Short of another Suzyn Waldman debate, nothing gets WatchDog readers more worked up than entries about WFAN in general and Don Imus' old morning slot in particular. Here is the latest, at least as far as I know:
1. Dan Patrick, who announced at 2 p.m. Monday that he was leaving ESPN in general and ESPN Radio in particular as of Aug. 17, will NOT be coming to WFAN despite Internet rumors over the weekend, some of them emanating from this very blog.
Patrick put out feelers to WFAN a while back, but there never was serious discussion from either side about morning drive time - or afternoon drive, for that matter, in the increasingly unlikely event WFAN is thinking about moving Mike Francesa and Chris Russo to mornings.
So when Patrick said during his farewell announcement that he would like to do other radio work, he apparently meant somewhere other than WFAN, where by the way Francesa and Russo regularly hammer his ESPN mid-day show in the ratings.
2. Boomer Esiason will not be serving as a summer fill-in, as was reported here a few weeks back. Boomer definitely has interest in the WFAN morning slot, but not as a fill-in. He wants some kind of commitment - i.e. a year - and that only is going to happen if WFAN gives up on the idea of a triumphant return by Imus.
If CBS, which owns WFAN, eventually decides Imus never will return, Esiason will be a very viable candidate for the morning gig. If Imus does return - whether in mid-autumn or perhaps as late as January - the station is going to need some sort of interim solution for the fall.
3. Chris Carlin and Kim Jones have been getting strong reviews both inside and outside the station for their mid-day fill-in gigs the past couple of weeks.
Joe Benigno and Evan Roberts currently occupy that spot, but if the station wants to try something different - i.e. an under-40 duo, one of which is a woman - Carlin and Jones certainly will be a consideration.
4. It seems more unlikely by the month that Francesa and Russo will be a consideration for a move to mornings, so the Imus saga clearly will remain at the center of the station soap opera for the forseeable future.
Comments (60)
Thank goodness Patrick won't be new morning man. He is no Imus and who wants to hear Patrick talk about Iraq. Honestly, how long will CBS keep playing this game with Imus? I don't even think he officially filed the suit yet against CBS. Have to hope that what Mccord and Francessa were alluding to 2 weeks ago proves to be true. BRING HIM BACK ALL READY..
I'v got the perfect candidate for a new WFAN host--the inimitable Bob Page, ex-anchor of MSG Sportsdesk who used to do a Fox Sports Radio show and took over for Howard Cosell on his daily radio commentarties. That would be a homerun. He still lives in New York, from what I understand.
The Imus drama is exhausting - we just want him back in September. If CBS can't make the right decision and bring Imus back, let him go so he can move somewhere else. Our cases of IWS (Imus Withdrawl Syndrome) are making us ill and we need to be put out of our misery.
I have IWS too. Please CBS or somebody bring back Imus in the Morning. This latest rumor about a return in January is unbearable - another 6 months, please no! My mornings are so miserable without Imus, Bernie, Charles, Rob, Larry, Lou and even Chris! It's been so long and nothing is making me happy in the morning. Imus cannot be replaced and will not be forgotten.
The Drudge Report has the Imus update about a January return. The idea of waiting until January makes my stomach hurt.
I also suffer from IWS...January, say it ain't so!
What's the point of watching TV (news, politics, etc) with no one to cut through the bs...
where has all the music gone?
We want Imus back now with Charles, Bernie, Lou, Rob, Larry and of course Chris!
You have to hope that Les Moonves and the other big shots at CBS know how popular Mr. Imus is and will do the right thing. I still don't understand why Charles and Mike were making Imus references 2 weeks ago if he really isn't coming back to the fan... We need answers!
My entire office has IWS - men, women, young, old, left and right! We all watched at home and then we used to stream the show online. Bring Imus back, WFAN/CBS! It's the only decision that makes any sense.
You have to wonder if Moonves won't do it because Imus isn't on the Hillary bandwagon? I think it's all politics behind this because his comments were never cause for his firing. Everyone knows who listened to Imus that the guy isn't a racist. I'll listen to Imus wherever he turns up but why won't CBS just bring him back?
I'm not surprised that Carlin and Jones are getting good reviews. They seem to have good chemistry with one another.
I know I'd much rather hear those two in the mid-day show than Beningo and Roberts, who is too immature and arrogant and only got the job because his mother knew someone from WFAN management.
