Toucher and Hardy: The new 98.5 morning show

[Patriot_Reign]

I hate to say it, but the Greg Hill show is better at the moment. And I say that as someone who thinks Curtis is unlistenable and Wiggy dumb as a box of rocks.
Courtney is solid and GH is the usual steady voice.

 

[NDame616]

TSH has lived off of the Pats the past 20ish years. When the best team in the market is the best team in it's sports history, and you have maybe the greatest athlete of all time, it's pretty easy talking about sports for 4 hours. With the best Boston teams playing at Legends Way, all the shows have to pivot and create interesting content which is going to be way harder.

Malik Cunningham is a perfect example. All shows DAYS talking about how insane it was that we lost our undrafted FA QB who never played QB in the NFL and was on our practice squad as a WR...but they needed SOME Patriots story

 

[Myt1]

I didn't hear that segment, but to me that's weird. Is college hockey a huge ratings draw? Of course not. But three Massachusetts teams are in the tourney and last night's UMass game went into double OT. It takes what 45 seconds to talk about it in a four hour show? That's not worthy of a mention? But Fred talking about the Lions or the Jets is edge-of-your-seat radio? Okay.

The show is basically True Detective: Season 2 at this point: awful and being graded on a curve due to inertia, name recognition, and nostalgia.

 

[Havlicheck]

The show is basically True Detective: Season 2 at this point: awful and being graded on a curve due to inertia, name recognition, and nostalgia.

This!

 

[NortheasternPJ]

I love that they went from Twitch for years to YouTube starting today and Nick didn't even tell Fred.

 

[Granite Sox]

I'm sure he did. Fred probably wasn't paying attention. Nick tweeted this out last week.

 

[NDame616]

Are they still on twitch ?

 

[Granite Sox]

Are they still on twitch ?

Doesn't look like it. Not on now, at least.

 

[Andy Merchant]

Don't know if he was busting chops, but Fred mentioned they were moving to youtube last week.

 

[redsoxedmunds24]

They’ve been planning to move to YouTube since Rich was still on the show. Just took forever to finally happen. It’s been mentioned for upwards of a year now

 

[NortheasternPJ]

I love getting constant Joe Rogan ads now that they're on YouTube

Also Fred just brought up schools "not opening" in Fall of 2020. Is anyone more obsessed with COVID 4 years later than Fred? He has so many issues with Newton schools, yet chooses to live there.

Edit: it's actually nice not hearing the same 5 ads constantly. The generic rock music is much better.

 

[NDame616]

I never know if Fred's JStew impression is hysterical or so grossly cringe worthy...

 

[The Napkin]

Fred's the guy who spent hours/days bitching about how mean people were to him when he was trying to hide his alcoholism right? Asking for a friend.

 

[hube]

8am, they're arguing about whether Dan Orlovsky farted on the Pat MacAfee show? Instant switch to Sirius. Didn't go back for the whole commute.

 

[4 6 3 DP]

The complaining about not getting tickets from the station for an upcoming Bruins game knocked me out.

Perhaps the ratings will suggest that the viewers have no issue with what the show has turned into (I like Hardy very much, moreso than Rich, just Fred is often unlistenable), but as someone who listened to D+C for a long time before it got unlistenable, it has that kind of feel (obv for different reasons).

 

[BigJimEd]

Been going into the office more and have tried to tune in but find myself switching after a few minutes every time.

 

[8slim]

Yesterday I had a realization about a specific way that Hardy engages with Fred that is different than how Rich did, and how that affects the show.

They had a pretty good conversation about Angel Reese, Caitlyn Clark and women’s hoops. Most of the focus was on Angel’s post-game presser after the loss to Iowa, and the comments she had about being hated, objectified, etc.

In the least surprising take ever, Fred compared his life to Reese and talked about the hate that he’s received in his career. Because *everything* is always about Fred (I’m not sure I’ve ever seen anyone with a bigger only child complex).

And that’s when I noticed that Hardy always indulges Fred’s self-absorbed takes and digs into that part of the conversation. Maybe I’m misremembering things, but I recall that Rich was much more quick to get a conversation back on topic and away from Fred’s navel gazing. Not always, but more so than Hardy.

