SR 950 Now an ESPN Station, Morning Show to Be Replaced by Mike & Mike, and... Is Missanelli Returning?

SR 950 in Philadelphia will now be known as 950 ESPN. We've received word that after today's morning show, Glenn Foley was fired. The morning show will be replaced with Mike & Mike effective April 1. No other changes have been announced yet, but we're hoping Jody Mac's show stays put. Could Mike Missanelli, an ESPN radio personality whose co-host might be dropped, return to Philly in some capacity? Now that would be an interesting twist. More details to follow as we get them.

Updates: We're hearing Jamie Yannacone is out too. Jody Mac is likely moving to mid-days, and the Mike Miss possibility might have some legs. Word is he told the class he teaches at St. Joe's—which normally meets at 6:15—that they'll be meeting at 7:15 starting April 1st. If true, we'll miss Jody on the drive home. Missanelli vs. Eskin would be pretty interesting though... (Interestingly, as of this posting, this is Missanelli's top Google hit)

Comments

[Gaze]

Absolutely awful. Just when the show was taking off as a nice alternative to the slop down the dial they pull this. What a waste.

[Sean Gardyne]

you really think 610 is slop? I might say that eskin is a blowhard and angelo is an idiot but people like macnow, eckel, and of course ray-diddy on the weekends are some of the smartest guys in the city when it comes to philly sports.

and bid daddy puts you RIGHT to sleep for the overnights

[johndewar]

This was inevitable and unfortunate.

The 950 morning show sucked. Not a huge fan of Mike and Mike, though. Was really hoping they'd try to keep a local AM show, but to somehow get rid of Foley, who has not getting any better.

I'm not a Missanelli fan; I think he's got an overinflated sense of his own intelligence. I'd like to see him back if he can tone down his obnoxious schtick. I wouldn't mind him on 950 if only to give that station more of a local flavor, rather than having too much nationally syndicated stuff. Jody Mac is great; they shouldn't touch his show.

[Joseph M. Jamison]

Thank goodness! I hate listening to ESPN 1040 will all of the stupid NY shows...Mike & Mike is great, as is Colin Cowherd.

[Gaze]

If you enjoy ESPN radio, switch to satellite. I think it's total BS that they are bringing their national programing to the Philadelphia market. Let's face it, we don't care about the rest of the world nearly as much as we care about our own teams. I predict this move will result in lower ratings for 950.

And yes, I think 610 is slop. Eskin is unbearable. Cataldi and crew are a 4 hour long mockery of sportscasting. Anthony and Steve are knowledgeable and a nice show to listen to, but not nearly as passionate about Philadelphia as the 700 level guys. Jodi Mac is by far the most knowledgeable (and connected) radio guy in town. And the late night and weekend guys were improving. I'd much rather listen to average sports talk that hear which cookie is Big Daddy's favorite this week.

[Chamomiles Davis]

Macnow and Didinger are the only personalities that makes 610 worth listening to from an information perspective. With the Eagles simulcast coming back to WIP, I predict dark(er) days ahead for the competition over at 950.

[Steve]

This sucks. I actually interned on the morning show last year, I have to say I'm pretty sad to see it go.

[thomas]

I don't like putting Mike & Mike on instead of a local alternative to the 610 Morning Show. I liked bouncing between 610 and 950 on the AM show when possible. I liked 950's broader coverage of national sports at all time slots. That being said, I would love for Missanelli to return and host a show based out of Philly, whether he goes up against Eskin or Cuz & Steve. Of course, from 1-6pm my first choice is still 660 WFAN, nothing is going to change that. Overall, the morning show situation is not good because Mike and Mike have more commercials than any other show I can think of.

[Jay]

Merideth pn 950s morning show is smokin' hot!

Not really a factor in my decision on what to listen to in the morning (I hate Cataldi and his whiney voice) but an important fact none the less!

[Kevin McGuire]

The only thing I like about 610's morning show is Al Morganti. Angelo has gotten more and more annoying over the years and I might be the only person in the world it seems that can't stand Rhea Hughes either.

I have been listening more to 950's morning show as an alternative but don't have many high remarks for them either. Foley is no loss. Michael Bradley seems to have nicknames or sayings for EVERYTHING (He ALWAYS says Bud Sellout for example). Losing this morning show is not a huge loss, but replacing it with Mike & Mike? NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!! TERRIBLE MISTAKE!!!!!!

