Luke Burbank will throw out the first pitch at tonight's Mariner's game. "Awesome" will be the cry to about 900 "10's" (fans) who have already bought the tickets and will fill a couple of sections at Safeco Field wearing TBTL t-shirts.
TBTL? It's Too Beautiful to Live (KIROFM m-f, 7-10p) the hard-to-describe, weeknightly show/community/talk-romp that chronicles the lives, tastes, and Millenial Gen pop-cultural blabbin'-tary of Burbank, Jen Andrews, and Sean DeTore.
(photo: Luke at the bat)
It's calculatedly "awesome," and "amazing," and if you can't take that, well, you can go listen to Dr. Laura (KTTH m-f, 9p-12a).
We're old around BlatherWatch and we get that we don't get it but we're conscious enough to know: there's something extraordinary going on here. And since TBTL isn't political talk radio, BlatherWatch peeps don't like TBTL and gripe about it at every opportunity. (It would be fair to say that TBTL peeps don't much like BlatherWatch, either.)
And yes, Burbank is deeply envied in some radio quarters; the skepticism runs bitter as old coffee as TBTL's survival continues to surpass their scoffingly low expectations.
But TBTL is racking up the peeps! The "10's of listeners" as they call them gave the show a 3.0 in the 25-54 money demo putting it 10th in Seattle in the time slot -- higher than anything they've had since the Wayne Cody Sportsline days. (These ratings were in the book before KIRO's move to FM which is expected to slash KIRO numbers all the way around. But TBTL may be the most likely to succeed on FM: they're younger audience were already over there).
Radio & Records recently featured Burbank as one of the 10 new radio talents to watch.
Radio's in flux right now, and the show is being watched closely by the armies of radio consultants, programmers, mini-gurus, and media journalists trying to suss out radio's future. What's impressive is that Burbank and company are being downloaded at about 200,000 downloads a month. KIRO webbies say it's about 2/3's of the total downloads for the big site.
The 10's are nothing if not avid. They range from all over the world; this large Internet community has got TBTL's foot wedged firmly in the door of new media.
(photo: Luke, Sean, Jen)
Nobody's making money at this yet, but there are rumors of a TBTL podcasting ad deal in the works. Wouldn't take many of those to make this little low-overhead show pay.
In this era of lowered expectations, it's pretty impressive to see an event of 900 ticket-buying fans at a radio promotion. (Remember the former King of Seattle Talk Radio Dori Monson's 'block party' that turned out to be just an afternoon gust?).
The show is going on two years old now, the doom-sayers have been wrong. Not bad for a show about nothing, As they say, "TBTL isn't for everyone, but maybe you're not everyone."
Oh Joy!
I didn't get to hear or see the first pitch from Luke Burbank....
Mariners must getting desperate having him come and do the first pitch... of course, what would you expect since he works for KIRO and they have the broadcast rights?
Jeez, maybe we can get Bill Gates to throw out the first pitch and have 1,000 MSFT employees in the stands...
What a bunch of crap.
Posted by: Mikeeee | May 21, 2009 at 02:50 AM
TBTL ROCKS!!!
It is way beyond you old folks' understanding. As one of the 10's, - it's our way of tuning you out.
Posted by: sPrinkles | May 21, 2009 at 07:07 AM
As someone once said 'it's too bad that youth is wasted on the young'.
Tbtl is nothing more than organized chaos.
Posted by: HoChiMinh | May 21, 2009 at 07:46 AM
I'm not young.....I'm sitting steadfastly in middle age, but I get it, and I kind of like it.
It's gentle, interesting, and keeps you company. There's no "BROADCASTING" about it. It's human interaction and light conversation.
What's so wrong about that? They're becoming my friends, rather than my leaders. I have no problem with that.
Posted by: where's waldo | May 21, 2009 at 09:18 AM
I used to think I was getting a little more information about Luke, Jen and Sean than I want, now I can't get enough.
Posted by: Nancy E. | May 21, 2009 at 09:55 AM
Hood's on the payroll, everybody knows that. This stink bomb CANNOT last. Bring back Mike Webb, Goldy Frank Shiers, even! Give us something to chew on.
Posted by: MIKE not Michael | May 21, 2009 at 09:59 AM
Blather peeps have little to say about TBTL because they don't listen to it. They just know they hate it.
I remember my dad hating rock n roll despite he wouldn't have known it if he heard it so involved he was in his crappy church music.
Time marches on. You can choose to acknowledge that or just be geezerly about "the old days." The good old days have obviously passed in talk radio. Be there or be square, but don't diss the kids for being different than you.
Posted by: John Heiser | May 21, 2009 at 10:44 AM
I try to listen (when the Ms are not playing!), but typically I grow bored. Occasionally they can keep my attention. Maybe I am an example of middle aged ADHD? Surely there is no other explanation for my inability to appreciate the latest craze.
