Advise Whether I Have Inaccurately Noticed Something

I've done a fair amount of Ticket listening over the past several weeks, and it was only today that I heard the word "drydock" used (Sean Bass mentioned it this morning).

In fact, it seems to me that the shows have downplayed the fact that substitute hosts would be appearing through the New Year.  

Don't want to read too much into this, but I'm wondering if the crew has been instructed not to emphasize the fact (which they used to trumpet extensively when year-end rolled around) that regular programming is going away for a couple of weeks.

With The Ticket appearing suddenly vulnerable in the ratings -- whether because of crappy ratings procedures or otherwise -- perhaps they're taking care not unnecessarily to drive off listeners.

Or has the term been used a lot, and I've just missed it?  

*     *     *

My Jah, what is the deal with Troy Aikman's horribly bloodshot eyes on the Fox broadcasts?  

 

I had a personal encounter with Aikman a year or so ago (cue Vivaldi) and he looked great.  But at least in recent months he looks like he has an allergy to Joe's hair-plug fertilizer or something.

Hope your holidays are proceeding satisfactorily.

Not Such a Dry Dock

Without exception, I have enjoyed all of the Drydock combinations I've been able to hear -- Jake and Sean, Danny and Davey, the Siroisie wherever they would pop up.  Probably forgetting some, and I didn't hear all of the Drydock shows.  (See repeated comment below for an uncomplimentary review of one particular combo.) 

There is a temptation to think -- whatever will we do when (pick one or more)

     --  One or more Musers retires from the show?

     --  Norm retires (OK, not so many thinking what they will do if)?

     --  Bob goes off to hockey/full-time Troy servicing/TV/another station?

     --  Dan does something?

     --  Mike retires?

     --  Corby does something?

     --  Danny disappears into the world of local music promotion, hospitality industry, better-paying broadcast job elsewhere?

But based on what I heard over the past week or so, I think there will be plenty of talent, plenty of laughs, plenty of bits, plenty of scheduled segments, to keep The Ticket on top in any of these events.

I've had occasion to listen to sports radio in a couple of different cities over the past couple of months.  Is it bad?  Maybe not, if it's the only thing you're used to, and the local guys
are engaging enough that you develop a kind of radio romance over time.  But if you're a casual tune-in for a few days -- yeah, it's bad.

But The Ticket -- it's a different bird.  It's a different sound entirely, warm and intimate, informal and fun.  It's a hackneyed sentiment at this point, but it bears repeating -- there's nothing like it.  Three Marconis should be evidence enough.

Let's enjoy it while we can.  Then we can enjoy it some more.

A very, very safe and happy New Year to all Confessors.

And a special New Year's holler to mo money, mo problems:

Drydock Tock + Happy Birthday to MTC

Let's have some.

I'll start.  I was glad to hear The Shake Joint in the ayem, but was sorry to think that I would not have the pleasure of hearing Jake on with Dan McDowell.

I was in error.  I was able to tune in midday yesterday, and there they were.

I like Bob, I like Dan, and I like BaD, but BaD bogs, boy does it bog.  But Jake and Dan do not bog.  Jake keeps things moving and maybe I'm just imagining this, but it seems to me that Dan steps his game up with this pairing.

Gotta run.  Gimme some drydock thoughts.

ALSO:  Please keep a good thought for this My Ticket Confession internet online website, which is celebrating its ninth anniversary.  Yep, Your Plainsman went live on June 30, 2009, with none other than that Nice Young Michael Gruber as its first non-test commenter (although not on the first article, as I recall).  Hope to keep this joint going for awhile longer.  Thanks to all readers and those of you who take the time to comment.  Hope to meet some of you someday.

ALERT: Placeholder Redhead

Apologies, Confessors.  Slammed out on the plains 24/7.  Hoping to keep this joint going in 2018 and will do my best to grab some time for some actual content.

Thought about doing a drydock lookback, but my listening was pretty spotty.  Maybe you guys can fill in with some reviews below.

In the meantime, I thought we'd go demure-and-fetching for our first ginger of 2018.

Thanks for your patience, and drop a line.  After almost nine years, I'll appreciate any ideas for some topics I haven't already done to death.  Or drop me an essay and if it's good I'll run it as a feature.

