It doesn't have the same ring to it as "Where's Greggo?" but I'm curious nonetheless.
Did he finally weary of reading all of that smirking promo/liner copy with the centuries-old gags? I actually had on my stale list of articles to write that Conrad had the hardest job at The Ticket.
Who's the new guy (if he is a new guy, and not just filling in for Conrad on sabbatical)?
I'm still scrambling out here on the plains on post-vacay catch-up, but trying to re-immerse myself in The Fabulousness That Is The Ticket.
I did have to chortle at one of the comments while I was gone. I didn't get to hear any radio last week so can't comment on T.C. Fleming's fill-in date for Gordon, but one Confessor remarked that Craig seemed beaten down by the whole thing. I would love to have heard that. Da Joonz has a way of letting you know his feelings about someone in a very subtle way. I remember this particularly with the The Great Peter Gammons Experiment. If you had just seen a transcript of those interviews, you wouldn't have thought anything amiss, but there was something about the sound of Craig's voice that said why do we need to be talking to this guy about Texas stuff, especially since half the time Gammons was on his treadmill or hiking the Urals or something while supposedly devoting his attention to the interview. Always a fun listen.
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No doubt, Craig wasn't enjoying the TC experiment. Kept saying, "What else?" during Muse and his general demeanor was telling. TC muddled through it but he really was terrible. May have done better over the weekend but I didn't hear him.
ReplyDeleteTC really wasn't any better on Ticket Sports Saturday. Rumblin', bumblin' & stumblin' thru 3 hours.
ReplyDeleteBruce LeVine tried to keep it on course, but as he found out, it was a tough go with TC on board.
I detected some sense of resignation in Bruce's voice after about the first 30 minutes or so of the presentation.
Can't say for sure, but Conrad does seem to vacation at about this time every year.
ReplyDeleteThe "new" voice is celebrating 20 years at the little ticket. That's john michaels, aka the OD, aka Zone guy, aka the imaging guy that with cat and cactus put all that promo stuff together. And this happens every year, Conrad takes a vacation, and we get the OD filling in temporarily...
ReplyDeleteTC must have pictures of somebody.
ReplyDeleteBruce Levine must have pictures of somebody he's terrible
ReplyDeleteI'm glad that I am not the only P1 who thinks TC is absolutely terrible. I was so bummed to hear his voice when I tuned in Friday morning. I'm thinking if Jake hadn't been filling in for the Hardline, that he would have been the choice. He was great the week he filled in for Gordon.
ReplyDeleteTC has no business being on the mic at a radio station. It's just not his bag. And I really have to question how good of a program director Jeff Caitlin is, if he fails to see that.
Completely agree with 10:01 pm. This guy is awful. Terrible radio voice and dominates air time. Can't listen to him. When I hear him, I can't turn the dial quick enuff.
ReplyDeleteNewer P1 listener and reader of this here blog. Just curious, since we are talking about Craig not enjoying the TC segment, but does George really get beaten by Gordo or is that just a bit? Like I said, I haven't been a P1 very long and I am not sure if George has a running bit of acting annoyed during everyone of Gordon's segments
ReplyDelete838
ReplyDeleteIt's half bit, half real.
To thoroughly explain the history and 'evolution' of Gordo would take a 5,000 word essay. No one wants to read that and I don't want to write it.
In short: Gordo used to antagonize George nearly every minute they were together. On and off the air. Still, they cared about each other, were friends. As the years rolled on, their friendship has grown stronger, their interests and senses of humor have grown in the same direction, and so their chemistry has become stronger. The Cane's ad campaign is a perfect example. Yes George can be defeated by Gordo when Gordo gets macabre or too sexual. That's not a bit. But mostly when Gordo pokes and prods George on his political leanings and such, George's reaction is a bit.
They're great friends but Gordo does get on his nerves, as would a little brother, perhaps. Nothing like the cold hatred Craig showed to TC (ok, a little exaggerated I guess).
ReplyDeleteI'll say this...I jump in on the TC nutkicking quite frequently, but the guy doesn't completely annoy me, if that makes sense.
ReplyDeleteI'm a big IJB P1 and I enjoy his chemistry with Jake, but if TC isn't on a show that's not BaDD, he doesn't really fit in for my liking.
