OK, Confessors. I need to know if I'm losing my mind. Let me know if any of you have heard this.
The Ticket is running a promo where Norm says something like:
"The Cowboys now have ten days to meticulously prepare for [short pause] Geno Smith." Then Donovan laughs and says "Oh, yeah," something like that. A reasonably funny observation, Norm sells it with a "wait for it" pause, and a sensible reaction from Donovan.
This morning on my jog listening to the Teebox, I heard the same promo, except it sounded like they'd edited it to substitute "the Giants" for "Geno Smith" -- no pause. Just a declarative sentence. But still followed by the same Donovan explosive chortle -- which now makes no sense.
But I am thinking I may have one or both of those promos wrong.
Please advise.
And if I've heard this correctly, why change the promo? Because no one's heard of Geno Smith?
Have a fine holiday weekend.
CORRECTION: I am in fact losing my mind, or my hearing. I heard the promo again on "Work in Progress" this morning (another bad title -- why do the JV sometimes select self-critical titles?), and they did not edit out "Geno Smith" -- the entire phrase is "Geno Smith and the Giants." Just heard "Giants" the time when I thought they'd edited it.
So never mind, and enjoy the redhead.
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| "I contact the Plainsman at ThePlainsman1310@gmail.com. So can you!" |
Might be the best red on the head, fire in the hole yet, Psmut. Didn't hear the reboot, but I did the original. I'll keep my ears pricked. Shit fire and save matches, yo.
ReplyDeletePlainsman,
ReplyDeleteIt is totally mocking Geno Smith. Most sports fans and listeners know Geno. His tenure as starting QB for the Jets was unremarkable and noted most for when a teammate broke his jaw due to a dispute over Geno not appearing at the other guy's football camp for kids w/o reimbursing him for the flight/hotel.
Also, what is your over/under on on-air talent layoffs (all tiers and traffic) as result of the Cumulus bankruptcy?
DA: I get the mocking, that's what Norm was doing and why Donovan was laughing. The question is, why did they edit out his name and substitute "the Giants"?
ReplyDeletePredicting no on-air layoffs, DA. Doubtful of any layoffs at all that wouldn't have happened anyway. It's a Chapter 11 filing (reorganization, not liquidation), and I'm guessing based on what little I've read that it's a "packaged bankruptcy" where the main result is a restructuring of the major bank/other lender debt to afford Cumulus some relief from creditors, and it was negotiated before the BK was filed.
Sure, there could be some conditions on reducing workforce or payroll nationwide, but my prediction -- no layoffs at The Ticket as a result of the BK, certainly none on-air. Any leanness in the workforce has already taken place as Cumulus has attempted to avoid BK, and The Ticket is a jewel in the crown. They'll keep that turkey running status quo for as long as they can.
The main result, if any, is likely to be additional asset divestitures (selling off stations, other properties).
In further consideration of DA's question, I came across this in a news account of the bankruptcy:
ReplyDelete"According to Reuters, Cumulus expects all radio operations, programming and sales to continue as normal throughout the restructuring process. It did not say if any layoffs are expected."
Of course . . . that's what Cumulus would say to avoid talent starting to look for other jobs. So, sure, we could be surprised by some layoffs.
Does all of the Dallas cluster share sales, promotions, engineering, traffic and production staff or does each station still have their own? On-air talent may not be hit but I bet these guys are sweating a bit. With ESPN laying off again that makes a tough job market even harder.
ReplyDeleteWell, Dan Balls opened up a new Twilight Lounge at Southside. I believe it's more focused on live music than being a neighborhood bar. So maybe he's looking to a Ticketless future. It at least one that pays even less than it already does.
ReplyDeleteI hope that means his Deep Ellum site has been successful. He must be a good manager -- the hospitality industry is rough. I always thought that in his middle-to-old age he'd end up as some kind of local impressario, a talent manager, music promotion kind of guy.
ReplyDeleteGlad to see it. Congratulations to Danny.
@Gopher,
ReplyDeleteIt's cluster related and the SF cluster is already concerned about layoffs even as KNBR is a bigger booker than The Ticket by millions.
Oh, and if those guys were given stock, in say on 2007, it's worthless now.
Remember, Cumulus bought Susquehanna in 2005.
In October 2016, they had an 8:1 reverse stock split too.
https://m.splithistory.com/cmls/
PLAINSMAN ERROR: See correction above.
ReplyDeleteYeah, alas, methinks we're seeing the end of days where The Ticket as we've all known and loved it is concerned. Even though for those of us who were around for the early years (genuine P1D1s and early adopters alike) and like to fondly reminisce about the pre-Greggo off the rails and exit days, the continuity of the Varsity and the quality of output has been amazing. OK, OK, I get it: you don't like Corby, socio-pol talk, or whatever. Still, the run has been and still is, fan-fuckin'-tastic. I know my life would be emptier without my radio buds. (Maybe that says something sad about me, but I don't care; wouldn't have it any other way.) But I do smell something in the air that has the whiff of changes, big, open warter, changes. D.A. is correct, KNBR is way bigger than KTCK. If it can happen in the numero tres market to a huge $$$ earner, you can bet yer ass it can happen here. Frankly, I'd be (pleasantly, gratefully) shocked there aren't some striking moves coming down Victory Park way. Enjoy it as it as while you can. To quote a wise man: "There's never been anything like it. And once it's gone, there never will be again." I think that time is nigher than we might think.