Jody Mac is by far the ultimate weapon 950 has and I hope they don't touch his program one bit. Mike Miss coming back would intrigue me.

If you need to have a morning show in the morning, switch to Preston and Steve on WMMR. They probably talk as much about sports as Cataldi anyway.

[Dubs]

I really like Jody Mac's show. I hope they don't move him to mid-days, as the drive time is the only chance I get to listen.

The morning show was hit or miss for me. I can't say I'll be sad to see them go.

But Mike and Mike do suck hard.

[Pete D]

I had to listen to Mike and Mike in DC and the only good thing about them is the national guests they have, otherwise they are god awful. I hate everything about Mike Greenberg.

I listen to 610. Angelo is an idiot, Howard is a douche. But once you get past that, they still get it done. Steve and Anthony are quality and Macnow is as well...bottom line is putting more shitty national content on the competition isn't going to motivate 610 to change anything...

[Mike]

I can't stand Mike and Mike. I just saw that Jody Mac is on from 9am to 1pm with Missanelli on against Eskin. Mike Tirico takes over from 1-3pm (boring). What I don't like about this is that two of the best shows on both stations are going to be up against each other (Jody Mac and Steve and Cuz).

I may be in the minority, but I enjoyed Bradley and Foley in the morning. I liked having that alternative to WIP on the morning drive.

[johndewar]

@Mike: Arrrghhhh...you're right

See 950 Link here

I'm ok with Mike Miss-a-layup coming back (despite his several obvious shortcomings), but not during PM drive time. Would much prefer Jody Mac during PM drive time.

[Mike]

This is terrible news. I didn't mind the 950 morning show. They actually talked sports and had great interviews, unlike that crap on 610. 950 is trying to hard, to fast to beat 610 in the ratings, and it's listeners are the ones who will suffer. And I'll miss the Fanatics on 950. They were an entertaining show. We finally have a station that actually talks sports and cares about it's listeners, and now this happens. 950 is finished.

[Mike]

Why did they dump Bradley altogether? Even though the two may be similar (to me at least), they could have tried Bradley with Mayes. I don't think I've ever heard of Schwarzmann.

[gootman]

Jody and the Mikes

[johndewar]

@Mike: See where you're coming from (re: 950 am show), but you have to admit Foley wasn't cutting it in the AM. And I wanted to like Foley because of his local roots. Bradley was just OK for me.

That said, Mike & Mike nauseate me. I'll be listening to the podcasted Jody mac interviews from the day before on the way into work from now on, I guess.

Bottom line, is that there has to be some alternative to 610.

[ron h]

Now maybe Philly will join the rest of the world in realizing that sports outside of philly, actually exists. I am shocked how people in that city find WIP interesting. It seems like its a string of 4 hour shows with hosts that have a personal vendetta against certain people and players. That gets old real quick.

ESPN should clean up in philly.

Reasons ?

1. Howard Eskin
2. Angelo Cataldi
3. Hugh Douglas
4. any other clowns they have on the air
5. Wing Bowl ( makes your city look real bad)

[Jerry J]

If you read the comments at 950's website, the bulletin boards are running about 10-to-1 against this new programming. Glenn Foley was actually pretty good during Eagles season, breaking down the game from a real player's perspective (unlike the idiots on WIP, he can actually play a sport). Once in a while the morning show was truly compelling -- the discussions of steroids in sports (with regard to Roger Clemens and his trainer) were very informative, especially with Foley's locker-room knowledge. The sad thing is, I don't know that WPEN ever really marketed any of its programming -- I can't recall seeing any ads or billboards to promote their shows, and the news about 950ESPN is really the first time I've seen any mention of them at all outside their own airwaves.

[yocoy]

I switched to satellite when 950 dropped Steve Czaban and replaced him with Foley. I gave 950's morning show a chance but while Foley might have "locker room knowledge"- whatever that means- he was an obnoxious dumbass regarding everything else. Yannacone was just an abomination- possibly the worst radio personality EVER. I was embarrassed to be a philadelphian just listening to him. As bad as Cataldi and Eskin and Martarano are, Yannacone made them all look good by comparison. Can't tell you how happy I was to hear he and Foley had been shown the door. I will definitely miss Jody Mac on the way home. Fortunately I have the satellite to fall back on since choosing between Eskin and Missinelli is too horrible to think of- like choosing which eye to poke yourself in.

[WalterBailey]

WOW.... ESKIN is getting killed by Mikey Mis in ratings!!

Ding dong the Howies dead!!