WEEI afternoons: Hart and Fitzy gone

[sb1]

Surprised they don't try to poach someone from 98.5

 

[Rob0729]

Feels like they moved Jones & Keefe to the noontime slot hoping they could at least make up ground on Zo and Bertrand while essentially conceding the drive time slot. Whoever they replace those guys with will tell you how serious they are about competing along with maybe shedding some additional context on this.

Chad Finn just posted this on BlueSky:


If the above is true, then letting Andy and Fitzy go tells you they're still conceding that slot, and it was just a move to shed salary.

People used have to pay their dues to get prime spots in radio. Now they are just promoting role players on other shows to lead hosts. I look forward to finding out who replace Curtis and Laird in six months.

Have Curtis and Laird ever worked together? Has either ever been lead hosts on any show before other than the occasional replacement when a host was on vacation?

They honestly believed that Adam Jones was going to be a real star when they poached him from the SportsHub. But he was always a Felger Lite type of host.

 

[Spiral]

It's a hard job. Lots of airtime to fill every day and a lot of the callers are idiots.

 

[1960Pats]

It's a hard job. Lots of airtime to fill every day and a lot of the callers are idiots.

I don't think that they take calls anymore.

 

[WhatJustHappened]

People used have to pay their dues to get prime spots in radio. Now they are just promoting role players on other shows to lead hosts. I look forward to finding out who replace Curtis and Laird in six months.

Have Curtis and Laird ever worked together? Has either ever been lead hosts on any show before other than the occasional replacement when a host was on vacation?

They honestly believed that Adam Jones was going to be a real star when they poached him from the SportsHub. But he was always a Felger Lite type of host.

Jones sux, Felger wannabe.

 

[Bigdogx]

Feels like they moved Jones & Keefe to the noontime slot hoping they could at least make up ground on Zo and Bertrand while essentially conceding the drive time slot. Whoever they replace those guys with will tell you how serious they are about competing along with maybe shedding some additional context on this.

Chad Finn just posted this on BlueSky:


If the above is true, then letting Andy and Fitzy go tells you they're still conceding that slot, and it was just a move to shed salary.

Well, that's a shame if true, rolling up the white flag on even getting better ratings then currently, because if you want next to no listeners that is a great way to do it. The guy partially responsible for the gutting on this station, Ken Laird, puts himself and the annoying ex drunk on air for 4 hours a day 5 days a week...I really hope this is BS.

 

[TinhWoodhead]

awww no more “Maye or may not”?

 

[Ian]

Well, that's a shame if true, rolling up the white flag on even getting better ratings then currently, because if you want next to no listeners that is a great way to do it. The guy partially responsible for the gutting on this station, Ken Laird, puts himself and the annoying ex drunk on air for 4 hours a day 5 days a week...I really hope this is BS.

The problem is, I don't think they have the money to pursue any new talent. So I'm sure the goal is to try and gain ground in the noontime ratings and then go from there. But I feel bad for Hart and Fitzy. Just a tough situation, and I felt like they were set up to fail when they were thrown in that slot to begin with.

 

[Ian]

Have Curtis and Laird ever worked together? Has either ever been lead hosts on any show before other than the occasional replacement when a host was on vacation?

Yes, they were co-producers when Kirk Minihane was on there, and while I know some don't like them, they were among the bright spots during that time. It's been a minute, but they always had good chemistry. However, I think they might also have a podcast together, although I've never listened to it.

 

[Rob0729]

Yes, they were co-producers when Kirk Minihane was on there, and while I know some don't like them, they were among the bright spots during that time. It's been a minute, but they always had good chemistry. However, I think they might also have a podcast together, although I've never listened to it.

Not saying they weren't great producers. Great role players on a sports talk show team doesn't make them great co-hosts though. It is a whole different skill set. Their on-air time is managed by the hosts and they aren't in charge of driving conversations, making callers interesting while on the air, etc.

I mean Adam Vinatieri was an HOF kicker, but I wouldn't have wanted him to fill in for Brady at QB if Brady went down. Different skill sets even if both were elite.

 

[Ian]

Not saying they weren't great producers. Great role players on a sports talk show team doesn't make them great co-hosts though. It is a whole different skill set. Their on-air time is managed by the hosts and they aren't in charge of driving conversations, making callers interesting while on the air, etc.

I mean Adam Vinatieri was an HOF kicker, but I wouldn't have wanted him to fill in for Brady at QB if Brady went down. Different skill sets even if both were elite.

I don't disagree. But if it's true, the fact that they're in that slot tells you they're essentially conceding it. And it's not a great sign for the station.

I did find this article from 2019 on the two of them:

The Media Column: Reimer: How WEEI's Ken Laird and Chris Cur | WEEI 93.7

The Media Column: Reimer: How WEEI’s Ken Laird and Chris Curtis became beloved personalities on ‘Mut & Callahan’… | WEEI 93.7

www.audacy.com

At the same time, there have already been reports with Beasley (who owns 98.5) that things aren't great either, and I think I read that successful stations like the one in Boston are basically subsidizing the failing ones. Just not a great time overall with that medium, which is sad because, as much as people say they don't like a station or a given show, it would not be great if they both went away.

 

[tuckeverlasting]

i thought, for sure, the two bozos, jones and keefe, would be long gone before hart and fitzy. they suck. put scheim and curtis at that time so they can get blown out in a few weeks. they suck as well. esp. curtis. he is a black cloud of sports negativity. scheim is just a self important, self loving, furry freak.

 

[chasa]

They only one at eei I listen to with any regularity is Keefe, Everyone else sucks.

Having Curtis be on the afternoon show means I'll just listen to ad breaks on the sportshub rather then see if eei have anything worth chatting about. Curtis might be the deuchiest worst taking having mother ****er on radio, anytime I hear him talk instantly makes me 10 iq points dumber.

Jones sucks, the whole greg hill show is terrible, arcand is really bad. It's like they have a bunch of jobbers over there, and no actual talent.

I'd take keefe and Meg-o in the afternoons over any other combination of people they currently have.

 

[BennyBledsoe]

Even if the experiment sucks, maybe try doing something like MNF did in hiring Dennis Miller. Did it work? Nah. Did it at least get people talking? Yep.

 

[FortressX]

 

[Bigdogx]

I have only had small doses of him, but it seems like most hub listeners hated him, not sure if he had a hand in making their morning spot successful or if most of that falls on Fred. One thing I like is it is not anyone who is currently at this station. I still think they need an edge type cohost though to counter Rich, sorry that is never going to be anyone they currently have either. Kirk Minihan is still imo a guy that would give them the top afternoon show in Boston, I bet it wouldn't even take a year to do so either.

Drama sells, absolutely been proven a million times over in this profession, all sports talk gets you low to no rating's at all!

 

[Brotherblues]

I was good with Fitzy's YouTube stuff back in the day, but drifted away and pretty much look back on it with a glint of nostalgia for those good ol days when we wore the latest Super Bowl Champion hats and argued over TFB's impending contract or why BB couldn't draft a WR or whatever...

Haven't listened to WEEI since...1999(?)

I was a big fan of his original solo sketches with the barrage of zingers along with the beer and burps. Then he started making more elaborate videos with more people and I found them boring and generally not entertaining.

There's a girl now, Angie Angar, who really captures the spirit of Fitzy's original humor. Minus the beer and burps but with much improved visuals.