RIP Toucher and Rich Show ... It was fun while it lasted

NortheasternPJ

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I'm out of market and listen to the podcast. I end up hearing more of the show than most, probably, but it's usually a few days old by the time I get to it. As such, the evergreen material is my favorite, and especially the voice characters and impressions that Fred and Rich have developed. Since it's Friday afternoon and why not, I tried to think of as many as I could. Here's an informal ranking, worst to first:

21. Old John Henry (Fred)
20. Adolfo (Fred)
19. Adolfo (Rich)
18. ‘Nam Vic Fangio (Fred)
17. Nick’s Dad (Fred)
16. Gruden (Fred)
15. Larry Flynt / Al Davis / Pervy Old Guy (Fred)
14. Intense J-Stew (Fred)
13. Post-High School Hesher (Rich)
12. Flustered James Corden (Fred)
11. Old Crotchety Racist / Titillated Southern Preacher (Fred)
10. Eddie Money (Fred)
9. Matthew Slater Ph.D (Fred)
8. “Cold Cuts” McCartney (Fred)
7. Chachi (Fred)
6. Hippy / Grateful Dead Enthusiast (Fred)
5. The Jagr (Fred)
4. Old Crotchety Racist / Titillated Southern Preacher (Rich)
3. Naughty Paul Stanley (Fred)
2. Wizard / D&D / Rush Enthusiast (Rich)
1. Fetish Enthusiast / D.A. (Fred)

Fred obviously does the bulk of the lifting here but Rich chimes in with some quality work as well. The D.A. stuff is just gold to me.
Great list but as said in a previous post you need Ray Lewis. I’d say Cold Cuts McCartney isn’t enough neither is Cordon. Cold Cuts is a top 3 for me
 

shaggydog2000

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Didn't he also do Josie Scott from a trash can or something like that? Or am I getting that confused with Paul Stanley in a laundry hamper?

I don't listen as much as I used to, but I still think of the time Fred first found out about D.A. and feet. I want to say they were playing a clip of DA interviewing some woman in his studio and they started talking about her feet and Fred LOST it because he thinks foot fetishes are hilarious.

When things come up organically like that, it is the best radio in the world in my opinion. I also remember when they first called Wallach an eagle and I want to say it was because Wallach was saying something positive about Flacco and Fred was asking him why he liked him so much and he laughed and said "is it because you also look like an eagle?" and it just went in from there.

I mean it when I say that this show has brought me more joy in the last 15 years then almost any other show/podcast/movie, etc. Just last night my wife, my friend, and I were talking about the old drunken Red Sox recap with Daylin and laughed about if she knew how often we referenced her, she would think we were obsessed with her.
That was Josie Scott trapped in a bathroom. I think that was based off of a work story where Josie Scott absolutely destroyed a stall at the station where he worked before an interview.

The tops for me are Paul Stanley, The Jagr, Hobo Eddie Money, and Mark Davis. The music that goes along with the Mark Davis impression just kills me. And I make a Paul Stanley "I'm talking about my pen-issssss!" joke about every other day with my girlfriend. She even prompts me by doing a flat "Are you talking about your penis?"
 

shaggydog2000

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Mark Davis
Ray Lewis
Paul Stanley
Eddie Money
J-Stew
Shit. If I have to pick a 5th, and based on the two I had forgotten about I should, I don't know if I can pick between crazy nonsense Ray Lewis or creepy stalker J-Stew. Both are exceptional.
 

bigq

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I feel like Fred did a really funny Jim Gray impression as well. He got a lot of mileage out of the interview they did with Gray at the Super Bowl several years ago.
 

NortheasternPJ

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The Ring Doorbell segment was not what I was expecting, shame on me but I should have seen that coming. Poor guy tried to do all the right things and still got caught.
 

hube

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Sometime around 8:20 this morning, they replayed a bit from earlier this year. People calling in to try to win a trip from another station in the building, and Fred and Rich pranking the callers. I don't know when it originally aired, but it was one of the funniest things I've ever heard on the show. I won't give anything away, but it's well worth digging up if you missed it.
 

Andy Merchant

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Yeah, the "Name That Fart" segment they replayed today was from early November. Hard to believe they came up with something so good on the fly.
 

8slim

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"Did I win the trip?!"
"No, just an inevitable march towards death"

And that was maybe the 5th funniest thing from that bit. I heard it live originally, yet still had tears rolling down my face from laughing at it again this morning.
 

NortheasternPJ

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They really did have some great stuff this year. That bit they replayed yesterday with the dude talking about his father on the can was hilarious
I listen to way too much T&R and at times you can get bogged down by Rich making stupid ass arguments, Fred shitting on the Pats but there's always great moments every week and then once or twice a month you have some touch the sun funny moments.
 

