RIP Toucher and Rich Show ... It was fun while it lasted
- Thread starter HomeBrew1901
- Start date
So Rich walked away? I’m not shocked. Give me Fred any day of the week. I’d much prefer T&R over anything.
I completely agree that Fred is better equipped to lead the show but I think unless They find Someone to compliment Fred, like perhaps Hardy, it won’t hold a candle to the current show
I agree. Fred and Rich are great together. I love Hardy but I wonder if he’s too sarcastic and similar to Fred for years on end.
I could see Rich walking away. I think he has a very clear internal compass about stuff like that. Fred without Rich (regardless of partner) is not somebody I’d listen to on sports radio. I’d probably subscribe to a hypothetical Fred Toucher music / pop culture podcast though.
Ugh. Fred talking about Music, SNL etc is the the worst. His pop culture is great but it needs to be limited. Fred in sports radio not taking it seriously is the best. It’s a perfect fit for him.
If Fred did his own version of the Go Bayside! podcast I’d listen to every episode.
Agree. Fred is much more the "on air" talent but Rich is unquestionably the one behind the scenes working like crazy to assemble bits, etc. Fred is the just show up and let it flow guy.
I find this very interesting. Can't imagine Fred taking a pay cut given how much he complains about his situation but it seems foolish that the station would sign him at his current rate and let Rich go. I can't imagine a new iteration of the show without Rich could get ratings to justify paying that kind of money.
I know a lot of people love Fred, but he's really worn on me over the years and I don't think I would continue to listen if Rich departs, especially if that could mean Wallach gets more airtime.
I know a lot of people love Fred, but he's really worn on me over the years and I don't think I would continue to listen if Rich departs, especially if that could mean Wallach gets more airtime.
I generally agree but what was the last actual production Rich has done? They have almost zero produced bits. He does fart gathering, armpits etc but there’s nothing there outside of Fred running what Rich was sent on twitter.
https://twitter.com/globechadfinn/status/1717320626862477419?s=46&t=IVL2VrlFgLlpc3mjGGto8Q
Beasley announces Fred’s deal without using Toucher and Rich title as the morning show. I think this is it.
Beasley announces Fred’s deal without using Toucher and Rich title as the morning show. I think this is it.
Rich has felt the squeeze from management more than anyone else - even discounting the Fred drama. Paying Lockhart(?) out of his own pocket plus an administrative fee most notably. I’m sure Beasley is still squeezing him and don’t blame him if he walks. I think he needs a Fred to reel in his more manic personality but he’s got talent.
I'll buy that. Fred can't carry it alone without somebody doing all the hustle and grunt work behind the scenes that Rich does.
I think people are looking at this the wrong way. Fred was probably far more open to accepting a contract on Beasley’s current offer after his problems the past couple of years. He does a good job just as Rich does and those ratings are certainly enough for Beasley to keep him around. That, I think is Fred being smart with two kids and in his current situation. Fred can push to make his image better the next few years and hopefully get paid more or a better offer else where after that. That leaves me to guess that Rich wants a better offer and isn’t ready to sign anything. He’s in a better position than Fred to do something else at this CURRENT time. I really hope things get figured out and they continue with the morning show that I’ve been listening to for years and years. I like them both and I think they both need each other’s talents to be number one. They’ll both survive certainly if they split up. Let’s hold onto our butts.
I hate this and I don’t want to choose between mom and dad.
This is like Opie and Anthony except we have to choose Wallach in the divorce and not Jim Norton.
This is like Opie and Anthony except we have to choose Wallach in the divorce and not Jim Norton.
The only one I could see filling in the Rich seat long term with Fred is Hardy. He’s filled in before and has good chemistry with Fred, has a dry sense of humor, can produce bits and also brings knowledge of other things to table like knowledge of music — which Fred seems to love to talk about from time to time.
Otherwise, I just don’t see the show working long term if they decide to move Wallach in that chair or stick in some other generic talent. Just my two cents. Hope Rich still signs an extension.
Otherwise, I just don’t see the show working long term if they decide to move Wallach in that chair or stick in some other generic talent. Just my two cents. Hope Rich still signs an extension.
That’s a good call. I really, really hope Rich signs an extension too. I just don’t think it’s going to happen.
Swear to god I was just thinking oh how miserable Keefe is right now. I wanted him to be third chair for such a long time.
I think there's a chance that now that his delusional dreams of doing NBA play by play are crushed, Wallach is looking for a bigger role/pay.
Toucher and Wallach would be such a train-wreck that I'd probably hate listen a bit.
Toucher and Wallach would be such a train-wreck that I'd probably hate listen a bit.
I think Fred is the better on air talent and would be fine with Hardy or Keefe or someone else who has a decent sense of humor and isn’t stuck up
He’s also a bit more knowledgeable about sports writ large. But is he willing to be engaged and lead Celtics/Pats interviews without going crazy off course when he gets bored? That’s fine in current doses, but would get old if that’s all it is.
Yep. It’s truly going to bum me out if this is it for the duo. I can’t say that for many other media.
I’m right there with you. Though I think it’s more likely that Rich isn’t comfortable with current offers or has just decided to walk away for reasons others have mentioned.
Fred is the least reliable host on the station. For all of his creative gifts, he 100% needs the right show structure around him to be successful. I think Beasley is playing with fire here. Rich did the lion’s share of the work on the show and served everything up to Fred on a silver platter. No way Fred can competently lead a show without a lot of support. And I doubt Beasley will hire a like-for-like replacement for Rich.
I’m unabashedly #TeamRich but also recognize he won’t be the same without Fred. I do wish nothing but the best for Rich moving forward if T&R is over.
What’s the plan? Does Rich on his own really get enough from a podcast to make up the Beasley offer? Move to EEI?
Hardy is the busiest person in radio. He does the mid day show in TSH, then does a show on 92.9 and then does multiple (?) shows on Sirius/XM. If he joined Fred, that would be a long ass day*.
* I have no idea how and when the Sirius/XM shows are recorded. He could do a week’s worth of chatter in one day AFAIK.
What’s really weird about the show ending, if it does, is that the ongoing show also doubles as an archive of sorts. They replay classic bits and stuff like the Faster Guy enough that I don’t ever feel like I miss it. If the show goes away, I guess I’ll probably never hear that stuff again. There’s no T&R Greatest Hits CD to buy, and no context that makes sense for any other version of a show they’re on to play that content. The whole world they built just kinda goes poof.
edit - that said, I’m assuming the DA voice will never be fully silenced.
edit - that said, I’m assuming the DA voice will never be fully silenced.
Hardy often does twitter based interactions on his SXM shows. He posts a question and reads responses over the course of his shift, which I take to mean he's live or at least recording same day. I'm usually in the car if I hear his show so I don't ever look at his twitter to know if he's reading responses in real time. He well could be pre-recording his breaks, which might amount to less than an hour of work for a 4-5 hour shift.
I hope that they give Fred a temporary secretary to help keep the show on track during the transition.
I forgot about that. I’m usually in my car too so I have no idea whether the tweets are live or if he dropped them earlier in the day.
In any event he’s really talented between his producing, his knowledge of sports and pop culture plus the way he can talk on the radio. He’d be an asset to the morning show.
I think that probably eliminates tension still lingering. Seems like it’s got to be a contract dispute
I always thought their contracts were up in the month of January. (I could be very wrong here)
Weird, seems like a pretty normal show. Maybe Rich isn't happy with the current state of his contract extension talks?