- - -
-- I had never heard the "Motorcycle Greggo" bit before. It was played after the Hardline closing theme and before the cavalcade of ads before poor T.C. has to cram his Top Ten into the time allotted time. (T.C., who really lights up the Top Ten with his between-bit patter, was forced into auctioneer-speed talking tonight.) Is this an old bit? It was incredibly savage. Wondering if The (Incomparable) UnTicket has it (it may want to run it by its attorneys first); I'd like to hear it again. Let's see -- there was a reference to white trash, a whore, and, the most intriguing reference: something about Greggo somehow acquiring money that belonged to Ticket staff members. I can't remember the wording of that last gag, but it was astonishingly bitter and astonishingly inside; would love to know what that joke was about. Surely this is an old bit, and some of the references would probably mean something to longer-time listeners. I was entertained, but it was really, really harsh about a guy who isn't even a pimple on The Little One's ass. Can anyone provide us some context here?
-- I still don't get Corby's Scot Harrison impression.
-- I was impressed with Corby's knowledge of NBA rosters during the discussion of the accusations of overwhiteness against the MN Timberwolves. He could have been reading the info off his screen, I suppose, but I don't think so. Maybe he knew what was going to be on Mike's mind and studied up. Or, quite possibly, he knew what he was talking about.
-- I noticed that one of the followers on this site was a gentleman named Dana Porter. In his minibio, he said that his thumbnail was a painting by his late grandfather, Henry C. Porter. Intrigued, I Googled "Henry C. Porter" and discovered that he was noted artist with some really fascinating and beautiful images, both representational and abstract. You can check them out here.
http://www.aviscafineart.com/Gallery_Artists/Henry_Porter/Porter_Between_Past_and_Here_Catalog.pdf
-- I noticed that one of the followers on this site was a gentleman named Dana Porter. In his minibio, he said that his thumbnail was a painting by his late grandfather, Henry C. Porter. Intrigued, I Googled "Henry C. Porter" and discovered that he was noted artist with some really fascinating and beautiful images, both representational and abstract. You can check them out here.
http://www.aviscafineart.com/Gallery_Artists/Henry_Porter/Porter_Between_Past_and_Here_Catalog.pdf
Dana, thanks for calling this to our attention.
Google is your friend
ReplyDeletehttp://www.theunticket.com/motorcycle-greggo-song/
Thanks, Shaggy. I blast these things out on the fly and don't always have time to do the research.
ReplyDelete2009, huh? I would have thought I'd have encountered this somewhere along the line.
Anyway, if you haven't heard it, you should definitely check it out. Or marvel at it again.
Most of the fake Greggo bits they did (and fake Norm, for that matter) were on the harsh side, but man were they funny. The sick Greggo bit still makes me laugh, and I've heard it a million times.
ReplyDeleteMotorcycle Greggo is from way back. Before 2009, for sure. Maybe as far back as 1999-2001. The particular bit you heard might've been a later MG offering. They come from Greggo buying a Harley and taking part in the Toys for Tots Ride and some other charitable rides. He also dressed the part. Evidently, he dressed the part quite often. Especially loving him some doo rag (which conveniently covered up his, at that time, rapidly receding hairline). Of course, Gordon couldn't help himself. He had to attack. And attack severely, cruelly. It's what he does. Though he used to be more cutting, more personal--as the MG bits attest to. Hence the oft times criticism (IMO rightly) of Gordon once being a bully. I don't think that tag applies anymore. He's grown up, a lot. But maybe the MG bit is an example of why some come on here and give Gordon a hard time. He didn't used to be a guy who held charity benefits for children. Like most of us, he grew up. I think that's why his Jerry and Jason imitations are so over the top and fantastical: that is, he wants to make it a caricature with a kernel of truth, not an exercise in dehumanizing, humiliating, another person in order to make others laugh. If you listen to the earlier fake Jerry's et alia (fake Greggo) you'll hear the latter going on. I'm glad Gordon grew up and moved on from that sort of stuff. Comedy is difficult, cruelty is easy. Actually, far too easy.
