Russo is on MLB fully defending Mike and throwing WFAN under the bus right now. Saying they utterly failed to find a replacement for him and Mike pulls ratings better than anyone.
Mike'd Up: The Mike Francesa Show
- Thread starter cheekydave
- Start date
I don’t believe Mad Dog has program director duties on his channel anymore. I’m sure he has some pull; but, if IIRC, he told Stern he gave that up after his first Sirius contract expired.
This is pretty sad. I suspect Francesa thought there'd be a long line of suitors eager to employ him after his WFAN retirement. I don't think that materialized, and now the guy can't deal with not viewing himself as a big deal. So back to the FAN he goes.
When I moved to the NYC area in the late 90s Mike & The Mad Dog were must listens. But his solo show stunk and I imagine the new incarnation will be even worse.
When I moved to the NYC area in the late 90s Mike & The Mad Dog were must listens. But his solo show stunk and I imagine the new incarnation will be even worse.
If you're WFAN, the only correct way to bring MF back is to pair him with someone who can eventually grow their own brand and learn from Francesa. They now know that they were going to fail without him but they should be able to tell him that they need a co-host.
He was great with Kim Jones several years ago. A great way to get him going with a slightly new twist.
Mike is great with Simmons. It would be cool if the FAN could get someone that he has chemistry like that with.
Glad he'll be back for football season (both college and pro). With regard to everything else, he was pretty hard to listen to at the end, but the new team is even worse.
IMO Simmons is a little too deferential to Francesa, but agree they do work well off one another.
At this point, I'd be surprised if Francesa has a full time co-host to work with and break-in. the shorter hours (3 1/2 +/-) versus the prior 5+ may be a better work load for him to get back into the game.
And I read somewhere the Sunday football show, which I thought was pretty good, is planned to return as a syndicated/national show.
For a couple of years it was syndicated. CBS stopped it at the end of 2016. I generally preferred his show to the pregame television programs. Listening is more passive and no intentional comedy or puff pieces.
I really doubt Joe and Evan get booted in favor of keeping this current disaster that replaced Mike.
CMB should update their resumes as it sounds like their show is about to get squeezed into about 2 hrs.
I could see Joe B retiring in a couple of years. It sounds like his recent surgery has taken some of his enthusiasm, and he's approaching the traditional retirement age. I'd be surprrised if Evan went anywhere.
How bad were CMB's ratings? How did Evan and Joe do in the extra hour compared to one of the worst ideas ever from 2-7?
Does Mark Chernoff get any blame for wiffing on an 18-month long executive decision?
Does Mark Chernoff get any blame for wiffing on an 18-month long executive decision?
Looking forward to Mushnick's column.
This one makes the review for a Spinal Tap album look good:
https://www.nj.com/sports/index.ssf/2018/04/mike_francesa_is_a_jerk_and_wfan_is_a_spineless_me.html
(Reports are that no one at FAN, including Chernoff, wanted him back. The agreement was made between Mike and the suits at the very top.
And as someone pointed out: who hooks up with CAA, then goes back to their old job at a lower salary?)
This one makes the review for a Spinal Tap album look good:
https://www.nj.com/sports/index.ssf/2018/04/mike_francesa_is_a_jerk_and_wfan_is_a_spineless_me.html
(Reports are that no one at FAN, including Chernoff, wanted him back. The agreement was made between Mike and the suits at the very top.
And as someone pointed out: who hooks up with CAA, then goes back to their old job at a lower salary?)
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Raissman absolutely ripped him and WFAN management: http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/mike-francesa-return-pathetic-short-sighted-move-wfan-article-1.3952024
I don't know if I blame the Sports Pope for this. He gets what, a minor pay cut for one less hour a day? He looks like a jerk, but he's always looked like a jerk.
But WFAN panicking and offering him his job back is ridiculous. CMB was always going to suck, but you either accept that and take the savings on salaries or you spend the money to get some more talent.
But WFAN panicking and offering him his job back is ridiculous. CMB was always going to suck, but you either accept that and take the savings on salaries or you spend the money to get some more talent.
No no, you can blame him for sure. He went back for spite and revenge. He could have done other things, he chose to be a troll instead.
As predicted, Musnick is displeased:
https://nypost.com/2018/04/26/wfan-forced-to-own-up-to-its-pathetic-mike-francesa-fraud/
https://nypost.com/2018/04/26/wfan-forced-to-own-up-to-its-pathetic-mike-francesa-fraud/
Mike has created a "Mike's On" app that will broadcast his radio show, his football Sunday show, and various live events.
The app will have provide video content. Will be released this summer. Looking forward to the return of YouTube clips of his crank callers.
Russo said there were talks with Francesa to join his channel...I don't see any chance that Francesa would ever agree to be part of "Mad Dog Radio"...ego won't allow it
According to reports, CMB finished closely behind Michael Kay in the latest book. That’s impressive for how little time they’ve been together.
If Chernoff et al were not eager for this move, it’s understandable. They had a succession plan in place, it just wasn’t given enough time to succeed.
