Wednesday, May 20, 2015

And Now, Something Nice About The Hardline


I have not forgotten my obligation to muse on Cat's AMA.

*     *    *

I know.

I know.

I know it was kickass.

I know it was a bunch of aging funboys with some disposable income (a couple more than the others enabling them to luxuriate at the First Class Cabañas -- cue Vivaldi) off on a toot.

But I enjoyed the bejeebers out of Corby, MikenCash, and Jake talking about their weekend at the Hangout Music Festival.

I smiled all the way through it.

And they made me wish I were cool enough -- really -- to have hung out with them there.  I don't have a tiny fraction of their alcohol tolerance, but I can't lie:  It sounded like a lot of fun, I wished I could have been there, and I really, really enjoyed them talking about it.

And looky here, we got to hear some fresh pairings over the weekend.

I know I'll get roasted for this, but that's my report on today's listening.

And:  I wasn't tuned in for Letterman talk.




51 comments:

  1. Missed all of the Mushroom Roundtable. I deliberately punched out on Letterman Talk I when I got back in the truck.

    It sounds like you had the same sort of reaction I did earlier this year. Which award show? Grammy? Oscar? Don't know and care less. If he had spent one day on Letterman, that would have been fine, but a daily update and/or a week of awards shows I do not give a dang about are not what I want to hear. Out. Instead of exploring Mike's new found interest in stick and puck we get another E-News I actively avoid. Love me some bits, love it when they discuss things like wild ass behavior on the road, but I have little interest in what Kanye said or did. Letterman was cool and a groundbreaker, but I don't need to hear about him every single day.

    I'll second whoever said it isn't just that Corby doesn't know the material it is that when he is woefully unprepared he goes in superlative mode without any evidence to back it up. When Gordon is called for some background he at least has the honesty to admit he doesn't know anything else and Jer sounds the drop.
    Not out on Corby totally but there are certainly times he makes me punch out. I don't punch out when Mike is telling stories about BB King or Danny is telling tales, but Corby is usually at the root of my leaving the show. I do have to admit that.

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  2. I agree Plainsman, that Hangout/Gulf Shores segment was entertaining, and they did make it sound like a serious good time. I could've probably enjoyed about 3-4 hours of concert time, and the rest of the days would've been laying on the beach with a bucket of Dos Equis.

    As for firearms legal protection, they have to put the "lawfully use your firearm" caveat in there because some dumbass will seriously try to use the service after he/she had a drug deal go bad in his house, or after being the aggressor in a road rage incident. There are people that stupid in the world. The general idea is keeping the service in your quick dial in case you've had a break-in and had to defend your family/home/property. I remember reading most prosecutors won't waste time in Texas charging someone who shot and killed a burglar in their own house. Google Henry Goedrich Magee if you want a read on how a Texas Grand Jury views homestead break-ins, even when the perpetrators are cops with a no-knock warrant. So whoever runs the company knows at most their lawyers will need show up in the middle of the night and make sure the client says nothing to the police except the bare minimum, and everyone goes home. The website says they cover you in criminal and civil cases, however I believe you have immunity from civil actions in Texas in these types of cases (perpetrator was committing and convicted of a felony, or died as a result of using deadly force against you.)

    It's the same cost as Netflix to be covered for something more likely to happen than a lightning strike, and it's better than googling "criminal lawyer" on your phone while cops are coercing you to say something stupid before legal representation arrives.

    And no I don't represent the company.

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  3. I love sweet Normy Norm, but calling JR Smith "Josh Smith" is driving me crazy!

    Mushroom roundtable talk was excellent, I don't mind the Letterman talk this past week because it is a singular event. In mid July when the Rangers are 50 games back we'll be begging for something like Letterman talk everyday.

    Overall, I think the little ticket has picked its game up a bit.

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  4. Take 2 in 3 . . . 2 . . . 1 . . .

    In July when the Rangers are 50 games back, THL will have one Ranger segment - just like now.

