The Bill Simmons Podcast (2 Viewers)

[Willie Neslon]

I can't stand Klosterman or Speinwall

Agree on Klosterman. People love those podcasts but I find them maddening. A question followed by a tangent, then a tangent of the tangent and another tangent and another and another. A question about Rex Ryan becomes a conversation about the quality of appliances sold at Target.  Klosterman doesn't even bother referencing the original question sometimes.  He just goes right to the tangent as if he's been saving it up for the podcast.  Throw in his high pitched voice and it's an easy avoid.

 

[thecatch]

I'm old and dull so I like text more than podcasts and TV shows.  Maybe I was spoiled by Grantland but I'm disappointed by the Ringer.  I don't mind the mix of topics but the lack of depth in the articles is a problem.  Grantland was mostly long-form while the Ringer is primarily the typical short-attention clickbait content that's available on a bunch of other sites.  There have been a number of Ringer articles I've read where I've gotten to the end and wondered what happened to the rest of it.  The writer threw out a semi-provocative idea but didn't analyze the topic to any sort of conclusion.   The new site seems geared to readers on their phone in the office restroom which wasn't the case on Grantland.

Some of Grantland's stuff was too long, but I agree he seems to have dramatically overreacted by gearing the site around these empty three paragraph articles. Ironically, the stuff I really want dumbed down and summarized is the tech stuff, and those articles tend to remain incredibly long and lose my interest. 

 

[Eephus]

Watch guys like Conan or Letterman's first shows.  They were awful. Not comparing Simmons to those guys but to make a definitive judgement after night one of a show like this is a little unfair. The guests are what will make or break this thing. Needs big time, interesting people on it. Then Simmons can open them up in a way they normally wouldn't on the late night shows. The Affleck segment was fascinating.

You can also watch the first episodes of The Magic Hour, The Chevy Chase Show or Joe Buck Live.

 

[RUSF18]

Watch guys like Conan or Letterman's first shows.  They were awful. Not comparing Simmons to those guys but to make a definitive judgement after night one of a show like this is a little unfair. The guests are what will make or break this thing. Needs big time, interesting people on it. Then Simmons can open them up in a way they normally wouldn't on the late night shows. The Affleck segment was fascinating.

It was fascinating because he was a trainwreck. If he's hoping for big time guests to come on and repeat performances like that, good luck to him. 

 

[Willie Neslon]

Here's the full episode.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jL0ouwGCnu4

It's not that bad. You guys are a tough, tough crowd. First show!

 

[MattFancy]

I'm old and dull so I like text more than podcasts and TV shows.  Maybe I was spoiled by Grantland but I'm disappointed by the Ringer.  I don't mind the mix of topics but the lack of depth in the articles is a problem.  Grantland was mostly long-form while the Ringer is primarily the typical short-attention clickbait content that's available on a bunch of other sites.  There have been a number of Ringer articles I've read where I've gotten to the end and wondered what happened to the rest of it.  The writer threw out a semi-provocative idea but didn't analyze the topic to any sort of conclusion.   The new site seems geared to readers on their phone in the office restroom which wasn't the case on Grantland.

There just doesn't seem to be anything on The Ringer so far that seems must read. With Grantland, I was constantly reading articles. Nothing so far on The Ringer has seemed interesting to me.

 

[jhib]

Tough to say for sure but he has a scar under the right corner of his mouth that looks like it's been somewhat filled with botox. Also looks like he's thickened his hair with transplants. They're good ones and he has the right kind of hair to do it. He was wearing buckets of makeup last night, including his neck. He's in great shape though, you can see that in his face. Obviously eats really well. When people get in that kind of shape and lose that last 10 or so pounds they always look younger/different.

That's funny. I usually think it makes them look older. 

 

[jhib]

Here's the full episode.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jL0ouwGCnu4

It's not that bad. You guys are a tough, tough crowd. First show!

Thanks for the link.

Huh.  I think it was probably worse than being bad - it was just boring.

 

[Premier]

Here's the full episode.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jL0ouwGCnu4

It's not that bad. You guys are a tough, tough crowd. First show!

