Thursday, May 23, 2013

Cheap Thread-Refreshing Tease

Is it possible to have a Scorching Ticket Disquisition (= STD, for newcomers) about Ben & Skin?

I'm developing one.  But it needs some seasoning.

After almost two weeks, what are you all thinking?   Those of you who are punching out on Corby or The Hardline generally (and anyone punching out on the last hour of BaD), how are things looking up the dial there?   Send us a dispatch.


43 comments:

  1. As much as I would like to break away from THL, B&S make me want to chew on a revolver. I listen to Bad Radio and after WTDS I usually make it about 30/45 minutes before I switch over to music...

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  2. +1 to Tommy Lee

    I really hope for B&S to give me something during the post-WTDS break and during punch out segments like 'Mike's Mind' and Music Talk. They just don't work for me. It feels like a Ticket weekend show at best.

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  3. I'm pretty much with Tommy Lee. I remembered one of the reasons that Ben drives me crazy. If you listen long enough and they have a guest on or reference someone, Ben will make up some kind of story, I'll give you an example. Remember the time that Plainsman got hammered and went streaking on the SMU campus during rush week? Man I can't believe he did that.

    Just stupid schtick, but it's every day it seems like. It used to work on the weekend shows but man it whips my ass.
    My evaluation of the show is that it runs out of gas around 5 and they can't wait to get out of there. If you tune in at 5:50, they're already mixing and mingling and then they're done by 5:55. It's kind of comical and I've made it a daily game to see how far past 5:55 they go, because that's what time I typically get home. You're the new guys again and supposed to be the #1 show on your station, but you can't wait to get out of the door. Just kind of weird IMO.

    Stay hard and keep jamming.

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  4. I've never really cared for B&S, mostly because I associate them with basketball, my least favorite sport. So in the post-RaGE era my punchout has been Russ Martin with a fallback to GAC.

    I assume B&S are sticking there most compelling content at about 3:20. If they're not, they are not thinking this thing through very well.

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  5. I have never liked Ben and Skin. I used to try to explain it: too much basketball, too boring, non-distinctive voices..but the truth is, I can't explain why I don't like B & S anymore than I can explain why I don't like mayo. I just don't.

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  6. @Autocorrect

    That's how the clock works. The segment starts at 545, the next show comes in during the segment and we're supposed to break at 555-556.

    We've had a blast over the last two weeks. It's been a lot of fun. I hope you guys will continue to give us a chance whenever you can!

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  7. @KT
    We're used to the mix and mingle on the Ticket that bleeds over into the next show's hour. I know it helps THL kill a segment or two with WTDS, which is typically the highlight of their show because of spontaneity. There's not much spontaneity and energy IMO when Skin tries to rush through mixing with GBN to get out of the door. It's your last segment of the day and last chance to keep listeners but it seems to me almost your weakest. The chemistry isn't there between the two shows, and if you're worried about clock over content, how are you going to be successful?
    Also KT, you didn't address Ben's schtick of making things up about people and situations that never happened. Are there people that actually think that's funny? Or when they did hidden audio the other day( I have no idea who they were doing it to but you could tell he didn't buy into it).
    Sports radio isn't easy, I get that and I know you're working your ass off. Good luck and I hope it gets better.

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  8. @Ron
    I'm a big basketball fan but I'm not a Mavs fan so I can't really get into them because it seems like it's Mavs or nothing.
    I've also punched into RMS, and I haven't done that in, well, ever but when it's all you've got, it's all you've got.
    THL has pretty predictable programming, WTDS goes from what, 2:50-3:20, then Mike's mind which is so hit and miss lately, then I punch out because there's rarely any prep for e-news so there's no telling what kind of misinformation you're going to hear.
    Question, how much show prep do you think THL does? Other than their music segments where they have music queued up on their iphongs, is there really any other prep?

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  9. Autocorrect's criticisms are unfair. Although I am certainly no P1, chemistry takes time to develop. Keep in mind that Gavin surely had his eye on drive time and this can't be terribly comfortable for any of them yet.