ReplyDeleteI don't remember there being more than one MG bit, but I could be wrong. Back in the day, I would download all the info I could while visiting the Drop Page from The Ticket. It's not as user friendly anymore, and there is also the Drop Page on BAD radio page. But I've also got some of the Shawn Bradley bits (found here as well...http://www.theunticket.com/shawn-bradley-action-figures/) and love the Little Girl Greggo (couldn't find it online) which is a favorite of mine.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteAs much as I dislike Corby as a host, he has come up with some funny songs over the years too. One that he did was the Najara song, which was about Eduardo Najara after he was drafted by Dallas. Another was Norm, while one of my favorites was called Coooooby and Shaq. Some of these were on promotional CD's produced by The Ticket, which the last one I referenced being on one named K-Ticket Havin' Fun. Good stuff...
ReplyDeleteSome very cool historical information in this thread. Please keep it up.
ReplyDeleteIs it the consensus of long-time listeners here that the Motorcycle Greggo bit was created while he was still at the station? (Hammer hammered his last on The Ticket in October 2007.)
Whoo.
Motorcycle Greggo was made around 2000, give or take a year.
ReplyDeletePlainsman: How about an article about the state of The Hardline now that it's been 5 years since Hammer's departure? A sort of history of and where we are now.
ReplyDeleteATTENTION CONFESSORS: A certain "CTO of the Americas" has posted a comment to "Sunday Morning Quick Hits," a few posts back. A very nice bit of inside information, and I commend it to you and thank him for checking in and pulling back the curtain a bit.
ReplyDeleteUnrelated to this post....does anyone else get annoyed by the voices of some of the guys that do commercials? The Texas (Jay Lombardo 50 bucks guy), Matt Johnson (Holiday Ford) and Chris Runyan (Cooler House.) I guess it's part of the bit to voice your own local spots, but man those guys are annoying. I immediately punch out.
ReplyDeleteThe fact that he refers to himself as a "CTO" implies that he has been more than just a short-time lurker. He understands your home-grown bits, Plainsman. In all seriousness, this must be a proud moment for you, congrats.
ReplyDelete@ Jeff. Yeah, that Matt Johnson dude grates on me.
ReplyDeleteI punch out without exception on, and urge everyone I know not to do business with the sponsors of, (1) Capital One adds with the hyperobnoxious shill telephoning what must be the stupidest consumers on the planet to harangue them about Capital One checking, and (2) the Central Market "Are you really into _________?" spots with the serial forced and unfunny puns.
ReplyDeleteAnd since they're on all the time, I miss me a lot of Ticket if I don't punch back in accurately.
Dude: Pan-American CTO has checked in via email a couple of times over the years, always helpfully and politely. I believe it likely that he has posted here once or twice to dispute a point or three -- again, his tone always in keeping with the spirit of the site.
ReplyDeleteGood Ticket customer service, generally in line with what I hear from the about their communications with him.
Jeff - Dale Wamstad had been the voice of his own restaurant commercials for years. If you think it's bad now, find some old commercials he did with Dee Lincoln when he owned Del Frisco's. Called for a bullet to the brainpan every time. (BTW, you would never know from Dee Lincoln's voice that she was a pretty hot number)
ReplyDeleteWow, that's really cool! A CTO commenting on this here site. CTO of the Americas is surely the Cat Man of the Americas? Keep up the good work Plainsman and fellow commenters. Who knows, maybe one of these days we'll see some of the changes implemented that we've been suggesting. It's nice to have a voice that is actually heard and considered. And that's what makes The Ticket true greatness.
ReplyDeleteThis just in - Mark Followill took a spill on his bike at White Rock Lake Saturday.
ReplyDeleteDMN reports on how he is doink:
http://mavsblog.dallasnews.com/2012/11/mavericks-tv-play-by-play-announcer-mark-followill-injured-in-cycling-accident-will-not-call-teams-home-opener.html/
The Hardline is a shell of it's former self. The show is a pretty empty listen these days.