Agree about it being the first show and he deserves time, but it was bad. 

 

[Good Posting Judge]

I'm old and dull so I like text more than podcasts and TV shows.  Maybe I was spoiled by Grantland but I'm disappointed by the Ringer.  I don't mind the mix of topics but the lack of depth in the articles is a problem.  Grantland was mostly long-form while the Ringer is primarily the typical short-attention clickbait content that's available on a bunch of other sites.  There have been a number of Ringer articles I've read where I've gotten to the end and wondered what happened to the rest of it.  The writer threw out a semi-provocative idea but didn't analyze the topic to any sort of conclusion.   The new site seems geared to readers on their phone in the office restroom which wasn't the case on Grantland.

It seems like its consciously geared towards "millennials."

My new show "Tea and Nachos With Doctor Gunks" will be geared towards Willennials.

 

[Good Posting Judge]

It's totally bizarre how Simmons can have such good instincts when it comes to some aspects of the media and then just completely tone deaf on others. 30 for 30, Grantland and his podcasts are/were all top-notch but I would have been shocked if this show had been any good.

And the Ringer sucks, too. So fluffy.

DeAndre Jordan is a world-class center, who would lose to nearly all of us in a free throw contest.

 

[Joe Summer]

Slate with a solid analysis of the opening episode

The first line is a classic Simmons parody:

Like Dylan McKay blowing back into town in Season 9 of 90210, Bill Simmons has returned.

 

[Eephus]

It seems like its consciously geared towards "millennials."

My new show "Tea and Nachos With Doctor Gunks" will be geared towards Willennials.

I have polyps in my colon older than the millennium

 

[bushdocda]

It was a good run. 

 

[MattFancy]

Got around to watching it last night. The stuff with Barkley was good. The Affleck interview was a total mess. Rest of the show was okay. I'll give it another chance.

 

[The Noid]

it really is.  he kind of has the same expression as Ray Liotta in Goodfellas after he does a line at his girlfriend's place and his face jolts up while the camera pans in for a close-up... but just all of the time.

My wife walked in while I was watching AGW and said, "Who's that? His face makes me want to punch him." 

 

[The Noid]

I saw someone allude to the fact that he's been getting work done. I have no clue.

He mentioned once in a podcast (or maybe the Stern interview) that he's on the same diet as Jimmy Kimmel, where you eat 5 days a week and fast for 2. 

 

[Rick James]

It's all in his eyes. They're very light blue, and combined with his grey hair they make him look somewhat expressionless. He would benefit from glasses, or colored contact lenses. 

 

[RUSF18]

It's all in his eyes. They're very light blue, and combined with his grey hair they make him look somewhat expressionless. He would benefit from glasses, or colored contact lenses. 

He looks like Ellen Degeneres.

 

[Good Posting Judge]

It's all in his eyes. They're very light blue, and combined with his grey hair they make him look somewhat expressionless. He would benefit from glasses, or colored contact lenses. 

Or maybe not being on TV. Why does everyone have to be on TV? 

 

[Joe T]

He looks like Ellen Degeneres.

Or a white walker.

 

[Limp Ditka]

It's all in his eyes. They're very light blue, and combined with his grey hair they make him look somewhat expressionless. He would benefit from glasses, or colored contact lenses. 

my link

 

[Good Posting Judge]

my link

Man I gotta learn how to Photoshop.

 

[Limp Ditka]

Man I gotta learn how to Photoshop.

eyenowrite?

 

[Baloney Sandwich]

I was expecting worse.  Simmons is awkward on TV but his interviews are decent. I don't think Afleck was drunk but he was definitely on something. My guess would be some type of beta blocker or a benzodiazepine.

 

[Rick James]

let's not forget that Affleck is a total boston bro. There's a good chance this is normal from him

 

[MattFancy]

HBO’s Any Given Wednesday premieres to tepid ratings and reactions

Any Given Wednesday premiered to an 0.12 adults 18-49 rating and 0.26 million live+same-day viewers. For perspective, that ranked 78th among original cable telecasts on Wednesday. Other programs that ran at the same 10:00 p.m. hour include OWN’s Greenleaf (0.56 adults 18-49 rating), MTV’s Challenge: Rivals III (0.51), HGTV’s House Hunters (0.44), USA’s Royal Pains, (0.34), Fox News’ Hannity (0.24) and CNBC’s Jay Leno’s Garage (0.12).

