Got nothing much on my mind.
I've had a big change in my work which, alas, means a lot less Ticket listening. I'm hoping that will change soon, but for now I've missed a lot of shows I used to listen to frequently. Let's hope I can continue to make this site worthwhile. For now, I'm not planning on ending it.
Yesterday, I was able to hear a lot of 12-3. I was impressed. I know this may be a minority position, but I thought the show sounded really good. Dan seems to have gotten a lot more comfortable with the new arrangement, and I liked listening to both him and Jake.
A lot of you have not liked 3-7 for the same reasons you didn't like the Mike R Hardline -- too much Corby, too much annoying virtue-signalling political talk from him and Danny. Before my schedule got in the way, I had the opposite impression. I liked the new arrangement much better and I thought Corby and Danny both were more focused, more mature-sounding. After some initial uncertainty, Bob stepped up and provided the balance that show had lacked for some time. I have not been able to listen to much of that show since sports came to an end, but I can see how those improvements could wither with the lack of any sports to talk about.
Anyone out there actually liking the "new" Hardline? I'm going to make a special effort to tune in here in the next few days.
By the way: No excuse for not finding new names for these two shows. Maybe we should give Cat a hand and suggest some.
I still like the new Hardline. I just do. I think it works.
ReplyDeleteThat said, I listen less, because I don't drive much these last few weeks.
I'm OK with the new 3-7. My TSL is probably down because there is no real sports to talk about. Although Corby and Danny still find ways to push personal views into the conversation, I do believe there is not as much of it. I remember the last time Gen-X Davey sat in for Bob, he started to give a hot political opinion, stopped himself, and made some remark about how they weren't supposed to do that. No doubt an edict from the Catman.
ReplyDeleteBut I'm afraid that when we get to the post-virus blame game and the presidential campaign starts to ramp up the boys will return to form.
I love Cirque. I also love Mike's contributions on NormAndD.
ReplyDeleteI love the Orphanage. I do not love Danny's contributions on 3 to 7.
I think that's because Mike can make the necessary adjustments and Danny can't. Or won't.
For me I am listening a little more to Jake and Dan and a little less to 3-7. Part of this may be because of the new schedule COVID has me on but let me say. I never listened to BaD at all except for the rare moments I may have been in my car during that time frame. Musers and Hardline are streamed online in my office all the time.
ReplyDeleteMost of the BaD issue was due to I could not get past Bob's 30, 60 and 90 second setup to make a point. Instant punch out for me. However, he seems to have curbed this a little bit with 3-7. So a little better listening.
I know this opinion is not very common nor very welcome. Todd "Gordon" Keith has been, for a long time, an instant punch out for me. Sure, I agree the guy is probably a genius. Sure, I agree his MENSA score is well north of 130. Sure, I agree that when he has a "nirvana" moment he is more than great. At these times the clouds part, rainbows flow across the sky and P1's everywhere are crying from laughing so hard or crying real tears by his story.
My problem is I can't sit through 98% of his stuff to get to that "nirvana" moment. There is just too much 3rd grade sexual innuendo, trying to get others uncomfortable and other situations. You know what I am talking about. He was on 3-7 tonight with a weird voice and a weird poem. Punch! Out!
When I was a lot younger we would get a keg and have a pasture party (east Texas, remember?). In those days we had some people say they wouldn't show up if "so and so" was going to be there. Our reply to these people (generally female) was to stay home as this party was open to all. So if Todd "Gordon" Keith is going to be at the party just tell me to stay home.
ET P1
Full disclosure: The link below is Gordon at his best
https://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/2014/05/09/shell-of-a-former-self/
New HL doesn’t work. Bob is a bad fit, reduced to a Beta feigning interest in Corby’s stories or laughing uncomfortably at Danny’s one-liners. Not his fault as there’s no sports to talk about. They haven’t realized that Corby is not the guy to carry a show. Or maybe they do. Notice lately they’ve been bringing supreme talent Gordo on to rescue this disaster.
ReplyDeleteThese hardline bits are getting more pathetic by the day. What is this words with no songs?
ReplyDeleteEvery show is struggling for content without any sports, but certainly 3-7 is hurting the worst as Bob can't do his thing which leaves Corby and Danny (who have known each other and worked with each other for years) to kind of 'bro talk' and have their inside jokes which, clearly, Bob doesn't get. He does his best, but it just becomes a mess and is insufferable. Jake and Dan are going okay, but the replay run downs of whatever game is just boring. This is why The Musers do so much better than the other programs: they've always had a good rapport, have talked many different things besides sports, and genuinely respect each other's time and space.
