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Post by Fuck Bill Simonson on Sept 4, 2012 10:47:50 GMT -5
I thought it was just me but I've been reading comments of Facebook and Twitter about how the show is on a steady decline. I thought I was the only one who was thinking this way but I see I'm not alone. The show makes comments about it in some sort of passive aggressive way of shrugging it off but I think it's starting to get to them.
The show is almost one long commercial now and I know that commercials keep the show afloat so that doesn't really bother me as much as it seems that when they are talking about something it is stale. Having listened so long I guess I've heard it all from them. They're still better than Bob and Tom or Tony Gates and that big mouth set of tits who never shuts up but I predict that in 2 years or less there is going to be a major shakeup.
I turn the station a lot now and I never used to do that. Are they phoning it in or have they taken it as far as it can go? Or are they playing it safe due to syndication? I don't know but I know it's on the decline.
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Post by The Biff Lebowski on Sept 4, 2012 17:37:17 GMT -5
I have to admit that since July I have only listened a handful of times. I don't know why but I've lost interest in trying to keep up with it.
It could be just a phase with me though. I got out of my routine when I went on a long vacation in early July and never got back into the habit of listening to them in the morning. That is mostly because I ride my motorcycle to work most days.
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Post by potthole on Sept 4, 2012 20:15:24 GMT -5
I do sort of feel like things aren't as edgy as they used to be. Maybe it's just because I've listened for so long that I have become desensitized a little, but certainly there are some subtle things that have changed, such as Zane cleaning up his language a bit.
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Post by Jiggy on Sept 4, 2012 22:54:25 GMT -5
Well this is disappointing. I haven't heard the show really since I moved South. I stopped listening about the time Steve came aboard. Ill start listening again when we move back. In my mind they still have to be better than anyone else.
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Post by potthole on Sept 5, 2012 19:30:03 GMT -5
Oh, I still think it's a great show, I enjoy listening every day as I get ready for and drive to work. Just do happen to think it's maybe gone a little soft, probably in an effort to appeal to the wider national audience they're getting.
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Post by The Biff Lebowski on Sept 6, 2012 12:48:23 GMT -5
In my mind they still have to be better than anyone else. They're not better than tunes man. TUNES!!! They're still who they are and that is three funny guys. |
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Post by mayorofawesometown on Sept 21, 2012 23:05:11 GMT -5
I agree more with the line of thinking that the show isn't as edgy anymore as opposed to it being in a straight up decline. I think the morning games, the weekly dose of Name That Tune, and other recurring segments really helped keep the show fresh and added tons of variety. Now things are much more homogenized.
Yes, being syndicated on more and more stations means they're having more success which is great. I can't speak from a position of authority since I know balls about the radio business, but it does feel like the success had led to more concessions. Drops have disappeared. Drops have been censored. Flashbacks have been censored. New content has declined. There are more and more in show commercials. It really feels like they're relying only on the straight talk topics (which, don't get me wrong, are the show's backbone.)
Also, take into account that we don't have two newlyweds, one guys with young kids, and a single producer anymore. All three principles are married with kids. Free Beer and Hot Wings tend to have less interesting stories because they are becoming older guys who have to devote most of their free time to their children. Plus FB has football games to cover. Unfortunately in life, you tend to have fewer interesting stories the older you get. (I'm trying not to make a Bob and Tom comparison because I don't think FB&HW will ever get that awful.)
I don't think it's as simple as I've heard all their stories or I just don't like change. I still love the show and listen to my podcast every day at work. But I'll be honest. Most of what they've cut I really liked. Most of what they've added I haven't particularly loved. It's still a very, VERY good show... but I'd be lying if I didn't say it used to be a great show. :/
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Post by Fuck Bill Simonson on Oct 23, 2012 7:16:00 GMT -5
It is probably my imagination but it seems like the commercial breaks keep getting longer and longer. There are live commercials during the show and then what seems like 10 minutes of commercials at every break. I listened for 20 minutes this morning and heard 2 minutes of content and 18 minutes of commercials.
Like I said above, commercials financially support the show and they are the necessary evil. The problem is that the content in between the commercials isn't improving and the commercials are becoming more prevalent. The show has reverted to commercially funded college radio. That's too bad because the show was so good even 2 years ago.