I may be demure and fetching, but I'm getting pretty sick of clicking on MTC and finding a whole lot of nothing new.  Guess I'll switch on The Hardline.

ThePlainsman1310@gmail.com

@Plainsman1310

The Merriest of Christmases to All Confessors -- and BREAKING: Latest Ratings No Christmas Surprise (see Comment 3)

And I am feeling so Christmassy that I extend that greeting to all of my trolls, who seem to be decreasing somewhat in number and virulence as time goes by.  May they all be visited by three spirits tonight  .  .  .  .

Been a bit of a rough year for Your Plainsman, but things improving quite a bit as year-end approaches.  Hope you and your loved ones have a lovely Eve and Day.

Enjoying your predictions and DryDock reactions, so let's keep that going.

All in the holiday spirit, of course.

Away

Mrs. Plainsman and I will be out of the country for the next week.  I'm not sure what kind of access I will have to the Internets but I believe I should be able to moderate comments to ensure their moderation.

So, is comment moderation a success, or not?  It certainly has cut down on the number of comments.  I'll continue it for awhile, see what happens, or doesn't.  In case you're wondering, I've only declined to publish one, for name-calling.

Got a thing or two to cover with you all when I return, and if I get a chance I'll post from afar.

In the meantime, a quick hit or two on drydock:

(1) I haven't minded the soccer talk at all.  I watched some of some of the games, including once in the company of a guy who was a high school soccer star hereabouts and went to college on a soccer scholarship.  I can see why people can get hooked on the game, but my exposure to the game to date (including a couple of FC Dallas games live) hasn't engaged me.  I had the odd and probably wrong feeling that the game seemed, of all things, slow.  And this coming from someone who finds baseball fascinating to watch.   Baseball and football at least have the potential for explosiveness and drama in every pitch, every snap.  Soccer just seems too  .  .  .  hard.  Probably why I don't enjoy watching golf much, either.  I don't mind the lack of scoring, but it appears too random somehow.  Although the fact that some teams are perennially great suggests that it is not, at all.  Just looks that way while waiting for some action in front of the net.

But if the country embraces it, if The Ticket talks about it, it's OK with me.  I'm nothing if not educable.

(2) Will soccer experience a hockey-stick-graph increase in popularity as a result of the World Cup?  No more than ice hockey does after the Stanley Cup.  Or before.   Remember all the hoo-hah after the women's team did so well and developed some stars awhile back?   Maybe a blip, maybe even a permanent blip, but not much.

No flopping.

(3) I've liked all the drydock pairings I've heard.  Shake Joint, Norm and Doocy, other teams.  I even liked Rhadigan and Followill.  One name I didn't hear as a participant at any level in any of the shows was T.C.  Did he produce or run the board on anything, or did he co-host?

The JV joshing is also fresher than it has been in recent years, with the addition of Justin Montemayor, Logan Gourley, David Mino, others.   Is it cruel sometimes?  I dunno; I haven't gotten the feeling of bullying so far.

See you in a week or so, maybe sooner.

In the meantime, watch those comments.

*     *     *

ThePlainsman1310@gmail.com

@Plainsman1310

[Comments moderated.]

DryDock Quick Hits

Been out of town and doing the Christmas thing with the fam, just barely keeping up with comments.

And then I tune in to my own site and find absolute gold in the last batch of comments.  I was going to cobble together some drydock quick hits but I find that Anonymous and Shaggy have beaten me to the punch, reporting more thoroughly and authoritatively than I could.  I hope I have their permission to repost their comments for further inspection by the Nation.

My reactions will appear in a comment.

First, here's Anonymous, Parts 1 and 2:

STD ALERT!!!

Thoughts concerning Dry Dock:

Gordie and the Deuce: Funny and uncomfortable as all get out. Doocy laid out the blueprint on how to effectively combat Gordo's guerrilla warfare. Good chemistry, even better times.

Rhads and Followheezy: Solid. Rhads has become a better radio broadcaster. He doesn't yell into the mic nearly as much as he once did. Nor does he try too hard to Ticket schtick it up, again, like he once did. Followill was his usual bad a self. Sure, he's going to give us a glass is (more than) half full view of the Mavs, but I think we can all understand why. His Cowboy talk has been chock full of HSOs, and that's a good.