ReplyDeleteAs to ET P1, I can see where he's coming from re Gordon. I get burned out with his AI talk. His sophomoric humor has always been part of his bit. The problem is: now I can see the joke coming a mile away. You know he's going to there and he doesn't disappoint, but yet he totally does at the same time.
Love the Musers, love Gordon, but I had to punch out on Fake Tiger yesterday. The foulest thing I've heard on The Ticket in awhile.
ReplyDeleteYes, long since time for Pulitzer candidate Gordon to drop the late-pre-middle-school humor.
Still looking to grab time to catch bigger swatches of 3-7. Yeah, I'm sure Bob must be suffering, sounds like a lot of you are suffering along with him.
Well, the draft is coming up so maybe things will turn around a little.
Plainsman,
ReplyDeleteTotally gugreeh on Gordo. Love his insightful stuff and his intelligent humor. Also love the "Hi guys" stuff. But the sophomoric humor, especially the stuff that is targeted at George to draw him offsides, is old.
The Gordo situation is driving me nuts. He’s brought us so much greatness over the years, but it’s fading quickly. I feel like some of the (extremely) tired stuff, like Tiger, is now just basically a troll job. I love his humor and want to continue to do so, but man it’s getting tough. The stupid name puns, the nonstop trolling of George, etc.
ReplyDeleteI kind of feel like Gordo, instead of enjoying what a successful career he’s made for himself, is still caught up in what people say he could’ve been.
I feel like Gordon and George long ago worked it out that George would be kind of Gordon's foil (or perhaps it just turned out that way organically). Yet, it's getting a little old. It's just constant. Gordon needs to pick his spots a little better and not just go full bore all the time on George. I'm sure there's a mutual respect between the two, but sometimes Gordon goes over the line and is, frankly, not very funny.
ReplyDeleteTry the "hey guys" trick sometime without devoting your brain to it 100%. I find it impossible. Gordon manages to be fully engaged in the conversation, though, and still pick up on every "hey guys" opportunity. How, I don't know.
ReplyDeleteI wrote my first column complaining about Gordon's baiting of George way back in June of 2010. Here was my take at that time.
ReplyDeletehttp://myticketconfession.blogspot.com/2010/06/confidential-memorandum-to-commander.html
A fair & balanced take, Plainsman. I agree whole heartedly yet, as I said above, and it was mentioned in your earlier post, it’s what they do. It’s a bit.
ReplyDeleteGeorge has really dialed down his politics in the last few years. He rarely speaks about his beliefs one way or another. That is less ammunition for Gordon right there. Secondly, Gordon, outside of some gay joke, rarely picks on Craig, but Craig returns in kind to Gordon (which isn’t very funny, either). Yet this is three guys who worked with each other for over twenty years. The bits and the dynamics are pretty much set in stone at this point; it’s not going to change however much it needs to.
If iHeart is doing layoffs, Entercom and Cumulus cannot be far behind.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.billboard.com/articles/business/radio/9357726/iheartmedia-layoffs-coronavirus-radio
The last two lines of the article:
"An advertising recession has cut national, local and network revenues, iHeartMedia reported, while political advertising revenue in 2020 is "expected to remain consistent with prior election years," and increase in the second half of the year.
The company is also looking to offset reduced traditional radio station revenues with podcasting and digital revenues."
Got to hear a fair chunk of 3-7 today. I thought it was fine. They're obviously struggling for content, but they were hanging in there. I'm sure there's questionable current events commentary by the lads, but I didn't hear it today.
ReplyDeleteI did hear an interminable Bob Sturm question to one of the Old 97's guys.
Don't think these links have been posted. A D Magazine article and Mike doing a Mike's Mind segment.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.dmagazine.com/publications/d-magazine/2020/april/mike-rhyner-the-ticket-the-hardline-retirement/
https://www.dmagazine.com/frontburner/2020/04/whats-on-mike-rhyners-mind/
https://youtu.be/LKcZo2mIUVU
There is also some new stuff on YouTube about Mike's leaving I haven't had a chance to watch
ET P1
Rich Phillips has posted on his Facebook that he is no longer employed by TMS.
ReplyDeleteIF, Rich were to come back to the Ticket, where would he fit in these days?
ReplyDeleteThe landscape has changed with new players in place.
Will 105.3 make a run at him?
Let the fun and games begin.
Gopher,
ReplyDeleteThe problem for Rich is that its a terrible time to be unemployed. He could be looking for a long time.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI've never been a fan of Rich Phillips. When he was the Ticker guy in the mornings he often seemed bent out of shape and was really whiny. Well, at least Rich still has his job as SMU's play by play announcer for football, .... oh, wait ...
