Katie Nolan: somebody should make a thread about her

jaytftwofive

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Guyism was her first gig. She was in her early 20s. I'd imagine she took the job because it was a means to an end for her career. It led to her being hired by Fox for that short-lived Regis Philbin show on FS1, which in turn led to her getting her own show (Garbage Time), which in turn led her to ESPN.

I hope you're not bringing up Guyism to suggest that she's still in the same place where she'd be a good fit at a toxic place like Barstool. People mature, and she certainly has. I doubt now that she's free of the shackles of ESPN that she's going to regress back into the realm of fart jokes.
Barstool can be funny sometimes. You have start somewhere. I didn't realize she started in her early 20's. She's in her mid thirties now(Born in 1987) and no I don't think she'll regress back to her time on Guyism.
 

Leather

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Barstool can be funny sometimes. You have start somewhere. I didn't realize she started in her early 20's. She's in her mid thirties now(Born in 1987) and no I don't think she'll regress back to her time on Guyism.
In that GQ article she comes out and says she hated the "Cool Girl" shtick she was obligated to adopt in her early days because it forced her to buy into misogynistic cliches. I mean, as of the time of the article, anyway, it really seems like she is still coming to terms with it years later.

FTA:
"I got my job at Guyism by writing a blog about how women suck...I look back at that now and I'm like 'Oh my god.....[I was] buying into this idea of what a woman is that they defined, and then you perpetuated it by being like , I'm not like them. Well, yeah, you are like them, 'cause you're a woman. So if you a cool woman, that means women can be cool, unlike what is constantly told to us. So instead of aligning with men against women, you should align with women against men and be like, Not all women like pink and are into reality shows. And I chose the wrong side, and I am still upset because it got me a job that I deserve either way, but I got it by being mean about women. It sucks."
People here are responding because they are fans of Katie Nolan and want to see her succeed, but if it isn't clear yet here it is again: Katie Nolan has had a complicated history with her own product and persona, and if you really are a fan, maybe take a few minutes to read what she thinks about it in her own words. It's clear that heading to Barstool would be a massive compromise with her own morals and self-image, and probably one that would be really bad for her on a personal level given their reputation as the standard bearer for the type of misogynistic bullshit Nolan has a deep-seated loathing for. My guess is, she'd prefer to be a solo blogger/commenter than head to Barstool.
 

Red(s)HawksFan

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In that GQ article she comes out and says she hated the "Cool Girl" shtick she was obligated to adopt in her early days because it forced her to buy into misogynistic cliches. I mean, as of the time of the article, anyway, it really seems like she is still coming to terms with it years later.

FTA:


People here are responding because they are fans of Katie Nolan and want to see her succeed, but if it isn't clear yet here it is again: Katie Nolan has had a complicated history with her own product and persona, and if you really are a fan, maybe take a few minutes to read what she thinks about it in her own words. It's clear that heading to Barstool would be a massive compromise with her own morals and self-image, and probably one that would be really bad for her on a personal level given their reputation as the standard bearer for the type of misogynistic bullshit Nolan has a deep-seated loathing for. My guess is, she'd prefer to be a solo blogger/commenter than head to Barstool.
Exactly. Anyone who's paid attention to her work since Fox gave her Garbage Time, particularly her podcasts where she is more "real", should recognize that she's not Barstool material. She did what she thought she had to to get her foot in the door (Guyism) and consciously abandoned that approach once she "made it" with Fox and ESPN.
 

DeJesus Built My Hotrod

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I am on record saying that I would not be surprised if we learned that Barstool reached out to her. I did not, nor did anyone else here that I can see suggest that Nolan is going to that platform or that she would entertain it. It is not my base case.

That said, my experience is that people often compromise their values in the interest of earning a living if it comes down to that decision. It seems like other flat out reject that as a potential outcome here but given that she hasn't really been used properly over the past few years, she may have to make some difficult decisions to get her career back on track. That was my main point.

Disclaimer: Barstool is toxic and nobody is whitewashing them.
 

canderson

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I already miss her podcast. :( I'm sad it was just stopped without her having a chance to say goodbye (if she wanted to ... she very well didn't want to record a goodbye episode but man I miss it already).
 

