I am blogging LIVE at the unlikely plural Scruffy Duffies, not only hard by, but actually in, the Shops at Legacy. Damned poodle ate a chicken bone so I had to leave work early to pick up her curly carcass at the vet. She's fine. That was one expensive bucket of KFC.
And let me tell you, things are exciting here at the Duff. I found a nice quiet corner to set up the old Kaypro. No one's snooping. I'm having a surprisingly good martini. A barkeep from another joint I visit came up to say hello, and I had to tell him about an unfortunate service experience at his establishment, and he promised me a free Tanq up on my next visit. The broadcast stage is very dark. Corby is talking about Adrian Peterson. Bought some raffle tickets for the Food Bank from some wandering Ticket Chicks. They are very young. They were nice. Ooo, they're calling numbers right now. Hey, what if I win? Do I disclose my secret identity that nobody cares about? Uh, no. Good crowd. Didn't win with this drawing. That's OK, I didn't want any of those prizes anyway. I'll be here for at least another drawing.
So here's the deal. duckandcover posts this --
HOLY CRIMINEY! I just won the next raffle, the one I wanted, the $50 Half-Price Book gift cards. I'll be damned.
Okay, let's get back to confession.
Recent frequent Confessor duckandcover jacked the last thread -- in a good way. (Most jacks are good, frankly. Let the voice of the Confessor be heard in the land!) He issued a number of STDs (Scorching Ticket Disquisitions, for recent acolyte Confessors) in the form of predictions for 2013. Wish I had thought of it, but he did a better job than I could have. Here it is, then I'll have a few reactions. I have never had over 100 comments on a post before, but this might well be a first.
So here you --
JEEBUS! I won again! A $50 gift certificate to JR's Steakhouse (which is quite good, by the way, a favorite destination when I'm in that neck of the woods). Never encountered Gordon there.
Uh oh -- as a repeat winner they took my picture with a couple of comely Ticket Chicks.
Let's move on to the matters at hand, shall we?
Ladies and gentlemen . . . duckandcover -- and duck and cover:
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Our Ticket 2013 Predictions.
(i) The end of CdS. Not because of the show's success or lack thereof, but rather to Cash's Mavs duties and Mike's ever inching toward the management side of things.
(ii) Scot Harrison's presence grows. He becomes a weeknight host, and eventually MaSS changes its name because it's now hosted by Matt and Jake.
(iii) In conjunction with (ii), the success of Intentional Grounding sparks a slew of weeknight shows. Harrison hosting one such show. Thus the programming schedule is all local until 11pm. THL ends at 7, the new show (IG-Fri, Harrison-MW, Newbury and SeaBass-TTH) runs till 9, then the Top Ten takes over until 11, which gives way to CBS national feed--due to the merger between Cumulus and CBS.
(iv) Danny leaves The Ticket. Yes, I said it. I don't like it. But I think it's going to happen. I think he's ready to move on to other things. Perhaps move to Boston or even Nashville (music). He's a musician, and that's what truly drives him and that's how he wants to make his mark in the world. And he knows he's not getting any younger (45, I believe). Time to make the move, now or never. His replacement: one Mike Bacsik. He's no longer deemed too hot to handle. And with his addition, Rhyner is reeled back in from constant, one might say teenager like, music talk and finds himself reinvigorated, just as he was in the halcyon days.
(v) See (iv), The Orphanage, RIP.
(vi) I believe that 2013 is the last year for one of our beloved shows: Dunham and Miller. I think the Joonz finally says "I'm done, let's tawk gahwfff." He's nearly quit a few times in the past, and I think he, like Danny (but for much different reasons) is ready to move on.
(vii) The FAN is still with us. So is RaGE. But only for a while. By July, CBS finally says "enough," and pulls the plug. Greggo finally, and permanently, moves to Colorado.
(viii) Ready for this one? MTC, as we know it, says "adios, amigos." Yup. Plainsman decides that no longer has the time to maintain the site. He hands over the reins to T4, and this thing keeps on rollin'.
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My Scruffy Tanq-fueled reactions:
"Our" Ticket 2013 Predictions? d&c, is that the royal first person plural? Or are you hoping for protection against crass error by pretending that these predictions are from a group of which you are a part? I think you need to own these predictions, and I will look forward to your comment doing so.
(i) END OF CdS. I dunno. It's a good show and pretty popular. Cash already has that sexy full-time gig, and as for Mike inching towards management -- that isn't much of a disqualification. Look at Rich and "Race Week." I think CdS will be around for awhile.
(ii) SCOT HARRISON ASCENDANT. Quite possible, but I'm not sure where he goes (see below). MaSS is a pretty solid weekend hit, if the evidence of Confessors' reactions are any guide. I am a Scot ("Mr. Low-T") fan and would be happy to hear more of him. My prediction -- we'll hear him more on fill-in if his everyday gig permits it. I don't know if he's got a day job, maybe one of you has picked up on that.
(iii) WEEKNIGHT SHOWS ASCENDANT. Certainly agree that Intentional Grounding has found an audience. (I'll be listening after I roll out of here.) But I don't know about filling in other evenings with local programming. I'd like to see it, but The Top Ten, which T.C. is doing a very nice job with, has got to be an attractive programming move for The Ticket, leveraging top-flight daytime programming in the early nighttime hours with very little additional investment. So I can't go with duck on this one, much as I would like to see it.