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  10. @JAP1
    Not sure about unfair, I'm unbiased. I want good stuff to listen to on my way to and from work.
    Look, you can look at my posts on this site, I'm no shill for THL, my pecking order for KTCK enjoyment is:
    Musers
    BAD
    THL
    TT10
    Norm
    You won't get a funnier segment of the day than the 840 bit.
    For the Fan it's:
    GBN
    New School
    B&S
    Elf&Slater
    GBN isn't number one because I'm a huge homer, I just think that combination of Dawson and Arnold work best. Their segments flow, they don't make up shit and their chemistry has been good. That being said, I didn't expect them to slide into drive time, I'm not sure their show translates to any other spot than the one they're in right now, no knock on them.
    In regards to B&S, I want them to do better, I want another option because I can't hang in with a full THL and if Rhynes wasn't on that show I'd be gone. He's worth millions to that station because of the drive time anchor value he has.
    You mentioned chemistry, and let me tell you, if B&S don't have the right chemistry or flow of a show, how much longer is it going to take? They were on the Fan before and after it flipped formats, then ESPN, and now back. In my 15 years of sports radio awareness, the successful shows have chemistry in the sense of their flow, you have a good idea what's going to happen and what to expect. I'm starting to see that with the New School show, they're starting to get a good flow. I'm relegated to them in the mornings at home because the 1310 signal sucks so bad in Plano.

    I don't even comment on ESPN because any station that has that much network programming, I have no interest in with the exception of Ranger games.

    Does that give you a better idea JAP1?

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  11. Plainsman-----where's that STD on Gordo you talked about last week?

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  12. Tend to agree with tommy lee about B&S - The HL still is the better show . Looking forward to Danny's RATT report today . I find myself being more tolerant of Corby , give him some credit for being prepared and giving a good effort to be interesting , there is probably an age demographic that connects with him , not me .
    BaD Radio is becoming a very informative and interesting listen , I get solid sports from Bob , confusing thoughts from Dan while Donnie keeps them rolling . It has turned into a very good show .


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  13. You mentioned chemistry - chemistry between the two separate shows; I was just responding to your comment. I don't think much of Ben and Skin, but you were calling out KT for his bosses not having chemistry with other hosts. Rather than addressing what you just wrote, I will go back to my point that creating chemistry between the two shows is going to take time. I never said Ben and Skin don't have it. It seems they do to me. I just don't care for it.

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  14. Interesting stuff on the new IJB. Their first segment. Episode 188.

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  15. I admit (as I have on this site before) that I'd be a GBN P1 if they entered drive time. It's hit and miss now as I don't get to listen a lot after work hours. No offense to B&S, but I hope GBN is next in line. Anyone know how their ratings are?

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  16. Sorry for the false alarm. They edited out the good stuff. Won't post details, but I think there is some internal strife with Tom.

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  17. @112
    Well, uh, what was it that you heard that's no longer there? Specifically the stuff that gives you reason to think there's something going on with Tom. Give the goods, buddy.

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  18. I for one, will miss Galloway when he retires. Galloway is old school and hasn't completely given away to all the politically correct BULLSHIT we have to put up with today. I miss the "old" Galloway....the one with the idiot alert. This "Stretch" guy isn't helping much!

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  19. I made it to 3:40 today before Corby drove THL into the ditch.

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  20. I've given B&S about 2 segments per day since they went on the air. Just Another P1 said it best: "It feels like a Ticket weekend show at best." I see zero progress from those boys since their Ticket days. The only thing different is that they now have athletes and local front office types as guests, whereas in the old days it was always some buddy of theirs who was basically the caucasian version of Computer (that is, a Cowboy super fan). Other than that, it's the same old same old. I like KT, and I know it's early in the game/the relationship-chemistry with B&S, but the sort of 20-something wild and crazy I'll do/am up for anything KT persona and anecdotes come off as forced. I'm not saying they're not real or that KT is putting on an act. But it does come off a tad forced, contrived. It's like B&S is desperately trying to create The Ticket bunker mentality and years of close relationships in all of 2 weeks. And it shows, as it sounds manufactured, not organic. There's also the hyperactivity issue that, IMO, plagues their presentation. It's like they are both so amped up to deliver either the opinion or wacky (usually self and/or inside joke-referential) line, they fail to listen to what the other has to say. It almost comes off as if they script some segments. Finally, I oft times get the feeling that they purposely take opposing sides to issues. And thus they deliver what comes off as an affected point-counterpoint segment; one in which either one or both sides are presented in a rather shallow fashion.