    The rest of the show will be references to Braking Bad, Game of Thrones, Madmen, Letterman, and the Rolling Stones.

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  5. Is that girl from Zepperella?

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  6. I think her name is Simone Simons and I believe her band's name is Epica, or something like that.

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  7. Ty could be a Corby fact checker. Like at the end of PTI when they call them out on the BS they got wrong.
    Oh and I loved it when Danny grabbed the wheel and said "NO, you do NOT have time to bog down the show."
    "you're so mean."
    No, you ridiculous git. Stay on topic and get the segment done. You and Dan wreck the clock worse than anybody else on the station. It ain't all about you.

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  8. cactus, I haven't heard anyone called a "git" since the Beatles referred to Sir Walter Raleigh in this fashion.

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  9. Plainsman, I believe Harry Potter called Ron Weasley a "right git" in the first (or second?) Harry Potter movie.

    Just sayin'.

    (Edit: I just checked, and it was "a right foul git", in the fourth movie. Go me.)

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  10. I'm sure the word has popped up in many of the usual Brit pop-culture suspects, but thanks for the update.

    There are those who will argue that Lennon is saying "stupid get" (to rhyme with "cigarette," in the song "I'm So Tired" on The White Album), but "git" and "get" have the same meaning in Empire patois, viz., a foolish or contemptible person.

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  11. Indeed. Right after I submitted that last comment I thought, "He's probably talking about non-fiction here."

    There's one thing that comment moderation doesn't easily accomodate: retractions. =)

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  12. Just heard a sign off by weekend JV Ticker man, Kyle Ingram.

    He is heading to another gig at an Arkansas station.

    Kyle did a good job on Tickers whenever called upon to perform.

    Best wishes and good luck, Kyle

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  13. 32 male, P1-2, been in since 1997/8. Sometimes a lurker here and on Grubes, Reddit but still way removed from a lot of the rampant speculation and hyper-critique of our Little Ticket.

    My #1 issue has been and always will be the length of commercials. Which, even then, is like death and taxes. Unavoidable. They follow a format, an industry, rates, etc. It would probably be too much of a leap to convince the sales team to sell fewer but higher-margin ad space versus more for less. This would be a complete intellectual and strategic overhaul. Something a new station director with success of implementing these methods. Again, does this even exist?

    I can only look upon podcasts. Many very successful shows have a few, but pointed ads, that it does not disturb the flow of content. I do not know how much they make but the less is more method can be profitable.

    As far as THL, I wept when Sweet Greggo was going through his crap. I still have a very soft spot in my heart for him, that show and that time period. But what effectively happened with Corby and Danny is that THL demo-appeal flipped to the younger side of the 25-54, which was gold in their hands. That equals (equaled) me and I love it. I very much enjoy THL and particularly Corby and Danny's connection on sportsing, music, food, Dallas, etc. Their respectful play with Mike. I think it totally jives with my preferences and has set the show up to be successful within that demo for many, many years. Something that Musers, Norm, BaDD likely don't/won't have.

    My brother, friends and I see Danny out at shows they end up talking about the following day. Corby is a suburban DFW guy, went to a name-college, did the thing just like myself, my friends and a few generations now of DFW area kids. He's token DFW guy with some skill, some connection but also has shown major growth. He's not going anywhere and I hope he, Danny and Mike go on for another 10 years.

    The Ticket will keep doing its thing until they are 3rd, and 3rd for a very long time. You have to ride these things out and after being on top for 20 years, it's unavoidable. They will continue to display their brand of un-serious sports/life talk.

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  14. Another kick-ass vacation story coming up on Tuesday?

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  15. What can I say? As a self confessed vocabulary nerd it fit the moment.

    I could have said something about TC looking gormless most of the time. I had to ask about that one the first time it was thrown at me.

