Running on fumes: discussions of WEEI

John Marzano Olympic Hero

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I agree with you. I think it is better than F&M and if I am in the car in the afternoon (which is not very often) I will tune in to WEEI. I like Mego and Arcand and I don't take Jones too seriously but he seems to be a decent guy. Part of it may be how much I dislike the on air personalities of F&M.
That's kind of where I am too. I usually check F&M and if they're bullshitting about the Pats, I'll go to EEI. I think that Jones has calmed down a bit since he made the switch and I like Arcand and Mego. But they're going to have to do something to turn those numbers around. I wonder how much of those numbers are of the old show versus this one?
 

Ale Xander

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I love Arcand and Meg-O

Lumer is actually much better on the actual games than as a radio talk show personality
 

Patriot_Reign

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I really don't think that show is that bad. I've listened to it here and there, it's fine and it's kinda growing on me a little bit. But 18th is tough, man. Oof. I'm not sure how much longer it will be around.
Agreed, have enjoyed it since the show started. Not perfect, but it's a decent alternative to listening working himself into a frothy rage over some trivial sports take.

Also,

View: https://twitter.com/davecullinane/status/1643664628797300736
 

Bigdogx

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Jul 21, 2020
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The Adam Jones experience, folks.
This ^ "Fingernails down a chalkboard" best describes his approach to radio imo.

What drives me nuts is it's like i'm hearing Mut's voice who should be the one on this show, but yet it's nothing but a utter stupidity of clickbait takes from Jones!

I wonder how long a leash Audacy will allow them, while bringing in public access radio type ratings?
 

NortheasternPJ

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That's kind of where I am too. I usually check F&M and if they're bullshitting about the Pats, I'll go to EEI. I think that Jones has calmed down a bit since he made the switch and I like Arcand and Mego. But they're going to have to do something to turn those numbers around. I wonder how much of those numbers are of the old show versus this one?
Same here. I actually listen a lot now. I haven’t listened to F&M for years but I like this show and I really like Keefe at nights when he’s on. I usually throw the Twitch feed on when I’m working on a secondary monitor.
 

SinkingLowe

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I listened to part of the game on the radio yesterday. Lou seems to be getting better in the booth. I get that it's radio and you don't want dead air, but there have been times in the past that he seemed like he was out to prove he was the smartest baseball person on air and wouldn't shut-up in his quest to do so.

Of course, I may have just caught him on a good day yesterday and tomorrow he'll go back to being insufferable.
 

Humphrey

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If he's on the morning show, don't see it impacting his coaching. They practice after school and other than a special game, don't do any overnight trips.
 

Bigdogx

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Jul 21, 2020
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In stunning news, Adam Jones didn’t like what the Pats did in Round 1.

View: https://twitter.com/jonesandmego/status/1652016609018429459?s=46&t=ZAV_cHcUClrN1Zdq09T1Aw
The glass is always a 1/4 full to him! It's funny because he is essentially trying to play Lou's spot but with absolutely 0 credibility and 9 times out of 10 with horrible wrong takes.

I can completely see why the other channel buried him on late nights when nobody was listening to him. No doubt he will be god awful and unlistenable as ever today, as he does victory laps over the Bruins exit from the playoffs last night.
 

Bigdogx

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I got to imagine Greg Hills days are numbered, he isn't getting the ratings and he clearly is the most expensive asset they have on their books right now.

Amazing that they are getting steam rolled by the likes of Fred and Rich / Zo and Beetle / Felger and Mazz on a station so damn weak it doesn't even reach half the freaking state!
 

NortheasternPJ

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I got to imagine Greg Hills days are numbered, he isn't getting the ratings and he clearly is the most expensive asset they have on their books right now.

Amazing that they are getting steam rolled by the likes of Fred and Rich / Zo and Beetle / Felger and Mazz on a station so damn weak it doesn't even reach half the freaking state!
I don’t even get what Greg Hills demo is supposed to be or who he appeals to? I hated D&C but get why people listened or who their demo is. Hillman is so boring and dull.
 

Patriot_Reign

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Granted it's a holiday, but the day of a historic game 7 and weei has no local programming. All "Best of Jim Rome" type nonsense.
Meanwhile 98.5 has all local shows going, including Felger & Mazz both on air.

Chad Finn tweeted about this, it's just an(other) awful look for the station.
 

