Running on fumes: discussions of WEEI

Chad Finn

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EDIT:

Looks like that won't be the case. At least we now know what Rich has been up to!

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Imminent is definitely the key word there. He may have some NDA left. I don't know the timeline, just that Audacy management has been telling people changes are coming. It's fluid, but if I had to bet, I think this could end up with Keefe and Jones in midday -- I've heard contradicting stuff on Fauria -- and Gresh and Rich in afternoon drive.
 

John Marzano Olympic Hero

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Imminent is definitely the key word there. He may have some NDA left. I don't know the timeline, just that Audacy management has been telling people changes are coming. It's fluid, but if I had to bet, I think this could end up with Keefe and Jones in midday -- I've heard contradicting stuff on Fauria -- and Gresh and Rich in afternoon drive.
Gresh? Ooof. Where is Meg going?
 

yeahlunchbox

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Imminent is definitely the key word there. He may have some NDA left. I don't know the timeline, just that Audacy management has been telling people changes are coming. It's fluid, but if I had to bet, I think this could end up with Keefe and Jones in midday -- I've heard contradicting stuff on Fauria -- and Gresh and Rich in afternoon drive.
I have no idea who Gresh's audience is, but he must have one because he's had like nine lives when it comes to radio.
 

hube

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Gresh and Rich in afternoon drive.

Good heavens, that'd be awful. Rich and almost anyone else (probably not Adam Jones) might have a shot at competing with F&M. Rich and Gresh would be suicide by shouting.
 

Patriot_Reign

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I have no idea who Gresh's audience is, but he must have one because he's had like nine lives when it comes to radio.
Seriously. I've found him to be unlistenable as far back as his debut with Zolak at the birth of 98.5. Everywhere he goes his ratings are just 'meh', yet he's given opportunity after opportunity.
 
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Salem's Lot

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Seriously. I've found him to be unlistenable as far back as his debut with Zolak at the birth of 98.5. Everywhere he goes his ratings are just 'meh', yet he's given opportunity after opportunity.
He must work ridiculously cheap for someone that people have heard of.
 

Bigdogx

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Gresh? Ooof. Where is Meg going?
Gresh is the wall street journal of sports radio. He is just there imo.

Kind of sucks to see what sports radio has become, long ways away from the Mike and the Mad Dog & the Big Show days...... This is not just an WEEI issue as WFAN has the same dead spot from 10am till 6pm.
 

steveluck7

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Rich in the afternoon is a bad idea. He’s not knowledgeable enough about sports to carry a show at that time.
Random segments not involving sports is where Rich is best. That works in morning drive. I don’t think that would be a good show in the afternoon
 

Andy Merchant

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Gresh is terrible, I hope Rich gets a guaranteed contract for big bucks because there's not going to be much for him to work with.
 

Hal Waffid

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Imminent is definitely the key word there. He may have some NDA left. I don't know the timeline, just that Audacy management has been telling people changes are coming. It's fluid, but if I had to bet, I think this could end up with Keefe and Jones in midday -- I've heard contradicting stuff on Fauria -- and Gresh and Rich in afternoon drive.
If self-preservation is an instinct Rich possesses, he better play learn to play nice with Chad. I didn't hate Gresh as much as some but I'd rather hear Keefe. They need to go younger, or at least go more connected with younger.
Rich in the afternoon is a bad idea. He’s not knowledgeable enough about sports to carry a show at that time.
Random segments not involving sports is where Rich is best. That works in morning drive. I don’t think that would be a good show in the afternoon
That makes sense, but I think the play here is to swerve out of Felger's lane rather than being continuously made roadkill.

I listened to Felger's interview with Bryan Curtis and I was amazed by the contempt he has for his listeners. It seems to me like the F&M animating principle is "you, my listeners, should be ashamed of yourselves, whether it's for being gullible enough to fall for my bit or for caring enough about your local teams enough to listen to sports radio in the first place." There's got to be parts of that audience that would like an alternative to showing up and being abused or manipulated into anger.
 

