Toucher and Hardy: The new 98.5 morning show

[NortheasternPJ]

I can't imagine that's true. I'm a moron so I'm not speaking as an authority on this but if they let his contract lapse and don't re-sign him can they not allow him to get another job in the industry?

Depends on the contract. My boss had a noncompete and got fired, they still enforced it and he couldn’t work for a year competing with us. I have no idea what a radio contract looks like but it’s very possible. Usually you have to get some sort of equity or bonuses etc if there’s a noncompete but his isn’t a world I am familiar with.

 

[sharts]

I love it how things become fact due to reading on Reddit that somebody said they had a conversation with somebody in a Twitch chat. Have you ever been in that Twitch chat? It’s just a 6-10am back and forth of “Rich is gay” jokes. A few of the users are all right, but it’s a pretty toxic place. I eventually turned the chat option off on my TV.

I've never seen the twitch chat. I mean i don't think people would just go on Reddit and make things up...

 

[sharts]

This is all just speculation from me: but I wonder if this all goes back to COVID. It really feels like the dynamic of the show and Rich himself started to change. He definitely became a bit more serious and reclusive during that time period (for very justifiable reasons) that it makes you wonder if this is when his relationship with other members of the show began to deteriorate. My memories of his relationship with other show and 98.5 staff prior to that time period is similar to yours. It seemed like he had numerous get togethers (unlike Fred), took care of and spent time with Adolfo and seemed genuinely liked -- at least with how things were characterized publicly. We will probably never get the full details though. It just sucks now looking back in retrospect.

Speaking of Rich, I saw someone on the Twitch feed recently that I lurk on from time to time say that Rich might still be on a non-compete and that's why he hasn't been able to announce any new opportunities yet. Is that true? Was he released before the end of his contract? I hope he still lands somewhere soon.

Fred and rich had completely opposite views regarding COVID. That time period definitely exacerbated both of their worst traits. Fred's alcoholism and his relationship with his wife, and Rich's self righteous douchebaggery.

 

[steveluck7]

This morning was interesting. Fred, Wallach and Hardy were talking about the Vegas “trip” last season (I believe it was the Chandler jones “interception” on the Myers lateral).
Hardy scheduled vacation time for that week to go out to Vegas. Rich and Wallach went out for work. The station asked Hardy to host a 4 hour show with Rich on the Saturday afternoon. He had to re-book his plane trip home but he agreed.
Hardy got there and they started the show. Rich bounced after 30 minutes, leaving Hardy to do the rest of the show on his own.

 

[sharts]

This morning was interesting. Fred, Wallach and Hardy were talking about the Vegas “trip” last season (I believe it was the Chandler jones “interception” on the Myers lateral).
Hardy scheduled vacation time for that week to go out to Vegas. Rich and Wallach went out for work. The station asked Hardy to host a 4 hour show with Rich on the Saturday afternoon. He had to re-book his plane trip home but he agreed.
Hardy got there and they started the show. Rich bounced after 30 minutes, leaving Hardy to do the rest of the show on his own.

Did they cut all this from the podcasts? Was going back to listen to the early part of the show and it says something about Hardy’s drive for 5 experience and some “frustrating things that took place” but it just cuts right to the beginning of the Hurley interview…

 

[Patriot_Reign]

I may be misrembering but didn't Minihane say years ago that Rich was hated in the SportsHub building?

Yeah and also that Trenni stopped doing appearances because he was creeping. Who knows it's all hearsay

 

[NewInTown]

Did they cut all this from the podcasts? Was going back to listen to the early part of the show and it says something about Hardy’s drive for 5 experience and some “frustrating things that took place” but it just cuts right to the beginning of the Hurley interview…

They did, you can still hear it 1 hour into the full Twitch broadcast

 

[sezwho]

Yeah and also that Trenni stopped doing appearances because he was creeping. Who knows it's all hearsay

Plenty of creeping on that show without any contribution from Rich. Show definitely worse without him too. Too bad, I don’t even ‘hate’ listen, just catch pods if they have an interesting guest.