 

[McGarnicle]

let's not forget that Affleck is a total boston bro. There's a good chance this is normal from him

Yeah, he's always been a dumb turd.

 

[facook]

let's not forget that Affleck is a total boston bro. There's a good chance this is normal from him

Translation for the rest of the free world = DOOOOOOOOOSH.

 

[cobalt_27]

HBO’s Any Given Wednesday premieres to tepid ratings and reactions

Any Given Wednesday premiered to an 0.12 adults 18-49 rating and 0.26 million live+same-day viewers. For perspective, that ranked 78th among original cable telecasts on Wednesday. Other programs that ran at the same 10:00 p.m. hour include OWN’s Greenleaf (0.56 adults 18-49 rating), MTV’s Challenge: Rivals III (0.51), HGTV’s House Hunters (0.44), USA’s Royal Pains, (0.34), Fox News’ Hannity (0.24) and CNBC’s Jay Leno’s Garage (0.12).

Simmons doesn't translate to television.  The charisma he has in print (and even on his podcast) is completely choked out on television.  The discussions with Barkley and Affleck were neither entertaining nor illuminative.  I'm a big Simmons fan, and I was pretty disappointed.

 

[Good Posting Judge]

Man some of his draft takes are the pits. His defense of the Rose trade...yikes.

 

[thecatch]

Man some of his draft takes are the pits. His defense of the Rose trade...yikes.

I don't know if I'm getting spoiled listening to guys like Nate Duncan who actually know what they're talking about, or if Simmons is getting worse. Maybe some combination of both. 

 

[Good Posting Judge]

I don't know if I'm getting spoiled listening to guys like Nate Duncan who actually know what they're taking about, or if Simmons is getting worse. Maybe some combination of both. 

I think dudes like Duncan and Lowe watch basketball like its their job. Because it is. Simmons, as a function of his own success, doesn't.

I mean at one point he says the Knicks traditionally get dudes way past their sell-by date (true), and puts Rose in that bucket, and then says it's a good trade.

 

[Eephus]

I think dudes like Duncan and Lowe watch basketball like its their job. Because it is. Simmons, as a function of his own success, doesn't.

I mean at one point he says the Knicks traditionally get dudes way past their sell-by date (true), and puts Rose in that bucket, and then says it's a good trade.

Duncan and Lowe don't have a media empire to run

 

[Good Posting Judge]

Duncan and Lowe don't have a media empire to run

Simmons' Ringer column today, condensed:

"Hey, I have talked with Garnett about basketball, including a story where he ran into Pat Riley. Pat Riley is a great executive, and he's going to try and sign Durant. It's not impossible."

 

[Limp Ditka]

Duncan and Lowe don't have a media empire to burn down

fyp

 

[Long Ball Larry]

Finally watched this while working out tonight.  It wasn't that bad, overall.  Affleck was certainly the low point.  And making deflategate the focal point of that interview seemed idiotic.  You are starting your new show and one of the main topics is something that has been beaten death for a year?  Dumb.  And in that vein, it was kind of the antithesis of John Oliver, which feels so present and resonant.  Nothing was really interesting or informative or close to cutting edge.  

Ok, maybe it was bad, but as someone said above, boring is probably a better description than bad.  

But still, the reporting about the ratings is just as irrelevant.  No one cares about live time-slot ratings, least of all HBO.  That's not what they are looking for.

 

[GOB]

Simmons' Ringer column today, condensed:

"Hey, I have talked with Garnett about basketball, including a story where he ran into Pat Riley. Pat Riley is a great executive, and he's going to try and sign Durant. It's not impossible."

As reports of Wade's contract extension slow...

Goodell back at it again!

