Putting Laurence Holmes on his own shift was bad enough, but now he adds Dan Hampton? Hampton was terrible on WGN. It seems Mitch is trying to drive listeners to Silvy & Waddle.

Is this a ploy to get rid of Holmes? Let Silvy & Waddle obliterate him for two books, then show Laurence the door?

Not really. He's trying to duplicate their show, and obviously likes Holmes/Hampton better than you do.

Congratulations Mitch, it's working.

_________________
"Nobody ever went broke underestimating the taste of the American public." ~ H.L. Mencken

I have been doing just that this week. Laurence right now is in his zone of stubborn radio programming.

As soon as I hear him even mention his song of the day thing I switch. It's not funny, I feel like I tuned into some teeny bopper station.

Hampton is terrible as well.

Should have put Murph back in the mornings.

_________________
"I am not saying, I am just saying"

Does Lawrence have OCD or something? When he does these stupid segments like "The Pulse" or "song of the day" he uses half his air time during the show telling us about it or that it's coming up. Talk about it WHEN YOU'RE DOING IT. It's not a staple segment like Who You Crappin, don't promote it like it is. And Mitch since he can't figure this out on his own will you please tell him to tone it down? He embarrasses himself constantly explaining 50 times that The Pulse is "what you're talking about on the streets". We all know it's supposed to be just taking calls but ends up being "lawrence constantly explains that he is going to be taking calls and defining what taking calls is" peppering in a few actual calls...

L's problems stem from one thing...he's got a huge ego. He thinks his segments ARE trademark segments already, so he overblows them, just like his opinions which range from banal to repeating other's thoughts.

_________________
Ба́бушка гада́ла, да на́двое сказа́ла—то ли до́ждик, то ли снег, то ли бу́дет, то ли нет.

Mitch, I'd like to point out that the ratings failure for North's morning extravaganza was accurately predicted by long time posters when the plans were just a rumor. I realize that you were hired into your position after the show went on the air and that, no matter what, you will defend the station here or anywhere else even if it takes an ass-backwards look and creative interpretation of (i.e., BS about) the rating numbers.

What I am seeing this time around is an exact same fact pattern. A dumb marble mouth jock (#99) combined with a sub mediocre host (LoHo) who received a fair coverage by the same guys who, back in the day predicted ratings failure for North's morning show. You might receive an early listener surge from meatheads who will tune in to listen to the HOFer, but at the end it's the "good radio" and/or sense of "familiarity" that keeps people tuned in. As a fairly savvy listener, I'd like to respectfully submit that neither has developed any of it with their listenership.

Laurence is still trying to find his act which went from a street-wise pimp with packs of women lined up for him to Bernstein wannabe lusting after hot women on local TV channels. Neither of those acts really works. The only time Laurence was likable was in his early days doing late nights and on a few occasions with Hood. Incidentally, both instances featured him without an act that he tries so hard at. He didn't have one initially, perhaps due to being new to the gig, and didn't display it with Hood, I imagine out of fear to get called out on it.

Now, let's turn to his partner, Hampton, specifically, to his radio skills. If you need a corny cliche machine, Mitch, I'm sure the sound guys at the station can cut up a nice tape of them lasting two hours. That's all Hampton can offer. I'm not challenging his understanding of the game of NFL football. He's OK. He just isn't the guy to deliver it in a likable entertaining fashion to radio audiences. He is a former superstar who has reached the pinnacle of his profession and should be respected and applauded for it.

Mitch, you are trying to mimic what the other station has done by mixing in the HOF credentials of the "jock" character. We got bigger and therefore it is better theory may come back to bite. Think outside the box. That's what made Mike North famous, he didn't copy anyone, didn't try to be Chet Coppock, of Chuck Swirsky, or Wally Phillips. That's what made me like him back in the day and kept me tuned in daily, to his last day, despite recognizing significant shortcomings of the show.

_________________
"It's not exactly a rocket surgery." D.J.

Well said, Coach. I agree 100%. There was no bigger fan of Danimal than me in his playing days but I've heard his radio work and I will never listen to it again irrespective of Holmes.

I'm not as familiar with the early Larry days as Coach is but the stuff I've heard the past few years is uninspiring.