    Did anybody else catch TC throwing it to the 'over-enunciating Eli" at the Colonial? Feeling the heat or just jealousy? I'd trade Eli for TC and throw in a couple of gimme hats to boot. No, seriously I can up it to some jeans, boots, a couple of CDs, and a gift certificate to Fuzzy's.

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  16. Loved here Deuce on with George this morning. Memorial Day talk was really nice to hear as well.

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  17. I love Doocy, and I'm glad he occasionally fills in on the ticket.

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  18. Please make the Tom Grieve Show stop.

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  19. Gotta say Doocy with Razor (doing his best Gordo fill in) were prettay, prettay, pretty good this morning. Hope Gordo feels better and we have a full Musers staff tomorrow though.

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  20. Been a while so. . . . . .

    1. I know it's been, what, 3 weeks since the Cat AMA(?), but here goes: I can understand why Pman hasn't yet commented. The old adage "if you haven't anything nice to say, say nothing" comes to mind. Meaning, if I were Pman, and I went to all that effort (and it seems like it was a lot of effort), AND was asked by Cat to "bring it," AND what I got was basically nothing, well, I for one would follow the advice of the aforementioned adage. I'm not claiming that's why Pman has yet to give his thoughts, I'm just saying if that's the reason why, I totally understand it. In fact, Cat could've saved Pman and us Confessors the time/effort of thinking of/composing/sending in the questions/Pman's hard work by posting an "official" message saying: "I am not being fired or leaving my post." Because, that's really, at heart, why HE ASKED Pman to do the AMA. His answers were superficial, his attempts at humor came across more tone-deaf than humorous. While I didn't expect Cat to give us the answers we sought (either in detail or depth), I did expect a bit more than head in the sand "I got this" "you guys gotta realize. . . " b.s.

    2. I too caught TC's not so passive-aggressive jab at Eli. Time and time again, TC shows his true colors. He's no victim, far from it; he's an aggressor. He's also a rather envious person. I've tried to be patient with TC since his return. I'm now officially out on him. Frankly, I think radio is the wrong medium for him. He's a bad broadcaster with a bad, unmemorable voice. Norm has a bad voice, but it's memorable. While I do think TC has some good sports thoughts, he more often than not expresses them poorly. I think he could be a good sports writer. He would be able to both self-edit and be edited. This would help to clarify what he is and wants to say, etc. Perhaps this is his voice, the mode of expression that best suits him? It sure isn't radio, and Lord knows it isn't television.

    3.Day2-P1-2. . . . As regards your thoughts on THL, I think they represent the majority of listeners. I disagree with them (especially re the demo and its future), but again, I believe you represent the median, whereas many of us Confessors are outliers.

    4. Pure speculation here, but I think The Ticket we hear now and The Ticket we will hear in 5 years from now will be dramatically different. And I mean dramatically different. I believe the emphasis will shift from sports to lifestyle talk. Sports will be a facet of the station, but not the focal point. Despite much bitching about the TMZ-ification and the prioritizing of guy-talk over sports, sports-talk still predominates. I think we're seeing this in some of the weekend moves that are being made. In the nearish future look for: video game, movie, technology, and serial television shows. At first taking over weekend slots, eventually moving into more prominent roles. Specially when Norm, Mike and others begin to retire or move on/poached--which will happen.

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  21. Is there anyone on the planet that gets sick more than Gordon Keith? Anyone?

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  22. THL with only Mike and Danny is great so far. I've listened to Mike's mind and a segment on the rain deluge. Mike has the lead on the segment, and Danny has been active, but not overly so. No constant barrage of superlatives, both guys having plenty to discuss but not over each other. That's good good.

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  23. I agree with nonononever that the drive home tonight was pretty good minus Corby. Mike actually perked up and Danny held his own. This is addition through subtraction. How can Cat not get this? He has the blinders on and treats Corby like a helicopter mom watching over her precious child who can do no wrong based on his AMA statements.