DisgruntledSoxFan77

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I listen to way too much T&R and at times you can get bogged down by Rich making stupid ass arguments, Fred shitting on the Pats but there's always great moments every week and then once or twice a month you have some touch the sun funny moments.
They replayed that bit about the dude who got caught on camera farting outside his girlfriend’s house the other day. I thought it was played originally like a month or two ago and then they said it was back in May! For all the crap we’ve all been through this year has really flown by
 

NortheasternPJ

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They replayed that bit about the dude who got caught on camera farting outside his girlfriend’s house the other day. I thought it was played originally like a month or two ago and then they said it was back in May! For all the crap we’ve all been through this year has really flown by
Was it really? I thought that was new. I completely missed that. Poor guy.
 

PC Drunken Friar

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I love when Fred breaks down rock radio history. He is so knowledgable about the subject. He also is always in a good mood when discussing it. He should write a book, it may do wonders for his mental health (or just make him a little more happy).
 

8slim

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I love when Fred breaks down rock radio history. He is so knowledgable about the subject. He also is always in a good mood when discussing it. He should write a book, it may do wonders for his mental health (or just make him a little more happy).
Was that in the 2nd hour today? I'd like to hear it, will have to check out the podcast.
 

PC Drunken Friar

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Was that in the 2nd hour today? I'd like to hear it, will have to check out the podcast.
It was the first segment (6:00-6:20). He was talking about Detroit radio and mid-80's radio in Boston, the difference between AAF and BCN.

There was another segment from a couple weeks ago (same time) where Rich was talking about the BCN documentary on PBS and Fred went on for a solid 20-25 minutes on this stuff.
 

8slim

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It was the first segment (6:00-6:20). He was talking about Detroit radio and mid-80's radio in Boston, the difference between AAF and BCN.

There was another segment from a couple weeks ago (same time) where Rich was talking about the BCN documentary on PBS and Fred went on for a solid 20-25 minutes on this stuff.
Nice, I'll def check that out. I was a huge AAF guy in the late 80s/early 90s.
 

John Marzano Olympic Hero

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There was another segment from a couple weeks ago (same time) where Rich was talking about the BCN documentary on PBS and Fred went on for a solid 20-25 minutes on this stuff.
This was a really interesting documentary. It only really covered the first five or so years of BCN though.
 

NortheasternPJ

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I love when Fred breaks down rock radio history. He is so knowledgable about the subject. He also is always in a good mood when discussing it. He should write a book, it may do wonders for his mental health (or just make him a little more happy).
Says the man who teamed up with Rich to ruin WBCN and kill the station!!!
 

sezwho

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It was the first segment (6:00-6:20). He was talking about Detroit radio and mid-80's radio in Boston, the difference between AAF and BCN.

There was another segment from a couple weeks ago (same time) where Rich was talking about the BCN documentary on PBS and Fred went on for a solid 20-25 minutes on this stuff.
I'll second that Nice from 8slim - I enjoy the detours into rock and rock radio history.
 

steveluck7

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This is great. Rich "thinks" Louis C.K. stole a joke of his about the "apples" scene from Good Will Hunting. Fred is completely perplexed that Rich thinks Louis CK would actually have heard Rich's joke and decided to steal it.

Rich: I just know several listeners have e-mailed in saying he may have stolen your joke.
Fred: Several, or 2?
Rich: 2
 

NDame616

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This is great. Rich "thinks" Louis C.K. stole a joke of his about the "apples" scene from Good Will Hunting. Fred is completely perplexed that Rich thinks Louis CK would actually have heard Rich's joke and decided to steal it.

Rich: I just know several listeners have e-mailed in saying he may have stolen your joke.
Fred: Several, or 2?
Rich: 2
"I'm not saying *I* think he stole it. But several listeners have pointed it out to me"
 

NDame616

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Brookline 911 with Rich and Wallach is completely unlistenable. Wallach is stepping all over the calls and telling his own story, and Rich has nothing to add so he laughs uncontrollably
 

JCizzle

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This morning was the first time I heard Ted Johnson's concussion story. A harsh dose of reality of what these guys go through on a weekly basis. If he was pushed that hard to go back into a preseason game, one can only imagine what happens as the season progresses... Hopefully things have legitimately improved since he played.
 

NortheasternPJ

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This morning was the first time I heard Ted Johnson's concussion story. A harsh dose of reality of what these guys go through on a weekly basis. If he was pushed that hard to go back into a preseason game, one can only imagine what happens as the season progresses... Hopefully things have legitimately improved since he played.
I knew the general story but hadn’t heard it in this level of detail. There’s a reason he axe Grinds on BB any chance he gets and I don’t blame him. I know this was a different era but that is bullshit what he went through for a fucking preseason game.
 

