Posts tagged Norbert Leo Butz

Seeing as I was still sucking my thumb when the company went under (which was in 1991 for those interested), it’s understandable that my knowledge of the underlying causes isn’t cached between Mean Girls quotes and the J train weekday schedule in the “important stuff” area of my memory.

Why this consideration didn’t occur the first time the company presented itself in popular culture during my lifetime (love you Leo!) is beyond me. Now that the namesake show is airing weekly, however, said company downfall has been brought into conversation multiple times. It is unfortunate that, until this evening, I’ve yet to come back with a concisely accurate answer that exudes “how did you NOT know that” while ignoring the fact that I’d Wiki’d it ten minutes earlier on my smartphone.

On that note, Wikipedia smartly cites the company as a “defunct U.S. airline.” Clever. Obvious. BUT WHY!? TELL ME WHY!! 1973 Energy Crisis. Blame on Government Policies. Multiple failed mergers & acquisitions. More energy problems. More government blame. Blah blah blah. But then it gets interesting: TERRORISM! DANGER! BAD CUSTOMER SERVICE!

Short version and soundbite to make you sound intelligent at your next happy hour:

“Mismanagement, regulation, and economic turmoil led to the company’s financial collapse and ultimate downfall.”

Shorter version: they fucked up. Delta bought them out, at least parts that were still profitable. See? Don’t you feel enlightened? (Such is my mission, to augment the pool of pretentiousness by providing soundbites and saying “augment”).

In closing, please enjoy the following musical rendition of the aforementioned pop culture reference starring that guy from Gossip Girl and the ever amazing Norbert Leo Butz: