The Big Suey: You Okay, Greg?

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Big Suey – "You Okay, Greg?" The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
Release Date: July 21, 2025

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1. Late Night Television's Evolution and Stephen Colbert's Departure

Dan LeBatard opens the discussion by expressing his disappointment over the cancellation of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, a staple in late-night television for 33 years. He laments the decline of traditional late-night formats due to the rise of streaming services and on-demand content, which have significantly reduced live viewership.

Dan LeBatard [04:25]: "Late night television is dead. He had the highest rated one. But that only means fewer than 2.5 million viewers a night."

Stugotz adds that the shift isn't the death of late-night TV but its transformation, emphasizing how shows adapt to digital consumption.

Stugotz [04:41]: "Cannibalizing itself to understanding the different trends."

The panel discusses Colbert's impactful monologues and his role in shaping televised comedy, with Dan criticizing CBS for misleading the public about Colbert's firing being solely a financial decision.

Dan LeBatard [06:17]: "They won't say this, but this was the monologue a few days before he was fired."

Billy Corben supports Colbert, highlighting his integrity and the significance of his departure.

Billy Corben [09:01]: "I love Stephen Colbert. Smart, smart show. I lean with him politically."

2. Corporate Settlement with Donald Trump: Potential Bribery

Dan shifts focus to a controversial $16 million settlement between Paramount and Donald Trump over a lawsuit concerning a 60 Minutes interview with Kamala Harris. He insinuates that the settlement resembles a bribe, undermining trust in corporate media.

Dan LeBatard [07:29]: "I believe this kind of complicated financial settlement with a sitting government official has a technical name in legal circles. It's big fat bribe."

Stugotz elaborates on the implications of such settlements, suggesting they are strategic moves to bypass governmental obstacles, hinting at broader corruption.

Stugotz [08:23]: "We’ve seen donations go to the presidential library. Some of the biggest tech companies in the world are doing that right now to curry favor with the president."

3. The Future of Comedy and Late-Night Shows

The conversation broadens to include the uncertain futures of other influential shows like The Daily Show and South Park. Jon Stewart's uncertain position at Comedy Central post-merger is a focal point, reflecting the tumultuous state of comedic programming.

Stugotz [09:07]: "The south park creators... said this merger is a disaster."

Dan emphasizes the importance of voices like Jon Stewart and John Oliver in holding corporate media accountable.

Dan LeBatard [10:42]: "We need the press to be stronger, we need voices to be stronger."

4. Washington Football Team's Name Change and Trump's Intervention

The panel critiques Donald Trump's involvement in the Washington Football Team's name change, viewing it as a distraction from more serious issues like the Epstein scandal. They argue that Trump's actions are intentionally polarizing to divert public attention.

Billy Corben [35:23]: "It's just further polarizing and dividing the country. It's just so stupid."

Stugotz [36:09]: "It is so clearly an intentional popular move with this base to get them fired up."

5. Nick Saban's Potential Return and NIL Executive Order

A significant portion of the discussion revolves around rumors of Nick Saban returning to coaching, influenced by potential executive orders from Trump to cap NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) deals for college athletes. The panel debates the likelihood and implications of Saban's return, considering his age and influence.

Dan LeBatard [37:12]: "Nick Saban's timing on retirement was as impeccable as Bob Iger's was the first time."

Billy remains skeptical about Saban's return, citing personal insights from Saban's daughter.

Billy Corben [38:39]: "Nick Saban coming back is not a given under any circumstances."

6. Fox's Partnership with Barstool and Dave Portnoy's Role

The discussion shifts to Fox Sports' partnership with Barstool Sports, particularly the hiring of Dave Portnoy for Big Noon Kickoff. The panel analyzes whether this move is a strategic effort to attract younger audiences or a sign of desperation to boost ratings through controversial figures.

Dan LeBatard [25:27]: "They lost Skip Bayless. You've fired everyone else. The place has been a dumpster since Jamie Horowitz left."

Stugotz praises the partnership, highlighting Barstool's energetic and engaging content as a potential game-changer for Fox.

Stugotz [27:44]: "We waited with bated breath to find out what they do with Jon Stewart."

Greg Cody adds that Dave Portnoy's genuine sports enthusiasm will align well with Fox's core audience without necessarily introducing overt controversy.

Greg Cody [29:23]: "He seems genuine in those. Like, this is a shtick or like an act that he's going on."

7. Broadcasting Insights and Personal Remarks

The hosts engage in light-hearted banter, commending Greg Cody's broadcasting skills and sharing amusing anecdotes about on-air moments, including a coughing incident that added humor to the episode.

Stugotz [34:29]: "There is a sincere compliment."

8. Closing Thoughts and Future Prospects

Dan wraps up by reiterating concerns about corporate media's integrity and the influence of powerful figures like Rupert Murdoch. The panel underscores the necessity for robust and honest media voices in an era dominated by corporate interests and political agendas.

Dan LeBatard [37:16]: "Then Cody's talking about him returning to coaching."

Final remarks reflect on the ongoing challenges in sports media, the impact of executive decisions, and the evolving landscape of television and digital content.

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Notable Quotes:

• Dan LeBatard [04:25]: "Late night television is dead. He had the highest rated one. But that only means fewer than 2.5 million viewers a night."

• Billy Corben [09:01]: "I love Stephen Colbert. Smart, smart show. I lean with him politically."

• Dan LeBatard [07:29]: "It's big fat bribe."

• Stugotz [08:23]: "They have news programs. When John Skipper tried to hire Barstool years ago, it lasted one day."

• Stugotz [36:09]: "It is so clearly an intentional popular move with this base to get them fired up."

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This episode delves deep into the intersections of media integrity, corporate influence, political maneuvers, and the future of sports and entertainment broadcasting. Through candid discussions and insightful commentary, Dan LeBatard and his co-hosts navigate the complexities of modern media landscapes, offering listeners a comprehensive analysis of current events shaping the industry.

Transcript

[Dan LeBatard]

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[Stugotz]

Now's a good time to remember where tequila's story truly began. In 1795, Cuervo invented tequila. Cuervo, what are you doing here?

[Dan LeBatard]

Cuervo Anytime someone says Cuervo, I show up.

[Stugotz]

Well, I do know that to be true. But even during ad reads like Cuervo, I think he could lay out especially for one of our great partners.

[Dan LeBatard]

Sweet, delicious Cuervo.

[Stugotz]

Since then, Cuervo has stayed true to its roots. The same family, the same land, the same passion.

[Dan LeBatard]

Cuervo.

[Stugotz]

So enjoy the tequila that started it all. Cuervo.

[Dan LeBatard]

Cuervo.

[Stugotz]

The tequila that invented tequila. Proximo Cuervo.com, please drink responsibly.

[Dan LeBatard]

Cuervo.

[Greg Cody]

This episode is brought to you by Liquid IV. When you hydrate with Liquid IV, you're powered by Hydro Science. Hydro Science is Liquid IV's science backed formula with an optimized ratio of electrolytes, vitamins and nutrients. Experience great tasting hydration for mental clarity, physical endurance and overall well being. Sip into something that up levels every moment. Liquid IV tear pour live more.

[Dan LeBatard]

Visit [e-mail] welcome to the Big Sui presented by DraftKings. Why are you listening to this show, the podcast that seems very similar to the other Dan LeBatard podcast? I'm sorry. I'm not going to apologize for that. In fact, the only difference seems to be this image. I have been tempted in restaurants just walking past tables to grab somebody's fries if they're just there. That hasn't happened to you guys. I've done it. And now here's the Marching man to Nowhere Fat Face and the Habitual Liar.

[Stugotz]

This episode is presented by DraftKings. DraftKings. The Crown is yours.

[Dan LeBatard]

Put it on the poll, please. Juju at LeBatard show. Are you stunned that the Dolphins have not won a playoff game in the last third of Greg Cody's lifetime?

[Billy Corben]

Yeah. Wow. You got me dying in five years. Hope to last a little longer.

[Dan LeBatard]

No, the third of your lifetime so far. It's not. I'm not killing you.

[Billy Corben]

It wouldn't be slightly more than a third of my life.

[Dan LeBatard]

I didn't say that at all. I said the lifetime that's presently in front of me. I wasn't extinguishing it.

[Billy Corben]

Okay, all right, that's fair.

[Greg Cody]

A tenth of his life, let's say.

[Billy Corben]

Well, no, there you go.

[Dan LeBatard]

I don't want to say that. It's far less impressive that way to save his feelings on that. He's not going to die.

[Greg Cody]

I mean, if Greg lives to be 250, that would be very impressive.

[Billy Corben]

It will be.

[Dan LeBatard]

Thank you, Billy.

[Billy Corben]

Notice I said it will be, not would be.

[Greg Cody]

Mm.

[Billy Corben]

Confidence.

[Dan LeBatard]

Science. Confidence in science.

[Greg Cody]

You gotta believe if you keep. When you slow yourself down, that's when your body slows down. Like if you're out there being active doing things, why can't you live forever?

[Billy Corben]

That's right.

[Greg Cody]

Some point, everyone that's died thought, you know what? I've had enough. And then they die.

[Billy Corben]

Yeah, it's a good point by Billy. He's right on the mark as usual.

[Dan LeBatard]

How is that a good point?

[Billy Corben]

And I'm as active as anybody. So, you know, look at me.

[Dan LeBatard]

You are not as active as anyone.

[Greg Cody]

He put out two books in the last like three years.

[Billy Corben]

Thank you. Yes.

[Stugotz]

And he.

[Dan LeBatard]

Bowles.

[Billy Corben]

Yeah, yeah, every week. And the third book is in the works.

[Dan LeBatard]

One of the books is recycled and I wrote more for it than he did.

[Billy Corben]

That's not quite true. Although you are long winded with those forwards. Wow. Need an editor there who said that, you know. But thank you for doing it.

[Dan LeBatard]

I want to get to us a little tighter story here from this weekend. That made me sad. It made me legitimately sad. And I was surprised by the sadness. It caught me off guard because it's twofold. Right. So Stephen Colbert was canceled and I was sad about this, even though I probably haven't watched that show in six years. Late night television is dead. He had the highest rated one. But that only means fewer than 2.5 million viewers a night. Because of how much damage has been done to late night television by our instantaneous need to get everything. And what streaming has done to late night television on demand stuff, you don't have to be by your television for anything.

[Stugotz]

Cannibalizing itself to understanding the different trends. And they create stuff for people to see it. If someone has anything worth a damn on late night, you catch it online. And that's how carpool karaoke exploded. Fallon remains culturally relevant by these social clips.

[Dan LeBatard]

You know what? I shouldn't even say late night television is dead. It's just changed into something else. And what happened this last week was offensive to me on a couple of fronts. First of all, that show has existed for 33 straight years. 22 by Letterman and the last few by Colbert. But that show introduced me to televised comedy. I didn't even understand what I was watching Late at Night with David Letterman. It was so different from everything else that I had ever seen on television, but also taught me, oh shit, there's a dude on television who goes after his employer. That guy goes, that guy makes fun of the people writing his checks. And I'd never seen that. And so here's the sound. Now what's amazing to me is that CBS is willing to lie this flagrantly about. It's strictly a financial decision when it can't be a strictly a financial decision. Television, it's the highest rated late night show like that is a bold faced lie. Even as programming tries to get cheaper all over the place. As you see with FS1 and Barstool, programming needs to get cheaper, but you don't do it with the highest rated late night show. And this is what actually got Stephen Colbert fired. They won't say this, but this was the monologue a few days before he was fired. And importantly, a few days before the Sundance CEO who is going to be a part of this merger.

[Stugotz]

Skydance.

[Dan LeBatard]

Skydance, excuse me. Was meeting with the fcc and you now know what government institutions are doing. And so what Colbert did on television to honor. Okay, not unlike what Shane Gillis did at the end of the ESPYs where he's honoring Norm MacDonald on this stage in this time, Stephen Colbert is the highest rated late night show because he does stuff like this. And this is what got him fired.

[Mike Ryan]

My mustache comes to you with a heavy heart because while I was on vacation, my parent corporation, Paramount paid Donald Trump a $16 million settlement over his 60 Minutes lawsuit. As someone who has always been a proud employee of this network, I am offended and I don't know if anything will ever repair my trust in this company. This settlement is for a nuisance lawsuit Trump filed claiming that 60 Minutes deceptively edited their interview with then candidate Kamala Harris last fall. Paramount knows they could have easily fought it because in their own words, the lawsuit was completely without merit. Now, I believe this kind of complicated financial settlement with a sitting government official has a technical name in legal circles. It's big fat bribe.

[Dan LeBatard]

So the corporate media has shown a remarkable cowardice in pushing back on a fascist, even though fascist even though it has FU money. And now the fight comes to Rupert Murdoch, who isn't going to somehow be as weak as Some of these other people tend to be. But Jon Stewart is saying he's not sure about the future of Daily Show. He's not sure about the future of South Park. Jon Stewart, of course, got banished by Apple and and is now not sure about the Daily Show. And the part that made me sad wasn't just the nostalgic memory part. It's the fact that Trump got $16 million for something that was just a nuisance lawsuit that had no chance of winning and also got Colbert fired.

[Stugotz]

To be clear to our audience, the reason why they pay that settlement, as long theorized by many people on social media, is they have this Paramount and Skydance have this massive me and you need the FCC's approval to pass this thing through. And Donald Trump could have stayed in the way of that. And we've seen things like this with law firms. We've seen it's not always a lawsuit settlement. We've also seen donations go to the presidential library. Some of the biggest tech companies in the world are doing that right now to curry favor with the president of the United States in what appears to be pretty transparent bribes and corruption.

[Billy Corben]

I love Stephen Colbert. Smart, smart show. I lean with him politically. I love everything about the guy.

[Dan LeBatard]

But at this same is not, not, not an echo chamber.

[Billy Corben]

At the same time, I have to wonder, Steven, you didn't think you might be fired by saying this? He when you say the company paying my checks no longer has my trust, I mean that's you're inviting yourself to be fired.

[Stugotz]

To be fair, 60 Minutes had an editorial piece at the start of one of their shows shortly after the settlement and they came out against it. And he hosts a show, as Dan mentioned, where part what's canon is going at the corporate bosses that is actually like a tent pole of late night. Stephen Colbert has never shied away from that. Dan mentioned Jon Stewart, who does host the Daily show every Monday for Comedy Central under the Paramount umbrella. The south park creators, who also have a very famous show, a legacy show in south park for the that same parent network came out and said this merger is a disaster. It's why you're not getting new episodes on time. But Bill Simmons, I saw a clip of Bill Simmons and he pointed to tonight's Daily show with Jon Stewart as one of the more fascinating nights and late nights since the extortion attempt on David Letterman. What was David going to say there? Because you have a guy in Jon Stewart who is one of the most recognized, if not the single most recognized personalities with that network, Comedy Central he also just left a place in Apple because they tried to censor what he was going to report on. Colbert's career is tied to that show, the Daily show and Jon Stewart. So what is Jon Stewart gonna say.

[Dan LeBatard]

Today in this time where the court jesters have become the trusted newsmen? Because that tree is not just Colbert and Jon Stewart. It's also John Oliver and a who other folks.

[Stugotz]

Yeah, it was a king making show.

[Dan LeBatard]

And John Oliver also goes after his employer, makes fun of HBO Max and these people are important. And the idea that in today's time you can have the business come into the editorial to contaminate everything at a time. We need the press to be stronger, we need voices to be stronger. To see corporate media bow to throw $16 million. It's a nuisance lawsuit. I understand why they did it. I understand it's simply a business decision. But the blatant dishonesty after that is something that makes people not trust corporate media. Like you can't say that's strictly a financial decision like that is as bold faced a lie as the pathological liar who's a criminal and a racist and possibly a rapist and felon and everything. Fraud. That's, that's every bit the lie that he tells daily.

[Stugotz]

And emboldened now takes his victory lap on social media saying Jimmy Kimmel should be next. And then while not mentioning Jimmy Fallon, also kind of touches on Jimmy Fallon. And it just exacerbates this type of behavior. We saw it, it touched sports over the weekend, this kind of shakedown mentality. Change the commander's name or else. And a lot of conservative friends asked me what do you think about this commander's thing? I'm like, I think it's none of his goddamn business. What business is it to the President of the United States what a team decides to call itself. And now he's trying to get in the way of a real estate deal. This is what an authoritarian looks like. It's no more his business. What they're called to, what colors that they wear on the field. That is a private enterprise. It's none of the President's business.

[Dan LeBatard]

Oh, but I've told you before that there are a stack of executive orders and other things that they can just throw into the public machine to try and get rid of whatever the scandal of the day is. And he's having all sorts of trouble getting rid of Epstein cuz his base is turned on him. And when I tell you that corporate media is failing, the guy he's presently sued is not failing.

[Stugotz]

That's a fascinating dynamic because Rupert Murdoch owns the Wall Street Journal and owns Fox News, which is the largest megaphone that President Trump and his administration have had. It's tilted the pendulum when it comes to influence in this country. It's propaganda, and it'll be interesting to see if that ever goes to discovery. Maybe Donald Trump is playing himself. But yes, with the Obama hoax, with the commanders, he's reaching for any kind of popular diversionary tactic with his own base, because that's where his popularity is strikingly dipped, with his own MAGA base. Howdy, folks, it's Mike Ryan. If you were listening to the show just a couple of days ago, you know that Jeremy came up with the top five breath of fresh air type of list. A really refreshing feeling. And on that list, Jeremy, help me out.

[Jeremy]

I mean, that first sip of a Miller Light at the barbecue on a hot day, crack it open.

[Stugotz]

That sound feelings better. That sound ultra satisfying. And then that first sip, it hits. And yes, while it's hot outside, as it is presently cools your body down, it hits a little different down here in South Florida. But as someone that had Miller Light north of the border and basically football tailgates as the leaves turn, there really isn't a bad time to turn into Miller Time.

[Jeremy]

Next time, we should do a top five times to have Miller Time.

[Stugotz]

I like where your head's at because it's every time. That's right, every time. Morning time. Well, scratch that. Morning time.

[Dan LeBatard]

Morning time.

[Stugotz]

If you're on vacation, if you're on.

[Jeremy]

Vacation, if you're in a morning tailgate.

[Dan LeBatard]

There'S a noon game.

[Stugotz]

It's Miller Time somewhere. Miller Lite. Great taste. 96 calories. Go to millerlight.com dan to find delivery options near you, or you can pick up some Miller Lite pretty much anywhere they sell beer. Cheers to 50 years of Miller time. Celebrate responsibly. Miller Brewing Company, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 96 calories and 3.2 carbs per 12 ounces.

[Jeremy]

Hey, friends, it's Jerbear here, and I'm.

[Stugotz]

Here to tell you all about Boost.

[Jeremy]

Mobile, which is now a legit nationwide 5G network. So I must take a break from the jokes here for a second and put on my serious voice because I would never, ever joke about a 5G network that has invested billions building 5G towers across the country. Not even once. Not even if Mr. Boost Mobile himself asked me to. There is nothing funny about it. Boost Mobile is now a legit nationwide 5G network and also provides coverage across the 99% of America. Seriously. Visit boostmobile.com or your nearest Boost Mobile store location to learn more. The Boost Mobile network, together with our roaming partners, covers 99% of the US population. 5G speeds not available in all areas.

[Chris Cody]

On WhatsApp, no one can see or hear your personal messages. Whether it's a voice call message or sending a password to WhatsApp, it's all just this. So whether you're sharing the streaming password in the family chat or trading those late night voice messages that could basically become a podcast, your personal messages stay between you, your friends and your family. No one else, not even us. WhatsApp message privately with everyone Don Lebatard.

[Billy Corben]

He called me on my own podcast. He called me full of shit, claiming that I'm faking interest in the solar eclipse.

[Dan LeBatard]

Well, you do do this. You love to just get excited about everything.

[Billy Corben]

Okay, Junior stugats. I had to school you and explain.

[Dan LeBatard]

To you he was gonna take you to Augusta.

[Billy Corben]

When I was 17 years old, Alan Sherry and I used to haunt the Bueller Planetarium.

[Greg Cody]

This is the Don Levatar show with the st.

[Billy Corben]

I mean, I expect CBS or any huge corporation to lie or fudge the truth for its own benefit. I don't particularly trust politicians, starting with Trump, but that's a different story than John Oliver, Stephen Colbert doing more than he wasn't making fun of CBS by any means. He wasn't having a laugh with it. He was super serious. And he did more than just make fun of the settlement or deride the settlement. He said, I no longer have trust for my corporation. And that to me, that was him going over the line in a way that he had to know that that was the line. That's all I'm saying. I think.

[Dan LeBatard]

So you're saying he should have been fired.

[Billy Corben]

I am saying that he should have expected to be fired. Okay. In an ideal world, I'm not going to fire him if I'm cbs, hell no. But knowing the reality of what he's dealing with, I think when he's flatly saying, and CBS ostensibly is in the trust business, they still have news programs. When he's saying I no longer can trust cbs, I think that's a death knell. I think he had to know that I am saying something that might get me fired.

[Dan LeBatard]

You say that, but I will tell you at the end at ESPN around some of this stuff, I never expected to be fired. Never. And wasn't going to be because you don't take the hit on that. But the times have changed. And what has changed on Colbert is the times, because that show's always been allowed to do that. And you're right, when he went, he did go after them hard. But he has a lot of reason to believe, as the highest rated show in late night, that there's very little possibility that he's going to be fired for making fun of his employer.

