionesses lolled.

Look at those sweet carvings on the window shutters behind the lions. Our zoo has charm.

Our city has charm.

Let’s celebrate it!