Ordinarily I wouldn’t need an item from my close personal friend, New York Post sports media columnist Phil Mushnick, to confirm that WFAN’s Joe Bengno (above) is Not Ready For His Close-Up. Benigno, apparently more accustomed to the sky-high ratings that follow stints on SNY gabbing with other middle-aged men, has fallen out of favor with Gotham’s other sports cable outlet.
Seems Joe “The Bro” Benigno last week was too slick for his and Evan Roberts’ good. His and Roberts’ WFAN show apparently was to be simulcasted on MSG Thursday and Friday, subbing for Craig Carton and Boomer Esiason.
But during Thursday’s show, Benigno complained about having to wear make-up for “the 11 people watching MSG right now.”
According to BobsBlitz.com — later seconded by my source — MSG was displeased to have been the target of such a swipe from a small-potatoes guy to whom it was cutting a break. So Benigno and Roberts on Friday, with or without make-up, did not appear before those 11 viewers. MSG told them to take a hike.