I find that among the least enjoyable things about the show is when Fred goes down his self-centered rabbit hole. When he engages in meta commentary about himself. And I think Hardy feeds that, or at least tolerates that, more than Rich did.

 

[Trapaholic]

The off-brand version of Fart Court today was poor. I understand that they probably do not want to copy-and-paste old bits into this new show. Hardy was dead set on presenting his case like it was a real court, and it left little time or space for good old fashioned riffing.

 

[sezwho]

Yesterday I had a realization about a specific way that Hardy engages with Fred that is different than how Rich did, and how that affects the show.

They had a pretty good conversation about Angel Reese, Caitlyn Clark and women’s hoops. Most of the focus was on Angel’s post-game presser after the loss to Iowa, and the comments she had about being hated, objectified, etc.

In the least surprising take ever, Fred compared his life to Reese and talked about the hate that he’s received in his career. Because *everything* is always about Fred (I’m not sure I’ve ever seen anyone with a bigger only child complex).

And that’s when I noticed that Hardy always indulges Fred’s self-absorbed takes and digs into that part of the conversation. Maybe I’m misremembering things, but I recall that Rich was much more quick to get a conversation back on topic and away from Fred’s navel gazing. Not always, but more so than Hardy.

I find that among the least enjoyable things about the show is when Fred goes down his self-centered rabbit hole. When he engages in meta commentary about himself. And I think Hardy feeds that, or at least tolerates that, more than Rich did.

I agree with your take and think it’s actually changed since the show began - not for the better.

Seemed (to me) like Hardy was more challenging Fred at the beginning…but it wasn’t great radio. I believe it’s because Fred was more interested in riffing and being Alpha than overall show quality so Hardy backed off a bit and things flow along, just increasingly less with me.

 

[NortheasternPJ]

I don't see where Hardy is backing off, he calls Fred out constantly on his self indulgence and nonsense.

Rich over the last few years sucked big time. Fred was a total mess too, so it's not just on Rich, but Rich did basically no original bits since 2019 outside of Brookline 911, which was awesome and Fart Court.

Rich was basically Jimmy Fallon laughing at his own jokes constantly and annoying. I know a lot of that is because he hated Fred and Fred hated him but Rich was pretty bad for years.

 

[Rusty13]

I don't see where Hardy is backing off, he calls Fred out constantly on his self indulgence and nonsense.

Rich over the last few years sucked big time. Fred was a total mess too, so it's not just on Rich, but Rich did basically no original bits since 2019 outside of Brookline 911, which was awesome and Fart Court.

Rich was basically Jimmy Fallon laughing at his own jokes constantly and annoying. I know a lot of that is because he hated Fred and Fred hated him but Rich was pretty bad for years.

The pandemic pretty much killed the show and brought out the worst in both of them. I actually think Fred is in a better place than he was back then, but this new show, so far, isn't cutting it for me. And that's not to say that had Rich been the one to stay that such hypothetical new version would have been any better. It's frustrating, because as a long-term listener of T&R I WANT this new version to work.

 

[Andy Merchant]

Yeah, the pairing of Fred & Rich allowed them to maximize their strengths and play off of each other. I don't see either of them duplicating that chemistry with someone else.

 

[NortheasternPJ]

No more Bankroll Bunch until football season. I think that's the right move. Sounds like Kendra will still be around, just no Dan.

 

[John Marzano Olympic Hero]

No more Bankroll Bunch until football season. I think that's the right move. Sounds like Kendra will still be around, just no Dan.

Now where will everyone get their sports betting information from?

 

[RedOctober3829]

Now where will everyone get their sports betting information from?

Maybe someone infinitely better at the job than Dan. No one believes their own hype like him.

 

[NortheasternPJ]

Maybe someone infinitely better at the job than Dan. No one believes their own hype like him.

Dan's so good he's basically banned from every mobile sports book in MA due to his sharpness. I wish I was joking.

 

[8slim]

Dan's so good he's basically banned from every mobile sports book in MA due to his sharpness. I wish I was joking.

If that’s the case then he must absolutely crush all the bets he doesn’t talk about on air. Because the advice he gives on T&H loses all the time.

 

[sharts]

If that’s the case then he must absolutely crush all the bets he doesn’t talk about on air. Because the advice he gives on T&H loses all the time.

he can’t be giving out those plays to his mass following. They’d obviously move the line and he’d have to sacrifice his edge.

