The Bill Simmons Thread

[Senator Donut]

Assuming WBV's mantle

Surprised to see he actually increased viewership from last week despite a worse lead-in and the World Series game.

 

[Drocca]

So on the worst night for his show (going H2H w/Game Seven) and a worse lead-in, he improves his numbers?

 

[Marciano490]

I think the Dopes probably edited Domer's post and added a 1 just as a final FU to WBV.

 

[8slim]

When you're looking at TV numbers that small it's highly likely that the difference between 82K and 145K is one guy in the Nielsen sample who left his set on HBO for 20 minutes longer than usual.

 

[Three10toLeft]

The fact that BS is using live Pearl Jam song recordings as his intro/outro for his podcast in 2016, tells you all you need to know as to why he hasn't been able to produce a viral hit on AGW.

 

[tbrep]

So on the worst night for his show (going H2H w/Game Seven) and a worse lead-in, he improves his numbers?

It's the "Nobody Believes in Us" magic at work.

 

[kenneycb]

The fact that BS is using live Pearl Jam song recordings as his intro/outro for his podcast in 2016, tells you all you need to know as to why he hasn't been able to produce a viral hit on AGW.

I don't make the connection but I'm admittedly drunk and slow on the uptake with Simmons stuff. Not sure why it's too different from him using 2Pac. Just seems like a weird connection to make between virality(?) and theme music.

 

[johnmd20]

The fact that BS is using live Pearl Jam song recordings as his intro/outro for his podcast in 2016, tells you all you need to know as to why he hasn't been able to produce a viral hit on AGW.

Yeah, great point, this is powerful stuff right here.

 

[8slim]

Did you guys know that most hip hop songs use samples of 70s funk? I know! That's why it doesn't connect with a younger audience.

 

[John Marzano Olympic Hero]

The fact that BS is using live Pearl Jam song recordings as his intro/outro for his podcast in 2016, tells you all you need to know as to why he hasn't been able to produce a viral hit on AGW.

Wha?

The guy is close to 50, what do you expect him to use? Skrillex? Do the kids still like Skrillex? I'm so old too.

 

[TFP]

 

[Leather]

Oh WBV, if only you hung on for a few more days!

Can't wait to hear his excuses. I bet it's ESPN's fault, somehow.

 

[Three10toLeft]

Comparing 2Pac and Pearl Jam is not even in the same ballpark as far as "coolness" or what have you. Especially considering the 2Pac song he selected actually related well with the current transition in his life at the time.

I know the guy is 50 years old. I'm not saying he should be picking top 40 hits to play on his podcast. What I am saying is that the fact that he would even select PJ as an option is laughable to me. Sorry if I offended any Pearl Jam fans here.

 

[ifmanis5]

Simmons defeated piece:
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/bill-simmons-hbo-show-canceled-4-months-944249

"We loved making that show, but unfortunately it never resonated with audiences like we hoped. And that's on me."

 

[ifmanis5]

Seems like from the HR article there's a new programming chief and he's not shy about canceling shows with bad ratings from the former person's regime. I'd expect HBO to go forward with Bill on some documentary projects but not for a weekly show starring him.


EDIT: adding DH link: http://deadline.com/2016/11/bill-simmons-any-given-wednesday-canceled-1201848823/

 

[Leather]

Hey, good for him for not blaming others. I mean, he'd be foolish to do so, anyway.

Comparing 2Pac and Pearl Jam is not even in the same ballpark as far as "coolness" or what have you. Especially considering the 2Pac song he selected actually related well with the current transition in his life at the time.

I know the guy is 50 years old. I'm not saying he should be picking top 40 hits to play on his podcast. What I am saying is that the fact that he would even select PJ as an option is laughable to me. Sorry if I offended any Pearl Jam fans here.

I know I'm far from the arbiter of "Coolness" (that'd be you, I guess), but I do know that there are few things less cool than not doing what you want out of a concern of how others might judge you for it.

He likes Pearl Jam. It's his show. The only way it's "not cool" for him to use Pearl Jam is if he really wanted to use some other band (say, I dunno, Weezer) but decided not to because he was afraid that'd be "uncool".

Be cool, man.

 

[JimD]

Ouch. Given the dollars that must have gone into the promotion for Bill's show, getting cancelled is a major embarrassment.

 

[John Marzano Olympic Hero]

I wonder if Simmons is going to apologize to Magic Johnson for all the jokes he made about him when he was a late-night talk show host?

This was always going to end up bad for him. Simmons isn't a performer. He's not a comedian, he's not an entertainer, he's never had to win over an audience. He's just a guy who writes for a living. I guess it's cool that he went for it, but man, you also have to understand your limitations too.

