Cutbacks at TVG
 

Mr. B and Kotulak have apparently let go.

Mr. B. should have been kept and let Rudolph go.:zz:

That's a shame about Mr.B, I liked him. On the other hand Kotulak was public enemy one for me, I personally thought that he brought absolutely nothing to the table on top of his grating personality.

Mr. B was a chalk eating weasel.

you guys are right on........but i don't know about the worst chalk (second worst) eating weasel.....that ron guy at gulfstream is the king.....

I'm not sure who they should have gotten rid of but Mr. B. wouldn't have been my choice. I really liked him. I thought he did a good job.

Rich Perloff is the only one there with an opinion worth much. The rest are basically empty suits. Of course, the best way to watch TVG has always been with the mute button on...

Paul

DrugS & Ken R. that's a show I would watch :tro:

Mr. B needed a bump or a couple of adderall. Not saying anything about his handicapping prowess. It was just painful listening to him that's all. Tough economy...i hope he finds a job.

If they had to make cuts, then Mr. B, Kotulak, and Stauffer made the most sense. Those 3 were the weakest links of the show. While some of the others they kept on are annoying, they bring on entertainment value.

I have given up on TVG. HRTV has far less exposure but their programming is 1000x better. I think their analysts are better and they at least talk about racing.

Great example was last Saturday. I had bet a race from Tampa and needed to click over to TVG to watch it. I leave HRTV where Gary Mandella and Scott Hazelton, who are both very much adequate are discussing a claiming race at OP to click over to TVG where the three hosts are talking about Broadway shows. This went on for better than 5 minutes. There was even a delay at the gate and it barely broke their stride.

I understand that you need some filler for a lot of air time but for crying out loud you had a field of 11 with an extremely vulnerable favorite at one of the three major tracks you actually broadcast and you offer hardly any analysis on the race?

Perhaps, but Ken Rudolphs value as an unintentional entertainer wears thin really quick.

Yeah...not saying I like Rudolph as he is a grade I jacka$$, but he stirs things up with his stupidity.

Who watches TVG anymore anyway? Between Todd Schrupp and Ken Rudolph, I'm frequently left wanting to jump out a 7th floor window.

If you live in a place where they don't offer HRTV, it is your only choice. Sucks.

Rich Perloff could be the greatest handicapper on earth and he'd still be an unbearable, pompous douche.

I usually mute both channels. HRTV has their share of sleep inducers too. I tend to keep the track feed up on my computer so I can hear the late scratches, jock changes and off the turf announcements. Both channels are woefully bad in letting their viewers know of these changes unless they showing that particular track when the changes take place.

The problem I have with TVG is what was mentioned above. 92.8 percent of the "experts" have done little to no preparation for the races they'll be covering during the course of a show. I get that it might be hard to 'cap 50 races or whatever for a four hour show, but come on, at least read the form for like 1/4 of the tracks TVG will be broadcasting.

But some of the stuff he and Greg Wolf say makes you wonder about them though. They have been working there for almost ten years, and it is like they haven't picked up a single piece of knowledge on their own. I should include Simon Bray also. I get that alot of trainers don't know a lick about wagering / ticket structure, but the stuff Bray says sometimes makes me think he is missing some chromosomes.

I kinda looks like TVG is setting themselves up for a lawsuit for age discrimination. Obviously we don't know the whole story, but if they laid off both those two guys, they were the oldest two on the set from the looks of it.

It could have just been they didn't renew their contracts though. We'll probably never know.

Yep - it's amazing how this is tolerated by the network.

After a while - you can't even blame the analysts ... they are clearly being allowed to 'get over' by the higher ups.

The only ones who actually do any real work are Perloff and Carrouthers.

When Stauffer's on - at least you're getting a 'Sheets' perspective. I know A LOT of people don't care about hearing about sheet patterns, form cycles, and that type of analysis ... but I've always said any national racing network should have one guy employed who takes that approach to the game.

I know a lot of people hate Matt C and Vic - but they're really 2/3rds of the best they have to work with when they're not trying to act like a jackass.

Is it so hard for the higher-ups to tell these guys "look - no one thinks you're entertaining and certainly no one - other than maybe your mother - thinks you're interesting. Just talk about up-coming races - or racing and handicapping in general. Nobuddy cares about the other bullsh!t."

Instead - it's almost like higher-ups encourage some of these guys to behave like complete fools. I doubt it was Matt Carouthers idea to suddenly start acting like Jim Cramer.

Carothers is grating, but seems to at least understand the game. TVG could definitely do worse. Oh wait, they do.

I'm personally not a big fan at all of the handicapping approach Carothers takes - but he does do some work and he prepars.

Basically, he does his job.

'National Racing Report' on NYRA's website has become the most watchable national racing recap show.

New episode today on right hand side: http://www.nyra.com/index_aqueduct.html

yeah...Rudolph, Wolf, Schrupp are absolutely horrible. But TVG never has been concerned with the real horseplayers. They are a gimmick channel. So to them having idiots babble on about nothing to do with racing is their goal. Simon Bray is an embarassment....you would think a guy who was a trainer (an average one at best) would have some horse racing knowledge....but he doesn't.

Right now it's 2 min to post Race 3 at AQU and Shcrupp and Wolf are on tv talking about coffee.

TVG lays off several staff members
By Matt Hegarty

Television Games Network has fired approximately 20 workers, including several of its on-air commentators, as part of an effort to reduce costs, the company’s chief executive confirmed on Thursday. Although company officials would not comment beyond a statement acknowledging the firings, the biographies of four television hosts – Bob Baedeker, Chris Kotulak, Frank Lyons, and Frank Mirahmadi – were no longer available on the company’s website on Thursday.

:eek:

THAT sucks.

This is devastating news!

Charlie Sheen. Fired.
Bob Baedeker. Fired.
Frank Lyons. Fired. Two months later: Dies in a pool of his own vomit, piss, and s.hit.

I love Frank Lyons.

You need a spanking for that one. :D

Hey he needs to put the bottle down. Plus there were times towards the end where he seemed to be on xanies.

Yeah I know but you know i always like the druggies. :p

It just works out that way.

You've got to admit, he's got a lot of personality and charm.

Can't exactly say that for some over in TVGLand.

And they kept Vic?

Crazy right.

I'm sure Les Onaka is the life of the party.

Dave Weaver is probably the most entertaining of all the analysts.

I would rather party with Les than Ken.

Mr. B probably won't sue because he is flush...BUT he would have a solid case considering his age and the fact that the revenues were up about 90 million.

Franky Lyons was easily the most tolerable to listen to.

They've had a couple of chicks though that probably should be, or should have been, on camera more.

I believe Stauffer has ended his association with TVG.

that was fast

I'm going to get caned after I get skinned and tarred and feathered but I thought he did a decent job.