Gregg,
I've been listening and I thought I'd give you one last critique for old times' sake. I'll keep it real simple like you like them. Ready?
-- I notice you have Roland back, booking guests. This is good. Adds spice. Also gives you guys a chance to rest. It's too bad Ben Kingsley cancelled out because he is SO on target with the young-guy, new-rock audience. (Obviously I'm not in demo, but I really enjoyed him in "Gandhi". Hard to believe that movie came out a quarter-century ago this year.)
-- Luckily, the guy who got attacked by the bobcat did show up. It was interesting to hear all about surviving such a vicious attack without any injuries whatsoever -- not even a suspenseful or descriptive story to tell. I hope I can sound as blase [unimpressed or bored] as that guy if I ever get attacked by a bobcat. Especially one as big as the 25-pound behemoth that attacked him. Whew!
-- The bobcat guy also gave Anthony a chance to do his Schwarzenegger impression. This was a delightful extra benefit since (1) Anthony so seldom does anything clever anymore and (2) so few people do that particular impression. Kudos.
-- Other guests I've enjoyed recently include the animal-rights lady (it's amazing how long she puts up with your good-natured abuse without getting the least bit upset -- often it's as long as 25 minutes!); Frank Vincent (it was so rare to see or hear him anywhere and you guys had him on each and every week -- I miss "The Sopranos" already).
-- I can't put my finger on it, but something's missing. Maybe you need to have some of the "55 gallon drum", "eggnog-drinking" and "wiffle bat lube"-type bits you did at 'NEW. No need to worry about the skittish CBS lawyers because, as you showed with the cash-out-of-the-helicopter bit and so many others lately, just because you promise them doesn't mean you have to do them.
-- I like how you say "back in the day" and "yeccchhhhh" so much now, Gregg. As for the former [that means the first one], most consultants applaud the use of "benchmarks" as a way to make programs distinguishable and unique. As for the latter [that means the second one], that's right up there with your "water heads" in the cutting-edge-humor dept. They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Well, you'll be happy to know that I've heard Norton say "yeccchhhhh" and Ron Bennington say "water heads". Congrats!!
-- I'm glad you stopped talking about the news and other timely topics on the same day that everyone else talks about them. As you know, I've always admired the way you guys march to the beat of your own drummer. By waiting two or three days to get around to discussing timely topics, you give EVERYBODY a chance to get caught up on the news so they'll know what you're talking about. Especially since, you rascal, I had to keep hammering you about setting up and recapping your riffs.
-- It's even more daring of you to spend several days talking about a story that virtually nobody else in the entire media bothered to mention at all -- as in the alleged "assassination" of the WWE's Vince McMahon. Nobody can accuse you guys of trying to copy Mancow or Don & Mike. [EDIT] MEGA kudos!
-- You've been doing this for a long time, but I think it's worth mentioning: I like your insertion of personal stories when the momentum of the show slows down. Your stories also make for an unexpected change of pace when Anthony or Norton get on a roll, beginning as they often do just when they're peaking. More people than just I have noticed that, when you realize halfway through your stories that they have no Act II or III, you start yelling and cussing (within company guidelines of course), thereby maintaining energy if not interest. Keep up the good work.
-- I noticed that, at one point, seven minutes went by without you promoting one of your Traveling Virus comedy shows. Hey, don't forget that money-grubbing agents and promoters need to eat, too. Kindly keep that in mind.
-- Maybe it's best that I'm gone. Apparently, I was a bad influence on you. Since I left, you're hitting your breaks on time, getting off the air right at 9:00, avoiding mentioning forbidden websites (including your own), behaving perfectly during live commercials, sucking up majorly to Tom (saving all your bitching about him for XM where it belongs), and generally behaving like company men -- AND gentlemen.
Not only that, but you're not saying one thing that comes close to controversial or compelling. Allow me to thank you on behalf of all the lawyers and Karen Mateo.
Such nice boys now. So what if you and Ant have become a bit low-rent nouveau riche? Hey, you've earned the right not to work. I mean, you now have your spent banana peels removed immediately and each newspaper carefully handed to you in sequence as desired. If I may paraphrase Leona Helmsley, "Effort is for the little people."
As for me, I'm a little disappointed that you and Anthony trashed Free FM on the air, but your point was to throw your legs up for the return of K-Rock -- so at least I can't say I was surprised.
Onward...