IMUS ! IMUS ! Where forth art thou IMUS !
isn't it ironic that beningno is doing mornings up here, and rosenberg is doing mornings down in miami, and they both started on the same day. hmmm. by the way stop all the evan bashing evan is cool. he will be a star.
prediction: beningno will join sid down in miami and do mornings there, while evan roberts and kevin burkardt will do the mornings here. WOW I KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT JUST LIKE JOHNNY DRAMA!!!!!!
Francessa and Mccord seemed pretty confident, didn't they Neil? What is the deal with their comments a couple of weeks ago indicating the cowboy was coming back?
I have IWS too, bigtime. PLEASE let us know something about what's going on with the I-man!
WE miss Imus and the gang so much! BRING IMUS BACK!!
I do not want IMUS back, I want a sports guy in the AM, Boomer Esiason would be great
I do not want IMUS back, I want a sports guy in the AM, Boomer Esiason would be great
I suffer from IWS as well. It's time - and we don't need sports on 'FAN in the morning because the I-man did a great job of covering the highlights - even with the insufferable Carlin. Oh and Benigno and that clown Roberts are awful.
Are you all nuts?Where is your thinking?Screw CBS. They are not the only fish in the Imus Pond.
FX for Imus.That would be a good landing.Don't waste my time with these weasels,Imus would say.
I like Chris Carlin & Kim Jones but I think that the Fan is looking for Big Names to fill the Imus slot. I don't think the duo above will have a chance. But you never know.
I like Chris Carlin & Kim Jones but I think that the Fan is looking for Big Names to fill the Imus slot. I don't think the duo above will have a chance. But you never know.
I like Chris Carlin & Kim Jones but I think that the Fan is looking for Big Names to fill the Imus slot. I don't think the duo above will have a chance. But you never know.
Why were Mccord and Francessa hinting if Imus isn't coming back to the fan?
I heard Mccord and Francessa as well talking up I-man. Neil, what were they up to?
If anyone thinks Imus will go back to MSNBC, he won't. Joe Scarbourough has a terrific show there from 6AM-9AM called "Morning Joe" and it is doing very well. You can succeed on TV without being racist, ridiculous and rude and Joe and his team prove it.
Morning Joe a success? What drugs are you on? If you think that Redneck from the Rivera is good, then you must be just completely out of your mind.
Morning Joe = ridiculous and rude. Lord, that show is awful. I wanted to like it out of desperation but all they do is talk over eachother and laugh at themselves which is not good in the morning. It's aimed at the Big Brother crowd - not a sophisticated and educated lot like Imus' faithful. Personally, I hope Imus comes back on satellite so I can listen to the show anywhere. WFAN doesn't deserve him if they can't apologize and rehire him today.
Can someone please report on what Les Moonves is thinking and when the imus issue will be resolved? (clealry cbs is clueless as they booted oldies 101.1 and now are bringing it back, they begged opie and anthony to come back, etc). SOMEONE FIND OUT THE SCOOOP!!!
I don't understand the love for Imus here.. It's a Sports talk station, he is not a Sports guy. Let him find a new home on a non-sports station. Let's get some sports talking in the morning for crying out loud.
I would be shocked if CBS brings him back, the outcry would be massive.
Who would outcry Imus returning? Give me a break - the punishment of firing him never fit the crime. WFAN needs to be successful after all they are a business and Imus brought in listeners - I guess you want WFAN to disappear for good because that is the direction they are heading. The most recent poll showed overwhelming support for an Imus return - his fans are the only ones who should have a say here. We're the ones listening and supporting his advertisers.
ANNIE, then you must LOVED the, "Do you think Fred Thompson's wife works the pole?" quote from old Morning Joe! That's some good WHOLESOME TV that is! As in the words of a famous Imus' show sound effect, SHUT UP!!!!!!!!!!
The punishment never fit the crime - Imus should never have been fired to begin with and reinstating him is the only answer to the mess that is CBS Radio.
WFAN would have to be nuts if they don't realize that Chris and Kim are a much better listen than many of the hosts that have been foisted on us over the years. Plus Kim is a great football reporter (for those who only know her from the YES gig) and would be a great addition to the fall lineup.
What is going on? A rival paper in New York has a quote from a CBS Exec indicating that Patrick hasn't been ruled out. HELP US HERE NEIL!!
IWS???????? Perfect. I'm withered by it. I miss his take on the world. I get it and I miss it. I haven't watched one minute of MSNBC since he left. And WFAN would be LUCKY to get him back. It was a witch hunt from the beginning and Imus fans didn't have a chance to respond. The hypocrisy is clear and we want him back.
