Hearing old Jackie stuff, it does remind me of how great he was on the show. I don't know if I'd say that he is better than Artie or vice versa, but they both definitely bring different things to the show. The Joke Hunt is really a horrible show, but there is something about Jackie that makes it fun to listen.
The specials made me realize just how much the show has changed for the better over the years. I probably wouldn't be listening if they were still doing lame bits while clapping and yucking it up like a morning zoo.
I've said it before, but having Jackie in the studio not only made Howard funnier, but it also added a spice to the mix, a flavoring that is missing. I am in the minority on this board when it comes to the Jokeman(I loved him), but I loved hearing his laugh, not just at his own jokes, but when something funny was going on in the studio.
One of the greatest moments of Beetlejuice's first appearance was in hearing Jackie busting a gut before Beet ever said a word on the show. Jackie honed in on the Beet from his arrival.
Jokehunt is a bit of a waste, but it's like most of the other programming on H101, it's only an hour and it feels like it's over before it has a chance to get a good head of steam.
About the only element that has changed for the better(clapping excluded)is that the crew are able to speak without being bleeped. I like that part of the show, but it really has more to do with where they're doing the show now as opposed to a more natural and organic change within the structure of the show.
I would have loved to hear what the Jackie, Billy, John and younger Howard would have done with the "no restrictions" of satellite and keep the richardandsal's of the world to occasional phone callers to the show.