Toucher and Hardy: The new 98.5 morning show
- Thread starter RedOctober3829
- Start date
I love it Nick. There's plenty of people here and everywhere that shit on the show. I'd rather listen to Toucher & Hardy than the last 5 years (even before COVID) of T&R. I'm an unabashed Hardy fanboy, so I'm in the minority.
Bringing in guests for full hour, Breer, Callahan etc.
Better rejoins
Hardy is starting to do more "segments". No where near what Rich used to do, but I'd love to see more of them. Even the stupid Best 15 songs of all time today I stayed on to listen to the rest of it.
I find the banter between Fred & Hardy way better than the last number of years with Rich. I get it's oil and oil and a lot of people hate it, but it works for me. Plus Hardy is my Dad Spirit. Give me tools and a project re-roofing a shed and I'm in.
I was burnt out from T&R. It wasn’t fun anymore. I hated driving to and from work, feeling pissed off. A lot of opportunities opened up once Rich left, and I started really enjoying working on the show again. It wasn’t perfect, but it was better. I was still the scapegoat for things I didn’t do, while getting more work stacked on my plate because others refused to do it or learn.
Now that 12 is steering the ship, I can honestly say I’m excited to go to work each and every morning. Everyone has a voice, everyone is on the same page, and we’re all busting our asses toward a common goal. People outside the show have noticed, and management has noticed too. The chemistry and dynamic are night and day. I never felt this way about T&R.
Your Hardy fanboy-ism is totally valid. The chemistry between Fred and Hardy is great. It’s not forced. Fred was out today, so Hardy filled in. These were some of the most unenjoyable days when Rich was steering the ship. I could go on and on, but I’m not going to, haha. All I’ll say is the show is in a much better place now compared to the last few years.
I have been sucked in to a bit more of T&H since 12 arrived. Besides the music beds (agreed) and energy from the production booth, they have been making calls I appreciate (regular Crash, a bit of Adolfo, and hour-long in-studio segments with good reporters and personalities like Esoteric). It’s not what Rich brought - and I remain resistant to any comedy segments - but it’s better than it was.
edit - Nick said it better than I could
edit - Nick said it better than I could
Thanks for the insight Nick. I really do appreciate it. What you talked about above has made a difference in the show. Love that you're excited again!
Even the running gag today with Fred being out, being a Jets fan, Fred is Dead, then RJ calling in and bringing up that maybe he just had the runs was not forced but a running gag for the show.
One question I do have Nick is, what are you doing to improve your speed getting in and out of studio. I understand you may be bottom heavy based upon Fred's constant nagging and your artificial baboon heart, but are you working on sprints to get in and out faster? Also, only degenerates drink Diet Coke, Coke Zero is a far superior drink, what is wrong with Fred?
Ski season is right around the corner, so I’m using that for extra motivation to get in and out of the studio more efficiently. Fat bottom be damned.
Fred has greatly decreased his DC intake.
I’m with you. My snow pants are a bit tight right now. Need to lose 5lbs before ski season.
Really appreciate you sharing all this here. As someone who was critical of the early days of T&H, I'll say that the show has been a good listen recently. It definitely feels fresher since Adam 12 took over producing. I wouldn't have expected that change would make such a noticeable difference, but it certainly has.
Thank you @MaybeNickGemelli for that insight! And given all the positive comments I am seeing about Adam 12's immersion into and influence on the show, I may have to tune back in and check it out again. I was admittedly burnt out from Fred's negative vibes and the direction of the show for a while, and I decided to veer into Rich's show when it debuted. But I think I'm officially done with that show. I can't take anymore of Emerson, and the rest of it is just meh. And Hillman's show is just not for me. So before I decide to go Podcasts and Music Only for good in the am, I will start giving this show another try again. Looking forward to it.
Thanks for the honest insight, Nick. The change at first was tough to handle because it went really negative but things are ticking in the right direction. I laughed at the new two truths and a lie theme.
Keep it coming.
I no longer commute to work so my Fred+Whomever consumption is nearly zero, but T&R got me through a lot of brutal drives to Watertown and I’ll always wish them - and anyone that works for or with them - the best.
Nick, I’m really glad to hear the culture there is improved. I know how soul-sucking it can be when you dread going to work. It doesn’t just impact your actual work output, but like, your entire life.
Nick, I’m really glad to hear the culture there is improved. I know how soul-sucking it can be when you dread going to work. It doesn’t just impact your actual work output, but like, your entire life.
Last year was ROUGH to say the least. It was a rollercoaster. Throw a new baby in the mix. Complete chaos.
Bizarre. Did Bourne piss off Fred or something?Another one by Fred today, this time Kendrick Bourne.
Yeah, it bugs me for some reason and I don't get it. If I looked like Bourne I'd be walking around shirtless year-round with a big smile on my face.