ReplyDeleteWell then maybe the Interim Program Director Euronymous should handle this at a better time of his choosing
ReplyDeleteAlways a big Rich Phillips fan. Of all the Ticket guys, I thought he and Gordon and Sturm were the best candidates for a national breakout, and I would put him first. His play-by-play for the Mustangs is some of the best football PBP I've ever heard, and he made Race Week entertaining for me even though I have no interest in racing. He was a bit of a grumpypants from time to time around the station, but it didn't bother me. His Tickers were crisp and authoritative.
ReplyDeleteDo we know for a fact he was laid off?
His twitter announcement.
ReplyDeletehttps://twitter.com/Rphillipstexas/status/1251240934974636032
Richie Whitt says the ticket beats the fan in March
ReplyDeletehttps://www.si.com/nba/mavericks/news/dfw-sports-radio-ratings-dirk-full-deck-dallas-mavs-odds-nowitzki
@Surly: well played, well played.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous 7:26
ReplyDeleteThe rest of the +6 numbers if anyone cares.
https://radioinsight.com/ratings/dallas-fort-worth/
Julie got furloughed
ReplyDelete(Momentofsilenceforjulie)
ReplyDeleteUh, Bob in....(what)
ReplyDeleteBob?
ReplyDeletehttps://radioink.com/2020/04/08/cumulus-furloughs-pay-cuts-begin/
ReplyDeleteAnd I agree with the Plainsman - Dick Hicks definitely brings something to my table. That may say more about my table than Quack, but there it is....
Did Sean Bass get "furloughed" as well? What an odd time to be taking a "vacation".
ReplyDeleteSeems like, yeah, you could cut expenses by making Ticker guys work longer shifts and, for that matter, producers as well. Having what are, probably, hourly workers like Sam Hale and Ryan Medellin cover for salaried employees makes sense, too. Maybe just cut bait with Norm? He probably makes a boatload of $ and works two hours a day.
"Send in the spares, don't bother, they're here".
Just heard THL talking about Basement Bar! I will be going there to support them! I'll try that Zuckerman drink too.
ReplyDeleteYes, I know what his real name is!
DeleteThis link was posted in a thread on Reddit. It might explain a few things. This was posted in a Julie Dobbs thread. The Norm and Danny bashing there is over the top in that thread.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.radioworld.com/news-and-business/business-and-law/cumulus-coronavirus-furloughs
@Gopher: Not that I really care to engage in it, in fact I don't at all, but where does this "bashing" occur? I see nothing but a short snippet on Cumulus that doesn't give out a shit load of info.
ReplyDeleteThanks.
You should not be shocked, as April 15, 2020 at 9:48 AM posted about iHeart, the largest radio company, the smaller radio conglomerates were eventually also do the same thing.
ReplyDeleteRadio ad revenues seem to be down as much as 60% in some markets.
Cumulus San Francisco hosts were asked to take a 15-20% cut. Granted they air the Giants, so no Giants games is a huge revenue loss compared to the Stars. If KNBR's revenue is down 60%, what is The Ticket's?
Search "Entercom + Staff" cuts and that was local news three weeks ago.
Cumulus is just doing what they had to do.
Even 64 station companies in 15 markets are furloughing staff.
https://www.bizjournals.com/tampabay/news/2020/04/22/beasley-media-operator-of-local-radio-stations.html
Im assuming ratings are up too?
ReplyDeletedue to no boss telling you to take headphones off plus the furloughed, laid-off and fired ppl tuning in when a pesky job would have gotten in the way.
As an essential worker across the country ive been listening about the same as before.
@YouAreABigJerk,
ReplyDeleteSmall businesses which local radio relies on is down, son.
Ratings are not up in radio and podcast downloads are essentially down too.
https://techcrunch.com/2020/04/13/will-podcast-ad-revenue-bounce-back-after-covid-19/
Euronymous
ReplyDeleteThe bashing was in the comments at Reddit. It's a younger crowd there, and they hate Norm with a passion. Since the new 3-7 has happened they have eased up on Corby and directed their ire at Danny now.
I seem to remember days/weeks off with no pay before. It was during the Grubes board op era.
I seriously doubt the Tier 1 hosts have contracts that allow Cumulus to unilaterally cut their pay. I understand they can do that for at will employees but not contract employees. I would say no if I were under contract. I am sure they dont eagerly unilaterally tear up the Musers contract 1 year into a new deal because they beat expectations by 10%.
ReplyDeleteYou can say “no” but in times like these, companies can run out of money, at which time a roll of toilet paper is more valuable than your contract.
DeleteBut I will say this....
ReplyDeleteWho else here thinks Dan does the NFL Draft name game better than the Norm?
ReplyDelete