Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years.

Thanks,

CNET Support

General discussion

Holy crap.. I tune out for a while and this is what happens?

Nov 7, 2010 2:36PM PST

Man I really hate to be this friggn negative, but I was catching up on listening... and please someone take the Mr. Microphone play toys away from Molly and Tong!

a) Their goofing off is worse than someone eating on the phone. The show has just turned into two people playing with a Karaoke machine.

b) When Molly is on with Brian, it is like the girl with her best gay boyfriend. Ladies will get so annoying with their gay boyfriends. I don't know why, but it's like their 8th grade personality lets loose because they can't do the same in front of their girlfriends, and perhaps they think it's cool to have a living Ken doll?

c) Just shoot Tong. I have a hard time stomaching feminine dudes needing attention. He is THAT guy that always invited himself to hang isn't he.

These folks don't have bosses, do they? Or that boss should be fired. Keep these folks on track, focused, ...when they use their intellect in humor it's funny, they are indeed funny folks when controlled.. otherwise you are just annoying. Even this stupid Quick Hits, overdonem, punches opening is annoying... brevity folks, shorten the opener to something like two punches and stop laughing at every damn time it plays. (yeah, I'm being over critical now, but it's easy after being annoyed for a few shows).

Dang, the end of this show is near, I'm afraid.

Discussion is locked

- Collapse -
You nailed it...
Nov 8, 2010 12:01AM PST

This is exactly what I hated about the show when Tom would take a day off and it was Molly and BT and the obligatory giggle-fest. It was both annoying and boring to listen to.

Tom did a great job of keeping the show on an even keel, for the most part. If NerveKnob's report above is true -- and I have no reason to doubt it-- it's sad to say that without Tom to pull in the reins, the inmates rule the asylum.

- Collapse -
Its not that bad.
Nov 8, 2010 2:38AM PST

Tong is just young and trying a bit too hard to develop his on-air persona. He'll find his tone soon enough. But I appreciate Molly's and Tong's playfulness way more than the curmudgeonly atmosphere that descends on the show when its just the old boys club. Donald Bell keeps it fresh but his personality is not strong enough to overcome blowhards like Cooley (who reminds me of an over-caffeinated tech version of Bill O'Reilly).

- Collapse -
OR
Nov 8, 2010 3:25AM PST

"The world revolves around me even when I'm supposedly suspended" Keith Olbermann, lol. Actually, I like Cooley because he speaks his mind. I don't have to agree with him all the time, but at least he's not PC . And I'm not a big fan of Bell who always came off (to me when I've heard him, anyway) as pro-Apple and dismissive of anything MS.


Hey, we're back to disagreeing again! The universe has been restored to its natural order Happy Did you see my message in the other thread about a new BD390 firmware update?

- Collapse -
Not about politics.
Nov 8, 2010 5:43AM PST

I?m not talking about his politics (sometimes I agree with his views, sometimes I don?t). I?m talking about how Cooley bulldozes over others in the room like a angry and cynical old man who?s shaking his fist at the world. If I wanted that kind of divisiveness and negativity I could watch any number of cable news channels or tune into talk radio.

I thought I responded on that thread about the BD390 but maybe not. I can?t honestly say. But there has not been firmware update in the last 6 months so I?m not all that convinced of LG?s commitment to product support.

- Collapse -
I love it
Nov 8, 2010 6:34AM PST

A cranky cynical person is quite entertaining and tends to be on the mark a lot of the time too. It's why I love Dvorak. Wink

- Collapse -
EXACTLY like Dvorak actually.
Nov 8, 2010 7:25AM PST

You put one of them in a room with another with a strong but opposite type-A personality and it can be fun. You get a room full of wallflowers or other cranky old men and the life gets sucked out of the party.

- Collapse -
There is an update
Nov 8, 2010 8:57AM PST

It's version 539...apparently only available via the player's network update feature right now

- Collapse -
Comic relief is good
Nov 8, 2010 4:18AM PST

But the show lacks an anchor, I want Rafe+Molly+Tong!

- Collapse -
I think the Wood and Tong BOL is awesome!
Nov 9, 2010 6:18AM PST

I haven't laughed this much--or gotten as much news that's not all cell-phone all the time--since Gadgettes. Way to go, Molly and Brian! May you long reign!

- Collapse -
Sure...
Nov 9, 2010 7:37AM PST

OK Tong...nice try.

- Collapse -
Hate to say it but....
Nov 21, 2010 2:40AM PST

Long time fan of the show, but I have to agree. Brian Tong is too over the top, and the tone of the podcast has changed to be a little bit too silly at times. I liked the segment-oriented Gadgettes, I like the humour mixed in with the tech, but not really big on the gigglefests or the singing. Or the poop jokes. I don't want to be overly critical, because I'm certainly not podcasting myself... but really? Poop jokes?

It feels less like a professional show and more like a conversation I happened to overhear on the bus. Hosts change, move on, etc., but this isn't an improvement for BOL. I miss the days of the straight-man/serious host to balance out the lineup and keep the show moving. Someone like Rafe or Cooley - I looked forward to the shows they co-hosted when Tom or Molly weren't on because they play the straight angle well.

If the line-up isn't going to change, then perhaps the crew can work on polishing up the presentation a bit? I know it hasn't been long since Brian became full-time and there's always an adjustment period but if they could tone down some of the sillier aspects a bit that might make all the difference.

- Collapse -
Agree completely, have stopped listening
Nov 24, 2010 2:53AM PST

I *loved* this show, having followed it through all of its hosting changes from back when it was perfect (Veronica, Tom, Molly) through the rotating hosts to Rafe (who I always liked when he was on once in a while, but just didn't work as a constant host) to the current incarnation with Molly and Tong. Now I used to love Molly, and her rants. And the way she played off Tom and the others. Got very tired of how often she was gone until the new lineup though which certainly wore out her welcome. And I generally like Brian--watch the Apple Byte, and think he did a fine job taking over the Prize Fights. Even liked him when he was on once in a while.

But the current show is almost unlistenable. Like others have said its a stupid gigglefest. I know when you're drunk or its late and you're with friends and its you giggling its funny and all, but I'm just not interested in listening to this day after day.

I recommend trying Tech News Today over at TWiT. Its got Tom and Jason at least, both still professional as hell. Becky isn't great, but she's not awful and maybe she'll grow on me. Its no BOL of old, but its better than this train wreck.

- Collapse -
I agree
Dec 6, 2010 3:32AM PST

I totally agree. After hearing about Brian Tong's future love segment on 12/3/10 I have to say I think the pinnacle of this show had to have been in 2009 sometime, when Tom, Molly and Jason rocked it hard, consistently, every day.

- Collapse -
oh no
Jan 7, 2011 2:47AM PST

tuned out in September, I'm slowly coming back (mid October now). I knew via the notes that Rafe was out, but what you are telling me ... it's terrible.
And the couple of episodes missing Molly and Rafe were unlistenable. Hope she remain for long, but not hoping too much.