[Stugotz]

What I don't understand is they Paramount paid the president off with this settlement. Shouldn't that have stopped the problems? Did they not want their biggest late night talent calling this to attention? But 60 Minutes has just let Colbert do his thing and now it's become totally outsized with the announcement that you're letting him go. Because now people are focusing on the message when it's a message that he could say for years on end. The only time that that's ever been canon, apparently for CBS with their parent company, is when they're trying to push through a. A massive merger.

[Dan LeBatard]

You said he made it worse. They've made it worse. And they have, but temporarily. Right. The decision is a fascinating one to take the publicity hit at the front end that you're going to take right now, lie about it, try with a calculated fashion to say nothing bad about Colbert. You're not telling us it's about anything else. You're saying strictly financial decision. And that makes no sense.

[Stugotz]

I mean, you're pissing off Stephen Colbert. We wait with bated breath to find out what they do with Jon Stewart. These are all tape shows. Are they gonna muddle that message? You had Matt Stone and Trey Parker to the mix. This is not a dilution by degrees. You are ripping away what is actually an audience driver for you, things that make part of this merger really appealing. That was a massive deal that they cut with Jon Stewart that saw him executive produce and bring back to life the Daily show with him, including him hosting once a week.

[Dan LeBatard]

Apple ran off Jon Stewart. And I want to go back to a conversation that we were having last week about the difficulty that mainstream sports media is having finding young audiences and how they don't know how to do it, that the people in charge are old. The people in charge were not ready for any of this streaming stuff. The CEOs who met with the writers during the writers strike didn't know what they were doing because the new age has arrived and they don't understand what's happening. And all the people in charge are old. It's one of the reasons I found fascinating what FS1 did, because, and I mean this as no indictment of Barstool when I say it's cheap programming. Roy Wood Jr. Told me, Our friend told me that something that he watches in comedy, comedy is a very hard way to make a living. There aren't a lot of employers. You know who the employers are. Specials are easy to do, but all other content costs a lot of money in comedy. And keep in mind, this guy's been grinding, hustling, touring, trying to make a living, still has to grind, even though he's one of the famous ones, because it doesn't usually come with health insurance or employers. You're always a. You're always a solo, you're an independent trying to find work. He told me that what he looks for on television and entertainment when he's looking to see where the money's gonna go in comedy, is he watches sports programming because he knows when that gets cheap, and it's super cheap. Usually when that gets cheap, he knows that his industry is headed for some trouble. And what Fox just did is what ESPN is doing on ESPN2, where everyone realized during the pandemic, oh, we've been doing TV all wrong, we could just do it on Zoom. And we don't have to pay people $7 million since most of them aren't actually ratings people. And the thing that's smart about what FS1 did is it's not merely cheap. They're going to finally do it the way they should have done it from the beginning is you don't try to build, beat ESPN at being espn. You got to make fun of ESPN if you're the rival, if you're the challenger, if you're Fox. When you're doing Tracy Ullman and starting with the Simpsons, what you have to do is married with Children. You have to do things no one else is doing. So what they did at the beginning to establish credibility is to try to be espn. And they failed. And so now they're going to go to a brand that will lure young people, not just because it always does, because for sure they're not going to respect the way that it's done and the way that it's done with their R. And it's a very smart move on how to get young people, because most people in media do not know how to get young people.

[Stugotz]

It's still being reported on what we know about the weekday block. I think it's two hours of barstool programming. We don't know what that looks like. If they're just going to repurpose something existing, which would be more cost effective for Fox or if they're going to throw some money behind a newer concept. But one thing is for sure, from working over at espn, we know licensing these shows is more usually more cost effective for these parent corporations than building out the studio, hiring around that, hiring writers, producers, talent and the entire crew and the budgets behind that. So it's a smart move. I think it's an inspired move for a lot of the reasons that you outlined. And I'm pretty interested in seeing what Barstool does with the opportunity.

[Dan LeBatard]

Billy mentioned last week that because you guys were talking to me, I was saying I'm just really surprised that content companies in general aren't better at making their own content. And one of the things that Billy said is that we've been doing this for years. That John Skipper tried to hire Barstool years ago, or not Barstool, but Big Cat and pft. And it lasted one day. Billy, do you know the story of why it only lasted one day? Do you know the whole backstory on this? Because John Skipper was no better at attracting young people than anyone else. That's why he got us like that. The reason we were hired is because they needed to farm that out. They weren't good at doing it for themselves. Do you know why? Do you know everything that happened there? Like some of the backstory?

[Greg Cody]

I mean, I know what was reported is that there was outrage of the connection between the Barstool brand and espn. There were a number of on air talents that were not comfortable with that connection and that relationship and they spoke out against it. And then it was determined those people are more valuable to this company than the partnership with Barstool is. So we're going to end it.

[Dan LeBatard]

But the step that you're missing there on why it is that old people and old media doesn't know how to connect with young people is that yes, all of those people were outraged, said so. But John Skipper did nothing about that. And then someone sent him a pumpkin that looked like a vagina that Barstool was using and that's what ended it. And that's how you lose. Like, that's how you lose. That didn't hurt ESPN that they didn't get him. And it didn't hurt. I mean, it didn't help ESPN to have them for a day. And it didn't hurt at all. Barstool or pardon my take, help their brand that they, that they were too hot for espn. It's the reason it happens. It's. It's a bunch of old people in charge like you. You don't get to be in charge of any of these things that decide what's popular for young people. Unless you're old. You can't get that power young.