Red(s)HawksFan

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I am on record saying that I would not be surprised if we learned that Barstool reached out to her. I did not, nor did anyone else here that I can see suggest that Nolan is going to that platform or that she would entertain it. It is not my base case.

That said, my experience is that people often compromise their values in the interest of earning a living if it comes down to that decision. It seems like other flat out reject that as a potential outcome here but given that she hasn't really been used properly over the past few years, she may have to make some difficult decisions to get her career back on track. That was my main point.

Disclaimer: Barstool is toxic and nobody is whitewashing them.
Regarding her need to earn a living, she left ESPN mid-contract, which suggests to me that she's not in a position where she's hurting financially. She either has a plan lined up (but can't say yet) or she's comfortable enough to wait out an opportunity that fits best for her.

I already miss her podcast. :( I'm sad it was just stopped without her having a chance to say goodbye (if she wanted to ... she very well didn't want to record a goodbye episode but man I miss it already).
I'm guessing it was her call to leave without a goodbye. Nothing indicates she was fired, and even her laid off producers/co-hosts didn't just disappear. She's done multiple goodbye episodes for those departures and was lined up for another one for Travis (I think he said the 10th was his last day at ESPN). They were all pretty emotional so she may not have been up for doing one for herself. Can't blame her if that's the case.
 

canderson

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Bomani Jones has been hired to host a new weekly late night sports show on HBO. Why do I post this here?

Katie said she applied for it and thought she’d get it. I wish she had.
 

Van Everyman

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I don't know this world super well but how is the Ringer not a perfect fit for her? Big platform, run by a guy from Boston. I can't imagine Simmons would do anything to rein her in.
 

Red(s)HawksFan

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I don't know this world super well but how is the Ringer not a perfect fit for her? Big platform, run by a guy from Boston. I can't imagine Simmons would do anything to rein her in.
I don't think anyone's said it's not a good spot for her, but there are other good fits as well.

How much of Ringer content is generated out of LA? Would relocating there be necessary, because I could see that as maybe being a roadblock for her.
 

johnmd20

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I don't think anyone's said it's not a good spot for her, but there are other good fits as well.

How much of Ringer content is generated out of LA? Would relocating there be necessary, because I could see that as maybe being a roadblock for her.
Ringer employees live all over the country. But LA is definitely the home base for the brain trust.(Ryan, Fennessy, Littman, Rubin, Simmons of course)

If Nolan got her own Podcast on the Ringer Network, she could definitely do it anywhere.
 

kenneycb

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They have a New York office. Not sure what the breakdown is between podcast vs. writing vs. other staff but people work there. Pretty sure Shoemaker is there for example.
 

thebtskink

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They also have people working from home all over the country. Mays was mostly in Chicago when not on the road, and I think Solak is out of Wisconsin or Michigan.
 

scott bankheadcase

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She's doing it.... On Her Turf
View: https://twitter.com/OnHerTurf/status/1490855407320973312

Come for @katienolan's spot-on Rebecca Lowe impression, stay for an awesome #WinterOlympics discussion between two incredible women
Katie Nolan & Rebecca Lowe chat about everything from the Premier League to what Winter Olympic sports they think they could do.
Side note: as someone who watches way too EPL, Rebecca Lowe may be my favorite sports commentator working today. Just insanely talented.
 

NortheasternPJ

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My favorite part of this is Katie Nolan replied to a tweet and Apple just wants her to be herself and not a typical color person. I'd love a fresh take on broadcasting the game, hope this works.
 

FlexFlexerson

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Seems like it didn't really work out for Katie Nolan (and Melanie Newman) at Apple: https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2023/02/15/katie-nolan-melanie-newman-wont-return-apple-tv-mlb-coverage/11264109002/
Apple TV+ is moving on from its experimental three-person booth to a more traditional two-person broadcast for its Friday night coverage of Major League Baseball. This leaves out veteran broadcasters Katie Nolan and Melanie Newman in the streaming service's second year covering the league, according to the New York Post.