 

[Patriot_Reign]

They did, you can still hear it 1 hour into the full Twitch broadcast

do have a time stamp? been listening to hour 2 but haven't come across it

 

[NorthShoreBeefin]

They did, you can still hear it 1 hour into the full Twitch broadcast

I’m listening on Spotify and the segment is not cut.

 

[sharts]

I’m listening on Spotify and the segment is not cut.

weird, it wasn’t on the app, Spotify, or iTunes

 

[NewInTown]

do have a time stamp? been listening to hour 2 but haven't come across it

Listen here starting at 1 hour 5 min

View: https://www.twitch.tv/thesportshub/v/2057643574?sr=a&t=3793s


It lasts the whole segment

 

[dirtynine]

Fred is so gleeful to go after Rich. Blecch.

 

[steveluck7]

Fred is so gleeful to go after Rich. Blecch.

I took it as Fred “finally” recalling something that wasn’t about him and Rich and being happy to let someone else share their experience. FTR, Hardy didn’t shy away and if the story as told is accurate, Rich comes off real bad.

 

[sharts]

I wonder why they cut that segment. Was it for discussing felger and his wife, outing Jim Murray as bald, shitting all over a big station sponsored promo, or calling out rich for bailing on hardy? I’m going with B

 

[NortheasternPJ]

I wonder why they cut that segment. Was it for discussing felger and his wife, outing Jim Murray as bald, shitting all over a big station sponsored promo, or calling out rich for bailing on hardy? I’m going with B

Everyone knows Murray’s bald. I’m going with all of the above. It’s amazing how much everyone apparently hated Rich.

 

[Reardon's Beard]

Obvious 98.5 insiders.

If one of them starts promoting magic shops or leather dojos I'm going to totally lose it.

A bunch. They can't get over themselves.

 

[Patriot_Reign]

Listen here starting at 1 hour 5 min

View: https://www.twitch.tv/thesportshub/v/2057643574?sr=a&t=3793s


It lasts the whole segment

Thank you, kind of wild what an asshole Rich has become to be.

 

[dbvader]

For all the 'Rich was universally hated ' talk, Fred didn't do crossovers with Bertrand for a while. Rich did them.

 

[sharts]

For all the 'Rich was universally hated ' talk, Fred didn't do crossovers with Bertrand for a while. Rich did them.

oh yea Fred hated Bertrand. What was the story there?

 

[NDame616]

oh yea Fred hated Bertrand. What was the story there?

I believe one day they got into an argument over EITHER "fred didn't get to work on time because Adolfo didn't wake him up and Fred blamed Adolfo" OR "Fred didn't come to work on time because we had a snow storm in the winter in Massachusetts and Fred didn't wake up early enough to dig out his car/couldn't break through the mound of snow at the end of his driveway"

I believe Beetle was giving him shit over one of those 2 instances and it was a blowup.

 

[NDame616]

like always, I was very wrong

clip of the awkward crossover:
View: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=533627507156698

 

[ramfan]

Fred and Beetle talked briefly about why the crossover ended during the show last monday 12/5 , coincidentally during the crossover. You have to go to the end with about 3 or 4 minutes left. Spoiler - Beetle said the reason wasn't Fred.

View: https://www.twitch.tv/videos/2053880703?filter=archives&sort=time

 

[sharts]

“People who have called out the quality of our show, things don’t end well for them.” Rich definitely came off as a prick there making things personal while Fred was keeping it on the lighter side. Rich’s radio personality of being the nerdy golden retriever seems to have covered up the fact that he really has no social skills. The picture starts to get clearer.

 

[NorthShoreBeefin]

I truly think the show is finding its groove quickly. Fred seems more engaged than ever (maybe that’s why it sounds like he’s talking more often because he enjoys working with Hardy and doesn’t check out). Wallach is… Wallach. He’s fine. I thoroughly enjoy when Fred and Hardy bust his balls. Hardy seems like he’s still working stuff out, but he’s clearly the right person for the show.

