Great show today.

Larry was scheduled to host with Parkins, but he just stood in the hall the whole time

Solo radio is just the fucking worst. It doesn't matter how good the host is. I'm really disliking this trend if Parkins solo every time Spiegel is off

Less Spiegel is good (and also a fine accountant) but all Parkins is not good.

Maybe Spiegel could be a part timer?

Yep.

Jim Rome is the only solo radio I ever liked.

"Huuuge Show" Never tickle your fancy?

Jim Rome is the only solo radio I ever liked.

Jim Rome is the only solo radio I ever liked.

Bernstein has also been solo a couple times over the last month. Is this a trend for the Score? I prefer a 2nd guy on the show. I prefer Parkins solo over Bernstein. Parkins' show this weeks have been solid.

Maybe with the ratings decline they are only using subs already on the payroll? With that they may not always be available.

Solo radio is just the fucking worst. It doesn't matter how good the host is. I'm really disliking this trend if Parkins solo every time Spiegel is off

I just watched the "30 for 30" on "Mike and the Mad Dog." Interesting history, as WFAN first tried a bunch of national solo hosts (e.g., Jim Lampley, one of the Gumbles), and it did not work.

What made it work was pairing Mike and Russo and how they debated topics from a local viewpoint. That's what is now missing in MANY of these shows--the hosts just agree with each other the entire show.

Spiegel and Parkins will occasionally debate, but most of the other shows take one opinion and then beat up on people that dare call in to disagree. A good sports debate is fun, and good radio. I think the Heavy Fuel Crew was pretty good at that, and even North and Jiggets back in the day.

Solo radio is just the fucking worst. It doesn't matter how good the host is. I'm really disliking this trend if Parkins solo every time Spiegel is off

That's what is now missing in MANY of these shows--the hosts just agree with each other the entire show.

In the past, it would be very easy for the HFC to take both positions (each taking a side) even if they didn't believe one side. It would be good radio.

Boers and Bernstein used to pride themselves on subverting the trope of "one guy thinks this and the other thinks that" contrived radio debate. It's something they would openly acknowledge, that they weren't going to lie to you and force arguments where they didn't exist. That's good, and I respect that, but it falls apart when one person doesn't have anything to add, or when one person is Laurence Holmes and becomes consumed with flattering his partner and showing off how with-it he is and you aren't. Also, while it made sense that two hosts weren't never going to Embrace Debate and disagree on every conceivable topic, it was just as strange to agree that much, too.