Rusty13

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Huge grain of salt, as it's coming from Kirk. But if Rich was actually that unhappy working with Fred and that situation, I can absolutely understand him turning down that much money to go somewhere for much less. Having said that, I do agree that a Rich/Gresh show does not sound good at all. I'm not sure who would be a better partner for Rich though, who might be available. He definitely needs someone who can play off his bits in a humorous way, while also mixing in some sports knowledge. Someone more vanilla like Keefe I don't think cuts it.

 

TheWizard

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Pure speculation on my part as I know nothing but I wonder if we'll hear something on April 1. As it's the start of a new quarter and if Rich has any non-disclosure agreements in place may be up then.
 

John Marzano Olympic Hero

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Huge grain of salt, as it's coming from Kirk. But if Rich was actually that unhappy working with Fred and that situation, I can absolutely understand him turning down that much money to go somewhere for much less. Having said that, I do agree that a Rich/Gresh show does not sound good at all. I'm not sure who would be a better partner for Rich though, who might be available. He definitely needs someone who can play off his bits in a humorous way, while also mixing in some sports knowledge. Someone more vanilla like Keefe I don't think cuts it.
What about Jones and Rich? Jones is a cynical jerk, a lite Felger, but maybe he'd loosen up a bit with an optimist guy who's funny like Rich? Keefe and Rich would be great too. Arcand as the sports flash dudes.
 

Hal Waffid

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Huge grain of salt, as it's coming from Kirk.
I will never understand what people see in Kirk. If I recall, maybe 3/4 of his tenure at WEEI was feuding. He talks as though he's not among the most sensitive of the descriptive term he uses in the clip.

He is right that if they're going to bring in Rich they should give him whatever money they planned on allocating to drive time and let him do what he wants. The guys in WEEI management clearly don't have any functioning ideas themselves and they don't need to constrain the guy who does. If, like everything else they've tried over at WEEI (including Kirk) it doesn't work out, they can tell Rich to hit the bricks.

By the way, are those numbers accurate? How could Fred possibly be having money problems bringing in 9 units?
 

Rusty13

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By the way, are those numbers accurate? How could Fred possibly be having money problems bringing in 9 units?
Who knows if they are accurate, but Fred is definitely dealing with ongoing Family Court issues, as he admitted that he had to go to court directly after the show recently. On the flip side, he also just got back from a trip with his son to Atlantis, so he can't be doing THAT bad.
 

Rusty13

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What about Jones and Rich? Jones is a cynical jerk, a lite Felger, but maybe he'd loosen up a bit with an optimist guy who's funny like Rich? Keefe and Rich would be great too. Arcand as the sports flash dudes.
I like your train of thought re: Jones. He had one of the better 98 Mile submissions a few years ago, so he has a funny, engaging side to him as well.
 

Andy Merchant

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I remember Minihane saying that Toucher & Rich were making $800k under their last contract, so at least a new contract of $900k is consistent with that narrative. Hard to believe that things got bad enough with Fred where Rich was willing to walk away and take another job for $700k less just to be rid of him.

And PLEASE let it be true that Gresh is only making $80k! I wonder how much money he pissed away by botching his negotiations at 95.8 and getting replaced by Bertrand?
 

Hal Waffid

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And PLEASE let it be true that Gresh is only making $80k! I wonder how much money he pissed away by botching his negotiations at 95.8 and getting replaced by Bertrand?
Haha is that what happened? I was puzzled because liked Gresh better than I like Bertrand. I remember when it was Tanguay and Zollak but I don't remember how long that pairing lasted before Tanguay farted off into obscurity.
 

NortheasternPJ

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I hate Kirk as well, but he seems pretty spot on. I'm not sure who Rich's audience really is without Fred and it'd be absolutely horrible during drive time with Gresh. Agreed with above, I'd rather pair Rich with a Jones which could possibly work vs Gresh! who's terrible.
 

