Michael Holley's Revolving Hostatorium

John Marzano Olympic Hero

has fancy plans, and pants to match
Dope
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Apr 12, 2001
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Jerry Thornton is not my cup of tea and aside from one poster, I don't think he's SoSH's cup of tea either.

The question that I have is does anyone enjoys this guy? Do the ratings go up when he's on? Where is EEI getting the idea that he is wanted?
 

Bunt4aTriple

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Jul 15, 2005
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He does have some insight into Xs and Os, which can be a decent listen if he stays on topic.  But he brings nothing to the table in any other sport.  Some of his lines are amusing...the first time you hear them.  But he makes the same gags on the radio today that he did in Barstool columns 10 years ago, just updated for current players.  He's like Shank in that regard, but with a slightly larger pool of analogies and anecdotes to pull from.
 

NortheasternPJ

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Nov 16, 2004
19,271
The issue with Jerry is he's just not funny, at least in the his sports radio role. He's a standup comedian so apparently he might? be funny in a standup role. 
 
All his jokes are like "ohh we don't want Belichick to get his hoodie in a twist!" waka waka waka. 
 
I'm assuming he works for free or at a very low price.
 
Why WEEI feels the need to load up on the D&H with suckbag third chairs just to have them is beyond me (outside of it works for 98.5). Bring in a 3rd chair where they work. Bringing in Thornton and the rest of the losers they bring on there just to have someone adds nothing. I keep turning on the D&H show and want to listen to it, but I end up turning it off 90% of the time due to the third wheel dominating the show. 
 

Billy Jo Robidoux

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Jan 6, 2003
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Merkle's Boner said:
Are there really people who want to listen to a Belichick interview? I turn the station as soon as it starts. Completely painful radio.
 
Believe it or not, The Big Show interview was the one forum where Belichick would occasionally act like a real human being and give interesting, thoughtful answers.  Once in a while Ordway would get him talking about, for example, what made Lawrence Taylor such a dominating player.  Or the history behind why parts of the game are played the way they are.  If Smerlas and DeOssie kept their mouths shut, it was usually a very good segment.
 
WEEI is giving me exactly zero reasons to listen to their show when I get in my car at 5:00.  It blows my mind that they don't replay the Belichick interview at 5:00.
 

grimshaw

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May 16, 2007
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I don't think Thornton is remotely funny either and despise when he gets into comedian mode, but he seems to know more about the Patriots than most of the EEI fodder.
 
Maybe it's because of my low expectation level, but I don't mind upping Dickerson to a permanent 3 day a week sit in guy as he knows enough about each team to contribute talking points, and no longer talks over anyone.  I think he's an easy listen now.  Curran is fine for Friday and it almost doesn't matter who they use on Tuesday or Wednesday this time of year.  I'm sure we'll have hot stove stuff in November and can bring in someone (please no Lyons).
 

grimshaw

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I only caught the tail end of the conversation on D&C.  Is Mutnansky the new permanent 3rd guy in now or did I not hear correctly?
If so . ..  why oh why?
 

Red(s)HawksFan

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Jan 23, 2009
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grimshaw said:
I only caught the tail end of the conversation on D&C.  Is Mutnansky the new permanent 3rd guy in now or did I not hear correctly?
If so . ..  why oh why?
 
Must not have heard correctly.
 
Jerry Thornton @jerrythornton1
As announced earlier, I'm joining @WEEI full time as the 3rd man in on Dale & Holley, a daily blog, podcasts, videos etc #DreamJob
 

Rusty13

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Nov 3, 2007
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How was D&H in the last ratings book?  This seems like a desperation move, similar to Minihane joining D&C, which admittedly gave them a boost. 
 

Phenom

as if andy gresh and gary tanguay had a baby
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Jul 31, 2006
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I give this one ratings book, tops.
 
I imagine they're paying Thornton pennies, and Finn has noted numerous times that Dale is working without a contract. Thornton is okay on the Patriots because he isn't a troll. But his real expertise is teacher sex scandals, and 1980 movie references.
 
EEI seems to have this misconception that the Barstool demo is worth chasing. But it's probably just a bunch of racist, homophobic high schoolers whose parents still drive them everywhere. 
 
I imagine most of us are semi-functional adults who work for a living. Do you know anyone who reads Barstool religiously? Like, anyone who actually takes it seriously? 
 

NortheasternPJ

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Thornton most be volunteering right?

