Broadway Blog - Fired Critic

The Chicago Tribune raises an interesting question this morning, referencing an incident in Cleveland (regarding the Cleveland Plain Dealer newspaper) about what are grounds for the dismissal of a critic? The classical critic for the paper was re-assigned to 'other arts stories' after a new arts editor bowed to community and industry pressure to re-assign him, after claiming he was biased against the Cleveland Orchestra's music director. The fired critic then sued the newspaper for age discrimination, and sued the Cleveland Orchestra's parent company for pressuring the paper to have him fired. The results? He lost both suits. 

There's certainly critics out there (who I won't name) with who I often disagree and sometimes privately muse that I'd rather hear my dog's opinion of a particular show, BUT (at least in New York), even those whose taste and sensibilities are far away from my own, still often make valid points and observations. I think everyone, critics and audiences go into shows with pro or con biases of one kind or another, but, the best put them aside. And, if you want to see the BEST of what critics can do, simply click here.