    In short, I don't find the show very compelling. As most everyone says, they seem like two likable guys; the kind of guys you'd want for friends, neighbors, brother in laws, etc. I bet they're a load of fun to have a beer and a sports or pop culture conversation with, and to get some inside scoop on the local media and sports scene. But they just aren't compelling enough to be a long term success as a duo. There's a reason they've failed at 3 gigs already (and yes, I know they opted out at ESPN, but make no mistake about it, they were consistently crushed by both The FAN and The Ticket in their time slot). I would, however, be interested in hearing either Ben or Skin on their own. Perhaps denied of the crutch of the other half of the duo, they would mark out a distinctive and compelling voice?

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  21. @BBQ
    On the crutch issue, I couldn't agree more and I think FSN agrees with you as well since they have Skin on their broadcast. Pretty amazing for a guy that hasn't done well on radio to land a partial tv gig that I can see getting bigger for him.
    We need to keep an eye on this splitting up thing. Like a few people have mentioned and I agree with, they sound so much alike that I'm often asking myself who the hell is talking, I guess, and then figure out that it's the other. Pretty annoying, especially when they have different points it's like a guy arguing with himself.

    And hey, I'm not saying I could do any better, because I have less than nothing, just want to put that out there fellow MTC'ers.

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  22. Boring! Even Galloway is better than these guys. But I can definitely see why Spittle loves them...they fit in with the rest of the Fan hosts, unlike RAGE.

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  23. I love the Guys Night Out events they have. Gordo's great, but his true radio genius comes out at these and he's very comedically spontaneous.

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  24. I'd like to hear more about the now removed IJB #188!

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  25. I agree with @BBQ and @Just Another P1. BnS lack what I want in radio in which I would consistently want to listen to. I can get better entertainment from XM and even other sports radio shows which are fully on podcast.

    As I have stated in previous threads, I appreciate how they "hustled" themselves into a weekday show in a major market without previous professional experience, however after three full-time efforts on two Top 5 market stations, "The Game is Up!", as Principal Rooney would have said.

    As a duo, they have parlayed themselves into two good contracts, and Skin has gotten a TV gig to boot, but they are essentially trying to get more out of those who replaced Stern on terrestrial. (Trying to be Adam Carolla without taking the financial risk to be "Adam" without a radio frequency. I have said it before, if they want to be more successful at radio, they needed to move to a lower market and prove themselves there. Primogeniture does not and will not work out well in entertainment a BNS is a far acorn from the "Ticket Tree".

    What else does not assist either them, THL, or any other PM drive radio show is that the internet at work has given most of us more information on the stories they picked to cover in a show meeting. The news cycle has already passed them. Last week, Corby gave an eNews on the CBS fall upfronts, but we knew them at the same time! Plus, he also failed to spend the week talking about the networks who announced their new shows days earlier, both NBC and ABC. That should have been part of the whole week of eNews. But he got his new Pings!

    Corby is the DFW version of Ant of "Opie and Anthony".

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  26. You can listen to IJB 188 on the IJB website.

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  27. @Autocorrect 1205

    Yeah I was just saying that it's not a deal of them being in a hurry to slide out the door. It's just the way the clock is, and the clock is strictly enforced at The Fan.

    It's all weird for me too, coming from The Ticket where you can get away with floating.

    As far as chemistry with other shows, that's a really hard thing to evaluate just 9 shows in. I'm still developing a chemistry with them, and it'll probably take a while considering i'm the only member of the show who hasn't worked with them for the last 3 years.

    I'll say this, we're all working hard and we just want you to tune in every now and then. I'm having fun though and getting more opportunities than I should probably be getting. It's been awesome.

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  28. DA: Good point re the news cycle and Internet news delivery. I wander during Muse, E-News, and Quick Hits and almost anything purporting to tell me newsy things. I've read it already and in many cases, having read the story more thoroughly than Gordon or Corby, I know it better than they report it.

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  29. @KT
    I'd really hate for this thing to fail and you be stuck out without a gig. Was a fan when you were on the am side of the dial. I'm sure you will not be able to return to the little ticket if this thing gets cancelled in a few months.