Nolan, who is known for her comedic commentary, had previously expressed that her role alongside Hunter Pence and Stephen Nelson was an awkward fit from the start. Apple's idea was to add podcast-style entertainment in between the gaps of play, but the broadcast was met with criticism.
I only watched a few of the Apple broadcasts last season, but the ones I checked out Katie seemed mostly like a non-entity. Sounds like she agrees the booth isn't really suited to her strengths. Too bad, could have been must-see-baseball in an alternate universe.
 

Ale Xander

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She was/is a lot better than Melanie Newman though. And muuuuuuuuuuuuuch better than Chris Young.
 

nattysez

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It's funny that they mention her being on Kenny Mayne's podcast - the two of them are similar. Both talented people with fun personalities who don't seem to be able to find a niche.
 

8slim

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I fail to understand why Katie Nolan isn’t wildly successful. It seems like a systemic failure.
She's had many opportunities. She clearly has niche appeal and just doesn't attract a broad audience.

Honestly, I think she's fine, but I've never found her all that compelling.
 

hube

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She's shifting gears to game show host.

I like her, I hope she succeeds. She's a better host than an analyst or talking head and she has decent comedic skill.
 

naclone

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i stil remember her last super bowl show on FS1 and Pete Schraeger saying at the end "youre going to be a star" as the cameras cut away. its like it was a curse. its the only explanation.
 

loshjott

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Seems like it didn't really work out for Katie Nolan (and Melanie Newman) at Apple: https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2023/02/15/katie-nolan-melanie-newman-wont-return-apple-tv-mlb-coverage/11264109002/

I only watched a few of the Apple broadcasts last season, but the ones I checked out Katie seemed mostly like a non-entity. Sounds like she agrees the booth isn't really suited to her strengths. Too bad, could have been must-see-baseball in an alternate universe.
“Apple's idea was to add podcast-style entertainment in between the gaps of play, but the broadcast was met with criticism.”

Needless to say the rule changes would kill this idea.
 

Spelunker

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“Apple's idea was to add podcast-style entertainment in between the gaps of play, but the broadcast was met with criticism.”

Needless to say the rule changes would kill this idea.
For the anti-clock folks, the idea that a proposal like this was even brought up should be all the proof you need that we needed the rule change.
 

dhelven

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It was great to see her on Celebrity Jeopardy last night. It got me talking to a friend about her and he steered me here.

Like a number of you, I'm a fan and wish she'd find her niche/place/home/whatever.
 

Red(s)HawksFan

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She did quite well on Celebrity Jeopardy, until it came time to calculate her Final Jeopardy bet. I really thought they had staff help the Celebs with the math.
She's a big Jeopardy fan, watches all the time as she said during one of her interviews with Jennings. Any loyal viewer knows you bet enough to come out a dollar ahead if second place doubles up and gets it right. She got the math right in terms of figuring out what second place would be if they doubled up, she just didn't add the extra dollar. I don't know if that's bad math or just forgetfulness in the moment. Goes to show that there's a difference between watching and playing. At least she had the buzzer timing down from the jump (and on the sudden death question). That's the underrated trick to success on the show. I bet there are plenty of super smart contestants who've lost over the years because they were bad with the buzzer.

Can't wait to see how she does in the next round.
 

djbayko

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Nolan's been around the Meadowlark podcast universe recently, on a few episodes of Pablo Torre's new show (one of which was with her fiancé Dan Soder - the comedian - who happens to be besties with Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel). And she did a longform interview with Dan Le Batard here:

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLUd1PzIQq4
Tangent, but I just discovered Dan Soder, which might be kind of weird since I love stand up. He does some great impressions - has a fantastic Chappelle and Macho Man. Just try not to laugh at this (warning: some NSFW language).

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6DTVZwNRQI
 

allstonite

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His is the best I’ve ever heard. He used to guest on the wrestling podcast Cheap Heat a few years ago and would bring it out every now and then. He said the secret to it was that everyone else would always yell and do the loud parts but he would just do the voice calmer and quieter and it really worked perfectly.
 

