Christopher “Mad Dog” Russo is a sports radio and WFAN legend. Russo, Mike Francesa and the late Don Imus helped build WFAN into some of terrestrial radio’s most prime real estate. But after a caller asked Dog about the current state of The FAN, the iconic radio host quickly noted how different it is.
“It’s a much different place than it used to be, much different.” Russo said during his Wednesday show on SiriusXM, noting the departures of Craig Carton and Don Imus before him. Russo also referred to current morning co-host Boomer Esiason as being “new to it,” even though the former MVP quarterback has been with WFAN for almost 13 years. In fact, most of WFAN’s weekday hosts are not “new to it.”
It’s true, WFAN is very different than they were when Russo left a dozen years ago. Ownership is different, the studio location is different, the lineup is different. Still, it should also be noted that outside of Maggie Gray, everyone in WFAN’s current weekday lineup worked as a full-time employee while Russo was there. That stat depicts a lot of continuity for a radio station over the course of 12 years.
Boomer Esiason was co-hosting mornings, Gregg Giannotti was behind the glass in the midday, Marc Malusis just started transitioning from producing Mike and Chris into an on-air role and Joe and Evan were in the 10am – 1pm timeslot. And beyond their weekday lineup, WFAN still boasts station icons Mike Francesa and Steve Somers in the evening.
The caller also noted 66-year old Joe Benigno’s tendency of telling the audience that he plans on retiring soon.
“Joe shouldn’t be doing that,” Russo responded. “The audience doesn’t want to hear about Joe’s golf plans in 2024, you gotta do a show. It has changed. I don’t know how you want me to respond to that.”
It’s not the first time Russo brought up Benigno’s affinity for retirement. In February, Russo called Joe and Evan on WFAN to discuss the NFL expanding their playoff format. The former WFAN afternoon host ribbed the new duo for taking vacations in February, less than two months after landing the drive time slot. He later commented on the prime radio real estate they now own, to which Benigno said “there’s no way I’m doing this when I’m 70 years old.”
“You have had a great career here, let’s not talk about the end,” Russo responded. “The average guy does not want to hear Joe say I gotta get out in two years. They may want you there for ten years.”
Russo added that Benigno’s focus and goal should be beating Michael Kay and being the best sports talk show in New York City.
“There’s nothing left to prove for me,” Benigno said defiantly, while also stating that it may have been a focus 15 years ago, but not now. “I came from nowhere to do this, out of nowhere. There is nothing left to prove.”
Benigno might not have much left to prove, but it’s hard to imagine ratings aren’t at least slightly important for WFAN’s afternoon show.