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  24. In response to a previous comment, yes I do believe we are the minority when it comes to THL and Corby. I have friends who can't believe I don't listen to THL as much as I use to and especially can't believe I tune out when I know it's a Corby specific segment. Then again, they have no clue Reddit or a Ticket blog exists.

    I do however enjoy Danny and Mike together. Danny is much more respectful to Mike.

    And to Anon 1:22 #4 has me thinking of things I never thought of with the Ticket but I could see it as something that brought me back. Not the TMZ or E-News specific focus but more of the random guy talk that included what you have already listed. They will have to figure something out as I could see several of the hosts retiring in the next 5 to 10 years.

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  25. Memorial Day CDS and TSJ were both solid

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  26. Corby is a Mike hire, not a Cat hire. Mike favors him because he will take over a segment and Mike can coast. Occasionally, like today, Mike is forced to take the wheel and drive for awhile. And for my money the P1 benefits when he does.

    And what can I say?

    "So I was talking to Jason Witten . . ."

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  27. I've been accused of being willing to trade Stern for sports on my radio station. It ain't so. I like me some tales of wild assery and quick hit news, but I tuned in first because of sports. local sports. my teams in my town.

    Let me interject a point right quick. And ask a question or two.
    HS football, where else do we have a simulcast? Do the others even have a HS football fiesta?
    That is as local as it gets. Sports Sturm might not be into Texas HS football, but I sure am, and I am not alone in the Friday Night Lights.

    if it had been Justin and somebody else I might have listened. Punched out and went to tunes. Never made it back for the Kick Around and I like those guys too.

    He tried to talk hockey again. I heard it. With my own ears listening.
    Game 7s rock. Tamp and NYR. I want Chi to win because PERRY. Tell us of your stick and puck fascination Old One.
    Gosselin is a fan too. It isn't where he makes his money.

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  28. The Memorial Day shows, sans The Kick Around, left me thinking "if this is the future, there is no future."

    The reason I exclude TKA, is because they were the only show with a modicum of professionalism. The rest, including the middle aged man children Sirois', were of the "we're never gonna die" mindset. None of it consisted of something one could listen to day, week, month, year in and out.

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  29. Cat, if you're reading this, I don't give a blank about replacing Corby or TC or any other host. But I implore you - PLEASE fix the stream. If the stream affects ratings, then the stream going out every 5 minutes has to be a ratings killer, no? I usually give it 2-3 times and then I'm done for the day. It is infuriating and not worth the effort.

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  30. One of these days, I'm going to have a job where I can leave early on Friday and come in late on Tuesday and not be charged vacation time. I usually don't bag on Corby but Friday's Concert Calendar with Corby on the phone...c'mon man. You know your shift lasts til 7. Can't you plan your kick ass vacations accordingly?

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  31. Anyone else feel things have gotten really stale on air and the blogs since the campound? Is it the lack of local sports outside the Rangers resurgence, or is that just me? I know the ratings were a buzzkill, and we're still waiting on Plainsmans take on the AMA, but it just seems like it's been dull lately.

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  32. I haven't had a problem with the stream in a long time. Sounds like it may be your connection, hardware, or whatever app you're using.

    I stream the Musers and BaD every day via ooTunes, iOS 8.3, and a combo of iPhone 5 over wifi and iPhone 6+ over LTE and/or wifi. No buffering, no issues.

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  33. SERIOUS streaming issues with iheart radio. Shaggy-glad to know it might be the app (you seem to be more successful) A Potamus-right there with you...more times than I will admit to early this morning. I will try a different one, but The Sports Animal out of OKC (I'm in Tulsa) provides tolerable radio-gold from those that call in to the afternoon host to kick him in the nuts. KTCK can kiss this listener good bye if another app doesn't work.

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  34. A few threads ago, there were several people having the same streaming problem. It's not a buffering issue. It just stops. Cat acknowledged the stream was bad. It's definitely not the connection and I have the same problem with iheart and the Ticket app. I suppose it could be the hardware.

