Tuesday, March 27, 2012

EMERGENCY OPEN THREAD: The Departure of That Nice Young Michael Gruber

I'm actually sitting here in the middle of a meeting in NoCal, but certain things have to be put aside.  No time to write anything on this, except that (i) I regret intensely and (ii) I'm delighted that Michael is pursuing his education. 

The Barley House is in mourning.

There will certainly be more on this, but here's a place for us all to gather on this very dramatic day in Ticket history.

28 comments:

  1. Just heard the Grubes is leaving segment. Man, what a bummer. After next Friday, the station changes irreversibly for the worse I'm afraid. I don't mean to sound dramatic, but this is a bit of a game changer, in a negative way, for The Ticket. Get to your motel room or wherever you're staying in NoCal, Plainsman, and fire off an STD. ASAP!

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  2. Danny brought up some excellent points regarding what Grubes means to the station. The last Anon gets it right, I believe: this is a game changer. Grubes IS the connection or mediator if you will between The Ticket and its younger demographic. Sure, Jake and TC are in that mix, but not in the way Grubes is. Not by a long shot. While Jake and TC do connect with the younger listener, unlike Grubes, they don't connect with most older listeners. And even their connection with the younger audience is somewhat tenuous. I saw on the other thread where someone posted up Dick Hicks' want ad. However, I have to wonder if they'll go in house on this one? But who? I know many, many, many listeners for whom Grubes' work both on and off air (local band, Twitter, fun party scene, all around Good Time Charlie) is the sole reason they listen. Yes they enjoy the shows in general, but it's the drops and the feeling of being a part of some cool clique of Good Mother Fs who all "get it" and "get" each other that keeps them tuned in every day, all day. I fear that in a few months from now, there's going to be a listener drop off where the younger demo is concerned. And without a continual influx of younger listeners who eventually become long time listeners, well friends, that isn't a good thing.

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  3. I don't have the technical know-how to do this so I hope some P1 can do it for me.

    I would love to see a version of "Hitler learns that Grubes is leaving."

    Like this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NKLFOw0XXJk

    Done right it could be a good sports cry.

    STAY HARD MICHAEL GRUBER!

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  4. @ First Anonymous: Yeah, I'd love to be holding forth at my customary length, but still working.

    I think The Ticket planned this when it found out I was going to be away.

    This will definitely be the subject of my next post, but until then (a few days, at least), I urge Confessors to continue to post their regrets, best wishes, and other Great Thoughts on that certain Grubes.

    ("Shoopie" never really caught on with me.)

    Thanks to all for some excellent writing on this sad topic.

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  5. What the hell? My husband just told me the news so I had to jump on the Confession site to see what is going on. My return to work will not be the same if I can't listen to some great drops during my lunch hour. (Maternity leave is over next week so I'll be able to listen to The Ticket AND catch up on past Confessionals.) Grubes is synonymous with impeccable timing. I'm quite certain that it will take a very long time--if ever--to find someone with even half the quick-wittedness (is that a word?) of the talented Michael Gruber. I'm in mourning. I'm inconsolable. We'll talk more about this when I recover from the shock of the news.

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  6. Grubes is a very good and likeable dude. I frequent his drop page on BAD's site and one time didn't find what I was looking for. I was looking for all of the What's on Mike's Mind intro's and emailed McGruber to email them and he obliged. Stay Hard Young Grubes!

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  7. @ETP1 - I'm working on the "Hitler is angry that Grubes is leaving" video as we speak. I switch back and forth as to how profane to make it, though. It'll be up on the unticket once I get it together.

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  8. Sweet baby jeebus wtf is this! It cant be, but alas it is. Grubes will be missed, he cant be replaced, but the position can. Someone undoubtedly will join the team and wow the listeners. But nothing, I mean nothing, will be able to match the off mic tiny grubes backround laughter.

    stay hard grubes

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  9. Grubes is the underlying glue that keeps the Hardline together. Doing what he does, sifting through literally hundreds of drops and knowing exactly where they are located in the system and being able to find them so quickly and drop them in almost with anticipation is nothing something that can be learned. You're talking about someone who grew up at the Ticket and learned everything from the inside out. Whether his replacement is KT, TC or Jake...the unteachable involved will take many months to fathom the excessive depths of the drops available. And there's no guarantee that while any candidate, even if technically qualified, would have the chemistry with the Hardline (or BaD Radio) that Grubes has. Jake seems like the best candidate, he's done stuff with the Hardline before but how would he react to a Dan meltdown? Grubes departure is a massive loss, I feel moreso for the Hardline.

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  10. No offense to Grubes (He seems like a really nice guy), but you guys are acting like Gordo or Craig or George are leaving. You can't replace those guys. A board op you can.

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  11. Josh's broken groinMarch 28, 2012 at 1:05 PM

    Sad day in little Ticket land. I thought what Danny said yesterday was very well said. It's bigger than when Greggo was shown the door..because Greggo had been done for years. Shoopie will be missed and I hope to hear his little laugh again after he finishes school.
    Too bad the Ticket can't pay Jer and Grubes better. It was also nice to hear Grubes talk in a adult way when they roundtabled it.