Andy Merchant

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Haha is that what happened? I was puzzled because liked Gresh better than I like Bertrand. I remember when it was Tanguay and Zollak but I don't remember how long that pairing lasted before Tanguay farted off into obscurity.
It's been a while, but I seem to recall Chad Finn saying that Gresh botched his negotiation with 98.5.
 

Patriot_Reign

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It's been a while, but I seem to recall Chad Finn saying that Gresh botched his negotiation with 98.5.
I could've sworn that at least a partial reason Gresh was let go was because of how he treated people behind the scenes, though having said that I totally forgot that Tanger was the original host with Zo so I'm probably mistaken.
 

Quiddity

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I could've sworn that at least a partial reason Gresh was let go was because of how he treated people behind the scenes, though having said that I totally forgot that Tanger was the original host with Zo so I'm probably mistaken.
My recollection is Gresh and Zo had a radio show together in the pre-98.5 days, I believe on a Rhode Island station, and Tanguay's 98.5 era was so unmemorable that it's easy to forget it ever happened.

WEEI couldn't have made a bigger mistake in putting a lower quality xerox copy of Felger in afternoon drive up against him. If one wants to hear 4 hours about how much the teams they love suck, Felger is by far the better option. Bringing in someone totally different from Felger like Rich would be the best play in my eyes for WEEI to save itself.
 

yeahlunchbox

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Yeah, Gresh and Zo worked together on 790 The Score.

I completely agree about EEI in the afternoon. They should have been trying to do something completely opposite of Felger and Mazz. They have the negative market covered, go for positive or a Toucher and Rich type show instead of just doing what the Sports Hub is doing.
 

steveluck7

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Yeah, Gresh and Zo worked together on 790 The Score.

I completely agree about EEI in the afternoon. They should have been trying to do something completely opposite of Felger and Mazz. They have the negative market covered, go for positive or a Toucher and Rich type show instead of just doing what the Sports Hub is doing.
But they’d be getting the far lesser on air talent with Rich. So, while a T & R type show could do well (I have my doubts about that “style” in the afternoon), Rich isn’t the one to carry the load and make that work.
 

Patriot_Reign

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But they’d be getting the far lesser on air talent with Rich. So, while a T & R type show could do well (I have my doubts about that “style” in the afternoon), Rich isn’t the one to carry the load and make that work.
Agreed. Rich's strength is producing bits like fart court or Brookline 911 and for whatever reason that translates to morning drive time material.
Jim Murray will occasionally make a "Yeah Felgahh you're wronggg kidddd" bit but otherwise it's straight up sports talk which Rich isn't good at.
 

Rusty13

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But they’d be getting the far lesser on air talent with Rich. So, while a T & R type show could do well (I have my doubts about that “style” in the afternoon), Rich isn’t the one to carry the load and make that work.
With how Toucher and Hardy has been going so far, I'm not sure that's correct anymore.
 

dirtynine

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Rich (with Toucher) did pretty well in the afternoons. For one, it’s why they were the only show retained when BCN flipped to TSH. I think he’d re-adapt ok.
 

ramfan

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My recollection is Gresh and Zo had a radio show together in the pre-98.5 days, I believe on a Rhode Island station, and Tanguay's 98.5 era was so unmemorable that it's easy to forget it ever happened.

WEEI couldn't have made a bigger mistake in putting a lower quality xerox copy of Felger in afternoon drive up against him. If one wants to hear 4 hours about how much the teams they love suck, Felger is by far the better option. Bringing in someone totally different from Felger like Rich would be the best play in my eyes for WEEI to save itself.
I found it odd that they put a lesser talented Felger copycat to go against him. Don't think this is the right combo though
 

Hal Waffid

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I was trying to figure out where "Average Al" came from and it was our guy Framingham Lou, and it sure got Simmons riled up back when he was throwing that around.

Average Al - just your average NBA champion.
 

NortheasternPJ

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I was trying to figure out where "Average Al" came from and it was our guy Framingham Lou, and it sure got Simmons riled up back when he was throwing that around.