[Billy Corben]

Well, you know the inner workings of this topic more than I do. I admit that. But in, in this case, is it smart of Fox, or is it desperation and cheapness? Because if you'd rather have on Big Noon, if you'd rather have Dave Portnoy than Nick Saban, that's ridiculous. You're wrong.

[Dan LeBatard]

Oh, but you could say that you're wrong. But they're picking up ground. And in today's age, where the currency is. This is exactly why ESPN got Rush Limbaugh. Like, you get the guy who, who brings attention. You don't care. You do not care how you get that attention. It's Fox. What's the standard? Like, you don't care how you get the attention. You lost Skip Bayless. You've. You've fired everyone else. The place has been a dumpster since Jamie Horowitz left, and it was a dumpster before he left as well. And now you bring in something that will at least bring you ratings.

[Billy Corben]

Okay, just. Just answer this with one word, if you would. Who's better for ratings if you're a college football pregame show, Saban or Port Norton?

[Stugotz]

I don't think that's the decision that they're making. It's not like, I mean, they have Urban Meyer there. I would look, by all means, try to get Nick Saban next to Urban Meyer on Big Noon, but he's employed by ESPN in part because Corso was leaving and that. That's where the offer came in. I think if you're looking for a comp, it's what McAfee brings is a crowd, is energy early in the morning, like what McAfee does really well. They lean into there. And I think part of what hurts Big Noon is not just that they're married to the noon time slot, is if they're ever in the same place as college game day. The crowd usually goes to college game day, and it seems like a lesser experience. You want to see energy from the crowd. Barstool's gonna bring people to those places.

[Dan LeBatard]

They're not just going to do that. Sorry, Billy. They're not just going to do that. But when I think of both pregame shows and Big Noon is making up numbers on what has been the standard. Only the ESPN show produces the viral moments, and they're usually McAfee that everyone sees. Fox has been able to make that climb without any of that. Like, they don't have any of the controversy, so they're welcoming the controversy.

[Greg Cody]

You're making it seem, though, like Dave Portnoy is like prime Howard Stern and he's going to come on Big Noon and, like, turn it into, like, this circus and this zoo with, like, not safe for work content. Like, he's just gonna come on and be himself. I don't think that it's gonna have this, like, taboo impact that you think that they're going for.

[Stugotz]

I don't know how they plan to use him. I do think he's gonna be a little bit more reserved. I don't think he's gonna do shock jock stuff, but I do think he's going to be able to have takes that you don't necessarily see on network Fox. I mean, and they've tried this before, not to this degree, really tapping into a young base, but they've had provocateurs on that. On that show, to put it as politely as I can with Clay Travis in the early days of that show. So they do try to reach out and do some different things with their. Their talent.

[Dan LeBatard]

I disagree, Billy. We'll see. It probably won't happen early because there are going to be some nerves involved, but I would say that's the only reason he's there. Like, why put that person who doesn't have any particular expertise on college football, he just gambles on it. Why put that person in the center?

[Stugotz]

That counts?

[Dan LeBatard]

What is the reason you think they're just putting him there for gambling? Like, why is he there?

[Stugotz]

I mean, he's a huge sports fan. And when he has the opportunity to go on, let's take what Barstool produces usually, and I don't know where this falls into the Fox deal, but Barstool does a good job with their own traveling road show that goes to college football games with good energetic crowds, and they put out great social clips. And Dave Portnoy is there. He's a sports guy. He just loves sports. He's not. I mean, he'll have some brash takes here and then, but ultimately, that guy wants to talk about Michigan football. He wants to talk about the Big Ten. It's actually right to the core audience of what Fox does.

[Dan LeBatard]

He probably.

[Greg Cody]

He'll poke Urban Meyer because he doesn't like Urban Meyer. Like, but it's not. What are you gonna say? The F word? Like, what?

[Dan LeBatard]

I don't. He's good at being controversial. You're not particularly controversial. Like, it comes. It comes to him, naturally. So I assume that he will understand that if he has to be there, he has to fit in. But also he has to make his worth known While they're like McAfee found his footing for a while. Like it took him a couple of minutes and it's gonna take Portnoy a couple of minutes. But it's a strange thing to have in the like nothing like him has ever been on the center of one of these things other than Rush Limbaugh. There's nothing.

[Stugotz]

There's. Bill Simmons is a decent comp.

[Dan LeBatard]

No. But a politically polarizing person like Bill Simmons is not a politically polarizing person. But that is a good comp. If you think Simmons was there to just be a fan. I don't think Portnoy will be there to just be a fan. I think he will be there to bring attention and he knows how to bring attention and he's good at it and he doesn't. And at this point if he gets fired, doesn't matter. He doesn't need the job. Like he doesn't need what is there like that he could go do other things.

[Greg Cody]

He doesn't need the job. But he's also not like, you know, a 20 year old. He's the head of a very successful company. He's not going to blow up a relationship with Fox and now with FS1 over doing some stunt on Big Noon Kickoff. And like, I don't think he's going to bring politics into Big Noon kickoff. I don't think we're going to get into any debate.

[Stugotz]

No, he's fairly traditional as a talent when the central focus is CFB now we'll see how it turns out. I'm sure he'll say something that'll garner attention, which is really, I don't see the downside at all. If you're trying to make up ground. I mean, what's the downside? He's not good. And then you ultimately learn from that and maybe you reduce the amount of camera time that he has. But still ultimately you got into business with Barstool to bring eyes and hopefully they bring that attention there. I'm with Billy. I don't think he's going to jeopardize an entire network wide deal by just trying to be shocking. That's also not really his thing. If whenever he's shocking, he's shocking pretty organically. It doesn't come off as a put on with a porno, I'll give him that much.