ReplyDelete@slinky
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, I tend to agree with you.
@Followill
Get well soon, brutha!
Did anyone hear the MaSS segment on the future of the Stars this morning (11/4)? If so, any sort of recap would be most appreciated. I tried to find an e-mail address for Scot and/or Matt on The Ticket site, but had no luck. So if anyone has contact info for MaSS (other than Twitter), that would work, as well. Any help would be most appreciated.
ReplyDeleteTwo weeks in a row with the pre-pre game show. Loving it. Jake and Newbury are a good pairing, Though I could've done without Jake's referring to themselves as fluffers for Bob and Rich.
ReplyDeleteTotal agreement, ausgang. I targeted a 3 PM tune-in.
ReplyDeleteJake and David just finished the best Dez analysis I have ever heard, managing to dissect his problems without referring directly to his intelligence. Best line, from David, imagining what the coaches should be telling him: "By making you think, we are slowing you down." Brilliant.
I haven't even heard the upcoming segment on their front office analysis, and I already like it.
Re Corby's knowledge of NBA rosters:
ReplyDeleteI would bet my 401k that he was reading from his notes. It's called show prep -- even if most times it sounds like they don't do it.
Only Junior pays attention to the NBA that much this time of year.
Regarding the Hardline's slipping in the past years but still #1 in the ratings. For me tuning in, it's more about habit (and nothing else that catches my interest) and not actual great content. I wonder if that's the case with a lot of other listeners?
ReplyDeleteT4, you nailed it. That's the EXACT reason why I tune in. However, I'm very rarely ever "turned on." Over the past few years, it's more like background noise instead of the block everything else out because I'm not missing this radio that it once was on a daily basis. Like others have said, if there was a better sports/guy talk option, I'd probably be listening to them much more often than I would the Masters of Hardness. "Fortunately" for The Hardline, there isn't. And I really do mean "fortunately." They are quite lucky not to have serious competition. The product they put out now is mostly lazy, repetitive in a bad way, and often flat out selfish/egotistical in nature. But as crappy as it has become, it's better than the other two sad sack excuses for pm drive time shows. Sure there are times when the old, amazing Hardline shows itself. I would imagine that another Cowboys loss will loose a classic show. At least for a few segments, until the show goes TMZ (which is what the thing has in essence become). Fingers crossed.
ReplyDeleteHere's an idea: Offering a list that states what is it about The Hardline that has changed for the worse, and what does it need to get back to make it greatness again? Everybody loves lists! At least Chris Arnold thinks so.
ReplyDeleteI'll start it off:
Music and Hollywood gossip now take up more time than actual sports talk.
Did I mention too much music talk that is far too narrow in scope?
Too much look what I did not so humble brag talk. We understand you get free tickets and suite access to every cool event that comes to town. And that you get more paid vacation than we do. They used to discuss these things in a more subdued manner. There was never moaning about free f'n tickets not being good enough seats (which I've heard about now 4 times in the last 3 months). And every single vacay weekender to you name the festival (more music) and the kick ass destination doesn't need to have an entire segment wasted on it (talking to you, Corby). Once in a while, you bet. Not nearly every week. (Sometimes multiple times a week when concerts are factored in; I'm sorry boys, but most of us are completely burned out on your musical tastes and experiences. Turn the dial down.)
Mix things up. What's on Mike's Mind is stale beyond stale. Mike ran out of interesting stuff 4 years ago. The only thing he presents that is somewhat interesting are his lists. Of course, they're almost always music-related. Yeah, I know, I know, music is his bag. I think it's number one with baseball a close second. E-News is worthless. I don't know anyone (and I'm in their primo demo) who cares about what goes on in Hollywood. My friends' wives, OK. But they don't listen to the station. Community Quick Hits is a good segment. Though it'd be better if Corby was better prepared. And there's the laziness factor rearing its head. Actually, pretty much every bitch I've written about can be traced back to laziness.