There must be a prescription drug that will cure me; or maybe just large quantities of good old alcohol. TBTL seems to advocate heavy drinking - maybe that is the secret to listening? I am open to suggestions, I don't want to be geezerly ...
Posted by: AprilMayJune | May 21, 2009 at 11:42 AM
Well AMJ, look at it this way. Any one who can get pleasure out of watching/listening to a team of over-weight (non)athletes who can't even play 500-ball and who stand around spitting, adjusting their wrist-bands and scratching their private parts should find TBTL the epitome of excitement.
Hang in there, they'll (Mariners) soon drive you away and you'll get tired of the excitement of watching paint dry. That's when TBTL will seem very attractive.
Posted by: HoChiMinh | May 21, 2009 at 11:54 AM
Wish the grown-up shows would take us to a ball game. This sounds very fun. Just another reason I wish I was 28 instead the mother of a 28-year-old.
Posted by: Cyn | May 21, 2009 at 12:07 PM
I am just on the late side of middle age. TBTL is not something I seek out. However, I find it pleasant background filler if I am driving around or sitting around at dinner. The show has a niche. I know guys who love it. Its a great test of format. For those of you who hate it and can't find anything else to tickle your ears with what you want to hear turn OFF the radio and go watch tv or go do something physical. Like have sex. Or if you're too old, make funeral arrangements for yourself.
Posted by: ryder | May 21, 2009 at 02:45 PM
TBTL is not dumb, it's young. If there is one thing boomers should understand it is that the young will do their own thing.
TBTL is not right or left or even about politics. In funny ways its like the radio I grew up with before Rush. I'm in that late side of middle age too but I find myself getting caught up in the daily lives of these young people and their odd language and customs.I wish them well. This codgerly 10 will be listening for a long time.
Posted by: Mercer Island Bert | May 21, 2009 at 03:11 PM
"Bring back Mike Webb, Goldy Frank Shiers, even! Give us something to chew on. "
Yes, let's bring back Mike Webb. Can anyone figure how?
Posted by: Mike Barer | May 21, 2009 at 07:21 PM
Cyn: Girls Night Out, August 29, Ms against the Royals. That is a party!
Posted by: AprilMayJune | May 21, 2009 at 08:09 PM
Mike Webb & Goldy gave us something to chew on; I don't think Frank qualifies in that area. Mike Webb was a classic. Bringing him back could be problematic, perhaps his reincarnated spirit will show up?
Posted by: AprilMayJune | May 21, 2009 at 08:26 PM
Webb.
Let the gay one rot in peace.
Posted by: Queens Hunter | May 21, 2009 at 08:32 PM
Attention people!!! Just your weekly blatherwatch TBTL strokefest!! Nothing to see here.....move along!!!
Now back to your regularly scheduled crap on Dori fest. You might not know this, but he has a girl's name.
Posted by: asdfasd | May 21, 2009 at 09:03 PM
Ah, good thread. Back to radio talk.
TBTL is like old radio - Frosty, Jim, who else? Then Larry King and Mike Siegel. I wasn't interested until they came along. Prior to King and Siegel, it was all rock 'n roll for me.
What does it say that we're getting back to boring? Is that an Obama thing? I guess it is either background banter or engaging discourse. I vote engaging discourse.
Posted by: joanie | May 21, 2009 at 10:00 PM
i am also outside the tbtl demographic, however i find myself listening to more tbtl, (in the car) and participating less in the very predictable blatherwatch...
Posted by: Dave (not dave ross) | May 22, 2009 at 01:08 PM
That a low blow, not Mr. Ross.
Hey, Roz, you out there? If you are, have yourself a fine Memorial Day weekend. Hope you're not alone. I just can't get excited about the current political talk. Too much nonsense being spouted by spotsie and his crew. Good thing they don't reside on your ship. They'd have sunk her by now.
My wish that all soldiers are home by Tuesday. (I know, wishful thinking . . . but I said "my wish" . . . )
insert smiley face here
Posted by: joanie | May 22, 2009 at 07:39 PM
I'm 48 and while I don't consider TBTL to be can't-miss radio, I do tend to enjoy it just about every time I tune in. Maybe because I do tend to think "young" or something like that...I don't know. I will admit it's a bit jarring every once in a while to hear them talk, for example, about Nirvana being a band from their high-school days; I was in my 30s by the time the grunge era came into being. But basically I feel like we're roughly the same age. Good quality radio.
I also listen to Rush, Beck, Dori and other drivel for cheap laughs but for some actual information about things in life that are positive and meaningful, I tune into to TBTL. I'm sure that seems mixed up to a few of you but I'm absolutely not kidding.
Posted by: David M | May 23, 2009 at 03:46 PM