Toucher and Hardy: The new 98.5 morning show
- Thread starter RedOctober3829
- Start date
I don’t listen to much 98.5 outside of T&R and Pats games. Is Hardy on the midday show?
I’ve always enjoyed his shifts on Sirius XM. I definitely know him more from that than sports.
I’ve always enjoyed his shifts on Sirius XM. I definitely know him more from that than sports.
He is the flash guy/3rd voice of Zo and Bertrand in the mid-day. I hope Ryan Johnston or Tim McKone gets Hardy’s spot.
Agreed, in hindsight (and largely foresight here) it was always going to be Hardy.
Wonder if they’ll rotate or jump right into a set pattern.
toucher and hardy does not have the same ring to it but good for him. hes been a good soldier for a longtime at that place, he deserves it.
https://www.boston.com/sports/media/2023/12/18/rob-hardy-poole-headed-to-sports-hub-morning-show-alongside-fred-toucher/?s_campaign=bcom:socialflow:facebook&fbclid=IwAR3nclSK6ekHQxm9o-hNU7F10vcayhronNSHE7DAuvfXq2I5aHoTPNazsFI
May as well give our friend Chad some clicks (not much added in the article that we don't already know)
May as well give our friend Chad some clicks (not much added in the article that we don't already know)
Hardy routinely carries the midday show. Your post makes him seems like a Wallach. he’s the most talented person on Zolak and Beetle.
Get rid of Wallach and put in RJ which will not happen but is the right move.
It’s a good move and the right move. Hardy has a similar sense of humor to Fred but isn’t as prone to going dark, and I’m looking forward to seeing what he brings as a main character.
They probably can’t dump Wallach, but if ever there were a time to put him back with the midday show…
They probably can’t dump Wallach, but if ever there were a time to put him back with the midday show…
I haven't heard anything about other changes yet. It sounds like Wallach stays in the third chair and Hardy's old spot is the one that is open, but I don't know that with 100-percent certainty.
Wasn’t saying he wasn’t really good because he is. But that was his job. He’s going to be a great co-host.
Just finished the podcast...
Did anyone hear how Fred ended the show?
"Hardy will join me in the new year "
"I hope to see everyone (in the studio) here when we are back"
I'm paraphrasing but he seemed....pretty deliberate ....when talking about who will be there in the new show. I'd think he'd say something about Wallach being there for the new show.
Is it possible Wallach is gone and Fred knows? Or Lockhart?
Did anyone hear how Fred ended the show?
"Hardy will join me in the new year "
"I hope to see everyone (in the studio) here when we are back"
I'm paraphrasing but he seemed....pretty deliberate ....when talking about who will be there in the new show. I'd think he'd say something about Wallach being there for the new show.
Is it possible Wallach is gone and Fred knows? Or Lockhart?
Fred made a point during the 9am announcement to say even though everyone complains about Wallach he's not going anywhere.
Ha, that's great. Wallach seems like a good guy, but he really doesn't add anything. He mainly just regurgitates obvious stuff or opinions that are already out there. He does not come across as a dumb guy but he doesn't put a creative spin/angle on things either. He is good at sucking up time; which I suppose is of value to the other hosts and producers but not to the listeners.
I'd go opposite on Wallach. He is supposed to be the sports knowledge guy for this group, and he just isn't. Other than interrupting, his only talent on that channel is sharing very weak hot takes on sports related matters. I am told by folks who know him, however that he is a very nice person.
As for the new show, I've worked indirectly with Hardy (he did promotional work for one of my businesses), and he's an incredibly hard worker, smart guy, loves golf. I think there's a decent chance the show is better going forward than it has been the last couple years. I also think he brings more sports insight to the show, which will allow Fred a little more room to do his thing.
As for the new show, I've worked indirectly with Hardy (he did promotional work for one of my businesses), and he's an incredibly hard worker, smart guy, loves golf. I think there's a decent chance the show is better going forward than it has been the last couple years. I also think he brings more sports insight to the show, which will allow Fred a little more room to do his thing.
My only problem with Wallace is that when the Sox have an injured player. He seems to be insulted that there is no all-star down in AAA waiting to be called up.
It would be. He said he worked like 130 days this year filling in. That’s 50% of weekdays in the year and he’s be excellent.
Wallach was saying at the intro this morning "you'll only hear this song two more times" - so it sounds like all the bumper production will be shifting up. I do hope they keep the hour 1 format (shoot the breeze then what happened last night") and something like The Stack at the end too, though that is starting to feel like maybe it was more of a Rich thing.
I think the hour 1 format will stay the same. They know most of the listeners are doing pre-kid waking up stuff/drinking their coffee. The brunt of the sports will always start around 7
Looking forward to the new show tomorrow Fred Toettcher! Gotta set the Google Alert on for your actual last name.
I give Wallgame 6 months before Hardy murders him on air.
Despite Fred hating all of us on SoSH and wishing this thread didn't exist, I'm very much looking forward to the new show. The show since COVID started took a decline for many reasons, I still listened probably more than anyone, so I'm guilty of being a hypocrite.
It would be great to get Hardy some space, do some fresh bits and do a revamped refreshed version of the show. Alarm set for 6am tomorrow.
I give Wallgame 6 months before Hardy murders him on air.
Despite Fred hating all of us on SoSH and wishing this thread didn't exist, I'm very much looking forward to the new show. The show since COVID started took a decline for many reasons, I still listened probably more than anyone, so I'm guilty of being a hypocrite.
It would be great to get Hardy some space, do some fresh bits and do a revamped refreshed version of the show. Alarm set for 6am tomorrow.
Looking forward to it as well. I never really soured on the show until all the Rich stuff started, which I put mostly on the corporate folks even if things were probably awkward behind the scenes. The one sided drama drip after that got old pretty quickly, so hopefully this gets back to how the show used to be.
