Dean Blundell Howard Stern wannabe new Fan 590 morning guy starting Monday

[BigBlueBud]

Look, Howard Stern didn't work on Q107 over a decade ago, why does Fan 590 think Blundell's shtick will work on Toronto radio mornings?

The Fan has had many experiments since purging everybody but Bob McCown three years ago...and now they're stale again. Personally I liked Gord Stellick & Don Landry's morning show. But Tim & Sid would be great from 5:30 am-9:00 am.

Sports radio is a specialized market -- hosts that work on music radio don't necessarily translate to 3 hours of talk. John Derringer is great on Q107 but I didn't like him on the Fan...and Andrew Crystal was a disaster...can't say I've listened to Blundell on CFNY...I always liked Humble & Fred back in the day.

Maybe I'll stop listening to the Fan altogether...it's about time they changed upper management rather than on-air talent...

 

[thewalker]

I only listen to Tim and Sid and the Bobcat on radio. Friday Roundtables are radio gold. I don't mind that Tim and Sid are switching to TV, I always PVR their radio show anyway, they do a lot of funny gestures and faces and media and stuff that you have to watch on TV anyway, so I'm looking forward to their TV show. But I am worried it'll be more scripted and corporate and not as spontaneously funny. I think Tim and Sid are looking at what their former The Score workmates The Starters AKA The Basketball Jones have done by going to TV and maybe are a little envious of that.

I will PVR Tim and Sid's TV show and Prime Time as well, just because they are on at the same time, doesn't matter, I'll still make room for both.

 

[vixxcampbell]

The fact is it is free it is hard to complain but there was a time when the fan 590 was a radio station that was small and cared about their listeners . Now they have Rogerized and made it to corporate .. Your telling me in this country we can't find a guy who has a great radio voice and personality and knowledge of sports . This BS they want to reach a young core of listeners is stupid . No 102.1 listeners are going to follow Dean cause he now does sports

Wow I try to switch to TSN but Richards really anoys me . Don't hate the guy but he is so hard to listen too ...

Oh by the way Dean's show seems like he is interviewing George or George is a caller giving Dean his opinion .

Oh by the way I would be curious to know the behind the scenes stories as to what happened to Walker . He was supposed to stay with the morning show .

Could not agree with you more. I think your points are spot-on.

Blundell's voice doesn't bother me - its just his personality and limited sports knowledge that bothers me.

And you are right about the interaction between Dean and George. I gotta put some of the blame on George Rusic too for the quality (or lack therof) of this show. I am amazed that somebody in the Rogers brain trust actually thought that Rusic would be a good candidate to be a morning show co-host. He belongs on weekend afternoons or Wednesday nights or something. Rusic probably feels a lot smarter than he actually is now that he is sitting beside Blundell.

Agree on Mike Richards as well. I don't like his schtick.

Not sure if you have listened to the show but I recently started listening to Macko & Cauz on TSN1050 in the 9am - noon time slot and they are knowledgeable and I am a little disappointed in myself that I didn't tune into their show in the past. These guys put on an intelligent sports talk radio presentation and I am a fan of them.

I also find it funny that in recent years the Fan590 has dumped some of its more knowledgeable hosts - like Jim Lang, like Mike Hogan, etc. Sure, we can debate how entertaining they were but they had knowledge.

As for Andrew Walker - I suspect he probably didn't want any part of working with Blundell and was able to weasel his way out of the morning show and get back with Brady.

As fans of sports talk radio I think what we need to do is just not tune into Blundell. It sounds like we both dislike the show. If we don't tune in and others that feel the same way do the same then surely changes will be made.

What are your thoughts on Bryan Hayes on TSN1050? I am not a big fan of him. I'd throw him in the category of a George Rusic as far as knowledge goes.

 

[flybynight25]

Maybe Tim and Sid didn't talk enough hockey and were taken off the air .. How so you get Jim Rome .. I like The Herd with Colin Cowerd ..

Skip and Stephen A I am taking a break from ..

Tim and Sid weren't demoted. Promoted more like it.

 

[Jiffypop69]

Tim and Sid are moving to TV on sportstnet 4-6 ? I think ? Competing with Bobcat...
2 days in...I don't HATE the show. I got sick of "Blunder" on 102.1 TBH, but he's been okay so far. Agree totally with the hate for George though. At least "Blunder" can be funny.

 

[halamadrid]

I'm going to miss the Tim and Sid Horns...Also I hope Ken and Evanka continue the Halloween tradition of dressing up like Tim and Sid.

 

[mammo]

It's not about sports talk anymore... it's about entertainment and shock radio... how else do you explain them getting rid of two hosts who could have a good sports debate for a guy who probably doesn't know the difference between offside and a two line pass. It's all about growing ratings and when the seasonal rating books show you flattening out, time to make a change... at least they didn't go all country or something stupid like that but I won't be listening to the morning show anymore.