Black and Quack: I agree with Plainsman where Dick Hicks is concerned. He's a consummate pro. Yes he can grate from time to time, but overall his HSOs are on point and fearless. Donnie Doo, I cannot say the same. The man is overexposed. There's been WAAAAY (to use one of his annoying traits) too much airtime for our man Donnie Doo. Between BaD, Cowboys post, fill in for the morning drive, and B&Q...it's much too much. I like Donnie, but he's a one trick pony. While it's evident that he's been working really hard on his football knowledge (especially draft history, personnel from other teams, etc.), he just doesn't add anything meaningful to the conversation on a regular basis. He finds an obvious or emotion based point and keeps ramming it home, over and again. And even when he has a really good point, again, he won't relent, he won't move on; he applies it to everything, or he keeps returning to it. The CTOs need to curb his on air time. He doesn't need to be involved with so many shows. No one else up there is, why him? I can appreciate his work ethic and industry, but like Nell Carter used to sing: "Gimme a break, I sure deserve it."

Soul Patch: Why they were tapped to do morning drive is beyond me. Poor decision. It's not a bad show, but it's not strong enough to fill those shoes. Heck, they had basically run out of content by the end of their allotted time. Scott H has a pleasant voice and fairly good sports chops. For the life of me, I'll never understand why the show is named after a spot of (passe) facial hair. I don't understand a mid-late 40-something with multiple piercings, but hey, whatever floats your boat. Like I said, he (and the show) ain't bad. Matt McClearin is an entirely different animal altogether. Wow! I mean, from the prom, the teenage bride, the UFOs, the notion of sex, love, conception, and being well-adjusted, the wearing a kilt, mooning your family, and not realizing the when you don't wear underwear your junk will be showing as well, and finally, the Christmas fisticuffs with his brother over him sticking an olive in his bro's ear while trying to squeeze the juice out of it (hello Freud!)... while his mother is crying. Again, Wow! An odd duck for sure, and I'll leave it at that. (I'm sure he's a nice guy, but nice guys can be weird, too.)

CDS: When the Bros Sirois talk sports, I listen. I think they are the true up and comers around The Little One. What I dislike is their infatuation with their own sense of humor. When they go into schtick, especially extended schtick, it's overkill. Because they're brothers, they both sound similar. Furthermore they both speak very rapidly (something they need to temper). And when you have two people who sounds a lot alike, speak rapidly, and constantly finish each others thoughts/talk over each other, radio chaos ensues. They need to work on this. It's when they get too "cute" for too long that this most usually occurs. I wish they 'd be more sports oriented. I think that by doing so, they're star would rise faster. Don't get me wrong, they can be funny. But, like their rapid speaking, temper it; find the golden mean. Oh, and I know that Mike works for Norm, so I see where it comes from, but they are guilty of "Over Norm." You don't need to do your own Norm drops or imitations at every turn. While they can be funny when well placed, they get stale when repeated time and again. Besides, no one can hold a candle to Gordon in that regard.

Can't wait for p.m. drivetime BaD. A foretaste of the future perhaps???

Well put, Anonymous. 
Here is Shaggy's offering:

The Soul Patch really has got nothing. As generic as it gets. Today was my first time listening to them for a moderate length of time, and it wasn't good. They are exactly what other stations across the country come up with by trying to copy The Ticket's sports talk/guy talk formula. And it's nearly always bad.

Agree about Cirque. I also think they have something, but they are way too schtick-y. They are an almost exact carbon copy of Ben & Skin when they were on The Ticket. They would constantly be laughing at their own and each others' jokes, but they werent all that funny. I think B&S have grown a lot, but they do still suffer from thinking they're a lot cooler and funnier than they really are.

Gentlemen Confessors, you have my thanks.  I'll get the comments underway

*     *     *

Follow Your Plainsman on Twitter:  @Plainsman1310

Some Drydock Quick Hits from Confessor Doug

Confessors, I have a special holiday treat for you. Frequent and perspicacious commenter Doug dropped me a private line the other day. He says the holidays left him with some downtime, so he got off a few private blasts. I thought they were very interesting and well-stated, on topics I did not have on my own list, so I secured his permission to share some of them. I’ve edited them a bit for length. My thanks to Doug both for taking the time to write, and to let me publish them here:

Doug on Drydock Showgram Quality and Substitute Hosts

It's implied that during drydock, the quality of the shows will drop off a little, but the substitutes Cat (I guess) comes up with make the station nearly unlistenable.