It’s part of a recurring Fred theme: he gives himself permission to dive in by acknowledging he’s no Adonis.
I too would like to look as weird, or was it bizarre?, as Bourne.
Well I decided to tune in for a listen today at 7am, and boy do I now regret it. A full 30 minutes of Fred rambling incoherent hatred toward Belichick and taking shots at Rich. All with Hardy not saying much and Wallach pathetically trying to do a “yes man” routine during this. I now remember why I stopped tuning in. Back to podcasts for me a while I guess!
EDIT: also this. Fred is probably right though.
EDIT: also this. Fred is probably right though.
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Just listened to the podcast, I would say the Rich stuff was like 30 seconds instigated (as it usually is these days) by Zolak, and as you said Fred doesn't seem wrong in his assessment. There is a lot of undue hate towards Belichick, but saying he went on McAfee and pumped a self serving narrative that guy's he drafted and signed were unfairly being called out isn't a horrible take.
It wasn't so much about his appearance on McAfee. Fred went way beyond that and called Belichick a "miserable" person numerous times (which is kind of funny coming from Fred) and taking shots at him about his 23 year old girlfriend blah blah blah. I don't know: Belichick seems happier than he's ever been for a long time and is very likely about to become a head coach of the NFL team of his choosing next year -- assuming that is what he wants to do.
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The show has a good thing going with the weekly football focused segments from Callahan, Dussault, Chris Price, and Breer (when he feels like showing up).
I always enjoyed the segments with Mike Gorman during Celtics season. Now that Mike has retired, I hope they try and backfill that segment.
I always enjoyed the segments with Mike Gorman during Celtics season. Now that Mike has retired, I hope they try and backfill that segment.
Fred still talks to him and Gorman said he wants to continue going on the show.
Agreed. And I enjoy the weekly fantasy football segment with Dave Richard as well. Usually, FF stuff bores me to tears, but Dave is a fun listen and his banter with Fred is good.
I could use 2 segments with RJ around the Bruins instead of one as well.
I like Fred more than most here I think but the constant dumping on BB is getting tiresome. Everyday it's "he's a miserable prick. He has no personality. He should just be banging the 23 year old. He's the worst. I hate him. HATE HIM. "
You'd think it was Bill who tried to get him fired and have his wife call into a work meeting to discuss workplace conduct....
You'd think it was Bill who tried to get him fired and have his wife call into a work meeting to discuss workplace conduct....
Are you guys really surprised that a Jets fan harbors significant hatred for BB? How could he not?
I'd be surprised if they cancel Rich after 6 months but they'll probably do it after a year. I was rooting for the guy but he seems to have forgotten how to be funny.
You sound just like me. I switched over to Bill Simmons for my primary sports fix. What afternoon shows are you listening to?
I really didn't like when he did that either...sounded to me like a high school incel ranting about The Jocks.
Oh I don't listen to the afternoon shows at all. They are even worse.
I did start listening to the "Off the Pike" podcast with Brian Barrett (from the Ringer) recently, which is a pretty solid all Boston sport podcast that drops late night about 3-4 times a week before the next sports news cycle hits. He had a good show today, going over the C's post-game and Pats tribulations. He also seems to have a decent slate of local sports media guys as guests. Check it out!
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well Zolak never matured past a junior in high school, so that’s part of it
Thought their interview with Jim Montgomery this morning was very good. They have great chemistry with him.
He probably brings it up too much, but I love Freddy's obsession with belichick. It's insane how no one else talks about how disgusting him dating that girl is, or what the real life implications are for his kids, grandkids, her parents.
Especially how creepy the like "they met on a flight because of a philosophy textbook"
Like imagine Belichick going around to her family and meeting her dad who's like way younger than Belichick lol, it's just insane
Edit: typo
Especially how creepy the like "they met on a flight because of a philosophy textbook"
Like imagine Belichick going around to her family and meeting her dad who's like way younger than Belichick lol, it's just insane
Edit: typo
What blew my mind when this first broke was her previous, 60 something year old boyfriend who dated her when she was even younger, coming out of the woodwork to say she was "really mature."
I think it’s hilarious. Fred also seems pretty damn sure BB’s son listens to the show. He was asked to not bring up Bridgewater State anymore by the Sales Team trying to get sponsors.
Are text books even a thing anymore?
The whole BB thing is super creepy, I enjoy Fred riffing on it.
Thanks! I'll have to check it out. I kept my Cs and Bs fandom when I left. I'd like it if like RJ had a standalone Bs pod I could find.
He did a good job. I'm impressed. That's got to be tough to do:
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZapbowGCLbM
Starts about 2:15
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZapbowGCLbM
Starts about 2:15
For anyone who also listens to the midday show, @MaybeNickGemelli did way way better than McKowen (sp?)
