According to Michael Klein, WIP 610-AM morning man Angelo Cataldi’s contract is up at the end of the year.
Should WIP continue with the highly priced and highly rated personality?
My vote would be yes. For anyone who listens when Cataldi is on vacation, it’s evident that the station needs him.
However, I think he’ll have to take a pay cut, since we know that these days keeping your job at a lower rate is the new raise.
30 responses so far ↓
1 Duke // Nov 10, 2009 at 10:52 am
Angelo & The Morning Show “jumped the shark” a few years back. He’s a pervert, more interested in talking about Mark Eckel’s package (in a creepy way as well) and the bust sizes of teenage girls. His whining and screeching is deplorable. He’s in it for one reason and one reason alone……….the money. He lost his passion for the job years ago. Mark Rayfield, please, LET HIM WALK!!!!!!!!!
2 B // Nov 10, 2009 at 11:02 am
Laura, your declaration doesn’t make total sense because it assumes that if his contract is not renewed, that they wouldn’t hire a suitable permanent replacement, as opposed to simply another current staffer when he’s on vacation.
But, the bottom line is this: It’s time for new audio sports programming in Philadelphia, the radio station model is simply not working anymore for listeners with CBS and Greater Media in control of those frequencies.
3 Frank // Nov 10, 2009 at 1:40 pm
Let 97.5 pick him up… his website makes it seem like there is some interest. That would be the nail in WIP’s coffin.
“I will be back, hopefully by the spring, at another station in Philadelphia, if not at WIP.”
I would bet that Big Daddy Graham was filling in for Eskin last week because they plan to make him the new morning guy. Big Daddy fills in for Angelo at times…
4 bill vargus // Nov 10, 2009 at 2:18 pm
WIP needs to shuffle the deck and reinvent itself. That would include letting Cataldi walk. I haven’t listened in months to the station as its hosts have all become so predictable. It’s quite refreshing to listen to some fresh perspectives for a change, compliments of 97.5 the Phanatic. Even Missanelli realized that the game has changed … so he fills his show with interesting guests with national reach. There’s no amt. of money they could throw at Cataldi that would save their ratings at this point.
5 Bart // Nov 10, 2009 at 2:52 pm
Yo Bill, glad you have the time to contribute to this website. So Bill what do you think of your old station. Regarding all of the athletes thinking they went to journalism or communication school(s).
Do you know Frank Carillo, the old weather-person at Fox 29 is an administor in N.C. for the Goddard School.
6 Bringing You The Tuesday Links // Nov 10, 2009 at 3:28 pm
[...] Nachman says a popular sports radio host at Philadelphia’s WIP could be leaving at the end of the [...]
7 tp // Nov 10, 2009 at 6:08 pm
like it or not, cataldi isnt going anywhere
8 Hal Sacks // Nov 10, 2009 at 9:29 pm
He should stay put. I’m addicted; but the lineup should be tweaked with some addition by subtraction. G Cobb, Conklin, Morganti, Mitchi-Poo(when he’s available) M Reese, B. Baldinger,
Ricky Bo and most emphatically Rhea Hughes - she’s the cement that keeps the slurry from running amok. OK who’s missing?? Hmmmm.
9 ed // Nov 11, 2009 at 1:48 am
I would let them all walk. I stopped listening
years ago. They bill themselves as an all sports
talk station that is bull. Cataldi is a Howard Stern
wannabe, Macnow should be on the food network, the Cuz thinks he is a tv star but cannot
find the camera, Eskin is a moron or a dope or
genius take your pick. That station is bearable when Ray Didinger is on. I will say this until my
dying day the best in the business is Jody Mac.
He talks sports and interacts and RESPECTS his
audience
10 Duke // Nov 11, 2009 at 10:12 am
ed - I couldn’t have said it better myself. Cataldi is a perverted, humorless comedian. Macnow is brutal. Cuz is becoming insufferable……..he brings his lifelong buddy “Bob” (Bob Marino - President of National Penn Bank) into the studio and it sounds like schoolgirls cackling. Eskin “jumped the shark” a long time ago and I’m waiting for Ike Reese to smack him down. I thoroughly enjoy Ray Didinger, Brian Baldinger and Ricky Bo and Mitchy Poo though!! WIP needs to clear the deck……..the furniture has gotten to old!!
11 lovestopaint // Nov 11, 2009 at 11:01 am
The program is much better WITHOUT CATALDI.
12 kevinn // Nov 11, 2009 at 12:55 pm
when WIP tries to entertain with non-sports stuff it doesnt work. They need to stick to doing what they do best talking sports.
Cataldi and Eskin trying to be funny is so awkward. Both just are not funny and try to be too hard.
13 tp // Nov 11, 2009 at 5:46 pm
sorry guys, cataldi is not going anywhere!!
14 Kyle D // Nov 12, 2009 at 12:23 am
Like sportsradio or not, it’s been the only interesting thing to talk about in the industry in quite a while and I think it’s only going to get better.
Cataldi would be a huge coup for Greater Media. Like him or not, he knows the mentality of fans in this town and even more so, how to play to them.
Even if he stays at WIP, this could still get even better. What if GM brings Tony Bruno back to town to go head to head with Cataldi and crew. Tony has spent a lot of time here in town over the last couple of months and let’s face it, the syndicating prospects ain’t great these days.
As for other topics at the stations, I agree with those saying WIP is sounding stale. I also think they’re running scared a little bit.
