Monday, November 25, 2013

Whither the Orphanage?



The demise of The Orphanage is regularly predicted by Confessors. I was never sure why, except that the show seemed to get under the skin of some listeners who show up here. It's been away the last two weeks. If there has been an explanation for its absence, I haven't heard it.

I only heard a bit of its replacement on Saturday. I believe it was Bruce LeVine and maybe Josh Bogorad? I didn't hear a name, but Bruce made reference to his partner, so I'm surmising. Nothing wrong with the show. Nothing distinctive, but an OK listen.

But it wasn't the Orphanage.

Some have tired of what they believe to be Danny's "act," the aging hipster music snob. Some feel that the ages have passed Dave Lane by. Some don't like the attitude, the nose-thumbing at show prep, the sometimes hung-over flavor to the whole thing.

I like all of these things, and I like The Orphanage. I would not like to see it leave the air.

But to everything there is a season, no? I am doubtful that either D or D is handsomely compensated for spending his Saturday morning on the air. Danny has gone into business which must require some of his professional attention, has musical irons in the fire, and he's still full-time on The Hardline (with, it seems, more absences than in the past).

No one has dropped me a line with any inside dope on the disposition of The Orphanage. Perhaps someone will. If it is the case that we have seen the last of it -- and, as Norm might say, with the greatest respect to Bruce LeVine and the other guy -- I hope the CTO will continue their policy of looking for some fresh voices among the JV. I'm not sure who it would be. For my money The Ticket has hit a home run with Cirque and The Shake Joint, and I also very much like any combination of Ty Walker, David Newbury, David Moore, Stewart Cedar, guys like that.

In the meantime, I'll remain hopeful that the Teebox will continue to hand off to Davey and Danny.

23 comments:

  1. I feel pretty much the same as The Plainsman about The Orphanage... Dave and Danny talking about new bands or records is always welcome, as well as sports and current events talk. I'll freely admit that butt, poop or misogynist talk makes me hit another preset button... But the ease of banter between them is something special. It's kind of like have a couple of buddies in the car while I run my Saturday errands.

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  2. Really Jake? "Prince Fieldaah"? Brooklyn Jake, White Boy Rapper Who Was Born, Raised, and Has Always Lived in the Metroplex.

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  3. The Ticket has established Saturdays 10 to noon as wheels-off anti-establishment programming like I used to hear on late-night public radio in the 70s. The Rant was particularly adept at this, but The Orphanage has filled in nicely.

    If D&D are hanging it up, I pray the little Ticket gives the slot to someone else with the same what-the-hell attitude. It's a great way to spend a few hours on Saturday morning.

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  4. ATTN JAKE:

    Stop saying "uh" after every word during the Mavs post game show. I figured work, but this horrible new crutch you haveadoptediskilling me!

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  5. Aaaaaaaaargh fn autocorrect. I dig his work,not figure it!

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  6. It wouldn't surprise me if one day somebody else had that spot on Saturday mornings. It is as it was deemed on the DO, "award winning background noise". I hope that somebody picks up the gauntlet after they go. More Sirois? IJB makes it to the big time?

    I don't know about you, but I am not sure I am ready for Ty Walker Chicken for 2 hours on White Elephant day. The best I can hope for is some sort of epic meltdown.

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  7. more sirois is almost always the answer, isn't it? in fact, wouldn't it be worth the curiosity to have all the jv-ers mixed into white elephant? so much so that, if they were chosen, shouldn't the regs have to pull the weekend shift?

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  8. Why on earth would the Varsity want to work weekends? Nonsensicalness at its finest there, 657.

    Totz down with a JV helmed show takeover of the 10-12 Sat am slot. It's high time, I'd say. One thing though is that I think Danny has gotten more open and honest about music. He used to cut everything down except shoe gazing alt country and anything not George Jones classic country. By the way, when he was in that phase, it also happened to be the kewl kid music de jour amongst local hipster scenesters and media (Dallas Observer that is) types. Now he admits to liking some of the metal from his youth and other more mainstream stuff. Davey's the real music snob. But he's always been that a way. He digs effeminate Brit sonic shoe gazing bands. Admits it. Admits what it is. Makes no apologies. I respect him for it. My deal is that I think the show needs to be put to bed purely because it ain't good. Nothing personal vs. D&D. Look, they don't care. So why should I? You tell me enough times that you hate your wife, well, after awhile, I believe you. D&D tell me for frickin' years now that they, the show, and whatever else sucks, well, I believe 'em. Guess what? It f'n shows. Poor product. I could give a rat's ass if whether they prep or whatever. I just care about the show. Guarantee you The Rant never prepped. Guarantee you Gordo and Davy were scouring the net while the show was on looking for weirdo stories (and listeners like myself were emailing 'em in, too). Crap is crap. TO is crap. I'm a late 30s dude. I get and dig the younger JV topics and I get the older Varsity topics and I get the in between stuff as well. So for me it ain't about demos or life experience. I also get that some of the older listeners don't wanna hear about some of the youngsters' ideas and whatnot. For me I just want a good show. TO doesn't give the goods.