I was listening to a more recent IJB podcast(7/3 i think?) where Jake is talking about RT a Newberg hso on the Mavs during the playoffs and Newberg's retort, then they go off about it being ok to not like something someone says and for that person not to get offended, but then they piggyback onto that about someone criticizing their work(us and others) and basically to the point of "what the fuck have you done that says you're better at this than I am, I'm doing it and you're not"...I'm totally paraphrasing that but at the same time I get it. The life of someone trying to work their way up the Ticket totem pole has to be interesting.
Howdy, Anon 8:38.
ReplyDeleteGordo and George have a classic Straight Man comedy duo thing going. George plays the family man. Gordon plays the Devil's Own. They're very good friends. During the 20th anniversary Pull Back the Curtains talk, George said Gordon was The Ticket's secret weapon, and a huge part of why the Little One is so successful. I think everybody acknowledges that GK is a fundamental part of the station.
He does like to push buttons, however. And throw dead deer carcasses onto Corby.
Again, if I've missed a comment somewhere, apologies. I had thought that all comments come through my email so I can easily review and publish comments from my mobile telephonic device. But when I went to the actual site on my desktop and there appear to be comments awaiting moderation for which I did not receive an email notification. So if you're waiting to see your comment appear, that might be the problem. I'll try to keep better track.
ReplyDeletePretty much everything is getting through. Fewer than a handful ruthlessly suppressed.
Again, if I've missed a comment somewhere, apologies. I had thought that all comments come through my email so I can easily review and publish comments from my mobile telephonic device. But when I went to the actual site on my desktop and there appear to be comments awaiting moderation for which I did not receive an email notification. So if you're waiting to see your comment appear, that might be the problem. I'll try to keep better track.
ReplyDeletePretty much everything is getting through. Fewer than a handful ruthlessly suppressed.
As long as it doesn't drive you batty, Plainsman, I say stick with the moderation. MTC in the span of less than 2 weeks has totally gone back to site of good manners, insightful and helpful comments, and overall good and fun dialogue about that littlest and greatest of stations. No need for hard, verified IDs, etc… All the anon comments have been like they used to be: respectful, on point, and a furthering not a hindering of the dialogue.
ReplyDeleteFantastic to see my favorite blog back to its good old self. Thanks, Plainsman.
I tuned in during the 4:50 short segment and Mike mentioned he was going to interview someone from the recently released film Boyhood but failed to mention a name. Anyone know if he was referencing Richard Linklater?
ReplyDeleteYep, they planned on an interview today with Linklater, now pushed back to tomorrow
ReplyDeleteShocking drop even for THL during Lee Trevino interview...
ReplyDeleteI had to get up very early this morning to go pick something up [not a morning guy at all] Got to listen to the Musers. I cracked up practically the whole time. Great show. I can see where Gordo might get on your nerves, but the show is true greatness! Just wish I was a morning guy.
ReplyDeleteslinky, it's funny you mention that. I was listening to The Hardline yesterday afternoon and laughed out loud several times. Thinking -- all right, Corby can be a thrashin' sometimes, and Mike has indeed been known to check out, and Danny's ubercool can grate, but it's still a marvel. At its best, very funny, and even at its worst, better than almost everything else on the Philco.
ReplyDeleteThat's my response to people who wonder why we complain about the Hardline but listen every day. There are still moments of greatness, and the price of admission is sitting through the things that aren't so great.
ReplyDeleteHey, the Rangers suck and the Cowboys suck but (some of us) still watch the games.
And yes, they are going to interview Richard Linklater.
I was glad that I actually tuned into The Hardline yesterday for the Lee Trevino segments. He's a pretty funny guy and had several amusing stories and one-liners. ("I made to eighth grade but that's only because I counted going through fifth grade three times.")
ReplyDeleteAnd it was funny/shocking to hear the Corby "SIIIIII" drop at the end of the first segment and then hear Corby say "What the HELL" right after.
Interesting how they are incredibly racist until they have someone of a different race on the show. Then they are all black friends...
Sooooo...you guys know that all of the VO stuff is pre-recorded right? So why would Conrad being on vacation mean a new VO guy? He should knock that all out before he goes on vacation...lazy. Are my pros still unmistakable?