Neil-
do whatever you can to get rid of Evan Roberts-he is horrible. I can't take it. GET RID OF EVAN, GET RID OF EVAN, GET RID OF EVAN-PLEEEASE!!!
You people know I will never hire back Don Imus - I can't upset all my liberal friends, not to mention my BFF Sharpiepoo (and Bill & Hill too, of course). CBS will have to pay millions upon millions because of my poor decision but I don't care. If I cared, I wouldn't have fired him in the middle of his radiothon to raise money for children's charities, come on people. Who cares about WFAN?
Don't forget to watch my young wife's educational, thought-provoking show, Big Brother. It's a show to watch with the kids - lots of talk about STDs and sex. You know we have high standards here at CBS and shows like Big Brother are very important to us.
Hey Les Moonbatves - brilliant comments. You might also want to comment on the following blog, FakeImus. He welcomes many other (fake) personalities, and I think you would be a wonderful asset there.
fakeimus.blogspot.com
BRING BACK IMUS
i am going crazy, would someone please bring imus back!
They have got to bring back Imus before my wife and mother-in-law lose their minds! I'm a huge Imus fan, as is my father-in-law, but the women are obsessed! I have to use different razor blades and shave cream so they're not P&G products. No MSNBC in the house and I used to watch Olberbutt..not that I miss him. Bring Imus back and we'll listen daily online.
Imus fans, come on over to supportimus.org and imustruth.com for more fun!
This Chagrin Falls Ohio Grammy is looking forward to the return of Don Imus and his team, hopefully to be enjoyed on TV as well as radio. I have always wondered if the real motive for his being "shut-up" was because his probing into matters like Walter Reed, how our returning troops are not properly cared for and looking into the possible causes of autism made some in positions of power, too uncomfortable.
Looking forward to hearing more from Deedra Imus about her campaign to rid our environment of injurious chemicals.
Hoping everyone will soon be back somewhere. You are missed!
Oh please. His fans are the ones listening, the rest of us tuned him out long ago.
Let that 100 year old geezer find another gig on another radio station that is not sports.
WFAN is sports related, it already skews 1000 years old and needs young blood.
There is no way Imus returns, None.
To Emilie.
Don Imus is not 100 years old. He has made CBS radio 20 to 30 million dollars a year in advertising revenue and affiliate fees. He served an audience of 10 Million people a weeks and we are not 1000 years old. Get a a life or join the movement. If you have nothing good to say then just be quiet.
Bruce from Florida (Imus Fan for almost 40 years)
Did Joe Benigno complete high school? What a limited
ba da bing vocabulary ! Can he say "no doubt about it"
more? He and Evan are a drag. Kim Jones is a star in the making. More of her with or without Carlin is a
good thing.
6AM ? The Iman please.
To Bruce.
I think that your remarks were meant to be addressed to Michael and not to me. You have misread the posting person.
Whatever happened to forgiveness? People at CBS and WFAN need to come to their senses and bring back Don Imus. It is what the audience wants. Rumors of Boomer Esiason taking over the morning drive time will only drive listeners away. He is a good guest but can't fill Don's shoes.
Benigno and Roberts are NOT "primetime talent". I listened one morning and that was enough for me, absolutely mind numbing. Kim Jones was fine but Carlin needs to end the Francessa impersonation and come up with his own personality before he is ready for a drive time slot. Imus was a perfect combination of entertainment and current events, I pray the FAN is willing to take a little heat and bring him back, can't wait!!!
Evan Roberts is a total numbskull... I get better sportstalk at any dive bar than from this sophomoric moron. Listening to Benigno-Roberts, you hear the same points made OVER AND OVER again, do these guys hear themselves? Even when they agree, they both feel like they need to expand on their points, no matter how simplistic and hollow. I used to like Benigno on the overnights and by himself... now i'm sick of both of them. I hope lower ratings get Evan Roberts canned entirely, it's pretty obvious that he's the problem since the Midday Show ratings have dropped since the addition of Roberts...
Veterans for IMUS!
Bring back free speech to radio, bring back accountability to lame politicians (right, left and even our friend Lieberman who can't quite decide but that's ok), bring back civil dialog, bring back a sense of humour! We are boycotting you CBS, wake up!!!! either bring IIIIIIIIIIIIMAN back or let the cowboy roam.
Evan Roberts is the best thing to happen to the FAN in years. He brings youth and passion to the station.
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