The biggest takeaway from listening to the show for a month: T&R became SO bit driven. I enjoy that some days, but not all the time and it became that. T&H have done bits, but it’s now more like 50/50 bits and banter, busting balls, sports talk, which I’ve enjoyed. I don’t need to hear a fart court 3 times a week, but that’s just me

The show just sounds more natural. I’m happy the cross-over is back. The email segment has had some good moments. Wallach not knowing his email and Fred ripping into him was hilarious to me. Hell, even the social accounts have improved.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C28L_SxPdO1/?igsh=dnI0MmEzNmY5bW92

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C3DllyFR0o2/?igsh=Z2h1ZHlraHVid2t3

 

[Hal Waffid]

I believe one day they got into an argument over EITHER "fred didn't get to work on time because Adolfo didn't wake him up and Fred blamed Adolfo" OR "Fred didn't come to work on time because we had a snow storm in the winter in Massachusetts and Fred didn't wake up early enough to dig out his car/couldn't break through the mound of snow at the end of his driveway"

I believe Beetle was giving him shit over one of those 2 instances and it was a blowup.

It was because people kept calling into the midday show to do the 'Sarge Sucks' thing and Marc thought T&R were egging them on.

 

[double4life]

It was because people kept calling into the midday show to do the 'Sarge Sucks' thing and Marc thought T&R were egging them on.

This is the correct answer.

 

[NortheasternPJ]

I truly think the show is finding its groove quickly. Fred seems more engaged than ever (maybe that’s why it sounds like he’s talking more often because he enjoys working with Hardy and doesn’t check out). Wallach is… Wallach. He’s fine. I thoroughly enjoy when Fred and Hardy bust his balls. Hardy seems like he’s still working stuff out, but he’s clearly the right person for the show.

The biggest takeaway from listening to the show for a month: T&R became SO bit driven. I enjoy that some days, but not all the time and it became that. T&H have done bits, but it’s now more like 50/50 bits and banter, busting balls, sports talk, which I’ve enjoyed. I don’t need to hear a fart court 3 times a week, but that’s just me

The show just sounds more natural. I’m happy the cross-over is back. The email segment has had some good moments. Wallach not knowing his email and Fred ripping into him was hilarious to me. Hell, even the social accounts have improved.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C28L_SxPdO1/?igsh=dnI0MmEzNmY5bW92

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C3DllyFR0o2/?igsh=Z2h1ZHlraHVid2t3

Came here to agree with you. This week has been great and last week as well. They're hitting their stride, Hardy's bringing content, everyone hates Wallach. It's back.

I enjoy this show much more than T&R. I'm a Hardy guy and always have been, but he's much much better than Rich.

I really don't know how Wallach survives, he's buried constantly from both Fred and Hardy and rightfully so. I was shocked he didn't get brought up in the segment today about Romo talking too much and interrupting.

 

[yeahlunchbox]

i like kendra too she wouild be a Great relrcement for jim murray

The plants in my room would make a great replacement for Jim Murray.

 

[NortheasternPJ]

The plants in my room would make a great replacement for Jim Murray.

I hate Weekday Jim Murray more than anyone, but Kendra would be so bad on that show. It'd be awful and even worse. Felger & Mazz would refer to her as a "broad" or a "dame" or a "stupid spoiled child"

 

[sharts]

Can someone please let Wallach know he doesn’t need to be involved in every single conversation? Toucher n Hardy will be having a perfectly natural back n forth when out of no where Jon will do his dumbass laugh and just say “Jesus Christ.” He must have uttered that with different inflections at least 10x today. It adds nothing to the topic at hand and ruins whatever flow Fred n hardy had by looking at him like “oh, did you want to contribute?” He has nothing else to add and I find myself getting irrationally angry.

Jesus Christ ….

 

[rowinthevine]

Longtime lurker, first time commenter. I know people have been asking for proof about Rich's wife and the hostile workplace situation, and yesterday is as close as we've come to that. 2/14/24 hour 4 right as they started the stack Fred mentions getting free Revolution jerseys and his was a 2XL. He jokes about being bodyshamed and says they had a meeting where he said being body shamed made him pound on a table yelling about a "hostile work environment." Then says he held up his phone so someone else could say the same thing so that you know it's true. This seems pretty in line with everything that has been speculated about the Rich/Mary situation and wasn't very subtle.