ReplyDelete-Not Spittle, not Dawson, not Richie
We can't always plan for everything VO-wise. No matter how we prepare, something will come up that needs to be done right away, like a re-do, or new information, or just a new idea that needs to get on the air ASAP, and if Conrad is unavailable, Mr. Doo is a perfectly cromulent replacement voice.
ReplyDeleteFear not, I'm sure that Conrad's golden tones will grace the airwaves again soon enough.
Back to the TC thing real quick, his 6:30 segment was pretty good. Muse the News was not. He reverted back to the Dan/Norm McDonald cadence of adding 'uh' between every word and drawing the sentences out. I think Bob has picked it up too. Anyway, Junior was making it pretty obvious that it wasn't going well which makes me think that he wasn't THAT upset about it.
ReplyDeleteI'm a TC fan and will listen to IJB as long as they make them, but I do think he's realizing that maybe being a full time on air person isn't in his future.
Anon 11:12
ReplyDeleteSome of the promos are recorded daily as they pertain to events that haven't happened yet, hence Jon doing them. Are Conrad and the copy writer supposed to just predict things?
I remember George putting Gordo in the wall a long time ago but time heals most and they now have a pretty good relationship. Regarding this morning and the Musers time in Rockwall, I got to spend almost an hour and a half from 5:30 till 7 hanging out. By the time I left, there was about 35 P1's there. I also got to meet and sit with Sideshow Bob and realized he lives about a mile from me. Another good time at a Ticket remote. I went to the Channel 47 thing last year too and it wasn't heavily attended. Those are the type of events I enjoy more. Tonight's GNO might not be as enjoyable with all of the P1's. No offense, just that it would distract from the hosts a tad bit.
ReplyDeleteHi-
ReplyDeleteCan any radio insiders provide some insight to my random wondering....
I read somewhere (probably here) that in a year or so Cumulus can get out of the ESPN contract. What do you see happening with the 103.3 signal? It seems odd one company owns competing sports stations in the same local market. I was curious if they would drop Mike and Mike etc, and roll local? Or do they flip the format all together? Is there any benefit to keep the sports around to "compete" with the ticket?
It seems odd one company owns competing sports stations in the same local market. ... Is there any benefit to keep the sports around to "compete" with the ticket?
ReplyDeleteCumulus also owns competing COUNTRY MUSIC stations; KSCS and The Wolf. One is considered more "middle of the road" and one is more "contemporary." My guess (and it is only a guess) is Cumulus is pursuing a similar strategy with KESN and KTCK. One will be crusty old guy sports talk and one will be sports talk/guy talk.
The thing to remember is that all Cumulus cares about is selling ads. That's it. Period. Having two stations that sorta do the same thing, but appeal to different demographics mean they can sell a wider range of ads and keep money out of their competitors' hands.
It's like is an advertiser came to them and said, "I need to sell widgets to a male demo, 25-65." They want to place some ads on The Ticket, but they may feel that placement misses the older demo, so they take half their budget to a competitor. But now, with two sports talk stations (one skewing older), Cumulus can offer both demos, and they keep the whole pie.
I think we've already seen a push to make the demos for each station clearer. KTCK is trending younger (note Jake's ever-increasing presence), while they are gradually making KESN even more crusty. I expect to see the lines come more and more into focus.
@1025...actually, the numbers reflect the opposite. KTCK's audience continues to outgrow the demo. Young folk are on the original FM and brand they recognize...ESPN...and yes, Cumulus can re-brand 103.3 here in a year, if they want to. From what I've heard...Cumulus sales loves being able to try to double up against the Fan, but Cat hates it. Remember, Cat has never actually had to build a station until now, and I've heard it's a mess with him in charge of KESN.
ReplyDelete-Not Spittle, Not Dawson, Not Richie
@10:25
ReplyDeleteCool I appreciate your thoughts on the matter. I also didn't know they owned both country stations.
I can see what you are saying as I find myself going back and forth from 103.3 to 96.7....103 seems to be more "safe" down the line sports talk, at least what I hear. Nothing to wavering to one side or the other.
96.7 seems to be quite the opposite sans Norm. So it seemed simple but not that you said that it makes sense. Also, I didn't realize about all the ad stuff until I started reading this blog. I never really gave it much attention.