Pablo's TB Lover

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is WEEI playing shows earlier today on draft night?they gave up
I was flipping channels driving back after 10, and heard a blend of Hill, Wiggy, Courtney and Keefe, with that jackass producer that stayed on from D&C. There was some minimal talk about the draft on the show, but they kept talking about the Cs packaging the pick for potentially a pick or trading up in the draft. Meanwhile the draft was on like pick 22, so something didn't jive. Then it got into some random non-sports discussion and I changed it over to the Sportshub who were actually timing their commercial breaks to bring the draft pick live (which didn't happen as planned obviously). I listen to Keefe in order to minimize the WEEI stench from a couple of the other shows, but no bueno last night.
 

Patriot_Reign

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I turned on weei last night sometime after 11pm and a woman was talking, didn't recognize the voice but assumed it was whatever late night CBS national show that they air but she was talking about what it would take to find the Titanic sub which I thought was odd since earlier in the day they had declared the rescue mission over. Couple more seconds go by then Wiggy starts talking. Realized I had heard Courtney and they were doing a replay of the Hill show.
98.5 does Fox Sports after 11 which is live, does 'eei just go to replays instead?

edit: looked up their website, 11-12am are replays then: 66370
 

NortheasternPJ

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Yes, the Rich Keefe Show has been 6-10 since it started. They did one day of extended coverage for the NFL Draft, but 6-10 is the norm. It's also the best show on WEEI when you get a full tang 6-10.
 

24JoshuaPoint

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Yes, the Rich Keefe Show has been 6-10 since it started. They did one day of extended coverage for the NFL Draft, but 6-10 is the norm. It's also the best show on WEEI when you get a full tang 6-10.
Agree it is the best; by far. I was an avid listener to Gresh and Keefe and after Keefe went to his own show I realized I don't find Gresh entertaining at all. I have no idea what the contract dollars are like for people at WEEI but hopefully even with such a shortened schedule during the summer for Red Sox games, Keefe is doing ok. I find him alone great, with Fitzy and or Hart great as well. But he needs more airtime. I forget the reason behind the whole segment months ago but him and Fitzy were talking about 'Your Greatest Fears' or something and one of Keefes was, "not being able to provide for my family." So I hope he can weather this haphazard paltry schedule for now.
 

Patriot_Reign

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I forget the reason behind the whole segment months ago but him and Fitzy were talking about 'Your Greatest Fears' or something and one of Keefes was, "not being able to provide for my family." So I hope he can weather this haphazard paltry schedule for now.
I remember when Rich left 98.5 and he said that the primary reason was that they wouldn't give him benefits like health insurance even though he was full time at night with Adam Jones and they were #1 in the ratings at night. Just a shitty situation as they were a great combo. IMO Gresh is the one guy on either station I can't listen to, he just sucks so bad. Odd how he's managed to get bumped out of numerous stations yet Keefe was shown the door at 10-2.
 

John Marzano Olympic Hero

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I remember when Rich left 98.5 and he said that the primary reason was that they wouldn't give him benefits like health insurance even though he was full time at night with Adam Jones and they were #1 in the ratings at night. Just a shitty situation as they were a great combo. IMO Gresh is the one guy on either station I can't listen to, he just sucks so bad. Odd how he's managed to get bumped out of numerous stations yet Keefe was shown the door at 10-2.
The whole sports radio scene just seems to suck for the people who work there. If you're kicking ass at a station like TSH, the suits are trying to cut you to the bone in terms of pay, benefits and overall money for your show. If you're at a place that's sucking, like EEI, they're constantly moving you around and firing people.

I'm not blaming the talent here, but I'm not sure why anyone would want to work in this industry. It's just really shitty -- and that's just the crap we know about. Look at a guy like Hardy, he does a great job, he's knowledgeable and quick on the air and seems good at producing bits and stuff like that off. He has two other radio jobs. Why isn't someone like him paid enough to work at TSH. Same thing with the producers at T&R. I get that terrestrial radio is dying, but it can't be that bad, can it?
 

gryoung

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Driving home from NH yesterday, I had the Sox game on the radio. I’m not a Merloni fan, and this recent experience reinforced that.

He talks all the f@#$ ing time. Must get paid by the Word-per-minute approach. Borderline unlistenable.
 

