When are you going to address the shameful conduct of that scoundrel Mike Pesca, who loves Jesse and Katie so much more than you that he is a paying BARPOD subscriber but only ground crew for TFC?
No wonder Matt "Exclusivo" Welch has fallen below the poverty line.
Do you work for the government? 100$ vs 300$. Duuuurrrr. Super cool math skills btw. See Chapter 1 of my new book "How to save Money," 'Don't spend money you don't have.' Chapter 2, 'See chapter 1.' New York Times best seller. 👌
Looking at it another way, $10/month is twice the subscription fee of of many Substackers producing much more content (even counting Second Sundays) including investigative journalism. Removing Second Sundays after promoting them as a general subscriber benefit on almost every free episode (whatever the original intent of second Sundays) is a bit of a dick move. Continuing to be coy about whether the intention is to keep them an NFC only benefit, on they other hand, is a total dick move.
I see your point, although this statement is on their Substack page: “Paying subscribers also get access to the comments section, as well as prioritization for merch, in-person shows, and (for Founding Members) a monthly live listen-in on a recording.” Founding Members is an upper tier subscription option across many other Substack pages, so I don’t think that’s TFC being coy, per se.
Look, you get to choose like everyone else what you’re willing to pay for. I think they put out lots of content, particularly when considering they also have full time jobs (2/3 of them, at least). It’s likely a tricky balance between charging too much (limiting subscribers) and too little. The TFC community is a relatively rare gem in these times, and if it’s overly accessible (too inexpensive) it’ll get inundated with riff-raff nonsense (ergo the free, non-subscriber chat). I think it’s worth it, but I respect that it may not be for others.
If we're talking about value for subscription dollars, I can't for the life of me figure out how whether or not they have full time jobs outside of TFC plays in. That may be a defense for the often sporadic, delayed, or sparse content releases, but it doesn't change the value of $10.
It seems the lads are taking a page from the streaming company playbooks: not raising prices, but offering less than you used to get for the same price in hopes people will upgrade. When the next upgrade is (significantly) more expensive than almost any media company on the planet (Netflix, NYT, literally any other Substack) that's a tough pill to swallow.
I could be wrong, but I thought you need to be a paying subscriber to post comments at all, even on the free non-subscriber episodes. I personally have no problem with the second Sunday Zooms being only for the higher tier as long as the episode is released later for those of us in the lower tier. But I do agree that it is lame to be ambiguous about it, and hope the fellas provide some clarity on the situation moving forward.
After further reflection, instead of complaining about not getting NFC perks for free, I’d just like to request that the best person at “hitting record” be on duty so us coach flyers can join in on the fun once our betters have had their fun. 😀
I haven’t been able to do a 2nd Sunday Call in several months. Wish i could give away my unused NFC attendance. Outside chance I can so the 8pm, but I’m on a 12 hour time difference and will be sleeping at 5pm eastern.
That comedy cellar podcast you linked is interesting. At first I was like “how dare they!” But after listening to their side of the story I kind of felt bad for them. They really painted themselves into a corner. They’re in Capital Hill for crying out loud, so I get their point of playing to their local audience. It’s going to be the wokest, most leftist worldview known to they/them. At this point they’re damned if they do, damned if they don’t. Also, kind of beside the point but that booker is a babe
I have no doubt that probably people would have stopped going to the club if they'd kept those bookings. BUT, it was fucking idiotic for them to say they value diverse perspectives when they very clearly do not. They just don't. And it was also idiotic to say that they canceled after speaking to their investors. Because that woman was wrong, it was NOT a given that this went against their values, as that's not what they said. It would have made a lot more sense if they'd just said, "after reviewing your comedy set, we feel you would not be a good fit for our club, as your material violates our code of nduct." That is true, and a totally valid stance. Not, "We value diverse perspectives."
Very true and it’s a common misstep for the progressive left, to value “diversity” in the most superficial sense, without any tolerance for diversity of thought. The host did a good job calling it out. I think he actually backed off of them as the podcast went because like me he kind of felt bad for them.
Yeah, the whole thing about rape threats and threats to her kids definitely changed the tone, and i think the fact that they, well, she, really, was like, "we don't know what we're doing. " I DO think that if the attacks were coming from more progressive people, they would have said she was weaponizing her whiteness, or white woman tears or something.
I also thought it was a bit disingenuous when the guy was talking about how, if comedy is for everyone, why are there people who are scared to go to a comedy club? And ok, totally valid to go to a comedy club where people feel like they're safe. However, plenty of people from those same demographics, or all kinds of demographic, go to comedy clubs and enjoy being mocked. i mean, have they never seen a Russel Peters' set?
Kind of a bummer about the 2nd Sunday, but you gotta do what you gotta do I suppose. We should have seen it coming when Kmele’s (weirdly) low volume zoom license started filling up regularly.
Go to the Substack web page, not the app. Go to the page for TFC. Address is below. At the top right click the drop down menu. Manage Subscriptions should be there close to bottom.