[Greg Cody]

Yeah, I was going to say, like you could agree or disagree with what he says and what he thinks and believes, but he seems genuine in those. Like it doesn't seem like it's a. It's a shtick or like an act that he's going on and saying things to be controversial. I mean, maybe he'll turn it up from time to time, but like it seems genuine.

[Dan LeBatard]

I don't dispute you guys. Like, this is the part that you guys aren't hearing me on. I don't think it's inauthentic. I think he gives off asshole on purpose and he's proud of it and he doesn't back down from it.

[Stugotz]

Like, I mean, two peas in a pod. Game recognized game Dan It's a mirror.

[Chris Cody]

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[Dan LeBatard]

Put us in a box. Go ahead. That just gives us something to break out out of because the next generation 2025 GMC terrain elevation is raising the standard of what comes standard. As far as expectations go, why meet them when you can shatter them? What we choose to challenge, we challenge completely.

[Greg Cody]

We are professional grade.

[Dan LeBatard]

Visit gmc.com to learn more. Don Levatar it's all about me. Stugats.

[Greg Cody]

This is the Dan Levatar show with the stug.

[Dan LeBatard]

The other thing that I wanted to talk to you guys about is. You okay, Greg?

[Billy Corben]

Yeah. That's why I pressed the cough button.

[Greg Cody]

Yeah, he nailed that one. Good one.

[Billy Corben]

I'm a real broadcasting pro, Dan.

[Stugotz]

Hope awful announcing includes that in in the clip.

[Dan LeBatard]

Yeah. Him coughing at the end.

[Greg Cody]

Yeah, I didn't hear it well, that's.

[Billy Corben]

Why I pressed the cough button. Nobody would have known if you hadn't mentioned It.

[Stugotz]

Yeah. Dan, I would say very few people occupy the sports media space that you do. You are a bit of a unicorn.

[Billy Corben]

I don't know whether to thank you.

[Dan LeBatard]

Or a coughing uniform. A coughing uniform? No.

[Stugotz]

It's a compliment.

[Dan LeBatard]

Okay.

[Stugotz]

There's a lot of redundant skill sets.

[Billy Corben]

Yeah.

[Stugotz]

I haven't really seen anyone in the industry replicate what Greg Cody brings to the table.

[Billy Corben]

Thank you very much. I do take that as a compliment.

[Stugotz]

That is. That is a sincere compliment.

[Billy Corben]

Okay.

[Dan LeBatard]

Two things that we mentioned that I assume that you have, that you have commentary on is one, Trump getting in the Washington football team's name business.

[Billy Corben]

Yeah.

[Dan LeBatard]

And the other one was the idea of Saban returning to coaching. Surely you have thoughts on both of those things.

[Billy Corben]

Well, I would mimic what Mike said on Trump just having no business whatsoever getting into the business of personal echo chamber, a professional personal team owned by a guy having nothing to do with the government. Why is Trump even bothering? Trump doesn't have enough on his plate politically in a time when his ratings are tanking by.

[Dan LeBatard]

You know what? Come on. I already told you what he's doing there. It's not that he doesn't have enough things on his plate. He's clearly not sleeping, and he's in giant trouble because his own base is turned on him.

[Billy Corben]

Right.

[Dan LeBatard]

And Murdoch's not afraid of him, like, and so that's clearly not what's happening here. He wants the Epstein stuff out of the news, and he's only got so many moves to get it out of the news.

[Billy Corben]

But this is just so silly that it's not gonna divert attention from the Epstein stuff. It's just everybody's looking at it and laughing like, come on, Trump, really? Back to Indians and Redskins. What are you doing? I mean, it's just further polarizing and dividing the country. It's just so stupid.

[Stugotz]

If I may, that's exactly what it's doing. And it's working. And you're giving attention to it. You're giving it oxygen. It is so clearly a distraction.

[Billy Corben]

Right.

[Stugotz]

It is so clearly an intentional popular move with this base to get them fired up. And it's a diversionary tactic to get them to look away. And it is working, is it?

[Billy Corben]

Yeah, we're talking about it.

[Stugotz]

Yeah. And if we're talking about it, his base is talking about it. And really, that's. I mean, he called them stupid to their face last week. He needed to make up ground with that base. And Obama hoax and Washington team name. These are very popular culture war type of things that are core principles to the MAGA base. And yeah, he's soaking those flames.

[Dan LeBatard]

And stop telling me how to be politically correct when I'm a white person. Don't tell me how to talk about black people, gay people, Native Americans. Don't tell me. Don't tell me how I can talk about those people. That works.

[Stugotz]

I always find the logic behind the Washington commanders that he gave to is the same kind of logic that he had with renaming some of these forts after former Confederate soldiers. And so he's like, we have to protect the heritage and the legacy. People were proud to come from these places. Apparently, that legacy and heritage did not apply to the USS Harvey Milk. I guess with that, we don't need to protect that legacy. It's very clear what they're trying to do, which is a literal whitewashing.

[Billy Corben]

Okay, so when does the White House start flying the Confederate flag? Is that the next step? Because.

[Dan LeBatard]

No, no, you gotta go slowly there. First you go, you bring back. Easy way into it, the Negro Leagues. You bring those back. Trump will want to have only one team name that he's responsible for there. He'll bring back. And then you, like, climb up to.