I remember in a segment just after the 15th anniversary party (which I relive thanks to the UnTicket) Bob and Dan preached the greatness of Bruce Gilbert (before he took the Fan PD gig) because he went out and got radio guys to do radio things. I understand they aren't going to get top talent for four weeks of fill-in time, but The Ticket has plenty of people in their arsenal that I think would produce better radio.

The problem with grabbing TV guys is they're too aware of their day job. I think Mark Followill is the best sub and has deep Ticket roots, won't so much as cuss without thinking twice about it. I'm not saying working blue produces good radio, but I do think good radio is made mostly off the cuff. Doocy isn't bad either, but again, you don't get that same level of honesty. Everything is polished. You're telling me Mike loves everyone he works with and doesn't have a single issue with his day job? Please. It's not their fault, though. If I had a dream job I wouldn't do anything to jeopardize it either. That's my point. The problem is the casting (I left out one obvious one. I'll get to him in a sec).

[On John Rhadigan:] I feel terrible for what I'm about to say because he seems like a total sweetheart of a man. Everyone says that working with John will spoil you because he is the ultimate professional, but holy crap. The guy just has nothing. Great on TV postgame shows, Horrible for four hours. He does waaaay too many resets. He takes a hit of speed before he does a segment, causing him to talk 600 words a minute, he repeats himself too much, he swallows his words like Ditka, and he’ll start a thought, then take an immediate left turn into another thought. He tries to get the Ticket lingo, but gets it just wrong, which is about as annoying as misquoting movies or songs. I’m sure he’s one of the nicest guys in the DFW market in person, but he just tries too hard.

Doug on Alternative Drydock Programming

With Elf gone, The Scrubs about as generic as you can get, and Danny on vacation (but Davey has a day job as a copywriter, which is awesome, so he probably couldn’t do fill-in anyway), I would propose giving the boys at It’s Just Banter a go from noon to 3. [I’d never heard of it, but apparently it’s the TC Fleming/Jake Kemp podcast – Plainsman.] They’re raw, sure. They cuss on the podcast, but they both have on-air experience. Plus they have chemistry with each other which is so important in radio, but somehow over looked during drydock. They’re also hungry to prove themselves. They’ll do their homework and have each segment planned out to a tee.

Then for 3-7 Cirque du Sirois. I love Mike Sirois. Loved him when he was doing Saturday morning Tickers full of schtick. Loved him when he was fill in producer, and I listen to Norm more now because he’s the producer. He’s got something. And he’s in his element when he’s working with people he knows like…his brother. They’ve got a good thing going. I’m almost wondering if Cash was busy this week since he’s not filling in anywhere.

More Doug at a later date. Comments are now open. I would remind commenters, who are almost always respectful – Anonymous, now, you be good – that Doug did not originally write this material for publication. He’s allowing me to republish his remarks because I asked him to let me do it. So keep that in mind as you post your thoughtful reactions. Many thanks

--  Plainsman

Drydock Quick Hit

I like Followill and Rhadigan as drydock substitutes.  Always glad to hear that they're substituting.  They did a one-day fill-in for The Hardline yesterday, and the show really caught my attention because:

First, any show where either of them is a host is always really loud.  They are classic radio/TV guys, trained to avoid dead air at all costs.  Their show is a slab of sound.  Good talk, but noisy as hell, very conventional-sounding.  In contrast to most of the Ticket hosts, these guys have great, if conventional, radio pipes.  (I don't know what it is about Followill, but it sounds like he is always EQ'd really, really hot, his voice sizzles and hisses in comparison to the much more midrangy Rhadigan.  Maybe he needs to lean back from that mic a bit.)

But yesterday, it was different.  Better.

It was better because of the presence of Danny Balis.  He participated in the showgram as a near-equal, and it completely transformed the Followill/Rhadigan offering.  His calmer and more conversational tone busted up the Phil-Spectorish tsunami of syllables and regulated the show to excellent effect.   That extra voice transformed the entire cadence of the Mark/John roar into something much more agreeable to the ear.

My ear, anyway.