Patriot_Reign

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"Afternoon drive (2-6 p.m.): “Felger and Massarotti” continued its long run of dominance for the Sports Hub, finishing the No. 1 spot with a 20.1 share. WEEI’s “Jones and Mego” tied for 12th with a 2.6."

That's just wild. I saw someone speculating on Twitter that the promotion of Jones to prime time afternoon drive has likely cost the station millions in ad revenue.
 

Bigdogx

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"Afternoon drive (2-6 p.m.): “Felger and Massarotti” continued its long run of dominance for the Sports Hub, finishing the No. 1 spot with a 20.1 share. WEEI’s “Jones and Mego” tied for 12th with a 2.6."

That's just wild. I saw someone speculating on Twitter that the promotion of Jones to prime time afternoon drive has likely cost the station millions in ad revenue.
The show is terrible, extremely boring and safe, not good if your looking to make noise in the ratings column. I would of thought they could do better then 12th though, that is like mendoza line bad..

It is not shocking to me though because what i just described, the boring and safe part, describes their boss Ken imo. The guy has been horrible for that station since being promoted and the decline just continues under his watch.
 

yeahlunchbox

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Why listen to a show headed by Dollar Store Felger when you can just listen to Felger in the same timeslot?
 

sezwho

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"Afternoon drive (2-6 p.m.): “Felger and Massarotti” continued its long run of dominance for the Sports Hub, finishing the No. 1 spot with a 20.1 share. WEEI’s “Jones and Mego” tied for 12th with a 2.6."

That's just wild. I saw someone speculating on Twitter that the promotion of Jones to prime time afternoon drive has likely cost the station millions in ad revenue.
I generally enjoy her schtick but it’s almost unbelievable how fast I’ll change the channel at the sound of his voice. I just know my brain cells are instantly committing harakiri by the millions.
 

Bigdogx

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So i go to a late lunch and WEEI is simulcasting the Jim Rome show, which i can't remember ever being done on WEEI. Only during late nights have i heard them broadcast someone else but not during the day and the holiday has never caused this either, wonder if it is a sign of things to come.
 

NortheasternPJ

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So i go to a late lunch and WEEI is simulcasting the Jim Rome show, which i can't remember ever being done on WEEI. Only during late nights have i heard them broadcast someone else but not during the day and the holiday has never caused this either, wonder if it is a sign of things to come.
I just checked and Andy Hart and some else is on now.
 

Harry Hooper

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Chad Finn's latest mentions the struggles of WEEI's afternoon show. I loved the bolded:

I’ve never understood putting Jones, a pale Felger imitator in a world that never asked for such a thing, in that slot. The previous show with Meghan Ottolini, Lou Merloni, and Fauria was just starting to click when it was broken up.
 

Andy Merchant

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Chad Finn's latest mentions the struggles of WEEI's afternoon show. I loved the bolded:
Man, what a shame to see Chad rip Jones' heart out of his chest and hand it back to him. I actually used to listen to Jones on Espn for a while because I couldn't stand Gresh. His transformation into Hollywood Hulk Hogan made him insufferable on 98.5.
 

Patriot_Reign

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I almost feel sorry for him, he seems intelligent enough and has a good voice for radio but while he shares the nothing is ever good enough shtick with Felger, Mike has the ability to stick his finger in the air to see which way the wind is blowing then develop an opposing point of view. Jones is just pounding how whoever/ whatever isn't good enough endlessly.
 

grimshaw

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I actually thought Gresh wasn't bad when paired with Keefe since he was more of a straight man, than a hot take guy. Banishing Keefe to PM was some kind of terrible decision. He really is their best talent by far.
I can navigate through the Greg Hill show when Wiggy only speaks a sentence or two at a time, but other than that, the station doesn't get my ears anymore.

Between NESN and WEEI, this sports starved region deserves top shelf stuff, not the garbage we're subjected to.
 

Lose Remerswaal

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I actually thought Gresh wasn't bad when paired with Keefe since he was more of a straight man, than a hot take guy. Banishing Keefe to PM was some kind of terrible decision. He really is their best talent by far.
I can navigate through the Greg Hill show when Wiggy only speaks a sentence or two at a time, but other than that, the station doesn't get my ears anymore.

Between NESN and WEEI, this sports starved region deserves top shelf stuff, not the garbage we're subjected to.
Sports talk sucks everywhere. Or at least in eastern Massachusetts and in Southern California. Here it is all just fawning over the teams, even the shitty ones.
 

double4life

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Sep 13, 2015
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Rich Keefe and Rich Shertenlieb HAS to be the next pairing as both would compliment each other's personality and style but at what time of the day on EEI?
 