Hey you know what we need? A 50 year old local standup guy who has a voice for print that hasn't ever done anything but write some articles on one of the worst sites on the Internet!
 

Andy Merchant

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Aug 2, 2010
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Chad Finn's article today (link) said that Thornton is leaving Barstool to join WEEI. I would imagine he wouldn't do that without a decent contract, so they'd probably have to pay him to go away if things don't work out.
 

NortheasternPJ

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"It's not often a cultural institution like 'EEI takes a chance on a guy with no journalism background, no formal training and no discernible talent," he said in a statement. "I'm grateful to Entercom and glad a lifetime spent listening to the station and reading WEEI.com has paid off."

I think that says it all. I know he's trying To be funny but it's 100% true.
 

Red(s)HawksFan

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NortheasternPJ said:
"It's not often a cultural institution like 'EEI takes a chance on a guy with no journalism background, no formal training and no discernible talent," he said in a statement. "I'm grateful to Entercom and glad a lifetime spent listening to the station and reading WEEI.com has paid off."

I think that says it all. I know he's trying To be funny but it's 100% true.
 
Eddie Andelman could have been described the same way in 1970.  Clearly EEI thinks they've found a similar diamond in the rough.
 

Harry Hooper

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WEEI just loves to troll the loyal D&H listeners. First, they break them up, despite their leading ratings.. Then, they reunite them to much applause. Then, they decide to stop the winning streak -- first by insisting on having a 3rd man in the booth, and then cementing Thornton in that seat. Just total management incompetence which has the station headed for oblivion in this market.
 

NortheasternPJ

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I'm apparently not the audience they're looking for at all. I love T&R, I can stand Gresh & Zo during football seson (other than that forget it) and realize F&M for what they are, but still listen to them a lot but don't get outraged or upset like some posters here. I've been really trying to listen to D&H since they came back on the air. I used to love them when they were on midday. Holley is great at football, Dale great at hockey and they're good at baseball and basketball. Why they needed to do the revolving third chair of suck is beyond me. 
 
I'm sure this goes back to why Dale was never given the drive time slot to begin with with Holey. They're too "Boring" and "not controversial" so we'll stick them with a third chair of suck to "make them hip"
 
"Belichick has his hoodie in a twist"
Plenty of people think #Patriots stole rings from them. My chief suspects in @CoachVrabel50 heist: Marshall Faulk, Joey Porter & Mark Davis
 
I'll be doing #WEEI from 3-5 today. Unlike Chesney/Aldean, tickets for the #MediaWhoreTour do not have to be purchased in advance
GOP gains control of the Senate in the biggest transfer of power since my sons wrested the TV remote from me in 2010
If Belichick was in politics and had to give a concession speech after losing an election, I'd put the O/U at 3.5 syllables
 
 

Darnell's Son

He's a machine.
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NortheasternPJ said:
I'm apparently not the audience they're looking for at all. I love T&R, I can stand Gresh & Zo during football seson (other than that forget it) and realize F&M for what they are, but still listen to them a lot but don't get outraged or upset like some posters here. I've been really trying to listen to D&H since they came back on the air. I used to love them when they were on midday. Holley is great at football, Dale great at hockey and they're good at baseball and basketball. Why they needed to do the revolving third chair of suck is beyond me. 
 
I'm sure this goes back to why Dale was never given the drive time slot to begin with with Holey. They're too "Boring" and "not controversial" so we'll stick them with a third chair of suck to "make them hip"
 
This describes my tendencies to a T. I don't get how the decisions are made at EEI.
 
PC Drunken Friar said:
I find it hilarious that all the sexist, racist, homophobes that frequent Barstool were getting their news from that guy.
 
Yeah, we get it, you don't like Barstool.  
 
Thornton's Patriot draft breakdowns on Barstool are pretty great, actually.  He predicted they would take Solder and Easley in his mock drafts.  And he also broke the news that Wilfork was coming back to NE on a two year re-structured deal incentive laden deal.  Oh, and his teacher sex scandal blogs are pretty funny as well.  But he's brutal on radio.  Brutal.  
 
