Great news: Mike Francesa likely returning to WFAN in 3-7pm time slot-Newsday, Neil Best

Newsday back page, 4/25/18

4/24/18, "Francesa: 'It is time to return to WFAN'," Newsday, Neil Best

"A person at WFAN with knowledge of the plan said Francesa likely would reclaim a portion of his old afternoon drive time slot.

"Saying “it is time to return to WFAN,” Mike Francesa told Newsday on Tuesday morning that after four months away from the station he is ready for a comeback.

Francesa declined to elaborate on what form his return might take, but a person at WFAN with knowledge of the plan said he likely would reclaim a portion of his old afternoon drive time slot, from 3 to 7 p.m. It is not clear when that would occur.

Where would that leave his successors, Chris Carlin, Maggie Gray and Bart Scott? Likely with a continuing role, but one that is shorter and less visible than their current 2 to 6:30 p.m. show.

The person at WFAN said the tentative plan would be for Joe Benigno and Evan Roberts to return to their old 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. slot — they have been on from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. since January — with “CMB” being heard from 1 to 3 p.m.

Mark Chernoff, WFAN’s vice president of programming, did not immediately return a request for comment.

Francesa said he has been working on a project with the agency CAA and that he intended to include WFAN. He also alluded cryptically to a “campaign” to keep him from returning to the station that he left in December.

Francesa declined to answer followup questions about that or any other aspect of what he said, which was that, “I have been working on a project with CAA for months. That will be explained in the days ahead.

“This is for those who started this campaign in recent days. I didn’t decide to go back to WFAN until I was told I better not go back. For those behind it, that was the moment I decided to return.

“I will do everything to work WFAN into an integral part of the project. It is time to return to WFAN.”

Francesa’s last 1 to 6:30 p.m. show was Dec. 15. He was succeeded as of Jan. 2 by Carlin, Gray and Scott, who in their first full ratings book lost narrowly to ESPN New York’s Michael Kay in ratings among men ages 25-54 from 3 to 6:30 p.m., when the shows overlap. Kay never had beaten Francesa for a full ratings book.

Carlin, a former “Mike and the Mad Dog” producer, has had a strained relationship with Francesa for years. After Francesa and his former partner, Chris Russo, jokingly and obliquely referenced WFAN’s struggles on the MLB Network show “High Heat” on March 28, Carlin texted both men with a strongly worded expression of displeasure. Carlin posted a tweet on Tuesday morning that read, “How’s everybody’s day going so far?”

Carlin, Gray and Scott opened their Tuesday show by addressing the matter and taking the high road, even though Carlin acknowledged the situation is “awkward, of course it is.”

“All we can tell you is this: We’re not going anywhere,” Carlin said. “We’re going to be a big part of this radio station for a long time. This is a business. And you are talking about someone in Mike who was wildly successful for 30 years, so it only makes business sense to welcome somebody like that back into the fold.”

He added, “There is room for all of us here, and we’re all going to be here. Our show is going to continue to grow and I guarantee you one thing, we’re going to have a ton of fun doing it, and if Mike’s back in the afternoon, which it certainly looks like that’s going to be the case, it only makes the radio station stronger.”

Carlin also said, “I have always loved this place, and I will always love this place.”

Said Gray, “There’s room for all of us here, and all of our voices can be heard . . . We’re going to continue to be something different. That’s why they hired us in the first place, right? Fresh perspective, a little something different.”

Scott joked, “I’m just trying to get out of the house,” then added, “I’m the only one here that has retired before. Retiring isn’t fun. I’m happy that I get to share this piece of real estate with you guys.” Scott also joked, “I know the [pay] check better clear.”

Francesa has been free to sign elsewhere since April 1 and has worked with CAA on what comes next. Apparently that “next” is at hand.

In March, Francesa told Newsday his departure from WFAN had been “very much an adjustment.”

He said, “Have there been times when I wish I had a forum and I wanted to express myself?

Absolutely. Many, many times that has come up. I have to say, I miss it more than I thought I would . . . There have been some [topics] that have gotten me. There’s no question. I don’t want to list them, but there’s been more than a few I would have loved to opine on.”"

Link for above image: 4/25/18, Newsday sports reporter, "Bob Glauber twitter"

Tweet Stumbleupon StumbleUpon