Wikipedia:Articles for deletion/Rob Potylo


 * The following discussion is an archived debate of the proposed deletion of the article below. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page (such as the article's talk page or in a deletion review).  No further edits should be made to this page.

The result was   delete. spa votes carry very little weight Spartaz Humbug! 03:32, 21 May 2011 (UTC)

Rob Potylo

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Delete. The article has been for the most part maintained by Wikipedians whos only edits are for this article. Fails WP:N and WP:MUS. A Google search comes up with his personal website and Wikipedia article. The only other mention I found was for an article on Boston.com. However it discusses the subject's upcoming public access TV program for the New England area. Endlessdan (talk) 14:22, 13 May 2011 (UTC)
 * Note: This debate has been included in the list of Bands and musicians-related deletion discussions. Thryduulf (talk) 14:40, 13 May 2011 (UTC)
 * Note: This debate has been included in the list of Massachusetts-related deletion discussions. Thryduulf (talk) 14:40, 13 May 2011 (UTC)


 * Keep - disagree that it fails WP:N. Potylo receives significant coverage in the Boston Phoenix and the Boston Herald in the context of his show. I may not have heard of him but it appears to satisfy the notability guideline. —Tim Pierce (talk) 15:25, 13 May 2011 (UTC)
 * His TV show is a local television program in New England. --Endlessdan (talk) 15:49, 13 May 2011 (UTC)

I have no interest as to whether or not the article is deleted or kept. Ryan Vesey (talk) 23:08, 17 May 2011 (UTC)
 * Delete: "In the context of his show" would indicate he wasn't the subject of these local bloggers, and in fact he's not. Strictly a local fellow who fails any of the criteria of WP:ENTERTAINER as well as the GNG.   Ravenswing  15:43, 13 May 2011 (UTC)
 * Comment - GNG doesn't require that he be the primary subject of the coverage. "Significant coverage is more than a trivial mention but it need not be the main topic of the source material." I don't dispute that he's a local entertainer -- hell, I'm local and I haven't even heard of him -- but GNG doesn't provide an exception for provincialism. I agree, however, that it doesn't pass WP:ENTERTAINER even for a moment. —Tim Pierce (talk) 04:04, 15 May 2011 (UTC)
 * The other point would be "local bloggers." Because a blog is hosted on the Phoenix's website doesn't make it, IMHO, a "reliable source."  Were these pieces ever printed in the paper?   Ravenswing  07:50, 15 May 2011 (UTC)
 * I don't know, but I also don't see why it's relevant whether it only appeared online or whether it ever appeared in print. The author is a staff writer for the Phoenix and it appears to me to be an official column for the paper, so I'm presuming it's subject to the paper's usual editorial policies. —Tim Pierce (talk) 18:14, 15 May 2011 (UTC)
 * I don't actually read the Phoenix in print (does anyone?), but Potylo has been on the cover of a number of print publications, and if not cover stories, at least has been in printed articles. The original Zaino source was linked to an old website, but actually is in the Boston Globe archives.
 * Comment - Also, the original article for the character Robby Roadsteamer was left untouched for ages, despite less impact and coverage. Yet the article for a real person and their character is not allowed? Whether or not someone likes the individual shouldn't determine whether or not they have an article.  See also the NPR feature on the show [] & Susan Sloan interview for ABC Chronicle [] —Preceding unsigned comment added by Halakahiki82 (talk • contribs) 17:10, May 16, 2011
 * Comment to the Comment - Just because Robby Roadsteamer was left untouched for ages doesn't mean it warranted an article any more than Rob Potylo. It either means that no one noticed the article existed &/or cared to look into its notability. --Endlessdan (talk) 12:28, 17 May 2011 (UTC)
 * Based on the days edits by the user above, I'm forced to believe he is the article's subject based on some of the trivial information added (what high school he attended).--Endlessdan (talk) 17:29, 17 May 2011 (UTC)
 * Comment to the Comment That is both untrue and ridiculous. Individual commenters also should not be attacked in discussions on articles.  WP:NPOV. Endlessdan is not sticking to the context of whether or not an individual in a post has enough notoriety to retain an entry.  The question is: with television, print and electronic coverage, a multi-state broadcast television show, and what could arguably be considered a cult following (true, within MA) is that substantial enough to retain the post. Is there a reason to delete the post other than "I do not like him?"  The discussion has come to the point of splitting hairs. Nick Lavallee (comedian) is arguably a local talent as well, should that entry be deleted? Halakahiki82 (talk) 21:59, 17 May 2011 (UTC)Halakahiki82 talk)
 * Reminder to all concerned to assume good faith until proven otherwise. It is possible that is Rob Potylo, but it also seems plausible that they're just an enthusiastic fan, and it would be good not to leap to conclusions. That said, Halakahiki, it's important for the contents of Wikipedia articles to be based on reliable sources, especially for a biography of a living person. You added the high school that Rob Potylo went to but did not include a source for that information, which does raise a valid question about how you know that. Please add sources for your recent edits; that will help resolve some of this. —Tim Pierce (talk) 00:23, 18 May 2011 (UTC)
 * Comment' Despite the fact that I firmly believe nothing but the content of the article should be discussed, I will address that I am most certainly NOT Rob Potylo. That said, for small High Schools, where does one find actual proof without locating a diploma and scanning it in or something otherwise insane.  The original school information came from articles on the web (which, I guess isn't a viable source anymore?) confirming that Potylo, in fact, grew up in Danvers and attended school there as well. It does say on Potylo's facebook account that these schools were attended, but I do understand that information on FB is not reliable. Halakahiki82 (talk) 16:00, 18 May 2011 (UTC)Halakahiki82 talk)
 * Keep - there are also other sites besides the Phoenix that mention Potylo. He gets tons of local coverage and also has been featured on ABC Chronicle for his local tv show. []  —Preceding unsigned comment added by Halakahiki82 (talk • contribs) 21:02, 16 May 2011 (UTC)  — Halakahiki82 (talk • contribs) has made few or no other edits outside this topic.
 * So in a nutshell: He's a local guy who gets local coverage for his local tv show. --Endlessdan (talk) 17:42, 17 May 2011 (UTC)
 * In a nutshell, yes. —Tim Pierce (talk) 19:24, 17 May 2011 (UTC)
 * Comment I am making a list of the things that appear to be notable
 * (Limited Notability) Nomination for "Live Band of the Year" at the Boston Music Awards. A quick glance of this link reveals only a stub
 * Feature on VH1's Best Week Ever (This is unsourced) here: http://www.bestweekever.tv/2005-11-14/he-put-a-baby-in-you/
 * Created Reality Sitcom "Quiet Desperation" (mention on WCVB TV http://www.thebostonchannel.com/video/27398706/detail.html)
 * Said Sitcom was featured on NPR