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  35. I am not one who streams very often. I am not interested in pause, rewind or that stuff; if I miss it i miss it. My streaming is usually limited to getting home around 6:30 after listening for the last our in the car.

    If I want to catch the last segment or two I will stream via phone because my laptop takes ~5 - ~10 minutes to come online. So when I do stream I just go to www.theticket.com and click on the listen live button. Rarely have problems but when I do it shows "Paused". Don't know if this is the stream or my phone.

    [Special request - would those of you having streaming problems set your issues to a Hitler video?]

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  36. I never have buffering issues when streaming, just the issue where a commercial will occasionally break up a segment. 90% of the time it's when I have paused a stream. If I've paused more than an hour the stream will at some point skip content to somewhat catch up. TuneIn app here on a Samsung Galaxy S4.

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  37. Hey Mr. Seinfeld expert . . . it was Mr. Pitt, not Lippman.

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  38. Ahh,it's good to still see all the people that feel as I do about the Snake. The last time I think I listened to THL, was when no it all, soap box preaching Corby was ranting about the frat kid and his silly, racist chant. I was so furious, I couldn't wait to get on here and vent a little! [...sorry Plains, I might have forgot your edict on the name calling. I know you're trying to run a clean ship here. Anyone that thinks Plains won't delete you, think again!]Yeah, but I'm passed ready for a change at Ticket drive. Bring in Shake J with Danny as producer...Cat!

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  39. The Kick Around is good good.

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  40. If TC gets butthurt over his gigantic laugh, I'm not sure I can support his efforts anymore

    Also IHeartRadio app is the leavings of a large farm animal. Its terrible on all platforms and all radio stations.

    I still think The Ticket should have a paid P1 area...all their archives, maybe some JV stuff, other goodies.

    Sorry for the negativity may you all have a wonderful sports day.

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  41. I am absolutely LOVING WTDS with the TC nut kicking. Would not be shocked if TC hands in his notice tomorrow!

    On the other hand I agree with comment above about things seeming stale lately

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  42. That barking, whooping goon with the WNBA voice, Gyna from Del Frisco's, bribed her way on to BaD radio today. She is just as bad live as she is on her horrific radio spots. If only the military would detonate an EMP device near the ridiculous bubble in which she exists. She really pushed the outer-limits of my anti-diarrhea muscles. Can't she transfer to the Laredo Del Frisco's?

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  43. That TC laugh is why we have TC. You have to have a designated nut kick-ee. Never leave, TC!!

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  44. Bler, an EMP detonation near Gina Cook would incapacitate a perfectly good steakhouse...though she is the GM of the Dallas location and the one I really care about is in Sundance Square. ;)

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  45. Danny's Soul Show last night was Greatness.
    That was the last person I would expect old school R&B from.
    It was a nice change of pace and because it was cut short by Diamond Talk he may do it again next week.

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  46. Did anyone catch the Danny Soul Show last night? Pure fantastic...

    The Thursday night free form radio is so fantastic, I just love it.

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  47. What is the deal with Del Frisco's? As bad as the current ads are, they are no worse than the old ads with Dee Lincoln and Dale Wamstead.

    BTW . . . Dee Lincoln . . . hot in her day.

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  48. Really disappointed that SeaBass' condom flub from earlier in the week was not up for the ebrake today. Much better stop down than absentee Corby.

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  49. I'll have to check out the Soul Show. Right now, I'm too upset that TC was upset by TOGW for e-brake honors. And TC wasn't even up for the laugh - it was for another misspeak. Stay hard, TC, we'll get 'em next time!!

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  50. LMAO Deezy. You make a good point. Although there's one closer to me as well. Come to think of it, I'd gladly sacrifice the Addison locale under the guise of a Jade Helm exercise if it means no more commercials with that barking noise.

    9:57 - it's not the ads, it's the barking voice dominating the mic, twisting the non-existent dimples on her cheeks every time she opens the hole in front of her face.

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