The SiriusXM press release specifically said they were hired as writers.

"SiriusXM is thrilled to welcome Eric and Justin Stangel, among the best comedic minds working today," said Scott Greenstein, President and Chief Content Officer, SiriusXM. "Bringing this level of talent to Sirius XM and Opie Radio as writers and creative contributors will provide huge value to our subscribers through the exclusive material they create. We can't wait to hear how they help Opie Radio and other SiriusXM programming continue to grow."

For those who have long since lost their trust for anything posted here:

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/emmy-award-winning-comic-writers-eric-and-justin-stangel-join-siriusxm-300081727.html

SiriusXM today announced that Emmy Award-winning comedic writers Eric and Justin Stangel are joining the Opie Radio channel as creative contributors to the "Opie and Jim Norton" radio show. The Stangels will also contribute to other SiriusXM shows.

You may notice how Opie Radio is the only show mentioned by name in the press release, and they are clearly stated to be writers later on. I haven't heard Opie deny it on the show as OP says, but if he did this will be the most grievous, bald-faced lie he has told this year.

I guarantee that SiriusXM got the Stangel brothers approval of the text of the press release before SiriusXM put it on PRNewswire.

What a shit name "opie radio" is. "The Virus" would have been better.

Hell, "High Voltage" would have been better too.

We can't wait to hear how they help Opie Radio and other SiriusXM programming continue to grow.

I'm assuming mostly in girth.

They won't be writing for the show but they will be whispering 'funny' lines in opies ear

Im confused as fuck about this,

What does a writer for a show do? Do they litteraly write jokes for another person to say?

Will Opie have to aknowlege whetr the joke came from?

Ard they there to make produced bits?

How does Jimmy feel about this???

What position in the shows history would be analogous to what the stangel brothers will be doing?

Listen to Jackie Martling or Stuttering John talk about working on the Howard Stern show. They'd write notes and slip them to Howard or Robin or whoever.

If you watch the video of when Tippy Tom took over Anthony's seat at the old studio, you can see Danny Ross showing Tom what buttons to push and handing him Ant's stuff to use.

Opie tries to push this bullshit that the entire show is organic but that's just so he doesn't have to give any credit to his staff.

The difference here is that Howard could actually deliver the lines that Jackie wrote.

I'm sure everyone remembers the days of Opie interrupting everyone in the room to mushmouth his way through an instant feedback line.

""HOLD ON HOLD ON GUYS Smokezilla from whackback says...""

Howard and Robin weren't comics. I can't imagine Jimmy, a comic, likes the idea of having writers the show

Jimmy is collecting a very large paycheck for pretending to be opies friend.

He doesnt

What position in the shows history would be analogous to what the stangel brothers will be doing?

Instant feedback and Paltalk

Paltalk? What about Friendchat or sumthin...im just chippin ya

Good one Chippah

So "unfunny cunts that throw a stick in the show's spokes"?

Ant was also so funny that you couldn't tell when a good line was given to him

Agreed, and I don't care if it's his line or not he is going to deliver it better than a caller would, or Opie reading it.

Ant has always been quick with lines and always held his own when there was a room full of comics. Many comics they have had on over the years couldn't match him there.

I don't understand why everyone thinks they're going to "write" for the show. They wrote for Letterman because he needed jokes for a monologue.
They're going to produce O&J. Produce means putting together the 1 sheet, (list of topics for the day), setting up bits or ideas, events, ect..

Will they select the deep track that Opie plays to start the show each morning?

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Oh ok, I didn't see that. lol, thanks man.

So...producers?

...writing lines for Norton...

Opie said yesterday, "they've been helping out around here for the last 4 months." Oh boy.

Someone to blame for the show failing.

Tits knows what he's doing.

This explains much.

How funny will it be next year when the Opieradio channel is rebranded Stangel Bros channel? I get the feeling that this is like when the Atlanta Braves brought in John Hart as a "consultant" last year. You knew it was only a matter of time before they pushed out the then general manager Frank Wren and made Hart the general manager, which is precisely what happened. Sirius is transitioning to a new format for the channel to be programmed according to the Stangel's sensibilities. When they get the rest of the channel's programming in line with that and line up Opie's replacement, it will be goodbye to Opie

I only envision jimmy with his head in his hands.

I feel bad for Jim. I'd be pretty embarrassed if I had comedy specials, a show on vice, and was a huge part of the O&A show for years only to be publicly humiliated by the show hiring someone else to be funny, as if Jim wasn't good enough. That's a pretty big slap in the face.

They don't understand how big Jim is in circles that have never even heard of Opie and Anthony.

opie should check out a wonderful service called prepburger

It will be clear if they are passing jokes if opie starts saying something funny.

That would imply Opie can read. Remember when he'd try to read Paltalk or try to read literally any news story? The man is an oaf.

i doubt a lot of it will even be funny...but you'll notice when he starts trying to make more jokes. a lot of us have known opie for years, its not hard to know whats him and whats not.