 

[The Social Chair]

Good for both parties to end this early. I really do believe Simmons will be a valuable producer for HBO sports. But late night talk show host is not the role for him obviously.

 

[ifmanis5]

Good for both parties to end this early. I really do believe Simmons will be a valuable producer for HBO sports. But late night talk show host is not the role for him obviously.

You don't pay someone $3 million a year to produce sports docs. All parties look pretty bad with this result.

 

[Dehere]

HBO paid 20-25 mill for eight hours of less than a 0.1 rating and what amounts to a sports documentary development deal.

Nobody in TV history has been paid more and delivered less than Bill Simmons. Good for him for getting someone to write the checks though.

 

[Drocca]

You don't pay someone $3 million a year to produce sports docs. All parties look pretty bad with this result.

Eight million per year

 

[ifmanis5]

Eight million per year

You're right. Even worse.

 

[chonce1]

They probably should've just broadcasted his pod-casts, ala the Herd, Felger and Mazz.

ESPN spent 20 mill for a sports website, and some pod-casts? Will they even continue to pay for the site/its staff?

Why would they? I doubt it is profitable/ They pay writiers salaries and health care and get a little ad revenue. Without the synergy of Simmons being on HBO, it makes no sense at all.

Simmons should use some of his pile of cash to pay for these writers after HBO shuts down the Ringers.

 

[JimD]

Besides the Ben Affleck rant, did anything ever happen on AGW that people couldn't wait to send a link to their friends? Even given that it's an election year, the contrast to fellow HBOer John Oliver is jarring. For a supposed new media guru like Simmons, this feels like a major miscalculation.

 

[CreedBratton]

They probably should've just broadcasted his pod-casts, ala the Herd, Felger and Mazz.

ESPN spent 20 mill for a sports website, and some pod-casts? Will they even continue to pay for the site/its staff?

Why would they? I doubt it is profitable/ They pay writiers salaries and health care and get a little ad revenue. Without the synergy of Simmons being on HBO, it makes no sense at all.

Simmons should use some of his pile of cash to pay for these writers after HBO shuts down the Ringers.

After losing grantland, I can't handle losing the Ringer too

 

[dirtynine]

Besides the Ben Affleck rant, did anything ever happen on AGW that people couldn't wait to send a link to their friends? Even given that it's an election year, the contrast to fellow HBOer John Oliver is jarring. For a supposed new media guru like Simmons, this feels like a major miscalculation.

Well, the cancellation news is a trending topic on Twitter.

 

[Marciano490]

I wonder if Simmons is going to apologize to Magic Johnson for all the jokes he made about him when he was a late-night talk show host?

This was always going to end up bad for him. Simmons isn't a performer. He's not a comedian, he's not an entertainer, he's never had to win over an audience. He's just a guy who writes for a living. I guess it's cool that he went for it, but man, you also have to understand your limitations too.

Hey man, he set out to create a show revolving around smart conversations about sports. It just didn't happen to resonate with idiots like you who need their hot takez.

 

[John Marzano Olympic Hero]

Hey man, he set out to create a show revolving around smart conversations about sports. It just didn't happen to resonate with idiots like you who need their hot takez.

Awww. This stings so bad I don't want to show my green-colored face.

Are we still FBoFW besties?

 

[Marciano490]

Awww. This stings so bad I don't want to show my green-colored face.

Are we still FBoFW besties?

Of course. I just thought Bill's phrasing was sheisty, but maybe I'm projecting. It read to me like he thought the show didn't succeed because it was too intelligent for mass consumption.

 

[Drocca]

After losing grantland, I can't handle losing the Ringer too

Grantland was good. The Ringer is like a terrible long-form twitter.

 

[Drocca]

Of course. I just thought Bill's phrasing was sheisty, but maybe I'm projecting. It read to me like he thought the show didn't succeed because it was too intelligent for mass consumption.

I read his statement the same way.

 

[chonce1]

Grantland was good. The Ringer is like a terrible long-form twitter.

I liked Grantland and have not found myself caring too much about the Ringer. But I am willing to give it a chance (if I get it) -- as Grantland turned into something interesting anyway.

I did find it odd they hired Kevin O'Conner from CelticsBlog. Congrats to Kevin, but does the Ringer need a writer who specialized in the Boston Celtics? I think they have that covered.

I am sure Kevin can do more than that, but still....

 

[Stitch01]

HBO paid 20-25 mill for eight hours of less than a 0.1 rating and what amounts to a sports documentary development deal.

Nobody in TV history has been paid more and delivered less than Bill Simmons Keep gettin them checks.

FYP

 

[Cellar-Door]

I liked Grantland and have not found myself caring too much about the Ringer. But I am willing to give it a chance (if I get it) -- as Grantland turned into something interesting anyway.