Dan is your classic pennies in front of a steamroller gambler. He will grind and grind all these bets with 99% payout but the payout is very small. But when that 1% rolls around he loses everything he was grinding for the last month over hundreds of bets in 2 hours

 

[sezwho]

The Burnbaum show bits absolutely destroyed me, as did 911. The Mambo 5 remix. There was great stuff.

he can’t be giving out those plays to his mass following. They’d obviously move the line and he’d have to sacrifice his edge.

Dan is your classic pennies in front of a steamroller gambler. He will grind and grind all these bets with 99% payout but the payout is very small. But when that 1% rolls around he loses everything he was grinding for the last month over hundreds of bets in 2 hours

Why does it matter if the line moves? He’s not waiting to put his positions in for the broadcast.

 

[NDame616]

The Burnbaum show bits absolutely destroyed me, as did 911. The Mambo 5 remix. There was great stuff.

Why does it matter if the line moves? He’s not waiting to put his positions in for the broadcast.

Betting is like the stock market....the best of the best of the best (the .001% of those who partake) don't say anything about what they know and don't know. There's a reason Dan has a full time job and works PT at TSH.....and it isn't because he's such an incredible gambler.

his YTD profits are probably a few percentage points more than the average schmuck who just puts a few bucks on a game 5 minutes before it starts so they can have a rooting interest

 

[NewInTown]

The wrestler or porn star bit this morning was hilarious. Great, relatively spontaneous bit that came from a random remark during yesterday's show, and Hardy and J-Stew knocked it out of the park with the sound drops

 

[Rusty13]

The wrestler or porn star bit this morning was hilarious. Great, relatively spontaneous bit that came from a random remark during yesterday's show, and Hardy and J-Stew knocked it out of the park with the sound drops

J-Stew is providing a ton of content for the show as of late haha.

 

[NortheasternPJ]

J-Stew is providing a ton of content for the show as of late haha.

So good. Hugh G Rection.

Jstew playing along is great.

 

[Billy Jo Robidoux]

Hardy playing off Fred’s hatred of “Total Eclipse of the Heart” has been very funny. They made it so Fred couldn’t turn it down and Fred was getting legitimately annoyed.

 

[sezwho]

Love Hardy told Gronk to spike the first pitch…and he does it!

 

[NortheasternPJ]

https://www.boston.com/sports/media/2024/04/16/mercy-98-5-the-sports-hub-dominates-its-competition-in-the-winter-radio-ratings/

17 share, so people are listening still. It’s not the 24 they put up one book but still high.

I know most don’t agree here with me but I enjoy this show more than T&R. One huge benefit is the show doesn’t go drastically down hill when Fred is out. Rich Radio was painful. Hardy & Friends is a great show.

 

[dirtynine]

I’d go so far as to say say Hardy & friends is better than when Fred is there.

 

[NortheasternPJ]

I’d go so far as to say say Hardy & friends is better than when Fred is there.

I almost said it, but I may agree with you. Hardy's Disney Rides of Death with Roche was awesome.

 

[RedOctober3829]

I almost said it, but I may agree with you. Hardy's Disney Rides of Death with Roche was awesome.

Hardy and Michael Holley was fun too.

 

[Granite Sox]

It’s usually either a) Fred doesn’t let Hardy co-host, or b) Hardy isn’t comfortable asserting himself on any given day. They haven’t yet come up with a consistent formula for co-hosting. Fred-dominated shows suck. There have been days where it’s obvious Hardy has thrown in the towel and just lets Fred go off into a radio ditch.

Hardy solo hosting is better than Rich solo hosting, but to this point Rich was significantly better at optimizing whichever version of Fred showed up compared to Hardy. Still not there yet.

 

[NDame616]

On Thursday there was a funny unintended bit....

It was the first part of the "bankroll bunch". I think it was Hardy, RJ and Kendra (I think Roche was there too this day but he didn't really add much because gambling isn't his thing) They spent the first break talking about Jontay Porter, what the apps need to do to fix it, how bad the apps can be if not regulated etc. Everyone chimed in on their thoughts on regulation, what Baker wants to do in NCAA (remove player props) etc. 10-12 minutes of pretty critical outlays of the apps.

