Joe vs Schmo - Yes or No?
From amicable collaborations with fellow YouTubers to boozy ambrose challenges among themselves, the boys at Bob Does Sports have tried their collective hand at a wide range of different video formats over the years. The latest of those to enter the mix has been the ‘Joe vs Schmo’ hater series, where the fellas hand-pick one of Joey’s many online abusers to come on the show and put their money where their mouth is – or more aptly, where their fingers are. So far, it’s safe to say reviews have been mixed. With each of the five editions of the series receiving close to or over 1 million views the BDS crew probably aren’t complaining, but not all the fans have been quite so positive.
There has been plenty of criticism of the format spread across the many corners of the internet, and often that criticism has been backed vociferously by fellow viewers. It appears that hatred of the hater series is relatively widespread, so why has this new series missed the mark with so many? And is it here to stay?
Why Hate the Hater Series?
The hater series isn’t all bad and has certainly provided some entertaining moments, and there are undoubtedly plenty of people out there who have enjoyed the format. But there are a few reasons why it’s probably divided Bob Does Sports’ typically loyal fanbase.
1. The haters are often just normal guys
It’s easy to see the logic behind the series – find some aggressive keyboard warrior to come on the show and talk a whole bunch of trash. Unfortunately for the sake of that concept, it’s a lot easier to be a jackass online than it is in real life, particularly in front of the bright lights of the BDS camera alongside a group of friends who you don’t know, and millions of viewers. What’s more, messaging Joey to call him an idiot now comes with the potential reward of being invited on the show, so why wouldn’t every Tom, Dick and Harry take a free swing at the guy? It’s not exactly a guarantee that the ‘schmo’ will be all that willing or able to back up their online gutter talk on the course.
2. Is the beef even real?
Even when Joey and his opponent do get into it, it can come off as a little forced – these guys just met after all. Granted Joey doesn’t exactly need an invitation to fly off the handle, but it’s hard to imagine there is all that much animosity between them, particularly when the guest is a little shy in front of the cameras as a couple of have been. It also puts the rest of the crew between a rock and a hard place – if they act like assholes in front of someone who seems like a decent guy, they end up looking like, well, assholes. But if they’re all too friendly, then we’re just watching a video of Joey playing a stranger for no apparent reason.
3. The golf tends to be quite shit
Not that golf quality is the solitary reason for watching Bob Does Sports videos, but seeing FP dial in a few tasty wedges certainly doesn’t hurt. And while Bob and Joey are not exactly world beaters, we’re invested in their golfing journey. Watching some guy who claims to be a 5 handicap but doesn’t seem likely to have ever broken 90 doesn’t quite carry the same appeal.
4. We lose valuable Bob and FP time
The BDS production crew have done a decent job of ensuring that Bob and FP remain relatively prevalent within these videos, but the reality is that a lot of time on the video is dedicated to the hater. Some of the guests have been interesting enough, but the existing crew has become so popular for a reason, and most people would much rather watch them than a newbie.
How Have They Fared on the Video Rankings?
Could be better. Not that we’d have the audacity to claim our video rankings are the be-all and end-all, but if they were then this series would be out the door quicker than Joey’s downswing. There are still a couple more in the bank for us to get through, but the three that we have done have ranked a fair way down the list. One came in as the lowest-ranked video we’ve done to date at 6.8/10, while the others have slotted in around the high 7s. Chemistry, usually a standout of BDS videos, has been noticeably lower, while the Golf Quality metric usually brings it down a bit too.
So Is the Hater Here to Stay?
While it’s not been for everyone, the hater series has still managed to reel in the viewers, with each of the videos pulling an audience of a little over 1 million so far – the exception being the most recent one, which is just under. But there’s no denying the concept is heavily contingent on the hater themselves, and there’s never any guarantee they’ll be entertaining.
One suggestion which has reared its head on multiple occasions has been to have a fan on rather than a hater – make love, not war and all that. Eh. It could work, and would encourage engagement on the videos from fans trying to get a gig, but as mentioned earlier, most people watch Bob Does Sports because they like watching Bob, FP and Joey. Unless a guest brings something in particular to the episode, what’s the interest in watching them slice their way around the course en route to a 95?
The hater series has served a purpose; it’s created content, it’s got people talking, and it’s yielded more than 5 million viewers over 5 videos. And as long as people are still watching, they might as well do a few more schmo shows. But the criticisms sitting at the top of each comment section are hard to ignore. Unlike many other high quality YouTube golf series, the hater series could be destined to head the way of many of Joey’s tee shots – into the abyss.