[Billy Corben]

Okay, all right. I didn't get that straight. Sorry.

[Dan LeBatard]

Saban.

[Stugotz]

It's tied to Donald Trump. It's side to his looming. What's reported on rumored executive order to cap compensation in nil for. For football teams. I think, and Nick Saban is heavily involved in there. I think he has an official position, or it's been floated out there that Trump is leaning on Nick Saban heavily to craft what this will look like. And if that's the case and Nick Saban gets to dictate what the rules are, and if the Big ten and SEC are essentially the people that are enforcing these things, then Nick Saban's advantage. It's back. Oh, the parody. It kind of goes away. It's diluted. If I get to make the rules.

[Dan LeBatard]

Then Cody's talking about him returning to coaching.

[Stugotz]

That's exactly what I'm talking about. Nick Saban is thinking about coming back, and I believe the reports, because he gets to design the rules of the game because he has a president's ear. If the president is indeed going to do this executive order that caps what players can make in nil deals, which is basically capitalism for the top tier, socialism for everybody else. Yeah, Nick Saban will come back. If he gets a. If he gets to draw the battle lines for this, that's he. That further incentivizes it. No doubt.

[Billy Corben]

Nick Saban coming back is not a given under any circumstances. It. I mean, his own daughter goes on Instagram and says, I happen to know he ain't coming back. And yet you have Paul Feinbaum.

[Greg Cody]

She happens to know.

[Billy Corben]

I mean, I would think she does. You have Paul Feinbaum, you know, just gratuitously floating out. He ought to go back down to Miami and take care of that issue down there, because he coached the dolphins in 2005 and 2006 and very well, by the way. If he hadn't left for Alabama, he might still be the coach. They didn't fire him or push him out by any means. But it's just so purely speculative. If I'm a betting man right now, I'm not betting that Nick Saban comes out of retirement, are you?

[Stugotz]

I don't think I take the bet, but I will say with him getting the ability to shape the policy, the executive order, I'd say it makes it a hell of a lot more likely than it was prior to.

[Dan LeBatard]

Nick Saban's daughter happens to know.

[Greg Cody]

He happens to know.

[Billy Corben]

I would think she does. She. I would think she does. I mean, you know, she has an inside source. It's her dad. You know, you don't think they've had a conversation. Why does she go on Instagram and say, he ain't coming back, people?

[Stugotz]

Well, thankfully, he's never lied on the record or changed his mind.

[Billy Corben]

Fair comment. Touche.

[Dan LeBatard]

Is that all you have on Nick Saban? Do you have any other thoughts on Nick Saban?

[Billy Corben]

I don't have any other thoughts that. That Merritt's stating right now that are on course with this particular topic. I just think it's always ridiculous when we. And now all of a sudden, the poor Alabama coach at the SEC media days has to. Has to speak about the Nick Saban rumor. And of course, he's all polite, you know, in saying that he's got. He's done so great, he should be able to do whatever he does. Parentheses. But not take my job. I hope so. You know, I just don't put any credence to it. I think it's a. I hate to say it. I think it's a media contrivance at this point.

[Dan LeBatard]

You can say it's a media contrivance. What Mike says suggests it's tempting. I can't imagine what it is to go through your life getting identity from what it is that particular person does, how lopsided you have to be to be that successful. And then all of a sudden, you're off to the side of the game. But Nick Saban's timing on retirement was as impeccable as Bob Iger's was the first time. And Bob Iger, I assure you regrets coming back because shit got a whole lot harder and Disney's in the dumpster And Iger got out. Iger got out as if he knew the pandemic were coming and cruise ships were going to down and amusement parks in China were going to go down. He got out at the perfect time and then he came back and he should not have come back. And Nick Saban we were mentioning this last week so over the last few years it's been Alabama, Ohio State, Clemson and then LSU has gotten in there a couple of times with Les Miles, with Ed Orgeron originally. You know Nick Saban built all of that but there haven't been that many teams that have actually been great and he won at the end, got knocked out with a. A team that was probably one of his worst in the last 10 years but still made the playoffs and then got knocked out. But no one will have a bad thing to say about the ending for Nick Saban and any team would immediately want him. He'd immediately go back to coaching and become the highest paid coach in the sport. But he's almost 80, right? And he was saying that he was tired like that he. That he was just going into work and not enjoying it at least in part because it can't be fun to not have any control over any of the rules.

[Billy Corben]

Well, he's not that old but he will be 74 in October, you know so that's a factor. I mean that that is not irrelevant in the least to the idea of him making a comeback.

[Dan LeBatard]

Did you find the correct happen to no sound Roy or did you just. Chris Cody has left you an alert by the way Jason, our director was also at the Backstreet Boys concert in Las Vegas and took a red eye and got in at 6 o' clock this morning. Was very proud of himself.

[Stugotz]

What a warrior dude.

[Dan LeBatard]

Yes, he was very proud of himself because.

[Stugotz]

Thank you Jason.

[Dan LeBatard]

Unlike Chris Cody he made it back. I. I did not know that we had so many Backstreet Boys fans around.

[Stugotz]

Here's a sphere man. It's a combination of the two things.

[Billy Corben]

Tell me why.

[Stugotz]

Unfortunately I've been left an alert. Stand by. Chris Naveen here did not tell titled.

[Dan LeBatard]

This so you couldn't find it and it's not anywhere to be found. The only thing that was in the library was the least funny of all the happened to knows. Okay, good work by Chris Cody, glad for all his efforts.