 

[Andy Merchant]

Huh, Fred just told Dan Soder that Rich was a dick because he shared inside info about calling Jimmy G. Dirk Diggler.

 

[NewInTown]

Huh, Fred just told Dan Soder that Rich was a dick because he shared inside info about calling Jimmy G. Dirk Diggler.

I believe the issue Dan had with it was that the inside joke was repeated directly to Kyle Shanahan which caused a headache for Dan.

Fred also said he told the story on the air so he also broke that "off the record" trust, but it wouldn't have gotten back to Kyle Shanahan and Mike McDaniel without Rich doing that

 

[Patriot_Reign]

I was kind of half listening to the Soder segment and couldn't tell if he was legit angry or not.

 

[onthereg527]

I was kind of half listening to the Soder segment and couldn't tell if he was legit angry or not.

Just listened and the vibe I got was he was initially very annoyed when it first happened, but isn't really angry or anything anymore, was bringing it up in more of a busting balls, why did you do that to me kinda way.

 

[NortheasternPJ]

Just listened and the vibe I got was he was initially very annoyed when it first happened, but isn't really angry or anything anymore, was bringing it up in more of a busting balls, why did you do that to me kinda way.

Have we found anyone that doesn’t seem to hate Rich? I’m shocked Fred hasn’t had Trenny on to bash him.

Fred said the other day in a roundabout way that he stayed home so much and broadcasted from there because he couldn’t stand Rich but loves coming in now.

 

[Hal Waffid]

I believe the issue Dan had with it was that the inside joke was repeated directly to Kyle Shanahan which caused a headache for Dan.

Fred also said he told the story on the air so he also broke that "off the record" trust, but it wouldn't have gotten back to Kyle Shanahan and Mike McDaniel without Rich doing that

Yeah, I went and listened. To me that was actually as close to defending Rich as I've heard Fred get. Soder was mad at Rich only and Fred basically said words to the effect of 'you can be mad at me too I told that story on the air'.

I was kind of half listening to the Soder segment and couldn't tell if he was legit angry or not.

Oh yeah he was angry.

Can someone please let Wallach know he doesn’t need to be involved in every single conversation? Toucher n Hardy will be having a perfectly natural back n forth when out of no where Jon will do his dumbass laugh and just say “Jesus Christ.” He must have uttered that with different inflections at least 10x today. It adds nothing to the topic at hand and ruins whatever flow Fred n hardy had by looking at him like “oh, did you want to contribute?” He has nothing else to add and I find myself getting irrationally angry.

Jesus Christ ….

That's one thing I definitely don't miss. If you took a shot every time he said Jesus you'd be at MGH on life support before the show ended.

I don't know why he doesn't just do the following:
1) STFU
2) listen to T&H
3) follow along with the conversation topic by googling or reading twitch or whatever
4) if asked, say what the google research yielded, and if pressed, get his opinion out in under a minute ("I think Saugus wings are delicious. Don't you agree?" [silence])
5) GOTO 1 UNTIL SHOW END
6) Cash paycheck

Have we found anyone that doesn’t seem to hate Rich? I’m shocked Fred hasn’t had Trenny on to bash him.

J Stew I guess. Rich must be like the Ellen of sports talk. I wonder if Nick liked him - he seemed to be trying to look out for Nick.

Assuming it's true that everybody else hated him too, think about how off putting you'd have to be if people would rather work with the guy who was missing the show openings and blaming co-workers on the air (Brrd) and otherwise humiliating them (Adolfo, Nick), and lying about them on the internet. Do you think he was aware of it?

The Trenni thing I had written off at the time to bad rock DJ habits of objectifying women. They (Rich) treated her like Nora instead of a serious reporter, and I don't think she liked it. I think she would have had a similar experience if she went on O&A and (not at all a similar experience if she went on F&M or the Big Show).