As for moving Tim and Sid, I wasn't a huge fan of their schtick but they had their followers.. I too question why Rogers would be putting them up against McCown even if they are on television... and who is going to be around watching them at that hour anyway? Aren't most of us going to be in our cars listening to the radio? Someone said you'll be able to catch them at the bar on tv while your sipping on some pops after work. I don't know about you but most of the bars I'm at have loud music blaring and the sound is turned down on the tv.. so unless you can read lips, you'll just have to stare at the screen...sorry but staring at Tim and Sid doesn't do it for me. Now, staring at Evanka, that's another story.....

 

[vixxcampbell]

Blundell & Rusic just had Boomer Esiason on as a guest and they asked him about 10 hockey questions and then asked him about Marshawn Lynch's interview in Turkey and then Rusic asked him whether Andy Dalton would win a playoff game and then Blundell asked Boomer about the play call in the Superbowl. Not even a mention of the Alonso / Shady deal. Strange.

I turned off the show after hearing that bizarre interview. You have Boomer Esiason on and the first 10 questions are hockey questions? What planet am I living on?

 

[black booty lover]

I'm more bummed about Tim and Sid leaving the Fan next month.

+ 1

..

 

[mammo]

Blundell & Rusic just had Boomer Esiason on as a guest and they asked him about 10 hockey questions and then asked him about Marshawn Lynch's interview in Turkey and then Rusic asked him whether Andy Dalton would win a playoff game and then Blundell asked Boomer about the play call in the Superbowl. Not even a mention of the Alonso / Shady deal. Strange.

I turned off the show after hearing that bizarre interview. You have Boomer Esiason on and the first 10 questions are hockey questions? What planet am I living on?

They're just playing to the market.. more people in this city want to talk about the Maple Leafs and Kessel crying about the media and who's banging who's wife than actual sports headlines...
Although, I am surprised that Boomer actually knows anything about hockey

 

[BigBlueBud]

Do you know who that third guy is? Blundell is one. Rusic is another. And I've been listening on and off throughout the morning and there is a third person, another co-host there as well but he chimes in so infrequently that I haven't picked up on his name and his voice sounds unfamiliar so he must be new to the station.

I thought Kayla Harris was gonna be a co-host (seemed like they were advertising the show as that) but it looks like she is just update gal.

To answer your question about tne 3rd guy, Vixx...he is Ryan Fabro...

Fabro was producer of Brady & Walker, and sometimes chimed in on that show. I don't know if Fan 590 management have him as permanent on-air talent with Blundell & Co., or if Fabro is producing the show and chiming in occasionally again...

 

[vixxcampbell]

To answer your question about tne 3rd guy, Vixx...he is Ryan Fabro...

Fabro was producer of Brady & Walker, and sometimes chimed in on that show. I don't know if Fan 590 management have him as permanent on-air talent with Blundell & Co., or if Fabro is producing the show and chiming in occasionally again...

Actually there is another Ryan on the team too. Ryan Mon or something. I have no idea what the last name is but it sounds like "Mon" when Blundell says it. Ryan Fabro has been with the station for many years - I am familiar with him but there is another Ryan there as well a new guy.

 

[battra92]

Dean Blundell ruined 102.1 for me. I too was getting sick of the vulgarity of the 3 guys on the morning show well before the major incidents leading to his termination occurred.
For years all I did was listen to 102.1, and the only time I listened to my iPod (or discman before that) was when I couldn't get a signal (on subway etc.).
I was so turned off by Blundell that I stopped listening to the morning show, and started using my iPod; and the next thing I know I'm addicted to iTunes, iPod and streaming music to the point where I now rarely listen to the radio.

I was a fan of CFNY since the late 80's but Blundell put me right off. For me, Indie 88.1 is CFNY for the 21st century. I hear so much great music I never hear anywhere else.

 

[SharksWithLasers]

I haven't listened to The Fan in years. The most grating part? The giggity voice-over guy they use for everything. I don't begrudge a guy making a living, but he's awful - the most insincere, generic promo guy since the Global TV guy in the 90s. And they use him on all Rogers stations, be they radio or TV. Anyway, terrestrial radio is complete garbage - it's like watching a film on TBS or any other station with commercials. A complete butchering. Commercials are terrible, and so many hosts use the Bill & Marty voices (from the Simpsons) - a running joke in comedy circles. Adam Carolla does a great parody: "Asscrack and Backsack In the Morning". This audio clip is a hilarious example:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZG5ZE0nuVA

The worst is also when they use the Kent Brockman playbook "“A certain soft drink has been found to be lethal. We won't tell you which one until after sports and the weather.”

