For the first time since its debut in 2021, the student-produced show, the Braintree Four, was postponed, breaking a streak of consistent weekly broadcasts that had run for 5 years straight.
The announcement came on February 25th after severe snowstorm weather forced the production team to delay filming. Since its creation, the show has aired every Wednesday without interruption, making the unexpected pause a historic moment for the program.
Senior anchor Mia Fernandez said the delay caught the team off guard.
“It was definitely something we weren’t expecting because of the snow,” Mia said. “It was the first time that our show has ever been canceled because of weather. So it was definitely an adjustment.”
Despite the setback, the team quickly adapted to the delay. Some students stepped in to help film while others continued editing and preparing the episode once school resumed.
“I’m glad that my classmates were able to step in while I was gone and get it filmed,” Mia said. “Then I was able to come back, help finish it, and tie it together. I’m proud of us for doing that.”
Senior anchor Angelo Thoyas said that the delay felt unusual, especially knowing it was the first in the show’s history.
“It definitely felt weird,” Angelo said. “Mr. Nellis said this was the first delay in the history of the Braintree Four, so I’m kind of honored that I was a part of being the first anchor to have a delay.”
Still, he said the team stayed calm and focused on moving forward with the process.
“We weren’t really nervous about it,” Angelo said. “We just made a plan for how we were going to move forward. The same day we got back, we had a plan for the rest of the show.”
For longtime WampTV member Liam Fuller, who has watched and produced the Braintree Four since his freshman year, the cancellation was especially surprising.
“I’ve been in this program since I was a freshman and I’ve gone watching the Braintree Four every week,” Liam said. “So seeing it canceled was weird to me.”
Although the weather created challenges, Liam said the production team was ready to work quickly to meet deadlines.
“There’s always a sense of urgency when filming the Braintree Four because we produce it in a short span of time,” Liam said. “I think we were prepared and could have gotten it done, but that second delay made it difficult.”
Even with the unexpected interruption, every student in Broadcast says that the experience showed how much the team has grown.
“We’ve definitely become more independent as a class,” Mia said. “If this happens again, we know what to expect and things will hopefully run smoother in the future.”