Hardy: OK we need to cut to a break. This portion of Toucher and Hardy is brought to you by fanduel (I think) use promo code HARDY to get your first bet free

 

[NortheasternPJ]

Someone emailed Fred about how awful it is but the Backstage Country awful ads are so bad and play constantly. Not just during commercial breaks bur every single break on every single podcast they have. I get it's a Beasley property, but they're so bad

"We sorted through all of so and so's music videos, which one made it? Text fuckyou to get a free text to a link to a webpage!"

 

[sezwho]

Someone emailed Fred about how awful it is but the Backstage Country awful ads are so bad and play constantly. Not just during commercial breaks bur every single break on every single podcast they have. I get it's a Beasley property, but they're so bad

"We sorted through all of so and so's music videos, which one made it? Text fuckyou to get a free text to a link to a webpage!"

Holy shhhiiiiot yes. I listen to the podcasts a lot and I could not care less about Shania Twain’s best video or whatever some (I’m assuming healthy) country singers bucket list is but they are spending an abusive amount of time pitching that horseshit to me every single day.

Is this really the right market for that? I’m not. I guess they can dump as many adds into a podcast as they want, all I have to do is skip.

 

[NortheasternPJ]

Holy shhhiiiiot yes. I listen to the podcasts a lot and I could not care less about Shania Twain’s best video or whatever some (I’m assuming healthy) country singers bucket list is but they are spending an abusive amount of time pitching that horseshit to me every single day.

Is this really the right market for that? I’m not. I guess they can dump as many adds into a podcast as they want, all I have to do is skip.

It’s not just a shitty ad it’s basically the only ad on the podcasts which are an issues.

Beasley doesn’t have the ability or staff to sell ads on podcasts?

 

[The Napkin]

captivating radio right now as they're discussing their driving/parking plans to try to get to a Revs game

Bruins in playoffs.
Celtics in playoffs.
Red Sox season getting going
Patriots draft this weekend.

And we're spending a break talking about how Fred doesn't want to drive and how we're going to arrange parking and where we're going to eat.

 

[hube]

This is dumb and petty, but someone needs to teach Fred the difference between imply and infer. He always uses the latter when he means the former. Drives me nuts.

 

[Hal Waffid]

This is dumb and petty, but someone needs to teach Fred the difference between imply and infer. He always uses the latter when he means the former. Drives me nuts.

along with your imply/infer thing I also remember "ennerview" and "plegg".

 

[Rusty13]

captivating radio right now as they're discussing their driving/parking plans to try to get to a Revs game

Bruins in playoffs.
Celtics in playoffs.
Red Sox season getting going
Patriots draft this weekend.

And we're spending a break talking about how Fred doesn't want to drive and how we're going to arrange parking and where we're going to eat.

Fred spent much of the morning go after Sean Grande, who was taking some digs at Boston sports radio for his perceived notion that they were ready to pounce with the negativity if this team lost yesterday's game. I took Grande at going more after Felger & Mazz's shtick more specifically (and Grande would be right about this by the way), but Fred took it more generally and personal. Other than that, barely any actual discussion of the game and the playoffs outlook.

 

[Havlicheck]

Fred spent much of the morning go after Sean Grande, who was taking some digs at Boston sports radio for his perceived notion that they were ready to pounce with the negativity if this team lost yesterday's game. I took Grande at going more after Felger & Mazz's shtick more specifically (and Grande would be right about this by the way), but Fred took it more generally and personal. Other than that, barely any actual discussion of the game and the playoffs outlook.

With fred being gone for a week or so, I had almost forgotten how the show with fred has to be all about fred. Good thing I guess since that’s the only topic he actually knows anything about

 

[JCizzle]

captivating radio right now as they're discussing their driving/parking plans to try to get to a Revs game

Bruins in playoffs.
Celtics in playoffs.
Red Sox season getting going
Patriots draft this weekend.

And we're spending a break talking about how Fred doesn't want to drive and how we're going to arrange parking and where we're going to eat.

It certainly was never a pure sports show with Rich either, but the new format seems to have taken that model to the next level. I never minded the riffs like you mentioned from today, but - at least in my opinion - they work better when balanced with the traditional sports radio stuff.