It looks like the staffers of Dixx CHR WOOM/Lancaster, Pennsylvania have an Amish crisis on their hands, after a wacky bit done Thursday by the newly-arrived Morning Menagerie.The Menagerie, Buddy Leroy Wacker and Crystal Frique, arrived after falling victims to an unpleasant budget slashing at KWGE/Reno two months ago. Wacker said, "We heard that the Amish didn't own radios and wouldn't be listening, so we thought they were fair game for our topical humor. Boy were we stupid!"
Frique echoed agreement with her well-known catch phrase, "That's right, Buddy."
The skit in question was a series of "You know you're Amish when..." jokes, delivered with a laugh track and background sounds of farm animals. An offended listener mentioned the routine to an Amish family, who then put pen to paper and circulated hand-written notes to Amish leaders.
Threats by the Amish to boycott WOOM advertisers have been met with puzzlement, as the Amish are generally self-sufficient. WOOM GM Frank Lee Preturbed noted, "They do not visit strip clubs, eat fast food, or purchase car insurance, breast augmentations, self-help books, language lessons, or male enhancement products, the very staples of WOOM's advertising."
The Amish community did make its hurt feelings known, however. WOOM staffers were unable to leave the workplace yesterday when a circle of buggies surrounded the Dixx Broadcasting complex. But after a few hours of darkness, the restless protesting mob disbanded to tend to their farms, allowing Dixx employees their freedom again.
Rumors of a Morning Menagerie suspension were just that; the show was back on the air this morning, albeit careful that all punch lines referred to religious sects well outside the WOOM coverage area.
"We offered to create an Amish-oriented HD2 channel to show our good will," said Preturbed, "but they just stared at us in silence."