You mean "passing Stangelberries" tss

Jimmy: *leads into something funny
Opie: ...
Jimmy: *moves on

"HELLO EXACTLY"

I think Opie's pissed because people are saying that they were hired to write jokes specifically for Opie during talking points. But they're hired to write production stuff like the late great Steve C did. Either way, Opie's a moody twat.

He told everybody on staff, that if you create a character, you must put it on production. He did stuff like "The Mad Scientist and Epschtein." and the bad acting bit where he said "That's terrible I'm sorry." My point was that there is going to be a lot of pre-recorded skits that will probably be airing. But unlike Steve C, the Stangel brothers won't get bashed which will make the show totally void of any humor.

Ramooooone

Opie still wears Brute

Nah brothaman, he's more of a Ax body spray kinda duuuude.

Opie should have hired Electric Eel and saved some money.

The addition of the Stangels so far makes no sense. A few production pieces wouldn't hurt the show, but beyond that, their role is a mystery. Maybe they are witty guys and who can do a credible job as 3rd mike when needed.

But it seems like they block upward mobility (and salary) for other staff particularly Erock and Sam. And the Stangels might overshadow Jimmy if their production pieces are good.

Speaking of which, Jimmy went into full Chip mode this morning...strained awkward silliness. It was painful listening. That's his "safe place" retreat when depressed or insecure.

I do not want to hear them on mic.

The only production piece ever worth it to be played more than once was a dru boogie song

What is "full Chip mode". Did Jim take on Chip-like qualities?

Fully into character for an extended time, oblivious to whether it was funny, pertinent, or helpful to the flow of the show.

I still don't get it. Besides some planned bits they've done over the years, the show has always been just people sitting around talking. Good writers or "creative contributors" can't make someone funny or interesting who normally isn't. And if it's true they've been helping out for a few months, I'm very suspicious because Opie and Jim literally haven't done anything besides shoot the shit and talk about current events. And that would be fine if one of the people I just mentioned was able to make conversation about anything. Just like Ant needs a cohost, Jim needs another person to bounce off of because Opie simply doesn't have the chops to carry the whole other half of a discussion.

I think they'll fit right in with Opie's sensibilities with gems like these!

https://twitter.com/Justin_Stangel/status/597209363128799232

@Justin_Stangel

2015-05-10 01:19 UTC

Thanks to Maury, I have to celebrate #MothersDay tomorrow.

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https://twitter.com/OpieRadio/status/598540937925664768

@OpieRadio

2015-05-13 17:30 UTC

I already played this game with someone else. You're late to the party son. https://twitter.com/davenport_caleb/status/598539976213712896

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I never even chuckled once from the David Letterman Show. Maybe some things that the guests said occasionally. But never anything David Letterman said. If that is any indication of their writing ability, this will be an epic fail.

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so is Opie just all of the sudden going to be busting out jokes, and we are supposed to just think he got funny overnight? If the Dangle Brothers are so damn talented, give them their own show and move the fuck on. I just would love to know what Jimmy really thinks about all this, but will never say.

Jimmy needs to be put on suicide watch at this point, I mean, I would have done the same thing as him, go with the money, but it's still got to be so draining being around Opie and all the shells.

He gets paid too much to leave.

does anyone have a link or time stamp where you can listen to opie calling out the haters today?

I dont think theres anything wrong with this as long as the preproduced stuff they do its really good. There used to be a ton of great written bits - Remember Steve C's skit with his "thats terrible, i'm sorry" ?

Wow. Opie still comes here?! Such mental illness...

Check out the Empty Man

People actually believe press releases? Sheep.

yea MAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAN

I love an Opie bashing but only when it is accurate or else we really just are haters, is writers in this context like writing shit to send out to the press? he has never been the funny one or the strong reader, I couldnt imagine him wanting to slide into the role of joke reader.

haha thats pretty rough, has it ever been said/implied enough for us to understand if he sought them out to do this or were they managements (who are very happy period) idea to pep things up in the new studio

He has been poorly reading jokes from the listeners for years. But since there is barely an audience now to help, they had to hire people for him and the show.

He knows how embarrassing it looks. He bashed Stern for doing the same thing. But like Scorch, he will pretend everything is going great.

How do you write a live radio show? Just listen and see what they do before everyone starts with their uninformed opinions. Or just cancel ur can and listen to Anthony talks race relations and guns for 4 hours!! Face!!!

show prep with "talking points"

Stangle bros "Now when the show bring up this topic, make this joke" Opie "All right brotherman"

Hahaha this clown has to be opie

Excessive exclamation points, says shit like "FACE!!!" @ age 50, defends Opie....

Hi, Opie!!!

I guarantee that SiriusXM got the Stangel brothers approval of the text of the press release before SiriusXM put it on PRNewswire.

Paltalk? What about Friendchat or sumthin...im just chippin ya

So "unfunny cunts that throw a stick in the show's spokes"?

Ant was also so funny that you couldn't tell when a good line was given to him

Agreed, and I don't care if it's his line or not he is going to deliver it better than a caller would, or Opie reading it.

Ant has always been quick with lines and always held his own when there was a room full of comics. Many comics they have had on over the years couldn't match him there.