The New York Times’ Richard Sandomir provided chilling news this morning for the constituents of New York’s WFAN radio. In the wake of Don Imus’ firing, the station plans to fill the morning drive slot (temporarily) with Mike Francesca and Chris Russo — while still keeping the duo on throughout the afternoon.
Yesterday there was clearly no succession plan in place for Mr. Imus, but for the next two weeks, Mike Francesa and Christopher Russo, who are the co-hosts of the afternoon œMike and Mad Dog show on WFAN, will fill in, working from 6 to 10 a.m., tweaking their two-man act to have a slightly more national flavor. After the midday hosts, Joe Benigno and Evan Roberts, expand their show to 2 p.m., Mr. Francesa and Mr. Russo will return to the air for the afternoon drive shift, from 2 to 6, which will be cut temporarily from their usual 1 to 6:30 p.m. slot.
Mr. Russo also said the program would be heard on all the stations that received œImus in the Morning, except those in Boston and Washington. A Westwood spokeswoman said she could not verify that.
Mike Barnicle, a frequent guest of Mr. Imus and the host of a talk show in Boston, was considered as an interim replacement, œbut it didn™t work out, said Karen Mateo, a spokeswoman for CBS Radio.
Mr. Francesa said the plans for the morning show were confined to a period of two weeks, œso they can get their ducks in a row.
œThe station needs to gain a little equilibrium, and this was the easiest thing for them to do, he added. œWe didn™t want to leave the afternoon open, so this made sense.
Mr. Russo said the station didn™t have a staff personality who could be a permanent replacement in the morning for Mr. Imus. œThe company made a huge decision, he said. œIt™s a Friday. This place needed to be stabilized. They would have split us up, with one of us doing the morning, one doing the afternoon, but then you weaken the afternoon.
I think we all know what happens when we’re blessed with too much of a good thing. Well, that won’t be remotely similar to coping with 8 hours of Francesca and Russo each weekday. I’ve never been a big “Fear Factor” fan, but surely there must be an aspiring daredevil willing to risk their own sanity by submitting to 40 hours of the FranDog Experience?
In protest no IMUS fan should tune in to WFAN during Imus’ old time slot (530am-1000am) in protest. WFAN and CBS radion depended on Imus but cut him and his listeners because of a perceived threat to to the “bottom line.” Now it s time to hit them where it hurts ….in… “THE BOTTOM LINE!”
CBS RADIO AND MSNBC ARE OFF MY LISTENING AND WATCHING MENU!
I haven’t turned on MSNBC since Imus was fired and don’t intend to. Actually, he wasn’t just fired, he was crucified! He has been making fun of all of us for years-tongue in cheek. Get over yourselves. He certainly found out the difference between his friends and users though, didn’t he?
I still have my LP ” One Sacred Chicken To Go”. Thats how long I have been listening to the I-man, If Al & Jesse liked the “Nappy heads” comment, they would have loved his story of the Grambling football team visiting a national park. Truth be told, the I-man has been making us think about are predudices in a comic way for his entire career. He is anything but a bigot.
He is practicing his craft in the same manner as Archie Bunker and Eddie Murphy. I’ll bet Al & Jesse would have rolled over laughing if the “Nappy head” comment was uttered by Moms Mabley or Red Foxx. Screw the both of them.
why does this have to keep coming back to Sharpton and Jackson? There are others who believe Imus TOTALLY SUCKS and has for decades.
and yeah, what could possibly be bigoted about a bunch of zillion year old white dudes yucking it up on the radio about blacks and women…who have merely committed the offense of …get this…being black women. I’d invite the Imus apologists visiting this page to blow me twice, but I’m pretty sure you’d not know what you’re doing. In the meantime, by all means, check out another blog.
Well, GC, so you didn’t like Imus. So what? You didn’t have to listen. And if you don’t die you’ll get to be a zillion years old, too. I am proud to be an “Iman apologist” because his show was great. I should have the choice to listen if I want to. But had you listened you would know that he is no racist and has been mischaracterized.
I sincerely wish I could count myself amongst those who’ve not had the pleasure of hearing Imus In The Moanin’. I was hearing his tired act back when WFAN was called WNBC, so I feel as qualified as anyone else to offer an opinion.
And yeah, you do have the choice to listen if you want to. I’m not denying you that option. I’m not the one who took Imus off the air — you can take that up with CBS, MSNC, WFAN.
An “Iman apologist” (sic), btw, would be someone making excuses for Bowie’s wife.
Why do Sharpton and Jackson keep coming back? They are camera hos and political lackeys. All they do is promote racial divisiveness, which is what the people in power want. It’s time for them to go!
I agree with Dave. If I can’t have Imus, I don’t want to see or hear Mr. Sharpton or Mr. Jackson either. Every sanctimonious statement they utter now makes me sick to my stomach! As for the morons at MSNBC, there is nothing you can put on to get me up at 5:00 am which I did eagerly to watch the Imus in the Morning show. I am anxious to see what happens when the summer ends. I have to believe that justice will prevail and Don Imus will overcome, once again, another obstacle
y’know, if I was a potential advertiser for Imus’ next radio endeavor, a comment thread like this would be terrific motivation to peddle my wares elsewhere. Surely he’s got some fans SOMEWHERE with half a fuckin’ brain?
or maybe not.
thanks, Bobbie, for yet another brilliant observation. At point were you ever forced to watch Al Sharpton or Jesse Jackson?