Average Al - just your average NBA champion.
It 100% did come from AAAA Lou. He’d know about it since he could barely get out of Pawtucket. Al Horford had 3 seasons where he played more games than Lou in a single season! Oh wait they only play 82 games a year vs 162. I loved Lou as a player but the Average Al stuff has always been awful.
 

BrandyWhine

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It 100% did come from AAAA Lou. He’d know about it since he could barely get out of Pawtucket. Al Horford had 3 seasons where he played more games than Lou in a single season! Oh wait they only play 82 games a year vs 162. I loved Lou as a player but the Average Al stuff has always been awful.
The "average Al" stuff was awful. It was a cheap and a lazy critique b/c Al's contributions weren't entirely visible in his stats.
For me, "Average Al" stained Lou's early years on WEEI.
Happily, I feel Lou has grown and as far as I know, he no longer relies on that kind of stupid schtick but rather brings insight to his commentary.
I used to hate Lou but now I appreciate him.
People can change. At least some of them can.
 

Hal Waffid

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I think the only reason I knew about it at all was from Bill Simmons bringing it up to make fun of how stupid he thought it was. I didn't know where it actually came from.
 

Patriot_Reign

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Adam Jones & Keefe to middays, Arcand and Hart to afternoons. Mego to writer and fill in host. Looks like Gresh and Fauria are out.
 

Rusty13

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Adam Jones & Keefe to middays, Arcand and Hart to afternoons. Mego to writer and fill in host. Looks like Gresh and Fauria are out.
Talk about trying to put a different coat of a paint on a rapidly sinking ship. How long until they finally pull the plug and reformat into a country station or something? 1-2 years?
 
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NortheasternPJ

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I'm happy for Keefe and Arcand. Both seem like genuinely good people, real sports fans.

Hart's pretty brutal though. That's going to be a tough listen.
 

NortheasternPJ

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Hart is good on football. I listen sometimes to his and Fitzy's podcast and Hart knows his football. Everything else though.....
Hart and Fitzy are just not my thing. I find them both grating. Hart does know football, but it's just his style and delivery and HOT TAKEZ drive me nuts.
 

John Marzano Olympic Hero

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BTW can we get a new Thread Title?
Done.

It's crazy to me how much of a powerhouse EEI once was. The Big O Show, Dennis and Callahan, Dale and Eddie (and Holley and Neuimier) even Ted Sarandis or Mikey Adams were all shows that people actually discussed. If it didn't have the Red Sox, I have no idea where they'd be.

I'm not sure I'm sad, Dennis, Callahan and Ordway were bullying assholes. But for the folks who work there, it has to be a real drag.
 

NortheasternPJ

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Done.

It's crazy to me how much of a powerhouse EEI once was. The Big O Show, Dennis and Callahan, Dale and Eddie (and Holley and Neuimier) even Ted Sarandis or Mikey Adams were all shows that people actually discussed. If it didn't have the Red Sox, I have no idea where they'd be.

I'm not sure I'm sad, Dennis, Callahan and Ordway were bullying assholes. But for the folks who work there, it has to be a real drag.
Fred and Hardy with Wallach spent 40 minutes or so the last week or two around this. Why was everyone at WEEI giant assholes to each other? They had egos through the roof. Both Hardy and Fred said in their 30 years in radio, they never ran into the toxic WEEI experience.

I love Fred & Hardy & Beetle & Zolak. I think F&M is the worst show possible, but obviously I'm in the minority.
 

MyDaughterLovesTomGordon

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I thought the one interesting thing WEEI was doing was trying to introduce female voices into Boston sports talk radio. Sidelining MegO is a mistake, in my opinion. In fact, if they wanted to be interesting, they'd go the other direction. Why not try an all-woman drive-time, where they talk not just the big four, but WNBA, soccer, etc.? The Sun just sold out the TD Garden. Caitlin Clarke is the most interesting sports story of the past few years in terms of fan momentum. Instead of chasing past glory and trying to emulate whatever attracts the old core of male sports fans, why not go after a new market and create a bigger pie? Whatever they're doing is a disaster in the ratings. Not sure how it could get worse.