You guys need to listen to podcasts - they actually engage in in-depth discussions instead of sound bites and #HotTakes. And you can always have a bunch chambered in your phone or iPod. Heck you can even download various portions of The Fan if you really want to hear particular segments from them. Like, I listen to Blue Jays This Week/Jays talk.

For hockey, Marek vs Wyshinski is great, or you can download TSN segments if you want Bob McKenzie. For basketball, as someone mentioned earlier, The Starters are entertaining, as is Grantland. In fact, Grantland has a ton of great sports and pop culture podcasts.

 

[raptorizedguy]

I haven't listened to The Fan in years. The most grating part? The giggity voice-over guy they use for everything. I don't begrudge a guy making a living, but he's awful - the most insincere, generic promo guy since the Global TV guy in the 90s. And they use him on all Rogers stations, be they radio or TV. Anyway, terrestrial radio is complete garbage - it's like watching a film on TBS or any other station with commercials. A complete butchering. Commercials are terrible, and so many hosts use the Bill & Marty voices (from the Simpsons) - a running joke in comedy circles. Adam Carolla does a great parody: "Asscrack and Backsack In the Morning". This audio clip is a hilarious example:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZG5ZE0nuVA

The worst is also when they use the Kent Brockman playbook "“A certain soft drink has been found to be lethal. We won't tell you which one until after sports and the weather.”

You guys need to listen to podcasts - they actually engage in in-depth discussions instead of sound bites and #HotTakes. And you can always have a bunch chambered in your phone or iPod. Heck you can even download various portions of The Fan if you really want to hear particular segments from them. Like, I listen to Blue Jays This Week/Jays talk.

For hockey, Marek vs Wyshinski is great, or you can download TSN segments if you want Bob McKenzie. For basketball, as someone mentioned earlier, The Starters are entertaining, as is Grantland. In fact, Grantland has a ton of great sports and pop culture podcasts.

I got introduced to podcast when watching ABC Lost ... Podcasts are the best and so many to choose from .. Get informed without commercials or callers .

 

[checks]

Am I the only person who finds Sid Sixero an annoying loser? Sounds like the sucky fat kid who got made fun of all the time, except now he's on the radio. Whenever he debates people who know what they are talking about he's lost. Perhaps he knows a little basketball, but baseball and hockey? Forget it. I'm glad that show is off the radio.

Hayes, Noodles and O Dog are great in the afternoon. I'd love to chill with those three. They'd have me in tears laughing at Odog and Noodles stories.

 

[tbert118]

Am I the only person who finds Sid Sixero an annoying loser? Sounds like the sucky fat kid who got made fun of all the time, except now he's on the radio. Whenever he debates people who know what they are talking about he's lost. Perhaps he knows a little basketball, but baseball and hockey? Forget it. I'm glad that show is off the radio.

Hayes, Noodles and O Dog are great in the afternoon. I'd love to chill with those three. They'd have me in tears laughing at Odog and Noodles stories.

Can't stand Hayes. He knows some hockey but doesn't know much else. Pretends that he does. He is one of those guys that is only familiar with players because he plays a lot of fantasy sports. He strikes me as just a fantasy and gambling degenerate.

 

[DB123]

You know I've got to be honest - I haven't hated Blundell & co. It's not world class sports radio but for a sports radio morning show it's alright.

Better than Joey Vendetta, that's for sure and anything is better than that late night asshole from cbs radio they play now and then 1) I don't care about college basketball and that's all he talks about (and boxing...) and 2) he's annoying and his shtick is lame

 

[thewalker]

Am I the only person who finds Sid Sixero an annoying loser? Sounds like the sucky fat kid who got made fun of all the time, except now he's on the radio. Whenever he debates people who know what they are talking about he's lost. Perhaps he knows a little basketball, but baseball and hockey? Forget it. I'm glad that show is off the radio.

Hayes, Noodles and O Dog are great in the afternoon. I'd love to chill with those three. They'd have me in tears laughing at Odog and Noodles stories.

I think Sid Seixeiro is good in smaller doses and with Tim Micallef keeping him in check, but on his own, holy cow what a windbag. Can't stand it when he's hosting by himself.

 

[tml]

Am I the only person who finds Sid Sixero an annoying loser? Sounds like the sucky fat kid who got made fun of all the time, except now he's on the radio. Whenever he debates people who know what they are talking about he's lost. Perhaps he knows a little basketball, but baseball and hockey? Forget it. I'm glad that show is off the radio. Hayes, Noodles and O Dog are great in the afternoon. I'd love to chill with those three. They'd have me in tears laughing at Odog and Noodles stories.

I respectfully disagree. He adds entertainment value to a radio format that can be dry and boring in the wrong hands. He never claims to be a sports expert but isn't afraid to take a stand on a topic unlike others who try to be too neutral.