CMB were set up to fail, but you can give them 20 years and they would always finish behind Kay. His show is better than theirs and it’s not close. There is nothing about them that makes for compelling afternoon drive radio. It sounds and has the energy of a mid-day show.
As stated above. Kim Jones with him would be a killer, but I dont think she wants it. Must listen tuesday his producers will try to screen out all the calls taking him to task, but I bet some sneak thru. a tiny tiny part of me thinks Mike finally eats some humble pie.
I gave CMB a chance and found them about unlistenable. There was no chemistry, and no apparent expertise or depth of knowledge beyond what Bart Scott knows about football. There was no hook. I found them boring.
Francesa is a blowhard but generally well informed and entertaining most of the time, even if he will never admit he was wrong or mistaken. It sounds like he's got no allies at WFAN after having stabbed his way and gone behind the back of 'FAN execs to get his chair and time back. Boomer became alpha male in Francesa's absence so there may be some interesting station dynamics as the two 800 gorillas sort it out. And will Mike get back his office that Boomer snagged?
Its a fucking soap opera with testosterone.
I expect with the MFY having a pretty good team, (Mets too) and two new potential stars joining the Giants/Jets along with the NBA play-offs (he doesn;t really care about hockey) that will give him sufficient ammo to get back into the swing quickly and try to deflect the shots he will take.
Should be must listen on Tuesday
Francesa is a blowhard but generally well informed and entertaining most of the time, even if he will never admit he was wrong or mistaken. It sounds like he's got no allies at WFAN after having stabbed his way and gone behind the back of 'FAN execs to get his chair and time back. Boomer became alpha male in Francesa's absence so there may be some interesting station dynamics as the two 800 gorillas sort it out. And will Mike get back his office that Boomer snagged?
Its a fucking soap opera with testosterone.
I expect with the MFY having a pretty good team, (Mets too) and two new potential stars joining the Giants/Jets along with the NBA play-offs (he doesn;t really care about hockey) that will give him sufficient ammo to get back into the swing quickly and try to deflect the shots he will take.
Should be must listen on Tuesday
I'm already envisioning an NYC montage al a all the troops in all their different jobs listening to Adrian Cronauer: hot dog vendor, door man, guys walking down Wall Street, fire fighters, priest, every male in NYC, all listening intently to Mike's return.
I can’t see Francesa doing anything besides spinning this as him riding in to save the day for the struggling FAN. He’s coming back on May Day. Part of me thinks that it can’t be a coincidence. I know I will be listening tomorrow since it promises to be interesting.
Boomer says no way no how he's giving his office back to Mike. FAN gave Mike an office down by the sales dept., which Boomer says is a really loud area. (I think it was Gio who referred to it as the Bangladesh Call Center)
I’ve heard that Francesa is planning on doing a number of his shows from the studio he has at his home. I’d guess if a guest isn’t showing up in the FAN studios, neither is Mike. That is probably better for all concerned.
"So A-rawwwd, let's stawt by having you tell me why you lied to me the last time I had you ahhhhn ..."
Quick intro about the return, said he'd deal with questions (except for those that are none of your business) and right to the MFYs.
"That young player for the Braves who isn't up yet."
"I think he's up today"
Called A-Rod Eli.
"I think he's up today"
Called A-Rod Eli.
What's the verdict?
I like the interviews, and have missed them. It's actual sports talk/conversation. As others have mentioned, Kim Jones needs a role on this endeavor.
Can his replacements turn 2 hours into less suck with 3 useless voices? Chris Carlin anchoring afternoon drive in market #1... good idea!
I like the interviews, and have missed them. It's actual sports talk/conversation. As others have mentioned, Kim Jones needs a role on this endeavor.
Can his replacements turn 2 hours into less suck with 3 useless voices? Chris Carlin anchoring afternoon drive in market #1... good idea!
I KNEW IT!!! I figured all along that he thought the app would be a cash cow.
Don't ask me HOW he figured it'd pay for the twins' college, I'm guessing his extremely limited internet skills and someone selling him a bill of goods has him convinced he has a license to print money with the app.
(My absolute favorite recurring bit on his show was when he'd walk Joe NewYorker thru something on the internet.)
"He" is being helped by a couple of other media power players that are banking on the new cash cow.
A guy called in and asked about Mike’s baseball over/unders. He could think of 5, but couldn't remember the last over. So he really starts thinking. To the point he says nothing for 8 seconds. Total silence. Not long, but in radio that's an eternity for dead air.
He’s still got it!
He’s still got it!
What exactly is Mike competing with? He replaced deadwood that can burn forever thanks to Carlins blubber.
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I've got no idea what the Francesa app will do, (how about a way to deliver gambling picks in advance of national sports betting?) but it sounds like he wants to monetize his name by letting other people attach some tech to it, He wants to golf.
This can only end well with an IPO and then his getting busted on insider trading/market manipulation.
This can only end well with an IPO and then his getting busted on insider trading/market manipulation.
He's putting his football Sunday show on the app among other ventures he hasn't announced yet. He also said he wants to get other people involved with content.