I too, LOVE Jody Mac, but he hasn’t been a ratings winner in this town in a long time. Let’s face it, that’s all that matters to the ownership groups.
Ultimately, I don’t think The Phanatic will win the war unless they go live and local 24/7. ESPN shows stink and most of their update anchors sound like mush-mouthed idiots from Kensington.
Mikey Miss is a totally different host now. He sounds rejuvenated and changed since his 2nd stint at WIP. I think the incident that lead to his dismissal showed him that he needed to relax and enjoy himself…and he’s doing just that, while kicking Eskin’s ass in the key demos while he’s at it.
15 meg // Nov 12, 2009 at 2:38 am
THE talent on 97.5 is very low end, except for Mike MISS. He is the only one worth listening too on that fm station. The rest are very poor and sound like former CSB grads looking for their first job in radio. They do not have the polish for a big market radio sports show. The pre and post game shows are very embarrassing. What credentials do these host have?
16 B // Nov 12, 2009 at 10:35 am
I said it before and I’ll say it again, It’s simply time for new audio sports programming in Philadelphia, the current radio station model is simply not working anymore for intelligent listeners with CBS and Greater Media in control of those frequencies. Please provide us content that is worthy of a sports-mad market, without insulting our intelligence. It barely, if at all exists today.
17 John // Nov 12, 2009 at 3:03 pm
exactly what Meg said
PS- Hugh Douglas is a moron
18 Wacky Jack // Nov 12, 2009 at 7:10 pm
To echo the thoughts of others
Cataldi is not funny and is living in the past. His act is getting old. As our his guests. The Arlen Specter segment is quite sad.
The Cuz is a jock-sniffing wanna be. Everyone is his “boy” and he is no longer objective. He is the ultimate brother-in-law.
Eskin has lost ground for obvious reasons.
Hugh Douglas still fails to get names correct, and is ill prepared to do a radio show. He is a buffoon and a fraud.
Perhaps the most obtuse host is Big Daddy Graham, who has no talent, and is full of hot air. And anyone who has ever seen his “comedy” show can attest to that.
19 Hal Sacks // Nov 12, 2009 at 8:43 pm
Greater Media is notorious for its frugality. Would they write the big checks for Angelo & Tony Bruno? I don’t think so.
20 Kyle D // Nov 12, 2009 at 9:39 pm
That is totally false Hal. Greater Media is not cheap when it comes to talent. That is one of the grossest misconceptions out there.
21 Frank // Nov 13, 2009 at 2:33 am
Greater Media lured Preston & Steve away with big bucks… that was a big success for them as WMMR became relevant again. This is their chance to do that again…
22 Tom McCarthy // Nov 13, 2009 at 10:19 am
Remember that movie ‘Weird Science’ when Kelly LeBrock turned that guy into a turd? Well, if Angelo puts a photo of that turd on his desk or wall, I’d say they keep him.
23 Duke // Nov 13, 2009 at 11:09 am
PLEASE MARK RATFIELD……….LET ANGELO GO!!! I’m tired of him fawning about Mark Eckel’s appendage and drooling over girls young enough to be his grandaughter. His time has long since passed. Bring in John Kincade from Atlanta.
24 B // Nov 13, 2009 at 3:10 pm
Kyle D. Do you have inside information about talent salaries from the folks in Braintree? I ask because that’s not what I’m hearing from my industry sources both inside and outside the company. Money is being spent…shall we say…judiciously.
25 Kyle D // Nov 13, 2009 at 9:08 pm
When it comes to top talent (whether you or I think it’s top talent is always debatable), Greater Media pays. Frank already mentioned Preston & Steve, which cost GM well over 1-Mil a year, and I’ll throw in DeBella and Pierre. Something tells me Matt Cord and Missanelli aren’t poorly paid either. GM has never been afraid to pay big dollars to lure big name talent here in Philly, amongst other markets. It’s just a weak argument. Of course they spend judiciously elsewhere. They have to the way these media companies carry debt-load. Book it that they will pay big money for either Cataldi or Bruno. It’s the only way they will be able to make a true run at WIP.
26 Wacky Jack // Nov 14, 2009 at 12:01 pm
Hal Sacks is incorrect. Kyle D is correct. GM does pay their talent.
Whether or not the “talent” is actually talented, that is a separate dicussion.
27 Hal Sacks // Nov 14, 2009 at 8:13 pm
Jack, you have a point there as a separate discussion. Now , hypothetically; could Ange adjust to Meredith Marakovitz as a 2nd in command host-sitter?
28 Wacky Jack // Nov 14, 2009 at 11:12 pm
Since Angelo already flirts with Rhea plenty, another young female would be right up his alley.
That being side, MM does an excellent job and is well-versed on the team she covers.
MM is a solid professional.
29 ed // Nov 15, 2009 at 12:54 pm
Meg,
Comment 15 you are right their local talent is
lacking. The former station manager liked Jody
Mac and they should have kept him. Harry and
the Schwartz are ok but not for a market this
size and the demands for this sports town. It
is still nice to have an alternative to what we had
until 950 came along. I listen Mike and Mike
every day and it is nice to hear serious sports
talk in the morning vs whatever is on 610 at
that time
30 Could Cataldi be leaving WIP? « High Hopes: A Phillies Blog // Nov 15, 2009 at 1:20 pm
[...] chance. That’s your first reaction, right? It’s mine too, but as Laura Nachman points out, Cataldi’s contract is up at the end of this year and bringing back the highly rated, [...]
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