    CLEAR...boing

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  12. saw this on twitter, hitler shoopy leaving

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMXtwuYMids&feature=youtu.be

    credit to mike smith or @mikejsmith1

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  13. Anon, Grubes is more than a board-op. He's the reason why many people listen to the Ticket. He is the representative of an entire generation (and maybe even two) of listeners. I think you grossly underestimate the implications of his departure. In fact, I'd say at this particular point in the life of the Ticket, his leaving might actually be a bigger deal than if Junior left. Sounds crazy, I know, but it might really be where things are.

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  14. "But nothing, I mean nothing, will be able to match the off mic tiny grubes backround laughter." -This is so true. Grubes is a genius, and along with Danny (about 40% of the time), he is what made Hardline 2.0 listenable. I'm afraid my ticket listening will be only until noon from here on out unless the Hardline somehow reverses it's post-Greggo decline (Less F'en Corby) and Bob Sturm gets a job somewhere (anywhere) else. This comes from a 12 year P1.

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  15. I think about all that can be said, has been said, where Grubes is concerned. We'll all miss him terribly, and no, nothing will be the same...for a long time to come. But life goes on. And I'll guarantee that we'll find collective ship righted sooner than we think. What I'd like to discuss is The Hardline. Did anyone catch the Georgie +1 today? Fantastic stuff. George gets to be more of himself (ah, no Gordo to kick his nuts at every turn). I love it. But what I love more is the way Rhyner interacts. He seems so much more involved and even takes on his old role of leadership that he had while Greggo was his partner. Why is this? I think it's because with George or Craig, he has more of a contemporary. Sure, they're a bit younger, but they're not Corby, who is 20 chronological years younger...but more importantly, 35 actual years younger. You get to hear Rhyner actually relate to his co host. This does occur between he and Danny, due to their affection for all sorts of music and both being musicians. I'm just wondering what it would be like if you put Corby on the morning show and Georgio on The Hardline? Any objections?

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  16. I would be all in for them doing a little temporary wife swap on those two shows and see what materializes. Corby might even be a little more manageable with Gordo (I doubt it), but not sure how Craig would interact though. I also though they were radio gold yesterday. Even Danny was on another level with Georgio in there.

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  17. Bigger question, What becomes of Pepper Theft, will they ever return??

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  18. Sounded like George and Rhynes were dissing a little on Gordo, saying he would mess up Thursday morning's interview "like he usually does".

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  19. I will be having a word with my Congressperson about this.

    @Scott, Grubes tweeted that Pepper Theft will continue.

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  20. Hey anonymous, put the crack pipe down, because this
    He's the reason why many people listen to the Ticket.
    is so much bullsh.
    If he's the reason they listen to the ticket, why are D&M doing so well in AM drive. Is it people tuning in in anticipation of him being on in 6 hours? And if they're tuning into hear Grubes, why does the 10-3 shift consistently underperform the drive time shows? You'd think Grubes would at least drive Bad radio's ratings up, I mean, if he's the reason 'many' people listen to the ticket, it would stand to reason that he's be a ratings boost, no?

    And don't get me wrong, I love Grubes, but people tune in because they like sports, or they like the personalities. But Hardline was #1 in PM drive when Expo, Psycho Dave and all the rest board-op'd for them. odds are high that they'll stay number 1 even after Grubes leaves...

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  21. Oh here you are again, Nsider. You d-bag. I can't recall how many times you've come on this blog blowing hard and with much hot air. And everything you say is wrong.

    If you would have read what I (and other like-minded people) wrote, instead of reacting like the idiot that you are, you would've understood that I was talking about a certain demo. The demo in question is large, but it doesn't make up the entirety or the majority of listeners. But it does constitute an important demo. It is a demo that can have a long term impact if its numbers dwindle.

    Better luck next time, moron troll.

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  22. Little Weak JeremyMarch 30, 2012 at 2:01 PM

    There must be a way to respectfully suggest that the Ticket will continue to dominate, even among the young demographics in question, while also according to Grubes the mad props he deserves. While his fart-dropping genius will be greatly missed, especially in the early going, the Ticket is a ship no one departure will sink, and we'll grow to love the next board op that comes in too -- maybe not as much as we love Grubes, but our hearts will go on.

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  23. I'm disappointed in you guys. This should be the most commented on article in the history of this website.

    Where's the gnashing of teeth or the wild speculation on who will replace Grubes?

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  24. BootRallyAnotherFifthOfSoCoMarch 30, 2012 at 4:18 PM

    Wow! From listening to the 4:05-ish segment, it's pretty apparent that at the very least Gordon and Mike R. peruse this blog and its comboxes. The references to Hard Line vulgarity...replete with a patented Plainsman / some commenters: "It's their prerogative and I don't begrudge them, but I don't have to like or listen to it" line. Too funny. The Plainsman and his followers have a voice, after all. It's also apparent from WTDS that they're aware of what RaGE is up to. Interesting stuff. Funny stuff. I'm loving me some Gordo with Rhynes!

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  25. Those have been little complaints about the ticket for years. I'm sure they come across the blog from time to time but they aren't making a point to reference this particular blog specifically.

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  26. Is there anything creepier and funnier than Gordon Keith in the presence of females? Madams and Sirs, I dare you to say any different!

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  27. TC is not going to cut it. Jake Z might. Earl Scruggs dies and Grubes goes back to the uni. This ain't been a good week.

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  28. A grateful MTC welcome howdy to cactusflinthead.

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