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Post by The Biff Lebowski on Oct 23, 2012 9:06:31 GMT -5
The show has reverted to commercially funded college radio. I read someone else say this exact same thing on the buzzboard. Listening with that tint on my ears, I have to agree. The format is much the same as it probably was back in those days. For the record, I still haven't gotten back into the habit of listening regularly. On the days that I don't drive my motorcycle, my extremely short commute is during one of their commercial breaks and lasts for the majority of that time. I usually don't get a good tease for an upcoming segment as a result so I have no incentive to turn it on when I get to work. Thursday morning, I think, Hot Wings was killing it and I laughed but it was only about 3 minutes before it went to commercials. Friday morning I also heard limited show material and they were laughing but it felt forced. So in summary, I can't speak to the show's overall decline but I have read about it here and elsewhere which leads me to believe that it is not unsubstantiated. |
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Post by mayorofawesometown on Oct 31, 2012 20:11:03 GMT -5
I quite enjoyed how today's show meeting basically boiled down to, "we're doing 20% less show nowadays but now we don't have time for show meetings." The only things I really find annoying is that they A) promise content and don't deliver and B) tell you to fuck off if you dare question why they aren't delivering. I get that some fans can be super annoying assholes but just because other podcasts exist that give less for more it shouldn't be a blank check to give your fans the finger.
If you say you're going to do something then do it. If you can't do it then don't pout when someone else calls you on it.
...and yes, I get that there may be some irony in that statement. >_>
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Post by landowner37 on Nov 1, 2012 7:42:13 GMT -5
I also took a little umbridge from the show meeting today, I understand it sucks to have to come up with something for the extra session and they really do offer more than others.. (and sometimes the show plus really blows) I am probably one of the few that has listened to every break for about 6 years and to the notion that it has declined I tend to be on the fence about that. There are sometimes when it is clicking on all cylinders and I guess I can sit through some mediocre parts for those gems. I know that the vip fee isn't very much (especially since I'm grandfathered in) but from past experience they have said they will do this, then it either doesn't happen (mayors, daily meetings, blogs) Not to say that I cared that much for the mayor thing. The new dumber than zane rules I am cool with and I'm happy that others get to try but it doesn't interest me, the same goes with the Daytona 500 crap, that really gets old when you are listening to no commercials, but I understand that its a good way to hype what they have to offer and it brings in listeners. I think they have a higher than average product and it doesn't deter me from still listening, and skipping ahead when it gets bogged down. The Steve and Joe podcast has been good, but sporadic and I personally would like to hear more from Andy and when he was complaining about how he does all this stuff and they just blow him off I can relate. I think they may need to do some redirection and get to a place where it may feel a little different and they will definitely piss off a lot of people but I think it could really propel them. I guess I feel like they aren't giving it their full attention (which I understand they all have young families, except for Zane) and it is a million times better than what else is out there. But for reference they were talking about Letterman still doing the lame monologue for however long he has been on and never changing it up. It works and it's easy so he isn't changing, but if they are going to rail on that, then they should take a good look at themselves and try to switch it up. I just hope that it is even possible because if you become a corporation you make money but you also can get stuck in the same old routine. I guess that's just the start of my thoughts on everything. I'm disappointed that more people don't hang out in this forum and I don't seem to find the show's forums interesting at all. But I'm still a big fan and hope that they continue for a long time as I can't go back to regular radio and even though there are other podcasts out there, I like this one and just hope things get better.
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Post by Queenie on Nov 1, 2012 14:12:04 GMT -5
Well thought out and said landowner37. I get where some would be upset about maximum commercials/ads and minimum content. However, it only seems that way when I am listening live. I get so much more out of the show listening to the podcast. I do wish more people would visit this forum. It used to be hoppin most days, now it goes days with only 1 or 2 posts. I guess it's time to set my alarm clock so I can call in on CWTTA and push the board again.
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Post by Queenie on Nov 1, 2012 14:12:43 GMT -5
With that being said, will somebody please go over to 20 questions and figure out what's on my desk?  |
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Post by Fuck Bill Simonson on Nov 6, 2012 14:15:01 GMT -5
If you say you're going to do something then do it. If you can't do it then don't pout when someone else calls you on it. Free Beer is a pouter. He must be the youngest child who always got his way because he throws a fit whenever things don't go his way. He's a big crybaby with a temper. I laugh thinking about how the big baby has to take second chair to a real baby. He's not the important one in the family anymore and that has to make him pissed enough to take it out on the listeners who would dare to disagree with him. You know who else acts that way? Bill Simonson. |
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Post by dingdongyo on Sept 6, 2013 12:34:52 GMT -5
dunno, but the forum appears to be in the shitter.
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Post by Fuck Bill Simonson on Apr 9, 2016 8:35:12 GMT -5
I predict that in 2 years or less there is going to be a major shakeup. 5 years. That's what I meant! |
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Post by Fuck Bill Simonson on Nov 12, 2016 8:09:14 GMT -5
The show sucks without Zane.
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