Bigdogx

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Jul 21, 2020
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Sports talk sucks everywhere. Or at least in eastern Massachusetts and in Southern California. Here it is all just fawning over the teams, even the shitty ones.
Over the last 15 years sports talk has slowly been fading for sure.... Radio has just become far too safe today imo, that is why these sports talk shows have just become background noise for the majority. Nothing entertaining or must listen to happens today, the host are kept to a schedule and made not to defer from it. It makes for very bland radio imo..
 

ramfan

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Jul 19, 2005
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Sports talk sucks everywhere. Or at least in eastern Massachusetts and in Southern California. Here it is all just fawning over the teams, even the shitty ones.
I apologize in advance if i'm misunderstanding your post. Are you saying Massachusetts based sports radio sucks because they are too positive about the local teams?
 

NortheasternPJ

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Sports talk sucks everywhere. Or at least in eastern Massachusetts and in Southern California. Here it is all just fawning over the teams, even the shitty ones.
This must be the worst sports radio take I've ever seen. 90% of it is crapping on the teams constantly. Toucher & Rich/Hardy is the main exception and Zolak and Beetle are rather fair but still crap on the teams constantly. Sports Talk Radio is too positive is the most insane thing I've read on this board ever in the last 20 years.
 

Lose Remerswaal

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I apologize in advance if i'm misunderstanding your post. Are you saying Massachusetts based sports radio sucks because they are too positive about the local teams?
This must be the worst sports radio take I've ever seen. 90% of it is crapping on the teams constantly. Toucher & Rich/Hardy is the main exception and Zolak and Beetle are rather fair but still crap on the teams constantly. Sports Talk Radio is too positive is the most insane thing I've read on this board ever in the last 20 years.
I guess I wasn’t clear. ”Here” means SoCal, where I moved to from Boston in summer of 2022.

in the Boston area all they do is shit on the teams and look for trouble.
in SoCal, where I am now, all they do is fawn over the teams, even the losers. All you need to know about LA is that Kobe is still a hero out here and I wouldn’t be surprised if half the boys and a quarter of the girls are named after him
 

Pablo's TB Lover

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I guess I wasn’t clear. ”Here” means SoCal, where I moved to from Boston in summer of 2022.

in the Boston area all they do is shit on the teams and look for trouble.
in SoCal, where I am now, all they do is fawn over the teams, even the losers. All you need to know about LA is that Kobe is still a hero out here and I wouldn’t be surprised if half the boys and a quarter of the girls are named after him
"Mamba mentality" is often used as cover just to be an asshole. Which he was to his teammates and to women by his own admission: under oath during the Colorado sexual assault case, he said strangulation during sex was "his thing". While I gave him no love during his playing career, what Kobe's untimely death took away was his better post-retirement phase where from all appearances he was becoming a good father and really supporting women's basketball. But the worship during his playing days felt icky. However when you look at the Hollywood worship that happens in SoCal with celebrities who make Kobe Bryant look like a choir boy, it is not surprising.

Here in New England, we have so much self-loathing there is no room to idolize anyone else. Even Tom Brady only got to like a 95% approval rating due to being a native Californian, maybe he is friends with people we don't like, maybe his politics are different than ours, etc etc.
 

Quiddity

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Oct 14, 2008
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Chad Finn's latest mentions the struggles of WEEI's afternoon show. I loved the bolded:
This has been my opinion ever since WEEI made the move. Adam Jones has never been anything other than a Felger clone who lacks any of the entertainment and refuses under any circumstances to give the local teams praise (as bad as Felger is about it, he at least does it occasionally). I get that there are those who enjoy listening to negativity and hot sports takes, obviously Felger wouldn't be #1 in the ratings if he didn't have an appeal to people. But anyone who wants to hear all those hot takes and negativity are going to listen to the original, Felger, not the degraded copy Jones. WEEI's best play would have been to put much more positive hosts in that slot so at least you had an alternative. Go to 98.5 for the negativity and WEEI for at least some positivity and objectiveness.
 

John Marzano Olympic Hero

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Chad Finn mentioned this was coming in yesterday’s Globe. I’m surprised it was so soon.

He also mentioned that the Sox might have to take over the radio broadcasts.