Green Bay Packers Talk Shows, a Fanbase and Media Obsession

Cheesehead TV gives a multi-media tour of locally-produced Green Bay Packers talk shows and talks to the personalities behind them.

On the set of Inside the Huddle with host Drew Smith and Packers wide receiver Randall Cobb. Photo by Brian Carriveau—CheeseheadTV.com.

On the set of Inside the Huddle with host Drew Smith and Packers wide receiver Randall Cobb. Photo by Brian Carriveau—CheeseheadTV.com.

GREEN BAY—If there was further proof needed about the obsession of the Green Bay Packers fanbase, consider this: There's enough demand and consumption to support 15 locally-produced team-related weekly talk shows that feature player appearances on at least a semi-regular basis during the season.

That's not counting the numerous one-off and weekly segment appearances Packers players make on local and national media every week, including here on Cheesehead TV.

And it's also not counting The Better Half, a weekly television show featuring and hosted by Packers players' wives. Yes, even Packers wives have their own television show.

Think there's another NFL market that comes close to this level of infatuation?

"I guarantee there's not a chance," said Packers wide receiver Randall Cobb, co-host of Inside the Huddle, one of the many talk shows.

The shows come in different formats. Some are on television, some radio, one fully on the Internet, and most figuring out ways to stream their material online.

A majority air in front of live audiences, others are pre-recorded from a studio.

Some have players given the title of co-host, perhaps generously. Others are guests.

But what they all have in common is they fill that insatiable need for Packers content.

On Monday Cheesehead TV visited four Packers-releated talk shows in one evening to get a behind-the-scenes look at this Packers fandom phenomenon. What follows is a multi-media tour of our travels.

Fans form a queue to attend a taping of the Mike McCarthy Show, the long-running show hosted by the Packers head coach.

Greg and Valerie Haugens of Toluca, Ill., gold package season-ticket holders and home owners in the Green Bay area, attend the Mike McCarthy Show and are regular audience members.

A modest crowd between 100 and 200 people gathered inside the stadium's fourth floor Legends Club room. They'd be dwarfed by the group that would show up later in the evening for the airing of Packers Live with quarterback Aaron Rodgers as guest.

Rookie tight end Richard Rodgers was the coach's guest, appropriately the day after he scored his first career touchdown.

Rodgers and co-host Larry McCarren review film of the tight end's touchdown as McCarren's trademark dislocated pinkie finger juts out.

McCarren, McCarthy and co-host Lance Allan share a laugh.

McCarthy stifles a smile a day after his team took over sole possession of first place in the NFC North division.

McCarthy answers questions from Allan.

Production facilities are right outside the Legends Club. The show is recorded on Mondays but doesn't air on television until Tuesday at the earliest in certain markets.

A quick jaunt from Lambeau Field, Burkel's One Block Over—a sports bar in the Lambeau Field district—is the site of Inside the Huddle, which airs live on Fox 11 in Green Bay, the show's flagship station.

Before the show, Cobb records an interview in the green room with a local television affiliate.

Part of the show for a third consecutive season, Cobb shares co-hosting duties with fellow wide receiver Jordy Nelson, taking turns on an every other week basis.

Co-host Drew Smith and Cobb make reference to Grape Crush, a reference to Rodgers, who appeared at his press conference after the Vikings game with the soft drink, which many assumed was symbolic of the Packers' defeat of their purple-clad opponent the previous day.

Smith explains the show's history and its relationship with Lammi Sports Management, producers of Inside the Huddle and other sports talk shows.

Fans pack Tanner's Bar and Grill in Kimberly, Wis. at 6:00 p.m. for the In the Huddle radio show, not to be confused with the similarly named Inside the Huddle.

Offensive lineman T.J. Lang talks between bites of his dinner.

Watch the episode.

Co-host Justin Hull of Woodward Radio Group listens to Lang.

Fresh off a 100-yard rushing performance, Lacy helps to fill the house.

Like Cobb and Nelson on Inside the Huddle, Lang splits co-hosting duties with fellow offensive lineman David Bakhtiari on an every other week basis.

Lang signs autographs that will be given away to fans in attendance.

Fans snap photos of their football heroes while the show is in progress.

Fullback John Kuhn co-hosts Clubhouse Live, one of three shows he appears on at least a semi-regular basis.

Watch the show in its entirety.

Co-host Ricardo Arguello takes a question from a member of the audience at the Clubhouse Bar and Grill inside the Radisson Hotel in Appleton, Wis.

Co-host Brett Christopherson is grateful for Kuhn's media-savvy personality.

Cornerback Casey Hayward, the team's leader in interceptions, is Kuhn's guest on the show.

Executive producer Joel Christopher aims a camera on the audience. Clubhouse Live is produced by the Appleton Post-Crescent, part of the Gannett Media Group.

 

All 15 Packers-related talk shows featuring players:

Sundays

Sunday Sports Night Cover 2 on WBAY-TV in Green Bay, website (rotating guests)

Mondays

The 5th Quarter on WTAQ radio in Green Bay, website (rotating guests)

Inside the Huddle television show on flagship Fox 11 in Green Bay, website (Randall Cobb, Jordy Nelson)

In the Huddle radio show on Woodward Radio Group, website (T.J. Lang, David Bakhtiari)

The End Zone on ESPNWisconsin Media Group with former Packer Antonio Freeman, website (rotating guests)

Clubhouse Live by the Appleton-Post Crescent, website (John Kuhn)

Packers Live with Larry McCarren on Packers TV Network, website (rotating guests)

Game Plan on WTCX radio in Fond du Lac, website (Josh Sitton, Micah Hyde, DuJuan Harris)

Tuesdays

The Tauscher and Kuhn Show on 620 AM WTMJ in Milwaukee, website (John Kuhn and former Packers offensive lineman Mark Tauscher)

Tuesdays with Aaron on the ESPNWisconsin Media Group, website (Aaron Rodgers)

Locker Room on flagship WFRV-TV in Green Bay, website (rotating guests)

Mike McCarthy Show on Packers TV Network, website (rotating guests)

Wednesdays

Green Bay Nation on flaship WFRV-TV in Green Bay, website (John Kuhn, Josh Sitton)

The Datone Jones and Brandon Bostick Show on WDUZ radio in Green Bay, website

Thursdays

1 on 1 with the Boys on WIXX radio in Green Bay, website (Micah Hyde)

 

All photography by Brian Carriveau of CheeseheadTV.com.

Brian Carriveau is the author of the book "It's Just a Game: Big League Drama in Small Town America," and editor at Cheesehead TV and its "Pro Football Draft Preview." To contact Brian, email [email protected].

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Comments (1)

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jclombardi's picture

November 25, 2014 at 05:41 pm

Fascinating and well done for fans! Good job!

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