The guy had a full time job at a Massachusetts courthouse.  I think he was a clerk or something.  The Barstool thing was just a part time gig he did.  Good for him that he got a dream job...bad for the listening audience.  Can't believe they hired him.  Although he destroys Shank and Borges every chance he gets, which is nice.  
 

grimshaw

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May 16, 2007
4,220
Portland
This should be the 2014 EEI revolving hostatorium
-Thornton in
-Speier out
-Holley possibly leaving
-Salk in and out
-Dale on a week to week contract
-Ordway possibly coming back
-The extreme mediocrity of the 10-2 slot
 
The only way I listen to either station now is if Gresh and Zo get replaced by Dale and Holley at the end of the football season
 

John Marzano Olympic Hero

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Chad, question for you: why does WEEI keep Mustard and Johnson on during the weekends? Shouldn't they be following the TSH model of trying to break in unfamiliar talent (Bertrand and Gasper or Johnston and Flynn) during the weekends and then transferring them to the week days when they are needed?
 
I mean Mustard and Johnson should have been put out to pasture 20 years ago. 
 

Traut

lost his degree
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John Marzano Olympic Hero said:
Chad, question for you: why does WEEI keep Mustard and Johnson on during the weekends? Shouldn't they be following the TSH model of trying to break in unfamiliar talent (Bertrand and Gasper or Johnston and Flynn) during the weekends and then transferring them to the week days when they are needed?
 
I mean Mustard and Johnson should have been put out to pasture 20 years ago. 
 
WEEI needs to do this. Give Arcand and Villani some airtime.
 

Rusty13

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Nov 3, 2007
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I didn't even know Mustard and Johnson were still on.  WOW.  That's awful. 
 

Rusty13

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Great piece, Chad.  I think EEI should definitely try and bring Bertrand over from TSH.  In fact, I could see an afternoon drive show of Minihane/Bertrand as a very intriguing possibility.
 

Chad Finn

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John Marzano Olympic Hero said:
Chad, question for you: why does WEEI keep Mustard and Johnson on during the weekends? Shouldn't they be following the TSH model of trying to break in unfamiliar talent (Bertrand and Gasper or Johnston and Flynn) during the weekends and then transferring them to the week days when they are needed?
 
I mean Mustard and Johnson should have been put out to pasture 20 years ago. 
 
That show has a small audience, but it's loyal and consistent, and they got a ton of flak when they dropped it a few years ago. 
 

John Marzano Olympic Hero

has fancy plans, and pants to match
Dope
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Apr 12, 2001
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Chad Finn said:
 
That show has a small audience, but it's loyal and consistent, and they got a ton of flak when they dropped it a few years ago. 
 
Really? Wow. Aside from the mentalIy disabled, tracers and the elderly, I wonder who freaked out? 
 

Harry Hooper

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John Marzano Olympic Hero said:
 
Really? Wow. Aside from the mentalIy disabled, tracers and the elderly, I wonder who freaked out? 
 
Mike from Canton, of course. Hell, he might even be underwriting the broadcast.
 

NortheasternPJ

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John Marzano Olympic Hero said:
 
Really? Wow. Aside from the mentalIy disabled, tracers and the elderly, I wonder who freaked out? 
 
I think you are discounting the large number of people in those categories. 
 
Jay Leno cleaned up for years with the same audience.
 

Andy Merchant

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Dummy Hoy

Angry Pissbum
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I greatly dislike Barstool Sports and their 'culture' and I find Jerry Thornton to be an unfunny dweeb who tries way to hard to be cool.
 
That said, the small portion of the show I heard yesterday (3:45-4:00), I actually thought Thornton was solid...he didn't force too many jokes and his analysis of the Pats was pretty spot on. Regular listening is not in the cards for me, but color me pleasantly surprised by his performance.
 

lostjumper

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Apr 27, 2009
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I listened to their interview with Bill yesterday. Thornton actually asked some good questions. Bill seemed to enjoy talking with him. Went into depth about the touchback call and the time the refs incorrectly called a safety on the same type of play back when he was with the giants.
Thornton was terrible when he first got on radio. Maybe he's improving a bit.
 

Red(s)HawksFan

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Everything I've ever seen about Thornton says he knows his stuff when it comes to the Pats and football.  It's everywhere else that he suffers (including humor from what little I've heard of him).
 

Rusty13

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Nov 3, 2007
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shawnrbu said:
 
 
Someone Who Knows = Pete Sheppard?
 
Heh.  Speaking of Sheppard, I strongly doubt EEI will let him come back with Ordway if this indeed happens.  He burned that bridge like I have never seen a bridge burned before!  Smart move, Pete!