(iv) DANNY VAMANOS. No. I have got to believe that The Ticket has recognized Danny's value and has paid him market -- whatever market is for a producer who does a weekend show, writes and performs "What's On Mike's Mind" intros, produces the most popular radio showgram in the country and, in the opinion of increasing numbers of Confessors, is the best reason to listen to The Hardline (my view: he moderates the OverCorby in a way that renders The Hardline consistently listenable). He may be a fine musician, but Nashville and Boston (? -- Moms territory?) are chock full of established singer-songwriters and, in the former case, accomplished C&W guys. My own thought is that Danny is a guy who has developed immense goodwill in the metro among the P1, music guys, and radio guys. Could he skip to another station? Sure, but where could he get the freedom he has at The Ticket? If he decides to make a move, let's hope that has a good agent. Danny, give me a call. Frankly, I think he's hanging.
But I will say this -- I have long thought that we might well see Mike Bacsik back at The Ticket, and I'd be OK with that.
(v) ORPHANAGE VAMANOS. Orphanage will be with us for the foreseeable future. If Danny bolts, they'll find another adoptee.
(vi) MUSERS VAMANOS. OK, I need some historical background here. I don't have any information about Junior's happy feet, although I have seen references to it on this site from time to time. Has there been any thought of his departure since 2004 (my Ticket inauguration)? It's never come to my attention, not that hosts consult with me about career choices or insiders leak stuff like that to me. What would he do? Go to another station on his own? Retire? Folks, I have to tell you that in my experience, even highly-compensated persons are scared to death of what this President is up to -- and if you love the guy, that's fine, not a problem with this site, just reporting on what I'm hearing -- and executives (and, I suspect, highly-compensated entertainers) are not casually abandoning gigs like the one that Junior has. ALSO: Hell, they're coming up on 20 years -- he won't jump before that, for sure. But even then -- I don't know where he jumps to, and I can't see him doing nothing. As the Confessor Nation knows, Junior is my fave rave at the station, and he is entirely capable of running a sports-guy-current-events show on his own. I just don't see Craig jumping at this point in his career, and at this point in the history of the station.
I do, however, strongly endorse duckandcover's reference to Craig as "the Joonz," since it is the construction I myself have favored if he persists in referring to himself in this way, and I don't think there is any realistic alternative.
(vii) RaGE VAMANOS. I don't think so. Confessors have been predicting the end of RaGE for a long time, and after that dreadful TV ad they inflicted on viewers I thought the end might be near. But here they still are. I think CBS is in for the long haul with Richie and Greggo and Sybil and Armen, and I think they'll be invited to the 2013 FAN Christmas Party.
I don't know how to evaluate the corporate changes that are taking place in the radio industry as they relate to Cumulus and the local CBS affiliates. I do think that we've been hearing about seismic changes for a long time, and none have happened. So my guess is -- status quo, or something that looks a lot like it.
(viii) MTC VAMANOS. Are you a student of archival TV? Do you remember Arte Johnson from Laugh-In? Do you remember his tag line at the end of the show? Verrrrrry interesting. Good night, Lucy.
(ii) SCOT HARRISON ASCENDANT. Quite possible, but I'm not sure where he goes (see below). MaSS is a pretty solid weekend hit, if the evidence of Confessors' reactions are any guide. I am a Scot ("Mr. Low-T") fan and would be happy to hear more of him. My prediction -- we'll hear him more on fill-in if his everyday gig permits it. I don't know if he's got a day job, maybe one of you has picked up on that.
(iii) WEEKNIGHT SHOWS ASCENDANT. Certainly agree that Intentional Grounding has found an audience. (I'll be listening after I roll out of here.) But I don't know about filling in other evenings with local programming. I'd like to see it, but The Top Ten, which T.C. is doing a very nice job with, has got to be an attractive programming move for The Ticket, leveraging top-flight daytime programming in the early nighttime hours with very little additional investment. So I can't go with duck on this one, much as I would like to see it.
(iv) DANNY VAMANOS. No. I have got to believe that The Ticket has recognized Danny's value and has paid him market -- whatever market is for a producer who does a weekend show, writes and performs "What's On Mike's Mind" intros, produces the most popular radio showgram in the country and, in the opinion of increasing numbers of Confessors, is the best reason to listen to The Hardline (my view: he moderates the OverCorby in a way that renders The Hardline consistently listenable). He may be a fine musician, but Nashville and Boston (? -- Moms territory?) are chock full of established singer-songwriters and, in the former case, accomplished C&W guys. My own thought is that Danny is a guy who has developed immense goodwill in the metro among the P1, music guys, and radio guys. Could he skip to another station? Sure, but where could he get the freedom he has at The Ticket? If he decides to make a move, let's hope that has a good agent. Danny, give me a call. Frankly, I think he's hanging.
But I will say this -- I have long thought that we might well see Mike Bacsik back at The Ticket, and I'd be OK with that.
(v) ORPHANAGE VAMANOS. Orphanage will be with us for the foreseeable future. If Danny bolts, they'll find another adoptee.
(vi) MUSERS VAMANOS. OK, I need some historical background here. I don't have any information about Junior's happy feet, although I have seen references to it on this site from time to time. Has there been any thought of his departure since 2004 (my Ticket inauguration)? It's never come to my attention, not that hosts consult with me about career choices or insiders leak stuff like that to me. What would he do? Go to another station on his own? Retire? Folks, I have to tell you that in my experience, even highly-compensated persons are scared to death of what this President is up to -- and if you love the guy, that's fine, not a problem with this site, just reporting on what I'm hearing -- and executives (and, I suspect, highly-compensated entertainers) are not casually abandoning gigs like the one that Junior has. ALSO: Hell, they're coming up on 20 years -- he won't jump before that, for sure. But even then -- I don't know where he jumps to, and I can't see him doing nothing. As the Confessor Nation knows, Junior is my fave rave at the station, and he is entirely capable of running a sports-guy-current-events show on his own. I just don't see Craig jumping at this point in his career, and at this point in the history of the station.