ReplyDeletePardon all the typos and bizarre syntax. My fat fingers have a bitch of a time typing via phone.
ReplyDeleteBawllz, you might be into something. It does seem like there is imminent change in the air. Hopefully not. Though I don't think there'll be any retirements or moving on. Why would they? I'm seeing forced moves. As in forced "retirements" and layoffs. My guess is that Tickers, which are already, so it seems, being phased out, will be eliminated and so, the Ticker persons. That alone will dramatically change the landscape. It would, I would think, necessitate moves by station mainstays to The FAN.
ReplyDeleteI was running a few errands yesterday around noon, switching between games on the 3 local stations. Did anyone notice the Pack vs. Bucc game was on both the Ticket and Fan?
ReplyDeleteI bet you that they get rid of the daily ticket ticker guys as well as the overnight board operator as they could just go automatic throughout the night like music stations do. It would save them money.
ReplyDelete@Scott -
ReplyDeleteYes I did notice. Thought it was odd but there were probably some rights issues that required it.
I do believe that CBS Sports (at least the radio division) was either bought by or is now in partnership with another entity. I do recall a couple of years ago that such a buy out or merger was in the works; one that could effectively make The Ticket and THe FAN cluster partners. Perhaps we're seeing the beginnings of this? Ferrall was YELLING about it on his show a few weeks ago. Something about having new ownership; that he's been through this before, His sports updates are from CBS. Perhaps this has been going on for sometime now, and we're starting to see a more visible partnership? Interesting times in the sports radio landscape.
ReplyDeleteAh yes, the annual "Big changes are coming, it's the end of the Ticket as we know it" discussion.
ReplyDeleteAll things come to an eng, Shaggy. Even the relevance of UT football.
ReplyDeleteI'm kinda with Shaggy on this one. Of course, eventually predictions of big prime-time changes will come true. But I'm not feeling it with the current crew in the short run. Mike Rhyner has no reason to depart. One hears rumblings about Craig Miller wanting to hit the bike trails of the Great American Out-There from time to time, but nothing's come my way for a long, long time. Could Bob and/or Dan be lured away a second time? Sure, but would the Fan be in the market like they were last time? (Surely not ESPN.) Norm? He'll retire someday, but I think we're years rather than months away from that. George? Much as I like and admire the man's talents, hard to see him functioning as successfully as a solo act or with another team elsewhere. (Successfully, maybe, but not as successfully.)
ReplyDeleteMy completely unsupported speculation as to the loosest in the socket if circumstances force changes at the station? Bob Sturm as a solo, maybe not on radio and maybe even mainly in print, based on his national exposure, sports expertise, and amazing pipes.
I've lost track of contract-renewal times. Maybe someone out there can refresh our recollection.
So sure -- it can't go on forever, and when one stool-peg gets knocked out and the amazing ratings edifice that is Ticket dawn-to-dusk totters a little, I would expect big changes over a short period of time and the end of The Ticket As We Know It. I just don't expect that to happen soon (defined as the next year), or as a necessary result of the bankruptcy.
Traffic, Tickers, more prominent JVs -- more likely, but even there, I wouldn't expect a lot of change. We're hearing a lot of new Ticker voices lately (all pretty good, I think), so attrition isn't being used as an excuse to stop offering that feature. These young, ambitous, and talented guys are on the move for all kinds of reasons to all kinds of places, so even the departure of a Jake or Sean wouldn't, for me, qualify as a foretremor.
You never know. If a rumble comes my way, you'll know about it as soon as I do.
I agree that Bob is the most likely to Bolt for "greener" pastures on a national scale. He could host a syndicated radio show with a team of sidekicks much like Dan Patrick. Bob has this strange but powerful confluence of family man wholesome values but is somehow ensconced in pop culture including hip hop culture. A very unique combo that allows him to move deftly between talking points and comedic quips. Jake just from a pure talent potential is a candidate in that he could make a step change in salary if he were offered a prime spot elsewhere. Having said that he and TC are now making multi thousands a month from their Blowout Podcast Network efforts.
ReplyDeleteThe elephant in the room is that as each year goes by the likelihood increases that one of the now aging prime timers will pass on to the next plane. We have a one host in 70s, one in late 60s, 2 in early 50s and 4 in mid to late 40s. And a few that don't have the healthiest lifestyles...
Pretty sure Norm signed a new 3 year deal earlier this year. April I believe.
ReplyDelete