The Big Show (sports radio show)

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"The Big Show" can also refer to the middle hour of The Dan Patrick Show, when he is joined by Keith Olbermann.

The Big Show is a sports talk radio program on Boston's WEEI 850 AM. Started in August of 1995, the show is hosted by former Boston Celtics play-by-play announcer Glenn Ordway. The show is known for its round table format with Ordway sharing air time with several co-hosts, guests and callers. The Big Show airs weekday afternoons from 2:00 to 6:00 EST/EDT.

Contents

[edit] Personalities and Frequent Guests

[edit] Hosts & Co-Hosts

  • Glenn Ordway - voice of the Celtics for 13 years, was named Program Director of Sports Radio 850 WEEI in June of 1995. More commonly referred to by listeners as "Big O".
  • Pete Sheppard - Regular contributor and primary flashboy of the show; fills in as the host of the Big Show in Ordway's absence.
  • Steve Buckley - Another regular co-host, Buckley also writes for the Boston Herald.
  • Fred Smerlas - Former NFL player and regular co-host who often sides with Sheppard on issues discussed on the show. Smerlas appears on The Big Show Monday & Friday during the NFL season.
  • Sean McAdam - Regular co-host and baseball writer for the Providence Journal and ESPN.com.
  • Tony Massarotti - Regular co-host, Massarotti is Red Sox beat writer for the Boston Herald. He is referred to as Tony Mazz or Evil Tony on the Big Show.
  • Butch Stearns - Main sports anchor for WFXT Fox 25 News (Boston). Also fills in as host in the absence of both Ordway and Sheppard.
  • Paul Perillo - Editor of Patriots Football Weekly
  • Steve DeOssie[1] - Former Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, New York Jets, and New England Patriots Linebacker. DeOssie can be heard on The Big Show Mondays and Fridays during the NFL season.
  • Steve Burton - WBZ-TV Sports Anchor/Reporter. Burton is known for his distinctive, skwawking laugh. Fans and co-hosts refer to him often as "The Bird."
  • Larry Johnson - Editorial Sports Cartoonist
  • Bill Burt - Sports Editor of the Lawrence Eagle-Tribune
  • Rob Bradford - Sports Writer for the Lawrence Eagle-Tribune
  • Tom Curran - Football writer for the Providence Journal

[edit] Flash Boys

  • Pete Sheppard
  • John Rider
  • Jeff Joyce
  • Bob Leoni

[edit] Producers

  • Brett Erickson
  • Andy Massaua


[edit] Guests

During the course of sports seasons, the Big Show often has weekly conversations with players, coaches, and executives. Among the current weekly guests:

[edit] Boston Globe Feud

WEEI has had a long running feud with the Boston Globe that started in 1999 after an appearance on this show by Boston Globe sportswriter Ron Borges. During his appearance, Borges allegedly used a racial slur to describe New York Yankees pitcher Hideki Irabu. Glenn Ordway, host of the show states that Borges was only trying to 'recall Yankees owner George Steinbrenner's infamous description of Irabu as a " fat, pussy toad."'[2]. Ordway says he corrected Borges on the air and was surprised two days later when the Boston Globe's executive sports editor Don Skwar banned Globe sportswriters from appearing on the show. Two weeks later, the ban was extended to WEEI's Dennis and Callahan morning show because its perceived low brow humor. WEEI retaliated by banning Globe staffers from all its shows. [3]

[edit] The Whiner Line

"The Whiner Line," consists of listeners calling in and leaving messages on a voice mail system that is replayed at the end of the 2-6 p.m. show. Listeners complain and mock everything from sports teams and stars, the hosts, other listeners, celebrities, current events and local politicians. The whines often include impersonations of celebrities and local figures and making fun of the hosts for being overweight.

[edit] Popular Reoccurring Whines

  • Tom Menino impersonator - Always starts whine with "Hey guys, it's the mayor (pronounced ma-yah)" and tends to end with "Give me the tools, and I'll make it happen!" followed by his signature signoff "Thank you all for comin'." Is known for making absurd comments regarding the Red Sox and local current events.
  • Glenn Ordway impersonator - A satire of the host, usually ends with the line "you're making my point" mocking Ordway's notoriety for flip-flopping on subjects.
  • Top 10 List - A caller who compiles top ten lists a la David Letterman. Topics include Red Sox and Patriots themed lists. Frequent guest Tony Massaroti believes the list should be cut down to 5 (if not eliminated altogether).
  • Beavis and Butthead parody - A caller who supplies voices for both popular MTV characters. He applies the cartoons' crude humor to Boston sports.
  • Carson Kressly impersonator - Became "popular" after members of the Boston Red Sox appeared on the TV show Queer Eye for the Straight Guy. Usually ends call with "ta-ta".
  • Bob Neumeier impersonator - Caller who does an impression of the former midday 'EEI host as a randy ladies' man of 1960s and 1970s celebrities, with occasional crude jokes, such as "What does a gynecologist and a pizza deliveryman have in common? They can both smell it, but can't eat it."
  • Jimmy Tingle parody - A whine that tells a series of bad jokes followed by a "King of Comedy"/DeNiro laugh track in the manner of the Boston area radio commercial.
  • Grady and the Champ - Frequent whine that involve impersonations of former Red Sox manager Grady Little and current manager Terry Francona. Plays on the theme of Francona's very slow and thought-out style of speech compared to Little's incoherent mumbling.
  • Dan Duquette impersonator - computer-generated voice that repeats Duquette's phrase "more days in first place" over and over again. Referencing Duquette's famous statement in 2002 that 'the Red Sox spent more days in first place than the Yankees last season'.
  • The "Dye-Dye-Dye" Guy - A frequent if unpopular whiner. Has stopped call due to imitators and bashers.
  • Eddie Andelman - An impersonation of former WEEI radio host Eddie Andelman, complete with his uniquely awkward phrases. He used to have the USC fight song playing in the background but due to what he claims is a 'restraining order' from USC, he now uses calliope music (Barnum and Bailey's Favorite) instead.

[edit] The Whiney Awards

The Big Show hosted the 4th Annual "Whiney Awards" on February 28, 2006 in the TD Banknorth Garden. Nominees and winners are listed below. Winners are in bold.

  • Best Original Character
  • Best Impersonation of a Sports Radio Personality
    • “Neumy” former Sportsradio host Bob Neumeier
    • Eddie from Lynnfield
    • Glenn “The Big O” Ordway
    • Beano Cook
    • Frank from Gloucester/Archie Bunker/Al from Everett
    • Grandmaster Dale
  • Best Impersonation of a Baseball Personality
  • Best Impersonation of a Celebrity or Non Sports Personality
  • Best Sports Whine (not including baseball)
  • Best Red Sox Whine
  • Best Theo-Gate Whine
    • Jim Beattie’s 2nd GM Interview
    • The Position of Red Sox General Manager
    • Come and listen to a story about a man named Jed
    • Silence of the Dan
    • Lucchino orders the code red
  • Best Musical Whine
    • Ring of Fire (Brady Man-Love)
    • Musical Mark
    • Larry the Loose Lipped Lucchino
    • The Dye-Dye-Dye Guy
  • Best Rig or Dig on a WEEI Personality
    • The Tom O’Brien Show
    • Butch Stearns and the Best Boobs
    • Bill Burt on a Scooter
    • Steve DeOssie on his Harley
    • Dale at Bruins Camp
  • The Man on the Way Up Memorial Award
    • Pete’s Dog Tiki
    • Frank from Gloucester
    • The Answer Man
    • The Top Ten Guy
    • The Fat Bastard Guy

[edit] External links

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