I do, however, strongly endorse duckandcover's reference to Craig as "the Joonz," since it is the construction I myself have favored if he persists in referring to himself in this way, and I don't think there is any realistic alternative.
(vii) RaGE VAMANOS. I don't think so. Confessors have been predicting the end of RaGE for a long time, and after that dreadful TV ad they inflicted on viewers I thought the end might be near. But here they still are. I think CBS is in for the long haul with Richie and Greggo and Sybil and Armen, and I think they'll be invited to the 2013 FAN Christmas Party.
I don't know how to evaluate the corporate changes that are taking place in the radio industry as they relate to Cumulus and the local CBS affiliates. I do think that we've been hearing about seismic changes for a long time, and none have happened. So my guess is -- status quo, or something that looks a lot like it.
(viii) MTC VAMANOS. Are you a student of archival TV? Do you remember Arte Johnson from Laugh-In? Do you remember his tag line at the end of the show? Verrrrrry interesting. Good night, Lucy.
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What are YOUR predictions for 2013? I haven't really --
HOKEY SMOKES, BULLWINKLE! CORBY JUST READ MY TICKET NUMBER AND I HAVE NOW WON THE GRAND PRIZE RAFFLE, a couple of courtside Mavs tickets, I think, although from where I'm sitting the PA is a little muddy.
So your incredibly lucky Plainsman went up to the stage 3 times in less than 90 minutes to claim charity prizes. Were you there? If you were, then you got to see your sainted Plainsman. Well, what was I going to do? Go up there with a bag on my head? As it was, I don't think much of anyone was paying attention. Certainly the hosts were not, and none of the promo people asked my name.
OK, so -- let's get your reaction to duck's predictions, and let's have yours as an eventful, Grubes-retiring, drop-losing year draws to a close.
HOKEY SMOKES, BULLWINKLE! CORBY JUST READ MY TICKET NUMBER AND I HAVE NOW WON THE GRAND PRIZE RAFFLE, a couple of courtside Mavs tickets, I think, although from where I'm sitting the PA is a little muddy.
So your incredibly lucky Plainsman went up to the stage 3 times in less than 90 minutes to claim charity prizes. Were you there? If you were, then you got to see your sainted Plainsman. Well, what was I going to do? Go up there with a bag on my head? As it was, I don't think much of anyone was paying attention. Certainly the hosts were not, and none of the promo people asked my name.
OK, so -- let's get your reaction to duck's predictions, and let's have yours as an eventful, Grubes-retiring, drop-losing year draws to a close.
* * *
Follow Your Plainsman on Twitter: @Plainsman1310
Email: ThePlainsman1310@gmail.com
Not sure about the predictions/prophecies, but I wanted to commend you for saying "a historic" in your title and your opening paragraph. Too many people say "an historic" and think it makes them sound smart, but it's wrong. So good for you.
ReplyDeleteI meant "our" as in we commenters. Of course I own my predictions. I'm flattered that some of these fine commenting folks and yourself felt my post needed its own "spotlight."
ReplyDeleteAs to Joonz's happy feet: He's admitted as much on-air, and also in the, I hate to say but it's true, so-so Ticket-endorsed book: "Full Disclosure."
Solid retorts. I'll respond in kind.
(i) I believe the structure of The Ticket/Cumulus is evolving, and Rich is a leftover of how things used to be. Besides, Race Week is a niche, pre-recorded show. CdS is not. I didn't include Mike's and Cash's serious involvement in film. Furthermore, Cash has already missed several shows due to his full-time gig (considering how few CdS shows there are, that's a lot).
ReplyDelete(ii) Point taken. But I think you might overestimate MaSS's audience and place on the totem pole.
(iii) I'm not sure I follow you here. But I did say I see the Top Ten still in place; only starting at 9. The first several years of The Ticket was chock full of local weeknight and weekend night programming. It's where both Gordon and Bob Sturm cut their teeth.
(iv) Danny has strong industry ties out in Nashville. He's a good enough bassist to work out there. And when it comes to that sort of gig, connections are everything. Like I said, he has them; serious ones. I based my prediction on listening closely to what the guy has said over the past few years. If you listen carefully, you hear a man who is settling into what is now deemed early middle-age (the 40s are the new 30s, right? Uh, sure), is very self-reflective, is still living the lifestyle he did when he was 25 (this I know first-hand, you'll just have to take me at my word), and who seems ready for a serious life change. This all really began around the time he find his birth mother and first met her in Boston.
(v) Have you heard Davy and his buddy Manny? No way.
(vi) See the above Joonz statement. But I think you make an excellent point about the economy. When these claims were made, the economy was rolling. I'll be a bit more specific here: Joonz would not go to a competitor. He would move to Colorado or Utah so that he could cycle to his heart's content. He loves the lifestyle. And if any of the hosts has taken care of his money to the point to where it's "bullet proof," it is Joonz. I should also add that I don't think it's the end of the morning show. I think you might end up with George, Gordo, and The Dooce Man. They are fantastic together.
(vi) As I said, they're not going away come Jan 1. I think CBS will have finally say "uncle." Do you realize the amount of money that's been wasted on that station? They have their own high end, high rent, sports bar; a weeknight tv show, commercials that are run during prime hours on prime stations; and all the billboard, bus, and street level advertisements you can shake a stick at. And yes, RaGE has received the most of the pub, but that matters not. The whole thing is a mess; it was conceived as a mess. But yeah, at some point late spring/early summer, it gets its legs cut off at the knees. And if anyone knows anything about Greggo, you also know that once he is out of career options around here, he will be on the first plane to Denver.