 

[sharts]

Have we found anyone that doesn’t seem to hate Rich? I’m shocked Fred hasn’t had Trenny on to bash him.

what happened with Trenny?

 

[onthereg527]

what happened with Trenny?

something about Rich being creepy to her?

 

[sharts]

2/14/24 hour 4 right as they started the stack Fred mentions getting free Revolution jerseys and his was a 2XL.


Just tried to listen to it on the app. It’s cut. They really are turning into State Run Media over there. It really lends credence to any speculation that gets thrown around here

 

[moretsyndrome]

something about Rich being creepy to her?

It had to be at least 7-8 years ago, when I had a long commute and would listen to the 7-8 hour pretty much every day. Fred was out, she was in with Rich and she made a remark about how dating sucked or something. Rich ran with it and it devolved into "Let's get Trenni laid!", with him trying to get guys to call in and other Morning Zoo-type crap. It got awkward very quickly. I don't think she's been on since.

 

[Myt1]

Longtime lurker, first time commenter. I know people have been asking for proof about Rich's wife and the hostile workplace situation, and yesterday is as close as we've come to that. 2/14/24 hour 4 right as they started the stack Fred mentions getting free Revolution jerseys and his was a 2XL. He jokes about being bodyshamed and says they had a meeting where he said being body shamed made him pound on a table yelling about a "hostile work environment." Then says he held up his phone so someone else could say the same thing so that you know it's true. This seems pretty in line with everything that has been speculated about the Rich/Mary situation and wasn't very subtle.

I have no idea what this post is supposed to convey.

 

[sharts]

It had to be at least 7-8 years ago, when I had a long commute and would listen to the 7-8 hour pretty much every day. Fred was out, she was in with Rich and she made a remark about how dating sucked or something. Rich ran with it and it devolved into "Let's get Trenni laid!", with him trying to get guys to call in and other Morning Zoo-type crap. It got awkward very quickly. I don't think she's been on since.

That sounds hilariously awkward… anyone got the audio?

 

[rowinthevine]

I have no idea what this post is supposed to convey.

Basically Fred used all the details that people are writing off as speculation in a tounge in cheek way that seems to confirm that they are accurate. Pounding a table about a hostile work environment, pulling out a phone to have a 3rd party also say hostile work environment. I clipped the moment on twitch Here.

 

[NortheasternPJ]

It had to be at least 7-8 years ago, when I had a long commute and would listen to the 7-8 hour pretty much every day. Fred was out, she was in with Rich and she made a remark about how dating sucked or something. Rich ran with it and it devolved into "Let's get Trenni laid!", with him trying to get guys to call in and other Morning Zoo-type crap. It got awkward very quickly. I don't think she's been on since.

Link doesn't work.

 

[Hal Waffid]

it's on twitch video 2062469782, at 3:47:16.

 

[moretsyndrome]

Link doesn't work.

It’s an honest answer, using my best recollection, to a posted question. . I’m not a new one-thread poster and I don’t care who ‘wins’ the Fred v Rich PR battle.
If you want to do your own work and track it down, feel free to see how close I came. I guess I editorialized by referring to Rich being Morning Zoo but that’s how I very clearly remember it coming across.

 

[NortheasternPJ]

It’s an honest answer, using my best recollection, to a posted question. . I’m not a new one-thread poster and I don’t care who ‘wins’ the Fred v Rich PR battle.
If you want to do your own work and track it down, feel free to see how close I came. I guess I editorialized by referring to Rich being Morning Zoo but that’s how I very clearly remember it coming across.

What are you talking about? The link you posted literally doesn't work and leads to a Page Not Found. I'm shocked you could find it and went to go watch it, it's just the link doesn't work. Nothing to get bent out of shape about.

 

[moretsyndrome]

What are you talking about? The link you posted literally doesn't work and leads to a Page Not Found. I'm shocked you could find it and went to go watch it, it's just the link doesn't work. Nothing to get bent out of shape about.

lol, gotcha, but I don’t think my post was the one with any links!