Mike has become a caricature of himself. For me, he solidified his caricature becoming the host years ago when he pulled his puerile stunt on Norm's draft coverage (where Norm told the producer *I think it was Friedo* to "get Mike the hell off the air--which is where that drop comes from). We see caricature Mike on the Cowboys pre game show, whenever he's asked to do something that doesn't totally please him, and when there's a guest to be interviewed that he isn't completely interested in. And that's just for starters. While some of these aspects are what makes Mike, Mike; what makes him the leader of so many of us. However, now he takes the lazy route more often than not, and it shows. The Hardline goes as Mike goes. If he's bored or whatever, then so is the show. And that's where it is now, and has been for quite some time.
To quote everyone's favorite Corona commerical, Ausgang: Crushed it.
ReplyDeleteI don't think Mike's Mind hasn't had an interesting segment in ever. I used to catch it almost every day in its early life and I thought it was a completely wasted segment. When Mike speaks on a subject, he's the foremost expert and is not to be questioned. Even (and especially) when it's obvious he has only a passing knowledge and is pulling it straight out of his ass. I hated it when he'd turn it into "Business Tuesday" and claim to have his finger on the pulse of the business world. Maybe he's doing a bit and I just didn't get it, but he was so cocky and sincere and would fight off everyone's challenges, it would make my blood boil.
The best thing about Mike's Mind is the intro. My favorite is the techno intro, but they're all good...and that's when it end, when they're over. Glad I'm not the only one who feels the same way about the HL though. I've said this in the past, but I'm a fan of Gavin Dawson over on the Fail and would listen to him if he was on at the same time as the HL. I know a lot of peeps think he's a douche, but he keeps me entertained and that's what it's all about.
ReplyDeleteRhyner might be dead, but Whiner is alive, kicking, and thriving. And I for one would like to see his body buried in the gravel pits off of Dowdy Ferry Road.
ReplyDeleteNow THIS is the Mike R I know and love! Issuing a "This Team SUCKS!" is the Mike R that speaks the truth and does so authoritatively, without any qualifiers. Maybe today we'll get more of a classic HL show.
ReplyDelete140: I almost deleted your comment, but thought that perhaps the "Dowdy Ferry Road" was some kind of Ticket bit that we should know about. What's the reference?
ReplyDeleteI appreciate the thoughtful criticisim of The Hardline here, especially since several of you have taken the time to be specific about what you find troublesome about the show.
ReplyDeleteMyself . . . I think The Hardline may be entering another autopilot period, as some of you have said. The show has never exhibited much in the way of show prep, but I have a hard time shrugging off the feeling that the show's laziness "bit," which is an OK bit as far as I'm concerned, is trending toward what can appear to be disrespect to the P1.
I started this blog in the first place in part (only in part) because I was worried about The Hardline. (See, for example, http://myticketconfession.blogspot.com/2009/12/my-ticket-confession-im-worried-about.html) The OverCorby, vulgarity, laziness. I thought that in late 2010 and early 2011, the show had a resurgence in energy and Mike's participation.
I think it has mostly sustained this quality level, largely owing to Danny's greater role, but I confess that I don't always carry a radio with me so as not to miss anything like I used to. Yeah, I'm just the littlest bit bored with The Hardline these days.
Having said that, I still love The Hardline and very seldom punch out for program-content reasons. I still support Corby. I still marvel at Mike's broadcast skills. Danny still pegs the baconometer. Jake is establishing his own role. Ty sets the standard for Tickermen.
But as we now know, the CTO checks in here from time to time, and I'm sure that the Confessors' foregoing thoughts are being read with interest.
You bet it is, Plainsman. It's where Mike claimed Rhyner was buried once he started the Rhyner's dead schtick. Glad you didn't delete me!