(viii) I'll stick with my prediction; because I do think at least something along those lines is going to happen. Like my Danny hunch, I read it in many of your postings over the past year or so. But if I could change it, I'd say "no," neither you nor MTC is going anywhere. Why the change of heart? Because of the proposed meet and greet, the of-late, going to remotes and publicly "battling" yourself about whether to reveal yourself to the hosts, among others. Those sorts of actions are not the sort of actions committed by one who wishes to shy away or is bored with their project. Nope.
Glad that you won so many neat prizes. Here's an idea. How about some sort of MTC contest. The winner gets to go with you to JR's. Just a thought.
Very good post, and not because d&c thinks I might have the pull to take over MTC (which I wouldn't even attempt). It's nice to be able to think about possible future happenings, and I think it will give Plainsman a different perspective when getting ideas or future posts.
ReplyDeleteBTW, Plainsman, it would be nice to post the picture of you and the Ticket Chicks on the front page of this post. It could bring a little visual to the post and also give us an idea of what you look like, in case we are at a remote and want to come by and chat with you.
I am a little surprised that Norm wasn't mentioned as one of the host to possibly leave. He will be 69 years old in July. When will he decide to hang it up and who will replace his time slot? Any predictions?
ReplyDeleteHere's the thing about my identity -- while I'm generally positive about the Little One and its personnel, I am sometimes critical. In those cases I feel kind of, I dunno, cowardly in being anonymous. So from time to time I do think of coming out.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, I think the anonymity is part of the fun of the site. Would you feel differently about the joint if you knew who I am? (Assuming I'm more or less a reg'lar guy and not Brad Pitt or Brad Thomas With All the News Between Sports, Whatever "Between Sports" Means.)
And as you may recall, I threw out the notion of an MTC party a few weeks ago where I could meet some of you. (Response: smallish.)
Either way, it is possible that there will be some changes in the site in 2013.
duck: You're right, I did neglect to address your point that the Top Ten would continue at 9 PM. Surely ad rates drop dramatically after drive, and would fall still further as the sky darkens. So I would think they would keep that brand at 7 pm for most days. If a sponsor expressed some interest in a branded show at 7 pm to replace that revenue, then maybe. As I say, I would love to see your prediction come true. Sports-talk radio got started in a lot of cities as nighttime fill-in local programming, and it's still alive here and elsewhere. The Ticket should get on board with that.
Your response shows that you know more about the off-air lives of Joonz and Danny than I do, and it may prompt a re-evaluation of my response.
Thanks to all.
As far as Norm leaving in 2013, I don't see it, barring any major health issue. He lives this stuff, and only has a two hour show. Could see him continuing, which is a bonus for the station for two reasons:
ReplyDelete#1 - Many people in DFW still like him, though they may not always come to this blog and posts. I usually enjoy listening to him in two hour doses, especially with the support casts that surrounds him now.
#2 - He is a national name that gives national recognition to the station. In some ways, keeping him until his retirement would be a lot like the Rangers getting Nolan at the end of his career. When the milestones are hit, he will be "wearing the Ticket uniform."
As far as this site, I could see the MTC giving more opportunity for others to start post and he himself retaining the over site of it and managing it while others do the main writing.
My one, "pulling it out of nowhere" prediction - Bob will be the next major personality to leave. Either to somewhere like the NFL Network, or more likely, the Stars hire him to try to drum up viewers/supporters when the NHL finally comes back.
Things I wish Dallas sports radio would get over in 2013. And I was Scruffy well before someone tacked Duffies on to it and opened an unrelated joint.
ReplyDelete1. Jason Witten. There's an over-reliance on his generic, boring quotes in seemingly every ticker. He's a great player. He's an overused interview and a mediocre talker. He also sounds like Rube from Major League 2.
2. Old Cowboys. The same squadron of Cowboys from 5, 20, 30 years ago get trotted out all the time. Is Drew Pearson that great at analysis? Why does Nate Newton still get air time? Does anyone care what Patrick Crayton thinks?
3. The Junes/Joonez/however you spell it nickname. Love me some Junior, but that name seems as forced as anything The Fan does.
4. Hardline music talk. I can dream, but not getting my hopes up. Perhaps they'll at least sound like they want to be there and did some prep work. Doubt that too.
5. Donnie. I'm not sure what he really adds. His points are usually generic and his backing of them repetitive. He's okay on Cowboys post game, but people listen for Norm to twist off.
6. Dan's obsession with derailments.
7. LHR from Gordo. As unlikely as Hardline stopping constant music talk.
8. GAC's self-serving nature. You can hear them patting themselves on the back for every lame-ass line along with the chuckling at their own jokes.
9. Cowherd.
10. Doocy. Every time he's brought in with a Muser or two it turns into a weird infatuation with local media. He's fine when they actually get away from inside media references and his whistling/DJ bits and do normal Muser talk.
11. The Fail playing music under EVERYTHING. I know there's a technical reason to do with a signal for the ratings, but their ratings suck anyway. Fix the crap product and the ratings may improve.
12. RaGE. I predict it's gone before the Rangers play an official game. Greggo is relying on his former reputation, Richie brings nothing but arrogance, and they've had 2 plus years to get a rating above a 2 against a Hardline mail-in and a GAC circlejerk. It hasn't been replaced yet because it would CBS admitting they have nothing and because there's no local types who haven't already failed in radio to replace them. Let football season end and I bet changes will happen.
13. Broadcasting from the Super Bowl.
Things I wish Dallas sports radio would get over in 2013. And I was Scruffy well before someone tacked Duffies on to it and opened an unrelated joint.