---- John Mainelli
[EDIT-offensive content]
I've been listening and I thought I'd give you one last critique for old times' sake. I'll keep it real simple like you like them. Ready?
-- I notice you have Roland back, booking guests. This is good. Adds spice. Also gives you guys a chance to rest. It's too bad Ben Kingsley cancelled out because he is SO on target with the young-guy, new-rock audience. (Obviously I'm not in demo, but I really enjoyed him in "Gandhi". Hard to believe that movie came out a quarter-century ago this year.)
-- Luckily, the guy who got attacked by the bobcat did show up. It was interesting to hear all about surviving such a vicious attack without any injuries whatsoever -- not even a suspenseful or descriptive story to tell. I hope I can sound as blase [unimpressed or bored] as that guy if I ever get attacked by a bobcat. Especially one as big as the 25-pound behemoth that attacked him. Whew!
-- The bobcat guy also gave Anthony a chance to do his Schwarzenegger impression. This was a delightful extra benefit since (1) Anthony so seldom does anything clever anymore and (2) so few people do that particular impression. Kudos.
-- Other guests I've enjoyed recently include the animal-rights lady (it's amazing how long she puts up with your good-natured abuse without getting the least bit upset -- often it's as long as 25 minutes!); Frank Vincent (it was so rare to see or hear him anywhere and you guys had him on each and every week -- I miss "The Sopranos" already).
-- I can't put my finger on it, but something's missing. Maybe you need to have some of the "55 gallon drum", "eggnog-drinking" and "wiffle bat lube"-type bits you did at 'NEW. No need to worry about the skittish CBS lawyers because, as you showed with the cash-out-of-the-helicopter bit and so many others lately, just because you promise them doesn't mean you have to do them.
-- I like how you say "back in the day" and "yeccchhhhh" so much now, Gregg. As for the former [that means the first one], most consultants applaud the use of "benchmarks" as a way to make programs distinguishable and unique. As for the latter [that means the second one], that's right up there with your "water heads" in the cutting-edge-humor dept. They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Well, you'll be happy to know that I've heard Norton say "yeccchhhhh" and Ron Bennington say "water heads". Congrats!!
-- I'm glad you stopped talking about the news and other timely topics on the same day that everyone else talks about them. As you know, I've always admired the way you guys march to the beat of your own drummer. By waiting two or three days to get around to discussing timely topics, you give EVERYBODY a chance to get caught up on the news so they'll know what you're talking about. Especially since, you rascal, I had to keep hammering you about setting up and recapping your riffs.
-- It's even more daring of you to spend several days talking about a story that virtually nobody else in the entire media bothered to mention at all -- as in the alleged "assassination" of the WWE's Vince McMahon. Nobody can accuse you guys of trying to copy Mancow or Don & Mike. [EDIT] MEGA kudos!
-- You've been doing this for a long time, but I think it's worth mentioning: I like your insertion of personal stories when the momentum of the show slows down. Your stories also make for an unexpected change of pace when Anthony or Norton get on a roll, beginning as they often do just when they're peaking. More people than just I have noticed that, when you realize halfway through your stories that they have no Act II or III, you start yelling and cussing (within company guidelines of course), thereby maintaining energy if not interest. Keep up the good work.
-- I noticed that, at one point, seven minutes went by without you promoting one of your Traveling Virus comedy shows. Hey, don't forget that money-grubbing agents and promoters need to eat, too. Kindly keep that in mind.
-- Maybe it's best that I'm gone. Apparently, I was a bad influence on you. Since I left, you're hitting your breaks on time, getting off the air right at 9:00, avoiding mentioning forbidden websites (including your own), behaving perfectly during live commercials, sucking up majorly to Tom (saving all your bitching about him for XM where it belongs), and generally behaving like company men -- AND gentlemen.
Not only that, but you're not saying one thing that comes close to controversial or compelling. Allow me to thank you on behalf of all the lawyers and Karen Mateo.
Such nice boys now. So what if you and Ant have become a bit low-rent nouveau riche? Hey, you've earned the right not to work. I mean, you now have your spent banana peels removed immediately and each newspaper carefully handed to you in sequence as desired. If I may paraphrase Leona Helmsley, "Effort is for the little people."
As for me, I'm a little disappointed that you and Anthony trashed Free FM on the air, but your point was to throw your legs up for the return of K-Rock -- so at least I can't say I was surprised.
Onward...
---- John Mainelli
[EDIT-offensive content]