JCizzle

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I knew the general story but hadn’t heard it in this level of detail. There’s a reason he axe Grinds on BB any chance he gets and I don’t blame him. I know this was a different era but that is bullshit what he went through for a fucking preseason game.
I was chuckling at the “head coach” line he kept dropping without naming names on air.
 

Andy Merchant

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Brandon Meriweather to Rich today: "Hold on, hold on, hold on, so you tell me you've only had one piece of pussy in your whole life?"
 

Rook05

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You really think they’d be able to get more out of PBS. Danny did a good job of shooting the breeze which made for a better interview. A few more weeks like this week might make it easier—Rich has been grilling him lately…
 

JCizzle

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You really think they’d be able to get more out of PBS. Danny did a good job of shooting the breeze which made for a better interview. A few more weeks like this week might make it easier—Rich has been grilling him lately…
Yeah, sometimes Rich needs to chill on that in my opinion. I'm not advocating that they take it easy on him, but yelling "DO SOMETHING" over and over again like last week was rough and not very compelling radio. It's not Felger and Mazz, it's OK to ask a couple tough questions then transition to a more conversational approach where T&R excel. He was great earlier this year talking about his kid breaking his ribs.
 
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Rook05

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Yeah, sometimes Rich needs to chill on that in my opinion. I'm not advocating that they take it easy on him, but yelling "DO SOMETHING" over and over again like last week was rough and not very compelling radio. It's not Felger and Mazz, it's OK to ask a couple tough questions then transition to a more conversational approach where T&R excel. He was great earlier this year talking about his kid breaking his ribs.
Exactly. T&R are at their best when they can capitalize on a strong rapport with their guests. I get that Brad is in a new role, but I think they’d benefit from shooting the shit for at least half the interview before getting to a few basketball-related questions. That said, Brad’s pushback on the Booker freak out was amusing. He seems like he thinks Rich is a goofball.
 

steveluck7

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the more you listen to Rich, you recognize 2 things.
1. although he's a fan
2. he doesn't "get" sports

The stuff with Brad is one example. "Do something" is what a fan who doesn't understand how the trade market, salaries, etc. work.

There was another example this morning when they had Bert Breer on. and they were discussing the Texans situation. Rich read a story from a reporter talking about caserio wearing a headset and that, at the end of the Texans / Patriots game, Caserio told Culley to let the Patriots score.
Rich was flabbergasted.
"the GM wants told the coach to let the other team score?!"

Breer (and Fred) basically reminded Rich that it was a clock situation and that, had they not "let" the Patriots score, NE could have run the clock down and kicked with no time remaining.
 

JCizzle

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the more you listen to Rich, you recognize 2 things.
1. although he's a fan
2. he doesn't "get" sports

The stuff with Brad is one example. "Do something" is what a fan who doesn't understand how the trade market, salaries, etc. work.

There was another example this morning when they had Bert Breer on. and they were discussing the Texans situation. Rich read a story from a reporter talking about caserio wearing a headset and that, at the end of the Texans / Patriots game, Caserio told Culley to let the Patriots score.
Rich was flabbergasted.
"the GM wants told the coach to let the other team score?!"

Breer (and Fred) basically reminded Rich that it was a clock situation and that, had they not "let" the Patriots score, NE could have run the clock down and kicked with no time remaining.
I think that's a very fair assessment. In my opinion, Rich is the type of fan who watches all the games, but that's the extent of his knowledge. He turns on the TV, watches, turns it off and talks about it the next day. On the other hand, I think Fred watches fewer games, but spends time reading about the sports and dabbling in deeper analytics type stuff (probably more than he lets on if I had to guess). I think both approaches are totally fine and as a talk show host you probably don't want to come across as a "know-it-all nerd", which fits better in a podcast format IMO.

While I personally don't really care about music, I'm always amazed how much they both know about that subject. It's incredible.
 

shaggydog2000

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I think that's a very fair assessment. In my opinion, Rich is the type of fan who watches all the games, but that's the extent of his knowledge. He turns on the TV, watches, turns it off and talks about it the next day. On the other hand, I think Fred watches fewer games, but spends time reading about the sports and dabbling in deeper analytics type stuff (probably more than he lets on if I had to guess). I think both approaches are totally fine and as a talk show host you probably don't want to come across as a "know-it-all nerd", which fits better in a podcast format IMO.

While I personally don't really care about music, I'm always amazed how much they both know about that subject. It's incredible.
They're music guys. That was their chosen career until they ended up in a sports talk show by an accident of fate. I think Rich has adapted well, but it's not his thing as far as a passion for analyzing it, like you say. Fred sounds like he played sports on a higher level than Rich as a kid and had a stronger interest in analyzing it. Either way I don't tune in to hear them talk about the Patriots options at strong safety for this weekend's game. I tune in for more Fart Court. Or in desperate hope that they find another Dating on Demand clip.