ReplyDelete1. Jason Witten. There's an over-reliance on his generic, boring quotes in seemingly every ticker. He's a great player. He's an overused interview and a mediocre talker. He also sounds like Rube from Major League 2.
2. Old Cowboys. The same squadron of Cowboys from 5, 20, 30 years ago get trotted out all the time. Is Drew Pearson that great at analysis? Why does Nate Newton still get air time? Does anyone care what Patrick Crayton thinks?
3. The Junes/Joonez/however you spell it nickname. Love me some Junior, but that name seems as forced as anything The Fan does.
4. Hardline music talk. I can dream, but not getting my hopes up. Perhaps they'll at least sound like they want to be there and did some prep work. Doubt that too.
5. Donnie. I'm not sure what he really adds. His points are usually generic and his backing of them repetitive. He's okay on Cowboys post game, but people listen for Norm to twist off.
6. Dan's obsession with derailments.
7. LHR from Gordo. As unlikely as Hardline stopping constant music talk.
8. GAC's self-serving nature. You can hear them patting themselves on the back for every lame-ass line along with the chuckling at their own jokes.
9. Cowherd.
10. Doocy. Every time he's brought in with a Muser or two it turns into a weird infatuation with local media. He's fine when they actually get away from inside media references and his whistling/DJ bits and do normal Muser talk.
11. The Fail playing music under EVERYTHING. I know there's a technical reason to do with a signal for the ratings, but their ratings suck anyway. Fix the crap product and the ratings may improve.
12. RaGE. I predict it's gone before the Rangers play an official game. Greggo is relying on his former reputation, Richie brings nothing but arrogance, and they've had 2 plus years to get a rating above a 2 against a Hardline mail-in and a GAC circlejerk. It hasn't been replaced yet because it would CBS admitting they have nothing and because there's no local types who haven't already failed in radio to replace them. Let football season end and I bet changes will happen.
13. Broadcasting from the Super Bowl.
I have forgotten what "LHR" stands for, if I ever knew. Did you mean LHO? I assume GAC means "Galloway and Company." A stout if grouchy blast from Scruffy.
ReplyDeleteYeah, GAC will always throw out the acronym, but will remind you in full form what it stands for. That always gets on my nerves. They ARE very self serving.
ReplyDeleteMust have London Heathrow on my mind, I did mean LHO. Sorry for the double post, btw.
ReplyDeleteI like the prediction about more local weeknight programming. I hope you're right on that one, d&c. Hope you're wrong about Danny, but after reading your follow up to Plainsman's response, I thought back over the last year or so, and you might be onto something there. Joonz leaving? I don't think so. The FAIL being felled? Yeah, it's been a long time coming, and their days are numbered. Agreed about Greggo heading west to Co. MTC changes? There's no way our Plainsman moves on. Though I do think he will actively try to get certain contributors to contribute in a more meaningful, substantive way.
ReplyDelete@BGilbert
Norm will at some point either be forced to retire by management or a health-related issue will force him to hang it up. I don't see either of the two happening this coming year. At least I sure hope not. Especially the latter. I hope Norm's around for a long time.
Yeah, Norm is not going willingly. He will die or be forced out.
ReplyDeleteTaking a break while getting last minute work done, at work...
ReplyDeleteI don't see either Danny or Jr Miller leaving. Speaking of Danny, it seems that he and Corbles are THL hosts today. Should be interesting. Back to it. My bold prediction is that 2013 is Mike Rhyner's swan song. In fact, I'll go so far as to say that one of the underlying factors in his continuing to hang on to a job that seems not to hold his interest is that Greggo is still at it. Seriously. I know he takes this "I could care less about him. Who is he again?" attitude to the Hammer, but it's been my experience that those who don't care, don't take shots. And Mike's taken shot after shot ever since Greggo was first fired. If RaGE does bite the dust, and Greggo does move off to Colorado, then yeah, I say Rhynes calls it day.
Okay, back to work.
The few times I've caught THL sans Mike Rhyner, the quality suffers greatly. Today is no exception. This shelf elf conversation is painful.
ReplyDeleteThe only person leaving this coming year is the Sturminator. With the 2012-13 NHL season lost, the Stars new owner decides to shake things up for the 2013-14 season and hires Bob as their color man. Razor, while loving Dallas, sees it for the dying hockey market that it is, finally bolts for greener hockey pastures with either TSN or the CBC...leaving the spot open for Bob and for Gagliardi to make the hire.
ReplyDeletePlainsman and a few others do overrate and overestimate MaSS. Would really dig it if what duckandcover predicts about the weeknights comes true,
Don't know anything about the Dark Cloud's personal life, but I can't see him leaving for anything. Besides, did we not yesterday possibly hear the future of Ticket pm drive? I thought he and Corby did a fine job. Given time to gel, and it could be special. Could be.
No offense Plainsman, but I'd rather not know what you look like or who you are. I like things here just the way they are. Though my gut tells me that something or somethings are going to change with the site. You're being a bit too coy about the matter, so I think something's afoot.
Some crazy, some bold, and some not so crazy predictions going on.
ReplyDeleteComings and Goings: Neither Craig nor Danny leaves. Bob to the Stars, now that's another story. That very well could happen. Interesting angle on Mike. Hanging on to spite Greggo. Huh. Interesting, but not likely. At least I would hope not. Such a motivation would speak volumes about Mike. None of it good. No. I can't see it. Mike's better than that.
Weekend shows and weeknight programming: Like most everyone else, I too would enjoy hearing local weeknight shows. Personally, I find the weekend shows, sans Ticket Sports Saturday/Sunday, to be piss poor (excuse my French). CdS is too spastic, MaSS sounds like something from out of Longview, TX trying its damnedest to be The Ticket. The Orphanage was entertaining when it was called The Rant, and when I was in my early-mid 20s. Now it's not funny, and is long in the tooth. Thankfully IJB hasn't been given a permanent slot. It's also weak. TC and Jake do fine jobs at board oping and the Top Ten. There they ought to remain.