Might be sooner than that… hopefully
Does anyone know if Rich has a job lined up? Seems like his departure was kind of a knee jerk reaction. Wouldn’t be surprised if he burned some bridges and may have a hard time getting a job in radio around here.
Does anyone know if Rich has a job lined up? Seems like his departure was kind of a knee jerk reaction. Wouldn’t be surprised if he burned some bridges and may have a hard time getting a job in radio around here.
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The best part of this show is we can relive some of Fred's biggest rants since he hasn't fought with Hardy over them. About a half hour ago we heard Hardy bust Fred's balls over the famous incident where he couldn't get out of his driveway because it snowed in Massachusetts in the winter (and the rest of the crew made it in)
I look forward to Adolfo not waking him up, Jim Grey trying to get him fired, etc
I look forward to Adolfo not waking him up, Jim Grey trying to get him fired, etc
There just aren’t that many quality radio hosts out there. If a station can afford him and he wants to live there, he will get a job. Do we know if he wants/needs to work again?
At the beginning, Toucher and Rich were kind of dragged into the sports radio space but weren't totally convinced their show would work in that format. I get the sense that Fred warmed into the sports radio aspects, but Rich never really felt at home with sports analysis. And it showed in his sports arguments, where Fred would have a follow up take and arguing against Rich and he would just double down on his original point without really advancing the conversation. Rich seemed to love the sports personalities like "Big Bang Clock" but not delving deep into the actual games.
So I don't think we'll necessarily be a target audience of whatever Rich does next, but if he brings his production and comic timing talents to a new podcast of some sort I'll definitely check it out.
Remember he was thinking he'd be working up until around Christmastime and his contract likely ran out December 31st. So this is basically Rich's first week of free agency.
Man, Fred already swinging for the fences with the university chancellor that got fired after he and his wife were doing online porn followed up by a vegan cooking segment. 
He's being a bit rough on the wife though, as someone in my 50s I don't think she's unattractive for a woman in my age group.
He's being a bit rough on the wife though, as someone in my 50s I don't think she's unattractive for a woman in my age group.
Oh perfect, I had no idea I could access it that way. I wish I knew that a longgg time ago, ha!
That’s the kind of stuff I miss that Rich stopped doing. I almost drove off 128 listening to it.
I just looked her up. She’s not pretty but she’s not really fat. I was expecting another 80lbs on her based on Fred’s description.Man, Fred already swinging for the fences with the university chancellor that got fired after he and his wife were doing online porn followed up by a vegan cooking segment.
I loved Rich and Fred together but Rich really was never a "host". He was an affable personality that balanced well with Fred but as we saw when Fred was out he often struggled to carry things by himself. He was a fantastic creative mind and excellent in producing content and bits but he will need to find the right partner in his next gig. I think the risk with Fred was making a mistake with his partner and it seems they didn't. They picked someone who plays to his weakness and can carry the content side and allow Fred to do his thinkg while still having a pulse and personality. I would be surprised if Rich isn't modest enough to know he needs to find the right spot going forward.
Fred with a burst of shots at Rich, moments after Hardy shivved Bert Breer. Nice work, assholes!
Bert called in to clarify how to interpret the scenario where Belichick's contract is transferred to another team - i.e. it is not a trade, it is compensation received for taking on a coach's contract. Breer said he was calling in on very little sleep so hoped he could describe concisely. He did so. Breer is known for lengthy answers to questions.
Hardy said, "Oh... you should do that more often." There was momentary silence from Breer before he repeated that he was operating on little sleep.
After Fred/Hardy/Wallach discussed whether that was insulting to Breer (it was), Fred said, "Oh... so now YOU'RE the dick on the show and not me."
*chuckles and "good ones"*
Then Fred said, "... at least I don't run the show's Twitter/X account and don't have my own account to avoid criticism... okay now I'm back to being the dick."
Moments later when they were discussing potential BB links to the (newly-open) Atlanta job, Fred said, "I wonder what neighborhood of Atlanta BB would show up in shirtless on a Ring camera..."
Wallach says, "Buckhead!"
Fred says, "No no... something like Sandy Springs... or Kenesaw! Yes, definitely a neighborhood like Kennesaw... and graduates of Kennesaw State!"
Longtime listeners know that:
Totally unnecessary cheap shots.
Hardy said, "Oh... you should do that more often." There was momentary silence from Breer before he repeated that he was operating on little sleep.
After Fred/Hardy/Wallach discussed whether that was insulting to Breer (it was), Fred said, "Oh... so now YOU'RE the dick on the show and not me."
*chuckles and "good ones"*
Then Fred said, "... at least I don't run the show's Twitter/X account and don't have my own account to avoid criticism... okay now I'm back to being the dick."
Moments later when they were discussing potential BB links to the (newly-open) Atlanta job, Fred said, "I wonder what neighborhood of Atlanta BB would show up in shirtless on a Ring camera..."
Wallach says, "Buckhead!"
Fred says, "No no... something like Sandy Springs... or Kenesaw! Yes, definitely a neighborhood like Kennesaw... and graduates of Kennesaw State!"
Longtime listeners know that:
- Rich grew up in Kennesaw
- It's a stretch to say that Kennesaw is a suburb of Atlanta (like saying Nashua is a suburb of Boston)
- Rich, although going to Georgia Tech as well, took classes at Kennesaw State
Totally unnecessary cheap shots.
I was listening and it was funny! Kennesaw is probably a pretty apt comparison to fall river or wherever belichick was taking that walk of shame
Maybe, just maybe, Rich was actually kind of a dick? And that's why Hardy, who didn't work directly with him feels free to pile on?
Anyway, I'm just gonna have my wife write the rest of the posts because this is a hostile work environment... (deep cut callback here)