I enjoy TFC. I am happy to pay my $10 and happy to listen to the regular and member shows, make dumb remarks in the comment section , and don't need anything else. I would like to say I am as Zen about the rest of my life as this, but it is totally not true. But in this one area, yes, I am content with the status quo of this reality. Thank you gentlemen.
Going to be watching from a hospital in San Antonio, TX today. We found out my dad has, what was supposed to be, a treatable Stage 1B pancreatic cancer. However, about 26 days ago, he fell and broke his femur and it has been a rollercoaster ever since. And as of last night he has gone into a non-responsive, fugue-like state. The doctors are at a loss as to what is causing this sudden decline. Now we are preparing for the worst. He's only 63, but a life of bad diet, no exercise, and 2 packs a day seems to be taking its toll. Hoping you three idiots can bring some semblance of cheer in this uncomfortable time.
I appreciate the response. A sad update. Things spiraled quickly. He went into cardiac arrest last night. They performed CPR and used the paddles and were able to bring back a pulse, but it was weak and my father did not want to be put on a ventilator or artificially kept alive. So, when his heart failed the second time, he was made comfortable and it happened with his family around him telling him we love him.
5 pm ET seems likeliest, BTW.
Did you remember to set your clocks forward?
5 or 8? What, are you coming to fix the cable?
That's funny!
Material like that could land me a prime spot on Evening At The Improv in 1987
5 has the inside track, BTW.
The day I can afford NFC I'll be there
Gonna be 8. Woulda been 5, but my car stalled out on the Manhattan Bridge.
I blame Hamas for terrorizing your car.
Me too.
When are you going to address the shameful conduct of that scoundrel Mike Pesca, who loves Jesse and Katie so much more than you that he is a paying BARPOD subscriber but only ground crew for TFC?
No wonder Matt "Exclusivo" Welch has fallen below the poverty line.
And he got Guested a sub! SMDH.
I did some crude math that may not be completely accurate, but here goes:
When shopping for subscriber plans, best to consider bang for buck, right? So, between February 9-March 9, there was this many content:
4 Free Shows
5 Members Only
1 Live Zoom
5 Firehoses (3 guys…not bad😏)
If you’re on the $100/year plan, you pay $8.30/month. That’s for 10 extra pieces of content (MO and Firehoses), which comes to $0.83/piece per month.
Now, if you go NFC at $300/yr, you pay $25/mo. With the 10 extra contents, that’s $2.50/piece. The difference between Tier 1 and NFC is $1.67/mo.
So NFC’ers essentially pay $1.67 more per month for the same content, but we get access to a live Zoom recording.
I think the question is not why would you choose to Never Fly Coach, but why wouldn’t you choose to never Fly Coach? ✌️
Do you work for the government? 100$ vs 300$. Duuuurrrr. Super cool math skills btw. See Chapter 1 of my new book "How to save Money," 'Don't spend money you don't have.' Chapter 2, 'See chapter 1.' New York Times best seller. 👌
I’m a public HS teacher, so kinda? 😂
Looking at it another way, $10/month is twice the subscription fee of of many Substackers producing much more content (even counting Second Sundays) including investigative journalism. Removing Second Sundays after promoting them as a general subscriber benefit on almost every free episode (whatever the original intent of second Sundays) is a bit of a dick move. Continuing to be coy about whether the intention is to keep them an NFC only benefit, on they other hand, is a total dick move.
I see your point, although this statement is on their Substack page: “Paying subscribers also get access to the comments section, as well as prioritization for merch, in-person shows, and (for Founding Members) a monthly live listen-in on a recording.” Founding Members is an upper tier subscription option across many other Substack pages, so I don’t think that’s TFC being coy, per se.
Look, you get to choose like everyone else what you’re willing to pay for. I think they put out lots of content, particularly when considering they also have full time jobs (2/3 of them, at least). It’s likely a tricky balance between charging too much (limiting subscribers) and too little. The TFC community is a relatively rare gem in these times, and if it’s overly accessible (too inexpensive) it’ll get inundated with riff-raff nonsense (ergo the free, non-subscriber chat). I think it’s worth it, but I respect that it may not be for others.
If we're talking about value for subscription dollars, I can't for the life of me figure out how whether or not they have full time jobs outside of TFC plays in. That may be a defense for the often sporadic, delayed, or sparse content releases, but it doesn't change the value of $10.
It seems the lads are taking a page from the streaming company playbooks: not raising prices, but offering less than you used to get for the same price in hopes people will upgrade. When the next upgrade is (significantly) more expensive than almost any media company on the planet (Netflix, NYT, literally any other Substack) that's a tough pill to swallow.
I could be wrong, but I thought you need to be a paying subscriber to post comments at all, even on the free non-subscriber episodes. I personally have no problem with the second Sunday Zooms being only for the higher tier as long as the episode is released later for those of us in the lower tier. But I do agree that it is lame to be ambiguous about it, and hope the fellas provide some clarity on the situation moving forward.