James: I hate to break it to you, but "an historic..." is now acceptable in American usage. In British, not so much. It used to not be that way, but it is now. Then again "ain't" is now included in the OED. So go figure.
BBQ: No offense taken!
ReplyDeleteedfes: "an historical" may be acceptable, but it is by no means preferred. From the "grammarunderground" website: "Authorities that prefer 'a' include the Chicago Manual of Style, the Associated Press Stylebook, Bryan Garner, R.W. Burchfield, Bill Walsh, Theodore Bernstein, Eric Partridge and, perhaps best of all, Mark Twain." Brian Garner is my personal authority in his now-standard Dictionary of Modern American Usage.
You have got to come to My Ticket Confession for the latest in syntax news.
You do know that Bryan Garner lives here in Dallas(?).
ReplyDelete"A historic..." is preferred, but "an historic..." is no longer considered incorrect. That was my point. Indeed, James's claim that "an historic" is used in order to make one sound smart is backwards: unfortunately our society now looks down upon correct, much less preferable, usage. Go big, go dumb, or go home.
None of the main shows will go anywhere, why would they? Bob leaving for the Stars? No way they'd pay him more than he makes with his show and other writings and endorsements.
ReplyDeleteI'd love to see a weeknight show take place. I catch MaSS frequently and they're not overrated. I'd be real interested to see what they could do if they got a shot at being on every night. I think they've got something.
Danny's not leaving. He's got a nice setup with the Ticket and could easily slide in for Mike if he leaves soon.
I bet Ty or Sean leaves. They've both been there awhile and surely don't want to be life long Ticker guys. Can't be a lot of money in that for the future.
@516
ReplyDeleteWith all due respect, the Stars color guy (who does both radio and tv--simulcast) earns more than one half (third, now) of a midday am duo. It also offers up better and more lucrative endorsements and writing opportunities. Speaking of which, why would being on the Stars broadcast have any bearing on writing? In fact, you'd have more time to write.
Right there with you on Sean and Ty. Especially Ty. Both are IMO equally as good, but it seems as if Sean has more duties and is a part of more shows (e.g., Diamond Talk) than Ty. I could totally see Ty moving on. Going someplace where there's a chance for advancement/to a better position.
I'm a week one MTC reader, first time commenter. While the comments and discussion on MTC have always been good (it's why I'm a reader), lately they've been off the charts good. Therefore I've been inspired to join in the conversation. Here goes nothing.
ReplyDelete1. The FAN and RaGE isn't going anywhere. Too much money has been invested. CBS will give it at least another 2-3 years. What else are they going to do with the signal? FM political/lifestyle talker? Live 105 was a disaster here. Lefty talker? Air America, with all that dough behind it was an embarrassing failure. Yet another Righty talker? The market's already too saturated. Tejano? Saturated and its numbers have seemed to peak. Nope. The FAN will stay put.
2. MTC is going nowhere and neither will there be any changes. I've been reading this site since its inception, and the Plainsman enjoys moderating, pontificating, and being somewhat of a person of interest far too much to either close shop or alter its modus operandi. By the way, I like the site as it is now and has always been.
3. No host will leave confines of The Little Ticket. In this economic climate, only a fool would. As bad as things have been since 2008, 2013-15 might prove to be even worse. Much worse, in fact. Will a weekend host or a Ticker guy or board op or producer leave? In all likelihood, yes. However, I don't think it'll be Danny. The idea that either Ty or Sea Bass might leave is a pretty safe bet. Where else can they go in the company? Management? Perhaps. Though I can't imagine either one went into this business to get into the management side of things. Who knows? Goals do change over time.
4. For listeners like us (I assume most MTC readers are die-hard P1s), the weekend programming is important. Same can be said for the idea of weeknight programming. I'm fairly certain that the vast majority of listeners have little interest in either period of programming hours. Thus I don't think management has any interest in weeknights, and only slightly more in weekends. Though the same cannot be said of The FAN. They are actively, and smartly, trying to establish a foothold in both areas. The upshot, then, is that I see no changes in either weekend or weeknight programming. Besides, while I think Scot Harrison is good, he's still quite the work in progress. As evidenced by MaSS's showing this afternoon/early evening. Matt McClearin is decent where sports talk is concerned, but other than that, he's too (by his own admission) "unique" to appeal to the normal everyday Joe and Jane Schmo that a station like The Ticket depends on for the majority of its listenership. The Sirois brothers are good. But they're not good enough. I'm sorry, but I don't consider It's Just Banter to be a viable option, thus I won't comment any further on it/Jake and T.C.. In all candor, these last few days (and every dry dock), at times, painfully shows just how talented and singular the regular hosts are at their jobs. Without them, The Ticket quickly becomes nearly indistinguishable from The FAN or the local ESPN shows. Yes, the lingo, the bits, and the segment staples remain, but it's not the same, on any level.
A grateful welcome to Legacy Confessor Two Point Conversion.
ReplyDeleteBBQ suggests that I and others overrate MaSS. I do think it's good, quite true, one example among several of the CTO working to present solid original Ticket-sourced weekend programming.
But I will say this: I must reluctantly agree with those who say that Matt, before he commits one more syllable to the air, has absolutely got to get his governor adjusted. I can live with broadcast decisions that some might consider, let's say, "quirky." But that segment today featuring what I guess were his office Christmas party parodies was the most vulgar stretch of broadcasting I have ever heard on The Ticket. (I did not catch the whole segment and if I'm in error in attributing that to Matt, I apologize and transfer my bile to whoever is responsible.) Jeff C must have jumped straight up out of his chair before passing dead out.