I did find it odd they hired Kevin O'Conner from CelticsBlog. Congrats to Kevin, but does the Ringer need a writer who specialized in the Boston Celtics? I think they have that covered.

I am sure Kevin can do more than that, but still....

He's one of the best draft guys who doesn't have his own site. His draft guide is terrific every year. A ton of sites/pods were bringing him in this draft season, he was going to get a national gig from somebody before this next draft.

 

[John Marzano Olympic Hero]

Of course. I just thought Bill's phrasing was sheisty, but maybe I'm projecting. It read to me like he thought the show didn't succeed because it was too intelligent for mass consumption.

This thread makes me sensitive, I thought that you were talking directly to me.

But you're right, that's Bill's problem as to why he's not huge. He's way too intellectual for the masses. I don't know how many times I've read a comparison between a Super Bowl and Teen Wolf 2 and just scratched my head. I assumed that it was just me and I needed to be better schooled in the classics.

 

[Marciano490]

This thread makes me sensitive, I thought that you were talking directly to me.

But you're right, that's Bill's problem as to why he's not huge. He's way too intellectual for the masses. I don't know how many times I've read a comparison between a Super Bowl and Teen Wolf 2 and just scratched my head. I assumed that it was just me and I needed to be better schooled in the classics.

I know better than to talk back to a dope. If I get banned from here I'd have to figure out what that reddit place is?

 

[86spike]

Ouch. Given the dollars that must have gone into the promotion for Bill's show, getting cancelled is a major embarrassment.

Very small marketing budget for this one.

The show sucked. I am happy that our new head of programming is not afraid to bail on stuff that is not working (see Vinyl). No point throwing good money after bad and maybe BS can make soem good stuff for HBO on the producer side of things. Nobody wants to watch him interview Chris Staples or Jay Glazer.

 

[MyDaughterLovesTomGordon]

Man, that's a quick hook. But it was deserved. I found it unwatchable.

The only thing I can think of that might work a little bit with him and that basic format is a weekly "oral history" where he can the integral people talk through the movies, big games, big cultural moments that he and his audience are into.

If each week were focused on a cultural touchpoint - Tribe's Midnight Marauders release, the OJ chase, game 7 of the 2004 ALCS, 16 Candles, whatever - that would give a marketing point and people would know what they were getting and they'd score the big fans. It would be a little midlife crisis rallying point.

As it was, there was really no way to know what you were going to get or why. There was no urgency. You just had to love Simmons and trust him, and people learned long ago not to do that, I think.

 

[Jinhocho]

Who is the greatest American rock band of all time, measured by longevity, lineup continuity, concert success, and recording success? I would guess if your going band (no solo artists) then Pearl Jam has to make the final round.

 

[JohntheBaptist]

Who is the greatest American rock band of all time, measured by longevity, lineup continuity, concert success, and recording success? I would guess if your going band (no solo artists) then Pearl Jam has to make the final round.

Jesus Murphy. These criteria sound like the best way to get yourself right in the middle of the road.

 

[Jinhocho]

Jesus Murphy. These criteria sound like the best way to get yourself right in the middle of the road.

We had a thread in here on this years ago - I think the Grateful Dead, Beach Boys, and Pearl Jam were all in the mix

 

[JohntheBaptist]

We had a thread in here on this years ago - I think the Grateful Dead, Beach Boys, and Pearl Jam were all in the mix

Which is why I don't come to Sosh for rock criticism or discussion. Pearl Jam is fine; they don't belong in any conversation about the greatest American rock band.

Anyway, back to Bill.

 

[Jinhocho]

Which is why I don't come to Sosh for rock criticism or discussion. Pearl Jam is fine; they don't belong in any conversation about the greatest American rock band.

Anyway, back to Bill.

Sez you

 

[8slim]

HBO paid 20-25 mill for eight hours of less than a 0.1 rating and what amounts to a sports documentary development deal.

Nobody in TV history has been paid more and delivered less than Bill Simmons. Good for him for getting someone to write the checks though.

I mean when you put it *that* what it sounds really bad.

 

[richgedman'sghost]

It's gonna be weird around here when Simmons show gets the ax.

Funny ..so although WBV was a jerk, he was off by less than a week. What a tragic outcome....Would the moderators consider a pardon for WBV? ...

 

[ifmanis5]

Should we change the thread title to something regarding his cancellation or is that too schadenfreude-y?

 

[Marciano490]

Should we change the thread title to something regarding his cancellation or is that too schadenfreude-y?

No way. WBV is a good dude.

 

[Dogman]

I laughed.

 

[dirtynine]

At least the set will make a good man-cave starter collection for some HBO grip.