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  9. beauty school dropoutNovember 26, 2013 at 10:45 PM

    @yamobethere
    First off, what an awful song to use as your handle.

    Agreed that The Orphanage needs to go. Agreed with others that it's run its course.

    I'd like it to stay on. But only if Davey and Danny act their ages at least most of the time. I don't mind the music talk. I don't care how old you get, if music is an interest of yours, you like to discuss it. My beef with them is when they begin to sound like guys 20 years younger than their actual ages. I'll never forget when Davey talked openly about his divorce. It was utterly compelling radio. It was adult radio. At the time he was in his early 30s I believe. The way Danny responded was just perfect. Of course you don't expect that sort of thing every week. Leaving the pain of such situations aside, if it was always like that it would make for depressing radio. There is, however, a middle ground between feces, misogyny, "x, y, and z, sucks" talk and an autopsy of a marriage talk. I've heard them do it. Problem is, they keep falling back on Rant type of tangents. Bigger problem is, Davey is either 40 or about to be and Danny is 46. That sort of content at their ages is, to be frank, embarrassing to listen to.

    Anyone have an opinion on Intentional Grounding?

    I really enjoyed it when they first went on air last year. Now, the NPR voiced, and in my opinion taking itself a bit too seriously, "existential" Cowboy talk has grown mighty stale. Big Bob has a wonderful voice, but I have to say that with each passing week I've begun to grow leery of some of his tales. I mean, sheesh, is there no historic Dallas related event or person or group of persons, be it musical, political, you name it, in the last 100 years that either a relative or himself has not been intimately tied to? At some point it becomes a bit much. David is great on his Ranch Reports. But there's a reason he's a writer, not a broadcaster. He has a weird voice and his (and Bob's) attempts to be "philosophical" fall rather flat. I think the show would be a lot better if they would give up the Cowboys theme and turn it into what it ought to be: a local socio-politico talk show. Like KERA used to run in the old days, before NPR took over. Sort of like the old Alex Burton Show. If anyone remembers him/his show.

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  10. Did anybody else get an uneasy feeling when the Musers discussed Craig's plans for Thanksgiving?

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  11. My dream Ticket show would actually consist of Big Bob and Gordo produced by Danny.

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  12. Shaggy -

    I'm right there with you, but I didn't want to be the one to bring it up. When was the last time Craig mentioned his wife?

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  13. I missed that segment. Would someone mind, please, recapping what comes off as uneasy?

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  14. The last time Junior mentioned his wife, she was going up against "Did you read the CBA" on Sharktank. She was trying to get money for her business selling "Privileged Girl Custom Free Range Jeans" where you can buy them online for $200/pair. I think she was pregnant on the show.

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  15. Craig went into some detail about what his dad was going to do for Thanksgiving, and what he (Craig) was going to do. But he always said "I" - never "we."

    Could be nothing, but it did sound odd.

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  16. Just to clarify, Junior's wife and her partner on Sharktank looked alike to me so the one that looked pregnant could've been the partner. The show aired a few months back and Junior promo'd it a couple of times.

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  17. Don't know a thing about it, but I can't see The Junes married long term to someone who goes on reality shows to sell a product called Privileged Girl Free Range Jeans.

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  18. Both Mike and Gordo got divorces without saying a word. So why would Jr be any different?

    If anyone knows about this, for sure, let us know.

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  19. Absolutely loving Buzz Barnett (?) doing the traffic. Attempted interview by The Musers this derailed by Gordon asking numerous questions intending to derail the interview. Guy must have rubbed Gordo the wrong way.

    Imagine Tom Gribble's Reporter Guy crossed with Lee "Hacksaw" Hamilton.

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  20. What makes you think Gordon is divorced?

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  21. Buzz was a very entertaining replacement from the usual traffic tart. Is he a new voice from the traffic service or is he a Cumulus in house talent?

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  22. Shaggy - I gathered from conversational context Craig is now separated from wife. He indicated:
    - he was spending Thxgiving alone
    - is now drinking heavier than Georgio
    - hasn't mentioned wife in quite some time

    P1 N

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  23. I hate Danny with a passion. He talks to g.d. much on the hardline and he sucks at being sensible. So dim, yet so opinionated. When Danny is on one of his ill-informed rants, I am forced by my subconscious to listen to that damned Christmas station. I will never forgive him.

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