The bleeped stuff was bad enough, but the unbleeped stuff was incredibly coarse and inappropriate even by the relaxed standards of The Hardline. I like and have defended Matt in the past, but he needs a stern talking to. I would also hazard the recommendation (always welcome by the CTO) that Scot be placed in sole charge of the show content with prior notice of Matt's proposed bits, and veto/edit authority.
It's not just a matter of the language itself. Broadcasting crap like that colors the whole show. And not just that particular episode, but with how people view MaSS itself. One wonders when they (and, heaven forbid, a female companion or children) will once again be subjected to another eruption of graphic sex talk.
And the worst sin of all?
It was desperately unfunny.
Two Point: How did you find MTC on Day One?
ReplyDeleteFirst off, thank you for the warm welcome. It's been long overdue on my end, but I'm glad that I finally made the jump.
ReplyDeleteI don't quite recall the first post or so. I want to say that they were related to Greggo's departure and The Hardline (I want to say something to do with Corby's role). I started reading your work in the Whitt's End comment section. If memory serves, you used to refer to Greggo as "Heehoo," yes?
Today is not the first time Matt McClearin has made me shake my head. I remember his Thanksgiving story about a gas station restroom and, how do I put it, a certain sort of "graffiti." That segment was completely out of control, unnecessary, and unfunny. Again, if memory serves, several of your commenters felt the same way. After today's foulness, I'm not sure if we'll hear MaSS on Monday. Or perhaps a Matt-less version will take the airwaves.
@Plainsman@TwoPC
ReplyDeleteHey fellas, the McClearin bit was a replay from his fill in duties with the Musers the other day. Cat did approve.
See here:
http://www.theunticket.com/dirty-christmas-songs/
Thanks much for the information, ARS.
ReplyDeleteThis was a rebroadcast? That is extremely disappointing. I don't know whether a rebroadcast means that the station found it to be acceptable content, but it's not an unreasonable assumption.
Look, I know I'm a little more Granny Bluenose than some P1's about profanity and orifice/genitalia humor, but that was truly hahrrrible.
Hate to say it, I try to keep this joint upbeat -- but those two segments embarrassed The Ticket.
As long as we're on the subject of MaSS: edfess, what did you mean when you said above that it sounds like "something out of Longview"?
ReplyDeleteI completely disagree about the MaSS bit. I thought it was hilarious and one of the funniest things I've ever heard on the Ticket. Bold and well done.
ReplyDeleteMcClearin can be way out there but I heard the bit on Thursday morning originally and Craig and Doocy both found it to be quite funny.
Tastes unquestionably differ and I'm not criticizing anyone who thought it was funny or OK for the air.
ReplyDeleteMe, I was truly revolted by the content. I didn't hear Harrison doing much laughing, and I felt like the JV laughter was more out of shock that bilge like that was on the air than appreciation of comedic content. As far as the first broadcast is concerned, I didn't hear it but I would think that even a disapproving colleague would try to larf his way through it rather than hit the dump button, tank the segment, and embarrass Matt.
Maybe they were truly amused. I got no probs with you being amused. In the words of the immortal John from Plano, "Well, I'm not." (Or was it "Well I don't"?)
I meant that MaSS sounds like a show being broadcast from a station in Longview (small-mid-size East Texas city, pretty hickish). I've lived in Huntsville, Lubbock, and Temple, so I know the 'feel' of these kind of stations. They'll get one local guy who has pipes, tries to mask his drawl with little success, and someone from up North who is trying to break into the biz and will take any job offered. The pairings are almost always awkward. The same can be said for the content. And they usually try to imitate some show from a successful station in the nearest, larger market.
ReplyDeleteI was completely shocked by Matt's fill-in job for Gordo on Thursday. The Christmas sons bit was way over the top in my mind. While the Ticket says things that could be questionable (see my post about listening in public on iHeart), this was different. I understand that you beep out words that were said that cant be aired, but usually it is when something "slips." But this purposely doing it, which is happening more and more in radio, t.v.,etc. is baffling to me. I guess I fall under the heading of, "If you have to be vulgar to be funny, you're probably not."
ReplyDeleteBut as I consider it more, it seems like a bit that would fit in with the Ticket in its earlier years and not now. And maybe that is the issue - the newer, younger guys are going to push the envelope more and more as they cut their "on-air" teeth. The problem comes when you push the envelope on a station like the Ticket, which is close to the edge already.
Two Point:
ReplyDeleteWow, you have one amazing memory.
Yes, my very first Ticket commentary appeared not here, but under "The Plainsman" name in a comment section to another blog, but I would not have been able to recall for you that it was Richie's. Probably was, though. That was quite some time before I started this joint . . . as I said, amazing memory.
And you're absolutely right, I did refer to Hammer as HeeHoo, as in Rhyner's locution "He Who May Not Be Named" back in the days when hosts were not permitted to refer directly to Williams. Although I think I may also have used that name in these posts back in the beginning.
Yeah, the comments related to my speculations of what was going on behind the scenes after Hammer was invited to relax away from The Ticket. A chick thought I sounded hot, a couple guys thought I was slinging solid material, another one or two thought I was a complete windbag. I concluded after only a couple of posts that I wasn't observing proper commenting protocol, so I quit.
Man, it's amazing that anyone would have associated those early lay comments with this site, but you're right, sure enough. Wonder if those comments are still around.