Riconway3155

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Tangent, but I just discovered Dan Soder, which might be kind of weird since I love stand up. He does some great impressions - has a fantastic Chappelle and Macho Man. Just try not to laugh at this (warning: some NSFW language).

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6DTVZwNRQI
Soder is pretty amazing at impressions overall, but his Macho Man is second to none.

He has said he is launching a podcast (I think by the end of this year?) that I'm going to be looking forward to. No clue what it is about because due to the strike he apparently can't talk about it. He's been making the rounds lately on some podcasts that I listen to and I know he recorded one with Mark Maron that hasn't aired yet. There's a lot to listen to with him on old episodes of the Bonfire floating around youtube also.
 

Auger34

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Tangent, but I just discovered Dan Soder, which might be kind of weird since I love stand up. He does some great impressions - has a fantastic Chappelle and Macho Man. Just try not to laugh at this (warning: some NSFW language).

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6DTVZwNRQI
Soder is a really funny dude. As someone else mentioned upthread, he's also very close to Mike McDaniel.

Kind of a tangent that might be only interesting to me but
The group of comedians that Soder hangs out with (Big Jay Oakerson, Tim Dillon, Legion of Skanks, Shane Gillis, etc) are all pretty..not politically correct (to put it nicely) and while Nolan was working for ESPN, she was definitely someone who would go on rants and tirades against these types of people in sports. Wonder how she squares all of that away.
 

djbayko

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Soder is a really funny dude. As someone else mentioned upthread, he's also very close to Mike McDaniel.

Kind of a tangent that might be only interesting to me but
The group of comedians that Soder hangs out with (Big Jay Oakerson, Tim Dillon, Legion of Skanks, Shane Gillis, etc) are all pretty..not politically correct (to put it nicely) and while Nolan was working for ESPN, she was definitely someone who would go on rants and tirades against these types of people in sports. Wonder how she squares all of that away.
I saw a short bit from Gillis on IG that was fucking hilarious, so I checked out his special on Netflix. Man, is he a terrible comic. I'm okay with politically incorrect humor, but he seems to be doing constantly and very intentionally, at the expense of all else. His biggest sin is that he simply isn't funny. The one IG clip I happened to see (which was politically incorrect, BTW) was the only thing I laughed at. He's like a Rogan turned up to 11. Also, terrible stage presence.
 
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Riconway3155

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I saw a short bit from Gillis on IG that was fucking hilarious, so I checked out his special on Netflix. Man, is he a terrible comic. I'm okay with politically incorrect humor, but he seems to be doing constantly and very intentionally, at the expense of all else. His biggest sin is that he simply isn't funny. The one IG clip I happened to see (which was politically incorrect, BTW) was the only thing I laughed at. He's like a Rogan turned up to 11. Also, terrible stage presence.
I didn't love the special he has on Netflix, but he put one out a couple of years ago on youtube for free and it is really, really good. You should check that one out instead. I thought it was absolutely hilarious.
 

Auger34

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Isn't Gillis the guy who SNL bagged after some controversial racial stuff surfaced, or am I thinking of someone else?
Yeah, that is Shane Gillis. He got canned because of bits he was doing on a podcast.

The stuff that he was fired from SNL for is basically PG content compared to Legion of Skanks
 

CarolinaBeerGuy

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Soder is a really funny dude. As someone else mentioned upthread, he's also very close to Mike McDaniel.

Kind of a tangent that might be only interesting to me but
The group of comedians that Soder hangs out with (Big Jay Oakerson, Tim Dillon, Legion of Skanks, Shane Gillis, etc) are all pretty..not politically correct (to put it nicely) and while Nolan was working for ESPN, she was definitely someone who would go on rants and tirades against these types of people in sports. Wonder how she squares all of that away.
Great question. Soder was on Rogan’s podcast last year as well. Seems he’s at least pretty friendly with the types of guys she used to rail against.
 

CarolinaBeerGuy

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Soder is the guest of the most recent Marion podcast, if anyone wants to listen.

EDIT: He’s pretty unfunny and never shuts up.
 
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