The New York Times, January 26, 1989
A recent guest on Channel 13's new program, "The 11th Hour," was so angered
by what he felt was unfair treatment by the show's producer and host that
he has taken out several advertisements in The New York Times accusing the
station of censorship.
William Shebar, a producer for "The 11th Hour," asked three New York City
architects to design an alternative plan
for the old Penn Central rail yards on the West Side where Donald Trump proposed
to build his Television City. Lebbeus Woods presented detailed drawings of
the project. Michael Sorkin wrote a text to explain how the project would
be used. And John Young provided the producers with information about the
red tape involved in getting such a project built.
Mr. Young said he told Mr. Shebar from the outset that behind the big name
architects who design projects such as Television City are the countless
anonymous architects and consultants, such as himself, who "deal with the
practical sides, the engineering, the politics, the financing -- things the
'visionaries' are not supposed to know about."
"We are the quiet guys you never hear about. who get the things done."
"I said I was going to behave like one of these people, to act out a role.
I asked not to have my name mentioned."
To underscore his point, Mr. Young wore a welder's mask at the taping of
the program, which was shown on Jan. 10. He didn't say a word during the
sometimes contentious eight-minute interview between Robert Lipsyte, the
host of the program, and the three colleagues.
Why Mr. Young did not speak on the show is a matter of contention. Mr. Young
said he was asked not to speak about political issues because they were "too
controversial."
Mr. Young also said he and his colleagues were ridiculed on the program.
Mr. Woods said yesterday: "I don't feel there was ridicule. When you bring
something of an original nature before the lay public, the response can be,
'Are you for real?' Lipsyte doesn't know anything about architecture. But
once we started being serious, engaging him, he got serious."