To his credit, Richie Whitt has owned up to his, uh, premature report of Dez Bryant's season-ending surgery:
ReplyDeletehttp://dfw.cbslocal.com/2012/12/14/whitts-end-12-14-12/
Hey -- it could happen to anyone.
I did not think that the Xmas songs were that bad. Sure, the segment was much like what you would hear on Stern/O&A, but censored. I was more put off with the Hardline from (IIRC) Wednesday. During their opening segment before Mike's Mind, Danny and Corby went on for minutes on some sexual acts which Mike and Jake would perform. Both kept talking, trying to one up each other in terms of using porn terms.
ReplyDeleteCDS nfl picks of the porn for your sunday football enjoyment
ReplyDeletehttp://tinyurl.com/clp5nol
It was "Well I don't."
ReplyDeleteAnd, if I can make my own small little STD... John from Plano is the funniest bit of radio the Ticket has ever broadcast.
Funnier than Fake Santy Claus. Funnier than Fake Seattle Slew. Greater than Homer Call of the Week (well, what it used to be in the first few years, when Paul Allen in Minnesota made me smile with schadenfreude). Greater than Ghetto Jeopardy. Funnier than Davey Lane's Monkey-Genitalia bit (as bizarre as that was). Shit, even funnier than Norm in Sachse, which has been underutilizeda and underrated. Funnier than the David Robinson Also prank/fight. Funnier than the Chaunci Fart Machine.
John from Plano had me laughing harder than anything I've ever heard. Probably since it was real and unscripted, I found it even funnier than Gordo's bits. I replayed it whenever I could find it on Drop Page Radio. When Grubes would queue it up at 7:00 after the Hardline sign-off, I would wait in the driveway for it to complete. John in Plano is a Ticket Legend.
"Cobra, John in Plano is at 2 hours, 1 minute, and 56 seconds."
I have a weird memory. The things I should remember, I can't; the thing's that aren't very important (no offense) I can.
ReplyDeleteAnother week or two or so of dry dock. I must say, I'm not looking forward to it. I've already grown weary of the fill ins. Though I do hope Danny has a healthy presence as a proper host. I'd be interested in seeing if whether he can be the/a focal point of a show on a daily basis, and not slide into Orphanage/Rant mode.
We've gotten a bit off the prediction point, which is OK, but I'm enjoying the Nation's thoughts on what's to come. Here are a few of mine:
ReplyDelete(1) Michael Gruber, Dirk Nowitzki, Brian Cuban, and Weekend Tickerman Mitchell Kerasik will form a consortium and purchase The Ticket from Cumulus for an undisclosed sum and a ham sandwich. Grubes will assume control over station management and will permanently reassign Jeff Catlin to oversee the constant replenishment of BaD’s and Norm’s stable of interns.
(2) Gordon will permanently lose all of his endorsements when he blurts out that he’s never actually been to Raising Cane’s.
(3) Sometime in late spring or early summer, an episode of “What’s on Mike’s Mind” will air without Mike uttering a single syllable.
(4) Cumulus will announce that it’s working on improving The Ticket’s signal.
(5) Corby will join the professional marathon circuit. Will run into trouble with his first urine test when he tests negative for urine.
(6) Richie Whitt will modestly admit that yes, it’s true, he’s dating Megan Fox’s cuter sister.
(7) The Hardline will take a call.
(8) The International System of Units will announce that the frequency of the sound of Bob Sturm’s voice has been determined to vary so little from high to low that it will replace caesium-133 radiation cycles as the basis for the atomic clock upon which modern timekeeping is based. When informed of this, Bob will say: “Awesome.”
(9) The fragile edifice of host solidary will begin to crumble when one of them casually mentions that he’s considering non-renewing his endorsement deal with All-Pro Foundation Repair to pursue other interests.
(10) Craig Rosengarden will kick George DiGianni’s ass.
Wow. Plainsman. You REALLY did write jokes and parody songs for FM radio. Good gawshamighty, man. But hey, if you're gonna go Kidd Kraddock on us, well, go Kidd Kraddock. Well played, Sir.
ReplyDelete(11) Craig "Junior" Miller will tragically violate Johnny Carson's "Comedy Rule of One Too Many" when, incorrectly perceiving that his self-nickname "The Joonz" has achieved widespread humor acceptance, he further shortens it to "the Joo" and is hounded off the air by the Anti-Defamation League.
ReplyDelete(12) George Dunham will drop his opposition to fracking when the largest self-contained source of domestic methane is discovered under his vast real estate holdings in East Jeebus or wherever the hell it is he's moved off to, which BP geologists will name "the Jub Outgassing" in his honor.
(13) Outraged P1's will finally have had enough and will dognap SweetJack and haul him off to Man's Best Friend, where his irrepressibly cheerful bargain-flogging will result in his severe mauling by a pack of previously docile six-toed Norwegian lundehunds.
Just a few tidbits from the FAN confessor- RAGE was beating GAC handily throughout 2011-so the 2 years of nothing thing doesn't really work.
ReplyDeleteChanges are coming, but for the better, and The Fan/CBS LOCAL Dallas Sports Radio will be here a LONG time to come.
@TheDude
ReplyDeleteDo you think the Christmas tunes were funnier than Murderous Norm? That's not an "official" name (he wasn't ever given one), but if you'll recall there was about a week of interviews that culminated with the listener being able to hear Double/Triple-fake Norm say "give me the phone" in the background, tell George/Craig about how the interviewee was a "good man", and then promising said interviewee no funeral. REALLY funny stuff, IMO.
@The Plainsman
I like how you removed animal cruelty from (13) by making it cruelty at the hand of other animals (i.e. nature). And by the way, thanks for the mention of my granddad's art in a previous post! I check in here when I can, and yes, I'm pretty proud of the guy.