 * Keep - I have covered the comedy scene in Boston since 1998, most notably for the Boston Globe, and have written about Rob Potylo/Robby Roadsteamer several times through the years in the Globe. He's had significant media coverage for an unusual comedy/music career here in Boston.  —Preceding unsigned comment added by Nzaino (talk • contribs) 16:55, 18 May 2011 (UTC)  — Nzaino (talk • contribs) has made few or no other edits outside this topic.
 * Dictum Contrary to what the user above said, I don't dislike the article's subject. Don't know him and I never heard of him. From the little information found on the web, he seems like someone I would like. However, in all this bickering no one has come up with anything that passes WP:BIO or WP:ENT.


 * 1) The person has received a well-known and significant award or honor, or has been nominated for one several times.Fail.
 * 2) The person has made a widely recognized contribution that is part of the enduring historical record in his or her specific field.Fail.
 * 3) Has had significant roles in multiple notable films, television shows, stage performances, or other productions.   - Fail.
 * 4) Has a large fan base or a significant "cult" following. Fail. None found.
 * 5) Has made unique, prolific or innovative contributions to a field of entertainment. Fail.

Being a local artist of sorts myself, I can respect the level of coverage he's received in his hometown but none of the links provided or information found in his article tell us that he warrants an encyclopedia article. Sorry. --Endlessdan (talk) 17:04, 18 May 2011 (UTC)


 * Delete - changing my vote per 's updates. I think the article passes WP:GNG (barely) but does not appear to pass the more specific guidelines for entertainers or general biographies. —Tim Pierce (talk) 18:00, 18 May 2011 (UTC)


 * Comment - Rob Potylo is most certainly worthy of an entry. I'm sure you all have "local" celebs (local to Boston is pretty big coverage, actually) who then make it on to "real" TV. This is the case with Rob. He has released dozens of albums, played all over the place for years with a variety of different self-propelled acts, created a web show which he successfully spun into a "real" TV show and created a second show, which is pending but whose pilot is already in the can. He has created events and films his show in such a way as to draw together dozens of other artists, many of whom themselves have Wiki entries. So - hey, what else do you have to do to be considered "legit?" I can cite countless examples of "national" bands who have entries here maintained solely by themselves and their friends, This is not the case with Potylo. Been watching his career for years, ever since he was a DJ on THE (at the time) Boston radio station. So again I ask: Radio, releasing dozens of records, producing hundreds of musical events, creating and starring in two television shows - what else do you need to do? If that's not enough, Wikipedia is useless vs. the printed Encyclopedia. IMHO. —Preceding unsigned comment added by George Leroy Tirebiter (talk • contribs) 17:59, 18 May 2011 (UTC)
 * — George Leroy Tirebiter (talk • contribs) has made few or no other edits outside this topic. —Tim Pierce (talk) 19:41, 18 May 2011 (UTC)


 * Keep - Rob Potylo, as Robby Roadsteamer, has been nominated multiple times for the Boston Music Awards. He does in fact have a cult following in Boston. He regularly is featured in the Boston music press. And his reality sitcom about the Boston music scene features numerous other notable local celebrities. He's not world famous. But I think he meets the notability criteria Zenomax (talk) 20:28, 18 May 2011 (UTC)
 * Notability criteria is clearly listed above. He does not meet them at this time. --Endlessdan (talk) 20:31, 18 May 2011 (UTC)
 * The above discussion is preserved as an archive of the debate. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page (such as the article's talk page or in a deletion review). No further edits should be made to this page.