    Hope you gave this alot of thought, considering nothing has worked vs. 1310am. I tried to give B&S a listen on the first day, but the confessors above sum it up. You can't tell who is who and it got really annoying, really fast. Good luck!

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  30. KT, I caught the pre-Galloway hour , and it was pretty good. BaD was just a little too silly. I stayed all Galloway today. Laughed at Mostly Mosely. Things got tense with Stretch getting too worked up in one segment. It was a complete Hardline-free day. That doesn't happen often.

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  31. OK wait, I guess I did catch some of thier Doors talk...

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  32. @The Plainsman,

    I am NOT detailing issues in DFW, but SF/OAK just had a Cumulus OM/PD replacement this week. have yet to look into the Catlin issues in DFW but...

    Bill Pugh just took over with two Cumulus SF stations this week. While both are on the FM side, Pugh has previously ran Yahoo Sports Radio and most recently worked for Clear Channel in San Diego. Pugh is the brother of Dan Patrick (Pugh is their family surname).

    http://news.radio-online.com/cgi-bin/rol.exe/headline_id=n26944

    I have thoughts on the GNO roundtables, but will give it a little time for it to settle in for me.

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  33. Rock on with ya badself, DA. Looking forward to your HSO on GNO.

    Still looking forward to your Gordon Keith HSO/STD, and now your B&S STD, Plainsman.

    Get up with the downstroke, and let us read these babies, P-man.

    As an aside, and to add fuel to the DA fire from the last 4 or so months...........P-man, if I were you I wouldn't be too worried about ruffling feathers where your STDs are concerned, and about anyone. Cuz this thang we know as sports guy talk radio and talk radio in general, especially on the AM side of things is about to get all apocalyptic up in here-a. I think DA can confirm. So hold on to your hat and buckle up, it's gonna be a helluva ride......and the hangover is gonna be a bitch.

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  34. @1037 Anonymous

    I did give it a lot of thought. It was hard to leave The Chicken, but when we're talking about a pay raise, a promotion, more on air opportunities, and the ability to quit my office day job, it really ended up being a no-brainer.

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  35. So will there be an Orphanage tomorrow?

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  36. Good Lord! Just went to Greggo's blog again. Will somebody please offer their proofreading services to this guy? Sheesh. He writes like a 3rd-grader, and can't spell. He uses "except" when he means "accept".
    I don't care if he has something to say, because of the way he says it.

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  37. But...but... he was an English major in college...and only has written in copy the last 30 years! Be careful, Wil Riggs will beat you up.

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  38. I haven't been able to catch much B&S lately, but I've had a mixed reaction to them so far. They're still working on rhythm, timing and chemistry, and I've seen some improvement there, but it's still hard to listen sometimes. I have to say though, regardless of how bad some segments are, Josh's Internal Monologue makes up for all of them. I thought that was some gold.

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  39. Out on B&S , gave it a shot , it just does not seem to have any variety in presentation or content - it is a hard listen for me .
    Rolling with HL & GAC -
    KT will be fine , you have to take your shots at opportunity when your young , if B&S flops , his skill set will be very marketable , plus he left the Ticket correctly without burning bridges .
    Plainsman , I like your Dan Patrick sizzle , something is cooking on the radio stove ........
    BTW , I like Galloway , but he is making a lot of on air miscues lately , maybe he needs to hit the paddock .
    I also agree that greggos awful grammar and punctuation minimizes his message - my grammar is not what it once was , but I am not high profile nor delivering a story . I am done with his blog , bad grammar , old Schick , failed message and he adds nothing of value to to my day . His story has become very tiresome.

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  40. As a guy that loves basketball, this market be brutal at times (especially after 3). Its why I always give B&S a chance.. Guess I was out of the office, but I didn't hear Skin talk that much about the NBA playoffs.


    My favorite show on 1310 is BAD radio. I think the B&S is similar to BAD and it hurts them starting out every day. Besides, how many people punch out from WTDS. The chaos on that segment can't be beat.

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  41. Skins jokes suck, and Ben good gosh what a fake that guy is

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  42. @Jay-G

    I punch out of WTDS every single day. i leave after Bad Radio's last segment before WTDS and I return about 3:32 when the Hardline starts. It is the most awful thing on any of the 3 sports stations in town. Weird that it would be the Ticket that has it.

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