 

[RUSF18]

But still, the reporting about the ratings is just as irrelevant.  No one cares about live time-slot ratings, least of all HBO.  That's not what they are looking for.

They don't care about ratings as long as they get praise from critics and/or those that do watch prove to be a dedicated fan base. Doubt the former is coming, the latter is wait and see. 

 

[Eephus]

Finally watched this while working out tonight.  It wasn't that bad, overall.  Affleck was certainly the low point.  And making deflategate the focal point of that interview seemed idiotic.  You are starting your new show and one of the main topics is something that has been beaten death for a year?  Dumb.  And in that vein, it was kind of the antithesis of John Oliver, which feels so present and resonant.  Nothing was really interesting or informative or close to cutting edge.  

Ok, maybe it was bad, but as someone said above, boring is probably a better description than bad.  

But still, the reporting about the ratings is just as irrelevant.  No one cares about live time-slot ratings, least of all HBO.  That's not what they are looking for.

Same here.  Simmons wasn't as bad as I expected him to be from the reviews.  Affleck was kind of strange though.

What struck me was how conventional the format was: monologue, interview, taped bit, interview.  Take away the F bombs and it could have been Charlie Rose. 

Good point about the timeliness of the topics.  Barkley has been a bit overexposed lately and Brady's balls are a year and a half old.  Simmons' limitations mean the guests will have to carry the show more than usual but there aren't many sports celebrities who are great interviews.  I've listened to his podcast a few times and I think Simmons does better when talking with his buddies.  But HBO probably isn't going to devote prime time space to Simmons talking about his Vegas trip with Skeeter and Uncle Bud. 

 

[John Bender]

he probably should have let deflateguy go completely.  Honestly, if you're trying to appeal to the smart sports fan (or person), those folks already side with BS's take on it. If they don't, they are pretty much universally viewed as hot take no nothings, rightfully.  It was a useless waste of time. Pro or con, if you're still talking about deflate gate in 2016, you're a ####### idiot

 

[Apple Juice]

Show was really bad. I'm neutral on Simmons but the show and the Ringer are both signs that he's slipping fast. At least half of the internet loves to shred him and the other half is getting quieter.

Most of the comments on those Ringer articles eviscerate the writing and deservedly so. The format would be fine if any of the writers were any good.

 

[Bruce Dickinson]

I just love that Simmons got beat in the ratings by Real World/Road Rules Challenge.

 

[dickey moe]

Sad.

 

[MattFancy]

Show was really bad. I'm neutral on Simmons but the show and the Ringer are both signs that he's slipping fast. At least half of the internet loves to shred him and the other half is getting quieter.

Most of the comments on those Ringer articles eviscerate the writing and deservedly so. The format would be fine if any of the writers were any good.

I have no idea what to think of The Ringer so far. I've read a few articles on there, but it's nothing like Grantland. Everything right now seems to be centered around Apple and the NBA.

 

[Peyton Marino]

good #content here

 

[Gally]

I have been disappointed in all things Ringer.  I don't care for any of the Podcasts (that don't include Simmons) and the website has been blah.  Nothing of interest for me to even want to spend the time reading.  The couple I have read have been a waste of my time. 

I wish Simmons would go back to writing his articles and doing his podcasts.  Taken with a grain of salt these are at least entertaining.  I fear the more he tries to do the worse things will get.

 

[jhib]

he probably should have let deflateguy go completely.  Honestly, if you're trying to appeal to the smart sports fan (or person), those folks already side with BS's take on it. If they don't, they are pretty much universally viewed as hot take no nothings, rightfully.  It was a useless waste of time. Pro or con, if you're still talking about deflate gate in 2016, you're a ####### idiot

It's funny how he sounded so proud of that Affleck segment on his podcast afterwards.  I get the impression that he thinks the Boston sports fan's opinion on all that still hasn't been heard on the national level or something.  It was relegated to sports talk shows and podcasts, but now we get to show the world through HBO!!!

 

[Joe T]

I just love that Simmons got beat in the ratings by Real World/Road Rules Challenge.

That's a solid show though. 

 

[Peyton Marino]

That's a solid show though. 

i don't know about you man