ReplyDeleteToday's show was classic Hardline. Yes, they had ANOTHER Neil Young segment. I mean, wow. Just wow. It seems like it's a thrice per week deal now. That aside, today was must-hear radio. Mike was interested, contributing meaningfully, and encouraging others on. Corby was good. And Danny, Jake, and Ty were stellar as the supporting cast. It's too bad that it takes a losing Cowboys season to bring their greatness about.
ReplyDeleteI am glad this topic has finally been brought up here. For weeks now I have allowed my aggravation to grow with the HL. It really started around the time the Rangers were knocked out of the playoff hunt. I was pissed and wanted to be talked down by the comforting voice of Baseball Jesus but like with most segments now Corby took over. Why in the hell is Corby of all people talking Rangers over Mike? Then it dawned on me. Corby is the Hardline now. I use to be rather indifferent to him as often times I could relate but now his bit is beyond tiresome. It is well established that he is terrible with being a responsible adult. I found the story of him carelessly loosing his $400 watch sickening instead of funny. Sure he has his moments but I wish they were just that, moments. And call me crazy but I actually like more Danny.
ReplyDeleteMy real tipping point came with the Dave Barnett segment last week. They went on and on about how badly he was treated but all I could think of is how they treated and apparently still treat Greggo. I could not think of a more classic example of pot and kettle. Yes, I know Greggo brought the circumstances upon himself but the results were practically the same.
7:54 AM:
ReplyDeleteTotally agree with you about Corby. Though I"m not sure the Greggo - Barnett analogy holds. I think it was pretty obvious that the Rangers were looking for an excuse to get him out of the booth. They found it and seized upon it. Greggo, as you rightly say, brought everything on himself. The station had been dealing with his lunacy for quite some time, trying their best to appease Greggo and keep the thing going in a somewhat healthy manner. After countless unacceptable indiscretions over several years, they had had enough.
One more thing: a lot of people like Greggo will "own up" to their wrong doings by saying "Yes, I brought it on myself; I shouldn't have been so trusting; I should've seen things for what they were." Which, of course, is blaming others for your problems. Whitt's article "The Hard Lie" was chock full of such "admissions" of guilt and culpability.
ReplyDeleteWhat's on Mike's mind today?
ReplyDeleteWould you believe the Rolling Stones?
I mean, it is what's on his mind, but it's awfully lazy. Wow. I went to a movie and now I'll review it. Yay. And it's on a subject that I seem to talk about on a bi to tri weekly basis.
ReplyDeleteI think what it boils down to is that we the listeners get to hear the Hardliners try to impress each other on their degree of fandom for bands they share an interest in.
ReplyDeleteAnd BTW, I like the Rolling Stones. Didn't think their new song was awful. But enough already.
Anon 7:54, I'll go ya one better, at the time it happened, nobody made more fun of the Dave Barnett sit than Corby. He'd come back with the obligatory "I hope he's OK" and "Daves such a nice guy, ect, ect" and then go right back makin fun of him. Corby is sorry, and his bit has become beyond tiresome!
ReplyDeleteI think The Hardline gets the best ratings of the 3 major shows, but I think Bad Radio would do just as well in that time slot, and I think the Musers would improve on those ratings.
ReplyDeleteAnon 7:54 is right on...TOO MUCH CORBY. Someone commented on here a long time ago that part of the reason Corby got the nod for his job is because Mike doesn't want to work/talk anymore, and I think there's something to that. Bringing corby to the forefront, combined with his lack of skills for that post has made for a worse show overall. Yes he excels at interviewing celebs he's never met, and his yuckmonkey stuff was good, but that takes up MINIMAL airtime and doesn't warrant a main host position.
I wouldn't mind one bit if they switched Wilonsky & Moore with Mike and Corby. I like Danny in the fact that he tries to learn and consequently speak to the game (Rangers, Cowboys, etc.) from a knowledgable position. Whereas corby takes notes (I doubt they're even written down anymore) fom one of his DirecTV sports packages and repeats them on air. He's good at memorizing BCS football rosters, but beyond that and the country club sports, he's not compelling.