I hope you get to rest this weekend. That all sounds exhausting.
After further reflection, instead of complaining about not getting NFC perks for free, I’d just like to request that the best person at “hitting record” be on duty so us coach flyers can join in on the fun once our betters have had their fun. 😀
This comment will prove ... prophetic? Ironic?
Oh no
This is not how I envisioned confirming I had superpowers…
It’s gone forever, isn’t it?
Nope. But it was severely delayed by an act of technical negligence.
I haven’t been able to do a 2nd Sunday Call in several months. Wish i could give away my unused NFC attendance. Outside chance I can so the 8pm, but I’m on a 12 hour time difference and will be sleeping at 5pm eastern.
That comedy cellar podcast you linked is interesting. At first I was like “how dare they!” But after listening to their side of the story I kind of felt bad for them. They really painted themselves into a corner. They’re in Capital Hill for crying out loud, so I get their point of playing to their local audience. It’s going to be the wokest, most leftist worldview known to they/them. At this point they’re damned if they do, damned if they don’t. Also, kind of beside the point but that booker is a babe
I have no doubt that probably people would have stopped going to the club if they'd kept those bookings. BUT, it was fucking idiotic for them to say they value diverse perspectives when they very clearly do not. They just don't. And it was also idiotic to say that they canceled after speaking to their investors. Because that woman was wrong, it was NOT a given that this went against their values, as that's not what they said. It would have made a lot more sense if they'd just said, "after reviewing your comedy set, we feel you would not be a good fit for our club, as your material violates our code of nduct." That is true, and a totally valid stance. Not, "We value diverse perspectives."
Very true and it’s a common misstep for the progressive left, to value “diversity” in the most superficial sense, without any tolerance for diversity of thought. The host did a good job calling it out. I think he actually backed off of them as the podcast went because like me he kind of felt bad for them.
Yeah, the whole thing about rape threats and threats to her kids definitely changed the tone, and i think the fact that they, well, she, really, was like, "we don't know what we're doing. " I DO think that if the attacks were coming from more progressive people, they would have said she was weaponizing her whiteness, or white woman tears or something.
I also thought it was a bit disingenuous when the guy was talking about how, if comedy is for everyone, why are there people who are scared to go to a comedy club? And ok, totally valid to go to a comedy club where people feel like they're safe. However, plenty of people from those same demographics, or all kinds of demographic, go to comedy clubs and enjoy being mocked. i mean, have they never seen a Russel Peters' set?
Kind of a bummer about the 2nd Sunday, but you gotta do what you gotta do I suppose. We should have seen it coming when Kmele’s (weirdly) low volume zoom license started filling up regularly.
How does one upgrade their subscription to NFC? I don’t see that as an option anywhere. Thanks all!
Go to the Substack web page, not the app. Go to the page for TFC. Address is below. At the top right click the drop down menu. Manage Subscriptions should be there close to bottom.
https://wethefifth.substack.com
Thanks!!
I enjoy TFC. I am happy to pay my $10 and happy to listen to the regular and member shows, make dumb remarks in the comment section , and don't need anything else. I would like to say I am as Zen about the rest of my life as this, but it is totally not true. But in this one area, yes, I am content with the status quo of this reality. Thank you gentlemen.
Several months ago, Moynihan talked at length about jury duty. What episode was that? I need to know for…reasons
Maybe this one?
https://wethefifth.substack.com/p/415-the-pod-of-laughter-and-forgetting
Second Sundays give me anxiety anyway, so not being able to afford NFC in this instance is a blessing. Thank you.
Is there a a secondary market we can seek bids for our NFC 2nd Sunday links?
Asking for someone who is enjoying only their 3rd day of powwow this ski season.
Hey Fifthdom,
Going to be watching from a hospital in San Antonio, TX today. We found out my dad has, what was supposed to be, a treatable Stage 1B pancreatic cancer. However, about 26 days ago, he fell and broke his femur and it has been a rollercoaster ever since. And as of last night he has gone into a non-responsive, fugue-like state. The doctors are at a loss as to what is causing this sudden decline. Now we are preparing for the worst. He's only 63, but a life of bad diet, no exercise, and 2 packs a day seems to be taking its toll. Hoping you three idiots can bring some semblance of cheer in this uncomfortable time.
Sorry, man.
Hey Matt,
I appreciate the response. A sad update. Things spiraled quickly. He went into cardiac arrest last night. They performed CPR and used the paddles and were able to bring back a pulse, but it was weak and my father did not want to be put on a ventilator or artificially kept alive. So, when his heart failed the second time, he was made comfortable and it happened with his family around him telling him we love him.
Oh my God, Matt, peace and love to your whole family.
Holy shit. From a random internet stranger, I am so, so sorry.
I'm so terribly sorry, Matt. I wish you and your family comfort as you grieve.
Thank you!
My prayers are with you and your dad bro. That's tough. Hope the lads can cheer you up
Thank you.