I yearn for some original sports-related programming. I imagine if we started a thread we could build a show that would draw interest. The last original idea I recall on the Score was for North to do all-topics and that had nothing to do with sports. Sometimes you get a talent to build a show around like Bernstein or McNeil or North in the heyday.

But, without that talent, something else needs to be developed and I see that lacking. The addition of Hampton is neither a talent-driven show nor is it an original show concept.

_________________
You know me like that.

Yes, but we had that thought here, and our intent was to score Conn and Meier for the drive-in, not for North to try it. It's like an odd version of "Not Invented Here"; they'll try things, but will use their same limited talent pool. Not that LoHo is a day-one Score guy, but he's emerged from the same vat. Of course, it's been awhile since that vat developed talents like Greeny, Bernstein, or even a Tommy Williams or J Hood. LoHo can hold a candle to none of the above.

_________________
Middle Aged Crazy, like Uncle Terry

The Score is operating under The Peter Principle; the management strategy whereby people are eventually promoted to their level of ineffectiveness.

I can't figure out what is more annoying as a "segment". The Pulse - translation "hey I"m going to be taking calls" or Mully and Hanley's R&R - Recap and React - translation "the definition of Sports Radio"

Glad to see you guys doing such groundbreaking work

mitchs strategy is to thank god mike norths contract came up and ride it as long as he can.

_________________

Right on Vinny. Why the fuck couldnt they just change Murph to 10-2? How hard is tha job Mitch? Didnt Murph beat Mike and Mike from time to time? Love him or hate him, Murph for four hours is better than Larry and Hamp for five minutes.

"I PREDICT" this show will mirror the terrible ROSENBLOOM/SALSBURY debacle. It will get sooooo bad that Mitch will have to make a move.

Yes Mr. B. I think Murph should be on 10-2 also, but with Laurence. That could be a fun show don't you think?

_________________
-"God is great. Beer is good. And People are crazy!"

Oh, Lord I'd sooner it'd be Fred, who's fit well with Murph in the past than LoHo.

_________________
Middle Aged Crazy, like Uncle Terry

agreed Beebo

I suggest an over-under contest on when Loho goes Hood on Danimal. I set the date at April 30.

_________________
"It's not exactly a rocket surgery." D.J.

I'm agreeing with Mr. Belvidere and Beebo...a banner day...

_________________
Ба́бушка гада́ла, да на́двое сказа́ла—то ли до́ждик, то ли снег, то ли бу́дет, то ли нет.

Maybe. I suspect there'll be some comfort level so long as there is football. A winter of Illini basketball might be fun/bad. Still I don't expect they'll escape February without the "fun" ensuing.

_________________
Middle Aged Crazy, like Uncle Terry

I don't see any way that happens. LoHo knows how lucky he is to have this show and there's no way he'd sabotage himself like that. He still sucks but I give him credit for not being that stupid to do what Hood did.

what exactly did Hood do? I must have missed this part of Score history...

_________________
Ба́бушка гада́ла, да на́двое сказа́ла—то ли до́ждик, то ли снег, то ли бу́дет, то ли нет.

When he had the afternoon drive show with Telander and Buffone, he didn't get along well with Telander who was a complete embarrassment for a host. Instead of going with it and trying to improve the terrible show, Hood got all mean and sarcastic on air to Telander and got himself a pink slip. It went from bad radio to bad uncomfortable radio and then it all ended. Then B&B were moved to afternoon drive.

I remember Telander and Buffone...not Hood. I was a B&B guy...

_________________
Ба́бушка гада́ла, да на́двое сказа́ла—то ли до́ждик, то ли снег, то ли бу́дет, то ли нет.

Their failure pissed me off even worse because it was the impetus for B&B being moved to afternoons forcing me to choose between them and MJH. Bastards.

I liked 'em midday better...but I thought they got moved cause they turned into a ratings juggernaut...

_________________
Ба́бушка гада́ла, да на́двое сказа́ла—то ли до́ждик, то ли снег, то ли бу́дет, то ли нет.

They should put Bernstein in mornings so I can listen to MJH... keep em on longer so there is something other than waddle to listen to... That show blows...