11/18/16 WCSH6 - Bill Green's Maine
Posted by John Marr
In a time where we have hundreds of TV channels available to us, it’s nice to have an icon developed by the medium. At our meeting last Friday, David Clough introduced his Bangor childhood neighbor and opened himself up for some good-hearted ribbing from our guest speaker, Bill Green. Bill has been somewhat of a fixture on WCSH6 TV in Maine, where over time he has done just about everything because it’s a field that he loves almost as much as his home state. Bill didn’t dwell on tales from the past, instead he concentrated on how he became what he is without ever being boastful, although his pride and passion was striking. It’s somewhat ironic to call Bill an icon, since he clearly proved that he is somewhat of an iconoclast, irreverent and unbridled in his commentary.
Bill Green has been with his current WCHS6 family for about 28 years and explains his longevity as a factor of good fortune and having the prescience to name his weekly program “Bill Green’s Maine.” Bill routinely jumps in a less-than-comfortable company vehicle and sets off to find an out-of-the-way place or an emblematic Maine personality. He cites his “strong butt” and ability to eat on the run as a significant attribute. The nature of the financial forces as well as the people, places and things he covers only gives him one try to gather up enough material for a program. He can’t point to any single show as his best or favorite. He has been awarded the “Best Magazine Show in New England,” beating out perennial winner "Chronical" out of Boston.
Over the course of his career he has had the privilege of interviewing some of Maine’s most prominent citizens....some under weird circumstances....such as Governor John Reed at his potato farm in 'The County,' where Reed showed up in his usual gray suit and spectacles.....to Joe Brennan who was totally without any pretense. Regardless of where he is or who he is talking to, his goal is to give you the sense that you are there and part of what’s going on.
Over the course of his career he has had the privilege of interviewing some of Maine’s most prominent citizens....some under weird circumstances....such as Governor John Reed at his potato farm in 'The County,' where Reed showed up in his usual gray suit and spectacles.....to Joe Brennan who was totally without any pretense. Regardless of where he is or who he is talking to, his goal is to give you the sense that you are there and part of what’s going on.
Coming from humble circumstances and a loving family in Bangor gave him the foundation that makes him what he is. He bounced from early jobs to a job as a camera jockey for channel 2 in Bangor. He didn’t have any real experience as a cameraman, but listened to "don’t touch" advice and survived long enough to parlay that into time in front of the camera, doing most everything.
For the longest time, Channel 6 was a family-run business, but in 2000, it was sold to the conglomerate 'Gannet' media group and was confronted with a new corporation that was driven by ratings and stats. It turned out that Bill had an excellent “Q” rating (likability), so he carried on, despite his so-called short comings and an unconstrained stream of consciousness to say whatever came to his mind.
Bill Green is currently a young 62-years old and loves his job, but expects to retire at some time. When he does, he intends to push to have Maine join the Atlantic-time-zone that the Maritimes use, so we won’t have such a late sunrise or early evening darkness. When asked about this pet peeve he gets on a roll and the Wild Bill Green comes out in full force. Bill is the real deal and we had the privilege of getting up close and gaining new insight into what makes Maine such a great place to live.
For more information on Bill Green's Maine, go to: wcsh6.com/local/bill-greens-maine
(Photo: Rusty Atwood, David Clough, Bill Green (WCSH6) and President Laura Young.)